Apple AirPods Pro 3 are now on sale — but are they worth the £219 price-tag?
The Apple AirPods 3 Pro have just been announced, but with another upgrade allegedly coming in 2026, are they worth the money now?
It comes around once a year, and we're always waiting with bated breath. No, it's not Christmas, it's the 'Awe-Dropping' Apple event!
This year has been choc-full of exciting new products, from the Apple iPhone 17 line-up to the new Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch Series 11. But what we've got our eyes on - or more accurately, our ears - are the new Apple AirPods Pro 3.
While the Apple AirPods were upgraded last year, the Apple AirPods Pro haven't been upgraded since 2022. However, with rumours already swirling about a new AirPods upgrade in 2026, are the Apple AirPods Pro 3 worth buying right now?
That's where the RadioTimes.com Technology team comes in. Here's our guide to the latest Apple AirPods Pro 3 release, and where you can buy the wireless earbuds today.
Buy the Apple AirPods Pro 3 for £219 at Amazon
Take a look at the new Apple Watch Ultra 3 UK release date and why we prefer it to the Apple Watch Series 11.
Plus, check out the new Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max UK release date and Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch SE 3 guide.
Jump to:
- Apple AirPods Pro 3 UK release date
- How to buy the Apple AirPods Pro 3 in the UK
- Apple AirPods Pro 3 UK price
- Apple AirPods Pro 3 feature enhancements
- Apple AirPods Pro 3 design improvements
- Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
- Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Apple AirPods Pro 2
Apple AirPods Pro 3 UK release date
Apple's latest launch event is took place on Tuesday 9th September, and the tech giant announced the release of the Apple AirPods Pro 3, amongst other products.
Buy the Apple AirPods Pro 3 for £219 at Amazon
How to buy the Apple AirPods Pro 3 in the UK
Pre-orders for the new Apple AirPods Pro 3 lasted from Tuesday 9th September until Friday 19th September, and the earphones are now available to buy.
Earlier last week, AirPods Pro 3 pre-orders were only available at Apple, but as we approached the on sale date, we saw more and more UK retailers have stock availability. Here's a complete list of UK retailers and mobile networks with Apple AirPods Pro 3 pre-order stock:
Check out the best Apple iPhone 17 deals.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 UK price
The new Apple Airpods Pro 3 will cost £219.
For context, the Apple AirPods 4 cost £129, but the same model with active noise cancellation costs £179. Apple AirPods Pro 2 launched at £249 and have now been reduced to £229.
Buy the Apple AirPods Pro 3 for £219 at Amazon
Apple AirPods Pro 3 feature enhancements
As the Apple AirPods Pro 3 have been in development for a number of years, we're seeing some major feature upgrades, most notably, its over-the-ear headphone performance.
At Apple's WWDC 2025 event earlier this year, the company announced new iOS 26 features for already released AirPods, which we can see on the Apple AirPods Pro 3. From sleep detection that pauses playback when you fall asleep to more head gesture controls and remote control of your iPhone or iPad, there are plenty of improvements.
But what about new features that are unique to the Apple AirPods Pro 3? Firstly, a fast H3 processing chip has been included, which improves the device's noise cancellation capabilities.
Health and wellness features reign supreme on the Apple AirPods Pro 3. You can now track your heart rate using just your AirPods, taking away the need to wear an Apple Watch while working out, not to mention the temperature detection available.
However, one of the features that got everyone talking at Tuesday's 'Awe-Dropping' event was the inclusion of Live Translation.
What is the Apple AirPods Pro 3 Live Translation feature?
Sometimes a feature comes along which makes you realise just how impressive Apple is; the Live Translation helps you understand another language and to communicate with others by speaking naturally with AirPods. For example, two people who are wearing AirPods (with Live Translation enabled from their iPhone) can hear a translation as the volume of the other person speaking is lowered.
If you're speaking to someone who doesn't have the Apple AirPods Pro 3, there's the option to use the iPhone as a horizontal display to show the live transcription instead.
So far, Live Translation is available in five languages, English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, and will be adding four more languages by the end of 2025: Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified).
What devices are the Apple AirPods Pro 3 compatible with?
The new Apple AirPods Pro 3 uses Bluetooth 5.3 wireless technology, and they can be used as wireless earphones with any Apple device (including older models) and non-Apple devices (like Android smartphones).
However, be mindful that functionality might be limited. For example, the new Live Translation feature may not work if you have an Android smartphone as it has to be enabled from an iPhone.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 design improvements
When it comes to AirPods, Apple has never deviated very much from the classic design, and the Apple AirPods Pro 3 are no different.
Apple have opted to keep the classic white AirPods design, with short stems. Plus, like most other Apple products, the charging case has USB-C connectivity. And speaking of the case, it showcases Apple's new lighter and slimmer design.
However, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 now come with five different tip sizes, which offer a more secure in-ear design.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
As Samsung's flagship ear buds, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are on everyone's minds when it comes to the top audio performers. But how do they hold up compared to the new Apple AirPods Pro 3?
Firstly, there are the obvious design differences, with the traditional Apple white contrasting against the Samsung Galaxy sleek grey. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro also have stems, in contrast to older Galaxy Buds models.
These models offer a slightly different sound. The Apple AirPods Pro 3 have a neutral and well-balanced sound, achieved using adaptive EQ, while the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro adopt a bass-forward tuning.
When it comes to one of the key features, noise cancellation, Apple takes the edge. While the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro do an overall good job with ANC, thanks to a decent transparency mode and Galaxy AI-driven noise adaptation, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 are more adept at blocking lower-frequency noise and have a refined transparency mode.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Apple AirPods Pro 2
When it comes to comparing the Apple AirPods Pro 3 with its predecessor, the first thing to note is the improved H3 processing chip, leading to improved noise cancellation capabilities.
There are also plenty of health features available on the Pro 3 that are missing from the Pro 2: heart-rate tracking and in-ear temperature, to name a couple. Plus, the impressive Live Translation feature that we've just mentioned is only available on the Apple AirPods Pro 3.
When it comes to design, there isn't much to distinguish the two pairs of AirPods. Apple has stuck with the classic white AirPod design with short stems; the only difference is in the case. When it comes to the Apple AirPods Pro 3, the case is equipped with USB-C connectivity and is both lighter and more compact.
For more of the latest releases, take a look at the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE UK release date and reMarkable Paper Pro Move UK release date.
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