With big improvements to noise cancellation, better dust and water resistance, longer lasting battery life and great audio quality, these are fantastic in-ear wireless headphones. But some of the unique features, like live translation and heart rate monitoring, seem superfluous.
- I really love the audio quality, particularly with spatial tracks
- Really comfortable and secure fit
- Better battery life than previous AirPods
- You really need to use Apple phones and devices to get the most out of them
- Heart rate tracking seems lost when you have an Apple Watch
- Still only available in white
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Five years is a long time in consumer technology. For me, last yearās AirPods 4 with ANC were so good they replaced my original 2019 AirPods Pro as my go-to noise-cancelling earbuds.
More secure, more comfortable and with similar noise cancellation despite the open-ear design, I was impressed enough to choose the standard AirPods 4 with ANC over the older first generation AirPods Pro.
But this year, Apple launched the AirPods Pro 3. And as usual, Apple has risen to the occasion. The AirPods Pro 3 offer incredible audio quality and impressive noise cancellation, with a more secure design and comfortable fit.
Apple has also introduced additional Pro features, like AI translation and in-ear heart rate monitoring. These features are fine, but I wouldnāt pick these earbuds specifically for one of these features. In the months I spent using these earbuds on almost a daily basis, I rarely used anything beyond the basic capabilities.
But Apple did do a fantastic job nailing the basics this time around.
@bttr_reviews Got my hands on the new AirPods Pro 3 from Apple, so letās take them out of the box! These are a big step up from the last generation, with built in heart rate monitoring and massive improvements to the noise cancellation. Testing is now underway - what do you think I should listen to so I can properly test these out?
ā¬ Despacito - Arturo Jimenes
What makes the Apple AirPods Pro 3 stand out?
Apple claims that the AirPods Pro 3 have 2x the noise cancellation capabilities of the AirPods Pro 2, and up to 4x the performance of the original AirPods Pro.
And the noise cancellation performance is impressive. Standing under the kitchen range hood with the earbuds in was like standing in a silent room.
Like the AirPods Pro 2, you get support for immersive Spatial Audio playback, but this generation Apple has redesigned the earths to use foam, which helps create a better, more comfortable seal as well as improving the noise cancellation performance.
Battery life gets a boost, with up to eight hours of listening time with ANC active from a single charge, and for those who use the earbudās hearing aid functionality, youāll get up to 67% more battery life in transparency mode.
The two features that really set the AirPods Pro 3 apart are one part hardware, one part software. On the hardware front, Apple included a heart rate sensor in the earbuds themselves, so you can now accurately track your heart rate and calories burned during a workout.
On the software side of things, Apple is leveraging Apple Intelligence for live translation. This lets you hold a conversation with someone in a different language, with the earbuds speaking a translation into your ears, then translating your words back onto your iPhoneās screen.
Itās a really cool idea, though somewhat limited in its application.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 wireless earbuds specs
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Audio Technology | Custom high-excursion Apple driver Custom high dynamic range amplifier Active Noise Cancellation (world's best in-ear, 2x more than Pro 2, 4x more than original) Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, Conversation Awareness Voice Isolation, Personalised Volume Loud Sound Reduction Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking Adaptive EQ Studio-quality audio recording Vent system for pressure equalisation |
| Hearing Health | Hearing Test Hearing Aid capability Automatic Conversation Boost when using Hearing Aid feature Hearing Protection |
| Live Translation | Communicating across languages (Apple Intelligence) Supported languages: English (UK, US), French, German, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish Coming later: Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Japanese, Korean |
| Sensors | Dual beamforming microphones Inward-facing microphone Skin-detect sensor Motion-detecting accelerometer Speech-detecting accelerometer Heart rate sensor for workouts Touch control |
| Chip | Apple H2 headphone chip Apple U2 chip in MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C) |
| Durability | IP57 dust, sweat and water resistant (AirPods and charging case) For non-water sports and exercise |
| Size & Weight (Each AirPod) | Height: 30.9mm | Width: 19.2mm | Depth: 27.0mm Weight: 5.55g |
| Charging Case Size & Weight | MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C) with speaker and lanyard loop Height: 47.2mm | Width: 62.2mm | Depth: 21.8mm Weight: 43.99g Works with MagSafe, Apple Watch charger, Qi-certified chargers, or USB-C connector Includes speaker for Find My |
| Battery Life (AirPods) | Up to 8 hours with Active Noise Cancellation (up to 7.5 hours with Spatial Audio) Up to 6.5 hours with heart rate sensing during workouts Up to 10 hours in Transparency using hearing aid feature |
| Battery Life (with Case) | Up to 24 hours listening time with ANC enabled 5 minutes charge provides around 1 hour listening time |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 wireless technology |
| In the Box | AirPods Pro 3 MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C) with speaker and lanyard loop Silicone ear tips (five sizes: XXS, XS, S, M, L) Documentation USB-C Charge Cable sold separately |
| Compatibility | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro Requires latest iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, tvOS, or visionOS Can be used as Bluetooth headphones with other devices (limited functionality) |
| Accessibility Features | Hearing Test, Hearing Aid Automatic Conversation Boost Hearing Protection Live Listen audio Headphone levels Headphone Accommodations |
Design and build quality
If youāre after a pair of wireless noise-cancelling earbuds in any colour other than white, youāll have to look elsewhere. Appleās AirPods Pro 3 are unmistakable, which is both a good thing and a bad thing, I guess.
