Apple has unveiled AirPods Pro 3 with "outstanding audio" performance, a refreshed design to comfortably fit more ears, and real-time translation when speaking to someone face-to-face.
And that's not all, Apple has squeezed a small heart-rate sensor into these new wireless earbuds, so you'll be able to track your beats-per-minute when exercising with your AirPods in. In total, you can track over 50 workout types via AirPods Pro 3 alone. You can kickstart a workout via the Fitness app preinstalled on every iPhone.
To become a fitness tracker, AirPods Pro 3 are equipped with Apple’s smallest custom-built heart rate sensor. This proprietary photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor shines invisible infrared light pulsed at 256 times per second to measure light absorption in blood flow. Combined with sensor fusion from the AirPods Pro accelerometers, gyroscope, GPS, and a new on-device AI model on iPhone, Apple says its 'buds will be able to help measure your heart rate and calories burned.
Discussing the new 'buds, Apple Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, John Ternus said: "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 carry case for AirPods Pro 3 has the same design as its predecessor, with the built-in speaker that emits a sound to help you find it whene you've misplaced it, and a cheerful chime to let you know when it's charging (either wirelessly or via USB-C)
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These new additions haven't diminished battery life. In fact, Apple says it's managed to increase battery life from six hours on its predecessors — up to eight hours while using Active Noise-Cancellation (ANC). The bundled carry case can recharge your AirPods Pro 3 when you're out-and-about.
Aside from the new fitness features and live translation, AirPods Pro 3 promise to upgrade sound too. According to the Cuperinto firm, AirPods Pro 3 deliver "breathtaking" sound, thanks to a new driver designed to bolster Spatial Audio, which maps out sounds in three-dimensional space around you. Spatial Audio works across music, boxsets, and blockbuster movies too.
AirPods Pro 3 ships with new foam-infused eartips to create a better seal in your ear canal. There are available in five different sizes to better fit more ears.
According to Apple, Active Noise-Cancellation is 2x better than the previous AirPods Pro 2. And if you're still using the original AirPods Pro, first launched back in October 2019, Apple says it's now 4x is more effective at quashing distracting background sounds, like the rattle of railway tracks during your morning commute or the hum of an office printer.
Hearing Protection is coming to UK and mainland Europe, following certification for those regions. This helps your AirPods Pro double-up as ear defenders, intelligently lowering loud noises around you.
AirPods Pro 3 introduce a custom photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor that shines invisible infrared light pulsed at 256 times per second to measure light absorption in blood flow
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AirPods Pro 3 have improved durability, with an industry-standard IP57 rating for water and dust resistance.
This is the first significant update to the £219 AirPods Pro in three years. In that time, Apple has refreshed its second-generation wireless earbuds with new features — like the ability to double-up as a clinical grade hearing aids — and a tweak to USB-C charging over the previous Lightning port. But that's it.
Despite the new additions, Apple has maintained the same £219 price tag. You can preorder AirPods Pro 3 right now, with those first-in-line for the new Bluetooth 'buds set to receive them through their letterboxes or available for pick-up in Apple Stores worldwide from September 19.
If you've been holding out for something truly new from Apple, the announcement of AirPods Pro 3 will be — ahem — music to your ears.
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