AirPods Pro 3 Rumored to Feature 'Much Better' Active Noise Cancellation

[MacRumors]

While there have been many rumors about the upcoming AirPods 4, a leaker has now shared an alleged upgrade planned for the AirPods Pro 3.

In a post today on social media platform X, the previously-accurate leaker known as Kosutami claimed that the AirPods Pro 3 will feature "much better" active noise cancellation compared to the AirPods Pro 2, which launched nearly two years ago. However, the leaker did not provide any specific details about this alleged upgrade.

Apple already advertises the AirPods Pro 2 as featuring "up to twice as much" active noise cancellation compared to the original AirPods Pro, so the AirPods Pro 3 would be even more improved in this regard.

Apple is expected to announce both low-end and mid-tier AirPods 4 models during its September 9 special event. Kosutami claimed that the AirPods Pro 3 are also coming "soon," but it is unclear if this information is accurate, as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has previously reported that Apple planned to release redesigned AirPods Pro in 2025.

Both the low-end and mid-tier AirPods 4 are rumored to feature a revised design with better fit in the ear, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C port. The mid-tier AirPods 4 are also said to feature active noise cancellation, and a speaker in the charging case that can play a sound for Find My location tracking.

AirPods Max are also rumored to be updated later this year, but the only change expected is a USB-C charging port instead of Lightning.

Kosutami is known as a prototype Apple product collector, but he has occasionally shared accurate information about Apple's future plans, including details about FineWoven accessories before they launched last year. Kosutami also said that iPhone 16 Pro batteries will have a metal enclosure, and this change was later corroborated by other sources.

Article Link: AirPods Pro 3 Rumored to Feature 'Much Better' Active Noise Cancellation

 

[icanhazmac]

No replaceable batteries? Hard pass.

 

[jarman92]

Wow, a new product will have better features? Color me shocked.

 

[alexandr]

Man, I already love the current state of ANC, but if it gets even better — take my money!

 

[turbineseaplane]

Sounds expensive - haha

Hope it's great!

I also hope there is a good story on the low end for normal Airpods

Airpods 3 were a total "miss" for me due to how bulbous and large they were.
I still use several pairs of AP2's as a result

 

[Sarcastro]

If they do release a new APM that only swaps lightning for USB-C, I'll be a bit disappointed. Surely there's some improvement that they could have come up with over the course of the last three years.

 

[bradman83]

My second generation AirPods Pro are already like being in a sensory deprivation chamber when I have active noise cancellation on in my relatively loud office, though some noises do get through. Curious how much more effective they can make it. I will say Adaptive mode is pretty useless and needs an overhaul, I don't notice a huge difference between it and Transparency mode.

 

[alexandr]

No replaceable batteries? Hard pass.

Were you expecting this?..

 

[icanhazmac]

Were you expecting this?..

Sadly no, but with all the enviro-bluster that comes from Apple one can dream can't one?

I'm sure mother nature does not approve of AirPods.

 

[Robert.Walter]

Really looking forward to pro with hearing aid functionality.

(Had pro 1 and) have Pro 2 but was never impressed by the conversation boost feature.

Also I hope Apple gets the add Audiogram feature working as I fail each time I try to load an image of the Audiogram (and the option to manually add this data was removed more than a year ago.)

 

[danbalsh]

Be impressed if they can make ANC even better, only time mine struggle is with noisy trains/planes, when actually it's people talking louder that comes through (the background noise kinda just blends away)

 

[needsomecoffee]

No replaceable batteries? Hard pass.

Likely max life 3 years. 100= million going to landfill every year. Yikes.

Apple needs to hire a the lead guy from Framework and the entire Fairphone team.

Use both to setup an OPTIONAL product line where we can OPTIONALLY choose a thicker phone, less-sveldt ear phones for parts replaceability.

But... but... but... foreced disposability is really what Tim & Co. want because of "shareholder value".

 

[Jashar7]

AirPods Pro 2nd Gen honestly it’s the best product I’ve ever bought for that price point, man it’s incredible how such small piece of tech is able to produce such sound as well as the noise cancellation is just ridiculous how good it is also the battery is amazing even tho they charge so fast I never have to worry about it lol.

 

[alexandr]

Sadly no, but with all the enviro-bluster that comes from Apple one can dream can't one?

I'm sure mother nature does not approve of AirPods.

