Apple has quietly hinted at the upcoming launch of AirPods Pro 3 through the first developer beta of iOS 26, unveiled during WWDC 2025. A new reference to “AirPods Pro 3” was spotted in the iOS system code, strongly indicating that the next-generation earbuds are in the pipeline.

AirPods Pro 3 Reference Found in iOS 26 Beta

The discovery was reported by MacRumors, which found the product listed within a headphone-related system framework. This aligns with earlier signs where Apple modified internal product descriptions from “AirPods Pro 2nd generation” to “AirPods Pro 2 or later,” hinting at an upcoming successor.

While Apple has not confirmed the device, reports suggest the AirPods Pro 3 may launch in Fall 2025.

Expected Features of AirPods Pro 3

Sleeker design

Upgraded audio chip for faster performance

New charging case with improved battery stats and possibly USB-C

Advanced health sensors, including heart rate and temperature tracking

AI-based features like contextual voice assistance

Apple is also exploring acoustic-based heart rate monitoring, using in-ear microphones for non-invasive health tracking. This could mark a significant step toward health integration in wearable audio devices.

What’s New in iOS 26?

iOS 26 introduces a redesigned UI called “Liquid Glass”, with semi-transparent layers, smooth animations, and customizable widgets. Key app updates include:

Phone & Messages: Call Screening, unified call logs, polls, and Apple Cash integration

Call Screening, unified call logs, polls, and Apple Cash integration Safari, Camera, Photos: Cleaner layouts and faster performance

Cleaner layouts and faster performance Apple Intelligence features: Custom emoji, live audio translation, smart summaries via ChatGPT

Custom emoji, live audio translation, smart summaries via ChatGPT New Games app : Centralized hub for tracking progress and discovering new titles

: Centralized hub for tracking progress and discovering new titles AirPods Upgrades: Studio-quality recording, improved voice isolation

Studio-quality recording, improved voice isolation Accessibility: Expanded Braille support, Live Listen updates, Personal Voice enhancements

Conclusion

The iOS 26 beta has all but confirmed that AirPods Pro 3 are on their way, likely arriving by late 2025. With rumored health tracking capabilities and AI enhancements, Apple’s next-gen earbuds may be its most feature-rich yet.

🍎 Apple’s rumored AirPods Pro 3 have popped up for the first time

📱 In the code for the iOS 26 beta, the upcoming earbuds are officially referenced

🎧 The headphones are expected to come with better noise cancellation, a slimmer design, in-ear heart rate monitoring, and more

📅 Given this leak, we could see AirPods Pro 3 alongside the iPhone 17, contradicting rumors

Apple hasn’t released a new pair of AirPods Pro earbuds since the AirPods Pro 2 came out in 2022, but that could change soon if a new leak is any indication.

The iOS 26 developer beta dropped yesterday, which a lot of folks were quick to install. People also started to sift through the code to find Easter eggs hinting at future Apple products, and it seems like a contributor to popular tech blog MacRumors was able to find a reference to “AirPods Pro 3.” Steve Moser says that the reference to the unreleased headphones exists, although there’s no mention of what features the buds will have.

The reference was found in a headphone-related UI framework, according to MacRumors, which seems to hint that Apple is gearing up for the AirPods Pro 3’s launch behind the scenes. It’s the second time we’ve seen Apple hint at a new version of AirPods Pro, following an update to a reference in iOS 18 that said “AirPods Pro 2nd Generation” to “AirPods Pro 2 or later.”

As for what we can expect, AirPods Pro 3 rumors say that the headphones will come with a tweaked design. The case and buds could be a bit slimmer this time around, although we don’t expect Apple to drop the silicone tips or do anything drastic. Under the hood, the buds will reportedly come with a new chip that’ll enable improved noise cancellation. The new AirPods could also come with sensors for in-ear heart rate tracking (similar to the Powerbeats Pro 2) and temperature detection. AirPods Pro 3 will also likely work with Apple’s new Live Translation feature which is debuting in iOS 26.

