AirPods
When Will Apple Release AirPods Pro 3?
Apple’s reportedly working on new AirPods Pro 3 and that has consumers wondering about their release date.
Rumored AirPods Pro 3 upgrades include a brand new chip and changes to the design that may offer better comfort.
Rumors have also hinted at the AirPods Pro 3 release window and it looks like we’ll probably have to wait awhile for the new model to land on shelves. This shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Apple released the second-generation AirPods Pro, or AirPods Pro 2, in 2022. And given what we know about the AirPods Pro release cycle, the AirPods Pro 3 release date is almost certainly a ways off.
The AirPods Pro 2 launched three years after the original AirPods Pro. If Apple keeps the same protocol, we could be looking at an arrival in 2025.
Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman believes the AirPods Pro 3 release is currently set for 2025. That window isn’t set in stone and could certainly change if the device needs more time.
Leaker Kosutami, who has released accurate details about unreleased Apple products in the past, claims the AirPods Pro 3 could arrive “soon.” What soon means, we aren’t sure.
Assuming development goes according to plan, and Apple’s able to stick with a 2025 launch, when would the AirPods 3 release date land?
Allow us to help you set proper expectations if we look back at the device’s launch history.
Apple uses three windows to launch new hardware: spring, summer, and fall. And if you take a peek at the last two AirPods Pro launches, you’ll notice a trend.
The original AirPods Pro launched on October 30th back in 2019. The second-generation model arrived on September 23rd back in 2022.
In 2023, Apple released an updated version of the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C support. The new model launched on September 22nd.
While there’s no guarantee Apple sticks with the same timing in 2025, there’s a good chance the AirPods Pro 3 release date lands in the fall window in 2025. Either in September or October.
That’s obviously a long way out. So if you’re in the market for a new pair of buds, you’ll have to go with another device. Fortunately, you’ve got plenty of options.
Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 are the obvious alternatives, but you’ll also want to take a look at the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the JBL Live Pro+ TWS.
Wait for Health Features | ||||||||
We haven't heard a whole lot about the third-generation AirPods Pro, but one thing we've heard is that Apple's working to deliver new health features in upcoming models. Apple's said that 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. | ||||||||