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AirPods Pro 3 Won't Get 'Major' Audio or Active Noise Cancellation Improvements

The upcoming AirPods Pro 3 that Apple is expected to unveil tomorrow will not include notable improvements to audio quality or Active Noise Cancellation, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature
Apple's new earbuds will have heart rate tracking, a health-related feature that Apple first introduced with the Powerbeats Pro 2. LED optical sensors will pulse to measure heart rate using blood flow, and if the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ work like the Powerbeats Pro 2, the data will sync with popular fitness apps.

The ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ will also feature an updated design for a better fit, though there are no details on what exactly is going to change. The case is also going to be slimmed down, and it will be smaller like the AirPods 4 case.

News of no significant changes to ANC or audio quality is disappointing. There were some rumors of "much better" Active Noise Cancellation and Gurman himself said the AirPods would include a new H3 chip. New chips typically mean improvements to audio quality and ANC, and we could still get some small boosts, but it sounds like most of the focus will be on the new health feature.

Top Rated Comments

7 months ago
It makes absolutely no sense to have no audio improvements with new tech that has been available over the last three years.

If true, what was a day one purchase for me is now not. Don’t drop the ball Tim Apple.
Score: 76 Votes (Like | Disagree)
7 months ago
Do people really need their headphones to measure their heart rate? I’d expect that most folks interested in that data already have a fitness tracker of some kind. Why can’t AirPods just be great headphones?!
Score: 60 Votes (Like | Disagree)
7 months ago
I sure hope there's something else left unrevealed, cause absent audio / ANC improvements, that is a pitiful upgrade for a full new generation.
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
7 months ago
Wow, that's really pathetic if true.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gleepskip Avatar
7 months ago
Iterate, not innovate. I'm glad I was able to experience Apple when there were great moments.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jz0309 Avatar
7 months ago
"upgrading" earphones without upgrading audio quality and ANC - why upgrade in the first place? I get the USB-C update on the APP2, but this? to add a heart rate sensor? quite odd at best ...
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)