AirPods Pro 3 Review: Immersive ANC Redefines Earbud Excellence

Apple has taken an already acclaimed product, the AirPods Pro 2, and delivered a truly significant upgrade with the new AirPods Pro 3. Having tested them daily for months since their September announcement, I can confidently say that Apple has not only avoided spoiling a good thing but has managed to exceed expectations in areas I didn't think were possible for earbuds.

Quick Verdict

The AirPods Pro 3 are a remarkable leap forward, primarily thanks to their industry-leading Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). They offer a fuller sound, improved fit, and a suite of new features like heart rate monitoring and enhanced Find My capabilities, all while maintaining the original $249 price. For Apple users, especially those prioritizing ANC, these are a must-have upgrade.

How I Put Them to the Test

My evaluation of the AirPods Pro 3 began the day they were announced, including a five-hour flight to rigorously test sound, ANC, and battery. Since then, they've been my daily drivers, compared against a formidable lineup: AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 with Noise Cancellation, AirPods Max, Google Pixel Buds Pro, Sony WF-1000XM5, and even Meta Ray-Bans smart glasses. The Sony XM5 earbuds, known for their high-fidelity sound and ANC, served as a primary benchmark, despite their higher $329 price tag. For audio quality, I focused on Hans Zimmer's complex "Only I Will Remain" from the Dune: Part Two soundtrack, with its intricate layers of sound from whispers to booming bass.

A Redefined Design and Superior Fit

The AirPods Pro 3 introduce a subtle yet impactful redesign. The earbud's stem is slightly elongated, giving it a sensation of sitting deeper within the ear canal. While this might be a novel feeling for some, I found it comfortable and beneficial. Apple also innovated with the ear tips, moving from pure silicone to a foam-infused silicone. This internal foam and external silicone design aims for a better seal and enhanced contouring to diverse ear shapes. The inclusion of an XXS tip size further caters to a wider range of users. In my experience, these new tips provided a more secure fit than the AirPods Pro 2 tips, though I still find the aftermarket AZLA XELASTEC tips superior for ultimate stability and seal, eagerly awaiting their AirPods Pro 3 version.

Sound Quality: Approaching Audiophile Grade

Apple attributes the AirPods Pro 3's enhanced audio to a redesigned "multiport acoustic architecture with more precise airflow control." In practical terms, this translates to a noticeably fuller, deeper, and clearer sound compared to the AirPods Pro 2. This improvement is particularly evident with cinematic soundtracks. While they don't quite match the Sony XM5 earbuds – which still reveal subtle notes the AirPods Pro 3 miss – the gap has significantly narrowed. The AirPods Pro 2 were roughly 70-75% as good as the Sony's, whereas the AirPods Pro 3 bridge that to about 90%.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): A Physics-Defying Feat

This is where the AirPods Pro 3 truly distinguish themselves. The upgrade in Active Noise Cancellation is nothing short of phenomenal and, frankly, almost unbelievable for earbuds. The AirPods Pro 2 already offered excellent ANC, often rated among the best, but the AirPods Pro 3 take it to an entirely new level. From the first moment I activated ANC, I was genuinely shocked by its effectiveness. It significantly outperforms the Sony XM5 earbuds and, after weeks of testing in various noisy environments, I'm convinced its performance is 80-90% as good as leading over-ear headphones like the AirPods Max. This level of noise cancellation is so impressive that I plan to travel with only the AirPods Pro 3 on my next cross-country flight, leaving my AirPods Max behind.

Beyond Sound: A Suite of Smart Upgrades

Extended Battery Life

Apple claims a 25% increase in battery life, and while I haven't completed extensive long-term testing to verify the exact percentage, I comfortably completed a cross-country flight with more remaining power than I would typically expect from the AirPods Pro 2, confirming a clear upgrade in endurance.

Heart Rate Monitoring

Following in the footsteps of PowerBeats Pro 2, the AirPods Pro 3 now feature heart rate tracking. While my Apple Watch covers this need, the integration allows users to initiate and track certain workouts directly through the Fitness app using the AirPods Pro 3, offering a convenient alternative for those who prefer not to wear a wrist-based tracker during exercise.

