AirPods Pro 3 Not Launching Until Next Year, Claims Analyst

[MacRumors]

Apple may launch the AirPods Pro 3 in 2026, according to analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities Hong Kong, contradicting earlier predictions of a much sooner release.

Pu's Apple product timeline (via @jukanlosreve) comes as a bit of a surprise. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said in February that new AirPods with heart rate monitoring were "months away," suggesting a late 2025 launch at the earliest. Code references to AirPods Pro 3 were also recently unearthed in the iOS 26 beta by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser.

That said, in a recent Ming-Chi Kuo report, the analyst said AirPods may not see significant updates until 2026, when he expects IR camera-equipped AirPods to enter mass production. However, it was not clear if Kuo was writing about the standard non-Pro AirPods, and the analyst did not respond to requests for clarification.

Historically, Apple has launched significant AirPods updates alongside new iPhones, so a September event – likely shared with the upcoming ‌iPhone‌ 17 series – was thought to be the most plausible window. A 2026 release would mark four years since the AirPods Pro 2 debuted in September 2022.

Pu's product roadmap shows Apple focusing on other hardware in 2025. The analyst expects the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to arrive this year, which is no real surprise. More notably, he predicts that Apple will also release its rumored HomePad tablet this year – though he offered no more specific date.

For 2026, Pu forecasts the AirPods Pro 3 launching alongside the Apple Watch Series 12 and a refreshed Vision Pro. Looking further into 2027 and beyond, he anticipates blood monitoring capabilities coming to Apple Watch and the debut of "Vision Air" and smart glasses.

The AirPods Pro 3 are expected to feature significantly improved active noise cancellation and heart rate monitoring, similar to the recently announced Powerbeats Pro 2. Apple last updated the AirPods Pro line with a USB-C charging case in September 2023.

Article Link: AirPods Pro 3 Not Launching Until Next Year, Claims Analyst

 

[Stiille]

I hope this not true, want the AirPods Pro 3 badly 🙈

 

[winxmac]

A 2026 release would mark four years since the AirPods Pro 2 debuted in September 2022.

It's that long already? Approaching the gap of iPhone SE 2016 and iPhone SE 2020

 

[seek3r]

Tbh who cares? The APP2 are still super solid devices still getting cool feature updates, there’s very little reason to need to update them yet

 

[WarmWinterHat]

That's fine, the AirPods Pro 2 are still great headphones.

I'm still using my first gens. 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[Robert.Walter]

Ahem … AirPods Pro 26.

 

[Robert.Walter]

Tbh who cares? The APP2 are still super solid devices still getting cool feature updates, there’s very little reason to need to update them yet

I care. I find my hearing is deteriorating and I need more amplification than my APP2 can provide.

I’m holding on in hope APP 25 or 26 will be even more hearing aid like with higher amplification rates.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I care. I find my hearing is deteriorating and I need more amplification than my APP2 can provide.

I’m holding on in hope APP 25 or 26 will be even more hearing aid like with higher amplification rates.

There is no guarantee, or even any rumors, that there will be increased amplification.

 

[AppleTO]

Tbh who cares? The APP2 are still super solid devices still getting cool feature updates, there’s very little reason to need to update them yet

I think it has to do more with the fact that they are basically disposable. A lot of us who purchased the two’s don’t want to have to buy another pair of two’s right before three’s come out.

 

[somnolentsurfer]

I care. I find my hearing is deteriorating and I need more amplification than my APP2 can provide.

I care too. I'm still using first gen Air Pods pro, and they've started crackling and feeding back in either noise cancelling or transparency modes. I'm having to turn cancellation off altogether for them to be usable. I really don't want to to buy second gens now when a new version seems likely any moment. So to find it might be another year or more is disappointing.

 

[gaggle]

I am very much hoping for a jump in microphone quality. Almost all my dictations and Siri usages come out full of errors with the AirPods (gen1), and I turn off Bluetooth to speak into the phone instead. I can’t even ask for the time when I’m biking, unless I massively shout it out for all to hear 😅

Beyond “just” the quality of recording, I’d also consider it a top priority to improve responsiveness and bring down latencies, to have a much more fluid back-and-forth. E.g. the “ding” of Siri being ready to listen can take a while to come through, sometimes I end up in “Hey Siri… Hey SIRI. HEY!!! SIRI!!!” and then it goes “ding”.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I really don't even use my APP2 since the AP4 ANC came out anyhow.

I do like my APP2 -- I just don't have a lot of use for the plug type design (don't really do much air travel these days).

I did watch a movie with them + my ATV the other night though and that was great.

Great product. No update needed for now.

 

[iToph]

anyone missing something?

 

[fatTribble]

Tbh who cares? The APP2 are still super solid devices still getting cool feature updates, there’s very little reason to need to update them yet

I don’t disagree, but for what it’s worth, I’ve finally convinced my spouse to refrain from using the “need” word in the house 🤭🤓

 

[svish]

Thought it will be released this year along with iPhone 17. Waiting to see what will happen. The current ones are great and waiting to see what changes Apple will implement.

 

[Big_D]

That makes me feel less bad about having bought new Pro 2s at the end of last year! 🤣🤣

 

[Techwatcher]

Tbh who cares? The APP2 are still super solid devices still getting cool feature updates, there’s very little reason to need to update them yet

Only reason would be true lossless being implemented. In before someone says “but you can’t even tell” because maybe most people can’t tell, but I can tell.

 

[MasterControlProgram]

he anticipates blood monitoring capabilities coming to Apple Watch

This pretty much invalidates any credibility as blood monitoring won’t come to the Watch until hell freezes over.

 

[Orange Bat]

I care too. I'm still using first gen Air Pods pro, and they've started crackling and feeding back in either noise cancelling or transparency modes. I'm having to turn cancellation off altogether for them to be usable. I really don't want to to buy second gens now when a new version seems likely any moment. So to find it might be another year or more is disappointing.

I’m having the same exact issues with my first gen Pros. I was holding out for the 3rd gen by may pull the trigger on 2nd gen if there’s a delay.

 

[TechWhisperer]

I call this BS. The H3 chip is long overdue and we need it fast. I use the APP2 every day and urgently need a replacement after 3 years.

 

[aknabi]

I’m having the same exact issues with my first gen Pros. I was holding out for the 3rd gen by may pull the trigger on 2nd gen if there’s a delay.

Indeed... if they were coming out this fall I'd wait... now I think I'll pull the trigger and take the gamble I can get 1.25 years out of them (unless the APP3 end up being a minimal update like iPhone 15->16 and can wait it out).

 

[FightTheFuture]

I think it has to do more with the fact that they are basically disposable. A lot of us who purchased the two’s don’t want to have to buy another pair of two’s right before three’s come out.

My AirPods Pro 1 are still rocking since November 2020. I’d like to replace them before the battery life starts to drop but 5 years is far from disposable.

 

[TechWhisperer]

Jeff vs. Mark, whose gonna grab the win? Place your bets.

 

[jz0309]

Well, we just won’t know until it happens, won’t we?
“analysts war” - love it

 

[Gengar]

What more could they add? Unless they create some lossless Bluetooth streaming profile or let you AirPlay lossless music to the earphones... The heart rate sensors wouldn't matter much for most Apple users.