Apple's AirPods Pro 3 is one of the most anticipated products of 2024, alongside the iPhone 16 — but how could these premium in-earbuds be improved?

The first AirPods Pro debuted in 2019, as a high-end spinoff line to the original AirPods, which launched in 2016. Since then, AirPods Pro has stood out with some fantastic features such as Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), Transparency Mode, Find My tracking, and more. Within five years they've already become essential accessories for many users of the best iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

AirPods Pro 2, released in September 2022, improved the ANC and added the ability to swipe the AirPods stems to change volume. These high-end earbuds saw a slight refresh in September 2023 with a USB-C charging case and an updated H2 chip, enabling Lossless Audio for Apple Vision Pro users.

Additionally, the upcoming iOS 18 update for compatible iPhones further improves Voice Isolation during calls and introduces a feature for users to shake their heads to accept or decline a call with AirPods Pro 2.

With so many features available, as well as new ones coming in a future software update, one may wonder why Apple needs to release AirPods Pro 3 anytime soon. However, Apple is known for constantly refining its products, and with this in mind, we've been hearing some rumors about what the next upgrade might bring.

AirPods Pro 3: Release Date

The refreshed AirPods Pro 2 came out in September 2023. With this timescale, it seems unlikely we'll see a new model launching anytime soon. For context, the below lists the release dates of every AirPod product so far.

• AirPods: December 2016
• AirPods 2: March 2019
• Airpods Pro: October 2019
• AirPods Max: December 2020
• AirPods 3: October 2021
• Airpods Pro: September 2022
• AirPods Pro USB-C: September 2023

In a prediction made by top industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, they stated that Apple’s next regular AirPods would begin mass shipments in the latter half of 2024 or the start of 2025, with the AirPods Max to follow.

With no mention of AirPods Pro 3 and no reputable reports on a proper release date so far, it seems likely that we may not see a release until 2025 at the least.

AirPods Pro 3: Price

Every AirPods Pro product has sold for $249. This places them at under half the price of the AirPods Max but $70/£80 more than the cost of the AirPods 3. 

The first-gen AirPods Pro was discontinued when the AirPods Pro 2 launched, so AirPods Pro 3 may also entirely replace AirPods Pro 2 when they launch.

AirPods Pro 3: Features

Given that Apple currently offers AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C, it's a given that the AirPods Pro 3 will follow this standard. Not only does this mean it will be compatible with any USB-C wires you have, but it has the potential for faster charging. USB-C, as a format, is more efficient with the same amount of physical space, allowing it to deliver more power.

Given AirPods Pro has some unique features not present in AirPods, such as Active Noise Cancellation, Apple will likely add more to this upcoming model. Like the previous AirPods Pro, the AirPods Pro 3 should be compatible with Apple Watch chargers and will likely have a built-in speaker in the case itself to help you locate it.

AirPods Pro uses an H1 chip, while AirPods Pro 2 uses an H2 chip. It’s not a stretch to assume that a H3 chip will be present in AirPods Pro 3.

Given the H2 chip has some fantastic Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) capabilities, we can expect AirPods Pro 3 to further improve upon these existing features while offering some new ones. The last model introduced adaptive transparency mode which lets you hear the world around you whilst reducing sounds over a certain threshold. With AirPods 4 reportedly getting ANC, we wouldn't be surprised to see it improved even further for AirPods Pro 3.

In October 2023, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman mentioned that AirPods Pro 3 could get a redesign, as well as health-focused features. Gurman hasn't elaborated further on what these features may involve, but we can imagine features related to hearing health and a temperature sensor.

AirPods Pro 3: Size

The buds themselves are exactly the same size and weight as the AirPods Pro 1 and AirPods Pro 2. Given this, we imagine the AirPods Pro 3 buds will be similar in size and weight.

The charging case did change between the two, however. The first model was 1.8 x 0.9 x 2.4 inches and weighed 1.6 ounces whereas the AirPods Pro 2 case came in at 1.78 x 0.85 x 2.39 inches and 1.79 ounces. To put these numbers in perspective, both cases are a similar size but the AirPods Pro 2 are a little heavier. 

Generally speaking, it seems unlikely the size will change too drastically as they are designed to slide into your pocket or bag with relative ease. Part of what makes the AirPods Pro so popular is how light and easy they are to carry. You can simply take them out of your pocket, flick open the case, and get listening. 

AirPods Pro 3: Battery Life

Thanks in part to the more powerful H2 chip, AirPods Pro 2 has a better battery life than its predecessor. As AirPods Pro 2 manages to get around 6 hours of listening time out of a single charge, the AirPods Pro 1 got 4.5 hours of listening time from a charge. This increase is a noticeable one in day-to-day use. 

When combined with the charging case, the AirPods Pro 2 gets 30 hours of listening time, whereas the AirPods Pro 1 had around 24 hours of listening time. If the AirPods Pro 3 gets the H3 chip, we can expect a similar upgrade in battery life, with an extra hour or so of listening time. If the case is equivalently strong for the battery, we could see about 35 from a full charge. This being said, though the AirPods Pro 2 had better battery life than its predecessor, it is not a guarantee with a new chip. A more powerful chip could mean the device needs more power to function.

AirPods Pro 3: Rumors

With the AirPods Pro 3, we’re expecting Apple to double down on many of the features that made previous models stand out. For this reason, we could see the advancement of ANC to adapt better to the environment around you  — this will only be made better with the possible introduction of the H3 chip. 

As well as having better internals, there’s a chance the AirPods Pro 3 will have more durable buds, increasing both its dust and water resistance. The current model comes with water resistance, making them good for sweat from your ears or rain while walking, but not for submerging in a pool. Given how impressive the Apple Watch’s water resistance is, there’s room for improvement here — even if they are still very capable.

With some fans complaining of poor mic quality from the AirPods Pro 2, we hope that Apple has heard this feedback. For this reason, we hope that the AirPods Pro 3 will have better mic quality and smarter software to filter out background noises. Apple is well known for how intelligent its software is so this doesn’t seem unlikely. 

AirPods Pro 3: Q&A

Daryl is iMore's Features Editor, overseeing long-form and in-depth articles and op-eds. Daryl loves using his experience as both a journalist and Apple fan to tell stories about Apple's products and its community, from the apps we use every day to the products that have been long forgotten in the Cupertino archives.

Previously Software & Downloads Writer at TechRadar, and Deputy Editor at StealthOptional, he's also written a book, 'The Making of Tomb Raider', which tells the story of the beginnings of Lara Croft and the series' early development. His second book, '50 Years of Boss Fights', came out in June 2024, and has a monthly newsletter called 'Springboard'. He's also written for many other publications including WIRED, MacFormat, Bloody Disgusting, VGC, GamesRadar, Nintendo Life, VRV Blog, The Loop Magazine, SUPER JUMP, Gizmodo, Film Stories, TopTenReviews, Miketendo64, and Daily Star.