Apple's September 9 "Awe Dropping" event brought to us details on its fall releases, including the usual iPhone and Apple Watch upgrades. While these other devices have their strong points, the surprising star of the show was the AirPods Pro 3, coming at us with Live Translation, health and fitness features we normally just see on the Apple Watch, better-than-ever noise cancellation, and a new fit to keep them in your ears even during a workout.
AirPods Pro 3 Release Date & Pricing
Availability
- Pre-order September 9
- Available September 19
Pricing
- Starts at $249
The AirPods Pro 3: Big Upgrades & Smaller Earbuds
Who would have guessed the talk of the town after Apple's fall event would be the AirPods Pro 3? Certainly not me, but here I am reporting to you a host of new features, some of which have been dreamed about since the early days of Star Trek. Let's dive into all the new features that Apple's next-generation earbuds will bring our way.
Memory Foam Means More Noise Cancellation
While I've never had many complaints about the noise cancellation abilities of my AirPods Pro 2, the AirPods Pro 3 promise to be even better (two times better, Apple says). This is aided by memory foam in the tips to help cushion external noise even further. Apple is also claiming this gives us a battery life boost while using ANC of up to 33% compared to the Pro 2. We can also expect an improved Transparency mode, with your own voice and others' sounding more natural.
A Smaller, More Universal Fit
Apple scanned a lot of ears and adjusted the AirPods Pro design accordingly, aiming to fit more ears and keep the AirPods in place even during workouts. The earbud body is smaller, and Apple has expanded its tip sizing to include a new XXS version. Overall, the company is really focusing on making sure your earbuds stay in while you work out, which brings us to our next exciting feature.
Big Workout Features
Not everyone has an Apple Watch or remembers to bring it to their workout, but everyone brings along their earbuds. If this isn't true of you, it will be as soon as you get the AirPods Pro 3. In addition to a built-in heart rate sensor, you can now track workouts on your iPhone just like you can with an Apple Watch. This new workout-tracking feature includes tracking calories burned, closing your Move ring, logging your workouts in your Fitness app, and earning Fitness awards. Plus, the new Workout Buddy will be available through your AirPods, so you can receive cheerful stats and encouragement throughout your workout. Enhanced waterproofing means your AirPods can keep tracking no matter how much you're sweating, or even if you're out running in the rain.
Live Translation Makes the AirPods Pro 3 the Ultimate Travel Companion
While Apple has already broken down language barriers with its Translation app and new Live Translation features, the AirPods Pro 3 bring it to an entirely new level. The AirPods Pro 3 support Live Translation, so you can hear the translation of languages spoken around you in real time. When you speak, the translation of your words will appear on your iPhone, allowing you to express yourself correctly as well. When both people are wearing AirPods Pro 3, you can have a two-way cross-lingual conversation easily.
Currently, Live Translation only supports five languages (English, French, Spanish, German, and Portuguese), but it's expected to add Chinese, Korean, and Japanese by the end of the year.
In terms of exciting new features, the AirPods Pro 3 shine this year. Whether you're looking to boost workouts independent of your Apple Watch, communicate in other languages, or even just spring for better noise cancellation and a more comfortable fit, it's hard to beat the AirPods Pro 3.
