“Active noise cancellation technology in AirPods Pro 2 earbuds reduces average ambient noise levels by 27 dB across frequencies,” Nicky Chong-White, PhD, and colleagues wrote in a peer-reviewed report. That was the new standard and now, three years later, Apple’s next-generation Pro earbuds are ready to set an even higher one.
With the September 9 Apple event only around the corner, the AirPods Pro 3 are likely to take center stage alongside the iPhone 17 and Apple Watch Series 11. For much of the high-end audio community, the excitement is not about incremental improvement but about revolutionary features that will redefine what earbuds are capable of.
Some of these features are wish-list items for enthusiasts high-definition audio streaming, genuine multi-point connectivity while others are based on solid leaks, such as health sensors and a fresh H3 chip. The next nine subtopics summarize both the wishful thinking and the likely, taking a clear-eyed view at what’s possible.
1. High‑Resolution Wireless Audio
Apple Music has been providing lossless and even hi‑res tracks for years, but AirPods have been stuck on AAC over Bluetooth. Rivaling earbuds have long supported codecs such as LDAC or the adaptive LC3 codec in Bluetooth LE Audio, which can provide higher‑quality streams with reduced power consumption. Although Apple has enabled lossless playback through USB‑C on AirPods Max, wireless hi‑res is still missing. Fans anticipate AirPods Pro 3 to fill this gap, enabling the hardware’s acoustic headroom to shine with more detailed and richer playback.
2. Smarter, Customizable Noise Cancellation
Apple’s Adaptive Audio merges ANC and Transparency but doesn’t provide fine-grained control. Competitors such as Bose provide sliders for customized attenuation, and Sony’s headphones can even alter modes according to location or use. Rolling this out to AirPods Pro 3 might involve user-configurable profiles that change automatically a lighter filter at the office, maximum ANC on public transport. This would extend the AirPods Pro 2’s measured 27 dB average noise reduction while introducing flexibility.
3. True Multi‑Point Connectivity
AirPods have been great at switching between Apple devices since the initial launch, but they do not have standard Bluetooth multi‑point pairing. That is, no effortless switching between, for example, an iPhone and a Windows laptop. Adding that capability would make AirPods Pro 3 more convenient for mixed‑ecosystem users, putting them in line with competitors that already pair with two or more devices simultaneously without log‑ins into accounts.
4. Longer Battery Life
AirPods Pro 2 provide about six hours per charge with ANC enabled decent, but lagging some competitors. Beats Solo Buds, for instance, provide 18 hours without ANC. If the new H3 chip brings improved efficiency, AirPods Pro 3 may push playback to near 8–10 hours, lowering the likelihood of mid-day drain and enhancing competitiveness in stamina.
5. H3 Chip and Improved Audio Processing
Apple’s H3 chip debuts in the Pro 3 is likely to deliver enhanced sound, greater ANC, and enhanced spatial audio tuning. Additional processing headroom might enable real‑time adjustment to ambient noise as well as greater spatial precision in music and video. The H3 can also support new features, including enhanced wireless streaming quality or additional hearing‑health features, so the Pro 3 stay current with firmware updates down the road.
6. Health Sensors in the Earbuds
Several reports suggest AirPods Pro 3 will include both heart‑rate and in‑ear temperature sensors. Optical heart‑rate monitoring, akin to Powerbeats Pro 2, may provide accuracy on par with wrist‑based wearables, while ear‑canal temperature can give more accurate fever readings than skin measurements. These features would further flesh out Apple’s health ecosystem, providing passive wellness monitoring while users are simply listening to music.
7. Live Translation Ultimately
Apple Intelligence in iOS 26 enables real-time translation in Messages, Phone, and FaceTime. Rumors indicate that AirPods Pro 3 will eventually offer real-time in-ear translation of spoken conversations, although this might come with a later software update. If done well, it could rival or even top features like this. on Samsung and Google earbuds, giving travelers and multi-lingual users an effortless experience.
8. Redesign and Upgrade of Charging Case
Leaked information suggests a thinner case with a capacitive pairing control that hides behind the physical button. An upgraded U2 ultra‑wideband chip may increase the range and accuracy of Find My tracking. There is also rumor somewhat better unfounded of a touchscreen screen on the case, again reminiscent of rival products such as JBL’s Live Beam 3, which might give better access to settings or health information.
9. Price and Market Positioning
Analysts are divided on price. Some anticipate Apple retaining the $249 USD introductory price in order to remain competitive with Sony and Bose, while others predict an increase to $279 or $299 on the grounds of inflation and new features. As premium earbuds market share is coming under threat from aggressive mid-range brands, Apple’s price choice will indicate whether it values volume or margin.
The AirPods Pro 3 are poised to be more than a standard update. With solid hardware leaks the H3 chip, health monitors, improved ANC and longtime user pleas such as hi‑res audio and multi‑point support, Apple can use the moment to take its top-of-the-line earbuds in bold directions. Whether it launches with the most aspirational items or settles on incremental but significant improvements, the September 9 announcement will make clear whether the Pro 3 can continue to lead the premium audio space in a more crowded market.
