Apple’s AirPods Professional are probably the most wonderful units of true wi-fi earbuds available on the market, nevertheless it’s arduous to argue they’re not getting a bit lengthy within the tooth. The present AirPods Professional, the second era of the household, debuted almost three years in the past, in September 2022.
It’s honest to say that we’re due for an replace. Perhaps not overdue, however actually on schedule. Apple’s first AirPods Professional have been launched in October 2019, so the corporate seems to be on a three-year cycle for its higher-end earbuds. Even the usual AirPods are likely to run about 2.5 years between updates, with the primary ones launched in December 2016, adopted by up to date fashions in March 2019, October 2021, and September 2024.
In any case, there’s solely a lot that must be added to a set of earbuds, and far of what Apple has completed with its AirPods has come by software program enhancements. The 2022 AirPods Professional have undergone important enhancements by iOS updates, including options similar to ?Adaptive Audio, Fingers-Free Siri interactions, and Voice Isolation.
Nonetheless, Apple likes to maintain issues recent, and stories have been gaining steam that new AirPods Professional are within the works. Whereas some have steered we’d not see them till 2026, new code references recommend they might be nearer than we expect.
Yesterday, the oldsters at MacRumors discovered a brand new Bluetooth ID in Apple’s codebase that doesn’t match any of the corporate’s present merchandise. In different phrases, it’s been added in preparation for one thing but to be launched.
All of Apple’s AirPods and Beats headphones have particular Bluetooth ID numbers, similar to 0x2024 (8228) for the AirPods Professional 2 with USB-C. Apple not too long ago up to date code associated to machine syncing, and that code included an inventory of all present audio units, plus one additional Bluetooth ID.
Juli Clover, MacRumors
The brand new ID, 8239, isn’t used for any machine that’s ever been seen by anybody exterior the partitions of Apple Park. There’s no data to go on right here apart from a four-digit quantity, however the truth that it’s a Bluetooth ID guidelines out one thing like a HomePod, so the one different chance is a brand new set of Beats headphones.
Nevertheless, the timing makes the AirPods Professional 3 a more likely choice, particularly because it’s additionally joined by references to “AirPods Professional 2 or later” present in a Might public software program launch, plus specific references to “AirPods Professional 3” within the first iOS 26 betas.
Nonetheless, whereas dependable sources like Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman have additionally predicted a late 2025 launch, many respected provide chain analysts are nonetheless predicting a 2026 launch, which suggests Apple may announce the AirPods Professional 3 this fall with extra restricted availability. It may additionally decide to skip the announcement throughout its September iPhone occasion and slip them out extra quietly through a press launch, because it did with the unique AirPods Professional in 2019.
What to Anticipate from the Subsequent AirPods Professional
If Apple goes to the difficulty of releasing a brand new set of AirPods Professional, we have now to imagine they’ll have some significant modifications over the present model. In any case, Apple has been capable of enhance the AirPods Professional 2 a number of instances with software program updates alone, so a brand new model of the high-end earbuds ought to convey options that may solely be achieved by {hardware} upgrades.
At one time, Apple was reportedly engaged on a stemless design for the AirPods Professional. These rumors cooled down after the AirPods Professional 2 arrived with no design modifications, however that doesn’t imply Apple shelved these plans. On the very least, the AirPods Professional 3 will doubtless function a diminished stem dimension, nevertheless it’s doable that Apple might obtain one thing extra bud-like. The open query is whether or not it desires to, as the present model has change into considerably iconic, and seemingly everybody else is doing stemless buds, together with Apple’s personal Beats division.
Because the H2 chip has now change into customary throughout many of the AirPods household (aside from the AirPods Max), the AirPods Professional 3 are more likely to usher in a next-generation “H3” chip. Little is thought about this, however it should doubtless enhance effectivity and energy extra superior Energetic Noise Cancellation and Adaptive Audio options. This might additionally lead to slight however noticeable enhancements to battery life. The potential of Bluetooth 5.4 assist may assist additional scale back audio latency for gaming.
Sadly, Apple isn’t more likely to undertake any higher-quality lossless codecs discovered on rival earbuds. As a substitute, it’s anticipated to proceed utilizing computational audio to ship a greater audio expertise in different methods, because it’s completed with options like Adaptive EQ and Spatial Audio.
The AirPods Professional 3 case is predicted to function Apple’s newest second-generation Extremely Wideband chip, enabling extra exact location monitoring within the Discover My app. It can undoubtedly undertake a few of the design modifications seen in final 12 months’s AirPods 4 case, which had a slimmer profile, a extra discreetly hid LED, and a capacitive button for pairing. There have additionally been rumors that the case might function an interactive touchscreen show, just like the JBL Tour Professional 2.
Nevertheless, if Apple goes down this street, many imagine it should take this to the following degree, successfully turning the AirPods Professional right into a “micro iPod.” Nonetheless, we wouldn’t recommend holding your breath on this one, as these rumors are totally speculative and seem like based mostly on an Apple patent filed in 2022 reasonably than any concrete data from sources inside Apple or its provide chain.
New Well being Options
The H3 chip may energy two new well being sensors which can be anticipated to be launched with the third-generation Professional earbuds. Apple has been engaged on in-ear coronary heart fee monitoring for years, and not too long ago unveiled the function by its Beats division with the Powerbeats Professional 2. Whereas it is smart for these sports-focused earbuds to obtain the function first, and it permits Apple to make use of them as a check mattress, it could be stunning if this sensor didn’t make its approach into the AirPods Professional 3.
There have additionally been dependable stories of Apple’s work on an in-ear physique temperature sensor. Whereas Apple added a temperature sensor to the 2022 Apple Watch Collection 8, this could solely measure pores and skin temperature on the wearer’s wrist, and due to this fact solely logs differential temperatures from a longtime baseline. A temperature sensor contained in the ear canal might present a considerably extra correct studying of the consumer’s core physique temperature.
This sensor would permit the AirPods Professional 3 to leapfrog the Powerbeats Professional. Whereas there was proof to recommend that Apple is engaged on it, there’s no assure it’s prepared but. Nevertheless, with Apple’s AirPods updates spaced up to now aside, it’s extra doubtless that the AirPods Professional 3 will likely be delayed to make sure it will probably embody the sensor than skip it and wait three extra years to introduce it.
We’ve additionally seen stories of well being options for the AirPods Professional which can be unlikely to be included within the subsequent mannequin. These are longer-term initiatives, similar to superior cardiac monitoring, brainwave (EEG) sensors, and gait and biomechanical evaluation to measure strolling steadiness.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]