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AirPods Pro 3: Four Key Design Changes Anticipated

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Apple hasn't updated the AirPods Pro since 2022 other than a shift from Lightning to USB-C, and the earbuds are due for a refresh. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple will launch AirPods Pro 3 later this year, and apart from new features like heart rate monitoring, we're also expecting a few design changes.

airpods-pro-2-gradient.jpg

The fourth‑generation AirPods offer useful clues to Apple's design cues for ‌AirPods Pro 3‌. Here are four key changes we're anticipating for the next-generation earbuds when Apple releases them in the coming fall.
  1. Smaller Case – Apple slimmed down the AirPods 4 case, making it the smallest yet. Cutting the case size sacrificed MagSafe charging though, so while the $179 model supports Qi-based wireless charging, it does not have a magnet inside. The more affordable model doesn't have wireless charging at all. We don't expect Apple to cut MagSafe charging from the AirPods Pro 3, and it needs to fit speakers for Find My alerts, similar to the current ‌AirPods Pro. That said, it's still expected to have a smaller case.
  2. No Pairing Button – The fourth-generation AirPods eliminated the setup button found on the back of earlier models' charging cases, including the AirPods Pro 2. Instead, Apple integrated a concealed capacitive button on the front of the case, just below the status light. To initiate manual pairing, users simply open the case and double-tap the front-center area. This same hidden control is also used for factory resets, initiated by double-tapping the case three times in quick succession while the status light is on. Expect the same on AirPods Pro 3.
  3. Disappearing Status Light – The status light on the ‌AirPods 4‌ charging case is more discreet than the one found on AirPods Pro 2. There is no obvious LED dot when the case is not charging or closed, and the light simply appears under the white plastic when the case is opened up or placed on a charger. The AirPods Pro 3 case is likely to have a similar discreet status light.
  4. Redesigned Earpice – For the AirPods 4, Apple introduced a new earbud design that's more like the AirPods Pro, with a shorter stem and a more contoured earpiece for an improved fit. However, they don't use silicone ear tips like AirPods Pro. The AirPods Pro 3 could always get a refreshed earbuds design as well, but what they will look like remains a mystery. Upgrade possibilities include a smaller in-ear piece and an even shorter stem.

New AirPods Pro Features With iOS 26

Apple's upcoming iOS 26 update will support several new features coming to all AirPods Pro models via a firmware update, including auto-pausing audio when you fall asleep, the ability to use AirPods as a camera remote, an option to keep audio in your AirPods when your ‌iPhone‌ connected to other playback devices (like car stereos), and improved call quality.

Historically, Apple has launched significant AirPods updates alongside new iPhones, so an early September event, likely shared with the upcoming ‌iPhone‌ 17 series, remains the most plausible window. Apple is expected to hold its annual ‌iPhone‌ announcement event during the week of September 8, 2025, with September 9 or 10 emerging as the most likely dates. According to internal information from German mobile phone providers, the ‌iPhone 17‌ event is scheduled for Tuesday, September 9.

Article Link: AirPods Pro 3: Four Key Design Changes Anticipated
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/08/26/airpods-pro-3-three-key-design-changes-anticipated/
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Would love to to see bluetooth case with USB-C->AUX port cable. Eliminate 3rd party device needed to pair with Aux only devices (typically Airplanes) *Not all airline systems allow bluetooth connection
 
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An even shorter stem doesn't seem practical to me if they continue to have controls on the stem. I don't want them to switch to the type of buds that you have to push the back of the buds to control. I believe that's how Sony ones work.

So hopefully that guess doesn't come to fruition. The stem is good the way it is.
 
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Loud_Texan said:
They’ll likely update the design so they can take money from those users that are poor but have to constantly pretend that they’re not.

In China they sell a sticker that will make your iPhone 12 look like a 13. Might not be those models but it was to look like a newer one.
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They already look the same. You could sit an 12,13,14,15 an 16 in front of me and I couldn't tell you which is which without picking it up and looking at the screen.

Either way, how other people spend their money is of no concern to me.

As for the AirPods Pro; I just retied my first gen set and decided to go with the ANC AirPods 4. I never could get over the sounds and thumping I would hear with in-ear sealed headphones while running, which is about 90% of my earbud wearing time. No problems with the 4s, and the ANC works fairly well.
 
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WarmWinterHat said:
They already look the same. You could sit an 12,13,14,15 an 16 in front of me and I couldn't tell you which is which without picking it up and looking at the screen.

Either way, how other people spend their money is of no concern to me.
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Yeah but Apple isn't the only company with that "issue". Not like the Samsung Galaxy changes much year to year on design.

And I don't think either company needs to. I care more about the internals of the device.

That being said the rumored 17 does look different on the rear.
 
Innovati0n said:
Yeah but Apple isn't the only company with that "issue". Not like the Samsung Galaxy changes much year to year on design.

And I don't think either company needs to. I care more about the internals of the device.

That being said the rumored 17 does look different on the rear.
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Agreed, and it doesn't bother me like others here. I just doubt that people are putting on stickers to make their phone look newer, when they already look the same.
 
AirPods Pros are the most “now this is !” product available to a mass market. Love them dearly and how with each succession of iOS,  finds a way to add features and make them that much better. Really hard for something like this to suit everyone out there, but they do a tremendous job with them regardless.
 
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I really wish I could use these, but they fall out of my ears after a couple of minutes and are therefore completely useless to me (and I have tried all the ear silicon adaptors to no effect and the non Pro versions basically fall out of my ears immediately). It seems that Apple are focused on these and have abandoned the AirPods Max which is a shame. Funnily I can use the in ear type from Samsung which fit perfectly for me but do not integrate well with Apple products. Meanwhile I use either my AirPods Max or Sony MX 4 or my Sennheisers Momentum 4 depending upon where I am in the house.

I implore Apple to either explore alternative designs or upgrade the AirPods Max.
 
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Not seeing anything as a must-have on the list. Some nice enhancements, but nothing that would have me trading in my Pro 2s... That said, I currently have an ear infection and have switched to Shokz bone conducting as they don't go near the ear, fine for podcasts and audio books, plus telephone at the office...
 
ZeromusZeromus said:
“Double tap this secret hidden spot below the light twice in quick succession three times but only if the light is on: our most intuitive experience ever!” lol innovation
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Yeah, I mean they replaced an obvious setup / pairing button like numerous other devices have with an undiscoverable magic procedure. And the description we're given starts out with "users simply ...". Um, no. Users will not "simply", they willl have to RTFM to do it the first time, and then GTFM the next time since they won't remember.
 
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whitby said:
I really wish I could use these, but they fall out of my ears after a couple of minutes and are therefore completely useless to me (and I have tried all the ear silicon adaptors to no effect and the non Pro versions basically fall out of my ears immediately). It seems that Apple are focused on these and have abandoned the AirPods Max which is a shame. Funnily I can use the in ear type from Samsung which fit perfectly for me but do not integrate well with Apple products. Meanwhile I use either my AirPods Max or Sony MX 4 or my Sennheisers Momentum 4 depending upon where I am in the house.

I implore Apple to either explore alternative designs or upgrade the AirPods Max.
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I was in the same boat... untill i tried the foam tips. Even the cheapest ones from Aliexpress work like a charm ;)
 
dubiousgif said:
Like others said, the article is wrong—AirPods 4 with ANC definitely have magnetic attachment to the Apple Watch charger.
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It also does not use a capacitive sensor for the pairing button, it is motion-based. You can test this by double-tapping the front of the case with a piece of hard plastic.
 
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