AirPods Pro 3 review: Apple's third-generation Pro earbuds launched on September 19, 2025 at $249, bringing the world's best in-ear noise cancellation, a built-in heart rate sensor, and Apple Intelligence-powered Live Translation. Tom's Guide calls them "the best AirPods yet" — but are they worth the upgrade over the AirPods Pro 2? Here's the full specs, price, pros and cons verdict.
AirPods Pro 3 Specs at a Glance
| Specification | AirPods Pro 3 |
|---|---|
| Chip | Apple H2 (U2 chip in charging case) |
| Noise cancellation | Up to 2x more ANC than AirPods Pro 2, 4x more than original AirPods Pro |
| Ear tips | Foam-infused silicone, 5 sizes incl. new XXS |
| Heart rate sensor | Yes — PPG sensor, infrared light pulsed 256 times/second, 50+ workout types |
| Live Translation | Yes — via Apple Intelligence (English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish; more later) |
| Battery life | Up to 8h ANC on, 10h transparency mode, 24h total with case; 5-min charge = 1h playback |
| Durability | IP57 dust, sweat and water resistant (first AirPods with this rating) |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3; MagSafe USB-C case (MagSafe, Apple Watch charger, Qi, USB-C) |
| Audio features | Next-gen Adaptive EQ, personalized spatial audio, adaptive transparency, hearing aid & hearing test |
| Size & weight | Per bud 30.9 × 19.2 × 27 mm, 5.55 g; case 47.2 × 62.2 × 21.8 mm, 44 g; white only |
| Price | $249 launch price (frequently discounted to around $199 at retailers) |
Design & Fit: Smaller, More Comfortable, More Durable
Apple redesigned the AirPods Pro 3 using data from thousands of ear scans. The earbuds are smaller and more stable than the Pro 2, and the foam-infused ear tips come in five sizes — including a new XXS fit — for better passive noise isolation and comfort during workouts. The big durability story is the IP57 rating for dust, sweat and water resistance, a first for any AirPods, making the Pro 3 genuinely workout-safe. The MagSafe charging case keeps its speaker for Find My and lanyard loop, and now also charges from an Apple Watch charger.
Sound & ANC: Twice the Silence of Pro 2
Apple calls the AirPods Pro 3's noise cancellation the "world's best" for in-ear headphones, claiming it removes up to twice as much unwanted noise as the Pro 2 and four times as much as the original AirPods Pro. A redesigned multi-port acoustic architecture, ultra-low-noise microphones and computational audio power the improvement, while next-generation Adaptive EQ widens the soundstage and sharpens vocal clarity. Reviewers agree the ANC jump is the single best reason to upgrade: Android Police describes the sound as having "stronger bass response and velvety vocals," while Tom's Guide notes improved microphone quality alongside the longer battery life.
Heart Rate Sensing & Live Translation: The Headline Features
The AirPods Pro 3 are Apple's first earbuds with a built-in PPG heart rate sensor that pulses infrared light 256 times per second to measure blood flow. During workouts, they track heart rate and calories across 50+ workout types through the Fitness app — no Apple Watch required — and a new Workout Buddy feature uses Apple Intelligence to give real-time spoken feedback. Live Translation handles in-person conversation translation (English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish at launch) by channeling audio through your iPhone, with Chinese, Italian, Japanese and Korean promised later.
Battery Life & Charging
Single-charge listening jumps to 8 hours with ANC on (up from 6 on the Pro 2) and up to 10 hours in transparency mode when using the hearing aid feature. The trade-off: the charging case holds less reserve, so total listening time with the case is about 24 hours versus 30 on the Pro 2. A 5-minute quick charge returns about an hour of playback. The case charges via USB-C, MagSafe, Qi or an Apple Watch puck.
Price & Availability
AirPods Pro 3 launched at $249 — the same price as the AirPods Pro 2 — with sales starting September 19, 2025. They regularly drop below list price at retailers: Amazon has repeatedly discounted them to around $189–$199, and Best Buy, Walmart and Target have matched similar prices. India pricing is ₹25,900. The closest rivals are the $299 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), the $230 Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 and the $330 Sony WF-1000XM6 — making the Pro 3 notably cheaper than its premium competition.
Pros and Cons
- Class-leading ANC — 2x better than Pro 2 is the upgrade's star feature
- Longer single-charge battery — 8 hours with ANC on
- Heart rate sensor — workout tracking without a watch
- IP57 rating — finally workout-proof
- Live Translation — genuinely useful Apple Intelligence feature
- $249 launch price — unchanged from Pro 2, undercuts Bose and Sony
- Android users miss out — spatial audio, heart rate, Find My and device switching are Apple-only
- Premium price — $249 puts them well above budget ANC rivals
- Case total drops to 24 hours — down from 30 on the Pro 2
- Foam tips — great isolation, but foam wears faster than silicone
Where to Buy AirPods Pro 3
- Apple AirPods Pro 3 official product page — buy direct from Apple for $249
- Amazon AirPods Pro 3 listing — frequently discounted to around $199
Verdict: The Best AirPods Yet
The AirPods Pro 3 earn Tom's Guide's verdict of "the best AirPods yet." The doubled noise cancellation alone justifies the upgrade for frequent flyers, commuters and office workers, while heart rate sensing and Live Translation make them the most capable earbuds Apple has ever shipped — all at the same $249 launch price as the Pro 2. Pro 2 owners who are happy with their fit and sound can afford to wait for a sale, but for first-time buyers or anyone upgrading from older AirPods, the Pro 3 is currently the safest, smartest pick in premium wireless earbuds.
Watch: AirPods Pro 3 Unboxing & Heart Rate Test — full setup, workout mode and first look (Sagar Nemkul, YouTube) — a hands-on video showing the Pro 3's heart rate monitor and workout mode in action.
Sources: Tom's Guide — Apple AirPods Pro 3 review; 9to5Mac — Apple unveils AirPods Pro 3; Android Police — AirPods Pro 3 review; Gizmochina — AirPods Pro 3 launched: specs, price.