Noise cancelling
The noise cancelling did its job for reviewers.
AirPods Pro 3 ReviewExpert Scores, Specs & Price
Last updated
AirPods Pro 3 lean on the H2 chip for noise cancellation roughly four times stronger than the first Pro, and adaptive audio that adjusts to the room around you as you move through it. Apple also put a heart-rate sensor and hearing health features into the buds themselves, so they do more than play music.
Excellent4.5/5
Released
Sep 19, 2025
Price today
From $199
When to buy
A new version probably isn't soon
Launched Sep 2025. Usual update time: Aug 2028.
SEP 14 · LATEST ON AIRPODS PRO 3
If you own AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4 or AirPods Max 2, you can now tune the sound yourself and the setting travels with the earbuds. AirPods Pro 2 get the update but not the EQ, and you can't force the install.
Read the story →Best for
Music.
The acoustics were redesigned, and it plays high-definition spatial audio.Confirmed: apple.com
Fitness.
It tracks your heart rate and calories through a workout, and it is rated IP57.Confirmed: apple.com
Hearing health.
It can test your hearing, work as a hearing aid, boost a conversation and protect your ears from loud noise.Confirmed: apple.comHearing features vary by region and eligibility.
What 17 reviewers said
More reviewsThe noise cancelling and fit are excellent.
Tied to one phone
How it works with your phone held reviewers back.
Fit
It stayed put for reviewers.
Comparison
Compare earbudsHow it compares
Price
$249
What it costs to buy. None of these need a subscription.
Weight
5.6g
Grams in your ears. Lower is lighter.
Battery life
~8 hrs
How long it lasts on its own, away from a charger.
Cost over 3 years
AirPods Pro 3$249
AirPods 5$129AirPods 4$129
Pixel Buds 2a$129
Galaxy Buds 4$179.99Weight
Battery life
Current list prices.
One earbud, not the pair, and not the case.
Battery life can vary based on usage, settings and firmware version.
If not this one
AirPods Pro 3 is our pick for music, fitness and hearing health. Where it does not lead, here is what does, and why you would switch.
- If calls are what it is forAirPods 5
Voice Isolation cleans up your voice on a call, and you can answer without touching anything.
- If it is mostly for travelPixel Buds 2a
It gives you 27 hours of playback with the case.
- If you want live translationGalaxy Buds 4 Pro
Galaxy AI translates live through the earbuds.
Quick answers
All FAQsQuick answers
Do the AirPods Pro 3 come with a charger?
No. The box has the MagSafe Charging Case with USB-C, speaker and lanyard loop, but no charging cable and no power adapter.
4.5 / 5
Excellent
Noise cancelling
The noise cancelling did its job for reviewers.
Tied to one phone
How it works with your phone held reviewers back.
Fit
It stayed put for reviewers.
Scores published by other outlets, normalized and averaged. iDevice did not test these products for this score.
8 expert reviews
- Read reviewWhat Hi-Fi?Kashfia Kabir; Ketan Bharadia (contributor)Jan 13, 2026
- Read reviewTechGearLabRachael LamoreNov 25, 2025
- Read reviewTechRadarBecky ScarrottOct 24, 2025
- Read reviewSoundGuysHarley MarananSep 24, 2025
- Read reviewTom's GuideKate KozuchSep 15, 2025
- Read reviewEngadgetBilly Steele
- Read reviewThe VergeVictoria Song
- Read reviewWIREDParker Hall
Reviewer breakdown
What reviewers agreed on, and how many raised each
- Works with your phone8 / 8
- Noise cancelling14
- Battery life9 / 5
- Fit11
- Comfort8
- Price4 / 3
- Dropped connections4
- Controls4
Liked itDidn’t
Oct 25, 2023 · First sign of it
Bloomberg places the next AirPods Pro refresh in 2025
Feb 13, 2025 · New feature
Heart-rate monitoring is reported as ready for AirPods Pro 3
Aug 26, 2025 · Design and hardware
A case leak says the pairing button is going away
Sep 1, 2025 · New feature
An anonymous tip claims in-ear temperature sensing
Sep 8, 2025 · Others confirmed it
Gurman says not to expect major audio or ANC changes
Sep 9, 2025 · Announced
Apple announces AirPods Pro 3
Sep 19, 2025 · Went on sale
AirPods Pro 3 go on sale
Jul 15, 2026 · New feature
A public beta adds custom EQ to AirPods Pro 3
At a glance
THIS PRODUCTAirPods Pro 3
COMPARE WITHAirPods 4Price
The starting list price, not a temporary sale price. It is usually the first thing that rules a product in or out.
