Release date, price, rumors, features we want to see

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd technology) are arguably essentially the most sought-after true wi-fi earbuds available on the market, significantly for Apple customers. In addition to reproducing music with spectacular sound high quality, the AirPods Pro 2 stand tall as bastions of superior lively noise canceling. That’s not to point out a wide selection of proprietary features resembling spatial audio and Siri voice assistant to enhance iPhone customers’ audio experiences. Unlike many rivals’ sealed-fit earbuds, Apple’s top-tier buds additionally come filled with extra-small silicon ear ideas to assist these with smaller ear canals obtain higher isolation and a extra comfy match.

It’s cheap then to query how Apple will enhance upon what seems to be an already excellent formulation. Unfortunately, there’s been no official announcement from Apple about when we can count on the AirPods Pro 3 to come to cabinets. Nevertheless, learn on for all the things we know thus far and our tackle features we would love to see included within the AirPods Pro (third technology).

Apple has been within the wi-fi earbud recreation for practically seven years, releasing common updates to its AirPods model for the reason that emergence of the AirPods (1st technology) in 2016. Its newest flagship buds, the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd technology), are among the finest noise canceling earbuds that cash should purchase. With Apple’s Wearables and Home Accessories class, which incorporates all AirPods, outperforming its Mac and iPad classes in Q2 of 2023, there’s no query the corporate will deliver the Apple AirPods Pro 3 to market.

It’s additionally price remembering that a few of Apple’s largest rivals, together with Samsung, OnePlus, and Nothing, have all launched top-tier buds inside the previous yr. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are a pretty noise canceling different to the AirPods Pro 2. The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 deliver head-tracking spatial audio features and broad Bluetooth Codec help for $70 lower than the AirPods Pro 2. Finally, the Nothing Ear 2 buds provide glorious audio customization and the same design to the AirPods Pro 2, bringing hours of comfy audio playback. With that in thoughts, Apple will want to assert its dominance by showcasing its next-gen top-tier buds as quickly as doable.

The earlier two fashions within the AirPods Pro sequence have been launched practically three years aside. A September 2024 launch for the AirPods Pro (third technology) appears optimistic, with an August 2025 launch extra life like. While that will look like a bitter capsule to swallow for extra ardent Apple followers, trade analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that the next-gen AirPods may ship within the second half of 2024 or the primary half of 2025. We’ll have to anticipate an official announcement from Apple to see if this rumor holds.

The AirPods Pro 3 will probably share lots of the identical features as its predecessor, the AirPods Pro 2. Here’s all that we have gathered primarily based on trade traits and rumors.

The form of the AirPods Pro 1 and AirPods Pro 2 has turn out to be one thing of an trade blueprint for a lot of different earbud producers over time. It’s subsequently sure the Apple AirPods Pro (third technology) will retain the identical sealed match and ergonomic form as its predecessors. Apple additionally solely ever releases its buds in a shiny white end, so we can count on to see the identical with the next-gen improve. Interchangeable ear ideas will function, together with the aforementioned extra-small ideas boasted by the AirPods Pro (2nd technology). The earbuds will hold the stemmed design we’ve all grown to count on over time, with the inclusion of Apple’s pressure sensors for controlling audio playback and voice calls. The earlier two AirPods Pro fashions saved splashes from all instructions at bay with an IPX4 water resistant ranking. The AirPods Pro 3 ought to observe swimsuit right here, with not less than an IPX4 ranking or better.

Since the EU handed laws to pressure firms to undertake the widespread charging port normal for gadgets by December 28, 2024, it’s probably the AirPods Pro 3 charging case will host USB-C connectivity. This has been predicted by dependable leaker Mark Gurman, who claims Apple is planning to transition away from Lightning ports towards USB-C. As with Apple’s AirPods Pro 2, the charging case for the AirPods Pro 3 ought to help Qi Wireless charging and MagSafe equipment.

In addition to the case supporting USB-C charging, Apple customers may look ahead to an built-in speaker and lanyard loop, comparable to that discovered with the AirPods Pro 2 case. In phrases of firmware, we might see an up to date U2 chip contained in the case somewhat than the U1 chip that’s presently housed within the AirPods Pro 2 charging case. Similarly, the AirPods Pro 3 might combine the brand new H3 chip, seeing as Apple introduced the H2 chip with the discharge of the AirPods Pro 2. That may spell excellent news for maintaining to date with the newest software program features.

Software features

Proprietary software program features are a key a part of the Apple ecosystem, and the AirPods Pro (third technology) will probably be no completely different. Out of the field, customers can count on the entire Apple-exclusive requirements we’ve grown to love, be that battery optimization, spatial audio, or computerized switching between iOS gadgets. It is price noting that you just’ll want to have both an iPhone or iPad to replace the firmware of the next-gen AirPods Pro.

