Rumor: AirPods Pro 3 coming “soon” with “much better” noise cancellation

While Apple is expected to announce the AirPods 4 at its special event next month, the company is also working on new AirPods Pro. A new rumor today suggests that the AirPods Pro 3 will feature “much better” active noise cancellation, with a release expected “soon.”

Today’s rumor comes from Kosutami on social media, who has previously reported specific details about unreleased Apple products and accessories.

The AirPods Pro feature an in-ear design with rubber tips that fit inside your ear, creating a seal that allows for better noise cancellation. Today’s rumor suggests that the AirPods Pro 3 will feature improved “digital ANC” performance. This suggests that the improvements will come primarily from software and audio processing enhancements, rather than design changes to the AirPods Pro.

Bloomberg Mark Gurman has also been reporting extensively on Apple’s plans for the next-generation AirPods Pro. According to Gurman, the AirPods Pro 3 are expected to be released in 2025 and will come with new health features, a new audio chip, and more. Today’s rumor suggests that the AirPods Pro 3 will be released “soon,” but with no further timeline.

Apple is also planning to bring noise cancellation to a version of the AirPods 4, which are expected to be announced at the special “It’s Glowtime” event on September 9. In today’s post, Kosutami reiterates that expectation.

9to5Mac’s review

I’m interested to see how this plays out. The AirPods Pro 2 already offer excellent noise reduction compared to many other in-ear headphones on the market. Any upgrades Apple can make will only further extend the AirPods Pro’s industry-leading offering.

I also wonder if these improvements could make it to a future version of the AirPods Max, given that the changes are expected to be driven primarily by improvements to audio processing. I’m a big fan of the AirPods Max, but the new version coming this year is currently expected to offer no improvements beyond a switch to USB-C for charging.