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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Review: The New Gold Standard

Apple AirPods Pro 3 Review: The New Gold Standard

Name: Apple AirPods Pro 3 Review: The New Gold Standard
Item: Apple AirPods Pro 3 True Wireless Stereo (TWS) Earphones

AirPods Pro 3 bring a subtle design refresh, improved ANC (Active Noise Cancellation), heart rate sensing, and extended battery life. Here's our review.

Written by Ketan Pratap | Updated: 11 January 2026 17:25 IST

Apple AirPods Pro 3 Review: The New Gold Standard

The TWS is powered by Apple H2 headphone chip

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Highlights

Apple AirPods Pro 3 set a new benchmark in the category
It gets an IP57 rating
The TWS gets support for heart rate sensing during workouts

AirPods are among the most popular headphones, with an iconic design and a solid sound quality. I won't be wrong in saying that these have revolutionised the TWS segment and raised the bar for what headphones should be. AirPods deliver a unique user experience, from effortless setup and sound quality to seamless integration with your Apple products.

This year, Apple further built on the legacy of the AirPods Pro with the launch of the next-generation model. Apple's AirPods Pro 3 may not look entirely new compared to its predecessor, but it packs a host of upgrades. So, if you're someone who is still holding onto your AirPods Pro first-gen, should you upgrade to the latest gen? Read on to find out if it's worth the money.

AirPods Pro 3 Design and Features

Apple says it introduced design changes to improve overall sound output on the AirPods Pro 3. The change includes a custom multi-port acoustic architecture that precisely controls the airflow carrying sound into the ear. Apple claims this transforms bass response, widens the soundstage so you hear every instrument, and brings vocals into focus across music shows and even calls. Compared to the second-gen, the bass is better delivered on the Pro 3.

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The charging case weighs 43.99 grams

The latest TWS also packs ultra-low noise microphones with advanced computational audio combined with new foam ear tips for better noise isolation. During the keynote, Apple stressed that this significantly improves performance, delivering twice the ANC of the previous generation, which was already amazing.

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Another massive upgrade this year is in terms of fit. Apple has improved how the AirPods Pro 3 Fit in your ears because people's ears come in all shapes and sizes. The company claims that it analysed over 10,000 3D ear scans, one with over 100,000 hours of user research, to optimise the new AirPods Pro to fit even more people. Compared to the original Pro and second-gen, the AirPods Pro 3 offer an even more comfortable and secure fit. Apple ships ear tips in five sizes in the box, including an all-new XXS size.

The AirPods Pro 3 is also dust-, sweat-, and water-resistant, with an IP57 rating, and this rating applies to the charging case as well. To compare, the second-gen came with an IPX4 rating for water resistance.

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At under 45 grams, the charging case still fits in the smallest jeans pocket, and each earbud weighs 5.55 grams, making it feel lightweight even during extended use.

The charging case works with MagSafe chargers, Apple Watch chargers, Qi‑certified chargers, and standard USB‑C. It also includes a speaker for use with Find My. Of course, the Lightning port, last seen in the second-gen, has been replaced with USB-C, which should be convenient for everyone.

The AirPods Pro 3 pack dual beamforming microphones, an inward-facing microphone, a skin-detect sensor, a motion-detecting accelerometer, a speech-detecting accelerometer, a heart rate sensor for workouts, and touch control

Next up is the addition of heart rate sensing during workouts with AirPods Pro 3. The company says it custom-built the smallest heart rate sensor in the TWS, and it uses machine learning algorithms to gather data from the sensors and accelerometers to deliver precise measurements. This is combined with the new on-device AI model for activity and calorie tracking, trained for more than 50 million hours of data, according to Apple.

Thanks to this incredible integration between hardware and software, you can now track up to 50 workout types with just your AirPods Pro. Long story short, now you can listen to your favourite music while walking and, at the same time, track your heart rate. Sounds convenient.

Like the last-gen AirPods Pro, the all-new Pro 3 supports iOS devices natively, and there's no dedicated app. If you want to tweak any settings on the Pro 3, head over to the system's Bluetooth settings, and you have everything available. In fact, Apple now lists compatible Bluetooth accessories like the Pro 3 on the main Settings page.

The TWS supports swipe and touch controls

The interface is the same as before. At the top, you get battery info for both buds and the charging case, with indicators showing whether each bud is charging. Then, you have Listening Modes - Transparency, Adaptive, and Noise Cancellation. Other features listed include Hearing Health, which includes hearing protection that prompts loud-sound reduction. You can also take a hearing test within the setting.

The AirPods Pro 3 supports gestures like pressing once to play or pause media, pressing once to answer a call or mute or unmute, pressing once for camera remote, pressing twice to end a call, or skip forward track, pressing three times to skip back, pressing and holding to switch between listening modes. You can also adjust volume by swiping up or down. You can also use the AirPods Pro 3 as a camera remote to capture a photo, start or stop recording, and more with either a press-once or press-and-hold gesture. This is a new addition and a handy one for creators who record videos for social media platforms.

There are other features, such as Conversation Awareness, which lowers volume depending on the ambient environment; Voice Isolation; Personalised Volume; Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking; and Adaptive EQ.