We count on the AirPods Pro 3 to boast even higher ANC capabilities than its predecessor, as well as to a clearer adaptive transparency mode. To obtain this, the next-gen AirPods may debut the aforementioned H3 chip. The further processing energy might even open the door to extra superior health-related features, together with superior Hearables know-how, temper monitoring, weight monitoring, and bespoke well being evaluation. Apple is wanting past listening to accessibility, too. The H3 chip might cleared the path for Apple to add temperature sensors into the AirPods Pro 3, which means we might give you the chance to observe our well being in actual time.

Mark Gurman additionally experiences that Apple is engaged on a listening to check to assist customers catch issues early. That is smart, provided that the Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro have been having fun with among the most superior hearable features available on the market to date. These embody Live Listen and Conversation Boost, which adapts audio indicators for listening to different individuals’s voices in numerous environmental contexts. At WWDC 2023, Apple introduced a spread of latest features for the AirPods Pro 2, together with Adaptive Audio, Conversational Awareness, and Personalized Volume Control. These will work on the AirPods Pro 3, with the latter studying your quantity preferences for particular audio environments. That means the AirPods Pro (third technology) will probably give you the chance to make changes to your audio settings on the fly primarily based in your earlier settings.

This differs from Conversational Awareness, which senses whenever you converse. When the buds acknowledge your voice, they lower the quantity of your audio combine whereas additionally minimizing background noise and enhancing close by voices. This function works remarkably comparable to Sony’s Speak-to-Chat operate boasted by its WF-1000X earbuds and WH-1000X over-ear headphones. Adaptive Audio is completely different, nevertheless, permitting the AirPods Pro 3 to use a mixture of ANC and transparency mode to routinely management the extent of environmental sounds allowed into your audio combine.

Finally, the inclusion of the U2 chip inside the charging case might permit for better choices for finding the AirPods Pro 3 case through the Find My app. It may additionally assist to enhance the effectivity of charging the earbuds, all of the whereas decreasing the period of time taken to totally juice up your buds.

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are among the many finest when it comes to sound high quality and noise canceling. While the second-generation AirPods made some enhancements to sub-bass frequencies (round 10-500Hz), mid-range frequencies remained close to sufficient the identical. The AirPods Pro 2 accentuated mid-high frequencies between 2kHz-4kHz whereas decreasing extra sibilant frequencies above 12kHz. While it’s onerous to predict precisely how the Apple AirPods Pro (third technology) will diverge from the frequency response of the AirPods Pro 2, we predict most customers will discover the sound high quality of the AirPods Pro 3 to be pleasing.

Apple has improved the standard and implementation of its ANC function from every technology of AirPods to the subsequent. With that in thoughts, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 will boast higher noise canceling than the AirPods Pro 2, because it is aware of that competitors has by no means been stiffer.

The AirPods Pro (1st technology) vs AirPods Pro (2nd technology) chart above reveals simply how a lot better the newest AirPods Pro ANC function is than the unique. The AirPods Pro 2 attenuates low frequencies by roughly 2-12dB greater than the AirPods Pro 1. There’s additionally a better give attention to mid-range frequencies between 2kHz-6kHz the place most intrusive voice frequencies lay. The improved noise-canceling of frequencies beneath 500Hz additionally helps to cut back background noise from low rumbles typically heard when utilizing public transport. The soar in ANC high quality between the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods Pro 3 might look one thing comparable to that within the chart above.

• Apple AirPods Pro (1st Generation) — $249
• Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) — $249

Given that the earlier two generations of AirPods Pro have hit cabinets with a price ticket of $249, it’s onerous to see Apple altering course with the AirPods Pro 3. If Apple retains this identical value, it may make the next-gen improve much more interesting for iPhone customers, stealing any competitors posed by the likes of Sony WF-1000XM5 ($298 at Amazon) and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 ($249 at Amazon), each of which debuted at $299.

Regardless of how Apple costs the AirPods Pro 3 at launch, customers can count on numerous reductions through the vacation seasons. For instance, the AirPods Pro 2 presently price ($199 at Amazon), however are sometimes on sale for lower than $229, typically at $199.

Given that we don’t count on to see Apple launch the AirPods Pro (third technology) for over a yr, you’d be forgiven for wanting to get your fingers on different earbuds within the meantime. Thankfully, there are many selections on the market for iPhone customers that may’t anticipate the next-gen improve.

The AirPods Pro 2 nonetheless stand proud as top-of-the-line earbuds available on the market proper now. As properly as having fun with among the finest ANC and sound high quality round, iPhone customers can take full benefit of the spatial audio function, stress delicate stems with quantity controls, MagSafe wi-fi charging, XS ear ideas, IPX4 water resistance, battery optimization, and 6 hours of ANC-enabled audio playback. The caveat is that they don’t play properly with Android and the shortage of an in-built customizable EQ means you want to obtain a third-party EQ app to personalize your audio expertise.

