Airpods Pro 3: Two versions – and not much better?

Fans of Apple plugs are likely to get their money’s worth at today’s iPhone keynote: According to well-informed circles, Apple Plans the presentation of the third generation of Airpods Pro. However, they could be different than previously thought: Apple allegedly no major changes to active noise suppression (ANC), as observers initially expected. In addition, the sound is said to have improved little. This is written by the well-known Bloomberg Apple reporter Mark Gurman on x.

Audio, ANC, pulse and loading case

The main renewal apparently remains an integrated heart rate tracking, as you already know from the Powerbesters Pro 2 of the Apple subsidiary Beats. These have an integrated photo receptor that can measure the pulse in/on the ear. There should now be something similar with the Airpods Pro 3, writes Gurman. It is interesting, however, that Apple has so far not officially allowed the plugs for sports, for which heart rate measurement is actually intended – Apple may make sports booths out of the Airpods Pro 3 for the first time. Alternatively, the group could also market pulse tracking as a health function. However, if you already have an Apple Watch, you do not need the feature because the watch has already mastered this – and the data from iOS are even preferred.

In terms of sound, Gurman writes that he does not expect “big” improvements. It was actually expected that this would happen with Apple’s latest sound chip, probably called H3. According to critics, the Airpods Pro already have a good sound and excellent ANC, but all noise is still not filtered away. Gurman wants to have learned that the AirPods 3 will have an “improved design for a better seat” as well as changes in the charging housing. A buttonless touch operation is conceivable here.

Second model of Airpods Pro 3 already 2026?

Other fresh rumors for the Airpods Pro 3 come from Taiwan: The analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, equipped with good contacts in Apple’s supply chain, claims that there will be a second variant of the Airpods Pro 3 in the coming year, similar to how to know this from the AirPods 4 (there: with and without ANC). For an additional charge, there is a new version that has an integrated infrared camera for gesture control for the first time. Apple could then leave out the previous control over pressure sensors on the Airpods Pro itself.

The Chinese Apple Leaker Instant Digital, which was correct in the past, sees this in one Posting at the China short message service Weibo Similarly and thinks that in the second half of 2026 there will be two Airpods-Pro-3 models on the market at the same time. The variant with a mini infrared camera should then become even more expensive. Why Apple does not bring both models onto the market at the same time remains unclear. The Apple keynote, in which new iPhones are also expected, takes place today from 7 p.m. German time.