While Apple is expected to unveil AirPods Pro 3 tomorrow, it turns out more than one version is expected.
AirPods Pro 3 expected at iPhone 17 event
Three years after introducing AirPods Pro 2, Apple’s best wireless headphones are due for an upgrade. We’ll likely see improvements over existing hardware, heart rate detection, and a slimmer charging case. A previous anonymous tip claimed temperature sensing was confirmed, although I believe that could be a misunderstanding based on the heart rate sensor design.
What’s more curious is supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s weekend claim that AirPods Pro 4 would follow in the year to come. Apple makes minor revisions to AirPods hardware between major version releases, but a year-over-year generation leap would be a new strategy.
Now, a new post on Weibo by leaker Instant Digital brings some clarity. According to the claim, Kuo’s forecast is accurate, but there’s an important distinction to make.
AirPods Pro 3 will include two versions
AirPods Pro 3 will arrive this year with all signs pointing to an announcement tomorrow. A higher-end version of AirPods Pro 3 will follow in 2026. The key difference is the inclusion of an infrared camera sensor, which has previously been reported as coming in the future.
This description of what to expect makes more sense without contradicting Kuo’s claim.
The Weibo post goes into further detail, adding that it’s possible the higher-end AirPods Pro could drop the squeeze gesture controls in favor of air gestures that use the camera sensor. The claim also suggests that this higher-end revision to AirPods Pro 3 will be priced above whatever Apple decides to charge for the standard set.
Air gestures and a higher price
AirPods Pro 2 are priced at $250 by Apple, and the leaker suggests that the more advanced version of AirPods Pro 3 could cost more than $280. Given the higher price and the possibility of new air gesture technology on AirPods, keeping a physical input method sounds more ideal than outright replacing the pressure-sensitive controls.
Depending on how far along the hardware is, it seems plausible that Apple could announce both versions. That’s not rumored, however, and pre-announcing a version that isn’t ready for at least several more months probably won’t happen. Apple could wait as long as next fall to revise AirPods Pro 3, but selling both versions at different prices is new territory for the AirPods Pro line. Apple currently sells two versions of AirPods 4: a standard version and a more expensive version with Active Noise Cancellation.
We’ll learn more as soon as tomorrow. Apple is holding its “Awe dropping” event at 10 am PT/ 1 pm ET on Tuesday, September 9. Stay tuned as 9to5Mac will be at Apple Park for hands-on coverage of everything announced!