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AirPods Pro 3 First Look

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Apple is planning to release the AirPods Pro 3 next week, but MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera was able to get an early look at the new earbuds following Tuesday's keynote event. It's been a few years since the AirPods Pro were refreshed, so there are some useful upgrades to be aware of.


The AirPods Pro 3 have a new shape because Apple redesigned the part that goes in the ear. The difference is subtle, but noticeable when you have the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 side-by-side. The ear tips now have foam on the outside, which is supposed to better shut out ambient sound.

There were rumors that the AirPods Pro 3 Charging Case would get smaller, but that didn't happen. It's actually bigger than before, but it is a little less heavy. There's no button on the back, with Apple swapping to the same hidden capacitive button that's on the AirPods 4 case.

Audio quality is clearly better on the low end, with better balance. Active Noise Cancellation is also 2x better, though Dan wasn't able to test the AirPods long enough to definitively confirm Apple's claims.

Live Translation is available for in-person conversations, and it worked during a test with a Spanish speaking Apple employee. There are limited languages at launch, but Apple plans to add more over time. Heart rate tracking is also new, and now you don't even need an Apple Watch to keep track of your heart rate and calories burned when working out.

Dan was also able to check out the new Apple Watch models, but there's not a whole lot going on there visually. The Series 11 has a 5G chip, a more durable display, and improved battery life, but it's otherwise basically the same as the Series 10.

The Apple Watch SE didn't get an updated design, but it too has 5G and a faster S10 chip. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has a bigger display thanks to slimmed down bezels, and it now supports satellite connectivity like the iPhone.

We'll have a more in-depth look at all of Apple's new devices starting next week, so make sure to stay tuned.

Article Link: AirPods Pro 3 First Look
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/09/12/airpods-pro-3-first-look/
I'm more interested in the AirPods Pro 3 than I was going into the event, and less interested in the Apple Watch 11. I considered upgrading the watch for hypertension until I heard it'll be on my series 9. I'll need to wait for a sale on the Pros.
 
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carbocation said:
I'm most curious about whether the AirPods Pro 3 microphone sounds better than AirPods Pro 2. Right now, you're much better off just using the Macbook's built-in mic array if you care about voice quality. Will that change with the AirPods Pro 3?
Click to expand...
Yes, especially after some use. I've had to do that several times and also switch to speaking on the phone instead of AirPods, because the people I spoke with couldn't understand anything :)
 
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been waiting for these but really am disappointed that they used the same chip exactly…
 
The AirPod Pro 3 and the iPhone Air are probably the most interesting things from this last launch. Though to be fair, I think that seeing the iPhone 17 pro in person might change my mind about it. Seemed kind of ugly and big in pictures.
 
Sounds like it won't be necessary to cinch my Apple Watch band so tight during workouts in order to register heart rate, as long as wearing AirPods Pro 3.
 
I'm still so happy with my 2nd generation Pros, but these look awesome. Hopefully by the time my current ones die or I lose them, these will be seeing some discounts :)

I have to say, reading how they've got "2x" better noise reduction makes me really irritated they haven't updated the Max to have something even vaguely comparable. I love mine, but lame to see them getting lapped by earbuds that are half the price.
 
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carbocation said:
I'm most curious about whether the AirPods Pro 3 microphone sounds better than AirPods Pro 2. Right now, you're much better off just using the Macbook's built-in mic array if you care about voice quality. Will that change with the AirPods Pro 3?
Click to expand...
I think the new firmware and ios 26 was supposed to support a new mode for higher quality microphone, including on pro 2 and 4's - previous this was a BT limitation.
 
Airpods Pro 3 look enticing. I would like to see comparison with Powerbeats Pro 2 in terms of sound quality, fit and comfort of prolonged wear.
 
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Mac bloggers/podcasters keep saying the tips are foam. You are the first one to say they are encased in silicone (which is evident in photos). Thank you. Wondering what I will do. I used Comply tips with APP1 and 2. More comfortable than the silicone and I could wear them much longer. Dunno how this will shake out for me.
 
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smoker68x said:
Is live translation available on the APP2 yet? Had them on charge with my phone, public beta on both devices, and nothing yet.
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That's what I want to know too. Apple's own website says that my APP2 should work. I have iOS26 on my iPhone 16, AirPods latest firmware, and I am unable to follow any of the directions I could find to activate live translation.
 
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Hogswarts said:
Sounds like it won't be necessary to cinch my Apple Watch band so tight during workouts in order to register heart rate, as long as wearing AirPods Pro 3.
Click to expand...
From what I have been able to find out, iOS will always default to getting HR from the watch if you have one on and unlocked. There is no option in the workout app to change the source to the AP3, or any other workout app.
 
