The new AirPods Pro 3 and the refreshed Apple Watch lineup (Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3) bring enhanced health monitoring, improved performance, and deeper integration with Apple Intelligence. These devices emphasize wellness, connectivity, and audio innovation, building on their predecessors with meaningful upgrades. Preorders are now live, with availability starting September 19. Let’s break down the key features, specs, and how they improve upon previous generations.
AirPods Pro 3: Next-Level Audio and Health Integration
Priced at $249, the AirPods Pro 3 represent Apple’s latest push into health-focused audio gear. Powered by the new H3 chip, they deliver advanced sound processing and AI capabilities. The design has been refined for a slimmer profile with better in-ear stability, ideal for activities like running or yoga, and includes concealed status LEDs for a cleaner look.
Key New Features
- Enhanced Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): Up to 2x more effective than the AirPods Pro 2 and 4x better than the original AirPods Pro, reducing sound pressure significantly for a quieter experience.
- Heart Rate Monitoring: A built-in sensor uses invisible infrared light pulsed 256 times per second to measure heart rate during workouts or daily use, integrating with the Health app for insights.
- Real-Time Translation: Leveraging Apple Intelligence, the earbuds support live translation for conversations, making them a tool for multilingual interactions.
- Improved Water Resistance: IP57 rating for sweat and water resistance, an upgrade from the IP54 on the Pro 2, offering better protection during intense activities.
- Battery Life Enhancements: Up to 2 hours longer on a single charge compared to the Pro 2 (though total battery with the case is slightly less due to design optimizations).
- Other Perks: New charging case design, stronger ANC algorithms, and AI features like personalized audio profiles.
Improvements Over AirPods Pro 2
The AirPods Pro 2 (released in 2022) set a high bar with solid ANC and adaptive audio, but the Pro 3 refines it further. The H3 chip enables more precise noise cancellation and health tracking, absent in the Pro 2. Battery life sees a per-charge boost, and the fit is more secure for active users. While the Pro 2 offered features like spatial audio and transparency mode, the Pro 3 adds heart rate sensing and live translation, pushing into fitness and productivity territories. However, temperature sensing, rumored earlier, didn’t make the cut.
| Feature | AirPods Pro 3 | AirPods Pro 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | H3 | H2 |
| ANC Effectiveness | 2x better than Pro 2 | Baseline |
| Health Sensors | Heart rate | None |
| Water Resistance | IP57 | IP54 |
| Battery (Single Charge) | Up to 2 hours longer | Up to 6 hours with ANC |
| Unique Features | Live translation, AI audio | Adaptive EQ, spatial audio |
| Price | $249 | $249 (original launch) |
Apple Watch Lineup: Health, Connectivity, and Performance Boosts
Apple refreshed its entire Watch family, catering to different user needs: the mainstream Series 11 ($399), the rugged Ultra 3 ($799), and the budget-friendly SE 3 ($249). All integrate deeper with Apple Intelligence for personalized health summaries and run on watchOS 12, with features like hypertension alerts and improved battery management.
Apple Watch Series 11: Smarter Health Insights
The Series 11 features a larger display with thinner borders for better visibility, available in 42mm and 46mm sizes. It’s powered by the S11 chip for faster performance and includes a 5G RedCap modem for efficient connectivity.
- New Features: Hypertension detection for high blood pressure alerts, 24-hour battery life, up to 50 new workout modes, and advanced sensors for accurate metrics like retrospective ovulation estimates.
- Improvements Over Series 10: The Series 10 (2024) introduced sleep apnea detection and a thinner design, but the Series 11 extends battery life, adds hypertension monitoring, and enhances display size for better glanceable info. The 5G modem improves efficiency over the Series 10’s LTE options.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Adventure-Ready with Satellite
Designed for extremes, the Ultra 3 boasts the largest Apple Watch display yet (potentially up to 49mm equivalent) and a rugged titanium build.
- New Features: Satellite connectivity for emergency SOS off-grid, 5G support, enhanced battery life, and new bands for extreme sports tracking.
- Improvements Over Ultra 2: The Ultra 2 (2023) offered double-tap gestures and precision finding, but the Ultra 3 adds satellite comms (a first for Apple Watch) and a larger screen for better readability during adventures. Battery remains multi-day, but with optimizations for longer expeditions.
Apple Watch SE 3: Affordable Essentials Upgraded
The entry-level SE 3 keeps core features in a refreshed exterior, now with faster charging.
- New Features: Wrist temperature sensing, one-handed interactions, hypertension alerts, and 2x faster charging (15 minutes for 8 hours of use).
- Improvements Over SE 2: The SE 2 (2022) provided basic fitness tracking with the S8 chip, but the SE 3 adds temperature sensing (from higher-end models) and hypertension detection, plus quicker charging for on-the-go users. It retains the S9 chip for compatibility but boosts health insights.
| Model | Key New Features | Improvements Over Predecessor | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series 11 | Hypertension alert, 24-hr battery, 5G | Better battery & health vs. Series 10 | $399 |
| Ultra 3 | Satellite SOS, largest display, 5G | Off-grid connectivity vs. Ultra 2 | $799 |
| SE 3 | Temp sensing, 2x faster charge | Added health sensors vs. SE 2 | $249 |
Ecosystem Synergy and Final Thoughts
These wearables shine in Apple’s ecosystem, with AirPods Pro 3 pairing seamlessly for heart rate during Watch workouts and Watches offering AI-driven insights via iPhone 17. New subscribers get three months of Apple Fitness+ and Music with purchases. While prices hold steady, the upgrades—especially in health and connectivity—make them compelling for upgraders.
For more on the iPhone 17 event, check our previous coverage. Which wearable are you eyeing: the health-packed AirPods or the adventure-ready Ultra? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
