I’ll be honest: when Apple announced the AirPods Pro 3, I wasn’t exactly sitting on the edge of my seat. Because lately, buying new AirPods has felt a bit like buying the same takeaway three nights in a row. You know exactly what you’re getting, and it’s… fine. Nice, even. But exciting? Not really.
So imagine my face when I opened the box and discovered these tiny white earbuds can now track my heart rate. Inside my ears. And then you add Live Translation, hearing-aid features, hearing protection, a scientifically validated hearing test, and suddenly I’m wondering whether I’ve bought earbuds or some kind of MI5 starter kit.
So the big question: Is any of this actually useful… or have Apple just thrown features at their flagship earbuds to justify the upgrade?
Let’s get into it.
What’s Actually New with AirPods Pro 3?
The AirPods Pro 3 look almost identical to the Pro 2: same stem, same case shape, same glossy finish that scratches if you so much as look at it with intention.
But under the hood? A lot has changed. Here’s a quick look:
Stronger ANC
Apple’s calling this the world’s best in-ear noise cancellation, and for once, it might be accurate. The AirPods Pro 3 cut twice as much noise as the Pro 2 (and four times more than the originals) thanks to new ultra-low-noise microphones, a better acoustic seal, and smarter H2 processing. It finally feels like a meaningful upgrade.
Five Ear Tip Sizes (Including XXS)
You now get five sizes, including a tiny XXS option. Each tip uses a new foam-layered design that seals better and boosts bass without the usual ear-pressure discomfort.
New Acoustic Architecture
A redesigned airflow system and inward-facing mic aimed straight into your ear canal deliver deeper bass, clearer vocals and a wider soundstage. The Pro 2 sounded great; the Pro 3 pushes things noticeably further.
Heart Rate Sensing
Your earbuds now track heart rate and calories using LEDs firing 256 times a second. It ties into the Fitness app and is accurate enough to be genuinely useful, especially if you don’t want to wear a watch.
Hearing Tech You’d Normally Need Medical Gear For
A validated Hearing Test, improved Hearing Aid mode with more battery life, Hearing Protection analyzing noise 48,000 times per second, and Conversation Boost. No other earbuds offer this kind of accessibility-focused feature set.
Live Translation
With Apple Intelligence, you can hear real-time translations right through your AirPods. If both people are wearing Pro 3s, each hears the other in their own language. It’s basically sci-fi with the occasional mistranslation.
Better Battery Life
Up to 8 hours with ANC, or 10 hours in Transparency with Hearing Aid mode. A solid two-hour bump over the Pro 2 that you actually notice in daily use.
Sound Quality: Incremental Polish or a Real Upgrade?
Now let’s get into what really matters: Sound.
When Apple claims “better acoustic performance,” my expectations sit somewhere between “sure, louder bass” and “this will sound identical but cost more.”
Obviously, they’re not competing with the AirPods Max (nothing in-ear will), but for buds this tiny, the step up in clarity surprised me.
The redesigned acoustic system, plus that inward-facing microphone pointed straight down your ear canal, does more than just tweak the EQ. In day-to-day listening (on trains, walking the dog, editing videos, lying awake at 2 AM staring at the ceiling), there are three real improvements you notice straight away, including:
Bass That Finally Grows Up
The Pro 3 reach lower without turning into muddy thumps. It’s tighter, punchier, and you can feel the driver working with the new airflow system rather than fighting it. Drum kicks feel more “present,” and electronic tracks don’t collapse into buzz.
Cleaner Vocals
Podcasts, YouTube videos, calls; voices sound clearer and more natural. There’s less of that compressed, plasticky edge the old AirPods sometimes had when a track got busy.
A Wider, More Open Soundstage
This is where the new architecture really shows itself. Even without Spatial Audio turned on, the stereo image feels more spacious. Instruments sit in more defined pockets, and the whole mix feels less cramped.
Now, don’t get me wrong, these still aren’t replacing proper over-ear headphones or a pair of audiophile IEMs. But for in-ear buds you can shove in a pocket, the Pro 3 hit a level that finally feels premium rather than “premium… for Apple earbuds.”