While previous rumors suggested the AirPods Pro 3 would debut in 2026, it seems like they could wind up shipping alongside the iPhone 17 series given the fact they’re referenced in iOS 26. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for any further indication we’ll be getting new AirPods Pro by the end of the year.

Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut. He’s been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.

Apple’s annual fall event takes place on Monday, September 9, when it is expected to unveil the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineup, and some new Apple Watch models. It may also make some additional new products available, but there are a handful of rumored upcoming devices that we don’t expect to make an appearance this month.

To help set expectations ahead of Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event, we’ve compiled a list of products that Apple is unlikely to announce in September, but rather later on in the year or in 2025 and beyond.

M4-Powered Macs

Apple is developing new Macs powered by the company’s next-generation M4 chip, which is built on chipmaking partner TSMC’s second-generation 3nm technology and features a new display engine, resulting in significant performance and power efficiency improvements over the M3 chip that Apple’s most recent Mac models are based on.

The first of Apple’s new M4-powered Macs are expected to arrive later in the year. According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman’s sources, Apple is planning to refresh the MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac with M4 chips this year, and we are likely to see the new models announced sometime in October, with a possible November launch.

Four machines that Apple has been testing reportedly have base-level M4 chips, according to developer logs. Three of the Macs have a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU. The fourth machine has an 8-core CPU and an 8-core GPU, which is not an M4 configuration that we’ve seen so far. All four of the M4 Macs have either 16GB or 32GB of Unified Memory.

Meanwhile, Apple’s supply chain is reportedly beginning mass production of next-generation 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips. If Apple repeats last year’s launch pattern, these machines are around two months away from being released.

iPhone SE 4

Following the release of the iPhone 16 lineup in September, Apple will release the fourth-generation iPhone SE as early as the beginning of 2025, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

The fourth-generation ‌iPhone SE‌ is rumored to feature an iPhone 14-like design, Face ID instead of Touch ID, a USB-C port, an Action button, an Apple-designed 5G modem, an A18 processor, and an all-screen look that does away with the Home Button.

The device’s display is expected to grow in size from 4.7 inches to 6.06 inches and use OLED for the first time, and the device will almost certainly come with 8GB of RAM, up from 4GB in the 2022 model, due to the hardware requirements of Apple Intelligence.

The device could be released ahead of the Lunar New Year in January 2025. However, all three existing iPhone SE models were announced in March over the years, so a March 2025 release seems quite possible too.

HomePod mini 2

Apple’s HomePod mini will be four years old in October. Gurman was first to highlight Apple’s work on a second-generation HomePod mini in August 2022. He also expressed skepticism about what a new ‌HomePod mini‌ could offer since “the latest ‌HomePod‌ doesn’t include any major new functions that aren’t already in the $99 mini.”

In February 2023, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed Apple would begin mass shipments of the second-generation HomePod mini in the second half of 2024. But given how long ago Kuo made the claim, it’s not clear how much weight should be given to it. And since then, rumors about the device have been scant.

That said, it would be reasonable to assume a new model would feature improved sound and microphones, along with an updated S-series chip and new color options. If Apple wants to keep up with Amazon’s rumored new Claude AI-powered Echo devices, Apple Intelligence could also factor into a next-generation HomePod mini.

Talking of colors: In an unusual development, Apple replaced the Space Gray with a practically identical Midnight finish just a few months ago, which would make it seem odd to expect a new model to be unveiled anytime soon, and almost certainly not at Apple’s upcoming iPhone 16 event.

AirPods Pro 3

Apple is expected to release a redesigned version of the AirPods Pro in 2025, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The update will likely include enhanced audio quality, an improved design, and a faster chip.

