Apple It was launched just last year AirPods Pro 3…So, those interested in buying one might figure that the next generation won’t be released for a while, and decide to just go ahead and buy it without overthinking it.
That’s certainly true—most AirPods models follow this pattern. But if you recall what happened with the AirPods Pro 2, you’ll know that Apple released a new version of the AirPods Pro 2 the following year. The AirPods Pro 3 is no exception; market rumors suggest Apple will launch an even higher-end model later this year. This means that if you’re not in a rush, you might want to wait and see (though it’s expected to be in the second half of the year).
Image source: MacRumors
If you’re thinking of buying AirPods Pro 3, hold off for now—rumor has it that Apple will release an even higher-end model later this year.
After Apple launched the AirPods Pro 2 in September 2022, it released a slightly updated model the following September, switching the charging port from Lightning to USB-C. All other specifications remained the same, including the H2 chip, sound quality, and noise cancellation features. At the time, with the launch of the USB-C version, sales of the Lightning version were discontinued.
According to a report by the foreign media outlet MacRumors, the upcoming AirPods Pro 3 are also expected to follow the pattern of releasing a new version every other year, but the internal upgrades may be more significant, so when they launch, both the new and old versions will be available for purchase simultaneously (the standard AirPods Pro 3 and the premium AirPods Pro 3), which is somewhat different from the previous AirPods Pro 2.
Guo Mingji stated that The AirPods Pro set to launch in 2026 will feature “more significant” hardware upgrades. While the specific changes are not yet clear, they will at least include a miniature infrared camera, which is expected to support gesture recognition and deliver a more advanced spatial audio experience when paired with the Apple Vision Pro headset.
Chinese leaker “Instant Digital” has also confirmed this and provided additional details, noting that the main differences in this high-end version of the AirPods Pro will be the infrared camera and gesture controls. It’s even possible that Apple might remove the pressure sensors from the high-end model and switch entirely to gesture controls.
In addition, MacRumors believes that the H3 audio chip could also be one of the features of the high-end version of the AirPods Pro 3.
Although there are more noticeable improvements, overall, this is not a completely new generation of AirPods Pro. As a result, the general consensus in the market is that this will be a high-end, premium version of the AirPods Pro 3.
As for the price, it’s unclear at this stage. However, the current price range for the entire AirPods lineup is $129, $179, $249, and $549. Therefore, there is a gap between the $249 AirPods Pro 3 and the $549 AirPods Max. Introducing a new model priced between the two seems quite feasible—perhaps in the $350–$450 range.
The release date is still unknown, but Apple typically unveils new AirPods models in the second half of the year—as was the case with the new AirPods Pro 2—so September 2026 is a strong possibility.
Source: KOCPC Chinese