Apple AirPods Pro 3 with live translation and in-ear active noise cancellation

"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” -Steve Jobs

Standing outside Apple Park in Cupertino, California, at the Awe Dropping Apple event, Apple CEO Tim Cook officially announced eight new products: Four new iPhones (iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Pro Max, and the absolutely stunning all-new iPhone Air), three Apple Watch updates, and the AirPods Pro 3.

I watched the live streamed event on 9 September and if you missed it, you can now watch or rewatch it on YouTube here below:

I am very impressed by the new AirPods Pro 3. They are packed with great features and an extended battery life. I think they will be fantastic travel companions and useful for many way beyond just listening to music.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) on AirPods Pro 3 with enhanced audio hardware

Apple introduced the AirPods Pro 3 as the "ultimate audio experience" featuring a new design with amazing sound quality, the best yet in-ear Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) removing up to two times more noise than the previous generation of AirPods Pro and four time more than the original generation of AirPods Pro.

This is thanks to ultra-low noise microphones and advanced computational audio combined with new foam-infused ear tips for greater passive noise isolation. The new AirPods Pro 3 also have improved sweat and water resistance, and five adjustable ear tips for a customised fit.

Workout and health tracking

The AirPods Pro 3 updated design promises a better in-ear fit and stability during sports activities such as running, HIIT, yoga, indoor rowing, dancing, and other activities.

In sync with the new experience in the Fitness app on iPhone and for the first time, AirPods Pro 3 can now measure heart rate and track over 50 workout types thanks to its infrared sensors. This feature is important to avoid exceeding your heart limits during exercising, something some people tend to forget about.

Live Translation on AirPods Pro 3

Live Translation, which also features on iPhone, also comes to AirPods, making in-person conversations easier across languages in situations such as travelling. I have been long waiting for this feature. Imagine travelling to anywhere without having a language barrier.

Despite the English language rapidly expanding thanks to the Internet, music, and more global conscious younger generations there are still places where a language barrier is an issue. With a feature such as Live Translation you get the translation into your chosen language right into your ear, to repond in the other person's language you simple speak and show the automatic live translation on your iPhone's screen.

If both you and the other person are wearing AirPods Pro 3, you can both speak normally in your preferred language and receive the translation directly into your ear.

Live Translation is powered by computational audio and Apple Intelligence. To interact with someone who doesnt't have AirPods Pro 3 there is an option to use iPhone as a horizontal display which shows the live transcription of what the user is saying in the other person's preferred language. When the other person responds, their speech is translated into the user's language with AirPods. Of course, it's even more useful when both users are wearing their own AirPods with Live Translation enabled from their iPhone.

Live Translation on AirPods is for now available in English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. By the end of the year, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified) are going to be added.

Hearing Aid

Hearing Aid capability now features automatic Conversation Boost and 67% more battery life in Transparency mode and up to 10 hours with a single charge.

Hearing Test is intended for individuals 18 years old or older, and the Hearing Aid is intended to amplify sound for individuals 18 years old or older with perceived mild to moderate hearing impairment.

AirPods Pro 3 and the environment

Apple's commitment to its ambitious plan to become carbon neutral across its entire footprint by the end of this decade is known as Apple 2030. Apple plans on achieving this goal by reducing product emissions from their three biggest sources: Materials, electricity, and transportation.

AirPods Pro 3 are made with 40% recycled content, including 100% recycled cobalt in the battery and 65% recycled plastic in the case. They are manufactured with 40% renewable electricity coming from wind and solar sources across the Apple supply chain. AirPods Pro 3 are designed to last, whilst meeting Apple’s high standards for energy efficiency and safe chemistry.

The paper packaging is 100 % fibre-based and can be easily recycled. Apple encourages uses to recycle their Apple products through Apple's recycle programme or some other way such as selling the old devices to new users.

iPods Pro 3 are available in Apple Stores on 19 September starting at $249 and already available to pre-order now. Apple advices to check availability in country or region since some health features or languages may not be available in all regions or all languages.

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