Apple’s recent “Awe Dropping” event introduced the AirPods Pro 3, ending a three-year wait for a significant update to their flagship wireless earbuds. While the AirPods Pro 2 were a solid evolution, the new model brings a host of upgrades, from a more durable design to advanced health features and a groundbreaking live translation function. So, what sets the new earbuds apart from their predecessors? Let’s take a closer look.
Price and Availability
One of the most welcome announcements is that the AirPods Pro 3 will have the same retail price as the previous generation, at $249. This is a pleasant surprise in a market where tech prices are consistently rising. While the AirPods Pro 2 are often on sale, even reaching record lows, the new model’s launch price remains competitive. The AirPods Pro 3 will be available for preorder on September 12 and will ship on September 19.
Design and Durability
While the overall look of the AirPods Pro 3 remains familiar, Apple has made several key design improvements. The new earbuds are smaller and feature a more refined ear tip alignment. Apple has also increased the water and dust resistance rating to IP57, making them more suitable for workouts and active use. A significant change is the introduction of five sizes of foam-infused ear tips. This not only provides a better fit for a wider range of users but also helps to improve passive noise cancellation by creating a more secure seal.
Active Noise Cancellation and Sound Quality
The AirPods Pro 2 were already highly regarded for their Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), with Apple claiming they had double the noise-blocking power of the first-generation model. With the new AirPods Pro 3, Apple claims to have doubled the ANC once again. This would make them a formidable contender for one of the best noise-cancelling earbuds on the market. The new model also features an updated acoustic design that aims to improve the quality of spatial audio, particularly in the low, mid, and high frequencies.
Battery Life and Health Features
The AirPods Pro 3 offer a notable improvement in battery life, with a promised eight hours of listening time per charge, up from six hours on the previous model. This brings them in line with the industry standard for noise-cancelling earbuds.
Apple has also gone “all-in” on health and fitness features with the new model. The AirPods Pro 3 now include a heart rate monitor and a custom photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor. This allows them to track workouts and provide data to the Apple Fitness app on your iPhone. They also work with a new feature called Workout Buddy, which uses Apple Intelligence to generate personalized fitness goals based on your data.
Live Translation
Perhaps the most innovative new feature is live translation. The AirPods Pro 3 can automatically translate conversations in real time between French, English, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, with more languages to be added later. When only one person in a conversation is wearing the earbuds, their iPhone can display a transcription of the translated conversation. When both people are wearing them, the earbuds’ ANC will automatically lower the volume of the speakers’ voices, making the translated audio easier to hear.
In summary, the AirPods Pro 3 are a significant leap forward, offering not only improved core features like ANC and battery life but also introducing a new suite of health and a game-changing translation capability. For anyone considering an upgrade, the new features and same-price tag make them a compelling choice.
