AirPods Pro 3 Reportedly Mentioned in iOS 26 Beta 1 Code 296t6a Could Debut in H2 2025

Here's what we know about the anticipated successor to the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation). 5d705n

Written by David Delima | Updated: 11 June 2025 18:07 IST

AirPods Pro 3 Reportedly Mentioned in iOS 26 Beta 1 Code, Could Debut in H2 2025

Photo Credit: Pexels/ Antoni Shkraba 66q1d

Apple's AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) model was unveiled in 2022

Highlights

AirPods Pro 3 is expected to launch later this year
The wireless headset has been mentioned in the latest iOS 26 Beta 1
Apple has yet to announce any plans to launch the AirPods Pro 3

ment

Apple rolled out the first iOS 26 developer beta earlier this week, and details that were not announced by the company during its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2025) keynote event have begun to surface online. One of the most notable discoveries is the mention of a new AirPods Pro 3 model that is expected to arrive in the second half of 2025 as the successor to the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) model that was launched in September 2022.

AirPods Pro 3 Reference Spotted in iOS 26 UI Framework 6o3r4j

MacRumors contributor Steve Moser discovered references to the "AirPods Pro 3" in the iOS 26 Developer Beta 1 code on Tuesday. Apple seeded the first developer beta of the iOS 26 software release shortly after the WWDC 2025 keynote event, and the rumoured wireless headset was spotted in a UI framework related to headphones, according to the publication.

The AirPods Pro 3 model is expected to debut with incremental hardware upgrades, including an upgraded version of the H2 chip that arrived on the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation). As a result, the AirPods Pro 3 could offer improved active noise cancellation (ANC) and improved battery life.

AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 May Get New Head Gestures, Camera Control, More

According to a recent report, the Cupertino company isn't expected to make major hardware changes to the AirPods until 2026. Apple is said to be working on a pair of AirPods equipped with an infrared camera. This wouldn't be the first time that Apple has added new sensors to a wireless headset — the recently launched Powerbeats Pro 2 has a built-in heart rate sensor.

Apple doesn't typically reveal any details about devices before they are launched, and we're unlikely to see any announcement from the company until September, which is when the next generation iPhone 17 series is expected to debut. The AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) was launched in September 2022 alongside the iPhone 14 lineup.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) True Wireless Stereo (TWS) Earphones 1e225

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design / Comfort
Audio Quality
Battery Life
Value For Money

Good
Classic design with improved controls
Comfortable fit
State-of-the-art charging case
Very good battery life
Flexible, eager sound quality
Excellent ANC and transparency modes

Bad
Some features only work on Apple devices
Somewhat expensive

Read detailed Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) True Wireless Stereo (TWS) Earphones review

Colour White

Headphone Type In-Ear

Microphone Yes

Connectivity True Wireless Stereo (TWS)

Type Earphones

More Apple Headphones & Headset

Comments

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Further reading: iOS 26

David Delima

Email David Delima

As a writer on technology with Gadgets 360, David Delima is interested in open-source technology, cybersecurity, consumer privacy, and loves to read and write about how the Internet works. David can be ed via email at [email protected], on Twitter at @DxDavey, and Mastodon at mstdn.social/@delima. More