AirPods Pro 3: Price and how instant translation and heart rate sensor work

Apple's 'Awe-Dropping' keynote held yesterday not only served to unveil the new features of the iPhone 17 and its variants, but also to present devices that mark a before and after in the company's strategy. Among them, the AirPods Pro 3 captured much of the attention: headphones that, in addition to improving sound and noise cancellation , incorporate such unexpected functions as instant translation and an integrated heart sensor .

The instant translation feature, powered by Apple's artificial intelligence , has become one of the big surprises of the AirPods Pro 3. Its operation is simple, just have two people have a conversation, each wearing their AirPods, for one's voice to be automatically translated and heard in the other's language. Likewise, if the other person does not have one of these devices, we can use the iPhone screen to display the transcription . By pressing and holding both earphones , the translation mode is activated . The voice is sent to the iPhone, where Apple Intelligence's automatic recognition and translation algorithms process the sentences in real time . The response then travels back to the earphones in the chosen language. In addition, thanks to its H3 chip, the delay is minimal , which allows for relatively fluid dialogue.

In its first phase, Apple has confirmed support for English, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese , covering a vast geographic and demographic area. However, the company has hinted that future updates will incorporate more languages, likely starting with Italian, Chinese, and Japanese —strategic markets where translation demand is extremely high.

The other big leap forward for the AirPods Pro 3 is the heart rate sensor . Using photoplethysmographic (PPG) technology , these earbuds can measure your pulse by sending out pulses of infrared light and analyzing the absorption of this light in your bloodstream . The system emits up to 256 signals per second and, in combination with the accelerometers, gyroscope, and GPS technology, is capable of calculating calories burned and physical effort .

What's important is that the data syncs with the iPhone's Fitness app, making the earbuds a lightweight alternative to the Apple Watch . From recording a running workout to monitoring heart rate during a yoga class, the AirPods Pro 3 give users a way to track their exercise while listening to music or taking calls.

In Spain, the AirPods Pro 3 will be available starting September 19 for €249 , the same price as the previous generation. This is good news for users because, despite adding notable technological advances, the company has decided not to raise the price. This makes them a very attractive option for those looking to combine benchmark sound quality with productivity and health features previously unseen in Apple headphones.

Beyond the translation and heart rate sensor, the AirPods Pro 3 feature the best active noise cancellation (ANC) on the market for in-ear headphones. "Up to four times more effective than the original model, and twice as effective as the AirPods Pro 2," the company notes.

Their ergonomics have also evolved thanks to the analysis of more than ten thousand 3D ear scans , which has allowed the development of five sizes of ear cushions , including an XXS size, which improve fit, stability and acoustic performance. In addition, the earphones and the case are IP57 certified , which guarantees their resistance to sweat, dust and water .

Other improvements include personalized spatial audio , adaptive transparency mode, voice isolation during calls , detection when a conversation starts to automatically lower the volume, and even hearing features like noise protection , voice amplification, and hearing tests .