New AirPods 2025 launch date: AirPods Professional 3 and AirPods Max 2 rumors

In September 2024, Apple launched the AirPods 4. On the similar time the corporate introduced that listening to help options could be coming to the 2nd technology AirPods Professional and the AirPods Max received a minor replace (Lightning switched for USB-C and a colour refresh). These hoping that the AirPods Professional 3 and the AirPods Max 2 would launch have been disillusioned.

It’s now virtually three years for the reason that AirPods Professional 2 have been launched in September 2022, and greater than 4 years for the reason that AirPods Max introduction in December 2020. Updates are lengthy overdue.

On this article we’re monitoring all of the rumors concerning the launch date, new options and specs and every other modifications coming to the AirPods Professional and AirPods Max. Learn on for the most recent information concerning the 2025 AirPods.

We’ll look first on the rumours and leaks regarding the AirPods Professional 3 earlier than shifting on to the AirPods Max 2 under (click on right here to leap to the AirPods Max part).

AirPods Professional 3 launch date: When will the AirPods Professional 3 be launched?

It will be typical to anticipate a September launch for AirPods Professional, alongside iPhone 17. The unique AirPods Professional have been launched in October 2019, the AirPods 2nd-gen launched in September 2022, and people have been up to date with USB-C in September 2023.

In a February 2025, Bloomberg report Mark Gurman urged that the AirPods Professional 3 have been “Nonetheless many months away”. That would nonetheless line up with a September (or October) launch although.

Additionally in February an unverified leaker claimed in a tweet that there could be an AirPods Professional launch in Might or June.

Nonetheless, in Might 2025 analyst Ming-Chi Kuo urged that we’d not see an replace to the AirPods till 2026. This might relate to manufacturing delays because of a brand new infra-red digicam Apple is alleged to be equipping the AirPods with (extra on that under).

AirPods Professional 3 value: How a lot will the AirPods Professional 3 value?

We don’t anticipate the worth to vary, though it might improve in sure elements of the world and stay the identical in others.

For instance, when Apple launched the AirPods Professional within the U.Okay. the worth was £249, that value was later lowered to £229, so it would return as much as £249. The worth within the U.S. hasn’t modified since launch. Different elements might have an effect on pricing.

Pricing for the AirPods vary begins at $129/£129 for the AirPods 4, and rises to $499/£549 for the AirPods Max:

• Apple Earbuds: $19/£19
• AirPods 4: $129/£129
• AirPoids 4 with ANC: $179/£179
• AirPods Professional 2nd-gen $249/£229
• AirPods Max $549/£499

Ignoring the $300 premium for the AirPods Max, that’s an additional $70 between the AirPods 4 with ANC and the AirPods Professional. It will be possible for Apple to extend the worth of the AirPods Professional if the brand new options made the improve worthwhile.

We’ve got a round-up of the Finest wi-fi earbuds for iPhones and the most effective wired headphones for those who’d like to contemplate alternate options to AirPods. Additionally learn AirPods Professional vs AirPods to learn the way the fashions examine.

AirPods Professional 3 options: What specs and options will the AirPods Professional 3 have?

It’s pretty straightforward to make predictions concerning the new options coming to AirPods Professional 3 simply by trying on the AirPods 4 and the Beats Powerbeats Professional 2 (Beats is an Apple-owned subsidiary). For instance, Powerbeats Professional 2, which launched in February 2025, contains coronary heart fee monitoring. Learn our overview of the Powerbeats Professional 2 and our AirPods 4 overview.

As for the options rumored to be coming to the AirPods Professional 3, right here’s what we’ve heard:

Coronary heart Price monitoring: In December 2024, Gurman stated Apple is engaged on in-ear coronary heart fee monitoring. This can allow customers to trace coronary heart fee whereas exercising with out having to put on an Apple Watch.

The inclusion of coronary heart fee monitoring within the Powerbeats Professional 2 actually signifies that the identical characteristic will probably be out there on the AirPods Professional 3, however you possibly can anticipate it to be superior. One problem with the Powerbeats Professional 2 is that they’ll’t steam music and seize coronary heart knowledge concurrently. One other problem is with the interaction between the guts fee monitoring on the Apple Watch and the Powerbeats.

Temperature monitoring: Mark Gurman has additionally stated Apple was researching in-ear temperature sensors, and Apple has a patent on such know-how. In-ear temperature sensing is also sooner and extra dependable than these by way of the Apple Watch.

Translation: As a part of the iOS 19 replace Apple is alleged to be including a dwell translation characteristic to AirPods. It’s unknown which AirPods will probably be appropriate, however the AirPods Professional 3 are positive to be. We anticipate to listen to extra at WWDC.

