Table of Contents
Highlights
- Health + Audio Fusion: First AirPods with heart-rate tracking via PPG sensor.
- Smarter Communication: Live translation makes conversations seamless while traveling.
- Durability & Power: IP57 rating + 10-hour battery – perfect for workouts and travel
Apple has once again proven its endless innovation when it comes to wireless earbuds. The newest generation of AirPods Pro, AirPods Pro 3, launched in the Apple Event in September 2025, are more than simple noise-cancelling earbuds. With features like Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), an IP57 water and dust durability rating, heart-rate monitoring, live translation capabilities, and 8-10 hours of battery, the AirPods Pro 3 blur the lines between audio device and health tracker.
With a launch price of $249 (₹25,900 in India), AirPods Pro 3 may very well be Apple’s most ambitious earbuds yet. So, the burning question is: if you currently have AirPods Pro 2, are the AirPods Pro 3 worth a jump? Are the AirPods Pro 3 capable enough to take over some basic tasks formerly relegated to your Apple Watch? Let’s dive into everything you need to know.
A Quick Look At What’s New
While the previous generation, AirPods Pro 2, introduced the H2 chip and upgraded ANC, the AirPods Pro 3 take a bolder step with the inclusion of health and communication features:
Heart-rate sensor: Monitors heart rate during workouts via a custom PPG sensor.
Live translation: Real-time on-the-go language translation leveraging Apple Intelligence.
Upgraded ANC: ANC performance and experience have been significantly improved.
IP57 rating: Their first AirPods with dust protection and submersion protection.
Long-lasting battery: Up to 8-10 hours of playtime per charge.
Smarter fit: A new earbud design and an extra-extra-small (XXS) earbud tip. Apple is marketing these as “beyond audio” – earbuds that can serve as health companions and real-time interpreters.
Health Tracking: Heart-Rate Monitoring in Your Ears
Possibly the biggest leap is the heart-rate sensor. For the first time, AirPods feature a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, similar to the technology used in fitness trackers and smartwatches. The earbuds shine infrared light in the ear canal and measure blood-flow changes to measure the heart rate.
This opens up possibilities:
- During exercise: View your heart rate and calorie burn in real-time during Apple Fitness or Fitness+
- On an iPhone / iPad: Live heart-rate metrics during exercise without an Apple Watch.
- Sync with Health app: The heart-rate data from heart-rate tracking during exercise would be stored in the Health app. This is an interesting approach – many people forgo watches for comfort while exercising but commonly wear earbuds. This makes the AirPods Pro 3 a must for exercise.
However, they’re not going to fully replace an Apple Watch. Unlike watches, they’re not providing all-day continuous heart-rate tracking, SpO₂ monitoring, or ECG. Yet, for those seeking low-profile fitness tracking without another device, this is revolutionary.
Communication Across Borders: Live Translation
And there’s live translation, which uses Apple Intelligence and on-device processing to translate a conversation in real time. Imagine you’re traveling abroad and you walk into a café in Paris. You’ll chat in English, and your AirPods will handle the translation into French. At launch, Live Translation supports beta testing with some major languages, and it will grow as additional updates are released.
Unlike translation applications that require passing a phone back and forth, AirPods Pro 3 create a natural, conversational experience – which is going to be incredible for meetings, traveling, or even learning a new language. This is a hint into Apple’s vision to turn AirPods into communication devices as opposed to just headphones.
ANC and Sound Enhancements
Active noise cancellation (ANC) has always been at the core of the AirPods lineup, and AirPods Pro 3 makes substantial advancements on this. Apple claims that they have the best in-ear ANC in the world. Early reviews of the product:
2× better ANC compared to AirPods Pro 2 Up to 4× improvement compared to the original AirPods Pro
This means you can now sit in a quiet café or on a plane with almost complete silence. The transparency mode has improved significantly, making outside sounds more natural and balanced. Paired with Personalized Spatial Audio and Adaptive EQ, sound feels fuller, more immersive, and more comfortable when listening for a long period.
Created for Real Life: IP57
Rated Durability is often a weak point with earbuds. The AirPods Pro 2 were IPX4 – splash resistant, but still not dust- or waterproof. The AirPods Pro 3 are rated IP57, which means:
5 = dust protected
7 = survives immersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes
This makes them gym-proof, run-proof, and rain-proof. Whether sweating profusely or getting caught in torrential rain, the AirPods Pro 3 can take the punishment.
Better Battery Life
Battery life has gone up to 8-10 hours on a single charge, depending on use. With ANC on, you’ll get about 8 hours, and in transparency or low-power mode, you could stretch it closer to 10 hours. The MagSafe charging case extends the usage to over 30 hours. This is a clear improvement from AirPods Pro 2, which had 6 hours per charge. That extra 2-4 hours of usability when traveling or commuting makes a difference for sure.
Can AirPods Pro 3 Replace Your Apple Watch?
This is the big question. The answer is partially, but not fully.
Yes, for workouts, you can track heart rate and calories without a watch. Suitable for runners who don’t want to wear anything on their wrist.
Yes, for travel: live mode translation is something even the Apple Watch doesn’t do.
No, for all health tracking, AirPods Pro 3 aren’t continuously monitoring HR, don’t track sleep, don’t measure SpO₂, and don’t do ECG.
No, for smartwatch features: no display, no notifications, and no independent connectivity. So while the AirPods Pro 3 are a great travel and fitness companion to support your workouts, ultimately, they’re not going to replace a full smartwatch. They complement and reduce the need for a watch in certain situations.
Should you upgrade?
You should consider upgrading to AirPods Pro 3 if you: – Want heart-rate monitoring without buying an Apple Watch. – Are you a traveler or multilingual user who would benefit from live translation?
Want top-end ANC and IP57 durability, either for your workouts or outdoor use.
You can skip upgrading if you already have AirPods Pro 2 and heart rate or translation doesn’t matter to you. Mostly use your earbuds in casual ways, so Durability doesn’t matter to you.
You use your earbuds a bit casually, so Durability isn’t necessarily a concern. So, for new buyers, the decision is easy. AirPods Pro 3 are Apple’s most advanced earbuds, boasting features that no other competitor can match.
Final Thing to Say
The AirPods Pro 3 are no longer just earbuds; they are evolving into wearable devices for health and communication purposes. Heart-rate sensing, live translation, IP57 durability, better battery life, and class-leading ANC—these earbuds are redefining the limits of what wireless earbuds can do. They won’t replace your smartwatch entirely, but they’ll fill essential gaps for fitness and travel, all for the same price. Anyone upgrading from AirPods Pro 1 or older, or a new buyer making their first premium purchase of wireless earbuds, should get the AirPods Pro 3.
In summary: these are Apple’s boldest AirPods yet – and are a vision of the future where earbuds are more than just sound but also health, communication, and lifestyle.