Spatial Audio: Still a Party Trick or Worth Using?
High-definition Spatial Audio is better this year, but it still depends heavily on the content. Apple Music’s dedicated tracks? Lovely. Netflix? Sometimes brilliant, sometimes bizarre. Your mate’s random Spotify playlist? Don’t bother.
Dynamic head tracking still feels slightly awkward for music (why would I want the sound to move every time I look at the fridge?), but for movies and Group FaceTime calls, it genuinely adds a nice sense of space.
So, Is the Sound Actually Better?
Yes. Not revolution-level better, but enough that jumping from the Pro 2 to the Pro 3 feels like slipping into cleaner, clearer audio with room to breathe. It’s refinement done properly.
If you mainly listen to podcasts or TikTok, you won’t care. But if you listen to actual music, you will.
Everyday Experience: The Apple Ecosystem Flex
This is the part of any AirPods review where I’m reminded why people keep buying them even when cheaper buds sound great and cancel noise almost as well: life with AirPods is just… easy. Silky smooth. Like Apple sprinkled a little ecosystem fairy dust over the whole thing.
And the AirPods Pro 3 take that everyday convenience and polish it a bit further. Not dramatically, but enough that you feel it day to day.
Connectivity: The Bit Apple Rarely Gets Wrong
Switching between iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple TV is effortless. There’s also noticeably less audio drift when switching apps or hopping between calls and music. It’s one of those things you don’t appreciate until you go back to earbuds that handle it badly.
Siri Interactions: Surprisingly Natural (Apart From When You Nod in Public)
You can talk to Siri as usual, great. More interesting is Siri Interactions, where you can simply nod or shake your head to answer or ignore notifications. It feels a bit silly the first time you do it at a bus stop, but the gesture recognition is eerily accurate.
Announce Notifications are still incredibly handy, especially when your hands are full, or when you’re cooking and can’t be bothered wiping olive oil off your phone screen.
Controls That Actually Make Sense
Stem controls are still the best version of touch controls in any earbuds.
- Press for play/pause
- Swipe for volume
- Long press for ANC/Transparency
It’s all reliable, easy to hit, and doesn’t make you poke your ear like you’re trying to reset your brain.
The Case: Smarter, Still Ridiculously Scratchable
Precision Finding now reaches 1.5X farther, which is wonderful because I lose AirPods the way some people lose pens. The built-in speaker is loud enough to find the case under sofa cushions or in coat pockets, and USB-C charging is as universal as Apple will allow itself to be.
But yes, the case still scratches like it’s made from compressed eggshells. This is just who Apple is now.
Little Things That Make a Big Difference
- Spatial Audio podcasts on the iPhone are genuinely nice for long commutes.
- Switching from ANC to Transparency is instant and smooth.
- Handing a bud to someone for Audio Sharing still feels like magic.
- Battery estimates are more accurate, especially when switching devices.
It’s everything you expect from AirPods, but with fewer hiccups and enough polish to feel like the Pro 3 have grown into their role as Apple’s most mature wearable.
My Final Verdict on the AirPods Pro 3
After a couple of weeks living with the AirPods Pro 3, here’s the blunt truth: these aren’t flashy, they aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel, and they certainly aren’t shouting about their new features the way Apple normally would. But they are the biggest leap forward in the AirPods lineup since the original Pro.
- The ANC is noticeably stronger.
- The sound is cleaner, bigger, and more refined.
- Battery life finally hits the “don’t think about it” threshold.
- And then there’s the unexpected stuff, like heart-rate tracking, hearing aid features, hearing protection, and Live Translation, which help push these way beyond the usual “premium earbud” box.
If you’re upgrading from the Pro 2, the question is whether you’ll actually use the new features.
If your audio world is “Spotify + commuting,” the jump might feel subtle. But if you’re into workouts, you struggle with noisy environments, you value accessibility features, or you just want the best ANC Apple has ever made, this is a meaningful update.
If you’ve picked up the Pro 3 already, I’d love to hear how you’re getting on, especially with the hearing features and Live Translation. Are they genuinely useful?
Drop your thoughts in the comments!
