Apple AirPods Pro 3 Review A Significant Update To The Best Earbuds If you are not already wearing AirPods all day, the latest suite of features may convince you to start. The new AirPods Pro 3 represent Apple most comprehensive update to its best set of earbuds. While flashy new tools like Live Translation and heart rate sensing will get most of the attention, upgrades to active noise cancellation and a significant boost in sound quality should not be overlooked. Combined with a notable improvement in battery life, Apple has created a pair of earbuds that can last an entire work day, all without raising the price. Design and Fit At a glance, the AirPods Pro 3 look familiar, but Apple made subtle changes for a better fit. The shape is altered to align with the geometry of the ear canal. The most obvious change is under the new foam infused ear tips, where the grille protecting the driver now extends out in a nozzle like design, similar to many competitors. The drivers are also angled to beam sound more directly into your ears. The new fit, combined with the foam tips, is noticeably different and more isolating than the previous silicone tips. It may take some getting used to, and you might need to go down a size from what you used with the AirPods Pro 2 for optimal comfort. The charging case also sees a small change, with the Bluetooth pairing button removed. You now double tap the front of the case near the hidden LED light to pair. Enhanced Active Noise Cancellation Apple has made major strides in active noise cancellation with the Pro 3. The combination of ultra low noise microphones, advanced computational audio, and the superior passive isolation from the new foam tips allows the earbuds to cancel significantly more background noise. Apple claims the new model cancels twice as much noise as the AirPods Pro 2 and four times more than the original model. In use, the difference is clear, with the Pro 3 effectively silencing higher frequency sounds like human voices that previous models struggled with. This improved ANC is not just for quiet. It serves as the foundation for other features. It allows the Hearing Test to be conducted in slightly louder environments and, crucially, powers the new Live Translation feature. Live Translation for Real Time Conversations One of the standout new features is Live Translation for in person conversations. While Google has offered this on Pixel Buds for years, Apple implementation leverages the H2 chip, Voice Isolation, ANC, and the beamforming mics. You can activate it by pressing and holding both stems, asking Siri, or using the iPhone Action Button. When activated, ANC kicks in to muffle ambient noise and lower the volume of the person you are speaking with, allowing you to clearly hear Siri translation through the AirPods. A real time transcription also appears on your iPhone screen. The feature worked well in testing for languages like Spanish and French, though you will see the text translation just before hearing the audio. Live Translation requires Apple Intelligence on a compatible iPhone and currently supports English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, with more languages coming later. Heart Rate Tracking Comes to AirPods After debuting on the Powerbeats Pro 2, heart rate sensing now arrives on the AirPods Pro 3. The data integrates with Apple Fitness app and other third party workout apps. If you also wear an Apple Watch, the devices will work together for more comprehensive data. If you leave your Watch behind, the AirPods Pro 3 can still log a workout and contribute to your Activity rings. During testing, the heart rate monitoring provided a constant, reliable stream of data during activities like outdoor walks. The earbuds support tracking for 50 different workout types. Live heart rate is visible on the workout screen, in Live Activities on the Lock Screen, and in the Dynamic Island. Superior Sound Quality The sound quality on the AirPods Pro 3 sees a significant upgrade. This is due to a new multiport acoustic architecture that improves air flow, revised drivers, and their new angling for more direct sound beaming. The result is a warmer, boomier bass response, a wider soundstage, and increased vocal clarity. The improvements are immediately noticeable across various music genres, from heavy rock to atmospheric pop, making this one of the most appreciable audio upgrades in an AirPods generation. Battery Life and Call Quality Battery life sees a welcome boost. With ANC enabled, you can get up to eight hours of listening time, two hours more than the Pro 2. This makes a full work day of use a real possibility. A five minute charge in the case provides about an hour of power. The total battery life with the case is 24 hours, down from 30 on the previous model due to the new U2 chip for improved Precision Find My. Apple best in class transparency mode is even better, making ambient sound and voices sound more natural. This enhances call quality and is crucial for features like Hearing Aid. The AirPods Pro 3 also support the new studio quality voice recording in iOS 26, allowing them to function as a high quality lavalier microphone for video recording. The Competition Within Apple lineup, the AirPods 4 with ANC offer a compelling, more affordable option at 179 dollars, though they lack heart rate tracking and the full suite of hearing health tools. Outside the ecosystem, Sony WF 1000XM5 remains a top tier all rounder, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are a noise canceling powerhouse, and Noble Audio FoKus Rex5 offers exceptional sound quality for those willing to pay a premium. Wrap Up The AirPods Pro 3 is the most significant update to Apple high end earbuds in years. It is not defined by one single feature, but by the powerful combination of vastly improved ANC, superior sound, practical new tools like Live Translation and heart rate tracking, and all day battery life. The redesign and new ear tips also address fit issues some users had with previous models. For anyone invested in the Apple ecosystem, the AirPods Pro 3 solidifies its position as the best in class wireless earbud.
