AirPods Pro 3 review: sweat, translate, repeat

Apple launched its new product lineup on September 9, 2025, including the long-awaited AirPods Pro 3. Apple says these new Pro-level earbuds provide “the ultimate audio experience” and that they have the “world’s best in-ear Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)” — these are pretty big claims to make, but these earbuds might just measure up.

AirPods Pro 3 are a major upgrade

✨ The AirPods Pro 3 takes the entire AirPods Pro line to a whole new level at a similar price point. Keeping the starting price of $249.00, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 seriously steps up their sound game, with better quality overall and 4x more Active Noise Cancellation than the original AirPods Pro model. They also offer a better, more stable fit, making intense physical activities like workouts much more comfortable. The AirPods Pro 3 also gets an extended battery life and improved health features. With a similar price point to other Pro models, this model is leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessors.

Why you can trust this AirPods Pro 3 review

At Back Market, we live and breathe tech, and we’ve got our finger on the pulse of all tech news, including that of Apple’s most recent keynote. Not only have we paid close attention to the announcements and new releases, but we also know Apple’s tech inside and out.

That’s right. We partner with certified third-party refurbishers who work with Apple tech daily, including various AirPods models. They examine, clean, repair, and test dozens of AirPods every day, so they know the ins and outs of how they work and what could be improved upon.

In this AirPods Pro 3 review, we’ve combined our in-depth knowledge of and hands-on experience with AirPods with what’s been revealed during Apple’s recent keynote to bring you expert insights on the newest tech. That’s why you can trust Back Market when it comes to the scoop on the newest AirPods Pro model.

Apple AirPods Pro 3: The bottom line

💗💗💗💗💗 5/5: An unmatched in-ear listening experience

With the AirPods Pro 3, Apple aims to take the AirPods Pro to the next level, and they seem to have succeeded. This quote from Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering John Ternus says it all:

“With AirPods Pro 3, the most popular headphones take a massive leap forward, providing fantastic sound quality and the world’s best ANC of any in-ear wireless headphones. Combined with an improved fit that provides greater stability for even more people, heart rate sensing, extended battery life, and Live Translation enabled by Apple Intelligence, AirPods Pro 3 take personal audio to the next level.”

The AirPods Pro 3 deliver better sound quality with a new multiport acoustic architecture and next-gen Adaptive EQ, allowing for better bass and sound clarity. Foam-infused ear tips and ultra-low noise microphones work together to provide an impressive Active Noise Cancelling experience.

The new in-ear design also fits more people than ever, and the earbuds get a rating of IP57 for sweat and water resistance, allowing them to stay put during workouts. Speaking of workouts, the AirPods Pro 3 have a built-in heart rate sensor — yes, you no longer need your watch to track your workouts if you’re using the AirPods Pro 3.

AirPods Pro 3 get Live Translation features in five languages, with four more expected by the end of the year. This model also improves upon Hearing Protection technology and has a slightly longer battery life than previous models.

✨ The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are a major upgrade from previous AirPods Pro models with better sound and ANC, a new, better-fitting design, health features, and Live Translation. All this comes with a slightly extended battery life.

AirPods Pro 3 specs

Now that this highly anticipated new version of AirPods Pro has been announced, we can share the specs that Apple revealed during their keynote. We’ll summarize them here so you can decide if these might be worth the order (or pre-order) once they’re released.

• Chip: H2

• Size of earbuds: 1.22 in x 0.76 in x 1.06 in

• Weight of earbuds: 0.20 oz

• Size of case: 1.86 in x 2.45 in x 0.86 in

• Weight of case: 1.55 oz

• Battery life: Up to 8 hours with ANC enabled

• Charging: MagSafe Charging Case (USB‑C), 5 minutes in the case provides about an hour of listening time

• Health features: Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, Hearing Protection, heart rate sensor for workouts

• Durability: Dust, sweat, and water resistance rating of IP57

• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3

• Audio tech: Up to 4x more ANC than AirPods Pro, Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, Voice Isolation, Conversation Awareness, Adaptive EQ

✨ The specs of the AirPods Pro 3 are an upgrade on the already excellent AirPods Pro 2.

AirPods Pro 3 features and benefits

Now that you’ve got the specs, let’s dive into each of these features more in-depth to understand exactly what they can do for you.

Design: A better fit

At first glance, the AirPods Pro 3 don’t look very different from the AirPods Pro 2. However, Apple is calling them “the most secure and the best-fitting AirPods ever.” Apple reportedly used thousands of ear scans and user experience research to make the earbuds themselves a bit smaller, and the tips have been geometrically aligned to the center of the body for more stability. Apple has also added XXS to the size options for the foam-infused ear tips, in addition to the already available XS, S, M, and L.

But does this change really help? Apparently, yes. According to Tom’s Guide, “hands-on, the changes are noticeable. They’re smaller, lighter, and more comfortable.” The AirPods Pro 3 also get a dust, sweat, and water resistance rating of IP57 compared to the Pro 2’s IP54, making them even more durable. These subtle improvements actually make a big difference, especially during intense physical activities like running.

