Apple AirPods Pro 3 Upgrade Brings Heart Rate Tracking and Fitness Features

Cupertino, California — Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has officially launched its third-generation AirPods Pro, a $249 upgrade that adds a built-in heart rate tracker, improved acoustic architecture, and the most advanced noise cancellation in the company’s wearable lineup to date.

The launch comes as Apple continues to turn its AirPods into more than just a best-selling audio device. Analysts estimate the AirPods franchise generated over $14 billion in revenue in 2024, making it one of Apple’s top hardware categories outside the iPhone. With AirPods Pro 3, the company is not only chasing audio dominance but also staking a claim in the fast-growing digital health market.

Apple Puts Health Features Inside Your Earbuds

AirPods began in 2016 as a convenient wireless audio solution. But with the AirPods Pro 3, Apple is explicitly positioning the earbuds as health companions. Each bud contains Apple’s smallest-ever optical heart rate sensor, capable of recording exercise intensity, calories burned, and continuous heart rate data.

• Health Integration: The earbuds sync directly with Apple’s Health and Fitness apps, providing users workout summaries, recovery metrics, and trends over time.

• Apple Watch Companion: When paired with an Apple Watch, the devices share data for more precise readings. If the watch fails due to tattoos, sweat, or poor wrist positioning, the earbuds seamlessly take over.

• Standalone Value: For consumers who don’t own an Apple Watch, the Pro 3 offers a way into Apple’s fitness ecosystem without spending $399+ on a smartwatch.

Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, said the addition of health features to AirPods is a deliberate move to reach users who don’t own an Apple Watch. “AirPods are now a gateway into Apple’s health ecosystem,” Wood noted, adding that the feature could help Apple attract millions of iPhone owners who want fitness tracking without buying a watch.

Audio Upgrades Target Premium Market

Apple has also re-engineered the audio hardware inside the Pro 3:

• New acoustic drivers deliver richer mid-tones and deeper bass.

• Noise cancellation is twice as strong as the AirPods Pro 2 and four times stronger than the original Pro, according to Apple.

• Foam-infused tips improve both comfort and isolation, with five sizes now available from XXS to large.

On long-haul flight tests, reviewers reported that the Pro 3 blocked nearly all cabin noise, rivaling premium over-ear headphones from Bose and Sony. Apple has also improved Transparency Mode, allowing users to hear their surroundings more naturally, and introduced Conversation Awareness, which automatically lowers volume when a wearer begins speaking.

Accessibility and Language Tools

AirPods Pro 3 aren’t just about music or workouts. They now include conversation enhancement features:

• Hearing Assist: Uses upgraded microphones to amplify voices in noisy spaces such as restaurants.

• Conversation Boost: Prioritizes speech clarity for users with mild hearing loss.

• Live Translation: Available for the first time on AirPods, this feature translates conversations in real time. Apple’s implementation builds on iOS translation services and positions AirPods as a communication tool, not just a listening device.

During testing, Live Translation showed a slight delay but proved accurate for everyday use. Market watchers note that Apple is competing directly with Google Pixel Buds and Samsung Galaxy Buds, which already offer translation features, but Apple’s integration with iOS could drive wider adoption.

Battery Life and Daily Use

Battery performance has also been extended:

• 8 hours with noise cancellation enabled.

• 10 hours without noise cancellation.

• Up to 40 hours with the charging case.

In practical tests, AirPods Pro 3 lasted an entire cross-country flight without needing a recharge — a clear improvement over the Pro 2.

AirPods Pro 3 and the Earbuds Market

Apple’s new AirPods Pro 3 add heart-rate monitoring to earbuds, a feature competitors like Samsung, Sony, and Bose don’t offer. These companies have focused mainly on sound quality and battery life, leaving a gap Apple can exploit.

Global data shows the stakes: wireless earbud shipments are expected to exceed 600 million units in 2025, with Apple holding the largest market share. Adding health tracking could help Apple keep its lead, especially as lower-cost brands try to attract budget-conscious buyers.

Unlike standard fitness trackers or smartwatches, the AirPods Pro 3 can record heart rate during workouts without needing an Apple Watch, giving users a lightweight, always-on option for fitness data.

This combination of audio and health features positions Apple to draw in both casual listeners and fitness enthusiasts, potentially expanding its ecosystem of health and subscription services.

AirPods Pro 3 Set a New Standard

Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 take the company’s earbuds beyond audio, turning them into versatile devices for health, fitness, and communication. With built-in heart rate monitoring, improved noise cancellation, hearing assistance features, and live translation capabilities, the Pro 3 models position themselves as an integral part of Apple’s ecosystem rather than just optional accessories.

At $249, the AirPods Pro 3 sit in the premium segment, but analysts note that the combination of enhanced sound and health features gives iPhone users a strong reason to upgrade. The new features also reflect Apple’s broader strategy to embed health and fitness tracking across its devices, making everyday earbuds a central tool for both wellness and connectivity.

Also Read: iPhone 17 Pro Max Preorders Delayed, iPhone Air Launch in China Paused