Live Translation

Testing the new Live Translation feature revealed an impressive ease of use – a simple long-press on both earbuds activates it. The translation accuracy is on par with other solutions like Google Pixel devices and Meta Ray-Bans, meaning it can be hit or miss. More in-depth testing is planned for a future comparison, and importantly, this feature will extend to AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 (with Noise Cancellation) when connected to an iPhone running Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Pro or later).

Enhanced Find My Capabilities

The AirPods Pro 3 incorporate an upgraded Ultrawideband (U2) chip, which Apple states increases the Find My charging case's locating distance by approximately 50%. While I can't confirm the exact percentage, I observed a noticeably improved signal range compared to the AirPods Pro 2 during my tests. This upgrade also hints at a potential second-generation AirTag with the same advanced chip.

Improved Dust and Water Protection

Durability has seen a boost, with the AirPods Pro 3 achieving an IP57 rating. This means they offer level 5 dust protection (against minimal dust ingress) and level 7 water protection (withstanding total immersion and heavy rain). This is a significant improvement over the AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-1000XM5's IPX4 rating, which only protects against sweat and light splashes.

Areas Where Apple Could Still Innovate

Personalized Audio Settings

Despite Apple's "next-generation Adaptive EQ," a persistent gap in the AirPods experience is the lack of user-customizable sound settings. Competitors like Sony XM5 provide intuitive controls for boosting bass or adjusting other frequencies, a feature many users desire but remains absent from all AirPods models.

Temperature Sensor

While the addition of a heart rate sensor is welcome, a temperature sensor would have been a truly innovative health feature. The ear offers an ideal location for accurate temperature readings, which smart rings have demonstrated can provide early alerts for illness. This would be a more practical and accurate application than the wrist-based temperature sensing of the Apple Watch.

The Competition and Buying Advice

At $249, the AirPods Pro 3 maintain the price of their predecessor despite substantial upgrades. This puts them at a distinct advantage over alternatives like the now-discontinued Sony WF-1000XM5, which retailed for $329 and offered less seamless multi-device connectivity within an ecosystem. The AirPods Pro 3 effortlessly switch between your iPhone, iPad, MacBook Air, Apple Watch, and Apple TV, a convenience unmatched by most competitors.

Here's how the AirPods Pro 3 stack up against key alternatives:

• AirPods Pro 3 ($249): Offers industry-leading ANC (80-90% of over-ear headphones), sound quality nearly on par with the Sony XM5 (~90%), a redesigned fit with foam-infused tips, IP57 dust and water protection, heart rate monitoring, and seamless Apple ecosystem integration.
• AirPods Pro 2 ($249): Provides very good ANC (though significantly less effective than Pro 3), sound quality at about 70-75% of the Sony XM5, silicone tips, IPX4 protection, and no heart rate monitoring. It also benefits from seamless Apple connectivity.
• Sony WF-1000XM5 ($329, discontinued): Sets the benchmark for earbud sound quality and offers excellent ANC (though surpassed by Pro 3). It features foam tips and an IPX4 rating. Its main drawbacks are a higher price, discontinuation, and more limited multi-device connectivity compared to Apple's ecosystem.

If you're an existing AirPods user craving vastly superior Active Noise Cancellation, the AirPods Pro 3 are your top upgrade candidate – their ANC is truly the standout feature. They're also an excellent choice if you wish to track workouts without a smartwatch. For anyone whose current earbuds are showing their age, or who's simply unsatisfied with older sound or ANC quality, the AirPods Pro 3 offer an incredibly satisfying experience, especially within the Apple ecosystem.

FAQ

Q: Are the AirPods Pro 3 worth upgrading from AirPods Pro 2?

A: Absolutely, especially if you prioritize Active Noise Cancellation. The ANC improvement is massive and justifies the upgrade, alongside better sound, fit, and new features like heart rate monitoring.

Q: Can I use the heart rate monitoring feature without an Apple Watch?

A: Yes, the AirPods Pro 3 can track your heart rate and initiate certain workouts directly through the Apple Fitness app on your iPhone, making them a viable alternative to a wrist-based tracker for many.

Q: How does the Live Translation feature work, and is it accurate?

A: You can activate Live Translation with a long-press on both earbuds. Its accuracy is comparable to other devices like Google Pixel and Meta Ray-Bans, meaning it's generally good but can have occasional inaccuracies. It also supports older AirPods Pro 2/AirPods 4 with Apple Intelligence on compatible iPhones.