99
PCMagT2★ Editors' ChoiceSep 15, 2025
“The AirPods Pro 3 represent a significant step forward for Apple's wireless earbuds, setting a new benchmark for performance, features, and design.”
By Eric Zeman · Rated 5/5Full review
Headphones
AirPods Pro 3
Apple · From $249
Release date Sep 19, 2025
95
Critical Gold
Based on 16 Critic Reviews
15 with a published score, 1 scored from text · How it works
Latest review Mar 8, 2026
14 Rave2 Positive
Critics' Take
Critics call the AirPods Pro 3 the best AirPods yet. Noise cancellation draws the most praise (PCMag, ZDNET, Expert Reviews), along with a more secure foam-tipped fit, heart rate sensing and about eight hours of listening per charge, all at the same $249 as the AirPods Pro 2. Complaints are small: no EQ, several features that need an iPhone, and a sound upgrade that Pocket-lint calls marginal.
What critics loved
- Class-leading noise cancellation
- More secure, comfortable foam-tipped fit
- Built-in heart rate sensing for workouts
- Up to 8 hours per charge, same $249 price
Common gripes
- No EQ controls
- Best features need an iPhone
- Total battery with the case dropped to 24 hours
- Live Translation needs refining
- Sound upgrade over AirPods Pro 2 is modest
Critic Scorecard
16 reviewsSort:
Weighted by outlet tier:T1100%T275%T340%T420%
99
Trusted ReviewsT2Oct 22, 2025
“There are many welcome upgrades here, from battery life to improved sound and more capable ANC.”
By Max Parker · Rated 5/5Full review
98
The VergeT1Sep 15, 2025
“Of all the shiny new gadgets Apple launched last week, this is the sole no-brainer upgrade.”
By Victoria Song · Rated 9/10Full review
98
EngadgetT1Sep 15, 2025
“The AirPods Pro 3 is the biggest update to Apple's earbuds lineup in years.”
By Billy Steele · Rated 90/100Full review
98
MashableT2Oct 3, 2025
“Overall, the AirPods Pro 3 are a remarkable upgrade, even over the AirPods Pro 2, which were already very good.”
By Adam Doud · Rated 4.75/5Full review
98
Expert ReviewsT3Sep 30, 2025
“And the noise cancellation is nothing short of phenomenal, providing a near impenetrable wall against the noise and hubbub of everyday life.”
By Jonathan Bray · Rated 5/5Full review
Show 10 more reviews ▾Show fewer ▴
97
CNETT1Sep 15, 2025
“They’re about as close as earbuds get to being complete: excellent noise cancellation, strong voice-calling performance and sound quality that rivals the very best.”
By David Carnoy · Rated 9.2/10Full review
97
Tom's GuideT2★ Editors' ChoiceSep 15, 2025
“With improved battery life, stronger noise cancellation, and smart new features, the AirPods Pro 3 are the best AirPods you can buy right now.”
By Kate Kozuch · Rated 4.5/5Full review
96
WiredT1Sep 26, 2025
“To my ears, the AirPods Pro 3 are the best AirPods yet.”
By Parker Hall · Rated 9/10Full review
96
ZDNETT2Mar 8, 2026
“The AirPods Pro 3 has some of the best ANC we've tested in earbuds, and they even won a ZDNET Lab Award for it.”
Date shown is the page's published/updated date (March 8, 2026).
By Jason Hiner · Rated 4.5/5Full review
96
What Hi-Fi?T3Jan 13, 2026
“But while this is more evolution than revolution, there is no doubt that the AirPods Pro 3 are a step forward in nearly every way that counts”
By Kashfia Kabir · Rated 5/5Full review
95
TechRadarT2Oct 24, 2025
“iPhone owners who value great, shut-out-the-world noise cancellation need look no further than this set of earbuds, if their budget allows; for ANC they're truly remarkable.”
By Becky Scarrott · Rated 4.5/5Full review
95
Pocket-lintT3★ Editors' ChoiceSep 22, 2025
“With the AirPods Pro 3, Apple has taken an impressive pair of wireless earbuds and made them notably better.”
By Patrick O'Rourke · Rated 4.5/5Full review
94
9to5MacT2Sep 15, 2025
“AirPods Pro 3 are the best $249 you can spend with Apple today, and they feel like a turning point in what we should expect from the category going forward.”
