Apple AirPods Pro MFHP4LL/A

The AirPods Pro 3 have best-in-class ANC and the smoothest Apple integration we've seen, plus a genuinely useful heart-rate sensor. Sound is lively and fun, but serious music listeners should audition Sennheiser or Technics first. If you're an iPhone user, these are worth every penny — just be aware the fit might not work for all ear shapes.

Look, the 3rd-gen AirPods Pro don't just tweak the formula — they take the best noise cancellation in the business and dial it up to eleven. Apple claims 2x better ANC than the already stellar Pro 2, and after testing, we believe it. Add in a new heart-rate sensor, live translation, and an IP57 water-resistance bump, and these earbuds feel more like a leap than a refresh. If you live in the Apple ecosystem, the magic is real: they pair instantly, switch between your iPhone, Mac, and Watch without a hiccup, and even turn into clinical-grade hearing aids when you need them.

But they're not flawless, especially for the price. The hard plastic shape hasn't changed much, and while most ears find a comfortable, secure seal, a vocal minority can't get them to stay put. And if you're a music-first listener, the 69.6/100 music score in our database tells you that while the sound is clear and bassy, it's not the last word in detail or neutrality. For podcasts, calls, and drowning out airplane roar, though? They're absurdly good.

The star here is ANC — it's best-in-class, sitting in the 97th percentile, and the difference in a loud coffee shop or on a flight is almost spooky. Connectivity is just as polished, with Bluetooth 5.3 and multipoint that feels invisible, ranking up with the absolute best we've tested. Sound quality lands in the 83rd percentile: vocals are crisp, bass has satisfying thump, and spatial audio with head tracking is genuinely fun for movies. But that 69.6 music score is the weak link — audiophiles will notice a slightly compressed, processed character compared to wired IEMs or even some competitors. Battery life is solid at 8 hours per earbud with ANC on, though the case could use a bigger cell; a few power users grumble about topping it up more often than they'd like. The mic is strong enough for clear calls, and the IP57 rating means rain and gym sweat are non-issues.

With a street price bouncing between $162 and $260, the AirPods Pro 3 sit in flagship territory alongside Sony, Bose, and Sennheiser. For iPhone users, the value is undeniable: you're paying for an integrated experience no third-party bud can replicate, and the health features add real everyday utility. If you can grab them on sale around the $200 mark, they're a steal. But at full MSRP, Android users or anyone who just wants the best pure sound would be leaving money on the table.

Against the Sony WF-1000XM6, the Apple wins on ANC and ecosystem polish, but Sony fights back with more customizable EQ and better battery from the case. Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen are still the comfort champs — if the hard plastic of the AirPods bugs you, Bose is where you should go. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 sound more natural and detailed, but their ANC can't touch Apple's, and the heart-rate sensor is absent. The Technics EAH-AZ100-K offer a sweet middle ground with fantastic sound and multipoint, though they lack the Apple-only magic. If you use a Samsung phone, the Galaxy Buds3 Pro make more sense, but for the broader Apple crowd, nothing beats this integration.

If pure music fidelity is your hill to die on, skip these and grab the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 or Technics EAH-AZ100-K — they resolve finer detail and offer more natural tonality. Also, if you tried the AirPods Pro 2 and found the hard plastic shape uncomfortable, the 3rd gen won't change your mind; the physical design is almost identical, so the same fit frustrations will follow you.

If your iPhone is practically glued to your hand and you want earbuds that vanish into silence on command, the AirPods Pro 3 are an easy recommendation. They're the new benchmark for noise cancellation and a Swiss Army knife for calls, podcasts, and fitness tracking. The few comfort quirks and music limitations won't matter to most people — for daily use, this is as good as true wireless gets right now.