Apple’s latest release, the AirPods Pro 3, marks a bold leap forward for personal audio. Other than sound quality, it effortlessly integrates fitness, health, and real-time communication into a sleek, compact form.
World’s Best In-Ear ANC
Apple has completely re-imagined the acoustic chamber of the AirPods Pro 3 with a new multi-port architecture that improves airflow and precision.
The result is impressive: deeper bass, more open instrument separation, and a noticeable increase in vocal clarity across music, shows, and calls. My favourite acoustic and rock songs felt even more immersive.
The headline feature is Active Noise Cancellation. Apple calls it the world’s best in-ear ANC, and it delivers. The upgraded microphones and advanced computational audio now cancel twice as much noise as the AirPods Pro 2 and four times more than the original.
I tested it out on the MRT and in a busy cafe, outside distractions faded away, leaving rich, detailed sound in their place. When I needed awareness of my surroundings, the updated Adaptive Transparency mode made conversations sound natural and clear, even in crowded places.
Designed to Fit and Stay Put
Comfort and stability are key for any wireless earbuds, and Apple has clearly prioritised both. After collecting over 10,000 ear scans and 100,000 hours of user testing, the AirPods Pro 3 have been redesigned inside and out. Each earbud is smaller, lighter, and better balanced, while the new foam-infused ear tips now come in five sizes, including a new XXS option.
The result is a fit that feels more secure than ever, even during movement. With an IP57 rating for sweat and water resistance, the AirPods Pro 3 are ready for everything from morning runs to high-intensity workouts.
Smarter Workouts with Built-In Heart-Rate Sensing
The AirPods Pro 3 are designed not only to sound good but to support your fitness goals. For the first time, Apple has included a built-in heart-rate sensor.
It uses a custom photoplethysmography (PPG) module that pulses invisible infrared light 256 times per second to measure blood flow.
When paired with the iPhone’s sensors and GPS, this feature allows you to track heart rate, calories burned, and more than 50 types of workouts in the Fitness app. With Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence, you can even receive spoken motivation during your sessions based on real-time performance data.
This combination turns the AirPods Pro 3 into both an audio companion and a personal coach, making workouts feel more dynamic and engaging.
Live Translation: Real-Time Connection Across Languages
Apple has also introduced Live Translation, a feature that feels straight out of science fiction. It allows you to hold conversations in different languages, hands-free, while your AirPods translate speech directly in your ears.
When paired with an iPhone, translations also appear on-screen for both speakers. Live Translation currently supports English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, with Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese coming later this year.
I tested the beta version by translating a short French conversation into English, and it worked remarkably well. The translation was quick, clear, and natural, making the exchange surprisingly fluid. For travellers or anyone working across languages, this could be one of the most useful features Apple has ever added to AirPods.
Hearing Health and All-Day Endurance
Apple continues to focus on hearing wellness with the AirPods Pro 3. The Hearing Test and Conversation Boost features work more smoothly, offering subtle amplification in noisy environments and scientifically validated hearing assessments at home.
Battery life has improved significantly. With Active Noise Cancellation enabled, the AirPods Pro 3 last up to eight hours on a single charge. In Transparency mode, they deliver up to ten hours, a 67 per cent improvement over the previous model.
The AirPods Pro 3 represent Apple at its best. They deliver exceptional sound, a secure fit, and an impressive collection of smart features that enhance daily life. From heart-rate tracking to real-time translation, they redefine what wireless earbuds can do.
It retails at S$349 and is available at the Apple Store.
