Apple AirPods Pro 3

Apple has kept the AirPods Pro formula familiar but refined it in the areas that matter most day to day. Reviewers consistently report that noise cancellation and sound quality have improved over the previous generation. Comfort also gets attention, with a slightly more rounded nozzle and extra silicone tip sizes that should help more ears get a good seal. Holding the US price at $249, the same as the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C, makes the upgrade feel generous rather than opportunistic.

These are clearly built for people already living in Apple's ecosystem. The headline extras, Live Translation, heart rate sensing for fitness tracking, and hearing aid functionality, broaden what earbuds can do. Many of these features are tied to Apple devices, though. If you use an iPhone and want one pair of earbuds for commuting, workouts and calls, this is squarely aimed at you. The IP57 rating adds peace of mind for sweaty sessions.

On the evidence available, the AirPods Pro 3 are among the strongest wireless earbuds you can buy. TechGearLab ranked them first of the 23 pairs it tested, and the improvements are in the fundamentals: noise cancelling, sound and fit. The feature list is also unusually ambitious for earbuds. Health tracking and hearing assistance add real value beyond music playback.

They are not flawless:

• Live Translation is promising, but reviewers say it still needs refinement, so treat it as a bonus rather than a reason to buy.
• There is no EQ adjustability, which will frustrate listeners who like to tune their sound.
• Battery life is flagged by What Hi-Fi? as an area that could be better.
• Much of the appeal disappears outside Apple's ecosystem, because many features are exclusive to Apple devices.
• Regional pricing varies. They are cheaper than the previous model in the UK at £219 but more expensive in Australia at AU$429.

For iPhone users, these are an easy recommendation and arguably the default choice at this price. Android owners should look elsewhere, since they would be paying a premium for features they can't fully use. We'd rate them 4.5 out of 5. They are excellent overall, held back only by the lack of EQ, middling battery feedback, and ecosystem lock-in.