Price, Release Date, How to Preorder

Apple has detailed the latest entry in its AirPods lineup, the AirPods Pro 3. The new flagship earbuds replace the AirPods Pro 2 and promise several new features and performance improvements.

The AirPods Pro 3 feature a similar in-ear style as the previous-generation model, but have design tweaks to make them fit better in more ears. They also boast longer battery life, a built-in heart rate sensor, and support for a new Live Translation feature. Apple also says the Pro 3 will deliver a wider soundstage and are capable of twice the active noise cancellation power as the Pro 2.

The AirPods Pro 3 were just one of several new devices announced during Apple’s September launch event, which also included details on the new iPhone 17 lineup and latest Apple Watch models.

How to preorder the AirPods Pro 3

The AirPods Pro 3 are now available to preorder for $249 from Apple’s online store. Preorders are not yet available at other retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, but we’ll update this story once they’re live. The AirPods Pro 3 will officially launch in stores on September 19.

Despite offering new features and improved performance, the AirPods Pro 3 have the same suggested retail price as the AirPods Pro 2 that they’re replacing. However, the Pro 2 earbuds are often on sale for $200 or less, so it’s likely they’ll remain available at a discount while supplies last.

You can learn more about the second-generation model in our AirPods Pro 2 review, and check out details on all of Apple’s headphones in our guide to the best AirPods.

What’s different about the AirPods Pro 3?

The AirPods Pro 3 promise several cool new features and upgrades compared to older models in the series. Here’s a rundown of some of the most notable changes:

Better sound quality – Apple says the AirPods Pro 3 feature a new multiport acoustic architecture, which aims to better control the airflow of sound to the ear. The earbuds also use next-gen Adaptive EQ. In practice, these features should enable some audio improvements, but it remains to be seen just how much better the Pro 3 earbuds sound compared to the Pro 2.Improved active noise cancellation – The AirPods Pro 3 use new foam-infused ear tips, which Apple says will provide better noise isolation than the AirPods Pro 2. In conjunction with the earbuds’ microphones, this enables noise cancellation that’s up to two times more powerful than that of the Pro 2. Apple is touting that the Pro 3 earbuds will “deliver the world’s best ANC of any in-ear wireless headphones.” The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are the reigning champs in our noise-canceling tests, so we’re excited to see if the AirPod Pro 3 can actually best them.Design tweaks with a better fit – The Pro 3 have an in-ear design like the Pro 2, but they’re smaller than before. Apple is also including five ear-tip sizes to offer more options for different shapes, and the AirPods Pro 3 are the first AirPods to offer IP57 sweat and water resistance. The previous model was rated as IP54, which only protects from splashes. IP57 is able to withstand temporary immersion in water at certain depths.Built-in heart rate sensor – The AirPods Pro 3 integrates a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor to track your heart rate during workouts. This feature works with the Fitness app when you pair the earbuds with an iPhone. This is the first time a heart rate sensor has been built into a pair of AirPods, but Apple does offer a similar feature on its Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds.Longer battery life – Apple says the AirPods Pro 3 can last up to eight hours with ANC activated, while the AirPods Pro 2 were rated for six hours. Meanwhile, the Pro 3 can last up to 10 hours when used in transparency mode, which is a plus for people who use the AirPods’ hearing aid function.

Live Translation is coming, but other AirPods will also support it

Apple announced a new Live Translation function for the AirPods Pro 3, which will also be compatible with the AirPods 4 with ANC and AirPods Pro 2.

Live Translation is powered by Apple Intelligence and the AirPods’ computational audio. When activated, it lowers the voice of the person you’re talking to so you can hear a real-time translation of their words from one language to another through the AirPods. If two people are wearing compatible AirPods, the translation function will work both ways.

Live Translation will launch in beta and requires an iPhone with Apple Intelligence. The feature will initially support English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. Support for Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified) is set for later this year.