AirPods Pro 3 Is Here! Ready for Apple’s Ultimate Audio Upgrade?

AirPods Pro 3 Is Here! Ready for Apple’s Ultimate Audio Upgrade?

Published: 11th September 2025

Reading Time: 8 minutes

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The iPhones weren’t the only highlights of Apple’s event — the AirPods Pro 3 came with significant upgrades. This year’s model includes the biggest addition: a heart-rate sensor, a feature that quietly turns earbuds into a more capable health buddy for your workouts or daily routines. Apple has also redesigned the fit by introducing foam-infused ear tips available in five sizes, including the brand-new XXS option for people who’ve always found the previous AirPods just a bit too large. It’s a small change, but definitely an important one for comfort and seal.

Apple claims that its world’s best in-ear Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology can block up to twice as much background noise as its previous model, marking a significant improvement for anyone spending time on trains, planes, or in noisy gyms. Pair that with Live Translation in iOS 26 and the upgrade to IP57 water- and sweat-resistance, and you can see what Apple aimed for this year.

Considering everything packed into a device about the size of one of those small smart-home sensors barely noticeable in a corner of a room, the USD $249 price tag seems quite reasonable for what you’re getting. If you’re planning to upgrade, pre-orders open on September 10, with full availability online and in stores starting September 19.

Highlights:

“World’s best Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)”—twice Pro 2, eight-hour battery life.
AirPods Pro 3 now feature heart rate sensing, Live Translation, and an improved fit.
IP57 Sweat & Water-Resistance Makes Them Suitable for Workouts.
Preorders begin September 10, available September 19 in the United States, Canada, and 50+ regions at USD $249.

A Closer Look at the AirPods Pro 3’s Upgraded Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

Let’s start with Apple’s bold statement, “world’s best in-ear Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)”—a claim you can find in any pair available on the market today. Big claim, but this holds true, especially considering its previous generation AirPods Pro 2, which remains a popular choice, and that’s not hard to believe as Apple managed to push things even further this year.

So, how did they do it? Well, they achieved this through three ways:

Ultra-low noise microphones
Advanced computational audio
New foam-infused ear tips for greater passive noise isolation

What happens when you put all this together? You get an Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) that feels different the moment you start listening. The AirPods Pro 3 block out up to 2x as much noise than the AirPods Pro 2 and close to 4x more than the first-generation model, which makes a huge difference if you are squeezing yourself into a busy area, trying to focus at work, or just chilling at home.

The soundstage feels more immersive because distractions fade faster, allowing your music or podcasts to sit in a clearer, quieter space. Even with that increase in isolation, Apple still managed to extend the battery life: with ANC on, the AirPods Pro 3 provide up to eight hours of playback — roughly a 33 percent increase over last year’s model.

How Comfortable are the new AirPods 3?

When it comes to comfort, the AirPods Pro 3 build on what already worked and push it a bit further. The previous generation fit most people well, but Apple clearly wanted a more secure, more sealed fit this time. To achieve this, the company relied on extensive research — scanning over 10,000 ears, analysing 100,000 hours of real-world usage, and gathering data from more than 300 million measuring points. That work led to a subtle redesign intended to improve passive isolation even before ANC is activated.

The buds are slightly smaller, and Apple adjusted the stem and ear-tip shape so everything lines up more closely to the center of the ear. This makes them sit more naturally, feel more stable, and less likely to stick out — basically, no more “antenna ears.” Apple also released new foam-infused ear tips in five sizes, including a new XXS option, which will be welcome for anyone who had trouble with the previous fit.

They’re now IP57 sweat and water-resistant, so taking them to the gym or out for a run isn’t an issue. And this is where the new heart-rate sensor comes into play. Apple’s tiny custom-built PPG sensor fires off invisible infrared pulses hundreds of times per second to monitor your heart rate in real-time. It’s impressive technology for something this small, and while some people might side-eye anything that beams light into their ear canal, the idea is to make fitness tracking feel more natural and hands-free.

