The AirPods Pro 3 are Apple’s latest premium wireless earbuds, and this time they didn’t just recycle old features—they finally brought real improvements. With heart-rate tracking, stronger active noise cancellation, and better battery life, these earbuds are Apple’s biggest AirPods upgrade in years.
But are they worth buying? And more importantly—are they worth upgrading from the AirPods Pro 2? Here’s my full take.
Design & Comfort
Apple didn’t change much visually, and honestly, they didn’t need to. The Pro 3 keep the same compact design and low-profile stem, but now come with five ear tip sizes (XXS–L) for a more precise fit. That makes a real difference—especially for people who struggled to get a proper seal with previous AirPods.
The earbuds are super light and easy to wear for hours at a time. They’re great for everyday use—walking, traveling, gaming, gym sessions—you name it. This time, even the charging case is IP57 rated (dust, sweat, and water resistant), which gives them a durability upgrade over the Pro 2.
Sound Quality
The sound quality got a noticeable upgrade. The AirPods Pro 3 aren’t bass cannons, but Apple tuned them to be clean and dynamic. The mids are warm, vocals sound rich, and the bass hits harder than before without getting muddy. Clarity has improved compared to the Pro 2, and the low volume tuning is cleaner now too.
If you listen to Apple Music, Spatial Audio still hits—you get that nice 3D sound feel on movies and certain tracks. For gaming on Apple devices, they now have reduced audio latency, which is a huge win.
Noise Cancellation & Transparency Mode
Apple claimed they now offer the “world’s best in-ear ANC,” and whether that’s marketing or not, the noise cancelling is definitely stronger than before. Low-frequency noise (engines, AC units, bus rumble) gets cut more aggressively, and voices around you are pushed down better than on the Pro 2.
Transparency Mode is still unmatched. This is as close as it gets to not wearing earbuds at all. Conversations sound natural, no robotic effect, no hiss—Apple still owns this feature.
New Heart-Rate Tracking
Yes, it’s real—the AirPods Pro 3 include heart-rate tracking using built-in optical sensors. Is it fitness-tracker level? No. But it can monitor your heart rate during workouts when connected to Apple Fitness or compatible third-party apps. You can see real-time BPM in your workouts right from your iPhone or Apple Watch.
Apple is clear that it isn’t a medical feature, but it’s still useful if you don’t want to wear a watch while training—and it actually works well.
Features & Connectivity
Apple didn’t hold back on features this time. Here’s what stands out:
✅ Adaptive Audio adjusts noise control automatically
✅ Conversation Awareness lowers volume when you speak
✅ Personalized Spatial Audio + head tracking
✅ USB-C charging + MagSafe + Apple Watch charger support
✅ Find My case with built-in speaker
✅ Ultra-low latency for mobile gaming
✅ Bluetooth 5.3
And of course—nothing connects like AirPods on an iPhone. Zero connection issues, instant pairing, and easy device switching. This is why people stick with Apple.
Battery Life
Battery life finally got better:
| Usage Mode | Earbuds Only | With Case |
|---|---|---|
| ANC On | Up to 8 hours | 24 hours |
| Spatial Audio & Head Tracking | ~7.5 hours | — |
| Heart Rate Active (Workout) | ~6.5 hours | — |
Charging is fast—5 minutes = about 1 hour of use.
Call Quality & Mic
Mic quality is clean and natural. These are some of the best earbuds for phone calls, FaceTime, and Zoom. Wind reduction and background noise handling got better too, so your voice stays clear even outdoors.
Price & Value
Price stays at $249—same as the Pro 2 at launch. Considering the upgrades in ANC, battery, and health features, the Pro 3 actually give better value now.
Final Verdict – Should You Buy?
If you’re already in the Apple ecosystem, these are the best all-around earbuds you can buy. They don’t destroy Sony or Bose in every category, but they balance sound, features, comfort, and usability better than any other earbuds right now.
Upgrade recommendations:
- From AirPods Pro 1 or 2? ✅ Yes, worth it
- From standard AirPods? ✅ Huge upgrade
- On Android? ❌ Not worth it—get Sony or Sennheiser
- For gym users? ✅ Heart-rate + secure fit = solid pick
✅ Pros
- Best Transparency Mode in the world
- Stronger ANC than before
- Heart-rate tracking for workouts
- Great comfort + improved fit
- Cleaner sound with tighter bass
- Best earbuds for Apple users
- USB-C charging + great case features
❌ Cons
- Still no full EQ control
- Battery life is good, but not class-leading
- Heart-rate tracking is basic, not medical
- Not ideal for Android users