Apple’s upcoming AirPods Pro 3 will not bring a leap in audio quality or active noise cancellation, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. If you were expecting a sound and noise upgrade, this leak may come as a bit of a letdown.
The focus instead seems to be on health tracking. Apple is bringing heart rate monitoring to AirPods Pro 3 using LED optical sensors similar to those found in the Powerbeats Pro 2. This feature will feed fitness and health data into supported apps. There’s also a sleeker, smaller case design rumored, likely inspired by the compact style of the AirPods 4 case.
Despite the lack of major improvements in noise cancellation or sound clarity, the design tweaks aim to improve comfort and portability. If these updates hold true, the AirPods Pro 3 may appeal more to fitness-minded users than audiophiles.
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It’s important to keep expectations in check. While many assumed a new chip would deliver better ANC and audio, that does not appear to be the case for this iteration. Apple seems to be prioritizing health features over turbocharging sound.
If health tracking is your top priority, and you were hoping for more from audio performance, this release may feel like a mixed bag. But AirPods have always balanced convenience and innovation differently than rivals.
Overall, AirPods Pro 3 looks like a subtle evolution, not a radical update. If you’re someone who values health insights baked into your earbuds, this might be a welcome change. If elite sound performance is your main draw, keeping your AirPods Pro 2 may still be your best bet—for now.