By Chance Miller · Unrated, scored from textFull review
83
GizmodoT2Sep 15, 2025
“Apple's third-gen ANC wireless earbuds improve all the basics and lay the foundation for going beyond audio with health and AI features.”
By Raymond Wong · Rated 4/5Full review
81
SoundGuysT3Nov 19, 2025
“The AirPods Pro 3 offers improvements inside and out that make it well worth the upgrade.”
By Harley Maranan · Rated 7.8/10Full review
96
ZDNETT2Mar 8, 2026
“The AirPods Pro 3 has some of the best ANC we've tested in earbuds, and they even won a ZDNET Lab Award for it.”
Date shown is the page's published/updated date (March 8, 2026).
By Jason Hiner · Rated 4.5/5Full review
96
What Hi-Fi?T3Jan 13, 2026
“But while this is more evolution than revolution, there is no doubt that the AirPods Pro 3 are a step forward in nearly every way that counts”
By Kashfia Kabir · Rated 5/5Full review
81
SoundGuysT3Nov 19, 2025
“The AirPods Pro 3 offers improvements inside and out that make it well worth the upgrade.”
By Harley Maranan · Rated 7.8/10Full review
95
TechRadarT2Oct 24, 2025
“iPhone owners who value great, shut-out-the-world noise cancellation need look no further than this set of earbuds, if their budget allows; for ANC they're truly remarkable.”
By Becky Scarrott · Rated 4.5/5Full review
99
Trusted ReviewsT2Oct 22, 2025
“There are many welcome upgrades here, from battery life to improved sound and more capable ANC.”
By Max Parker · Rated 5/5Full review
98
MashableT2Oct 3, 2025
“Overall, the AirPods Pro 3 are a remarkable upgrade, even over the AirPods Pro 2, which were already very good.”
By Adam Doud · Rated 4.75/5Full review
Show 10 more reviews ▾Show fewer ▴
98
Expert ReviewsT3Sep 30, 2025
“And the noise cancellation is nothing short of phenomenal, providing a near impenetrable wall against the noise and hubbub of everyday life.”
By Jonathan Bray · Rated 5/5Full review
96
WiredT1Sep 26, 2025
“To my ears, the AirPods Pro 3 are the best AirPods yet.”
By Parker Hall · Rated 9/10Full review
95
Pocket-lintT3★ Editors' ChoiceSep 22, 2025
“With the AirPods Pro 3, Apple has taken an impressive pair of wireless earbuds and made them notably better.”
By Patrick O'Rourke · Rated 4.5/5Full review
99
PCMagT2★ Editors' ChoiceSep 15, 2025
“The AirPods Pro 3 represent a significant step forward for Apple's wireless earbuds, setting a new benchmark for performance, features, and design.”
By Eric Zeman · Rated 5/5Full review
98
The VergeT1Sep 15, 2025
“Of all the shiny new gadgets Apple launched last week, this is the sole no-brainer upgrade.”
By Victoria Song · Rated 9/10Full review
98
EngadgetT1Sep 15, 2025
“The AirPods Pro 3 is the biggest update to Apple's earbuds lineup in years.”
By Billy Steele · Rated 90/100Full review
97
CNETT1Sep 15, 2025
“They’re about as close as earbuds get to being complete: excellent noise cancellation, strong voice-calling performance and sound quality that rivals the very best.”
By David Carnoy · Rated 9.2/10Full review
97
Tom's GuideT2★ Editors' ChoiceSep 15, 2025
“With improved battery life, stronger noise cancellation, and smart new features, the AirPods Pro 3 are the best AirPods you can buy right now.”
By Kate Kozuch · Rated 4.5/5Full review
94
9to5MacT2Sep 15, 2025
“AirPods Pro 3 are the best $249 you can spend with Apple today, and they feel like a turning point in what we should expect from the category going forward.”
By Chance Miller · Unrated, scored from textFull review
83
GizmodoT2Sep 15, 2025
“Apple's third-gen ANC wireless earbuds improve all the basics and lay the foundation for going beyond audio with health and AI features.”
By Raymond Wong · Rated 4/5Full review
Quick Facts
- Chip
- Apple H2
- Noise control
- Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, Adaptive Audio
- Battery (earbuds)
- Up to 8 hours with ANC on
- Battery (with case)
- Up to 24 hours
- Water and dust resistance
- IP57
- Bluetooth
- 5.3, AAC and SBC codecs
- Weight
- 5.6 g per earbud
- Health features
- Heart rate sensing, Hearing Test, Hearing Aid
- Price
- $249