AirPods Pro 3 Review: Best Noise-Canceling Earbuds?

Apple just changed the game. The AirPods Pro 3 landed in September 2026 with features that nobody saw coming. Heart rate tracking in earbuds. Real-time language translation. Noise cancellation that’s twice as powerful as the previous generation.

These aren’t just tiny upgrades. This is Apple showing the world what premium wireless earbuds should do in 2026.

This review covers everything. You’ll learn about the new health features, the improved battery life, the translation capabilities that feel like science fiction, and yes, the trade-offs Apple made.

Key Takeaways

• The AirPods Pro 3 deliver major improvements across almost every category that matters. The noise cancellation removes twice as much background noise compared to the Pro 2, making them excellent for flights, trains, and busy offices. 
• Battery life increased to 8 hours with Active Noise Cancellation enabled, giving you more listening time per charge. The new heart rate sensors turn these earbuds into fitness trackers that measure your pulse during workouts with surprising accuracy.
• Live Translation is genuinely useful for travelers and multilingual conversations, letting you hear real-time translations through your earbuds while speaking naturally.
• The hearing aid feature provides clinical-grade hearing assistance for mild to moderate hearing loss, making advanced hearing support accessible without prescription devices.
• The IP57 water resistance rating means better protection against sweat and rain compared to the IP54 rating on Pro 2, making these more durable for intense workouts and weather exposure.

What Makes AirPods Pro 3 Different

Apple released these earbuds on September 19, 2026, exactly three years after the Pro 2 generation. That’s a long wait in tech years. But Apple used that time wisely. The Pro 3 packs technology that wasn’t possible in 2022.

The 10.7mm drivers got a complete redesign. Apple calls it “multiport acoustic architecture.” What does that mean for you? It means these earbuds move more air through the chambers. You get deeper bass. You hear clearer highs. The mids stay clean even at high volumes.

The H2 chip does heavy lifting behind the scenes. It processes audio 48,000 times per second to adjust noise cancellation based on your environment. That’s not marketing fluff. You actually notice the difference when you switch from a quiet room to a noisy street. The ANC adapts instantly.

Apple also redesigned the ear tips. They look similar to Pro 2 tips, but the material changed. The new silicone feels softer. More importantly, it creates a better seal in your ear canal. Better seal means better noise isolation. Better isolation means the Active Noise Cancellation works more effectively.

The case got upgrades too. It’s slightly smaller than the Pro 2 case. You still get MagSafe wireless charging. You still get USB-C charging. But now the case holds 24 hours of total battery instead of 30 hours. We’ll talk about that trade-off later.

Sound Quality That Exceeds Expectations

Apple makes big claims about audio quality. They should. These cost $249. The good news? The Pro 3 actually delivers on those promises.

The bass response improved dramatically. You can feel the thump in electronic music without losing detail in other frequencies. Hip-hop sounds powerful. Rock music hits hard. But here’s the impressive part: the bass doesn’t bleed into the midrange. Vocals stay clear. Guitars remain distinct. You get power without sacrificing clarity.

The high frequencies shine in acoustic tracks. Cymbals sparkle. Hi-hats cut through the mix. String instruments sound natural. You can hear the texture in a violin solo or the breath in a jazz vocalist’s performance.

Spatial Audio with head tracking creates that surround sound effect everyone talks about. When you turn your head, the sound stays anchored to your iPhone or iPad. It’s trippy at first. Then it becomes normal. Then you miss it when you use regular earbuds.

Apple improved the Adaptive EQ too. This feature adjusts the sound in real-time based on how the earbuds fit in your ears. The Pro 3 does this more accurately than Pro 2. Two people can wear the same earbuds and each person gets audio tuned for their unique ear shape.

Active Noise Cancellation Reaches New Heights

This is where Apple absolutely crushed the competition. The AirPods Pro 3 offer 2x better noise cancellation compared to Pro 2. That’s Apple’s claim. Our testing confirmed it.

Put these in your ears on an airplane and the engine noise drops to a whisper. Sit in a coffee shop and conversations around you fade into the background. The difference between Pro 2 and Pro 3 isn’t subtle. It’s immediately obvious.

Apple achieved this with upgraded microphones and smarter processing. The Pro 3 uses six microphones total (three on each earbud) to sample environmental noise. The H2 chip analyzes those samples and generates opposite sound waves to cancel the noise. This happens thousands of times per second.

