Apple AirPods Pro 3 Wireless Earbuds

​​The AirPods Pro 3 marks Apple’s latest entry in its premium in-ear headphone line. The design retains the familiar stem style, but with refinements in ergonomics, materials and internal hardware. With an Australian RRP of $429, they feature a vented in-ear fit and multiple silicone tip sizes, intended to balance secure sealing for good sound and noise cancellation without too much pressure. The case is compact and supports both MagSafe and Qi wireless charging, as well as fast wired charging via USB-C

One of the major improvements is in audio quality and adaptive performance. They include a more advanced audio driver and amplifier design that delivers a wider dynamic range, deeper bass and clearer mids. Noise cancellation is more effective through improved feedback and feedforward microphones, and there’s a new Adaptive Transparency mode that dynamically adjusts how much ambient sound is passed through, reducing harsh sounds like construction noise while preserving awareness of your surroundings.

Spatial Audio remains a key part of the experience, and the AirPods Pro 3 support dynamic head tracking, personalized spatial profiles, and spatial rendering even for stereo sources. For video content, the latency is reduced so the experience feels more in sync with what you see. If you move your head while wearing them, the soundstage attempts to hold steady in space.

In terms of connectivity, they use Apple’s latest H-series chip (an iteration beyond the H2 used in previous generations), offering lower latency, more efficient power use, and better integration with Apple device ecosystems (for seamless switching, Audio Sharing between two sets of AirPods, and Find My support). They also support Bluetooth LE Audio protocols, enhancing efficiency and audio quality at lower bitrates when devices support it.

Battery life has been improved. On a full charge, you can expect around 6 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) enabled, and up to 8 hours with ANC off or in Adaptive Transparency. The charging case provides additional full recharges, giving a combined total listening time of about 30 to 36 hours depending on usage patterns. A quick 5-minute charge gives roughly an hour of playback, which helps when you're in a hurry.

The AirPods Pro 3 include sweat and water resistance with an IPX4 rating, so they’re good for workouts, light rain or everyday use, though not suited for submersion. The case is similarly resistant to splashes and perspiration, but it’s not waterproof.

Gesture controls are well supported: you can press the stem to play, pause, skip or answer calls, and long presses let you switch between ANC, Transparency and Off modes. Press-and-hold or pinch gestures may activate volume adjustment (depending on settings). Siri is always available hands-free (on compatible devices), letting you request music, adjust volume, control smart home devices or get information.

In everyday use, what you’ll notice is how seamless the experience can become. The AirPods Pro 3 tend to switch cleanly between your iPhone, iPad or Mac as you move. Noise cancellation makes them great for commuting, flights or busy environments, while Adaptive Transparency helps when you want some ambient awareness. For calls, the microphones are tuned to focus on your voice, isolating wind and background noise better than before.

Soundstage and spatial audio shine during movies, games and immersive content — stereo tracks feel more three dimensional, and spatial cues are more convincing. The improvements in driver clarity and dynamic range mean music often feels richer and more detailed, especially on well-mastered tracks.

There are some trade-offs. If you push them hard (very loud or bass-heavy listening) battery life will shorten more rapidly. Because they use in-ear tips, proper fit is essential; a poor seal can blunt bass or reduce noise cancellation effectiveness. The IPX4 rating means they resist sweat and splashes but won’t survive being submerged.

All in all, the AirPods Pro 3 refine and extend many of the strengths of prior AirPods Pro models: better sound, smarter noise control, longer battery life and tighter integration in the Apple ecosystem. If you want, I can compare them side by side with earlier AirPods Pro or more affordable AirPods options so you can see what upgrades you’d actually hear in use.

This description was generated with the help of AI and last updated October 2025.