Case-wise, Apple has stuck with the classic MagSafe USB-C charging case, which is now a little bigger, but has invisible touch pairing controls on the front similar to that of the AirPods 4.

✨ The AirPods Pro 3’s design changes may not be noticeable at first glance, but they’ll make a huge difference once you place them in your ear. They’re more comfortable, stable, and durable than previous AirPods Pro generations.

Audio technology: A major sound upgrade

The AirPods Pro 2 already provide excellent audio quality, but the AirPods Pro 3 take this a step further. The new model promises 2x the Active Noise Cancellation of the AirPods Pro 2 (and 4x that of the original AirPods Pro). This is an impressive feat. To accomplish this, Apple has combined ultra-low noise microphones with advanced computational audio. The new physical design also helps with ANC — the new foam-infused ear tips (provided you’re wearing the right size) assist in even more passive noise cancellation.

The new multiport acoustic architecture within the earbuds also helps to provide a more spatial listening experience, widening the soundstage and providing more clarity. Bass and sound textures are also improved, while voice clarity is more natural than ever before.

​​​​​These improvements in sound quality also improve the Live Translation feature. Better ANC allows for an easier listening experience, and the overall translation is now assisted by AI.

✨ New and improved internal architecture provides some of the best in-ear ANC out there and provides a well-rounded listening experience.

Live Translation: A new way to communicate

One of the most significant upgrades that the AirPods Pro 3 gets is the addition of Live Translation. This feature, enabled by Apple Intelligence, allows you to converse with people even when you’re speaking two different languages. You can use this capability hands-free — that’s right, whatever the other person is saying to you will be automatically translated through your AirPods Pro so you can listen and respond naturally and in real time.

In order to use this feature, you will need to have the latest iOS (iOS 26), have Apple Intelligence turned on, and have the Apple Translate app on your iPhone. Once all these things are active, you’re good to start chatting. If both people in the conversation have AirPods, you can listen and respond easily, using nothing but your own words and your AirPods. If the other person doesn’t have AirPods, however, you can pull out your phone and open your Apple Translate app for a live transcription of what you’re saying translated into the other person’s language. You can still listen to the translation through your own AirPods in this case.

In this way, the new Live Translation feature on the AirPods Pro 3 allows you to understand and communicate with people who don’t speak the same language more easily than ever before.

✨ The Apple AirPods Pro 3’s new AI-enabled Live Translation feature allows for easier and more conversations between those who don’t speak the same language.

Battery life: A slight improvement over the previous model

Along with the rest of the upgrades that come with the AirPods Pro 3, we also get extended battery life. The AirPods Pro 3 can last up to eight hours on a single charge with ANC switched on, compared to the Pro 2’s six hours. In Transparency mode, you can get up to 10 hours of battery life — a 67% improvement over the previous generation. However, it’s important to mention that using the heart rate sensor during workouts can cut into the AirPods Pro 3 battery life, leading to a listening time of about 6.5 hours on a single charge.

Similar to the AirPods Pro 2 charging case, the AirPods Pro 3 charging case can provide up to 24 hours of listening time with ANC enabled, and just five minutes in the case provides an hour of listening time.

✨ The AirPods Pro 3 last about two hours longer than the previous generation on a single charge with ANC enabled.

Health features: A new in-ear heart-rate sensor

The AirPods Pro 2 already had a few health features — most notably, Hearing Protection. The AirPods Pro 3 get all the same Hearing Protection features as the AirPods Pro 2, but thanks to better ANC, the experience is much better with the new model. Conversation Boost, which reduces background noise for Hearing Aid users, has also been made automatic, allowing for easier conversations.

The standout health feature that has been newly added to the AirPods Pro 3, though, is the heart rate sensor, which can be used during workouts. These earbuds have Apple’s smallest built-in heart rate sensor that measures infrared light absorption during blood flow so users can track their heart rate and calories burned during workouts, all without the help of the Apple Watch. With these AirPods connected directly to your phone, you can track up to 50 workouts in the Fitness app. These health-tracking capabilities combined with the more stable fit and higher durability rating make these some of the best in-ear headphones on the market for workouts.

✨ The AirPods Pro 3 adds a heart rate sensor so you can track your workouts without an Apple Watch, making these the best in-ear headphones for workouts.

AirPods Pro 3 pros and cons

Now that you understand the features and benefits of the latest AirPods Pro 3, let’s break down the simple pros and cons of these new earbuds.

✨ The Apple AirPods Pro 3 certainly have more pros than cons, making them a worthwhile upgrade for the same price point as previous generations.

AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Pro 2

You now understand exactly what the AirPods Pro 3 have to offer. But are they really that much better than the AirPods Pro 2? That’s a great question, and it’s up to you to decide the answer. Whether the AirPods Pro 3 are worth the upgrade from the Pro 2s will largely depend on your priorities and needs.

In short, the AirPods Pro 3 are better for fitness enthusiasts and those who are sticklers about audio quality. The new earbuds will be particularly useful for those who often work in busy or noisy environments thanks to the increased ANC quality. The AirPods Pro 2, however, are still great earbuds. Their ANC quality is still one of the best on the market, and the battery life isn’t bad either. If you’re not concerned about using your earbuds to track your workouts and you’re satisfied with the sound quality of the AirPods Pro 2, it may not be worth the upgrade.

