If you're hoping for the AirPods Pro 3, you'll need patience. New evidence suggests that Apple won't launch the next generation of its premium earbuds until 2026. This contradicts previous expectations that the new AirPods could be released in fall 2025. Meanwhile, several analysts are increasingly confirming or at least suggesting the late schedule.
The rumor landscape surrounding the AirPods Pro 3 is currently quite confusing. Various Apple analysts and industry experts have offered differing assessments of the planned launch date. The only thing that seems clear is that it will likely take some time. The last notable innovation for the AirPods Pro was the USB-C case in 2023. The last real hardware update came in 2022 with the AirPods Pro 2.
Analyst Jeff Pu: Market launch not before 2026
The most concrete timeline currently comes from analyst Jeff Pu of Hong Kong-based GF Securities. According to his report, the AirPods Pro 3 won't be released until 2026. In his outlook for upcoming Apple products, he sees other priorities for Apple in 2025: the Apple Watch Series 11, the Apple Watch Ultra 3, and a new product called "HomePad," which could likely be a kind of smart display or tablet. For 2026, he then mentions the AirPods Pro 3, the Apple Watch Series 12, and a revised version of the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset.
Bloomberg and iOS 26 code: Clues point to later release
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman stated in February that new AirPods with features like heart rate monitoring were "months away." He also expects a launch by the end of 2025 at the earliest. A release in 2026 therefore also fits his assessment. Further clues come from the iOS 26 beta code. Code fragments were found in the current beta version of iOS 26 that point to a new AirPods model—likely the AirPods Pro 3. This shows that Apple is already working internally on software support for the new model, but a release is far from certain or imminent.
Ming-Chi Kuo: No major AirPods updates before 2026
Another well-known analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, also spoke in a recent report of 2026 as a possible year for the next major AirPods update. He expects mass production of AirPods with an integrated IR camera to begin then. Whether he was referring to the regular AirPods or the Pro version remained unclear, however; he has not yet responded to inquiries.
Typical Apple schedule suggests an event in September 2026
Apple has often unveiled new AirPods models in the past as part of its annual iPhone event in September. For example, the AirPods Pro 2 launched in September 2022. If Apple were to stick to this schedule, a release of the AirPods Pro 3 in September 2026 would be a reasonable option—four years after the last full hardware update. That would be a relatively long timeframe, but smaller interim updates like the USB-C case have stretched the product cycle somewhat.
What technical features should the AirPods Pro 3 offer?
There is no official confirmation yet regarding the expected features, but several sources mention specific innovations that are said to be in development:
- Improved active noise cancellation (ANC) that filters out ambient noise even more effectively
- Heart rate measurement directly via the earphones, similar to sports headphones such as the Powerbeats Pro 2
- Possibly additional sensors for collecting health data
- USB-C will likely continue to be used as a charging port after it was introduced in 2023
These new features would shift the AirPods Pro 3 more towards being a health gadget, further positioning Apple in the wearable market.
Patience required: Apple is taking its time
Even though many are waiting for the AirPods Pro 3, it currently looks like you'll have to wait until 2026. The rumors from various sources now seem to fit together well: Apple is focusing on other hardware in 2025, while major AirPods updates are planned for later. If you need an upgrade now, the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C remain a good choice. However, if you're looking for new features like heart rate tracking or significantly improved noise cancellation, you should wait for the AirPods Pro 3. (Image: Shutterstock / BadPixma)
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