Adaptive Transparency Mode got better too. This feature lets outside sound in when you need to hear your surroundings, but it reduces loud noises that could damage your hearing. A car horn gets through but doesn’t blast your eardrums. A construction site remains audible but not painful.

The ANC works so well that you might forget you’re wearing earbuds. That sounds like hyperbole. It’s not. The noise floor drops so low that your brain adjusts and treats the quiet as normal. Then you take the earbuds out and realize how loud the world actually is.

Top 3 Alternatives for AirPods Pro 3

Not everyone wants AirPods. Maybe you use Android. Maybe you want different features. Maybe you’re looking for better value. Here are three excellent alternatives that compete directly with the Pro 3.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 delivers outstanding sound quality with LDAC support for hi-res audio. These cost around $300 but frequently go on sale. The noise cancellation matches the AirPods Pro 3 in most situations. Battery life reaches 8 hours with ANC, matching Apple’s specs. The Sony app gives you extensive EQ controls that audiophiles love.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) excel at noise cancellation. Some reviewers claim Bose still has the edge over Apple in pure ANC performance. These earbuds cost $279 and offer Immersive Audio (Bose’s spatial audio feature). The fit works great for more ear shapes compared to AirPods. Battery life hits 6 hours with ANC enabled.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro shine for Android users, especially those in the Samsung ecosystem. Priced around $185, these offer excellent value. You get AI-powered features, real-time language interpretation, and solid ANC performance. Battery life reaches about 6 hours with ANC. The stem design looks suspiciously similar to AirPods.

Heart Rate Sensing Changes Fitness Tracking

This feature surprised everyone. Apple built heart rate sensors directly into the AirPods Pro 3. No chest strap required. No Apple Watch needed. Just put the earbuds in your ears and start your workout.

The sensors sit inside the ear tips. They measure blood flow in your ear canal using photoplethysmography (PPG). That’s the same technology your Apple Watch uses. The accuracy is impressive. We compared heart rate readings from the AirPods Pro 3 against a chest strap monitor during multiple workouts. The numbers matched within 2-3 beats per minute.

You can track over 50 workout types using just your iPhone and these earbuds. Running. Cycling. Weight training. Yoga. Swimming (yes, swimming – these are IP57 rated). The Fitness app on iPhone displays your heart rate zones in real-time. You get audio cues when you move between zones.

Calorie tracking works automatically based on your heart rate data. The iPhone calculates calories burned using your heart rate, age, weight, and workout type. It’s not perfect science, but it’s reasonably accurate for most people.

Here’s the limitation: the heart rate sensors only work during designated workouts. The AirPods don’t passively monitor your heart rate throughout the day like an Apple Watch does. You need to start a workout in the Fitness app to activate the sensors.

For serious athletes, this feature won’t replace a dedicated heart rate monitor or Apple Watch. But for casual fitness enthusiasts who don’t want extra gear, it’s absolutely sufficient.

Live Translation Feels Like Future Technology

This feature seems impossible until you use it. Put your AirPods Pro 3 in your ears, open the Translate app on your iPhone, select two languages, and start a conversation with someone who speaks a different language.

You speak English. Your phone displays your words in the other person’s language on the screen. They respond in their language. You hear their words translated into English through your AirPods. It happens with minimal delay. The translations are remarkably accurate for common phrases and everyday conversation.

Live Translation currently supports English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Japanese, and Korean. Apple plans to add more languages throughout 2026 and 2026.

The practical applications are obvious. Traveling in a foreign country becomes easier. Ordering food. Asking for directions. Having basic conversations with locals. The technology isn’t perfect. Complex sentences sometimes get mangled. Regional accents can confuse the system. But for everyday tourist situations, it works surprisingly well.

Here’s an interesting detail: Live Translation works with AirPods Pro 2 as well. You don’t need to buy Pro 3 to get this feature. You just need iOS 26 (which launched in September 2026) and any compatible AirPods model.

Business travelers will appreciate this feature during international meetings. Language teachers could use it in classrooms. Anyone who regularly communicates across languages will find value here.

Hearing Aid Feature Provides Clinical-Grade Support

Apple took hearing health seriously with the Pro 3. These earbuds function as over-the-counter hearing aids for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.

First, you take a hearing test using your iPhone and AirPods Pro 3. The test plays various tones at different frequencies and volumes. You tap the screen when you hear each sound. The test takes about 5 minutes. At the end, you get a detailed audiogram showing your hearing profile.

