With the AirPods Pro 2, Apple finally cracked it. Until then, Apple's in-ear wireless earbuds had only ever scored four stars in our reviews – a good rating, sure, but not outstanding. But then in late 2022, the second-gen Pro secured that fifth star and a spot in our best wireless earbuds buying guide.
They did so by offering significant audio improvements over their predecessors, helping Apple pull even with the class-leading (at the time) Sony WF-1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. Those pairs have since been succeeded by the Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, so isn't it time Apple updated its flagship AirPods Pro model? We think so, and we're not the only ones.
Despite new AirPods models, new iPhones (including the new iPhone 16e) and even updates to existing AirPods in recent months, we're still waiting on the third-gen Pro earbuds. This year could be the year, however. Here's everything we know as we continue to search for signs of their much-anticipated arrival.
AirPods Pro 3: release date speculation
- No-shows in 2024; expected sometime this year
The arrival of two new AirPods 4, updates to the AirPods Max and the new iPhone 16 range saw out Apple's 2024.
The arrival of a Pro 3 update last year became even less likely when Apple revealed updates to the existing AirPods Pro 2 model. This included a software update which focuses on Hearing Protection, providing a Hearing Test for which results can be stored in the Health app. You can then use your AirPods 2 as your own personal hearing aids thanks to the information gleaned from the steps above.
Bloomberg had reported earlier last year that Apple would launch two new models of AirPods in late 2024, but that turned out to be the AirPods 4 and the AirPods 4 with ANC. As for the AirPods Pro 3? Well, "a new version of the AirPods Pro is coming as soon as next year (2025)," according to Mark Gurman, a noted Apple analyst and the report's author.
That chimes with a Mac Rumors report from 2023, which pointed to Apple's prior release schedule as evidence we won't see the next Pros until 2025. The first generation Pros landed in late 2019, and it took nearly three years before we saw a follow-up. The AirPods Pro 2 broke cover in September 2022, so three years later would be 2025.
Apple has this February filed a patent at the US Patent and Trademark Office for several revisions to the Pro design, including alterations to the buds' touch controls and a potential improvement to the active noise cancellation, pointing to Apple's keenness to get the ball rolling on releasing a new flagship pair.
AirPods Pro 3: price prediction
- Expected to stay around £229 / $249 / AU$399
At the time of their release, the current AirPods Pro 2 set you back £249 / $249 / AU$399, but when the USB-C model launched in September 2023, Apple dropped the UK price to £229 (US and Australian prices remained unchanged).
Meanwhile, the standard version of the new AirPods 4 (without ANC) costs $129 / £129, with the ANC-less model costing $179 / £179. Those ANC versions are a slight increase on the AirPods 3's UK test price of £169, so could that mean that the Pro 3 will also be slightly costlier when they arrive, at least in the UK?
That said, we've no reason to suspect that the RRP of the AirPods Pro model will rise significantly when the third-gen pair arrive, with most insiders and outlets agreeing that, in the US at least, the Pro 3 will stay at around that price point.
The market is being affected, though. Sony raised the price of its premium wireless ANC earbuds in the jump from the XM4 to the XM5, so Apple could always do the same, especially if the Pro 3 included genuinely new features and improved sound quality.
- Check out the best AirPods deals
AirPods Pro 3: new design, USB-C charging, and all-new Digital ANC?
While the current AirPods Pro 2 distinguished themselves a lot from their predecessors in terms of internal hardware and sonic performance, externally they were almost identical. As we stated in our AirPods Pro 2 review, "place the two generations of AirPods Pro side by side and they’re effectively indistinguishable".
It's likely, then, that the Pro 3 will look similar to the Pro 2, even if the hardware they pack is (potentially) bolstered by the expected introduction of a new, faster H3 processing chip. We expect a bud-and-stem design as well as a smooth white charging case in which the buds will snugly nestle. Anything radical in design, such as the Pro 3 suddenly adopting Sony's (and other's) rounded form, seems off the cards.
That said, a new patent indicates Apple's plans to redesign the external touch sensor and allow vertical control movements, whereby aspects such as volume can be altered with up and down swipes. The controls may not be touch-capacitive this time round, too, meaning that you could potentially still perform them while wearing gloves.
The arrival of the AirPods 4 indicates that Apple could attempt to better differentiate its various AirPods models in response to what it deems to be disappointing sales of the 'standard' (non-ANC) AirPods 3. If that's the case, we could see a greater divergence between the classic AirPods model and the new Pro 3.
As for new hues, will we see new colours introduced? In short, it's very unlikely. Apple introduced a few new shades for its AirPods Max over-ears, but that's a different world to that of its now-iconic in-ears. Pure white is what you expect from AirPods, and that's likely just what you'll get.
Then there's the small matter of USB-C. The adoption of USB-C charging for the Pro 3 is inevitable as Apple begins to transition away from Lightning thanks to pressure from the EU to make the switch. The launch of the USB-C-ported iPhone 15 and the new USB-C case for the AirPods Pro 2 has hastened the move, so the third generation of the AirPods Pro 3 will almost certainly follow suit. An updated version of AirPods Max over-ear headphones have just adopted USB-C charging, as have both versions of the AirPods 4.
I can't see Apple straying too far from their tried and trusted design for a third-generation model, but I'd expect a new, more powerful processor to feature which should bring upgraded noise-cancelling powers. Don't get me wrong the AirPods Pro 2 are very good, but there's room for improvement if Apple wants to wrestle the noise-canceling crown off the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra.