Apple may introduce a new hearing test feature for the AirPods Pro, potentially capable of detecting hearing issues. Additionally, new health sensors are under development, which could enable features such as reading body temperature from the ear canal and enhancing hearing-related functions like Conversation Boost and Live Listen.

The next-generation AirPods Pro are rumored to have significantly improved Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) compared to the AirPods Pro 2, although specific details on how ANC will be enhanced are not yet available.

New Apple TV

Apple is reportedly developing a new Apple TV with a faster processor while retaining the same design as the current model. Initially, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggested a 2024 launch for the new Apple TV, but he later indicated that an update is not imminent, leaving the timeline unclear.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the next-generation Apple TV could be more affordable, and that would fit a pattern of Apple reducing the price of the device. The second-generation (2010) and third-generation (2012) models of the Apple TV were both launched in the U.S. at a price of $99. Apple later reduced the price of the third-generation model to $69, establishing a precedent for a sub-$100 Apple TV that could better compete with low-cost streaming devices from companies like Amazon and Roku.

A future version of the Apple TV might feature a built-in camera for FaceTime and other video calling apps, as reported by Mark Gurman. While Apple introduced a FaceTime app for the Apple TV in tvOS 17, which works via a connected iPhone or iPad, this could be a step toward an Apple TV with an integrated camera.

Apple’s next product launch is coming up on Sept. 9, the company revealed on Monday when it sent out invites to its Apple Park keynote. We’re expecting the iPhone 16 lineup to take the spotlight, but Apple’s event invite might also reveal some potential clues.

While this is just speculation, Apple does tend to provide a fun thematic tie-in to their iPhone events with their invites. For instance, last year’s “Wonderlust” invite included imagery that eventually referenced the titanium colors of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. This year’s “It’s Glowtime” tagline is surrounded by pink, purple and blue shady patterns that look very similar to the color tones used to introduce Apple Intelligence at WWDC. The glow could even refer to the new glowing border that appears when you summon the Siri assistant in iOS 18.

If that design choice for the invite was intentional, it could mean Apple Intelligence, which Apple announced earlier this year but has yet to release, may be featured in the spotlight alongside the iPhone 16. Apple Intelligence features include generative AI features like GenMoji and Image Playground for creating emoji and photos respectively, as well as a new version of Siri.

If there’s a big focus on Apple Intelligence during the event, we can likely expect Apple’s suite of AI features to be available across the iPhone 16 lineup. But it would be interesting to see more AI on other devices too. For instance, Apple’s base AirPods haven’t been updated since 2021, and Apple has been selling its current AirPods Max headphones since 2020. Google, meanwhile, just announced the Pixel Buds Pro 2 which supports its Gemini assistant.

The new Siri on iOS 18 features its own glowy border. Screenshot

And just like how Google spent much of its recent Pixel event talking about how Gemini works on its devices, we can probably expect Apple to share more about Apple Intelligence during the event. So far, we know Apple Intelligence will run on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Apple’s iPad and Mac devices will also support Apple Intelligence as long as they include at least an M1 processor. These include most recent iPad Air and iPad Pro tablets along with MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Studio and Mac Pro computers.

I also hope that the “Glowtime” signifier might provide some hints about the iPhone 16 line itself. Perhaps we’ll see a bolder choice of colors for the base iPhone 16, since many of last year’s iPhone 15 models had a more subtle color tone. And while Apple emphasized the titanium builds on last year’s iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, those phones are only available in a relatively muted range of colors. Meanwhile Google’s Pixel 9 series include more vibrant options like pink and green shades across both its base and Pro phones. I remember how much attention the purple model of the iPhone 12 got a few years ago as a spring arrival, as did the yellow iPhone 14 when it also arrived several months after the iPhone 14’s original release. It’d be nice to see Apple bring in some more fluorescent options, and this year Apple did not release a spring iPhone 15 model in a new color.

While this is all speculation off of Apple’s invite, we’ll know more soon once Apple holds its fall event on Sept. 9. In the meantime, there’s plenty of material inside this invite to keep us guessing what’s to come.