During workouts, AirPods Pro 3 users can measure their heart rate and track workouts with a new experience in the Fitness app on iPhone, while enjoying an upgraded in-ear fit and added durability with IP57 during activities like running, HIIT, yoga, and more. | Image: Apple

Live Translation to AirPods

The AirPods Pro 3 introduce one of Apple’s most ambitious features yet: Live Translation. It’s still in beta, but even in its early stage, the concept is remarkable. With a simple toggle, your AirPods can enable a genuine conversation with someone who speaks an entirely different language. Apple combines computational audio and its new Apple Intelligence system to keep everything hands-free, allowing you to speak naturally and hear translated responses in real time. It’s designed for travel, work, study sessions, or simply connecting with people who don’t share the same first language.

If the person you’re talking to isn’t using AirPods, Apple still provides a workaround. Your iPhone can be held horizontally to display live transcription of your speech in their language, while their responses are translated back into your preferred language via your AirPods. It’s reminiscent of the early days of FaceTime — one of those features that starts as a convenience and quickly becomes essential after a few uses.

What makes it even more impressive is when both people are wearing AirPods with Live Translation turned on. Longer conversations become simpler because ANC subtly dims the other person’s voice, helping you concentrate on the translation without losing the natural flow of the chat. At launch, the feature supports English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, with Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese coming later this year. It’s early days, but this could quietly become one of the main reasons to upgrade.

AirPods Pro 3 deliver a more immersive listening experience and the world’s best ANC of any in-ear wireless headphones, whether users are in transit, at the office, or winding down at home. | Image: Apple

When Can You Expect to Get Your Hands on the AirPods Pro 3?

“With AirPods Pro 3, the most popular headphones take a massive leap forward, providing fantastic sound quality and the world’s best ANC of any in-ear wireless headphones,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. “Combined with an improved fit that provides greater stability for even more people, heart rate sensing, extended battery life, and Live Translation enabled by Apple Intelligence, AirPods Pro 3 take personal audio to the next level.”

Customers in the United States, Canada, and dozens of other regions will be able to pre-order the AirPods Pro 3 starting Wednesday, September 10, with full availability both online and in stores beginning Friday, September 19. Pricing starts at USD $249, placing them in line with the rest of Apple’s premium audio lineup.

Check Out AirPods Pro 3 At Apple

Apple

About the Author

Elias Al Bay

Elias Albay is the Founder and Director of Many Men Magazine, a Toronto-based digital publication dedicated to promoting modern masculinity through style, culture, and self-improvement. What started as a personal turning point became a purposeful platform. — born from Elias’ desire to create something meaningful after completing his studies and finding no career path that truly matched his ambitions. With a background in Civil Engineering from York University and experience in Commercial Flight Operations at CAE, he applied skills, and resilience from both fields to forge a new path.

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Porsche Built a One-of-a-Kind V8 Hypercar They Said Couldn’t Be Done

Elias Al Bay

Published: 28th August 2025

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Porsche has never been shy about flexing its engineering muscles, but this time, they’ve created something that feels less like a car and more like a daring statement. In a bold move that has the motorsport world buzzing, the German brand unveiled a road-going interpretation of its ferocious 963 hybrid endurance racer. Built as a one-off for billionaire racing legend Roger Penske, the Porsche 963 RSP proves that sometimes the wildest ideas from racing garages can actually make it onto the street.

Highlights:

The Porsche 963 RSP is a unique, road-legal version of its Le Mans-winning 963 race car, built exclusively for Roger Penske.
Its design draws direct inspiration from the legendary 917, featuring a Martini Silver finish, enamel Porsche badge, and retro Michelin logos.
A 4.6-litre twin-turbo V8 with hybrid technology generates 680 hp, providing acceleration nearly identical to that of the actual race car.
Adjustable racing dampers, refined ECU mapping, and a tan leather interior provide the car with a comfortable balance.
While Porsche hasn’t revealed the price, experts estimate it is in the multi-million-dollar range, making it one of the rarest and most expensive Porsches ever.

