4 Reasons to Wait for AirPods Pro 3 & 3 Reasons Not To

In this guide we’ll take you through some reasons to consider waiting for the AirPods Pro 3. We’ll also go into reasons why you may want to pick up another set of buds long before they arrive.

If you’re in the market for a new set of earbuds, you’ll definitely want to take a long look at Apple’s AirPods Pro. They’re among the best wireless buds on the market and should definitely be on your shopping list if you want to upgrade in 2024.

Most people will be perfectly fine upgrading to a pair of AirPods Pro 2 or the previous generation this year, but some might want to wait for the new model.

We’ve heard a lot about upcoming Apple products, the rumored 2024 iPad Pros and iPhone 16 in particular. We’ve also heard about Apple’s plans for AirPods.

The company is reportedly working on a new version of the AirPods Pro. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the AirPods Pro 3 are in development, but their release is a long way out.

As development behind the scenes progresses, we should see numerous rumors outline the new AirPods Pro 3’s features and release.

AirPods Pro 3 rumors put those of you in the hunt for new buds in a tricky position. There are some great reasons to buy a new pair of earbuds right now, but there are also some great reasons to keep what you have and wait.

If you’re on the fence, we’ll try to help you make a decision in this guide.

Wait for Health Features

Apple’s working to deliver new health features in upcoming AirPods Pro models.

The company’s said it realizes the potential AirPods have in the health space so it should come as no surprise to learn that it’s currently working on upgrades.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s planning to launch new health features for AirPods sometime in the next couple of years.

Specifically, he says the company “intends to upgrade the AirPods to become a health tool in the next year or two.”

Gurman notes that the AirPods already have a feature called Live Listen which can turn an iPhone or another device into a directional microphone.

This can help you hear a conversation in noisy areas or even hear someone speaking across the room.

From Gurman’s report:

“I believe Apple intends to upgrade the AirPods to become a health tool in the next year or two, with the ability to get hearing data of some sort. The AirPods have long had a feature called Live Listen that can boost audio from across a room, making the earbuds sort of like a hearing aid.

This, of course, isn’t FDA approved and isn’t meant to function as a hearing aid replacement. But given Apple’s goal to make health one of its next big initiatives, I wouldn’t be surprised if the AirPods do eventually take on those functions more officially. That’s something that would help tens of millions of people, if not more.”

That would obviously be a huge upgrade for those with impaired hearing.

While these features could (and should) come to older models via software updates, Apple tends to keep some features exclusive to newer products. So don’t be surprised if the AirPods Pro 3 have some exclusive health-related features.

While these upgrades aren’t around the corner, it’s certainly worth keeping in mind as you decide what to do about your next pair of earbuds.

Wait for Performance Improvements

The AirPods Pro 2 offer a bunch of performance upgrades. Battery life improved, in-ear detection got better, as did Active Noise Cancellation.

We should see the AirPods Pro 3 offer stark improvements in these areas though we don’t have a ton of specifics at this point.

According to Gurman, the AirPods Pro 3 will come with a brand new chip. He hasn’t provided any details about said chip, but it’s safe to assume the new model will offer even better performance than the AirPods Pro 2.

The AirPods Pro 2 comes with Apple’s H2 chip so Apple will probably call the new chip the H3.

Wait for Design Changes

We could also see Apple improve their design.

The AirPods Pro 2 and the original AirPods Pro share the same design so don’t be surprised if Apple tweaks the design a bit. If you hate the look or feel of the current models, you might be in luck.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says a revamped design is coming to the AirPods Pro with the third-generation models though we don’t know what these changes entail.

Gurman says the AirPods Pro 3 design “hasn’t been finalized, but Apple is focusing on comfort.”

Another potential change could come to the AirPods case. Apple’s researching an AirPods case with a built-in touchscreen display. This would allow users to control audio and interact with apps.

This information comes from patent filings so there’s no guarantee it sees the light of day, but it’s certainly an interesting concept.

Wait for More Information

If you aren’t in any hurry to upgrade/replace your current pair of buds, you might want to wait for more information before making a decision to buy now or wait.

We fully expect more information about Apple’s plans to emerge in 2024. Leakers, analysts, and Apple insiders will release details as they get them and they should help paint a clearer picture as we move forward.

These leaks will help you set proper expectations and may ultimately help you decide if the AirPods Pro 3 are worth waiting for.

Don’t Wait If You Can’t Wait Until 2025

We should see new AirPods launch in 2024, but don’t expect the AirPods Pro 3. So that begs the question: When will the AirPods Pro 3 get released? Answer: Probably not for a while.

Apple launched the AirPods Pro 2 in 2022 and given what we know about their release cycle, the AirPods Pro 3 release date is probably a couple of years away.

The AirPods Pro 2 arrived three years after the original AirPods Pro launched. If Apple keeps the same protocol, we could be looking at an AirPods Pro 3 arrival in 2025 or 2026.

Gurman believes the AirPods Pro 3 release is currently set for 2025, but that could obviously change during development.

He’s reiterated this timing and says the device is “coming as soon as next year.”

So while we should see some significant upgrades on board the third-generation AirPods Pro, many people will probably want to buy something else in the meantime.

Don’t Wait for AirPods Deals

It used to be that you’d have to wait for Apple to launch new products to see major price cuts on current-generation devices. That’s no longer the case.

We can’t make this clearer: You do not have to wait for the AirPods Pro 3 launch to save money on a pair of AirPods Pro 2, other AirPods models, or AirPods alternatives.

We’ve seen retailers slash the price of the AirPods Pro 2 and we expect to see more price cuts as the year goes on.

There’s no reason to pay full price for a pair of AirPods unless you really want to buy from Apple directly. So make sure you shop around.

Don’t Wait If You Find Buds You Really Like

We’ve got a long way to go before the AirPods Pro 3 hit shelves. If you find a pair of headphones you really love in the months ahead, don’t let rumors hold you back.

You don’t need to sign a contract or pick a carrier for a pair of buds so you have a lot more leeway when it comes to upgrading.

There are a number of excellent earbuds on shelves right now including the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 3, and AirPods Max if you decide you want over-the-ear headphones.

There are also plenty of AirPods alternatives out there with more to come. Some of our favorites include the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the JBL Live Pro+ TWS.

Research and shop around and you find something you like long before Apple launches the AirPods Pro 3.