AirPods Pro 3 Price: What You'll Pay in 2025?
Apple AirPods Pro 3 review covering price, heart rate tracking, battery life, noise cancellation, and AirPods Pro 3 vs Pro 2 comparison. Should you upgrade? Find out now.
Are the Apple AirPods Pro 3 worth buying in 2025? With a $249 price tag and game-changing fitness features, Apple's latest premium earbuds aim to replace both your AirPods and your Apple Watch during workouts. After weeks of real-world testing by reviewers and early adopters, here's everything you need to know about the AirPods Pro 3 before making your purchase decision.
Launched on September 9, 2025, and available since September 19, the AirPods Pro 3 arrived alongside the iPhone 17 series at Apple's "Awe Dropping" event. PhoneArena Three years after the Pro 2 debuted, Apple finally made changes that matter beyond incremental improvements.
AirPods Pro 3 Price: What You'll Pay in 2025
The AirPods Pro 3 cost $249 in the US—the same price as their predecessors. UK buyers got a pleasant surprise at £219, down £10 from the Pro 2's launch price, while Australian buyers pay AU$429. PhoneArenaWhat Hi-Fi? For Indian consumers, expect pricing around ₹26,900 based on Apple's typical regional pricing structure.
Meanwhile, the AirPods Pro 2 remain available at third-party retailers for as low as $159-$199, MacRumorsMacworld making them an attractive budget option for iPhone users who don't need the latest features.
AirPods Pro 3 Features: Heart Rate Tracking Changes Everything
Built-In Fitness Tracking Without an Apple Watch
The headline upgrade is built-in heart rate monitoring. Apple developed a custom photoplethysmography sensor that pulses invisible infrared light 256 times per second to measure blood flow during workouts. PhoneArena9to5Mac Combined with accelerometers, gyroscope, GPS, and on-device AI, you can track up to 50 different workout types directly from your ears.
Real-world fitness testing showed impressive accuracy, with one reviewer logging 56 minutes of workout time with an average heart rate of 118 BPM on Apple Watch versus 119 BPM on the AirPods Pro 3. TechRadar That's remarkably close for sensors hidden inside your ears.
The integration with Apple Fitness+ displays real-time metrics like heart rate, calories burned, and Move ring progress directly on-screen during workouts. 9to5Mac For yoga enthusiasts, runners, or anyone who finds watches uncomfortable during exercise, this eliminates one device from your fitness routine.
Active Noise Cancellation: Twice as Powerful
Apple claims the AirPods Pro 3 deliver twice as effective Active Noise Cancellation compared to the Pro 2, and four times more than the original AirPods Pro. PhoneArena9to5Mac This puts them among the best noise-cancelling earbuds available in 2025.
One reviewer testing them at home noted: "I popped in my AirPods Pro 2, and they mostly blocked out that sound. I popped in my AirPods Pro 3 and was taken to blissful silence immediately." 9to5Mac On flights and during commutes, the difference becomes even more noticeable.
The improved ANC comes from ultra-low noise microphones, advanced computational audio, and new foam-infused ear tips that provide better passive isolation.
Battery Life: Finally All-Day Performance
With ANC enabled, you now get 8 hours of playback—up from 6 hours on the Pro 2. Switch to Transparency mode, and battery life jumps to 10 hours, a 67% improvement. PhoneArena9to5Mac That's enough for long international flights or full workdays without reaching for the charging case.
However, the charging case now provides only 24 total hours compared to 30 hours with the Pro 2, 9to5Mac9to5Mac meaning you'll need to charge the case more frequently even though the earbuds last longer per charge.
AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods Pro 2: Should You Upgrade?
What's Better on the AirPods Pro 3
The Pro 3 features improved fit with foam-infused ear tips in five sizes (including new XXS), better IP57 water resistance (up from IP54), and significantly enhanced sound quality with a new multiport acoustic architecture. SoundGuysAppleInsider
Overall, the AirPods Pro 3 offer a relatively significant upgrade with valuable enhancements across the board, such as better fit, longer battery life per charge, and improved dust and water resistance. MacRumors
When to Stick with AirPods Pro 2
If you can find the AirPods Pro 2 on sale for under $160-$199, they remain an excellent value, offering great ANC, Spatial Audio, and most core features at a substantial discount. MacworldTechRadar For users who recently purchased Pro 2 or don't need fitness tracking, upgrading may not be justified.
Those who recently purchased the AirPods Pro 2 may not be able to justify upgrading to the Pro 3 at the current time, unless they particularly want features like enhanced ANC and heart-rate monitoring, or hope for a better fit. MacRumors
AirPods Pro 3 Review: Real-World Experience
The Fit That Divided Users
Many reviewers found the new fit noticeably more comfortable and stable, with Apple utilizing over 10,000 ear scans and 100,000 hours of user research to redesign the earbuds. 9to5Mac
Women's Health executive fitness director Jacqueline Andriakos noted the earbuds felt more stable during high-intensity workouts, requiring fewer mid-sweat readjustments. Women's Health
However, at least one long-term tester found them "fairly uncomfortable" despite trying every ear tip size, 9to5Mac highlighting that ear anatomy varies widely and no single design works perfectly for everyone.
Live Translation: Promising but Imperfect
Live Translation uses computational audio and Apple Intelligence to translate conversations in real-time, with optional live transcription displayed on your iPhone. 9to5Mac currently supports English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, with more languages coming later.
However, one reviewer who tested it with a French-speaking colleague noted it still has "a long way to go" before delivering the truly "magical experience" Apple promises. SoundGuys
AirPods Pro 3 in India: Why They Matter
India is Apple's fastest-growing market, and the AirPods Pro 3 arrive perfectly timed. The fitness tracking resonates with India's wellness boom—from yoga studios in Bengaluru to CrossFit boxes in Mumbai. Having heart rate monitoring in earbuds you already wear eliminates carrying multiple devices.
The improved IP57 waterproofing (up from IP54). SoundGuysAppleInsider handles monsoon rains, humid coastal climates, and intense workout sweat without worry. For business travellers navigating multilingual environments across Asia, Live Translation offers practical utility despite current limitations.
Final Verdict: Are AirPods Pro 3 Worth It?
Buy the AirPods Pro 3 if you:
- Want the best noise cancellation available in wireless earbuds
- Need fitness tracking without wearing an Apple Watch
- Value longer battery life (8-10 hours per charge)
- Travel internationally and could use Live Translation
- Are you upgrading from original AirPods Pro or older models
Stick with AirPods Pro 2 if you:
- Recently purchased Pro 2, and they're working well
- Can find Pro 2 for under $160-$199 on sale
- Don't need fitness tracking or enhanced ANC
- Want longer total battery life from the charging case
The AirPods Pro 3 represent Apple's vision of earbuds as comprehensive health wearables that also deliver exceptional audio. At $249, they're positioned perfectly—premium enough to feel special, accessible enough to justify the investment. The heart rate tracking works surprisingly well, the noise cancellation genuinely impresses, and the battery life finally feels adequate for all-day use.
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