The new AirPods Pro is coming—perform with Digital ANC that much better than previous version.August 27, 2024
One of the most significant rumoured upgrades for the AirPods Pro 3, is substantially improved active noise cancellation (ANC). According to leaker Kosutami, the new model will feature "much better" ANC compared to the AirPods Pro 2. This suggests that Apple might focus on software enhancements and sophisticated audio processing to elevate the earbuds' performance, rather than altering their physical design, although part of the newly filed patent shows a new air vent that could be designed to improve or adapt noise-cancelling capabilities.
Additionally, it's almost certain that the AirPods Pro 3 will introduce the same hearing and health features that we've just seen revealed for the AirPods Pro 2, aligning with Apple's ongoing efforts to expand the health-tracking capabilities of its devices. Want a pair of personalised hearing aids to help you hear more clearly? That could be one of the Pro 3's duties, while fancy tricks such as sleep tracking and heart rate monitoring could also be on board.
AirPods Pro 3: five improvements we'd like to see
Following a full five-star rating for the AirPods Pro 2 and with Apple currently looking to enhance its product ecosystem with a raft of new hardware and software innovations, what can the AirPods Pro 3 do to push themselves further into the realms of true wireless greatness?
1. Higher-quality Bluetooth codec support
One of the big disappointments of the AirPods 2 was their lack of any high-quality codec support over Bluetooth, especially for hi-res audio playback. The Pro 2 lags behind the competition by only supporting basic AAC, denying them the flexibility of aptX HD or Sony's LDAC codecs that allows for more audio data streamed from compatible sources. When we spoke to Apple's audio designer regarding the Pro 2, he stated: "We don't think that the codec currently is the limitation of audio quality on Bluetooth products."
While the AirPods 2 do admittedly sound great, there's no getting around it: this is still an issue that needs rectifying, especially as Apple Music itself offers its vast music library in 24-bit lossless ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) quality. Being able to hear that higher quality through the AirPods would no doubt be a boon.
2. Longer battery, better Android support
Battery life is the perennial concern of the wireless community, and while six hours in the buds from a single charge is good, it doesn't compete with the Sony WF-1000XM5's impressive eight.
More features are a must too. Apple has bestowed the Pro 2 with extra features like Conversation Mode, Personalised Volume and Adaptive Audio through software updates, so it would be great to see more of these kinds of essential features available at launch for the AirPods Pro 3. Even better, offering more iOS-only features to Android devices and users, such as head-tracking spatial audio or the Find My function, would be a huge cross-platform boost.
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg has also posited the addition of many high-tech health-tracking features for future AirPod generations, including the Pro line, yet it's unclear how soon these will be implemented. Using the AirPods as a hearing aid, for detecting body temperature via your ear canal, and for sleep and fertility tracking have all been tabled across the Apple rumour mill. Let's wait and see...
3. Supreme sound quality
As much as we loved the sound of the second-gen AirPods Pro, we want to see that super sound go up a notch. Since the Pro 2's launch, the five-star Sony WF-1000XM5 has revealed almost unprecedented levels of detail from a pair of true wireless buds, while Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have also upped their game beyond AirPods Pro levels. The AirPods Pro 2 are getting on a bit now, so Apple needs to stay ahead of the game. Sony has shown it can improve upon a five-star performer with a new driver, new processor and elevated sound tuning – surely Apple can do the same?
4. Bose-bothering active noise cancelling
The current Pro have excellent ANC thanks to a combination of the powerful H2 chip and some ‘optimised’ re-positioning of the acoustic vents and mics. Still, as we noted in our review, we weren't "quite as cocooned in silence" as we were wearing the Bose QC Earbuds II. Both Bose and Sony's new earbuds have pushed ANC quality to new levels, so Apple will really have to pull its socks up to compete with the best in the business.
5. Customisable ANC
We loved the introduction of the Pro 2's Adaptive Transparency mode which helps dampen sudden loud and harsh noises (perfect for the screeching London Underground) and the inclusion of Adaptive Audio hybrid listening feature offers a mid-point between transparency mode and full ANC. Adaptive Audio automatically adjusts depending on noise levels and your location, but what we would like is any way to customise or adjust the level of ANC manually. Bose, Sony, JBL and others offer users a level of control over the ANC levels through your phone app, and we'd love to see Apple loosen its reins and give us a bit more flexibility to suit our noise-cancelling needs.
Should you wait for the AirPods Pro 3?
It's almost certain that the AirPods Pro 3 will launch in 2025, although we could be looking at a mid-to-late-year reveal. If you don't want to hang around, we would suggest keeping a close eye on AirPods Pro 2 prices and consider taking the plunge should they hit a price you are comfortable paying. We've seen them drop to £179 / $169 before. Apple discounts don't happen too often though, so when there is a decent drop you need to be ready to strike.
It's also, of course, worth mentioning that two versions of the AirPods 4 (one with ANC, one without) landed in September 2024 alongside the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, while the AirPods Pro 2 received free hearing health-related updates (depending on the country you're in). That should keep users satisfied until the AirPods Pro 3 lands, although we'd advise you to stick with the Pro 2 and then wait until 2025 for the third-gen release to arrive if you want the latest tech.
What's next?
There's no doubt we're excited to see what Apple can do with the next generation of its flagship AirPods Pro wireless earbuds. The vast improvements it brought to the second-generation model have heightened expectations and we're desperate to see similar strides made whenever the Pro 3 take centre stage.
Competition at this premium price level is fierce, so Apple needs to bring its A-game to ensure loyal fans and customers aren't left disappointed. The introduction of new hardware, such as an upgraded H3 Apple chip, might be a good place to start to help facilitate better sound and ANC for the Pro 3, but we'd also like greater support for more innovative features as well. We suppose all we can do for now is wait, fingers firmly crossed.
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