Apple is anticipated to unveil the AirPods Pro 3 shortly, potentially during this week’s special event. Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has indicated that a new, enhanced version of the AirPods Pro will be introduced in 2026. This is notable, as Apple typically takes around three years to make significant changes to their AirPods lineup. The AirPods Pro 2 was released in 2022 and saw minor updates in 2023. The upcoming 2026 model is expected to feature a small infrared camera, enabling users to operate the AirPods via hand gestures, which could integrate seamlessly with Apple’s new Vision Pro headset. Instant Digital corroborates this information, stating that the 2026 variant will be a premium, higher-priced edition of the AirPods Pro 3.
Apple will offer both standard and high-end versions of the AirPods Pro concurrently. The premium model may forgo pressure sensors in favor of gesture controls utilizing the new camera. This model is likely to retail for more than the current $249 AirPods Pro. According to MacRumors, the AirPods Pro 3 will be revealed at the iPhone 17 event on September 9, featuring heart rate monitoring, a more compact charging case, enhanced audio quality, and upgraded noise cancellation.