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The iPhone Air may have been the star of the show, but Apple also announced a new pair of AirPods at its “Awe dropping” event on September 9th. The AirPods Pro 3 arrive three years after the second-generation model, which received a minor update in 2023 with a USB-C charging case and dust resistance, and will hit stores on September 19th (though you can preorder them now).
With their debut, the official AirPods lineup now looks a little different: the fourth-gen AirPods and their ANC counterpart remain the entry-level models, but now the AirPods Pro 3 are Apple’s most premium earbuds. The AirPods Max, meanwhile, continues to be the company’s only set of over-ears.
Priced at $249, the new AirPods Pro 3 push into fitness territory with a built-in heart rate sensor to track calories burned and over 50 types of workouts via the iPhone’s Fitness app. They also introduce Workout Buddy, a new fitness experience that delivers personalized insights based on your workout history and achievements.
Beyond fitness, Apple has introduced a real-time live translation feature. On the audio front, Apple claims the buds offer improved sound and twice the active noise cancellation (ANC) than their predecessor, thanks to new foam-infused ear tips that should block out noise more effectively (though we’ve yet to put them to the test). The redesigned ear tips themselves are now smaller for improved fit and stability, offer a new fifth XXS size, and boast an upgraded IP57 sweat and water resistance.
They’re all exciting upgrades, especially if you prioritize fitness or simply want the most versatile Apple earbuds. But if you don’t need every new feature, the rest of the lineup still includes excellent — and far more affordable — options. And even though Apple no longer sells the second-gen AirPods Pro directly, you can also still find them at third-party retailers like Amazon for less.
If you’re struggling to decide whether the new AirPods Pro 3 are worth grabbing, we’re here to help. We’ve put together a detailed breakdown of the specs and features below, so you can quickly see which pair of AirPods make the most sense for your lifestyle and budget.
| Price | $129 | $179 | Discontinued, but often on sale for $199 | $249 | $549 |
| Active noise canceling / reduction | No | Yes | Yes | Yes (up to 2x better than AirPods Pro 2) | Yes |
| Transparency mode | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Earbud size (mm) | 30.2 x 18.3 x 18.1 | 30.2 x 18.3 x 18.1 | 30.9 x 21.8 x 24 | 30.9 x 19.2 x 27 | 187.3 x 168.6 x 83.4 |
| Case size (mm) | 46.2 x 50.1 x 21.2 | 46.2 x 50.1 x 21.2 | 45.2 x 60.6 x 21.7 | 47.2 x 62.2 x 21.8 | 134.5 |
| Earbud weight (grams) | 4.3 | 4.3 | 5.3 | 5.55 | 384.8 |
| Case weight (grams) | 32.3 | 34.7 | 50.8 | 43.99 | 134.5 |
| Battery (earbud) | Up to 5 hours | Up 4 hours | Up to 6 hours | Up to 8 hours (up to 10 on a single charge in Transparency using the Hearing Aid feature) | Up to 20 hours |
| Battery (case) | Up to 30 hours | Up to 20 hours | Up to 30 hours | Up to 24 hours | N/A |
| Water resistance earbuds | IP54 | IP54 | IP54 | IP57 | No |
| Water resistance charging case | IP54 | IP54 | IP54 | IP57 | No |
| Charging case includes speaker for Find My | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Wired charging | Yes via USB-C | Yes via USB-C | Yes via USB-C | Yes via USB-C | Yes via USB-C |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes via Qi-certified or MagSafe chargers | Yes via Qi-certified or MagSafe chargers | Yes via Qi-certified or MagSafe chargers | No |
| Lossless audio | Yes with Apple Vision Pro or wired via USB-C to a compatible Apple device | Yes with Apple Vision Pro or wired via USB-C to a compatible Apple device | Yes with Apple Vision Pro or wired via USB-C to a compatible Apple device | Yes with Apple Vision Pro or wired via USB-C to a compatible Apple device | Yes with Apple Vision Pro or wired via USB-C to a compatible Apple device |
| Custom chips | Apple H2 | Apple H2 | Apple H2, U1 in case | Apple H2, U2 in case | Apple H1 |
| Heart rate sensing during workouts | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Live Translation | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Doubles as hearing aids | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Swappable ear tips | No | No | Yes (four sizes: XS, S, M, L) | Yes (five sizes: XXS, XS, S, M, L) | No |
| Can be used as a camera remote when iOS 26 rolls out | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Studio-quality recording (with iOS 26) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Availability | Available now | Available now | Available now | Available September 19th | Available now |
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