The AirPods Pro 2 have been around for a while in some form or other. They launched in 2022 with a lightning connector in their case, and then re-launched a year later with a USB-C port for charging. They've seen numerous software updates since then that have brought some useful features to the table, but physically, they remain very much the AirPods of 2022.
So they're due a proper update. One that shakes things up, brings a new design, and improves on key weaknesses that mean Apple's buds lose out to competitors like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and the Sony WF-1000XM5. We've had some leaks to show we're in for a bit of a treat, but as you might expect from a new product from Apple, things are still pretty locked down.
But what do we think we can expect from Apple's next pair of in-ears? These are five upgrades I believe you're going to see when Apple launches the AirPods Pro 3 at an as-yet-unnamed event in 2025.
A completely new design
When you stack them up side by side, the AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 don't look all that different — so I'm hoping that there's some form of refresh to the design. There won't be a complete overhaul of the AirPods design language — they're still going to be white, with stems, and silicone eartips — but more color options would be most welcome, and the stems could do with shrinking again.
The case is still one of the best in the business, but if Apple shrank the Pro case like it did with the AirPods 4 box, that would make it even better when compared to the bulky competition. A tighter, more comfortable fit would be good too, given that my old AirPods (even when dialled in correctly) constantly fall out of my ears when I'm doing any kind of moving around.
Again, they're not going to see a sudden and complete shift in the way that they look, but a new generation of AirPods deserves a dashing new look.
More health features
"What are the Beats doing here?" I hear you cry — it's because of one of their most exciting health and exercise features. The PowerBeats Pro 2 feature a heart rate monitor that can be used while you run to help track some extra health metrics. As a proof of concept for Apple, it was pretty cool.
I can imagine that alongside a spate of other health-related features — an improved hearing health section, for example — we could see a heart rate monitor placed into the little white shells of the AirPods Pro 3. It could work in conjunction with the best Apple Watches, making for more accurate measurements and a better view of your overall health.
There are rumors of a temperature sensor in the AirPods Pro 3 as well, which could be used to make better readings when used with an Apple Watch.
We're expecting more hearing health features on top of the existing hearing aid mode. I think we're going to see improvements, naturally, in both the sound quality and how much battery life it uses, allowing it to last longer.
Improved sound & ANC
The AirPods Pro 2 don't sound bad, but they no longer stack up as well when you compare them to the Bose and Sony-flavored competition. They sound flat when compared to their closest rivals, and don't offer quite as much musical dynamism. The Spatial Audio that Apple has packed in is amongst the very best, though, so we're hoping for even more improvement there.
I'd personally like to see more emphasis on the low stuff out of the AirPods Pro 2, with more powerful bass and lower mids. I'd like to retain the wonderful detail that the AirPods are capable of producing, while making a more rounded soundstage overall. I want the AirPods Pro 3 to rival the best-sounding of the best wireless earbuds.
The ANC could use some work now as well. When the AirPods Pro 2 launched, they were the best noise-canceling earbuds that you could buy, but Bose and Sony have since made superior noise blockers. More blocking in the high end would be good, and overall performance on public transport, so I don't have to hear the screaming brakes of the London tube when I go to visit my friend.
Live translation & other Apple Intelligence features
Apple has some catching up to do when it comes to AI, with Apple Intelligence falling behind the likes of Gemini and even Samsung's Galaxy AI. There's something to be said about packing more Apple Intelligence features into the AirPods Pro 3 — I could see conjuring the assistant and asking it questions about my surroundings for a quick explainer without having to pull my iPhone from my pocket.
That could shore up the faltering AI system and make it more useful beyond Genmoji. Directions to restaurants, information about your surroundings, the list could be endless. There is one that looks to be a definite new feature for the AirPods Pro 3, however — live translation.
Using some of the power of iOS 26, it looks like the next AirPods are going to be able to translate foreign languages when you're on vacation or having a work call. That's something we've seen in Pixel Buds (to varying degrees of success) before, so it's a welcome extra for Apple's buds.
More battery life
The AirPods Pro 2 didn't have the best battery life in the world. The six hours from the buds is fine, but it doesn't reach the 7.5 hours of the Sony WF-1000XM5. 24 hours of case battery life is about par for the course as well, but it would be nice to see some improvements.
I don't think a request for more battery is going to fall on deaf ears at Apple HQ, but I'm not totally sure that the AirPods Pro 3 are going to feature better staying power. The AirPods 4 launched recently with disappointing battery life, so it wouldn't surprise me if the new Pro pods didn't see much—if any—improvement.
Wildcard features
There's always something fun that Apple packs in that we weren't expecting — although it's still fun to guess what those features could be. There have been rumblings that there might be a camera remote feature in the AirPods Pro 3, letting you remotely take pictures on your phone with your buds controls. Pointless? I'd argue yes. Fun? Also yes.
There are some features that are almost certainly not going to come to AirPods Pro 3, but a future pair of buds — a built-in camera, amongst other things. Until we see them in Tim Cook's hands at an Apple event, however, we won't know for sure.
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