Let’s compare the specs side by side to help you make your decision.

As you can see from this table, many of the specs are the same, including the chip, connectivity, and most of the audio technology. The most notable differences here are the ANC, the durability, the heart rate sensor for workouts, and the physical design of the earbuds themselves. One Reddit user sums it up perfectly:

“I get that the 3 main things that people want most out of new AirPods are better sound quality, better ANC, and better battery life, all of which Apple claims to have improved upon, but I want to nitpick a few things. I was kind of surprised that they're still using the same H2 chip after 3 years, which means it still uses Bluetooth 5.3 instead of Bluetooth 6, which the iPhone 17 line now has.”

What the Reddit user is nitpicking here is very valid, but these aspects of the new AirPods Pro 3 may not be important to all users. This will come down to your personal preference.

Shopping tips for AirPods Pro 3

Before springing for the latest tech in the AirPods Pro 3, it’s a good idea to consider your needs as well as a few shopping tips to help you save money. First, consider what features are most important to you in a pair of earbuds. Are ANC and health tracking your top priorities? If so, you may want to purchase the AirPods Pro 3. If you’re already satisfied with a pair of AirPods Pro 2, though, you may not need to make the switch just yet.

You can also wait for sales events like Black Friday or Cyber Monday, when you could get new tech at a lower price, or even bundle it with other tech for better deals.

Finally, consider buying refurbished at Back Market and take advantage of our promo codes. While they may lack next-level ANC and health tracking, the AirPods Pro 2 are still some of the best in-ear headphones on the market today. If you don’t want to break the bank but you’re looking for quality earbuds, opt for a refurbished pair of AirPods Pro 2 from Back Market.

✨ The AirPods Pro 3 might be the best choice if you're looking for features like ANC and health tracking. Also consider checking sales events like Black Friday or Cyber Monday for greater deals.

Why buy refurbished?

Buying refurbished AirPods Pro 3, or any other earbuds, comes with a whole slew of benefits over buying new. First, and perhaps most obviously, you’ll be saving money. The price of refurbished goods at Back Market is usually much more affordable compared to the price of brand-new technology. And if you’re worried about the functionality of these refurbished items, don’t be. We sell Verified Refurbisheddevices, so each item you see on our pages has gone through extensive checks, repairs, cleanings, and tests before being listed online. As a result, you can be sure your device has been restored to 100% functionality.

Another pro of buying refurbished is that it’s better for the environment. By giving electronics a second life, you keep them from ending up in landfills as e-waste and you disrupt the need for new manufacturing. Not only is buying refurbished good for your wallet; it’s also good for the planet.

But don’t take it from us — take it from this satisfied Back Market customer who got the AirPods Pro 2 from us:

“Just received them and the shipping was super fast. Everything works perfectly and I’m so happy I bought these. The case has a couple of tiny scratches that are barely noticeable unless you have it really close to your eye. I would definitely recommend buying from them again!!”

Since the AirPods Pro 3 have just been launched, it admittedly may be a little while before we’re able to list refurbished pairs on our pages. However, there are still plenty of other earbuds to choose from, including the AirPods Pro 2. You can also browse our collection of other headphones, including those from Bose, Sony, and others.

Trade in your old tech for cash

To help offset the cost of a new or refurbished pair of AirPods Pro 3, you can trade in your old tech via Back Market’s Trade-in program. It’s simple. First, just fill in a short online form with details about your device, and receive a quote from one of our professional refurbishers. Should you accept the quote, you can ship your device to us for free. Once it’s been received and verified, you get paid.

You can opt for cash in your pocket or credit in your Back Market account, so you can put this toward the cost of a new pair of earbuds.

Price of Apple AirPods Pro

We’ve put together a price comparison so you can see exactly how much a new pair of AirPods Pro 3 will cost you compared to other models, as well as the price of new versus the price of refurbished at Back Market. The savings may surprise you.

*Back Market prices taken at the date of publication — these are subject to change.

AirPods Pro 3 review: Final thoughts

In our opinion, all the hoopla surrounding the release of the AirPods Pro 3 is justified — these new earbuds take the already excellent features of the AirPods Pro 2 and improve upon them even further. With better ANC, features that assist in workout tracking and stability, extended battery life, and a similar price point to previous generations, the purchase of AirPods Pro 3 is a no-brainer, especially if you’reupgrading from the first AirPods Pro or earbuds from a different brand.

However, it may not be worth making the switch for everyone. For example, if you already have the AirPods Pro 2 and you’re not particularly concerned about health tracking, you may want to hold out on the AirPods Pro 3.

If you’re looking for something comparable but more affordable, consider refurbished AirPods Pro 2 from Back Market, or the AirPods 4. These alternatives are great entry points for those who aren’tinterested in springing for new tech right away. No matter what you choose, we’re sure you can find a pair of earphones to fit your needs on Back Market.