From $249
$79 (regularly $129)
Case battery
The case is what gets you through a week without a charger.
24 hrsReported: Apple · Jul 11, 2026
Up to 30 hrs totalConfirmed: Apple · Jul 15, 202620 hrs with ANC
Spatial audio
Head tracking keeps audio anchored to the screen instead of to your ears.
YesConfirmed: Apple · Jul 11, 2026Personalized Spatial Audio
YesConfirmed: Apple · Jul 15, 2026personalized with head tracking
Health features
The useful health features vary a lot even between similar-looking devices.
Heart rate, hearing healthConfirmed: Apple · Jul 11, 2026
None
More specs⌄
Processor
The processor affects speed, efficiency and which features the device can support.
H2Reported: 9to5Mac · Jul 11, 2026
H2Confirmed: Apple · Jul 15, 2026
Connectivity
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other connections determine what the device can work with.
Bluetooth 5.3Confirmed: Apple · Jul 11, 2026
Bluetooth 5.3Confirmed: Apple · Jul 15, 2026
AI
AI features vary from simple voice help to camera-based assistants.
No
No
Indicators
A status light is how you know the battery level or pairing state without a phone.
Unknown
No
Controls
Taps, head nods, eye and hand tracking suit very different situations.
Stem press (play/pause/skip), head nod for Siri, touch controlsConfirmed: Apple · Jul 11, 2026
Head nod for Siri, double tap stemConfirmed: Apple · Jul 15, 2026
Battery
More time between charges usually makes a wearable easier to live with.
Up to 8 hrs ANC on / 24 hrs with case
5 hrs / 4 hrs ANC on
Current offers
Best Buy
$199.99
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Other models to consider
Frequently asked questions
Questions about AirPods Pro 3
Top questions
Do the AirPods Pro 3 come with a charger?
No. The box has the MagSafe Charging Case with USB-C, speaker and lanyard loop, but no charging cable and no power adapter.
Using it
Does it have noise cancelling?
Yes, it cancels noise.
What does it cost?
It costs $249. That is the list price.
Does it work with my phone?
It works fully with an iPhone and partly with Android. It pairs with Android, but the app and the iPhone-only features are not there.
How heavy is it?
It weighs 5.55g.
How good is the camera?
It has no camera.
How does it connect?
It connects over Bluetooth 5.3.
What chip is inside?
It runs on Apple H2.
Does it do spatial audio?
Yes, it does spatial audio.
Can I control it with gestures?
Yes, you can control it with gestures.
Can it see and answer questions about what I am looking at?
No, it cannot see what you are looking at.
Sizing and fit
Battery and charging
How do I reset it?
Put your AirPods in their charging case, close the lid, and wait 30 seconds. Double-tap the front of the case while the status light is on. Double-tap again when the status light flashes white. Double-tap a third time when the status light flashes faster. When the status light flashes amber, then flashes white, you can follow the steps on your device's screen to reconnect your AirPods.
How do I update it?
How do I look after the battery?
AirPods Pro 3 learn from your daily usage and determine when to charge to an optimized limit and when to allow for a full charge. The limit adapts to your daily usage and preserves your battery lifespan over time. To fully charge your AirPods Pro 3, turn off Optimize Charge Limit, then tap Turn Off Until Tomorrow, or tap Turn Off to turn off the setting entirely.
How long does the battery last?
It runs 24 hours with the case and noise cancelling on. That is 10 hours in hearing aid mode, and 8 hours of listening with noise cancelling on.
Water
How do I clean it?
Can it get wet (shower, pool, swimming)?
Yes, it survives a shower and a soaking. Its rating is IP57. It holds up for thirty minutes at one metre. Swimming laps and diving need a different rating, and it does not carry one.
