Apple Inc., which just launched its iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, has also launched its premium wireless earbuds, AirPods Pro 3, promising great sound quality, health tracking, and real-time language translation.
The wireless earbuds mark a major leap for the world’s most popular wearable audio device, adding biometric sensing and AI-powered features that extend well beyond music playback.
The $249 AirPods Pro 3, available for pre-order today and shipping on September 19, introduce Apple’s first heart rate sensor for workouts, next-gen Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and a Live Translation feature that lets users carry on conversations across languages via Apple Intelligence, Apple’s AI platform.
Smarter Audio, Stronger ANC
Apple says the AirPods Pro 3 offer the world’s best in-ear noise cancellation, with up to 2x more noise blocked compared to the previous generation and 4x more than the original AirPods Pro. This is powered by a redesigned multiport acoustic architecture and computational audio algorithms, which adapt sound in real-time based on the environment and fit.
Transparency mode has also been refined, with more natural voice passthrough and environmental awareness, supporting longer and more seamless transitions between immersive and social settings.
Battery life has improved, with up to 8 hours of playback with ANC enabled — a 33% gain over the previous model.
Built for Fitness — With a Heart Rate Sensor
AirPods Pro 3 feature a custom photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor that shines pulsed infrared light 256 times per second to measure blood flow and detect heart rate. Combined with iPhone’s accelerometers, GPS, and Apple Intelligence, the earbuds can now:
- Track heart rate, calories burned, and movement
- Initiate over 50 workout types via the Fitness app
- Provide real-time insights and motivation with a new “Workout Buddy” experience “More people exercise with AirPods than any other headphones,” said Apple. “With AirPods Pro 3, workouts get smarter, more personalized, and fully integrated into the Apple ecosystem.”
Apple Fitness+ subscribers also gain on-screen workout metrics, including heart rate and calorie tracking, when using AirPods Pro 3 during video workouts.
Live Translation Comes to Your Ears
Apple is extending its Live Translation feature — part of iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence — to AirPods for the first time. Users can now carry out hands-free, real-time language translation during in-person conversations. When both participants are wearing AirPods, translations are delivered directly into the ears.
For conversations where only one person has AirPods, iPhone can act as a translation screen, showing transcribed speech in real time in the other user’s preferred language. Apple says the feature works with English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish at launch, with Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese to follow later in the year.
Refined Fit, More Durable Design
Apple used over 10,000 ear scans and 100,000 hours of testing to redesign AirPods Pro 3 for improved fit and in-ear stability. The earbuds now ship with five sizes of foam-infused ear tips, including a new XXS size for smaller ears.
Built to withstand intense workouts, the new AirPods are IP57-rated for water and sweat resistance, making them more durable than prior generations.
In line with its Apple 2030 climate goals, the AirPods Pro 3 are made with 40% recycled content, including 100% recycled cobalt in the battery and 65% recycled plastic in the charging case.
The earbuds are manufactured using 40% renewable electricity, and Apple says the paper packaging is now fully fiber-based and easily recyclable.
Market Context and Strategy
Apple’s move to expand AirPods functionality beyond audio — into fitness tracking and language services — reflects the company’s broader shift toward wearable computing platforms infused with on-device AI.
The AirPods business, while not broken out individually in Apple’s earnings, is part of the company’s Wearables, Home and Accessories category, which generated $41.6 billion in FY2024 — making it one of Apple’s fastest-growing revenue segments.
By embedding biometric sensors and intelligence capabilities, Apple is positioning AirPods not just as audio gear, but as health-tech and productivity tools, competing with products like the Meta Ray-Bans (for translation) and wearables like the Oura Ring (for health metrics).
Availability and Pricing
- AirPods Pro 3 are priced at $249
- Available in the U.S. and over 50 other countries
- Pre-orders begin today (September 11)
- In-store availability starts Friday, September 19