Apple’s yearly September event is famous for introducing a new iPhone, but a significant highlight this year is the launch of new AirPods Pro.
As of Sept. 9, the anticipated Apple AirPods Pro 3 have been officially revealed. The last update to the Pro series occurred in 2023, primarily featuring incremental improvements, such as the addition of a USB-C port to the 2022 AirPods Pro 2. These AirPods were overdue for a refresh, and Apple has responded with a revamped design that includes foam ear tips, improved ANC, and new capabilities like live translation and fitness tracking. The earbuds will retail for $249, keeping the same introductory price as the previous model.
Preorders have commenced as of Sept. 9, with general availability beginning on Friday, Sept. 19.
Apple AirPods Pro 3: What’s new
– Five sizes of foam-infused ear tips
– Double the ANC power compared to the earlier generation Pro, and four times as effective as the first generation Pro
– Live translation
– Heart rate monitoring
– Newly integrated fitness features that function with the Fitness app on iPhone
– Compatibility with Fitness+, allowing users to see live metrics on iPhone
– Eight hours on a single charge (with ANC, as opposed to six hours on the previous generation), and 10 hours in transparency mode
– IP57 sweat- and water-resistant rating
– New acoustic design enhancing spatial audio quality
Apple has integrated heart rate monitoring technology from the Powerbeats Pro 2, alongside Fitness app compatibility, making the AirPods Pro a more versatile choice and a plausible alternative for those considering an Apple Watch.
More new features: Live translation, enhanced battery
The introduction of a live translation function in these earbuds comes after a preview of iOS 26 that suggested this feature for Apple earbuds this year. Other earbuds such as the Samsung Galaxy Buds, Google Pixel Buds, and even the budget-friendly Anker Soundcore AeroFit 2 earbuds provide some version of live language translation, making it intriguing to see how the AirPods stack up.
The enhanced ANC and battery life also stand out. The Pro 2 had already established itself as a top competitor in noise-canceling earbuds, with Mashable’s Stan Schroeder stating they were “the first pair of earbuds I’d actually consider taking on an airplane” at their launch.
The improvements in battery life are especially appreciated — while the six-hour battery life on the Pro 2 was good, it had begun to fall behind the emerging standard of seven to eight hours seen in newer noise-canceling earbuds. Therefore, achieving eight hours per charge with ANC is a notable upgrade.
Apple AirPods Pro 3: Price
Perhaps the most unexpected element of the Apple AirPods 3 is their pricing — despite the multitude of new features that boost their functionality, they remain at $249, the same retail price as the AirPods Pro 2.
Given that other premium alternatives like the new generation of Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds and the somewhat older Technics EAH-AZ1000 are priced at $299 (without any fitness features), this pricing strategy from Apple is particularly competitive.
For additional coverage on the Apple event, keep an eye on Mashable’s live blog for real-time updates on the iPhone 17, Apple Watch Series 11, and AirPods Pro 3 launch.