It’s been nearly three years since the AirPods Pro 2 landed in our ears (or in my case, fell out of them every 15 minutes). Since then, Apple’s only real tweak has been swapping Lightning for USB-C, which is about as exciting as repainting your car the exact same colour and calling it “new.”
Meanwhile, Sony and Bose have been busy actually improving their earbuds (better fit, better sound, better noise cancellation) and they’re making Apple look a bit… complacent. Don’t get me wrong, the AirPods Pro still has one of the best transparency modes in the business and a case that can ping itself when lost (which is great, because I lose mine a lot). But when it comes to audio quality, battery life, and, you know, staying in your ears, there’s room for some serious upgrades.
So, when will Apple finally give us the AirPods Pro 3? Are we talking weeks, months, or will Tim Cook just keep letting us stew until the competition completely eats their lunch? Let’s dig into the rumors, the likely pricing, and my personal wishlist for what the AirPod Pros need to finally feel “Pro” again.
AirPods Pro 3 Release Date Rumors
Apple is a bit of a wildcard when it comes to launches. Sometimes they trot out new products in a big, flashy keynote address. Other times, they just drop a press release on a random Tuesday like it’s no big deal.
Apple’s Track Record
Here’s the thing: the AirPods Pro 1 came out in 2019. Then… nothing. We waited three years before getting the Pro 2 in 2022. Then, in 2023, Apple “updated” them with a USB-C port, which I suppose is technically an upgrade, but also not exactly the kind of headline feature you rush out to queue for.
So if Apple keeps to that same three-year cycle, we’d be looking at late 2025 for the Pro 3. But that’s assuming they don’t surprise us with an earlier drop, which is possible given how competitive the earbud market has become.
What the Leaks Are Saying
Industry insiders like Mark Gurman and Ming-Chi Kuo have been dropping vague hints about “next-gen AirPods,” but nothing concrete. A few supply chain leaks have pointed to Apple ordering new audio chipsets for late-2025 production, but again, leaks are like horoscopes: fun to read, but not something I’d bet my mortgage on.
What Could Delay Things
A few things could slow down the Pro 3 launch:
- Vision Pro focus. Apple’s putting a lot of R&D and marketing money into its mixed-reality headset.
- iPhone cycle. If the iPhone 17 is a big leap, Apple might want AirPods Pro 3 to launch alongside it.
- Component shortages. Remember when it took months just to get a new iPad? Yeah, that.
If I had to make an educated guess, I’d say we’re most likely to see AirPods Pro 3 in late 2025. But with Apple, your guess is as good as mine (and probably just as wrong).
Expected AirPods Pro 3 Price
Apple’s not exactly known for surprise discounts, unless you count the “surprise” when you realise the price hasn’t gone up. The AirPods Pro 2 currently sit around £229 in the UK, which seems to be Apple’s sweet spot for “Pro” earbuds.
Given inflation, rising manufacturing costs, and the fact that Bose and Sony are both happily selling their flagship earbuds at similar prices, I’d be shocked if Apple didn’t at least consider nudging that up a bit. Then again, they may hold the line to avoid the awkward PR moment of charging more for something that still… doesn’t support lossless audio on iPhone.
Where We’re At Now
Right now, the AirPods Pro 2 are basically in the same price bracket as:
- Sony WF-1000XM5. Similar £200 price range, but with foam tips and arguably better bass.
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra. Around £400 at launch, but you can often find them discounted to AirPods Pro money.
- Beats Fit Pro. Slightly cheaper, but more sport-focused.
The competition is fierce, bringing better battery life, richer sound, and in Bose’s case, lossless playback. Apple’s advantage? Its (somewhat toxic) ecosystem, which offers instant device switching, spatial audio for Apple TV, and a Find My-friendly case.
Price Hike or Price Hold?
If AirPods Pro 3 get genuinely new features (like lossless audio, better ANC, or fitness sensors), expect Apple to either:
- Keep them around £229 but drop the Pro 2 to a lower tier (like they do with older iPhones), or…
- Push Pro 3 up to £259+ and keep the Pro 2 around as the “budget” Pro option.
Bundle Temptations
Apple loves a good bundle push:
- Back-to-School promo – Free AirPods with a Mac or iPad, with a small upgrade fee for Pros.
- AppleCare+ upsell – Because if you’ve ever dropped an AirPods case into a pint glass (guilty), that extra cover suddenly feels worth it.
- Vision Pro tie-in – Don’t be shocked if AirPods Pro 3 are sold as “the perfect companion” for Apple’s headset, even if 90% of buyers never go near one.
Bottom line? I’d be pleasantly surprised if Apple held the current price, but I’m bracing myself for a £20–£30 bump if they add even a single “must-have” feature.
AirPods Pro 3: Rumored & Dream Features
If Apple follows its usual playbook, we won’t get a laundry list of new features; we’ll get two or three headline changes, a few under-the-hood tweaks, and a shiny promo video that makes you wonder if you’ve been living life wrong without them. But here’s what’s rumored… and what I hope we get.
Fit That Actually Fits
Let’s just get this out of the way: AirPods Pro still have one of the most frustrating “great… if they stay in” designs in tech. Apple gives you four ear tip sizes and a “fit test” in the iPhone settings, but for me, all four sizes pass the test and still fall out the moment I do anything more vigorous than sipping tea.
Competitors like Bose use wing tips for extra stability, and Sony’s foam tips naturally mould to your ear canal. Apple? Still silicone. If AirPods Pro 3 came with foam tips as standard, it would solve half of my gripes overnight.
Finally… Lossless Audio?
This one’s been the elephant in the room for years. Bose and Sony already offer high-res playback over Bluetooth on Android, and Apple… doesn’t. The Pro 2 can do lossless audio, but only if you own a £3,500 Vision Pro headset.
If Apple really wants to call these “Pro,” they need to make lossless playback work straight from an iPhone. No weird workarounds. No “special hardware pairing.” Just give us the option.
Better Noise Cancellation
The Pro 2’s noise cancellation is solid… until you put them next to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and realise you’ve been living in a slightly noisier bubble than you thought.
In my own tests, Bose handled everything from crying babies on a plane to my drum kit at home better than AirPods. Apple could close the gap with a new audio chip (the rumored H3) and more advanced microphone tuning.
Transparency Mode Tweaks
This is where Apple is already ahead. The Pro 2’s transparency mode is so natural you forget you’re wearing earbuds. Bose and Sony still sound “processed” by comparison.
For Pro 3, I’d love to see AI-driven voice enhancement. Imagine the earbuds boosting the clarity of a conversation in a noisy café without turning up all the background chatter.
Battery Life Worth Bragging About
Apple claims 6 hours on the Pro 2 with ANC on. In the real world, that’s fine for a commute but not a long-haul flight. Bose lasts longer, and Sony can push close to double the AirPods’ endurance.
If Pro 3 could make it through an entire London-to-New York flight without me nervously checking the battery every hour, I’d be happy.
My Final Thoughts
The AirPods Pro 3 are shaping up to be Apple’s most important earbud release yet. Not because we’re overdue for an update, but because the competition has caught up and, in some areas, sprinted past.
Sony and Bose have proven you can have better fit, richer sound, longer battery life, and more powerful noise cancellation, all without sacrificing premium feel. Apple’s still winning the transparency game and ecosystem perks, but those alone won’t cut it forever.
If half the rumours come true (foam tips, lossless audio on iPhone, improved ANC), I’ll be first in the queue outside the Apple Store. But I’ll still have a pair of third-party foam tips in my pocket, just in case.