Which leads to this question: In the video, Dan is shown using his fitness app to launch a workout on his iPhone. The video shows a "workout" category at the bottom of the screen.

Huh? That's not what my iPhone looks like. Does it change with iOS 26? Does this mean if I want to start a workout, I have to do it on the watch? What if I don't have the watch?

The reason I ask: Like many, during a workout the watch loses the HR. Sometimes it recovers, but other times I have to take it off and clean the backside. And sometime that doesn't work. It's a PIA. And it will always default to using the watch for HR, with no options to change, which, absent a way to launch a workout from the phone, FORCES me to use the watch.

I'd much rather use the AirPods for HR monitoring without resorting to a third party app.
 
It feels like foam has been added for nose isolation as opposed to fit. The fit comes from better designed AirPods.

The third party foam tips have always been poor anyway. Even the Comply ones don’t last. If they get at all wet they disintegrate.

I can totally see why Apple didn’t go with that approach.
 
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dandrewk said:
Which leads to this question: In the video, Dan is shown using his fitness app to launch a workout on his iPhone. The video shows a "workout" category at the bottom of the screen.

Huh? That's not what my iPhone looks like. Does it change with iOS 26? Does this mean if I want to start a workout, I have to do it on the watch? What if I don't have the watch?

The reason I ask: Like many, during a workout the watch loses the HR. Sometimes it recovers, but other times I have to take it off and clean the backside. And sometime that doesn't work. It's a PIA. And it will always default to using the watch for HR, with no options to change, which, absent a way to launch a workout from the phone, FORCES me to use the watch.

I'd much rather use the AirPods for HR monitoring without resorting to a third party app.
Click to expand...
Ok, it looks like Dan is using iOS 26, which does add a workout section.
 
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Active Noise Cancellation is also 2x better, though Dan wasn't able to test the AirPods long enough to definitively confirm Apple's claims.

So Dan only tested them for 2 seconds? He needs a full day to test them?

Weird.
 
Honestly, I think the dual-material design is better than just foam or silicone. Everyone knows the good part about foam, but how many people actually think about the downsides? Shorter lifespan, loss of elasticity over time, easily affected by sweat. Unless you wear them every day and don’t mind replacing them every few months, it’s not practical. That’s why I find Apple’s choice really interesting—combining silicone’s durability with the isolation and comfort of foam.

As for the mic struggling in noisy places, well, my elders taught me something simple: step around the corner to a quieter spot, or just end the call. Don’t force it in the middle of all the noise. That’s how we always did it before, and it always works. And honestly, plenty of people still do this—even in a quiet office or when they’re just at home with their spouse. You see them pick up the phone and sneak off to the corner, all low-key and secretive. That’s the real model student of how to get the best sound quality out of a mic. And remember, cover your mouth with your hand while talking—works even better.
 
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Good video. Would have liked for the battery life/capacity of the case to be better. I just got the AirPods 4 with ANC and not looking to upgrade.
 
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ddhhddhh2 said:
Honestly, I think the dual-material design is better than just foam or silicone. Everyone knows the good part about foam, but how many people actually think about the downsides? Shorter lifespan, loss of elasticity over time, easily affected by sweat. Unless you wear them every day and don’t mind replacing them every few months, it’s not practical. That’s why I find Apple’s choice really interesting—combining silicone’s durability with the isolation and comfort of foam.

As for the mic struggling in noisy places, well, my elders taught me something simple: step around the corner to a quieter spot, or just end the call. Don’t force it in the middle of all the noise. That’s how we always did it before, and it always works. And honestly, plenty of people still do this—even in a quiet office or when they’re just at home with their spouse. You see them pick up the phone and sneak off to the corner, all low-key and secretive. That’s the real model student of how to get the best sound quality out of a mic. And remember, cover your mouth with your hand while talking—works even better.
Click to expand...

Yeah all the people who rave about the Comply tips have never spent any length of time with them. They are honestly so expensive for how little time they last.

I was replacing them monthly. That’s £100 a year on tips.
 
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ignatius345 said:
I'm still so happy with my 2nd generation Pros, but these look awesome. Hopefully by the time my current ones die or I lose them, these will be seeing some discounts :)

I have to say, reading how they've got "2x" better noise reduction makes me really irritated they haven't updated the Max to have something even vaguely comparable. I love mine, but lame to see them getting lapped by earbuds that are half the price.
Click to expand...
Can imagine the Max has better noise cancelling than APP 3 already.
 
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