Our verdict: The Apple AirPods Pro 3 ranks 2nd of the 10 wireless earbuds we compare, with 9.7 out of 10.
Apple AirPods Pro 3
9.7/10
The AirPods Pro 3 are Apple's in-ear noise cancelling earbuds with heart rate sensing and a MagSafe case. They suit iPhone owners most, since many of the extras need an Apple device.
Each bar shows where it places among the 10 wireless earbuds in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. What the review sites say counts for most of the score.
What review sites say2nd of 10
How happy owners are1st of 10
How new it is4th of 10
Why it sits behind the Sony WF-1000XM6
The Sony WF-1000XM6 (9.8) beats the Apple AirPods Pro 3 (9.7) because it does clearly better with the review sites. The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leaves owners clearly happier, but not by enough to close the gap.
About the Apple AirPods Pro 3
The AirPods Pro 3 use Apple's H2 chip and connect over Bluetooth 5.3. Apple says they remove up to twice as much noise as the AirPods Pro 2, using new ultra-low-noise microphones. Adaptive Audio blends noise cancelling with Transparency mode. Each bud weighs 5.55 g, and the case weighs 43.99 g.
Fit comes from five silicone tip sizes (XXS, XS, S, M and L). The tips now have a foam layer inside the silicone shell. Each bud has a heart rate sensor: LEDs pulse invisible light 256 times a second, and the earbuds track heart rate and calories across up to 50 workout types in the Fitness app. That needs an iPhone running iOS 26 or later. The buds are rated IP57 for dust, sweat and water, though not for water sports.
Battery is up to 8 hours per charge with noise cancelling on, and up to 24 hours in total with the case. Five minutes in the case gives about an hour of listening. The MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C) has a built-in speaker, a lanyard loop and Precision Finding. It charges from a MagSafe charger, a Qi charger, an Apple Watch charger or USB-C. In the box are the earbuds, the case, the ear tips and documentation. The USB-C cable is sold separately.
Apple also builds in hearing features. A Hearing Test and Conversation Boost are aimed at adults with mild to moderate hearing loss, and a Hearing Protection mode meets EN 352 when switched on. Live Translation needs Apple Intelligence and is in beta, with limited languages and regions.
What owners report about the Apple AirPods Pro 3
Fit is the main thing owners disagree about. Some say the buds sit securely out of the box and that noise cancelling improved on the AirPods Pro 2. Others say these are the first AirPods that will not stay in. In Apple's own community forum, owners describe buds slipping out when running, talking, chewing or moving the jaw, stems that flare away from the ear, and pressure or soreness after long wear. A few hear rattling or tapping during movement, and some report noise cancelling dropping when they yawn or open their mouth.
Owners have found some fixes. Medium tips were the most common fit, and a few said they settled in after several days of wear. Some switched to third-party foam tips, some added ear hooks, and some twisted the buds so the stems point straight down. Others sent them back within Apple's 14-day return window. A long-term reviewer at 9to5Mac found the fit better than the Pro 2 after four months but accepted that ears vary.
On battery, the per-charge time is longer than the Pro 2, but total time with the case is shorter: 24 hours against 30, according to that same four-month write-up. Owner feedback on this exact model is thinner than for older AirPods, so durability after a year or more is not yet clear.
Who the Apple AirPods Pro 3 suits
These suit iPhone owners who want strong noise cancelling, a natural transparency mode and automatic switching between Apple devices. They also suit anyone who wants heart rate tracking from their earbuds. Fit is a gamble for some ears, so buy somewhere with an easy returns policy and try all five tip sizes before deciding.
Android owners should look elsewhere. Heart rate sensing needs an iPhone, the hearing features need Apple software, and AAC is the best codec, with no aptX or LDAC. The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 suit a Pixel, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro suit a Galaxy phone, and the Nothing Ear (3) add LDAC. Runners who have trouble keeping earbuds in should consider the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, which have ear hooks.
Questions about the Apple AirPods Pro 3
What is the difference between the Apple AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3?
Apple says the Pro 3 remove up to twice as much noise, last up to 8 hours per charge against 6, and add heart rate sensing and foam-infused tips with an XXS size. Total battery with the case is 24 hours against 30 on the Pro 2, and some owners find the Pro 3 fit worse.
How long does the Apple AirPods Pro 3 battery last?
Up to 8 hours per charge with noise cancelling on, and up to 24 hours in total with the case. Five minutes in the case gives about an hour of listening.
How do you charge the Apple AirPods Pro 3 case?
The MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C) charges from a MagSafe charger, any Qi wireless charger, an Apple Watch charger or a USB-C cable. The USB-C cable is not in the box.
Does the Apple AirPods Pro 3 heart rate sensing work with Android?
No. Apple says heart rate tracking in the Fitness app needs an iPhone with iOS 26 or later.
What ear tip sizes come with the Apple AirPods Pro 3?
There are five sizes: XXS, XS, S, M and L. Apple's Ear Tip Fit Test in iOS settings checks the seal, and owners suggest trying a different size in each ear if one feels loose.
Other wireless earbud picks
The other badge winners in our wireless earbuds ranking.
Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. Most of each score is what the review sites say: the scores their own reviews give each model, and whether their best-of lists name it. For this guide we read SoundGuys and What Hi-Fi?. The rest is how happy owners are, held back where few owners have rated a product, and how new it is. Value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 19 models for this guide before settling on these ten.
Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in October 2026.
