The AirPods Pro 3 are likely going to make some kind of appearance later today at Apple’s “Awe dropping” event. We’ve got an idea of what kind of features are rumored, like a heart rate monitor and an improved design, but we’re still mostly in the dark about what to expect from Apple’s next pair of ANC earbuds.
So, with little to go on and a vivid imagination, we turn to what we want to see from the next AirPods Pro. From hi-res sound to a different design, here are 5 things that we’d like to see from Apple’s next entrant for the best wireless earbuds.
No matter how likely they may be…
1. Hi-res audio
Did you know: The AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C have a trick up their white plastic sleeves. If you’re the lucky owner of a Vision Pro headset, you can connect your AirPods and get wireless lossless and Hi-res audio. That’s through Apple Music and Apple TV, increasing the quality of your tunes and movies. It’s the only way to get lossless audio, mind you — so I’d like to see something different with the AirPods Pro 3.
Launching alongside the new AirPods will be the new iPhone 17 models. I’d love to see the wireless lossless and hi-res tech that makes better sound possible with the Vision Pro make its way over the new iPhones and AirPods, so you can get the best sound possible. That would make for one of the biggest audio step-ups beyond using a new Codec like LDAC or AptX — and those aren’t likely given Apple’s in-house ALAC codec.
Likeliness rating: ★☆☆☆☆
2. A refreshed design
As nice as the AirPods Pro 2 are to look at, they share an almost identical design to the AirPods Pro (1st edition) that launched all the way back in 2019. That’s six years ago, almost to the day! Thankfully, the design is pretty timeless, but it would be nice to see a new design for Apple’s most premium in-ears.
I’m not talking about a complete rehash. We don’t really need more colors, but a shrunk-down case would be nice. Shorter stems, perhaps, and even more fitting options to make sure that you can dial them in to your ears. We’re seeing more and more earbuds feature fitting wings for a more secure fit, like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds gen 2, so it might be nice to see them make an appearance on the AirPods Pro 3.
We don’t have to re-invent the wheel, but some design refinements would be very welcome indeed.
Likeliness rating: ★★★★☆
Since the AirPods Pro 2 came out, we’ve seen drastic improvements in battery tech. Where six hours of battery life was ok in 2022, we’ve now got buds that last a lot longer. The Cambridge Melomania A100 are $100 cheaper than Apple’s buds, last up to 12 hours with ANC on, and even more when you turn the ANC off. Apple needs to step up the battery life game with the AirPods Pro 3.
They don’t have to be as impressive as the Melomania buds, but an increase would be most welcome. 8-9 hours would be the sweetspot, beating out both the Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose’s competitor buds for some decent staying power.
Likeliness rating: ★★★☆☆
4. Better Android compatability
The AirPods Pro 2 are still some of the best earbuds if you’re an iPhone user, but there are enough features missing on Android that users on that side of the fence have much better options. Exclusive features are irritating, and eliminate Apple from the running for an entire user base.
Rather than have features that only work with Apple phones, like voice assistant support and seamless multipoint connection, greater Android compatibility would be most welcome. If more features worked with my Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, I’d be sure to use my AirPods a whole lot more than I do right now. We don’t need everything, but Find My would be a great start.
Likeliness rating: ★★☆☆☆
5. Improved Siri integration
The latest version of Siri and her Apple Intelligence features might not be the most fully baked AI features around, but I’d still like to see them more integrated into my AirPods. The Google Pixel Buds family and the Samsung Galaxy Buds all let you control your chosen AI, and get features sent directly to your ears without pulling your phone out.
I can ask for directions to places with a quick voice prompt or get information about my surroundings. This would be amazing to have on the AirPods Pro 3, using Apple Intelligence for features like directions, information, and even live translation. That would be a big boost for Apple Intelligence as it continues to struggle, and it would make the AirPods more useful.
Likeliness rating: ★★★☆☆
Follow Tom’s Guide on Google News, or add us as a preferred source, to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