From the outside, the car looks like it rolled straight out of Le Mans and accidentally wandered into civilization. Yet behind its wild silhouette lies a story rooted in passion. “This really started out as a ‘what if?’ – a passion project by a small team of enthusiasts at Penske and Porsche who together imagined a version of the 963 that as closely as possible the spirit and appearance of the Count Rossi 917,” said Timo Resch, Porsche Cars North America president and CEO. “The 917 from the story was every inch a race car – albeit one driven on the road – and we took the same approach with the 963 RSP. It uses beautiful materials of the best quality available, but is still every bit a race car underneath.”

That reference to the 917 isn’t just marketing fluff. The legendary model is one of Porsche’s most iconic machines, remembered for its outrageous speed and dominance on the track. To create a spiritual successor, Porsche’s engineers needed to walk a fine line: stay true to racing DNA while adding just enough refinement for the road. The result? A machine that still feels like a prototype racer at heart, just with license plates.

Powering this monster is a 4.6-litre twin-turbocharged V8 derived from the RS Spyder race program. It’s not just a nod to Porsche’s past—it’s the same basic unit that later found its way, in naturally aspirated form, into the 918 Spyder hypercar. Here, though, it’s armed with turbochargers from Van der Lee and paired with a lithium-ion hybrid system, delivering a violent 680 horsepower. The acceleration is said to be so intense it borders on absurd, nearly matching the full-blown race car in sheer brutality.

To make it survivable on real roads, Porsche did soften things ever so slightly. The ECU has been remapped to provide smoother power delivery, and adjustable Multimatic DSSV dampers—normally the preserve of racing prototypes—have been tuned to their gentlest settings. This means the 963 RSP won’t destroy your spine on a city commute, but don’t mistake it for comfort. This isn’t a Panamera in disguise. It’s still pure race-bred chaos with just enough civility to pass inspection.

Visually, the homage to the 917 is crystal clear. The car features a “Martini Silver” finish, just like its spiritual predecessor, complemented by satin black trim and a subtle 3D-printed “963 RSP” badge on the rear. Compared to the standard 963, Porsche has made a few modifications to enhance its road presence: fender vents, carbon-fibre blanking plates within the rear wing, and enamel Porsche badging instead of simple decals. Even the tyres nod to the past, with retro 1970s-style Michelin logos wrapped around 18-inch wheels.

The single-piece carbon seat is trimmed in soft tan leather, the cabin materials are high-end, and, in a playful twist, there’s even a detachable 3D-printed cupholder. Sure, it won’t win any awards for practicality—luggage space is laughable—but this isn’t a car designed for grocery runs. It’s designed to thrill, impress, and maybe even terrify.

For Penske, the car is more than a vanity project—it’s a continuation of a decades-long partnership with Porsche. “We have enjoyed a terrific relationship with Porsche dating back to 1972. The Porsche 917/30 was one of the greatest eras in Team Penske history with numerous wins and championships, along with the closed-course speed record set by Mark Donohue in 1975,” said Roger Penske, chairman of the Penske Corporation.

“With such a remarkable partnership continuing to this day, we felt it was time to create the most exciting car we could imagine,” Penske continued. “Just like the 917, I wanted this car to be authentic to its origin and have as few changes to it as possible. When we got into the project, the differences in the two generations of race cars provided a great challenge. What emerged is a car that has lost none of its edge and is exciting whether on the track or on the road.”

Naturally, Porsche hasn’t revealed the price of this one-of-a-kind vehicle, but insiders indicate it could match the seven-figure sums commanded by the original 917. A custom, unique hypercar with this much heritage isn’t just costly—it’s priceless. For collectors, it embodies the ultimate goal: something unattainable elsewhere, built by one of the most renowned automakers in the world.

And perhaps that’s the true magic here. The 963 RSP isn’t about practicality or even logic. It’s about dreams. It’s about proving that a wild “what if?” can turn into an incredible reality. It’s about showing the world that Porsche still knows how to shock, delight, and inspire. Because at the end of the day, the only thing rarer than a race car for the road is a car that captures the imagination quite like this.

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