Forget the Apple Watch: I use AirPods Pro 3 for Live Heart Rate Tracking while running — and they’re $70 off right now

a photo of the airpods pro 3 — (Image credit: Future)

As a fitness editor, I review the best fitness tech for a living, and one of the recent launches I’ve been most impressed with is the Apple AirPods Pro 3, which have built-in infrared sensors pulsing 256 times a second, tracking your heart rate from your ears.

I’ve used the AirPods Pro 3 for countless workouts, and love the ability to leave my watch behind and still get heart rate monitoring. My colleague Nick Harris-Fry tested the heart rate monitor of the AirPods Pro 3 against a chest strap while running and was also impressed.

These are, by far, some of the best workout headphones on the market, and the good news is, right now they are on sale in an early Amazon Prime Day deal.

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To use the heart rate tracking on the buds, you need to start a workout in the Fitness app on your iPhone, where you’ll see the headphones connected and your live heart rate during workouts.

If you also have an Apple Watch connected, Apple says readings from the heart rate sensor on the watch and the headphones will both be looked at, and the most accurate one will be used for the workout recording.

During our testing, the AirPods Pro 3 have kept up with a heart rate monitor strapped to the chest, and have proven to be far more accurate than the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2.

They also have a redesigned fit, and I’ve found them to be the most comfortable AirPods to date. I’ve worn them for 20-mile runs and found they’ve stayed perfectly in place. The biggest tactile change to the AirPods Pro 3 is the squishy tips at the end of the buds. This foam infusion feels different from the silicone used on the older models, and makes them a lot more comfortable for hours of wear.

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Jane McGuire is Tom's Guide's Fitness Managing Editor, which means she looks after everything fitness-related - from running gear to yoga mats. An avid runner, Jane has tested and reviewed fitness products for the past ten years, so knows what to look for when finding a good running watch or a pair of shorts with pockets big enough for your smartphone.