The AirPods Pro 3 are Apple’s latest in-ear earbuds, promising a mix of comfort, fit, and upgraded audio performance while introducing some interesting new features. On paper, they look similar to their predecessor, but Apple claims major improvements under the hood - from redesigned ear tips and a smaller, more stable build to immersive Spatial Audio powered by the new H2 chip. They also offer seamless connectivity across the Apple ecosystem, adaptive audio that adjusts to your environment, and features like Live Translation, Conversation Boost, and even a heart rate sensor. But do these changes make a real difference in daily use? Can they truly justify their premium price, or are they just incremental upgrades? Let’s find out.

Design & Connectivity

At first glance, the AirPods Pro 3 don’t look dramatically different from their predecessor, but the moment you put them on, you instantly notice the difference. They feel more comfortable, sit securely in the ear, and have a distinct personality of their own — a subtle but important upgrade. Apple reworked the internal design to make each AirPod smaller and aligned the ear tip to the centre of the body for better stability. Using foam-infused tips available in five sizes, including a new XXS option, the AirPods Pro 3 now fit a wider range of users, making them more accessible across different ear shapes.


Durability has also been improved with an IP57 rating for sweat and water resistance, so they can handle workouts, unpredictable weather, or just daily use without worry. Connectivity across Apple devices is seamless we smoothly transitioned between iPhone, MacBook, iPad, and even Apple Watch, with no noticeable latency. Another convenient touch is that all settings can be adjusted directly from the iOS Settings app, eliminating the need for a dedicated app. The charging case now includes a U2 ultra-wideband chip, enhancing device tracking and overall connectivity. Overall, the AirPods Pro 3 combine comfort, fit, and practicality in a way that’s immediately noticeable once you start using them, making them a strong evolution over the previous generation.

Audio Quality

The AirPods Pro 3 have evolved beyond being just earbuds. Powered by Apple’s H2 chip, they now combine high-quality audio with health tracking, accessibility tools, and awareness of your surroundings. Adaptive Audio automatically switches between active noise cancellation and transparency mode depending on your environment, while personalized volume uses machine learning to adjust sound levels based on your listening habits and ambient noise. This ensures clear audio without the need for constant tweaking.

Conversation Boost makes it easier to follow voices in front of you in noisy environments, while Hearing Aid mode provides clinical-grade amplification and ambient noise reduction, supporting users with mild hearing loss. Hearing Health insights track exposure to loud environments and provide alerts to help protect your ears over time.

The AirPods Pro 3 also include a heart rate sensor. Using an infrared sensor combined with motion sensors, they can track your pulse during workouts, estimate calories burned, monitor activity intensity, and show move ring progress. We tested the heart rate sensor ourselves, and it’s at par with the Apple Watch. While the workout tracking is limited and there isn’t a full activity suite, for anyone who doesn’t like wearing a smartwatch but still wants an overall sense of where they stand in terms of fitness goals, the AirPods Pro 3 can be relied on.

Live Translation is another notable addition. We tried this feature back at launch, and in our experience, it worked smoothly. It enables real-time translation for face-to-face conversations, helping users understand and respond naturally in another language using the AirPods. For interactions with someone who doesn’t have AirPods, the iPhone can display live transcription in the other person’s preferred language, and translate their responses into your chosen language. The feature works even better when both participants have AirPods with Live Translation enabled. Active Noise Cancellation helps reduce background sound, making it easier to focus on translations while staying engaged in the conversation.

Currently, Live Translation supports English, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese. We look forward to more Indian native languages being added, which would make the feature much more useful in a country with such a wide array of languages. Considering Apple’s growing market share in India, this could be a significant step. The feature relies on on-device Siri intelligence and the Apple Neural Engine, keeping conversations private without sending data to the cloud. It can be activated by pressing and holding both stems of the earbuds.

The AirPods Pro 3 show noticeable improvements in sound quality. With custom multi-vent acoustic architecture, redesigned drivers, and Adaptive EQ, they deliver a dynamic and detailed listening experience. Bass is deep and controlled, giving tracks like Tracks like Arijit Singh’s “Kesariya” and “Apna Bana Le” hit hard without overpowering the mids, while English tracks like Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” and Ed Sheeran’s “Shivers” maintain punch and clarity. Vocals and acoustic instruments, as in Shreya Ghosal’s “Jhoome Jo Pathaan”, Jubin Nautiyal’s “Tu Aake Dekh Le”, or Adele’s “Easy On Me”, come through clearly, and high frequencies feel crisp and airy. Even upbeat numbers like “Doobey” from Gehraiyaan or The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” retain detail, making every element of the song balanced and immersive.Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking adds an extra layer of immersion.

Battery life has also improved. You get up to 6 hours of playback with ANC on, or 7 hours with it off, and the charging case extends total listening time to around 30 hours. A quick 5-minute charge adds about an hour of playback, and the case supports MagSafe, Qi wireless, and USB-C charging. Whether for shows, gaming, or calls, the AirPods Pro 3 hold their charge reliably.

Verdict

The AirPods Pro 3 deliver a noticeable improvement in comfort, fit, and durability, with seamless connectivity across Apple devices. Audio is clear and balanced, with immersive Spatial Audio enhancing both Bollywood and English tracks. Features like Live Translation, Conversation Boost, and a heart rate sensor add versatility, while battery life is reliable for daily use. They aren’t perfect, limited translation languages and the premium price are minor drawbacks but overall, they’re a well-rounded upgrade over the previous generation.