View attachment 2409859

Entirely up to you, but I wouldn't limit myself based on groundless wishes

 

[bradman83]

Airpods 3 were a total "miss" for me due to how bulbous and large they were.
I still use several pairs of AP2's as a result

AirPods 3 are the most disappointing Apple product I own. They sounded great for the first few months but the sound quality quickly degraded and they now produce almost no bass, even when they've been thoroughly cleaned. Coupled with their lousy fit and it sounds like I'm listening to an iPhone speaker up to my ear.

 

[alexandr]

Be impressed if they can make ANC even better, only time mine struggle is with noisy trains/planes, when actually it's people talking louder that comes through (the background noise kinda just blends away)

First time I tried AirPods Pro on a plane I wanted to cry. Because I couldn't hear that damn kid crying anymore.

 

[bradman83]

Likely max life 3 years. 100= million going to landfill every year. Yikes.

Apple offers a free recycling program that will take AirPods back. The neodymium and other rare earth elements in the speaker magnets are fairly valuable. Some of it will still wind up in a landfill but the batteries, magnets, circuit boards/chips will get recycled.

 

[icanhazmac]

groundless wishes

Please, define "groundless wishes"?

To me it is pointless to spend Apple dollars on this product line when, with daily use, the batteries don't have much life in them after a year, two at the most.

YMMV but that is what is important to me and hardly qualifies as "groundless".

 

[S.B.G]

The ANC in the AirPods I currently have are really good. If they're making it better than this, I will be even happier. They will certainly be a day one purchase.

 

[IJBrekke]

The Achilles heel of the Pro 2s is the microphone quality, it’s pretty substandard. Hope they are able to address this, I have no issue with the current noise cancellation tech.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

My AP2 Pros are practically dead (battery exhausted). With the ongoing rumors of new APPros incoming, I decided to try bridging the (time) gap with one of MANY high-rated (thousands of positive reviews) cheapie ENC sets on Amazon. I expected a noticeable drop in sound quality that did NOT manifest. In fact, these sound BETTER to my good ears than the old APP. I expected battery life to be terrible and/or longevity to be terrible and/or microphone quality to be crap. Nope and Nope and Nope (so far coming up on 7 months with them now).

They are already USB-C and come with a very handy battery storage LED so that I easily know when to charge them and thus stretch the time between battery-wearing charge cycles. They auto-connect to my iDevice faster than I can get both in my ears.

End result: I see no reason for me to ever pay $150-$200 or more for something that about $20-$40 can mostly approximate in the key variables that really count. If you haven't tried a high-rated "cheapie" set, I challenge anyone to give one a try and hear for yourself. Amazon allows returns if you are disappointed. Even if these turn out to last only a year- which frankly I'm doubting based on experience so far- vs. approx. 2 years for the APP, I can buy about SEVEN sets of these for the "on-sale" price of 1 set of APP.

And before the defenders jump in on E(NC) vs. A, there's plenty of ANC ones too for much less than about $17X. Do a search, read reviews and optionally hear for yourself. Any extra money one keeps in their pocket can go towards other Apple goodies.

 

[alexandr]

Please, define "groundless wishes"?

To me it is pointless to spend Apple dollars on this product line when, with daily use, the batteries don't have much life in them after a year, two at the most.

YMMV but that is what is important to me and hardly qualifies as "groundless".

I didn't say it wasn't important — but did anything  do hint at replaceable batteries?.. It's like saying (in the US) — iPhone 16? No physical sim? No sale!!

 

[FasterQuieter]

The ANC in my AirPods Pro 2 is non-existant after nearly 2 years. There is no audible difference between transparency and ANC. I hope it lasts for the lifetime of the product with the next version.

 

[SactoGuy18]

I wouldn't be surprised that Apple is 1) changing the look of the AirPods Pro with the next model and 2) looking to put in better drivers for the new model. I wouldn't be surprised they are considering a purchase of Status Audio, which would allow the AirPods Pro 3 to have a triple-driver setup per earbud for substantially improved audio that could exceed what Bose, Sennheiser and Sony have done with their earbuds.

 

[frou]

You know how the AirPods 4 are rumoured to have ANC but not in-ear tips? Doesn't that mean the ANC is going to be rubbish? Perform worse than the Pro 2's or even the Pro 1's?