While the colour and style is immediately recognisable as Apple, there are plenty of subtle tweaks in the design here to make the AirPods Pro 3 a worthy upgrade.
The silicone eartips are now filled with foam, and thereās an extra size in the box to help you get the perfect fit. While it doesnāt seem like this subtle change would make that big of a difference to the overall fit and audio quality, it really does. Compared to my first-generation AirPods Pro, these feel infinitely more secure.
Somehow, each AirPods Pro 3 bud manages to squeeze in an additional sensor (for measuring heart rate) and a larger battery to offer up to eight hours from a single charge, all while being a bit smaller.
The stem on each AirPod can be squeezed to control music playback, noise-cancelling mode and to answer or end phone calls, just like previous models.
The case also rocks Appleās iconic white plastic design. This year, Apple has removed the physical pairing button, opting for the capacitive sensor on the case we saw in the AirPods 4 last year to activate pairing mode. Thereās also an anchor on the side of the case for a lanyard, if you wanted to secure the case that way.
Audio performance
The AirPods Pro 3 sound fantastic. There is something about the Spatial Audio experience on AirPods with Apple Music that I have yet to experience with any other pair of headphones. If the mix is good, the music is truly immersive and engaging in a way you just donāt experience elsewhere.
Powderfingerās (Baby Iāve got you) On my mind almost feels like a live performance, while tracks like Guns ānā Rosesā Sweet Child āo Mine in Atmos just wraps you up in that iconic guitar riff and Axl Roseās vocals.
Even when you are listening to a regular stereo mix, everything sounds great. My favourite album of the year was Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets from Counting Crows, which is only available in lossless stereo. But you still feel songs like The Tall Grass build, as the layers of acoustic guitar, drums and bass build with the vocals.
If your musical taste leans more towards pop than rock, these earbuds do an impressive job with the mixes. Taylor Swiftās Life of a Showgirl is immaculately balanced in Atmos, and the AirPods Pro 3 capture the range of her vocals, guitars, and percussion on tracks like Opalite perfectly.
Noise cancellation
The noise cancellation here does a lot of heavy lifting with the overall audio quality. By isolating and cancelling the background noise so effectively, you can really hear the finer detail in your music.
There are three modes available for noise-cancelling: ANC on, transparency mode and Adaptive mode. Even after a few months, Iām not 100% certain which mode Iām in when I switch at first, and typically have to cycle through to get what I want. The earbuds play a little sound to identify which mode youāre in, but Iād prefer it if Siri just told me.
The level of noise cancellation you get is pretty insane for in-ear headphones. I donāt think it reaches the same level as a good pair of over-ears, like the AirPods Max or the Sony WH-1000XM6, but it wipes the floor with other in-ear models Iāve tested.
The addition of the foam/silicone earths helps a lot here, and has the added benefit of making the earbuds feel more secure in your ears. Itās a win-win development, and while foam ear-tips arenāt exactly new, I expect weāll see plenty of brands move down this path from here on out.
Heart rate monitoring
Apple isnāt the first headphone manufacturer to add a heart rate monitor into its earbuds. Jabra added that functionality years ago, before it decided to pull out of the consumer market.
What confuses me about Appleās inclusion is that it already has the Apple Watch for tracking your heart rate during workouts. Thereās definitely a segment of the market that owns an iPhone but not an Apple Watch, but I donāt think there was a huge amount of demand for heart rate tracking in the earbuds.
If you dive into Apple Health and look at your heart rate while wearing the Apple Watch and the AirPods Pro 3, youāll see measurements from both devices side by side. The data is pretty consistent, so Iām sure it works just fine. But if you already wear an Apple Watch, this feature is redundant.
Live translation
Probably the only AI feature I have been suitably impressed by in the past few years is live translation. Samsungās implementation on the Galaxy Z Fold series was pretty impressive, but thereās nothing like the promise of being able to hear someone talk to you and have it translated into your ears.
I studied French at school 25 years ago, but donāt really have any occasion to use it. So to test this feature, I put on the French soundtrack while watching The Witcher on Netflix and listened to Siri try to translate for me.
