Apple AirPods Pro 3
Are the AirPods Pro 3 right for you?
The AirPods Pro 3 are Apple's in-ear Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancelling.
Best for
- Earbuds with active noise cancelling. Apple lists Active Noise Cancellation, plus a Transparency mode for when you want to hear what's around you.
Skip if
- You want a charging cable in the box. Apple says the USB‑C charge cable is sold separately.
Want to see them next to a keyboard and a mouse? Try them on the QuickDesker board and build a whole desk setup around them.
What do they cost, and what should you check first?
- Seen at Apple.com for $249.00 (AirPods Pro 3) on 1 Nov 2026
- Seen at Best Buy for $249.99 (AirPods Pro 3) on 1 Nov 2026
Prices change, so check the current one before you buy. In the box: the AirPods Pro 3, a MagSafe Charging Case (USB‑C) with speaker and lanyard loop, silicone ear tips in five sizes (XXS, XS, S, M, L) and documentation. Apple says the case works with a MagSafe charger, an Apple Watch charger, Qi‑certified chargers or a USB‑C connector.
Apple rates the earbuds and the charging case dust, sweat, and water resistant (IP57).
What do the AirPods Pro 3's noise controls do?
Apple lists Active Noise Cancellation and a Transparency mode. Active noise cancelling uses microphones and an opposing sound signal to reduce steady background noise, while a transparency mode does the reverse and lets outside sound in on purpose.
Apple says the ear tips are now rotated inward for a more secure fit, and that a new layer of foam-infused microspheres increases noise cancellation. It also says the earbuds can detect when you're talking to someone nearby and lower the volume of what you're listening to.
There's more on how cancelling differs from transparency in our guide: What “noise cancelling” actually means on a headphone box.
How long do the AirPods Pro 3 last on a charge?
Apple quotes up to 8 hours of listening time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation enabled, or up to 7.5 hours with Spatial Audio and Head Tracking enabled. With the charging case it quotes up to 24 hours with cancelling on. Figures like these come from the maker's own test settings, so your volume and the features you use change what you get.
Apple also quotes up to 6.5 hours with heart rate sensing during workouts, and up to 10 hours in Transparency using the Hearing Aid feature.
Apple says 5 minutes in the case provides around 1 hour of listening time.
What do reviewers say?
Two reviews looked at the microphones. One found microphone performance highly dependent on the connected device; another found it better during calls than the previous generation.
Apple lists dual beamforming microphones and says the AirPods Pro 3 reduce background noise and isolate voices during calls.
Full specifications
| How it is worn | in-ear |
|---|---|
| Connections | Bluetooth 5.3 wireless technology |
| Active noise cancelling | Active Noise Cancellation |
| Battery life | Up to 8 hours of listening time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation enabled (up to 7.5 hours with Spatial Audio and Head Tracking enabled) |
| Weight | 0.20 ounce (5.55 grams) |
| Transparency / ambient mode | Transparency mode |
| Microphone noise reduction | reduce background noise and isolate voices during calls |
| Battery life with case | Up to 24 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation enabled |
| Microphone | Dual beamforming microphones |
| Water resistance | Dust, sweat, and water resistant (IP57): AirPods Pro and charging case |
| Spatial audio | Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking |
| Charging port | Works with MagSafe charger, Apple Watch charger, Qi‑certified chargers, or USB‑C connector (Charging Case) |
| Quick charge, as quoted | 5 minutes in the case provides around 1 hour of listening time |
| Dimensions | Height: 1.22 inches (30.9 mm); Width: 0.76 inch (19.2 mm); Depth: 1.06 inches (27.0 mm) |
| In the box | AirPods Pro 3, MagSafe Charging Case (USB‑C) with speaker and lanyard loop, Silicone ear tips (five sizes: XXS, XS, S, M, L), Documentation |
Specifications from Apple's AirPods Pro 3 tech specs page and AirPods Pro 3 product page, read 17 Sep 2026.