Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 landed as a familiar silhouette with a surprising amount crammed inside. From foam tips that change how silence feels to an in-ear heart-rate sensor that nudges these buds into wearable territory, the third-gen Pro is less an incremental update and more a rethinking of what earbuds can do.
First impression: same shape, different experience
Look at them on the kitchen counter and you might shrug — they resemble the previous AirPods Pro. Put them in and the differences show up fast. Apple redesigned the tips (firmer foam that sits deeper) and rearranged internal components to squeeze better sound and improved Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) out of a familiar package. That deeper foam seal is the unsung hero here: it’s the single biggest reason ambient noise disappears more effectively, and why ANC feels noticeably stronger than the previous model.
Heads-up: some people need a day or two to get used to the new tip material. A brief discomfort at first is common; after a short break-in period the seal settles and the payoff — clearer bass, crisper highs, better ANC — is worth it.
Sound, spatial tricks and longer listening sessions
If you care about subtlety in music, the AirPods Pro 3 deliver. Apple’s tuning shines with an adaptive EQ that responds quickly to changes in your environment, lifting details you hadn’t noticed before — tiny backing vocals, an extra guitar line, room reverberations. Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking feels more convincing; songs and movie soundtracks gain a sense of depth that actually pulls you in rather than feeling like a gimmick.
Battery life also takes a practical step forward. Expect longer stretches between charges — enough to routinely get through workouts, commutes and a few meetings without digging for the case.
If you live in Apple’s world, the listening experience gets even richer. New features rolling into iOS — like improved podcast chapters and smarter episode links in the latest Podcasts updates — pair neatly with the Pro 3’s audio chops and make long-form listening feel more navigable. See Apple’s recent Podcasts additions in iOS 26.2 for how software and hardware are converging here: Apple Podcasts in iOS 26.2 Adds Auto‑Generated Chapters, Timed Links and Better Episode Links.
ANC and Adaptive Transparency: smarter silence, safer awareness
ANC on the Pro 3 is more aggressive without feeling claustrophobic, thanks largely to that improved acoustic seal. On planes and noisy commutes it isolates very well; at moderate volumes you’ll often notice very little of the outside world.
Adaptive Transparency is a quietly brilliant update for everyday life. It lets in ambient sound when you need it, while dampening sudden loud noises (honks, construction bangs) so they don’t jar you. Cyclists and commuters who need situational awareness will appreciate how this mode balances safety and immersion.
A heart-rate monitor in an earbud? Yes — and it works
This is the headline feature that turns earbuds into health accessories. The AirPods Pro 3 include an infrared heart-rate sensor that can feed data into the Health app and help you close Activity rings even if you don’t wear an Apple Watch. Practically, that means runs, indoor rides or fitness classes can log heart rate without a separate strap.
Accuracy depends on fit and conditions: follow Apple’s tips for the best readings (proper fit test, clean earbuds, updated height/weight info in Health). If you use both an Apple Watch and the earbuds, Apple will log the “highest-confidence” source at any moment. For people who don’t own a watch — or who switch devices while exercising — the sensor is an unexpectedly useful addition. If you follow the larger Apple ecosystem news, keep this in mind as Apple’s device relationships shift; Apple recently signaled changes to iPhone–Apple Watch sync behavior that make the ability to get health data from other devices even more relevant: Apple to Disable iPhone–Apple Watch Wi‑Fi Sync in EU as DMA Deadline Looms.
Controls, translation and practical bits
The force sensor on the stem remains simple and quick: taps for play/pause and skipping, press-and-hold to swap modes, and swipe gestures for volume. Add head gestures (yes, nod to accept a call) if you like little tricks that let you stay hands-free.
Live Translation is a fun, legitimately useful feature: choose languages in the Translate app, download the required models, and you can have near-real-time in-ear translation for short, practical interactions — ordering coffee, asking for directions, that sort of thing. It isn’t flawless with slang or heavy accents, but it’s already impressively competent.
Where they matter (and where they don’t)
The Pro 3 is strongest if you live inside Apple’s ecosystem. Full feature parity, Health integration and the smoothest device switching all assume iPhone, iPad or Mac ownership. Outside of that world, many features are less convenient or unavailable.
They’re also still priced at the premium end. But the addition of a heart-rate sensor, improved ANC and Adaptive Transparency, plus better battery life, shifts the value equation. If you’re an iPhone user who exercises, commutes or travels a lot, these feel like a genuine upgrade rather than a slight refresh.
If you want to buy or compare, the AirPods Pro 3 are available on Amazon. And if you lean hard on the fitness side, pairing them with an Apple Watch still makes for the most complete experience.
A quick, human moment: they’re small, but they can change how you notice the world. Turn them on and suddenly your morning song sounds different; put them in during a run and you can trust the numbers on your phone. That’s a rare mix of auditory upgrade and everyday practicality in one tiny case.