I could keep up with the plot well enough, but it struggled whenever multiple people were talking. Of course, this isnāt what the live translation feature is designed to do.
I would love the opportunity to travel and test these out in situations, but for now, all I can say is that it seems to work pretty well. But even without the headphones speaking the language into your ear, you can use your smartphone these days to have a conversation on screen.
The key flag here is that Live Translation needs a phone that supports Apple Intelligence to work. So that means if your iPhone is older than the 15 Pro, then you wonāt be able to use this feature.
Battery life and connectivity
Apple says you get up to a full eight hours of playback from a single charge with the earbuds, and another 16 hours in the case.
That feels about right, though I donāt ever sit there for eight hours straight listening to my AirPods. And the difference between six hours and eight hours is negligible when you are popping the earbuds into the case after an hour or two every time anyway.
Appleās true USP with its AirPods is the seamless connectivity across its different devices. The AirPods Pro connect to your iPhone and MacBook effortlessly, and if you happen to use an Apple TV, you can connect to that with no issues as well.
You can connect the earbuds to any other Bluetooth device, though the process is a bit inconvenient since Apple removed the physical pairing button from the charging case.
Verdict
For an iPhone owner, thereās just nothing as good as the AirPods Pro 3 as a partner pair of Bluetooth earbuds. Even without the inclusion of the heart rate monitor and live translation features, these earbuds would shoot to the top of any recommendation list for Apple owners.
Apple claims that the noise cancellation on the AirPods Pro 3 is the best in the world for in-ear headphones. I wonāt make the same bold claim, but I can tell you they are the best I have tested. I still think an over-ear design gives overall better noise cancellation performance, but obviously, you sacrifice portability and convenience there.
At this point, I think itās safe to say that these are the best AirPods you can buy, but obviously the price tag means they arenāt for everyone. If you are on a budget, and you arenāt looking to spend $400+ on a pair of earbuds, then the AirPods 4 with ANC are a really solid option.
Buy the Apple AirPods Pro 3 if:
- You want best-in-class noise cancellation
- You use Apple Music and enjoy Spatial Audio
- You want to track your heart rate during a workout and donāt own an Apple Watch
Skip the Apple AirPods Pro 3 if:
- You donāt use an iPhone. Seriously, thereās no point.
- Your budget doesnāt extend beyond $400
- You have an older iPhone and want the Live translation feature
Where to buy
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 is available now for an RRP of $429.
š Where to buy Apple
Available from these trusted retailers:
BTTR is independent, but we may earn money when you purchase through links on our site. This helps us cover costs and continue providing honest reviews. Find out why you should trust us.
Frequently Asked Questions
What new features do the AirPods Pro 3 offer compared to the Pro 2?
The AirPods Pro 3 introduce a new in-ear heart rate sensor for fitness tracking, a significantly improved Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) system, extended battery life (8 hours with ANC), and an IP57 dust and water resistance rating for enhanced durability. They also feature foam-infused ear tips in five sizes for a more secure fit.
How much has the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) improved in the AirPods Pro 3?
Apple states that the AirPods Pro 3 deliver up to 2x more Active Noise Cancellation compared to the AirPods Pro 2. This improvement is achieved through a combination of a new acoustic architecture, next-generation computational audio processing, and the enhanced passive seal provided by the new foam-infused ear tips.
Do the AirPods Pro 3 include a heart rate monitor for fitness tracking?
Yes. The AirPods Pro 3 feature a custom photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor that enables accurate, real-time in-ear heart rate monitoring during workouts. This data can be automatically shared with the Apple Health and Fitness apps, eliminating the need for a separate Apple Watch or fitness tracker.
What is the official battery life for the AirPods Pro 3 with ANC turned on?
The official listening time is up to 8 hours on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) enabled. The MagSafe Charging Case provides up to 24 hours of total listening time with ANC, though the total capacity of the case is slightly reduced from the previous generation.
Are the AirPods Pro 3 water-resistant, and what is the official IP rating?
Both the AirPods Pro 3 earbuds and the MagSafe Charging Case are dust, sweat, and water-resistant with an official IP57 rating. This means they are protected against dust and can withstand immersion in up to one meter of fresh water for up to 30 minutes, though you definitely shouldnāt take them swimming.
What size ear tips come with the AirPods Pro 3, and how can I ensure the best fit?
The AirPods Pro 3 come with five sets of foam-infused silicone ear tips: XXS, XS, S, M, and L. To ensure the optimal acoustic seal for sound quality and ANC (and good skin contact for the heart rate sensor) you should use the Ear Tip Fit Test feature found in the AirPods Pro settings on your iPhone or iPad.
