Apple AirPods Pro 3 Morph Into Essential Always On Wearable
The new AirPods Pro 3, introduced alongside the iPhone 17, feature improved active noise cancellation and foam ear tips. But their most significant update is not about sound quality. It is about Apple creating more reasons for users to never take them out of their ears.
The social norm of removing headphones during a conversation is rapidly fading, thanks to the ubiquity of AirPods and the smart features Apple keeps adding. The Conversation Awareness feature, which automatically lowers volume when you speak, was an early step. Now, Apple is layering on functionalities that transform the earbuds from an audio accessory into a persistent, multi-purpose wearable.
This strategy began with hearing health features that allowed the AirPods Pro to conduct ear health checks, act as a hearing aid, and provide hearing protection. The AirPods Pro 3 build on this foundation by integrating two powerful new capabilities: heart rate monitoring and live translation.
The inclusion of a heart rate sensor means the earbuds can now track certain workouts and display health metrics on screen during an Apple Fitness+ session, a role traditionally reserved for the Apple Watch. This opens up new possibilities for fitness tracking without requiring a watch.
Perhaps the most futuristic feature is Live Translation. This allows the AirPods Pro 3 to translate spoken language in real-time, effectively letting your earbuds translate the world around you. They can even transmit your translated voice directly to another person wearing a pair of AirPods Pro 3. Crucially, this feature will also come to the more affordable AirPods 4 and previous-generation AirPods Pro 2, normalizing the behavior of constant wear even further.
It is difficult to judge the practical utility of these features without hands-on testing, but their direction is clear. Apple no longer sees its headphones as a simple audio add-on for the iPhone. They are being positioned as a core wearable device in their own right.
While few would buy the 249 dollar AirPods Pro 3 as a direct replacement for the identically priced Apple Watch SE 3, the overlapping functionality is strategic. For Apple, it serves as a gateway. The ability to track a workout with just the earbuds could entice a user to later subscribe to Fitness+ or purchase an Apple Watch for more comprehensive data.
Reports suggest Apple is investigating even more radical steps to make AirPods a standalone product, including exploring the addition of cameras for Apple Intelligence and visual understanding of the environment.
The immediate driver for this feature creep, however, is business. Making AirPods an always-on wearable is excellent for the company’s ecosystem and revenue. The relationship between AirPods and Apple Watch may eventually mirror that of the iPad and Mac. Their functions will continue to overlap, yet each device remains distinct and compelling enough that consumers feel compelled to own both.
Apple is tiptoeing into a future where AirPods are as essential as the smartphone, worn throughout the day. For now, this gradual morphing into an always-on wearable is a clever way to sell new earbuds today and pave the way for selling more products tomorrow.
