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AirPods Pro 3
Next-gen silence. Hear only what matters.
189 people reading right now
Next-gen silence. Hear only what matters.
Composite of 14-day lab cycle · 18 metrics tracked · Calibrated against category reference
Next-gen silence. Hear only what matters.
Best for commuters and travelers who want quiet and long battery in a premium build.
AirPods Pro 3 are the most-improved AirPods in five years. The H3 chip enables on-device features the H2 couldn’t, the new microphone array is genuinely better in calls, and Apple’s heart-rate sensor (yes, in earbuds) actually works.
Live translation in conversations: the most useful AI feature in any consumer audio product. Real-time, low latency, supports 14 languages at launch. Hearing aid mode (FDA-cleared, Apple’s first medical-device certification on earbuds) handles mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Adaptive audio dynamically adjusts ANC and transparency based on environmental cues — works better than the AirPods Pro 2’s version.
Active noise cancellation is roughly 25% more effective than the Pro 2 — closer to the WH-1000XM4 over-ear range than ever before. Sound signature is balanced and detailed, slightly bright, with strong spatial separation when paired with Apple Music spatial tracks. They are not WH-1000XM6-level audiophile pieces, but they are better than the previous generation in every measurable way.
6 hours per charge with ANC, 30 hours total with case. New “lower” silicone tip design fits more ears — we tested with 5 staff members; all 5 got a proper seal. Wireless charging case is now USB-C and supports MagSafe magnetic alignment.
$249 — same as Pro 2. Sound quality is ceiling-limited by the form factor; over-ear cans like the XM6 are simply better at music. iOS-only ecosystem locks features (Live Translation, Hearing Aid mode require iPhone).
Bottom line: If you live in iOS, these are the most useful new earbuds in years. The hearing aid mode alone justifies the price for the right person.
Other top-scoring headphones we've tested. Tap a card to open a side-by-side breakdown.
9.4Silence the world. Hear only what matters.
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9.3The earbuds that hear everything, or nothing at all
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9.2The Gold Standard of ANC Headphones
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9.2Next-level silence meets immersive spatial audio bliss
CompareEvery PixlRun review runs through a 14-day lab cycle: synthetic benchmarks, real-world scenarios, and a category-calibrated scoring rubric. We buy or borrow at retail; we don't accept paid placements.
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