AirPods Pro 3: Not all new features available immediately?

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The AirPods Pro 3 are about to be unveiled. They will be unveiled alongside the iPhone 17 and Apple Watch Series 11 at the Apple event on September 9. Initial information points to exciting new features, but also to a feature that may be missing at launch.

Apple has continuously developed the AirPods over the past few years. What originally began as headphones for high-quality audio has now become a product with additional health and software features. The AirPods Pro 2 already included an audio hearing test and clinically proven hearing aid functions. The third generation builds on this, expanding the range of functions with new sensors and, in the long term, could even enable live translation.

Two new health sensors in the AirPods Pro 3

According to an anonymous tip to 9to5Mac , the AirPods Pro 3 will contain two new sensors. One of them is for heart rate monitoring. This feature has long been considered likely, as Apple already demonstrated that the technology works in earbuds with the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2. The second sensor will measure temperature. This would put the AirPods Pro 3 a step further toward health tracking. While the devices were primarily developed for music and noise cancellation, this creates a wearable that can discreetly record vital signs in everyday life.

Live translation: Feature may come later

Another point concerns the rumored live translation feature. Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman has been reporting for some time that Apple is working on a translation feature for AirPods. Clues in the iOS 26 code confirm that development is underway. However, insiders now say that the feature may not be ready for the launch of the AirPods Pro 3. Instead, it will be released in a later software update. Evidence of this has already been found in the system code. Apple already offers live translation in iOS 26, for example within FaceTime. However, this feature has not yet been officially announced for AirPods. It has been speculated that the AirPods Pro 3 could be the premiere of this feature, possibly even alongside the AirPods Pro 2. If the rumor is confirmed, Apple is unlikely to release the translation until it is technically mature.

Apple's launch strategy

This approach would fit Apple's current strategy. In recent months, the company has postponed several features, including two planned features related to Apple Intelligence for Siri. Generally speaking, if a new feature hasn't already been tested in a beta version, it usually doesn't make it into a product at launch. For the AirPods Pro 3, this could mean that Apple will introduce the new hardware features but only enable the translations in a later version of the software. It's also possible that the feature will be made available in a beta before it's officially released to all users.

Watch the iPhone 17 Apple Event live on September 9

More than headphones: Apple's strategy with the AirPods Pro 3

The AirPods Pro 3 bring exciting innovations. With heart rate and temperature sensors, they move closer to health tracking and underscore Apple's commitment to making the AirPods more than just headphones. At the same time, the question remains as to when the live translation feature will actually launch. Insiders indicate that it won't happen immediately. On September 9, we'll see which rumors are true and which are false. One thing is already clear: The AirPods Pro 3 will be an important step in Apple's strategy to more closely integrate audio, health, and smart features. (Image: Shutterstock / Stas Malyarevsky)