A new rumor suggests AirPods Pro 3 will debut this year, but won’t bring any breakthrough hardware upgrades. The rumored IR-equipped cameras, which supposedly will enable air gestures for interacting with the earbuds, might not arrive until 2026.
Apple could unveil its new flagship AirPods Pro 3 earbuds at Tuesday’s Awe Dropping event.
However, the earbuds won’t pack any breakthrough hardware upgrades, including IR-equipped cameras for air gesture support. That feature supposedly must wait until 2026.
AirPods Pro 3 launch around the corner?
There has been a lot of conflicting information about the AirPods Pro 3. Some rumors suggest the earbuds won’t launch until 2026, while other reports indicate a 2025 launch. Clues spotted in the first iOS 26 developer beta suggested Apple’s new premium earbuds would arrive sooner rather than later.
Adding fuel to the fire, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared an updated prediction Saturday, saying AirPods Pro 3 will launch in 2H25. The renowned analyst initially predicted that Apple’s next-gen AirPods would not launch until 2026. But now, he thinks the upgrade earbuds will launch this year, but will miss out on IR-equipped cameras, which rumors suggest Apple will use for in-air hand gesture support.
Kuo said Saturday that “a more significant hardware upgrade with the IR camera-equipped model is anticipated in 2026.” He made no mention of heart-rate monitoring, a feature many expect in Apple’s next-gen earbuds.
[Update] Apple is expected to launch AirPods Pro 3 in 2H25, while a more significant hardware upgrade with the IR camera-equipped model is anticipated in 2026.
[更新] 預期Apple將在2H25推出AirPods Pro 3。硬體升級更顯著、配備IR相機的AirPods機型將在2026年推出。 https://t.co/xRbp6jeNU3
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) September 7, 2025
Apple launched the original AirPods Pro in 2019, with the current-gen AirPods Pro debuting in September 2022. Apple updated the earbuds to add USB-C support a year later, but otherwise, they remain the same.
On the software front, though, Apple has continuously improved its flagship AirPods, adding features like head gestures, voice isolation and hearing aid functionality. And iOS 26 will make the AirPods experience even better, introducing features like Camera remote, superior audio recording and CarPlay integration.
New AirPods may deliver better sound quality
If Apple launches AirPods Pro 3 this year, the new IR-equipped model might not launch in 2026. Instead, the company could delay the release to 2027 or later. Apple typically refreshes its AirPods lineup once every three years.
While not mentioned, AirPods Pro 3 should deliver better sound quality, enhanced active noise cancellation and longer battery life. Apple could also use the faster chip to unlock other compelling new features.
Apple might unveil the AirPods Pro 3 alongside the iPhone 17 lineup at its Awe Dropping event on September 9.
Rajesh has been closely following and writing about the latest happenings in the world of mobile for nearly a decade now. While he prefers Android, he does not deny the superiority of Apple’s products and ecosystem.
