AirPods Pro 3 are among the best earbuds we’ve tested recently, and you can pick them up for $239.99 ($10 off) at Amazon. The small discount is notable because Apple’s latest earbuds have only been available for three days. In our tests, the AirPods Pro 3 were an improvement over their predecessor in three significant ways: fit, active noise cancelation performance, and audio quality.
Apple improved the AirPods Pro 3’s chances of staying securely in your ears by changing the shape of both the buds and tips to be more angled, so they fit more snugly. The tips have been infused with foam that expands slightly in your ear to create a better seal, and Apple includes a new XXS-sized tip to fit more ears. However, the tip is still primarily silicone, so it remains easy to clean and more comfortable to wear. I picked up a pair for myself (woefully, at full price), and have found they fit better than the AirPods Pro 2, especially once I twist them to secure the buds in place.
We tested the AirPods Pro 3’s active noise cancelling on a plane, in a room with people speaking, and at a concert, and the earbuds performed well all three times. They’re especially better at dampening high frequency sounds, like voices, than prior generations of AirPods Pro. When it came to audio quality, the AirPods Pro 3 delivered plenty of bass, better performance when listening to spatial audio music and movie soundtracks. Audio quality will always be subjective based on the sensitivity of your ears, preferred music genre, and how the tracks you listen to were mastered. We were impressed that the earbuds had 27 percent battery after roughly six hours of continual use with active noise canceling enabled, which aligned with Apple’s claims of eight hour battery life.
The AirPods Pro 3’s new feature is heart rate monitoring courtesy of a pair of sensors built into the buds. Your heart rate will be tracked, and the data will be sent to and stored in the Apple Health app. In our tests, the results were on par with the readings taken by a chest strap within five to 10 beats per minute, though the accuracy is dependent on how well they fit in your ears. The earbuds also sport an IP57 rating, which means they’re sweat resistant and workout friendly. Live Translation, a feature that launches alongside the AirPods Pro 3 but is also available on AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 was pretty accurate, though not perfect. Read our review.
