Just what the world needs, more people wearing ear floss waiving their arms around to skip to the next track.
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New, Higher End AirPods Pro Coming This Year
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Really not looking forward to people making nonsensical gestures out in public to skip tracks or whatever.
The product lineup is increasingly convoluted and confusing.
Meh. If even after a few years you get 5 hours of battery life instead of 6, is it really that big of a deal? It's not like they turn to trash once the battery level gets below. Sounds like your interest is minimal. I love my airpod pro 2's over any other headphone I've owned, and would gladly recommend them to anyone
I hope the earplugs will be more comfortable than those of the current Pro 3 model.
If you have an (or even more so multiple) Apple device(s) and don't buy AirPods (or beats), they work like crap. That's reason enough for me.
The camera is so they can watch it falling out of my ear.
Apple is planning to debut a high-end secondary version of AirPods Pro 3 this year, sitting in the lineup alongside the current model, reports suggest.
Back in September 2025, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to introduce a successor to the AirPods Pro 3 in 2026. This would be somewhat unusual since Apple normally waits around three years to make major changes to the AirPods' hardware. AirPods Pro 2 debuted at the iPhone 14 event in September 2022, and they were updated with a USB-C charging case and a few other tweaks in September 2023. Otherwise, Apple has waited about three years to update all of its AirPods models.
Kuo said that the 2026 AirPods Pro will feature a "more significant" hardware upgrade in the form at least one tiny infrared camera. He previously said AirPods with infrared cameras could recognize hand gestures and provide an enhanced spatial audio experience with Apple's Vision Pro headset.
The Chinese leaker known as "Instant Digital" subsequently corroborated the rumor with some additional details and clarifications. Rather than being a new generation, the 2026 AirPods Pro will apparently be a pricier, high-end variant of the AirPods Pro 3 introduced in 2025, suggesting that both models will ultimately be on sale alongside each other. It is worth noting that Apple offers two version of the AirPods 4 at $129 and $179 price points, so this is a highly plausible move.
The current AirPods lineup has offerings priced at $129, $179, $249, and $549. An additional product between the $249 AirPods Pro 3 and $549 AirPods Max seems possible, especially given the rise of higher end Bluetooth earbuds from the likes of Bang Olufsen, Bowers & Wilkins, and Bose.
As Kuo first said, Instant Digital similarly believes that the key differentiator will be an infrared camera for gesture controls. In fact, Apple may remove the high-end model's pressure-sensors and go all-in on gesture controls.
The H3 chip is also a possibility. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the next-generation audio chip is in development. The AirPods Pro 3 launched last year stuck with the same H2 chip from their predecessor released in 2022.
Launch timing is currently unclear, but Apple typically announces new AirPods in the second half of the year. The original AirPods, AirPods Pro 2 and their subsequent USB-C revision, AirPods 4, and AirPods Pro 3 were all announced at Apple's annual iPhone event in September.
Article Link: New, Higher End AirPods Pro Coming This Year
I've had all three gens of AirPods Pro - they claimed the new shape of the 3's made them the best ever for staying in your ear - never had any problems with the others, these slip out or at least get loose a lot more often.
Ultra Airpods Pro Super Maximum Hyper Combo Championship Edition II
After 3 years my APP2s were down to 3 1/2 hours with ANC on, and that's with just barely moderate use for the first 2 1/2 years. When I started needing them for sleep isolation, getting woken by that depressing "low battery" alert after a few hours wasn't a fun way to start the day.
So I'm loving being able to sleep through the night with the APP3s. The only feature would be worth an upgrade imho is lossless bluetooth audio to Apple Music. Maybe the H3 will do that.
poor sounding how? I use em with my Vision Pro and it sounds better than any real theater I've been to lately
Another BS from you, just to get clicks. Where are the AirTags 2 and Apple TV that you've written about many times and assured us the premiere is around the corner????
I got four years out of my AirPods Pro 1. They still had solid battery after daily, extended use those four years. Granted, one bud was replaced for the crackling repair program. I only upgraded to Pro 2 because there was a good sale at Costco. I got Max a month ago, enjoy both.
Repairs could be nice, but they’re so small that it would impact seal durability, while Apple would rather you buy another pair anyway. There are some “repairs” (replacements) offered under warranty/AC+.
