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Apple is set to unveil the AirPods Pro 3 at its upcoming 'Awe Dropping' event alongside the iPhone 17. The next-generation earbuds promise a stronger focus on health and audio performance, but a highly anticipated live translation capability appears to be postponed beyond the initial release. Early leaks suggest Apple will ship enhanced health sensors at launch while holding back the translation feature for a later software update.
What’s New: Health Sensors and Hardware Upgrades
In-ear temperature and heart-rate monitoring
The AirPods Pro 3 are expected to introduce two dedicated health sensors: an in-ear temperature sensor and a heart-rate monitor. These additions build on Apple’s recent push into audio-based health tools — from iOS 18’s hearing test and Hearing Aid features to heart-rate support already present in the new Powerbeats Pro. Data from the AirPods' sensors would integrate with Apple Health and sync with the Apple Watch for combined analytics and richer health insights.
H3 chip, ANC improvements and battery
Under the hood, reports point to Apple’s new H3 chip powering the AirPods Pro 3. The H3 is expected to deliver stronger active noise cancellation (ANC), improved computational audio, lower latency for spatial audio, and more efficient power management. Rumors also suggest a sleeker case design — possibly slimmer, with a hidden LED and a front-facing pairing button — signaling both aesthetic and functional refinements.
Delayed Live Translation: Why It Matters
One of the most talked-about features rumored for AirPods Pro 3 was live translation: the ability for an iPhone to detect incoming speech, translate it in real time, and pipe the translated audio into the AirPods. According to a leak shared via 9to5Mac, Apple will not enable that capability at launch. The translation tech reportedly needs more development and will likely arrive via a software update later in the year — though Apple has a recent history of delaying promised features, such as Personalized Siri, which moved into 2026.
Use Cases and Practical Benefits
Health tracking inside truly wireless earbuds opens new use cases. In-ear temperature monitoring could help detect early signs of infection or fever during travel, while continuous heart-rate monitoring in earbuds can complement fitness tracking when an Apple Watch isn't worn. For travelers and professionals, the eventual live translation feature would simplify multilingual conversations and real-time meetings across languages, making the AirPods Pro 3 a versatile tool beyond music and calls.
Comparisons and Market Relevance
Compared with the current AirPods Pro and competitors from Sony and Bose, the AirPods Pro 3 seem targeted at users who want tighter integration with Apple’s health ecosystem and better on-device intelligence. The addition of health sensors narrows the gap with sports-focused earbuds like Powerbeats Pro, while the H3 chip looks designed to improve ANC and spatial audio performance to stay competitive in premium earbuds markets. From a market perspective, Apple’s move to add health features to earbuds underscores the company’s strategy to expand health telemetry beyond the wrist and into everyday audio accessories.
Advantages and Limitations
Advantages: Deep integration with Apple Health, new biometric sensors, stronger ANC, improved audio via H3, and a potentially sleeker design. Limitations: The absence of an out-of-the-box live translation feature at launch could disappoint frequent travelers and international users; some features may rely on later software updates or require an iPhone and Apple Watch for full functionality.
What to Expect at the 'Awe Dropping' Event
Apple may still formally announce the live translation feature during the event and outline a timeline for its rollout, but leaked timelines indicate translation will not be available immediately. For tech enthusiasts and industry watchers, the AirPods Pro 3 showcase will be worth following for detailed specs, pricing, and availability — and for confirmation of the H3 chip's real-world benefits in ANC and audio quality.
Conclusion
The AirPods Pro 3 appear to be more than a cosmetic refresh: they bring new health-centric sensors and an upgraded audio platform that emphasize Apple’s push into health and on-device intelligence. While the delayed live translation feature is a notable omission at launch, the overall combination of health tracking, improved ANC, and tighter ecosystem integration makes the AirPods Pro 3 a significant release in the premium wireless earbuds market.
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