AirPods Pro 3 set to launch this week — but here's why you may want to skip the upgrade

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A better version may be coming

AirPods Pro 2 in a person's hand with the case open in front of luggage
(Image credit: Future)

Update: Follow our iPhone 17 event live blog for all the big news as it's announced!

The latest Apple event rumor comes courtesy of industry analyst Ming Chi Kuo, who's taken to X to announce that we're getting the AirPods Pro 3 in the second half of 2025 (likely tomorrow's Awe-dropping Apple event). But there's also a new pair of AirPods coming in 2026 with more "significant" upgrades. Erm, what? Let's unpack this rumor together.

They all come at once

There are a few key points to note here. First, that Kuo flies in the face of a previous prediction he made, that we wouldn't see any new AirPods until 2026. The second is that he now believes that the 2026 update will be a more substantial update than the 2025 version

"a more significant hardware upgrade with the IR camera-equipped model" is what he thinks is coming in 2026. That feels... strange.

The AirPods Pro 3 are supposed to launch with some form of heart rate monitor, like the PowerBeats Pro 2. That's a new health feature, and much along the same lines as an IR camera that lives in your earbuds.

So, if Kuo is correct, that would mean that tomorrow's potential AirPods Pro 3 announcement is worth skipping, and that you should wait for what Apple has in store for us in 2026.

Or, could it be more similar to the release of the USB-C AirPods Pro 2? That was a more substantial update than anyone expected, with features like Hearing Health only available on the second model.

It's all very confusing. I guess we'll have to wait and see what Apple reveals at tomorrow's event. Stay up to date with everything we learn at the Apple event with our live blog, and we'll see you all there at Apple Park tomorrow for the big day — hopefully, we'll get some answers to the mystery of these AirPod rumors.

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Tammy Rogers
Tammy Rogers
Audio Editor

Tammy and her generous collection of headphones have found a new home — Tom's Guide! After a two-and-a-half-year stint as iMore's resident audiophile, Tammy's reviews and buying guide expertise have more focus than ever on Tom's Guide, helping buyers find the audio gear that works best for them. Tammy has worked with some of the most desirable audio brands on the planet in her time writing about headphones, speakers, and more, bringing a consumer focussed approach to critique and buying advice. Away from her desk, you'll probably find her in the countryside writing (extremely bad) poetry, or putting her screenwriting Masters to good use creating screenplays that'll never see the light of day.

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