The AirPods Pro 3 are the third-generation version of Apple’s high-end wireless earbuds. They’re expected to arrive later this year and bring with them improvements like new hardware, hearing health features, a thermometer, and improved audio quality.
When Could the AirPods Pro 3 Be Released?
The AirPods Pro 3 release date will more than likely be this September. We expect an unveiling at the usual Fall Apple event, at which we also expect to hear about the next iPhone.
Here’s why the rumors are growing:
- Apple loves sticking to product-release patterns. New AirPods Pro models arrive about every three years; with the latest model having arrived in September 2022, Fall 2025 is a good estimate.
- Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman (one of the best-sourced Apple reporters) expects new AirPods Pro later this year.
AirPods Pro being charged by an iPhone.
Apple Inc.
Is Apple Even Considering the Release of Any Kind of Earbuds?
Apple hasn’t announced any new earbuds yet, but there are some signs that something might be in the works. Various reports suggest that the company is planning to refresh its AirPods line with new features and better performance.
Gurman, for example, says to expect a fresh design for the 2025 AirPods Pro, a new chip, and some health-focused features. Gurman often gets information from unnamed insiders, so his leaks are rather accurate.
Our Thoughts on Potential AirPods Pro 3 Features
With the AirPods Pro 3 still months away, there’s not a lot of hard news about what they’ll offer. As more information becomes available, we’ll update this article. For now, though, thanks to a combination of rumors and educated guesses, the features we expect to see include:
- A new design
- Improved audio quality
- Real-time translations
- Camera control
- Hearing test and hearing aid improvements
- Body temperature monitoring
- H3 chip
A New Design
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple is working on a new physical design for the AirPods Pro 3. Whether that means a new case design, new earbud shape, or both is unclear, but expect the 3rd-generation AirPods Pro to look different from their predecessors.
Improved Audio Quality
Each new generation of the AirPods Pro delivers improvements to the earbuds’ audio quality, and the AirPods Pro 3 should be no different.
The marquee audio features of the AirPods Pro 2 were Transparency and Conversation Awareness. Transparency combines the benefits of noise cancellation with the ability to hear important noises around you (traffic, shouting, etc.), so you aren’t totally cut off from the world.
Conversation Awareness is similar, focusing on improving communication while wearing the earbuds by automatically lowering audio and increasing the volume of voices.
Whether the AirPods Pro 3’s new audio features will be that significant remains to be seen, but expect better-sounding audio and more intelligent features.
Real-Time Translations
Mark Gurman reports that Apple plans to add live translation to the new AirPods. This means you’ll be able to understand a foreign language in real time as the other person speaks. The new feature will be tied in with iPhone’s upcoming iOS 26, so the phone will handle all the translating and transmitting to the earbuds.
Camera Control
Apple confirmed at WWDC 2025 that a camera remote feature is coming to AirPods. “While using the Camera app or compatible third-party camera apps on iPhone or iPad, content creators can press and hold the AirPods stem to take a photo or start a video recording.” An additional press-and-hold stops the recording.
Hearing Test and Hearing Aid Improvements
There may be two new features related to hearing health and assistance coming in the AirPods Pro 3.
First, the AirPods Pro 3 may add a hearing test when used in conjunction with an iPhone. This feature could help a user determine if they have hearing loss or other problems that should lead them to consult a doctor.
Second, the new AirPods could build on hearing aid-style features present in current models. Those models allow AirPods to act as microphones and hearing aids to assist hearing for those with impairments, especially in noisy environments. Those features could get a boost, too.
Body Temperature Monitoring
Apple packs a lot of sensors into its devices, especially ones for monitoring health, and the AirPods Pro 3 may add a thermometer for detecting body temperature. Combined with Apple’s Health app, the thermometer could help detect early symptoms of illness and medical conditions.
H3 Chip
The AirPods Pro 2 are powered by Apple’s custom-designed and built H2 chip. Apple tends to deliver new versions of its processors with each major new version of a product (see the M4 in the iPad Pro, the new generation A-series processors in each iPhone, and more).
The H3 arriving in the AirPods Pro 3 seems likely. Exactly what will set the H3 apart from the H2 remains to be seen, but if these AirPods Pro deliver powerful new features, they’ll need a powerful processor.
