AirPods Pro 3: H3 chip, $249 — full specs and what's new vs AirPods Pro 2

Apple is widely expected to announce the AirPods Pro 3 at the September 9, 2026 keynote alongside the iPhone 18 lineup, with on-sale date around September 19-26, 2026. The AirPods Pro 3 will feature the new H3 chip for improved active noise cancellation and audio processing, a smaller charging case with non-touch controls, and USB-C charging. US starting price: $249 (same as AirPods Pro 2 launch in 2022). Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has been tracking the H3 chip since early 2026.

AirPods Pro 3 — quick specs

Spec	AirPods Pro 3	AirPods Pro 2 (for comparison)
Chip	Apple H3	Apple H2
Active noise cancellation	Improved (estimated 2x H2)	Up to 2x original AirPods Pro
Transparency mode	Adaptive	Standard
Audio	Lossless audio, Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking, Adaptive EQ	Lossless with Vision Pro, Personalized Spatial Audio, Adaptive EQ
Drivers	New custom Apple-designed driver	Custom high-excursion Apple driver
Battery (earbuds)	~6 hours ANC on (rumored)	~6 hours ANC on
Battery (with case)	~30 hours total	~30 hours total
Case charging	USB-C, MagSafe, Qi	USB-C, MagSafe, Qi
Case controls	Non-touch (capacitive buttons)	Touch controls
Water resistance (earbuds)	IP54	IP54
Sensors	Skin-detect, motion-detect, optical in-ear	Skin-detect, motion-detect, optical in-ear
Hearing health	Loud Sound Reduction, Conversation Boost, hearing test	Loud Sound Reduction, Conversation Boost
Price	$249	$249 (2022), $199 (2023 discounted)

AirPods Pro 3 — what's new vs AirPods Pro 2?

Five expected material changes:

1. H3 chip — Apple's third-generation AirPods SoC. The H3 enables better real-time audio processing, more effective ANC, and improved computational audio features like Adaptive Transparency. Apple has used H-series chips since AirPods Pro 2 (H2) and AirPods 4 (H2).
2. 2x ANC improvement — Apple's claim for Pro 2 was "up to 2x" the original AirPods Pro. The Pro 3 is expected to push another ~2x improvement through H3 and redesigned microphones.
3. Smaller charging case — the Pro 3 case shrinks further with the removal of touch controls. Bloomberg reports the case will be roughly the size of an AirPods 4 case with a USB-C port.
4. Non-touch controls on case — replaces the touch-control surface on the Pro 2 case with a single physical button. Likely to reduce accidental media playback when the case is in a pocket.
5. Better Adaptive Transparency — Apple's Transparency mode automatically lowers sudden loud noises while keeping ambient sound clear. Pro 3 reportedly adapts more intelligently to environments like concerts or construction zones.

Apple has not confirmed specific audio quality benchmarks for Pro 3 yet. Bloomberg's August 2026 reporting suggests the audio driver is the same custom high-excursion unit as Pro 2, with H3 doing the heavy lifting in signal processing.

How much will AirPods Pro 3 cost?

US pricing for AirPods Pro 3 is expected to start at $249, matching the AirPods Pro 2 launch price in 2022.

Configuration	US price (expected)
AirPods Pro 3 with MagSafe Case (USB-C)	$249
AirPods Pro 3 with MagSafe Case (USB-C) + AppleCare+	$279 ($30 for 2-year coverage)
AirPods Pro 2 (refurbished, after Pro 3 launch)	~$179-$199

Apple has held the $249 price point on AirPods Pro since 2022 despite inflation. Bloomberg's August 2026 reporting does not indicate a price increase for Pro 3.

Outside the US, prices will be roughly: €279 in Europe, £249 in UK, ¥24,800 in Japan, A$399 in Australia. Currency conversions track roughly with Apple's global pricing pattern.

When is the AirPods Pro 3 release date?

Expected: Friday, September 19, 2026 (10 days after the September 9 keynote), matching Apple's pattern of putting AirPods launches on the same Friday as the iPhone on-sale date.

Event	Date
Keynote announcement	Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Pre-order opens	Friday, September 11 or Saturday, September 12, 2026
On-sale date	Friday, September 19, 2026
First reviews	Tuesday, September 15, 2026 (typical 4-day embargo)
In-store demo units	Friday, September 19, 2026

AirPods Pro launches have followed a 7-14 day gap from announcement to on-sale since AirPods Pro (2019). The 10-day window for Pro 3 aligns with the iPhone 18 on-sale pattern.

What does the H3 chip do differently from H2?

The H3 is Apple's third-generation audio SoC for AirPods. It builds on the H2 (used in AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4) with three expected improvements:

1. Better ANC processing — the H3 has more headroom for computational audio, enabling wider noise-cancellation bandwidth and better low-frequency handling (engine noise, airplane rumble).
2. Improved computational audio — Adaptive EQ, Personalized Spatial Audio, and Conversation Boost all require real-time signal processing. The H3 is expected to handle these with lower latency and less battery impact.
3. Better Bluetooth efficiency — Apple has paired H-series chips with newer Bluetooth standards. The H3 likely supports Bluetooth 5.4 or 5.5 with LE Audio improvements.

