With the release of the iPhone 17 series, Apple also launched theNew AirPods Pro 3Although the appearance design remains the same and even still uses the H2 chip design, the active noise reduction performance is further improved, and heart rate monitoring and real-time translation are added. It even provides a functional experience that allows two users wearing AirPods Pro 3 to communicate with each other in different native languages through real-time translation. This shows that Apple is preparing to make AirPods Pro 3 (or subsequent products) into a smart device that can be worn for a long time, rather than just used as headphones.
In fact, the AirPods series has always been easy to pair with iPhone devices and can be switched quickly and intuitively between various Apple products. It also has certain sound quality performance and even has a good active noise reduction effect, which has attracted the favor of many Apple users.
The updated AirPods Pro 3, while maintaining the same design and equipped with the same H2 chip, further enhances active noise cancellation and increases battery life. Furthermore, the AirPods Pro 3 incorporates the same heart rate monitoring feature as the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, allowing users to track their heart rate even without a supported Apple Watch through Apple Health, Apple Fitness+, or third-party apps that connect to the heart rate API.
This means that even if users do not have an Apple Watch, they can still record heart rate changes through AirPods Pro 3. For users who do not want to wear a watch, it will be an additional option for devices that can record heart rate data. At the same time, unlike the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, which has a more sports-style appearance, it can not only be worn during exercise, but also used in daily life and other scenarios.
On the other hand, the instant translation function driven by the "Apple Intelligence" service will obviously become an incentive for more people to choose to use AirPods Pro 3. It can automatically detect the other party's spoken language and automatically translate it into the user's accustomed language. When the user speaks, the translated language can be displayed through the iPhone connected to AirPods Pro 3, allowing messengers of different languages to understand the user's spoken content.
In addition, if two people are wearing the same AirPods Pro 3, they can even use the instant translation function to have an instant conversation with each other in their native language, and the communication content is instantly translated through AirPods Pro 3. For users who are not familiar with foreign languages, this is obviously a way to easily break the language barrier.
The above updates may make AirPods Pro 3 a device that users are more willing to wear for a long time. At the same time, Apple may also tend to position AirPods Pro 3 as a smart wearable device rather than just selling it as a headphone product.
At the same time, if Apple continues to promote the application scope of "Apple Intelligence" services, interaction with AI through headphones is expected to become more frequent, so the AirPods series of products will also become an important "interface".
In addition to the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods Pro 2 and the noise-canceling AirPods 2, both equipped with the H4 chip, will also feature real-time translation. However, the initial wave of supported languages only includes English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, but support for Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Italian will be added before the end of the year.
AirPods Pro 3 is now available for pre-order with a suggested retail price of US$249 and a NT$7490 price. It will be launched in the US market on September 9th simultaneously with the iPhone 19 series, but the specific sales date of AirPods Pro 17 has not yet been confirmed in the Taiwan market.
AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Pro 2 Specifications Comparison:
| specification | AirPods Pro 3 | AirPods Pro 2 |
| Release/Release Date | February, 2025 | February, 2022 |
| Price | 249 dollar | 249 dollar |
| Wafer | Apple H2 + Apple U2 (charging box supports MagSafe and USB-C) | Apple H2 (charging box supports MagSafe, USB-C or Lightning) |
| Dustproof/waterproof rating | IP57 (earphones and charging case are dustproof, sweatproof, and splashproof; can be temporarily immersed in water) | IP54 (some models are sweat-proof and splash-proof, but not as dust-proof and submersible as IP57) |
| Active noise cancellation (ANC) effect | 2 times higher than AirPods Pro 2 and 4 times higher than the first generation AirPods Pro | AirPods Pro 2 has been improved compared to the first generation (due to the use of H2 chip to improve noise reduction) |
| Battery life (single listening session + ANC on) | about 8 hours | about 6 hours |
| Total battery life of earphones and charging box (including charging box) | About 24 hours when active noise reduction is turned on | About 30 hours when active noise reduction is turned on |
| new features | • Heart rate monitoring (built-in PPG sensor, flashes every second to measure blood flow and light absorption) • Live Translation function • Foam-infused tips for enhanced passive sound isolation • More ear tip sizes (including XXS) • Better passive sound isolation and wider sound stage • The charging box is equipped with a U2 chip to support stronger positioning/searching functions • IP57 enhanced water and dust resistance • Same H2 chip, but with overall optimization of sound effects, noise reduction, and functional modules |
• Equipped with H2 chip, support Adaptive EQ, improved noise reduction, MagSafe/USB-C/Lightning and other versions • Full support for active noise reduction, transparency mode, conversation awareness and other audio control functions • Multiple ear tip sizes available • Sweat and splash proof IP54 • Automatic switching between multiple Apple devices and Find My support, but no real-time translation, heart rate monitoring, etc. |
