Honor's Earbuds 3 Pro beat the AirPods to temperature monitor sensors

Honor’s Earbuds 3 Pro
(Image credit: Honor)

Honor has unveiled its latest AirPods-esque noise-cancelling earbuds – and they have an interesting USP. The Earbuds 3 Pro feature integrated temperature monitoring technology to help users monitor their health.

As interest in health tracking apps and wearables continues, various companies have trialled similar technology, though none have made it to the market. Last October, The Wall Street Journal ran a report suggesting that even Apple is testing a thermometer feature in its AirPods prototypes. However, sources in the article note that these features are unlikely to be released this year, if ever.

And yet it's made it to Honor's latest wireless earbuds. Priced at around £238 ($178, AU$367), the Earbuds 3 Pro allow users to take a temperature reading by tapping the earbud three times and include an option to track a continuous measurement over time. Honor claims its AI temperature algorithm has an 80 per cent chance of achieving a ±0.3 Celcius or less error within a lab setting; however, the actual margin of error will vary depending on the individual and environment.

Users will also be able to activate an "abnormal temperature alert", though Honor says the product should not be used for medical purposes and has yet to receive regulatory approval.

Health features aside, each earbud has a coaxial configuration with dual 11mm dynamic drivers and piezoelectric ceramic treble drivers. They also feature
Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity and adaptive active noise cancellation technology, with an 'Ultra Mode' that claims to deliver up a 46dB noise reduction, a 'Cosy Mode' for workplaces and a 'General Mode' for public spaces.

The Earbuds 3 Pro have a claimed battery life of up to 24 hours when combined with the charging case. Handily, fast charging can provide two hours of playback from five minutes of charging, too.

The Honor Earbuds 3 Pro are launching initially in Europe and available in white or grey finishes.

MORE

Best running headphones and wireless earbuds 2022

We bought the best-selling headphones on Amazon for £5, and here's our verdict

Our pick of the best cheap headphones we've tested

Mary is a staff writer at What Hi-Fi? and has over a decade of experience working as a sound engineer mixing live events, music and theatre. Her mixing credits include productions at The National Theatre and in the West End, as well as original musicals composed by Mark Knopfler, Tori Amos, Guy Chambers, Howard Goodall and Dan Gillespie Sells. 

Latest in Wireless Earbuds
Audio Technica ATH-CC500BT2
Audio-Technica's novel wireless headphones aim for high-quality audio and a comfortable fit wherever you go
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
Beats' latest running headphones promise a lighter fit, improved sound and the brand's "best-ever" noise-cancelling
AirPods Pro 2 on a chair outside
Apple's latest patent teases major usability upgrades for the AirPods Pro line of wireless earbuds
Bose QC Ultra Earbuds, Sony WF-1000XM5, Apple AirPods Pro 2 and B&W Pi8 wireless earbuds sat on the top of an orange Epos speaker
My dream pair of wireless earbuds combines the best bits of Apple, Bose, Bowers & Wilkins and Sony
Sony LinkBuds Fit in-ear headphones
Getting into fitness? Save over £50 on Sony's stellar, super-secure sporty wireless earbuds
JBL Tour Pro 3 wireless earbuds with two different types of eartips
You could be spoiling the sound of your wireless earbuds and not even know it
Latest in News
Q Acoustics 3050i
Save £650 on this five-star Q Acoustics 5.1 home cinema setup
Marantz Cinema 30 AVR
Our Award-winning reference Marantz AVR is still selling at its best price ever
Meze Audio Poet
Meze's open-back Poet cans arrive, and they want to bring your music alive
Side view of Marantz CD6007 on wooden rack with magazines in background
This Award-winning Marantz CD player is back at its Black Friday price
Sonos Arc standing on a wooden unit beneath a TV screen
Stock of the Sonos Arc is starting to dry up – but there are still savings to be found on this Dolby Atmos soundbar
A woman relaxing in an armchair clasping a mug, gazing admiringly at a yellow turntable and speakers on a hi-fi cabinet.
Pro-Ject's new hi-fi system adds a splash of colour to your vinyl listening