AirPods Pro 3 Not Launching Until Next Year, Claims Analyst

[x86dude]

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 think there is a bump of original APP users looking to upgrade.
Mine are hissing too.

 

[salz4life]

I just had to replace a pair that were just out of warranty. Luckily, my sister had a Costco membership so I got them for $169 with 2 years of Apple Care. Hopefully that gets me to when the new ones come out.

 

[Donkey Man]

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

Remember SJ’s “underannounce and overdeliver” principle, or at least his famous words “available today” at the end of 99% of his live audience announcements?

Those were the non-Tim Spindler days.

 

[Jeaz]

Love my AirPods Pro 2, but I would love a 3rd gen with an even better ANC.

 

[Finalcountdown]

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

I’ve been holding off to upgrade!!!

 

[jimmy_uk]

Oh dear - I now want better ANC than APP2 can offer. Guess I'm off to explore the new Bose QC Ultra Gen 2. Sony likely to have their new buds out before Apple as well.

 

[HazeAndHahmahneez]

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

Yup very great purchase January last year. My first Eva AirPods and they make running so enjoyable….these updates are simply amazing, unprecedented…literally…would it be too bold to say that in apples long storied history these are the BEST upkept product that Apple has ever supported??….if not best in that conversation?…amazing.

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.

Disposable in what way? I mean if you get Apple care plus Apple takes care of repairs/replaceements so there’s no massive repair/repurchasing fees…

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.

Wow and this whole time you never got the batteries replaced or the buds replaced via Apple care because of the batteries??…

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.

?? AirPods are practically synonymous with running/gym workouts….exactly the kinds of places heart rate monitoring is absolutely necessary lol

I’d be more interested in body temp readings to go along with watch data therefore making it all the more accurate…

 

[name99]

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.

You can try buying Comply memory foam tips for Airpods:

https://www.amazon.com/Comply-AirPods-Comfortable-Canceling-Charging/dp/B088KPNKN2

These are a fantastic upgrade to your AirPods. Feel more comfortable, stick tighter in your ear, and block out more external sound.
I suspect the main reason Apple does not use something like this by default is that they are "consumable", over time the foam will wear away and you will have to replace them every six months or so.
Buy the set of three sizes to see which you like best then, as necessary you can buy a 3-pack of your ideal size.

 

[ZZ9pluralZalpha]

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.

On the bright side, the current models (2.1 gen, considering that minor revision they got with the USB-C cases) can be widely had at prices that it will likely take 3rd gen a year to replicate.

 

[AppleTO]

Disposable in what way? I mean if you get Apple care plus Apple takes care of repairs/replaceements so there’s no massive repair/repurchasing fees…

The batteries can’t be changed. Also, AppleCare+ is only two years.

 

[Robert.Walter]

You can try buying Comply memory foam tips for Airpods:

https://www.amazon.com/Comply-AirPods-Comfortable-Canceling-Charging/dp/B088KPNKN2

These are a fantastic upgrade to your AirPods. Feel more comfortable, stick tighter in your ear, and block out more external sound.
I suspect the main reason Apple does not use something like this by default is that they are "consumable", over time the foam will wear away and you will have to replace them every six months or so.
Buy the set of three sizes to see which you like best then, as necessary you can buy a 3-pack of your ideal size.

Thanks for the tip. But I’ve already been fabricating my own since the days of APP1.

I simply take an orange memory foam ear plug and slice off a 1 mm thick disk, punch a hole in it, and pinch & thread the silicone globe through the hole.

Massively improved retention and moderately eliminated ambient noise (although the ANC already did this adequately).

Problem is not noise leakage it’s hearing loss and the amplification limits (using tuning with a sonogram) are not reaching my needs.

So I’m hoping Apple actually enters the aids market with both feet.

 

[Robert.Walter]

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

Gee, thanks for that clarification.

 

[Unami]

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.

Cleaning the airvents (blowing, sucking, blue tack) helped me a bit with that issue. There's a thread about this in this forum.

 

[hokuspokus]

Good to know that new AirProds Pro earbuds may come out this or next year. I'm thinking of replacing my current ones in the next year or so.

I currently use Panasonic Technics earbuds and I've been enjoying the convenience of Bluetooth multipoint for 3 devices. I hope the next AirPods support Bluetooth multipoint. From my understanding, they support seamlessly switching between Apple devices only but I have 2 Apple devices and 1 non-Apple device I connect my current earbuds to.

 

[dukhuc]

Man. An over-the-counter hearing aid is something I wish they were working on. Trying to explain to others that I use AirPods to help with my hearing loss is really inconvenient. You can do it, Tim. Come on. Please

 

[CaptFuzzyBuns]

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

Same. I’ve been not-patiently waiting for a very long time to replace my Pro’s.

 

[kerr]

It seems like Apple doesn’t like money. I would have upgraded my 1st Gen AirPods Pro and 1st Gen Apple TV 4K if new models had been released last year or this year. No way I’m buying a 2022 product in 2025.

 

[seek3r]

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.

I mean, I’ve had the 2s since launch and mine seem fine right now, may depend on use I guess

 

[seek3r]

Remember SJ’s “underannounce and overdeliver” principle, or at least his famous words “available today” at the end of 99% of his live audience announcements?

Those were the non-Tim Spindler days.

Apple hasnt announced anything about APP3s though, so your comment makes no sense…

 

[seek3r]

It seems like Apple doesn’t like money. I would have upgraded my 1st Gen AirPods Pro and 1st Gen Apple TV 4K if new models had been released last year or this year. No way I’m buying a 2022 product in 2025.

My favorite pair of headphones are still sennheisers I bought well over 20 years ago, the APP2s arent obsolete because they were released 3 years ago, they’re still solid headphones, and buying them now wouldnt give you a bad battery, they’re brand new

 

[kerr]

The AirPods Pro 3 are referenced in the iOS 26 code, thus one thing is certain, the AirPods Pro 3 will be released before WWDC26. If they are not released later this year, they will definitely get released in March or April next year.