Apple drops hints of 'AirPods Pro 3' in iOS 26 beta: Expected to launch later this year

AirPods Pro

Apple may have inadvertently confirmed the existence of its upcoming wireless earbuds—AirPods Pro 3—through a reference found in the iOS 26 developer beta. The mention was spotted within a headphone-related UI framework by contributor Steve Moser, known for identifying unreleased Apple product details in code. This early reference suggests the AirPods Pro 3 could debut before the end of 2025.

The listing appears alongside identifiers for previous models, including the first-generation AirPods Pro and the second-generation AirPods Pro, hinting that the third iteration is nearing completion. While Apple has yet to officially announce the device, the inclusion of its name in the system framework adds credibility to earlier rumours about the next-generation premium earbuds.

According to prior industry reports and analyst insights, the AirPods Pro 3 are expected to feature several upgrades. At the heart of these enhancements could be Apple’s new H3 chip, which would likely offer improved performance, faster processing, and better battery efficiency compared to the H2 chip used in the current model. Enhanced Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is also expected, possibly taking advantage of the chip’s capabilities for real-time sound processing.

Audio quality is anticipated to receive a boost as well, continuing Apple’s trend of refining sound across each new AirPods generation. Some leaks have also suggested a new design language for both the earbuds and their charging case, with the latter possibly adopting a more compact form factor.

One of the more interesting developments could be the inclusion of health sensors. Apple has been gradually expanding its health monitoring portfolio through its devices, and the AirPods Pro 3 might feature onboard sensors for heart rate tracking or even temperature detection.

This is not the first time Apple’s unreleased hardware has surfaced in a software beta, highlighting the challenges of keeping product development under wraps. With iOS 26 set for a stable release later this year, the AirPods Pro 3 could arrive alongside the next iPhone or during a separate fall hardware event.