AirPods Pro 3

 AirPods Pro 3: Expected with new features    

Despite being released over two years ago, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 continue to dominate the wireless ear bud market. However, with the AirPods Pro 3 expected to launch sometime in 2025, anyone thinking of buying Apple's premium earbuds may be wondering if the next generation is worth holding out for. AirPods Pro 3 are coming later this year. Despite Apple continuing to make AirPods Pro 2 better with new software features, there’s still a hardware successor on the way soon. Apart from their audio and noise-cancelling performance, which are generally regarded as excellent for such small buds, one of the reasons the AirPods Pro 2 have remained popular is Apple's commitment to updating their feature set with software updates. When iOS 17 was released last year, AirPods Pro 2 got new Adaptive Audio features, mute controls and faster automatic device switching. With iOS 18, Apple added head gestures, allowing users to control Siri on the ‌AirPods Pro‌ with a shake or a nod of the head. Apple also added Voice Isolation to the ‌AirPods Pro‌ to cut down on loud background sounds to make you easier to hear, along with more granular Adaptive Audio controls and a new Personalized Spatial Audio feature specific to gaming.

More recently, AirPods Pro 2 received a significant upgrade with the release of iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2. These updates introduced hearing aid functionality in supporting regions, allowing the ear buds to function as an over-the-counter hearing aid for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. Apple received FDA authorization for this feature, which should be a game-changer for many users. Now, AirPods Pro 3 are expected to arrive in September alongside the iPhone 17 line, following are the some of the new features we’re expecting:- 

Brand new H3 chip

According to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, AirPods Pro 3 will come with a brand new H3 chip. Sometimes a new Apple chip only offers modest improvements. We’ve seen this with the M-series chips in Macs and iPads, A-series chips in iPhones and even the Apple Watch’s S-class chips. But so far with the AirPods’ H-series chips, upgrades have been big. No doubt this is due to the extended development time between updates. AirPods Pro’s H1 chip stuck around for three years before AirPods Pro 2 introduced the H2. And now, when AirPods Pro 3 arrive, it will have been another three year wait for the H3 chip. The power of the new H2 chip provides an exceptional acoustic experience and cancels up to twice as much noise over the previous generation AirPods Pro. With a new low-distortion audio driver and custom amplifier, AirPods Pro now offer richer bass and crystal-clear sound across a wider range of frequencies. The powerful H2 chip enables on-device processing, which reduces loud environmental noise [with Adaptive Transparency], like a passing vehicle siren, construction tools or even loud speakers at a concert. We’ve also seen the H2 power several new feature updates over the past couple years, so the H3 will no doubt unlock plenty of its own new features when it arrives.

Design

Gurman also reports that AirPods Pro 3 are getting ‘a new design.’ That’s unfortunately all of the info we have right now on the redesign. Since AirPods Pro’s design has generally been a big hit, and even inspired the redesigned AirPods 4. However, some small changes to the stem size perhaps, or fit in the ear, could be in store. Any future generation of AirPods Pro will surely inherit all of these features, but we are also expecting more dramatic changes. Looking ahead to the AirPods Pro 3, multiple reports suggest Apple is planning a redesign for both the ear buds and the charging case. While details are scarce, this indicates the next iteration may sport a fresh look compared to their predecessors, which have maintained a similar design since the original AirPods Pro.

Upgraded noise cancellation feature

One of AirPods Pro 2’s biggest selling points, was its improved Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature. Under the hood, Apple is also said to be focusing on sonic improvements, with Apple adding a faster audio processor. This has been a consistent trend with each AirPods iteration. Perhaps more intriguing however are rumours of "much better" Active Noise Cancellation capabilities compared to the already impressive AirPods Pro 2. Apple, according to at least one report, is planning to bring similar upgrades to its next AirPods Pro model. AirPods Pro 3’s new ANC will reportedly be ‘much better’ than the existing feature, no doubt powered by the new capabilities of the H3 chip. 

New health feature(s)

Apple recently shipped its first big health features for AirPods Pro 2 in iOS 18.1, but it sounds like much more is on the way. Health features appear to be a major focus for the AirPods Pro 3 as well. Apple is developing heart rate monitoring technology that could be ready for the AirPods Pro 3. Apple is reportedly also developing new sensors that could allow the ear buds to measure body temperature from within the ear canal. This aligns with the company's broader push into health monitoring across its product line, but whether the sensor will be ready in time for next year's model is unknown. Gurman recently reported that three or more health features were in the works for future AirPods models, which includes:-

heart rate monitoring, similar to what the Apple Watch offers

temperature sensing

plus new sensors that would enable ‘a slew of physiological measures’

Gurman believes heart rate monitoring should be ready to ship with AirPods Pro 3.    

A new codec with a higher bitrate is expected. The current AAC has too low sound quality when listening to music and even worse when making phone calls. Especially the bitrate and sound quality when making phone calls must be improved. However, due to the extra caution, care and even regulatory approvals which tend to accompany health features, it could potentially be delayed. Looking further ahead, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes we could see AirPods with integrated infrared cameras as soon as 2026. These would improve spatial audio experiences when paired with the Vision Pro headset, although it's unlikely that this technology will debut with next year's AirPods Pro 3. Gurman has also said Apple plans to add small cameras to future AirPods to enable unspecified AI-powered features. This is said to be a "priority" project for Apple, but likely still a few years away from completion.

The fourth-generation AirPods could offer a hint as to what other design changes we could see in AirPods Pro 3. AirPods 4 eliminate the familiar setup button found on the back of earlier models' charging cases. Instead, Apple has integrated a concealed capacitive button on the front of the case, just below the status light. To initiate pairing mode, users simply open the case and double-tap the front-centre area. The ‌AirPods 4‌'s status light has also received a stealthy makeover. When the case is closed or not charging, the LED is completely invisible. It only reveals itself when the case is opened or placed on a charger. These design changes contribute to the smallest and lightest AirPods charging case to date, and there's a good chance Apple will bring them over to the next-generation AirPods Pro.

AirPods Pro 2 are one of Apple’s best products, and the three years between updates only serves to build anticipation for their successor. With the AirPods Pro 3 potentially arriving within the next 12 months, anyone looking to invest in some new AirPods has a decision to make. The recently released AirPods 4 bring some Pro features like Active Noise Cancellation to a more affordable $179 price point. However, those who prioritize cutting-edge features and are willing to wait might find the upcoming AirPods Pro 3 to be a more compelling option, especially if they build upon the hearing aid functionality introduced in the AirPods Pro 2.