Apple is preparing to launch a variety of products this fall, which includes incremental updates across its hardware range. Among these updates, the company plans to enhance the Apple Watch and Vision Pro headsets with faster configurations, as well as refresh the iPad Pros with a new M5 chip. Additionally, new HomePod minis and Apple TV set-top boxes are in development. Previously, Apple trialed heart rate tracking with the Powerbeats Pro 2, which may influence the design of the upcoming AirPods Pro 3, expected to debut in 2025. When both earbuds are in use, sensors can monitor blood flow over 100 times per second, providing accurate heart rate data.
This feature can be integrated into fitness applications, allowing for seamless data transfer to the iPhone’s Health app, enhancing the user’s workout experience. The AirPods Pro 3 are anticipated to incorporate similar sensing capabilities. Notably, if a user has both an Apple Watch and Powerbeats Pro 2, applications will likely access data from the Watch automatically. While this feature is helpful, it is expected to act as a complement to Apple’s leading health tracker rather than a replacement. In addition to heart rate monitoring, the next generation of AirPods Pro is rumored to include enhancements in audio quality and active noise cancellation, alongside minor design modifications and potentially improved battery life for longer listening periods.
Apple last updated the AirPods Pro 2 in September 2023, introducing a USB-C charging case and other refinements, following the previous year’s launch of AirPods Pro 3. If the reports from Gurman are accurate, the forthcoming AirPods Pro will represent the most significant advancement in this product line to date.