Higher lively noise cancellation: In response to Mark Gurman (in October 2023) the AirPods Professional 3 will characteristic a brand new H3 chip, which might result in higher lively noise cancellation.

Crash detection: An Apple patent describes a manner that movement sensors inside AirPods might help Crash Detection.

AirPods Professional 3 design: Will Apple replace the AirPods Professional design?

Mahmoud ITani / Foundry

As talked about above, we are able to look to the AirPods 4 for some clues about modifications which will come to the AirPods Professional. One such change associated to the charging case. The AirPod 4 charging case lacks a bodily setup button, as a substitute that includes a sensor below the standing mild on the entrance that lights up when lively.

There could also be extra modifications coming. In response to Mark Gurman (again in October 2023) the AirPods Professional will get a brand new design. We don’t anticipate new colours, however the buds might slim down additional.

The modifications could also be much less seen, extra tactile: Various Apple patents point out that Apple is seeking to enhance the way in which that the contact controls work on the earbuds work when the consumer is sporting gloves. For instance in February 2025 a patent was granted to Apple that would allow this.

AirPods Max 2 launch date: When will the AirPods Max be up to date?

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman wrote of the AirPods Max in a December 2023 e-newsletter, saying that “The cans don’t promote effectively sufficient for the corporate to spend money on completely new {hardware} or software program options”. Nonetheless, it’s now greater than 4 years for the reason that AirPods Max have been launched and with such a premium value Apple owes it to prospects to convey the AirPods Max into line with their competitors and different AirPods Apple sells.

In 2024 Mark Gurman predicted that the AirPods Max would get an up to date on the iPhone occasion. Sadly, the replace included solely a colour change and a change from Lightning for USB-C connectivity.

Even worse, the change meant that the AirPods Max might now not be used as wired headphones (a characteristic of the Lightning-based mannequin). This was the case till a software program replace in March 2025 added this skill together with lossless and extremely low latency audio. On account of that software program replace, customers are actually capable of play lossless audio and ultra-low-latency audio by way of a wired connection.

Lossless audio is a key characteristic for audio producers, whereas extremely‑low latency audio is vital for gaming and dwell streams. Each crucial options for the AirPods Mac.

Regardless of these ‘updates’ the over 4 12 months outdated headphones are lagging behind the competitors and an replace is lengthy over due.

The dangerous information is that, if analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is appropriate, we could possibly be ready till 2027 for the second technology of AirPods Max.

AirPods Max 2 value: How a lot will the AirPods Max 2 value?

At $549/£499 the AirPods Max are an costly buy. The truth that they’re now greater than 4 years outdated makes that value look extremely inflated. It’s no marvel they’re incessantly discounted at Amazon and elsewhere.

When the brand new fashions launch we don’t anticipate a value change although. These are designed to suit on the premium headphones finish of the market, and their competitors has photo voltaic costs.

That stated, the worth within the U.S. and U.Okay. might are available in to line, with Apple selecting to ‘match’ the worth because it often does (many Apple merchandise share an, e.g. $499/£499 value level) which Apple calculated based mostly on alternate charges and native taxes.

AirPods Max 2 specs: What specs and options will the AirPods Max 2 have

There’s a lot missing from he AirPods Max in comparison with the AirPods Professional that it’s straightforward to imagine that the next will probably be included:

• H1 chip upgraded to H2 (or H3)
• Adaptive Audio (which mixes transparency mode and ANC)
• Dialog Consciousness
• Dialog Enhance
• Voice Isolation
• Customized Quantity
• Choice to activate with ‘Siri’ voice command (not simply ‘Hey Siri’)
• Customized excessive dynamic vary amplifier
• Bluetooth 5.3 (up from Bluetooth 5.0)
• Discover My

Additionally anticipate higher battery life.

One patent recognized in 2022 signifies Apple is taking a look at detecting “audio howl”, which is described as distracting audio suggestions.

AirPods Max 2 design: Will Apple replace the AirPods Max design?

Jason Cross/IDG

Enhancements to gesture controls that are at the moment by way of the Digital Crown. May Apple forgo the Digital Crown in favor of contact controls on the ear cups?

We might see modifications to the carry case. Ideally it ought to cowl the entire product and be extra protecting. A patent from 2022 urged that Apple was growing a greater case with magnetic clasps.

The Audio Howl patent talked about above additionally refers to detachable ear cushions which could possibly be reattached utilizing magnets.

We’d additionally prefer to see a foldable design and higher waterproofing.

If you happen to’re eager to listen to the most recent rumors about Apple’s plans, the most effective place to start out is our roundup of New Apple merchandise.

These within the present vary ought to check out our roundup of the most effective AirPods offers for the most recent bargains.