AirPods Pro 3 hands-on: Goodbye world

Apple has made its best earbuds even better with the launch of the new AirPods Pro 3 units. The company promises that they’ll sound clearer, fit better and can even translate audio on the fly.

I was unable to test out the translations, but I did learn that the feature is actually coming to AirPods Pro 2 and the newer AirPods 4 models from last year. However, they must be paired with a phone that supports Apple Intelligence.

I was able to test the active noise-cancelling (ANC) extremely effectively on the super crowded and loud showfloor. Apple says it’s two times better than the previous AirPods Pros, but it’s hard to quantify that without a direct comparison. That said, it blocked out pretty much all the sound, and as soon as I started playing audio, pretty much all the background noise faded away. AirPods Pro 2 have excellent ANC, so I expect the new generation to carry that forward.

One of the areas that I actually think will help with this the most is the redesigned fit. When trying them out, I found they fit a little deeper in my ear canal, which ideally should help isolate out even more outside noise.

If you haven’t been paying attention to Beats, the most surprising feature is the addition of an in-ear heart rate monitor. This sensor shines lights into your skin 256 times per second to measure your heart rate. You can use it in conjunction with 50 different Apple Fitness workout types to track your heart rate and calorie burn.

The small black dot houses the heart rate sensing technology.

The best upgrade to the earbuds for me is the extended battery life. While I rarely use the full six hours of the current AirPods Pros, bumping up to eight hours per charge will definitely help on my cross-country flights. For others, it should cover a full workday.

If you have ANC turned off, this should also last above 10 hours. That said, on the flip side of that coin, using the heart rate sensors will reduce the battery to six hours. However, I don’t expect many workouts to last beyond a few hours, and I assume marathon runners appreciate the GPS functionality of a watch too much to consider switching to just earbuds.

The case has also dropped the pairing button, moving to the hidden button design that was introduced on the AirPods 4 units last year. This means you need to tap sharply on the light on the front of the case when the lid is open to pair with non-Apple hardware. For Apple devices, you can just open the lid and bring them near your device.

While Apple didn’t bring a new H-series chip to the new AirPods Pro, these are still stacking up to be pretty solid earbuds. In Canada they will replace the previous generation of Pros in the lineup and will cost $329.