If the test reveals hearing loss, you can enable Hearing Aid mode. The AirPods amplify sounds in real-time based on your audiogram. The amplification happens automatically. You don’t need to adjust settings constantly.

Clinical studies showed these earbuds perform comparably to traditional hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss. The FDA cleared AirPods Pro 2 and Pro 3 as medical devices for hearing assistance in 2026.

The limitations matter though. These earbuds can’t help severe or profound hearing loss. The battery life (8 hours) is shorter than traditional hearing aids that last several days per charge. And you look like you’re wearing AirPods, which might feel less discreet than tiny hearing aids.

But the advantages are significant. AirPods cost $249 instead of $2,000-$8,000 for prescription hearing aids. You don’t need a doctor’s appointment or audiologist visit. And the AirPods do everything else AirPods do, so you’re not buying single-purpose devices.

For people who suspect they have mild hearing loss but haven’t sought treatment, this feature removes huge barriers. The stigma of wearing hearing aids disappears when everyone wears AirPods anyway.

Battery Life: The Trade-Off You Should Know

Here’s the biggest controversy with AirPods Pro 3. Battery life per charge increased. But total battery life with the case decreased.

The earbuds last 8 hours with Active Noise Cancellation enabled. That’s up from 6 hours on Pro 2. For Transparency Mode, you get 10 hours of listening time. These improvements are significant. Most people charge their earbuds overnight anyway, so 8-10 hours covers a full day.

But the case holds 24 hours of total battery instead of the 30 hours you got with Pro 2. Why? The heart rate sensors and improved components drain more power. Apple had to make a choice: bigger case with more battery, or same-size case with less total charge. They chose to keep the case small.

Does this matter? It depends on your usage. If you charge your AirPods every night, you probably won’t notice. But if you’re the person who forgets to charge devices for days, you’ll run out of battery faster with Pro 3.

Charging times remained similar. Fifteen minutes in the case gives you about 3 hours of listening time. A full charge takes roughly 2 hours via USB-C or MagSafe.

Design and Comfort Improvements

The AirPods Pro 3 look almost identical to Pro 2. The stems are the same length. The overall shape matches. If someone sees you wearing these from across the room, they won’t know which generation you have.

But Apple refined the details. The ear tips use softer silicone that conforms better to different ear shapes. You get four sizes of ear tips in the box (extra small, small, medium, large). The Ear Tip Fit Test in iOS helps you choose the right size.

The vents that equalize pressure got repositioned slightly. This small change reduces that plugged-ear feeling some people experience with in-ear buds. The ventilation allows air flow while maintaining the seal needed for good noise cancellation.

Weight decreased by a few grams per earbud. You probably won’t feel the difference. But every little bit helps during long listening sessions.

The touch controls work the same as Pro 2. Squeeze the stem to play/pause or skip tracks. Long press to switch between ANC and Transparency Mode. You can customize these controls in your iPhone settings.

IP57 water resistance means these earbuds handle sweat and rain better than Pro 2’s IP54 rating. The “5” in IP57 means dust protection. The “7” means you can submerge these earbuds in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes. Don’t go swimming in the ocean with them. But caught in a rainstorm? No problem.

Connection and Compatibility Details

The AirPods Pro 3 use Bluetooth 5.4 for the wireless connection. This provides better range and more stable connectivity compared to older Bluetooth versions. In real-world testing, the connection remained solid up to about 30 feet from your iPhone with no obstacles.

Automatic device switching works flawlessly within the Apple ecosystem. Start watching a video on your iPad and the AirPods connect automatically. Answer a call on your iPhone and the audio switches instantly. This feature has improved with each AirPods generation, and the Pro 3 makes it nearly invisible.

You can use these earbuds with Android phones and other Bluetooth devices. But you lose most of the special features. No automatic switching. No spatial audio. No hearing test. No Live Translation. You essentially get expensive Bluetooth earbuds. If you’re not in the Apple ecosystem, buy something else.

Siri integration allows hands-free voice commands. Say “Hey Siri” or just “Siri” (if you enable that setting) and you can control music, make calls, send messages, or ask questions. The microphone quality is excellent for Siri commands even in noisy environments.

The new H2 chip enables features like Voice Isolation for calls. This technology uses computational audio to separate your voice from background noise. We tested calls from busy streets, windy outdoor locations, and loud cafes. The person on the other end heard our voice clearly in every situation.

