Apple released the AirPods Pro 3 in September 2025. Since that day, I have been using these headphones every day. I have used them for everything from workouts to runs, Zoom meetings, travel, and daily listening. What really caught my attention is not how good they sound for their size or that they are almost as good as the $550 AirPods Max 2, but how Apple has improved these headphones over the last 7 months I have owned them. Here’s how they have shown durability, how they have evolved, and what Apple could still add.

Be sure to watch my review where I share my experience with the AirPods Pro 3. I discuss my experiences over the last seven months and how I think Apple will transform these AirPods into an Apple Intelligence product.

Design and Battery

The design of the AirPods Pro 3 is almost the same as the AirPods Pro 2, but Apple made slight changes to adapt the new headphones. The headphones are generally a bit smaller, and the charging case is also a bit smaller. They still look and feel the same, and it's hard to notice the difference unless you put them side by side. However, here are some technical specifications you should know:

  • Up to 8 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation
  • Total battery life of up to 24 hours with the charging case
  • IP57 rating for sweat, water, and dust resistance
  • USB-C, MagSafe, and Apple Watch charging support
  • 5 minutes of fast charging = 1 hour of playback time
  • Physical pairing button removed

The design holds up well and feels quite familiar. Personally, I wasn’t too fond of the removal of the physical pairing button, but the new pairing method with the touch control inside the case was easy to get used to. Another thing to note here is that you can last longer on a single charge (from 6 hours to 8 hours), but the charging case actually provides less charge (down from a total of 30 hours to 24 hours). This did not affect my usage since listening for 8 hours straight is a rare occurrence, but it’s something people should know.

As I mentioned, Apple also slightly changed the shape of the headphones, but it’s completely acceptable for me. AirPods have always fit well for me; I haven’t had any issues. I know this isn’t the case for everyone. The last development was made for the new silicone-foam hybrid tips. This was great because you get the passive noise cancellation benefits of foam tips while retaining the ease of cleaning silicone. I really love the new foam hybrid ear tips.

Sound Quality

Recently, I compared the AirPods Max 2 with the AirPods Pro 3. I highly recommend watching the video. But briefly, my biggest takeaway from the comparison was how good the AirPods Pro 3 is. At $350 cheaper and 1/10th the size (or less), you get 99% of the sound quality. I tested it meticulously against the AirPods Max 2 and was impressed by how well the AirPods Pro 3 performed. If you connect your AirPods Max 2 for lossless audio, the difference is a bit larger. But most people use the Max 2 wirelessly.

Then you switch between different modes. The active noise cancellation is excellent. Apple claims to have made significant improvements here, and this is evident in real-world usage. Whether in a café, on a plane, in the subway, or trying to focus at home, these headphones remarkably block noise without raising the volume. The transparency mode is best in class. It feels extremely natural, almost as if you’re not wearing headphones, and does a great job of amplifying sounds when needed, with settings like Personalized Sound and Conversation Awareness.

It’s hard to convey sound quality in an article, and even in a video, but I tested the AirPods Pro with all kinds of audio. I listened to heavy bass music and more acoustic styles. The range and separation you get are incredible. I also tested Zoom calls, FaceTime, and podcasts, and everything was crystal clear.

Eco System and Smart Features

This is Apple’s key point. The AirPods Pro 3 perfectly demonstrates how powerful the ecosystem is. From instant pairing to seamless device switching, everything still feels hard to pair. Over time, Apple has added more intelligence to how these headphones behave in daily use. Here’s what you get:

  • Instant pairing with iPhone, iPad, and Mac
  • Automatic device switching between Apple devices
  • Find My feature with the charging case
  • Adaptive Sound adjusted to the environment
  • Real-time automatic sound adjustments
  • Conversation Awareness that lowers the sound when someone speaks
  • Head movement controls for calls and notifications

In real-world usage, the AirPods Pro 3 gives a zero sense of competition against non-Apple headphones. Features like Adaptive Sound and Conversation Awareness really make a difference for using them without thinking. More importantly, this is one of the rare products that truly evolves over time; updates make them smarter, more stable, and more capable.

Health Features

Now, if you think the main difference between AirPods and non-Apple headphones is the ecosystem, I could argue that it’s actually the new health features that Apple has implemented. Apple decided to add a heart rate monitor to the AirPods Pro 3, which further enhances the health data that Apple helps you track with other devices. Additionally, Apple has received approval to allow the AirPods Pro 3 to be used as a hearing aid for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. Here are some health-focused features that make the AirPods great:

  • Built-in hearing test functionality
  • Medical-grade hearing aid support for mild to moderate hearing loss
  • Conversation Awareness for clearer speech in noisy environments
  • Integrated heart rate sensor with health app integration

These are features that are effective beyond just listening to music and automatic switching. Last month at a wedding, the father of the bride was using his AirPods as a hearing aid throughout the ceremony. I asked him, and he said his relationship with hearing loss and hearing aids had completely changed. Hearing aids are known to be expensive and not easy to set up and use. Now with the AirPods Pro, you just connect them to your iPhone, and for $200, you have a medical-grade hearing aid that is also AirPods.

The Future of AirPods Pro

Over the years, Apple has added many features to AirPods. Some features focus on sound and audio quality, which is great, but many improvements in AirPods have focused on quality of life. Looking at iOS 27, Apple Intelligence, and future Siri enhancements, it’s likely that AirPods will become the primary input method for interacting with your devices. Instead of reaching for your phone or watch, you can talk to your AirPods. Because they are always in your ears, always connected, and always ready, they provide a perfect foundation for this kind of seamless experience.

We have heard rumors that the new AirPods Pro 4 version will have more sensors. Some speculate that there will be cameras on the headphones or the case, which will add another layer of interaction to your AirPods, but we will see how that shapes up.

Final Thoughts

After more than six months, the AirPods Pro 3 is still my recommendation for those who need headphones and are in the Apple ecosystem. They offer great sound, excellent noise cancellation, best-in-class transparency, and a feature set that continues to grow over time. AirPods have become one of the few products that truly evolve after your initial purchase.

Now, they are not perfect; the battery case could be a bit larger, and there is a lack of a real EQ customizer, which is a default feature in all other headphones, but as an overall package, it’s hard to surpass what Apple offers here.

To make it even more appealing, they are currently selling for less than $200 on Amazon, which surprises me. As I said before, I believe that the $550 AirPods Max 2 has only 1% (in my opinion) of the sound quality and lacks many of the health features offered by the AirPods Pro 3. What about you? Do you own AirPods Pro? Which version do you have? What is your favorite feature? Let’s discuss below.

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