Failing that, the Apple AirPods (third technology) ($195 at Amazon) are the plain runners-up for iPhone customers. These buds are nearly the identical because the AirPods Pro 2, apart from the truth that they don’t embody ANC or ear ideas to isolate your audio. You obtain practically the entire identical features, together with spatial audio with head monitoring. However, the AirPods 3 case doesn’t incorporate the U1 chip, which suggests you gained’t give you the chance to make use of among the Find My features. Like all AirPods so far, the AirPods 3 solely are available in shiny white.

If you’re an Android telephone person, then the Sony WF-1000XM5 ($298 at Amazon) will probably serve you higher than ready for the AirPods Pro 3 to drop. These earbuds have spectacular ANC, blocking out much more noise than the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd technology). The OS-agnostic Sony Headphones Connect app is a useful asset to have, giving customers entry to a five-band equalizer, Bluetooth codec choices, an ear match check, and plenty of different helpful features. These buds additionally present over eight hours of battery life on a single cost and up to 24 hours with the charging case.

Finally, if consolation is your recreation, look no additional than the Nothing Ear 2 buds ($149 at Amazon). These are by far among the most comfy earbuds round and take quite a lot of their design from the AirPods Pro 2. In addition to being extraordinarily comfy to put on for lengthy intervals, additionally they provide squeeze controls, customizable sound and ANC, improved microphone high quality, Bluetooth Multipoint, and clearer audio high quality. The battery life of those buds is considerably mediocre, however what it lacks in juice, it makes up for in value.

The AirPods Pro 2 offered six hours of audio playback with ANC activated when examined by Apple of their labs. In a real-life setting, the AirPods Pro (2nd technology) battery life lasts slightly below that. While that’s fairly common for top-tier earbuds, we’d like to see the next-gen AirPods Pro deliver better battery life to the fore. Given that Sony’s newest WF-1000XM5 final up to eight hours with ANC activated and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 final over seven hours on a single cost, Apple will want to up its recreation if it needs to stay aggressive.

We additionally count on that the AirPods Pro 3 will enhance upon the AirPods Pro 2 quick charging functionality, which affords one hour of audio playback from 5 minutes of charging. This compares to Sony’s WF-1000XM5 offering one hour of audio playback from three minutes of cost and the Nothing Ear 2 offering eight hours of listening time from 10 minutes of charging. Considering individuals are residing busier and sooner life, Apple will want to make some enhancements to their quick charging capabilities in the event that they want to hold tempo.

On the off likelihood that Apple manages to launch the AirPods Pro 3 earlier than the tip of December 2024, we may see the charging case retaining the Lightning charging port. However, primarily based on the earlier launch sample of the AirPods Pro sequence, it’s unlikely that Apple will launch the next-gen improve earlier than the start of 2025. With that in thoughts, it appears to be like virtually sure that Apple will undertake a USB-C charging port for the AirPods Pro 3. Furthermore, sure iPads have supported USB-C for years, which suggests Apple already homes the mandatory parts to roll out USB-C for the AirPods Pro (third technology).

While the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd technology) boast moderately good microphone high quality, they don’t carry out properly throughout the board. In explicit, a powerful gust of wind could make the microphone high quality virtually inaudible. If the AirPods Pro 3 can in some way enhance upon the noise suppression of earlier AirPods Pro generations, they might properly change the usually-dismal tide of earbud microphone expectations.

To get a glimpse of how properly the AirPods Pro 2 microphone suppresses voices in noisy environments, you may pay attention to the demos beneath:

Call it wishful pondering, name it naivety, however a broader number of Bluetooth codecs would go a great distance in bridging the ever-widening hole between iOS and Android. Most notable of all can be the inclusion of aptX HD.

Every day, extra individuals are switching from wired connectivity to Bluetooth. This is due to a mixture of newer smartphones ditching headphones jacks, and the semi-recent enchancment of Bluetooth audio high quality. While Apple and Android help 16-bit 44.1kHz AAC connectivity at 250kbps, solely Android telephones are presently able to profiting from high-quality Bluetooth audio. With this comes lossless audio streaming. In comparability to AAC, aptX HD streams up to 24-bit 48kHz at 576kbps. That’s a substantial distinction that will sway extra ardent audiophiles away from the AirPods Pro 3 and towards aptX HD-capable earbuds.

Nevertheless, most individuals these days eat music from streaming platforms resembling Spotify and Apple Music. While a few of these platforms do provide HD audio, many individuals might determine it isn’t well worth the knowledge drain. Perhaps that’s why Apple, thus far, has resisted the adoption of aptX into its gadgets.

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd technology) boast an IPX4 water-resistance ranking. While that bodes properly for many forms of train, it doesn’t shield in opposition to mud. We’d like to see an improved IPX ranking that includes mud resistance for the AirPods Pro 3. This would enhance the sturdiness and longevity of the buds for a wider array of sports activities, together with mountaineering, and for these complete dwell in harsher climates. Better sturdiness would set Apple’s next-gen improve aside from different rivals and flagships alike.