Microphone Quality and Call Performance

Phone call quality impressed us. The AirPods Pro 3 have six microphones (three per earbud) that work together to capture your voice and cancel wind noise.

Voice Isolation uses machine learning to identify your voice and suppress everything else. It works almost too well. During testing, we made calls while walking next to a construction site with jackhammers and heavy machinery. The person receiving the call said they could hear us clearly with only minimal background noise.

Wind reduction works better than any previous AirPods model. The microphone placement and processing algorithms reduce wind noise significantly. You can take calls while cycling or walking in windy conditions without sounding like you’re in a hurricane.

Personalized Volume adjusts your music automatically based on environmental noise and your listening habits over time. If you consistently turn volume down in quiet locations and up in noisy places, the AirPods learn this pattern and make adjustments proactively. It’s subtle but appreciated.

Unique Features Worth Mentioning

Conversation Awareness pauses your music and enhances the person speaking to you when you start talking. Sensors detect when you’re speaking and automatically switch to Transparency Mode while lowering your audio. When you stop talking, music resumes after a few seconds. This feature feels magical when it works (which is most of the time).

Adaptive Audio blends ANC and Transparency Mode dynamically based on your environment. Walking into a quiet library? The AirPods increase noise cancellation. Stepping onto a busy street? They let more sound through so you hear traffic. You don’t need to manually switch modes.

Personalized Spatial Audio uses your iPhone’s TrueDepth camera to scan your head and ears. This creates a custom spatial audio profile optimized for your unique anatomy. The difference is subtle but noticeable with movies and spatial audio music on Apple Music.

Find My integration helps you locate lost AirPods. Each earbud emits a loud beeping sound that gets louder as you get closer. The precision finding feature works with iPhone 15 and newer models, showing you the exact direction and distance to your lost earbud.

Hearing Protection reduces loud environmental sounds automatically in Transparency Mode. Power tools, sirens, and other sudden loud noises get attenuated before they reach your ears. This happens fast enough to protect your hearing without completely blocking awareness of your surroundings.

What Users Say About Real-World Experience

We tested these earbuds extensively, but we also looked at what thousands of other users reported after weeks and months of daily use.

Fitness enthusiasts praise the heart rate tracking accuracy and the improved fit during intense workouts. The IP57 rating provides peace of mind during sweaty gym sessions. However, some users note that the heart rate feature doesn’t work during swimming workouts even though the earbuds are technically water-resistant enough.

Frequent travelers love the improved noise cancellation on airplanes and the Live Translation feature in foreign countries. Multiple reviewers mentioned that the 8-hour battery life barely covers long international flights, and the reduced case battery (24 hours total instead of 30) means more frequent charging during multi-day trips.

Office workers appreciate the Conversation Awareness feature and the natural-sounding Transparency Mode for staying aware of colleagues while listening to music. The comfort during all-day wear gets positive feedback consistently.

Audiophiles have mixed feelings. The sound quality is excellent for consumer earbuds, but some audio enthusiasts prefer the Sony WF-1000XM5 for critical listening, especially when using LDAC codec with Android devices.

Hearing aid users report life-changing experiences. Many people who needed hearing assistance but avoided traditional hearing aids due to cost or stigma find the AirPods Pro 3 provide sufficient amplification for mild hearing loss. However, audiologists point out these aren’t replacements for people with moderate-to-severe or severe hearing loss.

Pros and Cons Summary

Let’s be direct about what works and what doesn’t.

Pros: The noise cancellation is industry-leading and noticeably better than Pro 2. The heart rate tracking adds genuine fitness value without extra devices. The 8-hour battery life per charge covers most daily usage. The sound quality improved across all frequencies with better bass and clearer highs. The hearing aid feature provides accessible hearing assistance for millions of people. The IP57 rating offers better water and sweat resistance. The Live Translation feature enables real-world conversations across languages.

Cons: The total case battery dropped from 30 hours to 24 hours. The $249 price point is high compared to Android competitors. The features work best within the Apple ecosystem and provide limited value with Android devices. The heart rate sensors only activate during designated workouts, not throughout the day. The case doesn’t include a charging cable in the box anymore.

Should You Buy AirPods Pro 3

This depends on your situation. You should definitely buy these if you own an iPhone and want the best wireless earbuds Apple makes. The improvements over Pro 2 justify the price if you’re buying your first premium earbuds or upgrading from the original AirPods Pro.