We are just days away from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference keynote. Last week the company sent out media invitations for its annual conference. It’s a sign that we’re one step closer to WWDC 2024, which officially runs June 10 to 14 at Apple Park. While Apple hasn’t said what to expect, if past WWDC keynotes are any indication, we’ll likely see previews for iOS 18 and MacOS 15, as well as other Apple operating systems – and maybe new hardware.

There is speculation that Apple will share its plans for using generative AI in software and hardware at the conference. Rumors point to possible integrations for coding, as reported by Bloomberg in February, as well as consumer-facing features like improving privacy and security and the ability to create custom emojis based on a text thread, again as reported by Bloomberg.

Read more: WWDC 2024 Live Blog

One of my favorite parts of any Apple event is decoding the invite for a deeper understanding of what to expect. Typically, this involves taking a long look at Apple’s invite image and tagline to divinate cryptic themes or even products that might be dramatically unveiled. This year, all we have to work with for potential Easter Eggs are four rainbow-colored rings. But I have ideas.

Below those rings, the invite does offer one vital piece of information that we didn’t know for sure: the time. The WWDC 2024 keynote will start at 10 a.m. PT on Monday, June 10, which contrasts the early 7 a.m. PT start time for Apple’s virtual May iPad event and the late 5 p.m. PT time for last fall’s Scary Fast Mac event.

It’s Apple Park — no duh?!

A photo of Apple Park just before sunset. Apple

Let me get the obvious out of the way. The invite’s colorful circles look like the outline of a top-down view of Apple Park. And it could be as simple as that, especially since the conference takes place at Apple Park.

Read more: Best iPhone to Buy For 2024

A new and improved Siri

Siri is currently represented by an orb. Nelson Aguilar/CNET

But let’s spitball. This is purely for fun.

I have to give credit to CNET’s Abrar Al-Heeti for this one — she thinks the invite might be a subtle nod to improvements coming to Siri. And this makes complete sense. We’ve heard iOS 18 rumors for months about how Siri is getting an AI-powered glow up, and the invite’s colorful circles could be a reference to that.

Apple

Currently, summoning Siri makes a colorful orb pop up on Apple devices, and maybe Apple wants to differentiate an AI-powered Siri from the Siri of the past with these new rings. Al-Heeti’s idea makes even more sense when you see the animated version of the invite where the rings morph into different colors in a similar rhythm as Siri’s current on-device orb.

An Apple smart ring

Samsung teased the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. Could Apple be next? Andrew Lanxon/CNET

Hey, Samsung teased its Galaxy Ring in a “one more thing” style reveal at the January Galaxy Unpacked event, so who’s to say that Apple wouldn’t be next? Apple typically previews new products at WWDC, like the Vision Pro, to give developers time to build and optimize software.

An Apple smart ring is not that hard to imagine. The company prides itself on health, fitness and wellness tracking features across its devices, especially the Apple Watch. A ring-based wearable seems inevitable, especially if it were priced to match the low-end of the current Apple Watch lineup.

HomePod redux

The new HomePod now features an edge-to-edge Siri display Ty Pendlebury/CNET

While Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman thinks there won’t be new Macs launched until the end of this year and in 2025, for the past few years Apple has typically shown off new hardware at WWDC. And that might turn out to be true, because we saw Apple announce the M4 chip earlier this month for its new iPad Pros.

So if Apple were to announce hardware, could we see a new HomePod or HomePod Mini, which were updated in 2023 and 2020, respectively? The invite’s circles are reminiscent of a top-down view of a HomePod’s Siri screen or even a simple speaker.

I think this is quite unlikely. And on that note, this is an excellent place to end our speculation. What’s lovely is that WWDC is less than two weeks away. So we don’t have to wait long to find out what Apple is actually doing this year.

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites +31 More See all photos

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