Apple unveils AirPods Pro 3 with heart-rate sensor, preorders begin

Apple on Tuesday unveiled the AirPods Pro 3, the latest generation of its flagship earbuds, and said they will be available for preorder now and in stores starting Friday, Sept. 19, priced at $249 in the United States and 219 in the United Kingdom. The new model brings built‑in heart rate sensing, expanded language translation, stronger active noise cancellation and a redesigned fit, though some of those capabilities come with device and regional caveats.

Apple described the earbuds as featuring a custom photoplethysmography sensor that pulses invisible infrared light 256 times per second to read heart rate, new foam‑infused silicone ear tips in five sizes, an IP57 rating for dust and water resistance, and a case with a second‑generation Ultra Wideband chip. The company said the earbuds deliver up to eight hours of continuous listening with ANC enabled and roughly 24 hours combined with the charging case, compared with six and 30 hours respectively for the AirPods Pro 2.

Reviewers and independent testers largely confirmed the new capabilities while noting tradeoffs. The heart rate sensor in particular drew attention. Triathlete reviewer DC Rainmaker tested the AirPods Pro 3...