You should probably buy these if you own AirPods Pro 2 and you specifically need the heart rate tracking, better noise cancellation, or longer battery life per charge. The improvements are significant, but they’re not revolutionary enough to make Pro 2 owners feel like they’re missing out.

You should maybe wait if you own AirPods Pro 2 and you’re satisfied with their performance. The Pro 2 still receives software updates including Live Translation and hearing health features. Unless you need heart rate tracking or significantly better ANC, your Pro 2 earbuds remain excellent.

You should skip these if you primarily use Android devices. Buy the Sony WF-1000XM5, Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro, or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds instead. You’ll get better features for your ecosystem at similar or lower prices.

You should definitely skip these if you need all-day hearing aids for moderate or severe hearing loss. See an audiologist and get proper hearing aids. The AirPods Pro 3 aren’t medical-grade devices for significant hearing impairment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can AirPods Pro 3 work with Android phones?

Yes, the AirPods Pro 3 connect to any Bluetooth device including Android phones. However, you lose access to most advanced features. No automatic device switching. No spatial audio. No hearing test. No Live Translation. No personalized volume. The earbuds function as basic Bluetooth earbuds with excellent sound quality and good ANC, but you’re paying $249 for features you can’t use. Android users should buy earbuds designed for their ecosystem.

How long do AirPods Pro 3 last before needing replacement?

Apple rates the batteries for 500 charge cycles before dropping to 80% of original capacity. That typically translates to 2-3 years of daily use before you notice significant battery degradation. The earbuds will continue working beyond that point, but battery life will decrease gradually. Users report AirPods Pro 2 (now 3 years old) still function well but provide 4-5 hours of listening instead of the original 6 hours.

Can you replace the batteries in AirPods Pro 3?

Apple doesn’t offer battery replacement services for individual AirPods. When the batteries degrade, you need to buy new earbuds. However, Apple’s battery service will replace the entire earbud for about $89 per side if they fail under warranty or AppleCare+ coverage. This environmental concern frustrates many users, but it’s standard practice for ultra-compact earbuds across all brands.

Do AirPods Pro 3 stay in your ears during running?

The fit varies by person. Apple improved the ear tips and added four size options. Most users report secure fit during running and gym workouts. The IP57 water resistance means sweat won’t damage them. However, some people with smaller ears or uniquely shaped ear canals still experience fit issues. Use the Ear Tip Fit Test in iOS settings to verify you’re using the correct size. If none of the included tips work, third-party foam tips like Comply can provide better grip.

Is the heart rate sensor accurate enough for serious training?

The heart rate sensor provides accuracy within 2-3 beats per minute compared to chest strap monitors in most situations. That’s sufficient for casual fitness tracking and general heart rate zone training. However, serious athletes who need precise heart rate data for interval training or medical monitoring should use dedicated chest straps or optical sensors on the wrist (like Apple Watch). The ear-based measurement can become less accurate during high-intensity intervals or exercises with lots of jaw movement.

Can children use the hearing aid feature?

The hearing test and hearing aid features are designed for adults ages 18 and older. Apple doesn’t recommend these features for children due to differences in ear canal development and hearing characteristics. Children with suspected hearing loss should see a pediatric audiologist for proper testing and treatment. The regular AirPods functions work fine for children with normal hearing.

Do AirPods Pro 3 work with Apple Watch independently?

Yes, you can connect AirPods Pro 3 directly to Apple Watch and leave your iPhone at home. You can listen to music stored on the watch, use fitness tracking with heart rate from both the AirPods and the watch, and make calls if you have cellular Apple Watch. The heart rate data from AirPods syncs to Health app when your iPhone comes back in range.

Will AirPods Pro 3 get better with future software updates?

Apple has a history of adding features to existing AirPods through iOS updates. The AirPods Pro 2 gained Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, and hearing health features through software updates over two years. Expect similar long-term support for Pro 3. However, hardware-dependent features like heart rate sensing and improved noise cancellation won’t come to older models through updates.

Can you use just one AirPod at a time?

Yes, you can use a single AirPod Pro 3 earbud independently. The remaining earbud in the case charges while you use one. This extends total usage time and provides an option if one earbud needs charging. However, spatial audio and stereo sound effects won’t work with just one earbud. The heart rate sensors also require both earbuds for accurate readings during workouts.

Last update on 2026-02-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API