AirPods Pro 3 go on sale today at USD 249, and Apple is pitching them as a bigger jump than the usual yearly refresh. The headline claims are noise cancelling that Apple calls “2x more effective than AirPods Pro 2”, a heart rate sensor built into each earbud, and a new XXS ear tip for people who never got a good seal from the older sizes.
This is a documented review: I brought together Apple’s official specs and the first published review, from Engadget, then added my own verdict. Longer lab tests from other outlets had not appeared by the time of writing, so treat the battery section in particular as claims waiting for independent numbers.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | USD 249 |
| Arab market availability | Officially sold through Apple’s UAE and Saudi Arabia online stores. Check the local Apple store for the current price |
| TechKahwa rating | 8.7/10 |
| Best for | iPhone owners on AirPods Pro 2 or older who want better noise cancelling and a more secure fit |
| Skip if | You use Android, or you need hi-res codecs and a full equalizer |
Design, fit and the new sensors
Apple changed the parts that touch your ear. The range now comes with five ear tip sizes, including a new XXS. That sounds minor until you remember how many people give up on in-ear buds simply because the smallest tip still does not seal. A better seal also helps noise cancelling, so the two changes work together.
The bigger story is health. Each earbud carries a custom PPG sensor that, according to Apple, pulses infrared light 256 times per second to read your heart rate. The practical result is heart rate tracking during a workout without wearing a watch. What caught my attention here is who this is really for: runners and gym users who already carry an iPhone but never wanted a smartwatch.
The earbuds are rated IP57 for sweat and water resistance. Apple also brings its hearing health tools to this model, including the Hearing Test and hearing aid features, plus Live Translation. Engadget reports that Live Translation supports English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish at launch. Arabic is not on that list, which matters for readers here.
Noise cancelling, sound and battery
Apple does not give a decibel figure for noise cancelling. It only says the new system is twice as effective as AirPods Pro 2. That is a relative claim, and I would wait for lab measurements before repeating it as a number.
Engadget’s early verdict is enthusiastic. It calls the AirPods Pro 3 “the biggest update to Apple’s earbuds lineup in years” and scores them 90/100. The review’s praise lines up with Apple’s pitch: stronger noise cancelling, better sound and a more comfortable fit.
Here are the battery figures, from Apple and as reported by Engadget:
- Up to 8 hours of listening with noise cancelling on
- Up to 10 hours in Transparency mode
- Up to 24 hours in total with the case, as reported by Engadget
- About 1 hour of listening from 5 minutes in the case, also per Engadget
Eight hours per charge with ANC is a strong single charge claim for earbuds, and the 24 hour total means the case gives you roughly two extra full charges. Real use varies a lot with volume, calls and features like heart rate sensing, so I would wait for independent battery tests before treating 8 hours as what you will get every day.
| Official battery claim | Figure |
|---|---|
| Single charge, ANC on | Up to 8 hours (Apple) |
| Single charge, Transparency | Up to 10 hours (Apple) |
| Total with case | Up to 24 hours (per Engadget) |
| Quick charge | 5 minutes gives about 1 hour (per Engadget) |
What reviewers agree on
Only Engadget’s full review was out at launch, so this is an early picture rather than a wide consensus.
Strengths:
- Much stronger noise cancelling than AirPods Pro 2, in both Apple’s claims and Engadget’s early impressions.
- Better sound and a more secure fit, helped by the new XXS tip.
- Heart rate tracking without needing a watch.
- A longer single charge than the previous model.
Weaknesses:
- The smartest features are tied to the iPhone and Apple’s software.
- No hi-res codecs and no full equalizer, so audio enthusiasts get fewer controls.
- Live Translation covers a short language list at launch, with no Arabic.
Who should buy it
If you have an iPhone and a pair of AirPods Pro from the first generation, this is an easy upgrade to consider. Stronger noise cancelling, a better fit and a built-in heart rate sensor add up to a clearly better product on paper. Android users should look elsewhere, since much of the appeal depends on the iPhone.
If you own AirPods Pro 2, the decision is closer. Better noise cancelling is real value on a flight or a busy metro, but you are paying full price again for improvements, not a new category. In my view, the XXS tip is the deciding factor for people with small ears who never got a proper seal.
For buyers in the Gulf, Apple sells the AirPods Pro 3 directly through its UAE and Saudi online stores, so there is no need to rely on grey imports. Just keep in mind that Live Translation does not speak Arabic at launch, so that feature will be of limited use for many readers here.
Verdict
The AirPods Pro 3 look like a meaningful update rather than a spec bump. Engadget’s 90/100 and its description of “the biggest update” in years give the launch a strong start, and Apple’s claims on noise cancelling, fit and battery all point the same way.
I am holding back a little because independent battery and noise cancelling measurements were not published at launch, and because the best features stay locked to Apple’s ecosystem. For iPhone owners on older earbuds, though, this is the pair to look at first. TechKahwa rating: 8.7/10.
Sources
- Apple Newsroom, Introducing AirPods Pro 3, September 9, 2025, https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/09/introducing-airpods-pro-3-the-ultimate-audio-experience/
- Engadget, AirPods Pro 3 review, September 15, 2025, https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/airpods-pro-3-review-a-significant-update-to-apples-best-earbuds-120028170.html
- Apple UAE, AirPods Pro 3 store page (undated), https://www.apple.com/ae/shop/buy-airpods/airpods-pro-3
- Apple Saudi Arabia, AirPods Pro 3 store page (undated), https://www.apple.com/sa/shop/buy-airpods/airpods-pro-3