Apple has officially unveiled the AirPods Pro 3, featuring active noise cancellation (ANC) claimed to be the best in the world, a new heart rate sensor, and real-time translation capabilities.

The AirPods Pro 3 will be available starting September 19 for $249. This marks the first major upgrade to the product line in three years.

Smarter, more immersive, and health-focused

The third-generation AirPods Pro introduces several breakthrough features, starting with a newly designed heart rate sensor. Apple has developed a custom photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor - the smallest of its kind - which emits invisible infrared light that pulses 256 times per second to measure light absorption in the blood.

This sensor works in tandem with accelerometers, gyroscopes, GPS, and a new AI model on iPhone to track heart rate, calories burned, and physical activity.

The Fitness app on iPhone also gains a new experience called “Workout Buddy,” which uses Apple Intelligence to monitor workout sessions and personal health history more intelligently.

One of the headline features is real-time translation. When activated, the earbuds lower the volume of the speaker’s voice and play back a translated version in the user’s language. Apple explains: “When enabled, real-time translation helps users understand another language and converse naturally via AirPods.”

Users can also set their iPhones in landscape mode to display on-screen subtitles in the preferred language of the person they’re speaking with - ideal for travel or cross-cultural communication.

Apple has also made improvements to fit. By analyzing over 10,000 3D scans of human ears, the company refined the shape of each bud, making them smaller and better contoured to fit ear canals. The new design includes five ear tip sizes, ensuring a snug and secure fit for a wider range of users.

Durability has also improved. AirPods Pro 3 now come with IP57 water and sweat resistance, meaning they are dust-tight and can withstand immersion in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.

Audio upgrades and ANC like never before

Sound quality has also been elevated. Apple promises a wider soundstage and improved noise isolation. The upgraded ANC now uses memory foam tips for superior sealing, allowing for what Apple calls “twice the noise cancellation efficiency compared to the previous generation” - the best among all in-ear wireless headphones, according to the company.

Users can pre-order the AirPods Pro 3 today, with shipping and retail availability beginning September 19.

More features coming with iOS 26

In addition to the AirPods Pro 3, Apple is rolling out software enhancements for other AirPods models with the release of iOS 26 this fall.

Users will soon be able to use AirPods as a remote shutter for the iOS Camera app. Studio-quality audio will be available for songs, videos, podcasts, and more on AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2.

Call quality will also improve across these models, and new smart features such as charge reminders and automatic audio pause when the user falls asleep will be introduced.

Du Lam