Apple hasn't disclosed exact transistor counts or process nodes for H-series chips. The H2 was built on a 7nm process; H3 is likely 5nm or 4nm.

Does AirPods Pro 3 work with iPhone 18?

Yes. AirPods Pro 3 pairs with iPhone XS or later running iOS 26 or later. Pairing with iPhone 18 is supported out of the box via the standard one-tap AirPods pop-up.

Key iPhone 18 + AirPods Pro 3 features:

• Lossless audio — AirPods Pro 3 + iPhone 18 supports Apple Music's lossless tier over a future software update (currently Apple Vision Pro is the only device with lossless AirPods support).
• Personalized Spatial Audio — uses iPhone 18's TrueDepth camera to scan your ears and tune the spatial audio profile. Setup happens during the AirPods pairing flow.
• Find My integration — iPhone 18 can locate AirPods Pro 3 case and earbuds via the Find My app, with the new Ultra Wideband chip enabling precision finding.
• Hearing Health — AirPods Pro 3 hearing test results and Conversation Boost settings sync to the iPhone 18 Health app.
• Camera Remote — use AirPods Pro 3 as a remote shutter for iPhone 18 camera (long-press the stem to trigger).

For iPhone 18 buyers considering AirPods Pro 3, the bundle is a natural fit. Apple's deep integration of AirPods with iPhone makes the combination better than AirPods + Android.

AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods 4 — which should I buy?

AirPods Pro 3 has the H3 chip and active noise cancellation in silicone-tipped earbuds. AirPods 4 (released September 2024) has the H2 chip and is open-ear (no silicone tips) with optional ANC.

Use case	Recommended
Air travel, public transit, gyms	AirPods Pro 3 (better ANC, in-ear seal)
Office / casual use, dislike silicone tips	AirPods 4 (open-ear, more comfortable)
Budget under $150	AirPods 4 (cheaper)
iPhone 18 Pro buyer wanting best audio	AirPods Pro 3 (best match)
Hearing aids / accessibility	AirPods Pro 3 (better Conversation Boost)

AirPods 4 starts at $129 (no ANC) or $179 (with ANC). AirPods Pro 3 at $249 is $70-$120 more but offers significantly better ANC and a more secure in-ear fit.

Should I buy AirPods Pro 3 at launch or wait?

Buy at launch if:

• You're upgrading from original AirPods Pro (2019) or AirPods 2/3 — major jump in ANC, audio quality, and features
• You want the latest H3 chip for future-proofing (Apple typically supports AirPods with new features for 4-5 years)
• You commute, fly, or work in noisy environments — the ANC improvement is the main reason to upgrade
• You want USB-C + MagSafe + Qi in a single case

Wait 3-6 months if:

• You have AirPods Pro 2 (2022) — incremental upgrade, not essential
• You can wait for a sale — AirPods Pro 3 will likely see $20-$30 off at retailers (Best Buy, Target) within 3-6 months of launch, and Apple Refurbished will carry returns at 15% off by March 2027
• You're considering AirPods Pro 3 vs Vision Pro 2 — Pro 3 pairs better with Vision Pro for spatial audio, but if you don't own either, prioritize iPhone 18 first

For the cheapest AirPods Pro 3 path, Apple Refurbished is the best deal once stock arrives. For trade-in, Apple offers up to $75 for AirPods Pro 2 in good condition.

Does AirPods Pro 3 support heart rate monitoring?

Apple has not announced heart rate or temperature sensors in AirPods Pro 3. AirPods Pro 2 added skin-detect sensors (which detect if the earbud is in your ear) but no biometric monitoring. AirPods Max 2 (also rumored for 2026) is more likely to get health sensors.

The H3 chip could enable health monitoring in future AirPods Pro models, but it's not a launch feature for AirPods Pro 3. For heart rate, Apple Watch remains the better sensor.

AirPods Pro 3 hearing health features

Three accessibility features inherited from Pro 2:

1. Loud Sound Reduction — automatically reduces sudden loud noises while keeping Transparency mode clear. Useful for concerts, construction zones.
2. Conversation Boost — focuses the microphones on the person in front of you during face-to-face conversations.
3. Hearing Test — Apple Watch + AirPods Pro can run a clinical-grade hearing test, with results stored in the Health app.

Apple is positioning AirPods Pro as a hearing-health product, not just earbuds. The iPhone 18 Health app integrates hearing test results, audiograms, and environmental noise exposure over time. The H3 chip enables more accurate environmental sound analysis.

For full coverage of Apple's fall 2026 product lineup, see our iPhone 18 pre-launch summary. For the iPhone 18 + AirPods Pro 3 bundle decision, see our buy iPhone 18 FAQ.