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Apple AirPods Pro 3: The Earbuds That Benchmark Like Headphones
Twice the noise cancellation of their predecessor, a heart rate sensor smaller than anything Apple has shipped, and real-time translation — this is a spec sheet I couldn't ignore.
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I benchmark gear by the numbers that change your day, and the AirPods Pro 3 post big ones. Start with the headline spec: Active Noise Cancellation that removes **up to 2x more unwanted noise than AirPods Pro 2** — a generational doubling, the kind of jump you normally wait two or three product cycles to see. On a plane, on a train, or three desks over from a loud meeting, that's the difference between hearing your music and hearing a preview of it.
Then Apple stacked on the features nobody else in the earbud category is shipping together. A built-in **heart rate sensor** turns them into workout hardware, tracking heart rate and calories across up to 50 workout types — your treadmill session no longer needs a watch to count. **Live Translation**, enabled by Apple Intelligence, does real-time language translation in your ears. And a built-in **Hearing Aid feature** quietly makes these one of the most consequential accessibility devices Apple sells.
Under it all is a new acoustic architecture — transformed bass, detailed clarity, vivid vocals, and Spatial Audio that puts the mix around your head instead of inside it. This is the rare product where the marketing bullet points are also the engineering bullet points.
The specs that matter
- Active Noise Cancellation, doubled
- Removes up to 2x more unwanted noise than AirPods Pro 2 — flagship over-ear-class silence from an earbud.
- New acoustic architecture
- Transformed bass, detailed clarity, and vivid vocals, plus Spatial Audio for three-dimensional listening.
- Heart rate sensing
- Tracks heart rate and calories burned across up to 50 workout types — your earbuds double as fitness hardware.
- Live Translation
- Real-time translation across language barriers, enabled by Apple Intelligence.
- Hearing Aid feature
- A built-in Hearing Aid feature turns everyday earbuds into genuine hearing assistance.
- Battery that goes the distance
- Up to 8 hours of listening with ANC on a single charge — or up to 10 hours in Transparency with the Hearing Aid feature — with a USB-C charging case.
- A fit for every ear
- Foam-infused ear tips in five sizes, including XXS, lock in a secure seal — which is exactly what strong ANC depends on.
- IP57 toughness
- Rated IP57 for sweat and water resistance — rain, sweat, and workouts are all fair game.
Before you buy
What we like
- ✓Up to 2x more noise removed than AirPods Pro 2 — the biggest ANC jump Apple has shipped in an earbud
- ✓Heart rate sensing across up to 50 workout types makes them a legit fitness tool
- ✓Live Translation and a built-in Hearing Aid feature — features no rival packs together
- ✓IP57 sweat and water resistance with a secure five-size foam-infused ear tip fit
- ✓Up to 8 hours per charge with ANC on — marathon numbers for true wireless earbuds
Good to know
- •Best for iPhone users — features like Live Translation lean on Apple Intelligence, so Android users should check compatibility for their must-have features
- •If you prefer over-ear headphones for long desk sessions, see our headphones ranking for picks with 30–60 hour batteries
Frequently asked questions
- How much better is the noise cancellation than AirPods Pro 2?
- Apple rates the AirPods Pro 3 as removing up to 2x more unwanted noise than AirPods Pro 2. In practice that's a generational leap — the kind of improvement you'd normally expect from switching to full-size over-ear headphones.
- Can they really track workouts?
- Yes — a built-in heart rate sensor tracks heart rate and calories burned across up to 50 workout types, and with an iPhone you get Move ring and step count integration.
- How long does the battery last?
- Up to 8 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation on a single charge, or up to 10 hours in Transparency mode using the Hearing Aid feature. The USB-C case keeps you topped up on the go.
- Are they safe for workouts and rain?
- They're rated IP57 for sweat and water resistance, and the foam-infused ear tips — five sizes, including a new XXS — are designed to hold a secure seal while you move.
Our Verdict
The AirPods Pro 3 are the rare upgrade where every spec moved at once — doubled ANC, fitness-grade sensors, and translation in your ears. If you're in the Apple ecosystem, this is the endgame earbud.
Editorial score from our reviewer — not a customer or aggregate rating.
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Reviewer
Tyler Harker
Tyler is a software engineer who spends his workdays in code, his evenings in competitive shooters, and his weekends tinkering with the home lab or logging treadmill miles. He reviews gaming gear, PC hardware, and fitness equipment the way he benchmarks software — by what actually performs under pressure.