Review · Earbuds ANC
Apple AirPods Pro 3
If you have an iPhone, AirPods Pro 3 are the earbuds to buy: SoundGuys calls them the best for iPhone and measured their noise cancelling among the best of any earbud. Hearing health features, heart-rate sensing, and IP57 protection add a lot for the money. Android owners and EQ tweakers should look at the Sony WF-1000XM6 instead.
Our take
The short version
AirPods Pro 3 (Sep 2025) are the easiest recommendation on our earbud list if you're on an iPhone. SoundGuys names them its best earbuds for iPhone and measured their ANC as among the best of any earbud. MacRumors' Apr 21, 2026 comparison with the Sony WF-1000XM6 calls both excellent and makes platform the deciding factor: AirPods for iPhone, Sony for Android.
Apple packed a lot in. Beyond the H2 chip and noise cancelling, you get heart-rate sensing, Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, and Hearing Protection features, Live Translation, five ear-tip sizes, and IP57 protection for both the buds and the case. Battery is rated at up to 8 hours with ANC and 24 with the case, and the case charges by USB-C, MagSafe, or Qi.
The value is strong too: list $249, and around $179 on Amazon in early October 2026, well under the Sony WF-1000XM6 at ~$258. The trade-offs are control and platform. There's no user EQ, and Apple's integration perks are built around the iPhone. iPhones use AAC, while the Sony adds LDAC for Android phones that support it.
Pros and cons
What we like
- SoundGuys' best earbuds for iPhone
- ANC that SoundGuys measured among the best of any earbud
- Heart-rate sensing plus Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, and Hearing Protection
- IP57 for both the buds and the case
- Case charges by USB-C, MagSafe, or Qi
Trade-offs
- No user EQ
- Built around the iPhone; MacRumors steers Android owners to the Sony
- Our sound score trails the Sony WF-1000XM6, which adds LDAC
Who it's for
Buy it if…
- iPhone owners who want one pair for commuting, flights, and the gym
- Anyone interested in Apple's hearing health features
- Runners and gym-goers who want heart-rate sensing in their earbuds
Skip it if…
- Android owners: the Sony WF-1000XM6 suits Android better, per MacRumors
- Galaxy owners: the Buds4 Pro get Samsung-only features
- Workout diehards who want earhooks: the Powerbeats Pro 2
Spec sheet
AirPods Pro 3 specs
| Battery | Up to 8 h with ANC; up to 24 h with the case |
|---|---|
| Noise cancelling | Yes (H2 chip) |
| Weight | 5.55 g per bud |
| Drivers | Not specified |
| Codecs | Not specified |
| Bluetooth | Not specified |
| Multipoint | Not specified |
| Water resistance | IP57 (buds and case) |
| Wired / USB-C audio | No (true wireless) |
| Microphones | Not specified |
| App / EQ | No user EQ |
| Also notable | Heart-rate sensing; Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, Hearing Protection; Live Translation; five ear-tip sizes; case charges by USB-C, MagSafe, or Qi |
From the manufacturer sources listed below. “Not specified” means those sources don't state it.
Watch
AirPods Pro 3 on video
Video by Marques Brownlee on YouTube. Their views are their own.
Cross-shop
Alternatives to consider
Sony WF-1000XM6
- Earbuds ANC
- ~$258
- Feb 2026
- Android
SoundGuys' best earbuds overall, and the pick for Android owners who want LDAC and EQ.
Pros
- Pro: SoundGuys' best earbuds overall
- Pro: SBC, AAC, LDAC, and LC3 support
- Pro: Multipoint plus 4 mics per bud for calls
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Highest list price of the earbuds we cover
- Trade-off: No aptX
- Travel
- 5 out of 5
- Calls
- 5 out of 5
- Music
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
- Earbuds ANC
- ~$299
- 2025
- Any phone
The noise-cancelling earbuds to buy when silence matters more than price or battery life.
Pros
- Pro: Top-of-class earbud ANC, per PCMag and SoundGuys
- Pro: Comfortable fit, with stability bands
- Pro: Multipoint and aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Pricey, and holding at list
- Trade-off: IPX4 only
- Travel
- 5 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
- Workouts
- 3 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
- Earhook earbuds ANC
- ~$179.95
- Feb 2025
- Any phone
The workout earbuds to buy: earhooks that stay put, a heart-rate sensor, and a big battery.
Pros
- Pro: Earhooks keep them locked in during workouts
- Pro: Built-in heart-rate monitoring
- Pro: 10 h per charge (8 h with ANC); 45 h total
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: The case is large
- Trade-off: IPX4, below the IP57 on AirPods Pro 3
- Workouts
- 5 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
- Value
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the review: Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
Related guides and comparisons
Sources
Manufacturer specs
- Apple AirPods Pro 3 tech specs (opens in a new tab) — Battery, IP rating, weight, health and hearing features, ear tips, and case charging
Review consensus
- SoundGuys — Best earbuds: best for iPhone; ANC measured among the best of any earbud
- MacRumors — WF-1000XM6 vs AirPods Pro 3, Apr 21, 2026: both excellent; AirPods suit iPhone
Published reviews and manufacturer specs, researched October 5, 2026. We didn't test these headphones ourselves; judgments credited to an outlet are that outlet's.
Disclosure: Our picks are independent and editorial — a synthesis of published reviews and manufacturer specs, not our own lab measurements. Prices are approximate Amazon prices seen October 5, 2026, not live quotes. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.