Next week, Apple will finally unveil the iPhone 17 to the world, but it’s not the only new device expected to be shown off at Apple Park. As well as the Apple Watch Series 11, the tech giant could release some new AirPods Pro earbuds, which haven’t been upgraded in three years.
While the tech giant has steadily added new features to its premium wireless earbuds every year since they were launched, the AirPods Pro 3 could offer up new health features that blow the current AirPods Pro 2 out of the water. Last year, Apple introduced the AirPods 4 and a new variant with active noise cancellation, bringing ANC to its more affordable earbuds for the very first time.
With rumours pointing to a redesign for both the earbuds and the charging case, plus new health-tracking features and even infrared sensors, the AirPods Pro 3 could be Apple’s most advanced earbuds yet. Here’s everything we know so far, including the expected release date, price and potential new features.
Apple AirPods Pro 3: Release date
The date for the Apple event is set. On Tuesday 9 September, Apple will unveil a suite of new products, and the AirPods Pro 3 are expected to be a part of the line-up.
Back in February, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claimed the AirPods Pro 3 were just “months away” from launch, fuelling expectations of a September 2025 release alongside the iPhone 17. Apple has historically unveiled new earbuds during its autumn keynotes, so this seemed very likely.
However, two reports in May and June painted a very different picture. In May, reliable supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that “AirPods may not see significant updates until 2026”, suggesting that the AirPods Pro 3 won’t launch until next year. They added that Apple’s next-generation earbuds are expected to feature infrared cameras, which could be contributing to the delay.
AirPods may not see significant updates until 2026 (aligning with my earlier prediction that IR camera-equipped AirPods would enter mass production in 2026). A lighter version of the AirPods Max is expected to enter mass production in 2027.
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) May 18, 2025
AirPods可能要到2026年才會有顯著更新…
In June, a leaked investor note from analyst Jeff Pu also pointed to a 2026 launch for the AirPods Pro 3. While Pu didn’t publicly comment, the internal report, which was later shared on X, claimed that no new AirPods will launch in 2025, with the AirPods Pro 3 now expected in 2026 and a lighter version of the AirPods Max following in 2027.
That said, since making his initial prediction in February, Gurman hasn’t made any indication that anything has changed with regards to the release date. On top of that, in early June, MacRumors contributor Steve Moser discovered references to the AirPods Pro 3 within the code of the first iOS 26 developer beta, suggesting that the earbuds were being readied for launch.
Apple AirPods Pro 3: Price
There aren’t any pricing rumours surrounding the AirPods Pro 3 just yet, but earbuds and headphones don’t tend to fluctuate in price very much. In 2022, the AirPods Pro 2 launched at £249, and Apple lowered the price in 2023 to £229 when it launched a new charging case with USB-C.
I don’t think the AirPods Pro 3 will cost significantly more than this, though it’s likely Apple will bump it back up to £249 rather than stick with the £229 price tag of the AirPods Pro 2. Apple might even increase them slightly to £279, given the iPhone 17 line-up is also expected to receive a price hike.
The base AirPods 4 cost £129, and the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation cost £279, so they’re certain to cost more than that. In fact, the AirPods 3 cost £169, so Apple increased the price by £10. A return to a £249 price tag isn’t really out of the realm of possibility.
Apple AirPods Pro 3: Design and specs
If the rumours are to be believed, the AirPods Pro 3 have been in the works for several years, and they’re set to get a big design upgrade.
In October 2023, Gurman claimed that the AirPods Pro would be updated with a new design and a faster H3 chip, giving it even better active noise cancellation.
Earlier this February, Apple filed a patent that described a change to the way the earbuds’ touch controls work. According to the patent, users will be able to perform vertical control movements on a non-capacitive surface, meaning you could theoretically increase the volume while wearing gloves.
I think they’ll look broadly the same, however, white AirPods with short stems. The tech giant doesn’t seem to deviate very much when it comes to design. They’re so distinctive that I can’t see them shifting in colour, either.
The charging case will almost certainly boast USB-C connectivity, seeing as Apple has pretty much shifted all its devices over to the new standard, and it’s very likely the AirPods Pro 3 will borrow design features from the fourth-generation charging case too. One thing Apple might add is support for Bluetooth 5.4, which could reduce latency even further.
Apple got rid of the physical “setup button” on the AirPods 4’s rear, replacing it with a capacitive sensor on the front of the case, just under the LED sensor. The indicator all but disappears when it’s not in use. The case was also slimmer and lighter, and I expect the AirPods Pro 3 to gain a similar charging case when it’s released.
Apple AirPods Pro 3: Features
Now, here’s the most exciting part about the AirPods Pro 3 – the features. While sound and active noise cancellation are expected to get better, it’s the features that could really make the earbuds shine.
At WWDC 2025, Apple announced several iOS 26 features for currently-released AirPods, many of which are likely to carry over to the AirPods Pro 3. These include the ability to control your iPhone or iPad camera remotely by pressing the stem and a new sleep detection feature that pauses playback when you nod off. Apple has also announced that it’s adding more head gesture controls and will roll out live translation during phone calls.
But what about new features specific to the AirPods Pro 3? Firstly, they could be crammed full of health and fitness features. The all-new Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 can track your heart rate, and according to Mark Gurman, this feature could also come to the AirPods Pro 2. He said in December 2024 that Apple was working on in-ear heart rate monitoring for fitness tracking, meaning you could track your heart rate while exercising without having to wear an Apple Watch. He also suggested that Apple was researching in-ear temperature sensors.
Lastly, Apple is reportedly testing infrared cameras in future AirPods models, which is reportedly the reason for the delay. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the cameras could enable new AI-powered features and spatial computing experiences, while analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests they might support spatial audio enhancements and even enable gesture-based controls.
Kuo previously said the IR-camera-equipped AirPods were unlikely to enter mass production until 2026, which could coincide with the expected release of the Pro 3, though it’s unclear whether this tech will make it into the AirPods Pro 3 or a later model.
Best Apple AirPods Pro deals
Apple AirPods Pro 2 wireless earbuds: Was £229, now £179, Laptopsdirect.co.uk
If you can’t wait for the pro 3, you can save a lot of money on the pro 2. With impressive sound and noticeably better noise cancellation than the first-generation pro earbuds, the AirPods Pro 2 also feature touch controls on the buds themselves. In his review, tech critic David Phelan found that “Noise-cancelling was good enough to reduce continuous sounds such as engine noise on a train”. You can save £50 right now – these earbuds have just equalled their lowest-ever price.
Looking for more AirPods deals? We’ve rounded up the best discounts on Apple’s flagship earbuds
