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Buying guide · Electronics

AirPods Pro 3

AirPods Pro 3: what's new, who should upgrade, and what needs an iPhone

What AirPods Pro 3 add (heart rate sensing, IP57, longer battery with noise cancellation), which features need a recent iPhone, how the Hearing Aid feature works, and when your current earbuds are enough.

Updated October 25, 2026

Short answer

Buy AirPods Pro 3 if you use an iPhone and want strong noise cancellation, workout heart rate tracking and IP57 water resistance in one pair. Apple lists up to 8 hours of listening with noise cancellation, or 24 hours with the case. Many features need a recent iPhone: heart rate sensing needs iOS 26 or later. On Android they work as Bluetooth earbuds but lose most of what makes them worth the price.

At a glance

The products this guide covers, each with its own review.

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What's new in this generation

Apple calls AirPods Pro 3 the first AirPods with an IP57 rating for the earbuds and case, and adds a heart rate sensor for workouts in the Fitness app and compatible apps. The Amazon listing says noise cancellation removes up to twice as much noise as AirPods Pro 2.

Figures from Apple's AirPods Pro 3 tech specs; "Good for" is PriceDropIQ's judgment.
AirPods Pro 3
Listening time with noise cancellationUp to 8 hours (24 with case)
Water and dustIP57, earbuds and case
Heart rateDuring workouts, iPhone with iOS 26 or later
Good foriPhone owners who commute, travel and work out

The iPhone question

AirPods connect to any Bluetooth device, but the features that set them apart are built for Apple's devices. Heart rate sensing needs an iPhone running iOS 26 or later, and the hearing tools need a compatible iPhone or iPad. If you use Android, open-ear or other noise-cancelling earbuds give you more for the money.

For running or cycling near traffic, an open-ear headset that leaves your ears uncovered is the other option. Shokz's OpenRun Pro 2 wraps behind your head and rests in front of the ears; Shokz lists up to 12 hours of battery, and it works the same with iPhone and Android.

Read our Shokz OpenFit 2 reviewRead our Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 review

Hearing Aid feature

Apple says its Hearing Aid feature has FDA authorization for adults 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. It works with AirPods Pro 2 or later and needs iOS 18 or later on a compatible iPhone or iPad. With the feature on in Transparency mode, Apple lists up to 10 hours of battery. It isn't a substitute for a hearing test.

Before you buy

  • Check your iPhone's iOS version if you want heart rate sensing.
  • Make sure the listing says AirPods Pro 3, not Pro 2 or AirPods 4.
  • Check that the seller is Amazon.com or Apple.
  • Apple notes water resistance can decrease with normal wear.

Who benefits, who should skip, and when what you have is enough

  • Worth buying: you use an iPhone and want one pair for commuting, travel and workouts.
  • Skip: you use Android, or you need to hear traffic while running (open-ear is safer).
  • What you have may be enough: if your AirPods Pro 2 still hold a charge and you don't need heart rate or IP57, the upgrade is small.
Read our AirPods Pro 3 review

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Sources and how we checked

Battery, IP57, heart rate and Hearing Aid details come from Apple's AirPods Pro 3 tech specs and product pages (read October 14, 2026); the noise-cancellation comparison is from the Amazon listing. The "good for" judgments are PriceDropIQ's. We have not tested these earbuds.