Apple AirPods Pro 3 review: The best AirPods yet

The AirPods Pro have been my go-to wireless earbuds for almost everything: commuting, workouts, work calls, you name it. But, like some of you reading this review, I found the second-gen Pro earbuds had a few frustrating quirks, like battery life that barely made it through a long cross-country flight.

That’s where the new AirPods Pro 3 ($249) come in. Apple has taken the best parts of the Pro 2 and addressed the biggest complaints, from longer battery life and microphone quality to a more comfortable fit — and added some unexpected features along the way.

The new Apple buds offer IP57 durability, built-in heart rate monitors for activity tracking, and support for Live Translation. The best part? Not all of these features are exclusive to the Pro 3.

But after testing the AirPods Pro 3, I don't think I could go back to the AirPods Pro 2. The advancements to noise-cancellation and transparency modes make these AirPods the best wireless earbuds for iPhone users, and simply the best AirPods Apple has ever made. Read my full AirPods Pro 3 review below to learn more.

AirPods Pro 3: Quick facts

• Price: $249, the same as AirPods Pro 2.
• Battery life: 8 hours ANC-on (up from 6), 24 hours with MagSafe case, 5 minutes in case = 1 hour listening.
• Design: Reengineered for a more comfortable fit. Comes with XXS ear tip, now 5 sizes total.
• Heart rate sensor: Built into the AirPods for workout tracking, no Apple Watch required.
• Live translation: Real-time translation channeled through your iPhone using Apple Intelligence.
• Active Noise Cancellation: ANC is twice as strong compared to AirPods Pro 2.
• Durability: First AirPods with IP57 dust, sweat, and water resistance.

AirPods Pro 3: Price and availability

The AirPods Pro 3 are available as of September 19 and are priced at $249 / £249 / AU$429, which is the same as the AirPods Pro 2.

AirPods Pro 2 will be discontinued, but AirPods 4 will remain an alternative option at a lower price point. They cost $179 for the version with ANC and $129 for the version without. You can usually find these on sale with AirPods deals, too.

There's the $549 AirPods Max as well, over-ear headphones that are probably the next pair in Apple's headphone family due for an upgrade. Curious about when that could happen? Check out the latest on AirPods Max 2.

I think it's worth noting that the AirPods Pro 3 are also cheaper than the closest Sony and Bose competition. The WF-1000XM5 and the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 retail for $299, $50 more than the AirPods Pro 3.

AirPods Pro 3: Specs

AirPods Pro 3 review: Design

At first glance, the AirPods Pro 3 don’t look dramatically different from the previous generation. But spend a little time with both side-by-side, and the changes are noticeable. They’re slightly smaller, but it's more the redistribution of weight that makes them stay in place and feel more comfortable. They now include an XXS ear tip (for a total of five sizes) to fit almost any ear, too.

The AirPods Pro 3 are also IP57 rated, making them the most durable AirPods yet with protection against dust, sweat, and water. This level of protection allows them to handle everything from sweaty workouts to rainy commutes without concern about causing damage. That wasn't the case for the AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods 4, which are only covered for sweat-resistance.

Apple kept the same MagSafe-compatible charging case design, although it now has the invisible touch pairing controls on the front of the case introduced with AirPods 4.

Speaking of controls, by default, a short press is pause/play, two quick short presses skip to the next track, three short presses play the previous track, and swiping up or down on the stem changes the volume. You can also ask Siri to manage your media playback.

A long press switches between ANC and transparency, while head gestures are useful for incoming calls or notifications.

We've also got a new control. Long-press both stems simultaneously to initiate Live Translation — which I'll cover more below.

AirPods Pro 3 review: Audio and ANC

The AirPods Pro 3 advertise twice the active noise cancellation of AirPods Pro 3, and it might just deliver that. I wore these buds on a plane, on a train, in the office, and around the bustling city — no matter where I went, the ANC proved incredibly effective.

In order to experience the best performance for these modes, you'll need to have the best seal, so make sure to try out the Ear Tip Fit Test in your AirPods Pro 3 settings.

Audio quality also impressed me during testing. Listening to Chris Stapleton’s 'Bad As I Used To Be' from the F1 movie, the strumming texture was impressive, and high-register sounds in an electronic track came through clear and crisp.

I also listened to Taylor Swift's 'So Long London,' where the AirPods Pro 3's spatial audio performance shone. The choral intro swirled around my head while the song's heartbeat-feel thumped through my ears, delivering a surprisingly satisfying bass level for such a small pair of buds.

