Apple Unveils AirPods Pro 3 Featuring Industry-Leading ANC and Heart Rate Monitor

Apple has unveiled the AirPods Pro 3, marking the product's first significant update in three years. These new earbuds introduce a built-in heart rate monitor, enhanced active noise cancellation (ANC), and a live translation feature. Preorders begin today at $249, with shipping starting September 19th.

Audio quality gets a boost on the AirPods Pro 3, featuring a wider soundstage and more effective noise cancellation. Apple states the earbuds provide the "world's best ANC," achieved through foam-infused ear tips that improve noise isolation. The company claims this design doubles the ANC performance of the previous model, delivering the strongest active noise cancellation available in any in-ear wireless headphones.

One of the most notable upgrades is the inclusion of a heart rate sensor. Apple has integrated its smallest custom photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor into the AirPods Pro 3. This technology uses invisible infrared light, pulsed 256 times per second, to measure blood flow by tracking light absorption.

The sensor works in tandem with the earbuds' accelerometers, gyroscope, GPS, and a new on-device AI model on a paired iPhone to monitor heart rate, calories burned, and physical activity. A new workout experience called Workout Buddy within the iPhone Fitness app leverages Apple Intelligence to track exercise data and fitness history.

A new live translation feature is also coming to the AirPods Pro 3. When activated, ANC lowers the speaker's volume and plays the translated audio in your preferred language. Apple explains that Live Translation helps users understand and communicate in other languages simply by speaking naturally with their AirPods. For conversations with someone not using the feature, your iPhone can act as a horizontal display, showing a live transcription in the other person's language.

Apple has also refined the fit of the AirPods Pro 3. After analyzing over 10,000 3D ear scans, the company has made each earbud smaller and reshaped it to sit more comfortably in the ear canal. Five sizes of ear tips are now available. Durability is improved as well, with an IP57 rating for sweat and water resistance.

Alongside the AirPods Pro 3, Apple is adding new features to its entire AirPods lineup with the release of iOS 26 this fall. All AirPods will function as a camera remote for the Camera app. Additionally, AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 will gain support for studio-quality audio across music, videos, and podcasts. Call quality is being improved for these models in iOS 26, along with better charging reminders and an audio pause feature if you fall asleep.

The last major update to the AirPods Pro line was the second-generation model three years ago, which improved sound, noise cancellation, and added a speaker to the charging case. In 2023, the AirPods Pro 2 received an update for dust resistance and a switch to a USB-C charging case, moving away from the Lightning port.