Price and models
When did the AirPods Pro 3 come out?
It went on sale September 19, 2025. Announced September 9, 2025.
Is there a newer one?
No. The AirPods Pro 3 is the current model.
How much does the AirPods Pro 3 cost?
List price: $249. Current price we last read at Amazon: $199, October 10, 2026.
Returns and warranty
In the box
Works with
AirPods 5 batteries can finally be replaced, iFixit's teardown finds
A worn battery no longer has to mean new earbuds, but the swap is a technician's job and the charging case still can't be opened without breaking it.
Up next
The Beats 360 win on workouts and lose on sound, two reviews find
Two reviewers rate the Beats 360 as the over-ear headphones to beat for running and the gym, and WIRED warns the sound quality is the price.
Custom EQ is live on AirPods 4, 5, Pro 2, Pro 3 and Max 2
You need iOS 27 and the latest AirPods firmware. It is less detailed than Sony's EQ, and the default profile is fine if you'd rather not tinker.
The $349.99 Beats 360 bring AirPods-style switching and swappable cushions
The closest Beats has come to AirPods Max for about $200 less, with a sweat rating for workouts. You give up wired listening and auto-pause.
Reviewers agree the $149 AirPods 5 is the one to buy
Spend the extra $20. The wireless-case model gets swipe volume and more battery, and battery life is the complaint that follows the AirPods 5 through every review.
Noise cancellation is now standard on the $129 AirPods 5
Upgrading from AirPods 4 with noise cancellation buys you very little. Coming from anything older, the $129 model is the cheapest good AirPods Apple has sold.
AirPods firmware 9A348 adds custom EQ to Pro 3 and AirPods 4
If you own AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4 or AirPods Max 2, you can now tune the sound yourself and the setting travels with the earbuds. AirPods Pro 2 get the update but not the EQ, and you can't force the install.
The cheaper AirPods 5 matches the battery of the pair it replaces
Only the $149 AirPods 5 beats AirPods 4 with ANC on every line. The $129 model carries the same two battery ratings and a case with no wireless charging and no Find My speaker.
AirPods 5 are rated IP57 for water and dust, like the Pro 3
IP57 puts a $129 pair of open-ear AirPods on the same water rating as the $249 Pro 3.
Apple moved the AirPods upsell from noise cancellation to the case
Open-ear noise cancellation used to cost $179. It's $129 now, and the $20 step up buys a case that charges on an Apple Watch puck.
AirPods 5 arrive with better noise cancellation and no cameras
The camera AirPods were on Apple's schedule for this stage and are now a 2027 product, which leaves a $129 pair of tipless earbuds carrying the entry line for another year.
AirPods Pro 3 can run a gym workout without the watch
A treadmill test on the iOS 27 beta came back with the numbers a watch would give. The earbuds have to be in, and their heart-rate permission has to be on.
The camera AirPods would outrank Face ID for head tracking
Apple already has a head-tracking sensor in the phone in front of you. The code says the earbuds win that argument, on hardware nobody expects before fall 2027.
Apple's cheap AirPods arrive next month, in two versions
Noise cancellation is reaching Apple's entry-level earbuds a year earlier than the reporting expected. The camera pair is still next year.
A merged branch is how Apple leaked itself
Apple assembles its shipping code by merging branches, and one of the branches it merged this time was never meant to leave the building.
The camera AirPods are not coming this year
Supply chain problems and unfinished software pushed them to 2027, two days after a demo video leaked out of macOS.
The camera AirPods code belongs to the pair Apple canceled
A hidden macOS framework has two color cameras, paired stills at a megapixel, and an indicator light. It describes B790, the model Apple dropped.
Custom EQ is coming to four AirPods models
Apple’s fifth AirPods beta firmware, build 9A5347a, goes to every H2 model. Custom EQ and a new interface arrive with iOS 27.
The AirPods 5 codenames leaked out of macOS 26.7
B868M and B868E sit one increment above the shipping AirPods 4, splitting the next generation into a plain pair and one with active noise cancellation. No date came with them.
The unannounced camera AirPods already have a demo video
Apple's macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate carries the video, an error string from the camera, and codenames for two separate camera AirPods.
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