AirPods Pro 3 review: Microphone quality

Apple also updated the microphone architecture for better voice isolation on calls. I found the mic quality inconsistent on the AirPods Pro 2, so I examined it very closely when testing the AirPods Pro 3 in the real world.

I made calls to several different people through different apps and in different environments, and every time I received positive feedback on how I sounded. Even as I walked through busy Manhattan streets, the voice isolation feature introduced in iOS 26 filtered out the noise to keep my voice in focus.

I'm excited that the AirPods Pro 3 also get the Studio Quality recording feature, which improves the voice recording of your AirPods when you're filming content through your iPhone or iPad.

AirPods Pro 3 review: Live Translation

Live Translation is one of the standout features in this AirPods update. When enabled (with that long-press control I mentioned earlier,) the AirPods Pro 3 microphones pick up speech (English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish are supported) and route it through your iPhone. Using Apple Intelligence and iOS 26, your iPhone will then deliver real-time translations back to your ears.

Meanwhile, Adaptive Audio intelligently lowers the speaker’s volume, making the translation feel seamless. Furthermore, two users with AirPods Pro could carry on a conversation face-to-face without needing to display half the conversation on an iPhone.

I had a conversation with my Spanish-speaking friend, and sure enough, the AirPods Pro 3 fed translations of our weekend brunch plans into my ears. (I know Spanish pretty well, so I could verify the translations.)

That said, for me, this is more of a nice-to-have vs. must-have feature. My favorite thing about it is that it also works on AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 with ANC, considering Live Translation is powered by Apple Intelligence. The downside of this is that you will need an Apple Intelligence-enabled phone, meaning iPhone 15 Pro or newer.

AirPods Pro 3 review: Heart rate monitoring

The AirPods Pro 3 are the first AirPods to include a dedicated heart rate sensor.

You can start about 50 different workouts from the iOS 26 fitness app on your iPhone, and your AirPods Pro 3 become the heart rate source, no Apple Watch required. They even sync with Workout Buddy for Apple Intelligence-based workout guidance and Apple Music to launch a workout playlist automatically.

I got to try it out a few times, and it seems like a solid option for getting those Apple Watch rings closed when you don't have your watch (or, as is typically my case, when my watch is dead.) I felt like the readings skewed a little high compared to my typical walking workout baselines, but I also noticed when snapping some pictures that I didn't always have the heart rate sensor in full contact with my skin.

Going forward, when I opt to use AirPods Pro 3 as my heart rate sensor, I'll make sure they're properly positioned to get the most accurate data. But then again, if I really want the most accurate fitness tracking data, I'm probably going to stick to tracking with my Apple Watch.

AirPods Pro 3 review: Battery life

Battery life is now 8 hours with ANC on, up from 6. There are 10 hours with the hearing aid feature enabled. For frequent travelers like me, this is a huge upgrade, eliminating the constant stress of needing a recharge mid-flight. I took a 6-hour cross-country flight, and not only did my AirPods Pro 3 last the entire trip, but they also made it the hour-or-so-long Uber ride home.

The charging case extends total listening time to 24 hours, and just 5 minutes in the case gives an hour of playback. The case is also MagSafe-compatible, meaning you can charge it wirelessly.

Oh, but don't be confused when you unbox the AirPods Pro 3 and notice there's no charging cable. This has been the trend, assuming you already have a USB-C cable you can use to charge. You can actually also use an Apple Watch charger to charge your AirPods Pro 3. If you're willing to go the minimalism route and use wireless charging, check some of the best MagSafe chargers.

AirPods Pro 3 review: Verdict

The AirPods Pro 3 take everything I loved about the second-generation model and make meaningful improvements: longer battery life, a more comfortable design, heart rate tracking, Live Translation, and improved ANC.

Are you going to buy them just for the heart rate sensor? Probably not. And Live Translation feels more like a party trick than a daily essential. But considering the improved call quality and better durability, it’s hard for me to imagine going back to an older pair.

These upgrades make them a genuinely compelling pair of wireless earbuds, especially for anyone who travels frequently, works out often, or just wants the best listening experience Apple has to offer. At $249, they hit the same price point as the AirPods Pro 2, which hasn't exactly been the trend in the premium wireless earbud market. For iPhone users, the AirPods Pro 3 aren’t just the best AirPods, they’re the best all-around wireless earbuds you can buy right now.