AirPods Pro 3 praised sound and heart-rate, but fit and noise issues

Since their release about two months ago, Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 have won praise for improved sound, stronger active noise cancellation, longer battery life and a built‑in heart rate sensor, but owners and reviewers report a mix of experiences with fit and reliability. While many users say the new foam tips and redesigned shape provide a better seal and more secure fit for workouts, a subset of users have reported discomfort, audible static or high‑pitched whines, and in a smaller number of cases minor bleeding after use.

The new model brings several notable upgrades: a revised silicone tip with an additional foam layer intended to improve acoustic seal, an IP57 dust and water resistance rating, and heart rate sensing that can feed workout data to the iPhone’s Fitness app. Independent comparisons that logged the same workout on an AirPods Pro 3 and an Apple Watch Ultra 3 found average heart rates nearly identical and similar heart rate graphs, suggesting the earbuds can track pulse accurately for many activities. Reviewers and testers caution, however, that the earbuds do not present detailed zone information in the same way a dedicated watch does and that calorie estimates can...