What to Expect From Apple's Next AirPods Pro

[MacRumors]

While the AirPods Pro 3 launched only six weeks ago, Apple is reportedly already working on new AirPods Pro, with two key changes rumored for the earbuds.

Specifically, the next AirPods Pro are expected to be equipped with Apple's H3 chip for wireless audio, along with tiny infrared cameras.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the H3 chip will offer improved sound quality and lower latency, compared to the H2 chip in the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3.

Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said AirPods with infrared cameras could enable "in-air gesture control," but he did not elaborate on that possibility. He also expects the next AirPod Pro to have improved Vision Pro integration.

The cameras could enable some artificial intelligence features, akin to Visual Intelligence on the iPhone 15 Pro and newer, according to Gurman.

No other features have been rumored yet.

It is unclear if the next AirPods Pro would be AirPods Pro 4, or if they would still be AirPods Pro 3. AirPods Pro 2 were updated with a USB-C charging case and a few other tweaks a year after they launched, without receiving a name change.

Kuo said the next AirPods Pro will launch in 2026. If that timeframe proves to be accurate, then revised AirPods Pro 3 sounds likely, given there was a three-year gap between the AirPods Pro, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Pro 3.

Article Link: What to Expect From Apple's Next AirPods Pro

 

[jz0309]

I see no reason to upgrade my APP2, leave alone what is rumored for these APP4...
But keep going

 

[Wrylachlan2]

Kuo said the next AirPods Pro will launch in 2026. If that timeframe proves to be accurate, then revised AirPods Pro 3 sounds likely, given there was a three-year gap between the AirPods Pro, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Pro 3.

The likelihood of them changing the chip but keeping it an AirPods Pro 3 are between “not gonna happen” and “no f$&@ing way”. Now there may be an interim update to the APP3s coming next year with the H3 APPs coming later. But an H3 chip next year being called APP3? Nah.

 

[WilliApple]

I wonder if its a good idea to not upgrade this year and wait for these AirPods Pro.

 

[now i see it]

more ear wax impaction

 

[Windoes]

H3

 

[tgwaste]

They better be BT6

 

[ignatius345]

And meanwhile I can't buy a pair of AirPods Max with an H2 chip :/ I still like my v1 APM I bought at launch, but Adaptive Audio is such a good mode of ANC for commuting. Take my money!

 

[SactoGuy18]

I think the next AirPods Pro may totally change the design to get rid of the stem and the driver may be of a completely different design, possible with dual drivers. (Personally, I want Apple to buy out Status Audio and get Status' triple-driver technology.)

 

[Apple-achian]

It is time to segment the Pro earbuds and create a Pro Max option or whatever, with the entire feature set and a base version at $350.

 

[zoor4tech]

Personally, I hope they go back to pro/pro2 design, since pro3s fit poorly to my ears.

 

[goonie4life9]

That's right, folks, it's time to GET STOKED for the ALL NEW AirPods Pro 4. They are truly the best fulfillment of Steve's vision for audio. Apple can't wait to see the incredible things customers are able to do with the ALL NEW AirPods Pro 4. Apple thinks you're gonna love it.

But seriously, why are we thinking so small. What about the AirPods Pro 5?

 

[orange_galoshes]

Even more water resistance, IP68, like the phones, including the case. These are used all over the place, like the phone, and need it.

 

[bmark]

It is time to segment the Pro earbuds and create a Pro Max option or whatever, with the entire feature set and a base version at $350.

There is no reason for Apple to do this. AirPods Max is the Pro Max option.

 

[Rychiar]

Even more water resistance, IP68, like the phones, including the case. These are used all over the place, like the phone, and need it.

planning on swimming with em?

 

[Dylan33x]

I’m honestly most annoyed with Apple putting the 6 year old H1 in the “new” Powerbeats fit pro this month. I assume they’re binning H1s from the AirPods Max

 

[contraband]

I'm hopeful they spend more time refining the form factor. There were changes between APP2 and APP3.

 

[srknpower]

I believe AirPods Pro 4 are coming in 2028 with 25 percent better ANC, H3 chip and ear temperature sensor.

 

[Phil.O]

I want to know more about those cameras. Any wearable tech with cameras to date has been pretty much reviled by all, mostly because of the potential for non-consensual recording of third parties, even if it was obvious.

Cameras in EarPods might not be so obvious. I’ll reserve judgement for now but I’m not thrilled by the prospect.

 

[ab2c4]

"in-air gesture control"? That sounds like a recipe for people thinking you are having a seizure or crazy or something else lol.

 

[mipo]

Personally, I hope they go back to pro/pro2 design, since pro3s fit poorly to my ears.

THIS - poor sales of the APP3 due to its bad uncomfortable design, a lot of returns just because of the fact that people’s ears are hurting after moderate use. How come this design was not tested? So I beieve that they cant recall this bad deaign but rather went back to drawing boards, re do it and now will call it APP4 and will launch it mid 2026 the latest. For now I am buying one more pair of APP2 just for a backup.

 

[ipedro]

"in-air gesture control"? That sounds like a recipe for people thinking you are having a seizure or crazy or something else lol.

In the 80s they used to tell kids "don't get in cars with strangers and stay away from the man talking to himself on the street". Those same kids grew up to talk to themselves on the street and use an app to call a stranger with a car to give them a lift.

Everything becomes normal, eventually.

 

[Taq'aix]

The AirPods Pro are hands down my favorite Apple product. I love them so much that I bought two pairs of the AirPods Pro 3 since I wear them constantly throughout the day. If Apple releases an H3 chip version in 2026, I’ll definitely be picking that up too.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

It’s never ending 😀.

 

[ipedro]

Infrared cameras make the most sense upfront. They're not full cameras and can be dark so they don't look like cameras, easing privacy concerns of bystanders.

Many of the use cases for multi-modal AI are retained: object recognition and a gesture UX. You could point at something and say "Siri, what's this?" and it could identify an object by its shape and heat signature. It could read most signage and other things you might want to ask about: "Remind me of this restaurant for later" would capture the sign and its GPS coordinates so it could be added to your semantic index.

An IR camera on the stem of each AirPod could stitch a complete wider-than-180º perspective of what's in front of the user, for much more interesting use cases than smart glasses. The one missing use case is the one that makes people uncomfortable: capturing photos and video of others without their consent. Apple may be taking the more cautious approach.