AirPods Pro 3 Won't Get 'Major' Audio or Active Noise Cancellation Improvements

[MacRumors]

The upcoming AirPods Pro 3 that Apple is expected to unveil tomorrow will not include notable improvements to audio quality or Active Noise Cancellation, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Apple's new earbuds will have heart rate tracking, a health-related feature that Apple first introduced with the Powerbeats Pro 2. LED optical sensors will pulse to measure heart rate using blood flow, and if the AirPods Pro 3 work like the Powerbeats Pro 2, the data will sync with popular fitness apps.

The AirPods Pro 3 will also feature an updated design for a better fit, though there are no details on what exactly is going to change. The case is also going to be slimmed down, and it will be smaller like the AirPods 4 case.

News of no significant changes to ANC or audio quality is disappointing. There were some rumors of "much better" Active Noise Cancellation and Gurman himself said the AirPods would include a new H3 chip. New chips typically mean improvements to audio quality and ANC, and we could still get some small boosts, but it sounds like most of the focus will be on the new health feature.

Article Link: AirPods Pro 3 Won't Get 'Major' Audio or Active Noise Cancellation Improvements

 

[jz0309]

The upcoming AirPods Pro 3 that Apple is expected to unveil tomorrow will not include notable improvements to audio quality or Active Noise Cancellation, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Apple's new earbuds will have heart rate tracking, a health-related feature that Apple first introduced with the Powerbeats Pro 2. LED optical sensors will pulse to measure heart rate using blood flow, and if the AirPods Pro 3 work like the Powerbeats Pro 2, the data will sync with popular fitness apps.

The AirPods Pro 3 will also feature an updated design for a better fit, though there are no details on what exactly is going to change. The case is also going to be slimmed down, and it will be smaller like the AirPods 4 case.

News of no significant changes to ANC or audio quality is disappointing. There were some rumors of "much better" Active Noise Cancellation and Gurman himself said the AirPods would include a new H3 chip. New chips typically mean improvements to audio quality and ANC, and we could still get some small boosts, but it sounds like most of the focus will be on the new health feature.

Article Link: AirPods Pro 3 Won't Get 'Major' Audio or Active Noise Cancellation Improvements

Gurman backpedaling on his own rumor ...

 

[Eorlas]

bummer, i was hoping to upgrade, but it seems like that's not going to be necessary. i'll wait and see though

 

[howywood]

It makes absolutely no sense to have no audio improvements with new tech that has been available over the last three years.

If true, what was a day one purchase for me is now not. Don’t drop the ball Tim Apple.

 

[jekim]

I had mine ready to return to Costco. I still might because of the other features.

 

[kevinlaz]

I sure hope there's something else left unrevealed, cause absent audio / ANC improvements, that is a pitiful upgrade for a full new generation.

 

[maxpipersid]

Wow, that's really pathetic if true.

 

[Andres Cantu]

Kind of crazy how 3rd gen Apple products always seem to be either underwhelming or good options to skip while the 4th gens are much larger improvements.

Just to name a few: iPhone 3GS vs 4, iPod touch 3rd gen vs 4th gen, iPad 3rd gen vs 4th gen, Apple TV 3rd gen vs 4th gen, Apple Watch 3rd gen vs 4th gen, AirPods 3rd gen vs 4th gen, etc.

 

[cdsapplefan]

How in the heck you have no improvements to the basic stuff and expect people to upgrade? Bogus report. I’ll wait to the official unveiling tomorrow at the Apple Event. 🍎

 

[gleepskip]

Iterate, not innovate. I'm glad I was able to experience Apple when there were great moments.

 

[jz0309]

"upgrading" earphones without upgrading audio quality and ANC - why upgrade in the first place? I get the USB-C update on the APP2, but this? to add a heart rate sensor? quite odd at best ...

 

[brian3uk]

Do people really need their headphones to measure their heart rate? I’d expect that most folks interested in that data already have a fitness tracker of some kind. Why can’t AirPods just be great headphones?!

 

[kerr]

Three years just for a slightly smaller charging case?

 

[Vangeli]

If it is smaller like the AirPods 4 case, then it’ll lack MagSafe magnets and will be able to reverse wireless charge.

Though I suspect Apple will sneak a Watch charger into a new MagSafe coil on the back of the new iPhones so they can magnetically mount and wirelessly charge AirPods and the Watch but nothing else. Seeing as recent AirPods have a combination Qi + Watch charger on the back, the reverse can probably happen too.

 

[CalMin]

As much as I am disappointed by this, I don't see how much better the ANC can get in such a tiny form factor. It's actually remarkable that they work as well as they do.

 

[red elma]

Priorities ! Most people use their AirPods for audio… not for continuously monitoring their health!

 

[Student of Life]

Yeah this so just straight up bs and backpedaling to cover his butt.

 

[F23]

It makes absolutely no sense to have no audio improvements with new tech that has been available over the last three years.

If true, what was a day one purchase for me is now not. Don’t drop the ball Tim Apple.

tell that to the AirPods Max team

 

[danny1305]

Improved audio and noise cancelling wasn’t really needed, they are already great

 

[Analog Kid]

Iterate, not innovate. I'm glad I was able to experience Apple when there were great moments.

Ah, if only every product could be a first generation product... 🙄

People climbing over each other to be the most cynical is tired. The AirPod Pro's are great earpods. Apple is clearly leaning into the fitness market and if I was someone who strapped on a heart rate monitor, then I'd be glad not to need the extra bit of kit. I don't, so this doesn't sound all that important to me-- but then I don't need new APPs either. My 2's have done quite well considering how very many hours of use they get day in and day out for years and how many times that slippery little lozenge of a case has hit the floor.

I'm ok with Apple making products I don't need or want. I'm not so caught up in the Apple mystique that I feel the need to collect them all.

 

[t0rqx]

Like I said all along, they cannot improve it at all. Budget is restricted, they knew this and the sales are still running strong. What they did is degrade the ANC by small bits with the forced firmware upgrades in the background. The ANC that will be touted during keynote is the same original ANC when the Airpods Pro 2 came out.

Glad the leakers finally found out.

 

[diego.caraballo]

AirPods Pro 3 saga getting even more weird.

When Apple announced iOS 26, they showed some new features available for the AirPods Pro 2 and regulars 4 (H2 chip).
I was puzzled then, when rumors about a new Pro version started to float around, on how Apple would sell those new ones, since the old ones are still getting the new features.

And now, the icing on the cake, not better audio or ANC? For $249? Is like Apple doesn't want to sell those...
Heartbeat recording is not something that most of people want on a daily basis, and if they want people to train with them...well they are eating into the Powerbeats market.

Case size? Can't remember if someone here complained about that.

 

[ab2c4]

I was already on the fence about them for my next pair, this confirms I’ll go with another brand. Music quality is the only thing I care about with ear buds. Plus since I’m considering Samsung for my next phone anyways I’m better off not buying these.

 

[johnsawyercjs]

Maybe this is the reason for the recent rumor that the Airpods Pro 4 will be released "early", only somewhat more than a year after version 3. Maybe version 3 is to "test" the new, supposedly better ear-fitting design before Apple commits to it.

 

[t0rqx]

Do people really need their headphones to measure their heart rate? I’d expect that most folks interested in that data already have a fitness tracker of some kind. Why can’t AirPods just be great headphones?!

Because the heart rate tracker is currently 0.02 ct and the improvement for audio cost 0.03 ct. Thats 0.01 ct too much according to the finance department.