It comes with dust, sweat and water resistance with an IP57 rating

The Live Translation feature is also part of the new package and can help you communicate across languages, and is powered by Apple Intelligence. Interestingly, the iPhone in this case acts as a companion, with the new AirPods Pro helping you understand the conversation while the device displays words in their language and can even read them out loud, if needed—a neat addition to an already powerful package. Additionally, AirPods Pro 3 offer the same Hearing Aid features as the previous generation.

AirPods Pro 3 Performance and Battery Life

Jumping to the performance bit, the AirPods Pro 3 offers one of the best noise cancellations we've tested in a long time. When switched to Transparency mode, it enables you to hear your surroundings, including your own voice and people speaking to you, more naturally than ever. The Adaptive mode tries to keep you well synced with your surroundings, automatically reducing sound to ensure you do not miss any important announcements in a metro station, while ensuring your music is uninterrupted when using them in a cafe.

The noise cancellation mode reduces the outside noise incredibly, whether you're walking in a crowded street or even in a gathering with loud music. Apple has really nailed the isolation this year, and it shows when you plug the AirPods Pro 3 without anything playing on your iPhone. A lot of this credit goes to the improved fit and new ear tip sizes.

The best way to test the ANC is to go to a crowded market or metro station and see whether it can block out the higher-pitched sounds of market buzz, train tracks, or announcements. This is where the Pro 3 beats cheaper buds and outshines everything.

Testing the AirPods Pro 3 was fun as I went from AR Rahman compositions to Hans Zimmer, and the TWS didn't disappoint. Started my tests with some classics like Dil Se Re by AR Rahman, and the track is full of heavy, heartbeat-like bass that feels deep but tight, along with subtle acoustic guitar plucks in the background while the bass is active. Next, Pardesi from DevD by Amit Trivedi is a track that's chaotic but in a good way. The AirPods Pro 3 handles the sudden shift from the heavy bassline to the high-pitched folk vocals without distorting. The handling of the transition from folk to electronic doesn't feel abrupt at any point during the playback. In Bubbles – Yosi Horikawa, the track uses sounds of marbles dropping and more; the crispness of the clinking is catchy. It makes you wince, but gladly, AirPods Pro 3 handles the track very gently, unlike some in the premium segment, which sound muffled, as if the air is missing.

It supports Bluetooth 5.3

Next, I played Giorgio by Moroder – Daft Punk and especially around the 6-minute mark, the track explodes into a synth and drum frenzy. The AirPods easily could keep the kick drum distinct from the sweeping electronic textures. In the Bad Guy – Billie Eilish, the track is the gold standard for checking sub-bass, and that's where Pro 3 really shines, as you feel the air moving in the ear canal during the low-frequency pulses without it sounding muddy.

With AirPods Pro 3, Apple also added an in-built heart rate monitor for fitness enthusiasts. It works as intended and adds to the overall character of the TWS.

In terms of audio tech, the AirPods Pro 3 come pretty packed and include features like a custom high dynamic range amplifier, conversation awareness, voice isolation, personalised volume, loud sound reduction, personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, Adaptive EQ, studio-quality audio recording, and a vent system for pressure equalisation

Talking about battery life, the AirPods Pro 3 is a massive upgrade over my AirPods Pro 2. Apple claims up to eight hours of listening time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation enabled and up to 7.5 hours with Spatial Audio and Head Tracking enabled. For running enthusiasts, Apple promises up to 6.5 hours of listening time on a single charge, with heart rate sensing during workouts. Of course, this gets a boost when used with a MagSafe Charging Case. The company claims up to 8 hours of listening time with ANC enabled and fast charging that offers up to 1 hour of listening time with 5 minutes of charging in the case. In the real world, the AirPods Pro 3 really do better than some of the competition wireless earbuds we tested this year.

The battery life is one of the biggest strengths of the AirPods Pro 3 and also comes with features like optimised charging that learns from user habits and charges the buds before you go out and use them.

AirPods Pro 3 Verdict

The AirPods Pro 3 are a must-have upgrade, with over-the-air headphone performance in a pocket-sized design that removes even more background noise from your daily commute. Compared to the Pro 2, the Pro 3 brings tons of upgrades that are worth every penny, and these are by far my favourite AirPods ever. For those with the original AirPods Pro, the difference is night and day. The AirPods Pro 3 is available in India at Rs. 25,900.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 True Wireless Stereo (TWS) Earphones

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design / Comfort
Audio Quality
Battery Life
Value For Money

Good
Comfortable fit
Fantastic sound output
Excellent ANC
Solid battery life
Overall excellent upgrade

Bad
Swipe gestures are annoying
No equaliser setting
Still no support for high-quality codecs such as aptX and LDAC
Available in a single White colour

Read detailed Apple AirPods Pro 3 True Wireless Stereo (TWS) Earphones review

Colour White

Headphone Type In-Ear

Microphone Yes

Connectivity True Wireless Stereo (TWS)

Type Earphones

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Further reading: Apple, AirPods Pro 3

Ketan Pratap

Email Ketan

Ketan Pratap is the Editor at Gadgets 360. His primary role - debugging the tech hype, benchmarking the future, and compiling it all into precise news, features or reviews. He has spent over 14 years calling out vaporware and identifying the best tech. He’s your guide for everything from chipsets to smart-home meltdowns. When his own batteries are low, he heads for the hills—literally. He’s someone who prefers a remote mountain pass, appreciating a 12,000-foot view that no VR ...More