AirPods Pro 3 Said to Gain Two Health Sensors, But Translation Delayed

[MacRumors]

Apple's upcoming AirPods Pro 3 will indeed feature in-ear temperature sensing as well as heart-rate sensing, but the rumored live translation feature is not ready for launch and will instead arrive in a later software update. That's according to an anonymous tip received by 9to5Mac.

Apple is known to have been working on a variety of health features for future AirPods, including heart rate monitoring and temperature sensing – Bloomberg reported as much in December 2024. Since then, heart-rate monitoring has debuted in Apple's Powerbeats Pro, making the feature a dead cert for the company's next-generation AirPods Pro earbuds. In contrast, further details about temperature sensing have been lacking.

As for AirPods live translation, we've already seen hints of its development in Apple imagery found in iOS 26 beta. The AirPods will be able to provide a simpler translation process for people who are speaking different languages, though the process will rely on the Translate app on the iPhone.

For example, if an English speaker with AirPods is talking to someone who is speaking Spanish, the ‌iPhone‌ will detect the audio, translate the speech, and relay it back in English to the person wearing AirPods. The person speaking English will then be able to respond and have their response translated to Spanish and spoken aloud by the ‌iPhone‌. Apple's ‌iPhone‌ Translate app can already be used for conversations like this, but having the function included in the AirPods will streamline the exchange.

Inclusion of new health sensors makes sense – Apple has been pushing AirPods as health accessories for some time now, while iOS 18 added a suite of hearing health capabilities that test for hearing issues and allow the AirPods to be used as a hearing aid if problems are detected.

• AirPods Pro 3 Likely Just Weeks Away – Here's What We Know

We should know if the anonymous tipster's information is accurate very soon. Apple is expected to debut AirPods Pro 3 alongside iPhone 17 models at its "Awe dropping" event scheduled for Tuesday, September 9. Other changes likely coming to the new earbuds include design and case tweaks, audio improvements, and additional new features arriving to all AirPods Pro models via a firmware update as part of iOS 26.

Article Link: AirPods Pro 3 Said to Gain Two Health Sensors, But Translation Delayed

 

[Kylo83]

Why do we need health sensors in headphones? I’ll want better sound quality. That’s what headphones are made for.

 

[DrJR]

Cameras?

 

[NicoTRZ]

Why do we need health sensors and headphones? I’ll drive a better sound quality. That’s what headphones are made for.

Actually, I think that the temperature sensor make sense. It's pretty hard to have accurate body temperature from the wrist (that's the reason why the Apple Watch only gives a baseline at night), but from the ears, it's pretty common and some external body thermometers works that way.

So, it would be great and actually useful to be able to give body temperature from the AirPods if it's accurate. The same way it is great to have the earring test and aids feature

 

[kerr]

Dear Tim Apple, take all the time you need with Health and Translation, I have my money ready to give to you. Won’t happen but I’d love some orange AirPods Pro.

 

[Mity]

Is live translation part of "Apple Intelligence"? So, is that going to be based on Google Translate if Apple licenses Google's tech?

 

[BelgianChoklit]

I buy AirPods for sound, not for health. Just keep improving audio please and no health sensors that make it even more expensive.

 

[q64ceo]

Tried the live translation caption built into macOS. It needs a lot of improvement. So I'm not surprised that live audio translation is delayed.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Why do we need health sensors and headphones? I’ll drive a better sound quality. That’s what headphones are made for.

I really only use headphones when working out, so for some, it makes sense.

AirPods Pros though, and all sealed ear-canal headphones, cause a horrible drumming sound when I'm running, so sadly I have given up on them. The ANC AirPods 4 are doing well, however.

 

[acblue94]

How can something be delayed if it was never officially announced?

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Day one acquisition for me. You see, I’m a man about town a trader of men, if you will. Every day I conduct my business buying, selling, negotiating all whilst my AirPods sit snugly in my ears, projecting the very essence of modern commerce.

 

[Valve1138]

If they don’t improve the sound quality or battery life over my current AirPods Pro, that I’m very happy with, why would I buy these?

 

[Rychiar]

well yeah they're waiting for smart Siri

 

[wanha]

Why do we need health sensors and headphones? I’ll drive a better sound quality. That’s what headphones are made for.

there's already so much computational power in the headphones for connectivity and sound that, imo, it's a natural leap to see what other useful things that computation power could be used for since it's already there.

Said another way, whenever there is computational or energy excess somewhere, systems will find ways to make use of it

 

[HouseLannister]

Surprise! Gurman was wrong on a timeline again. Add this to every other rumor he has made in the past couple years.

 

[Voyageur]

They've had enough with their sensors🤦🏼‍♂️ These are headphones for music, not a medical device. Work on the sound, idiots!

 

[Kylo83]

They've had enough with their sensors🤦🏼‍♂️ These are headphones for music, not a medical device. Work on the sound, idiots!

Exactly all I care about is better sound quality and find a way to get lossless support

 

[jonnyb]

I want better sound and, as a bonus, wind noise suppression from a better, more powerful H3 chip.

 

[Artemiz]

They've had enough with their sensors🤦🏼‍♂️ These are headphones for music, not a medical device. Work on the sound, idiots!

Why would you assume the audio wouldn’t be improved just because they’re adding a couple sensors?

 

[rxp]

Looking forward to the temp sensor if you can do a spot check. If the vitals app reports high wrist temp you can quickly take a real measurement with the AirPods to confirm

Not that they’ll do this but having temp in the ear would be a more accurate way of taking core body temp like the Core sensor does for heat training and heat zones. Would be amazing for heat training

 

[ab2c4]

I wish they made a version of AirPod Pro's strictly for listening to music and phone calls and thus reduced the price. They could also offer a "Health+" version of them with the health sensors, cameras, etc., for people that want that.

 

[Voyageur]

Why would you assume the audio wouldn’t be improved just because they’re adding a couple sensors?

Because they need to work on the sound better. Earbuds from other manufacturers have had parameters and sound quality much better for several years now. and these ones waste effort and our money on sensors

 

[Digitalweddings]

Every year we get the Iphone in 15 new colors. Yet they can't give us Airpods in a black version to match their other products. Tim probably still own a white fridge.

 

[klasma]

How can something be delayed if it was never officially announced?

I delayed my new iPhone purchase without ever officially announcing it. Not a problem at all.

 

[flybass]

I would prefer is they focused on improving the audio quality since AirPods can’t really do lossless at the moment….