My Wallet Is Crying: The AirPods Pro 3 Just Got a Big Upgrade and a Big Price.

Okay, it happened. Apple just pulled the wraps off the new AirPods Pro 3, and the biggest new feature isn’t about music at all. It’s about your health. Yes, your earbuds are now officially a fitness device. This is either the moment the AirPods became the ultimate all-in-one gadget, or the moment they got a little weird.

AirPods Pro 3: The Ultimate Hearable or a Confused Fitness Gadget?

Every couple of years, Apple updates its most popular earbuds, and we all lean in to see what’s new. Better sound? Sure. Longer battery? Of course. But this time, with the new AirPods Pro 3, the conversation has completely changed. Apple spent a surprising amount of time on stage talking about a new in-ear heart rate monitor and fitness tracking.

My first thought? It’s a classic Apple move. They’re trying to make their products so integrated into your life that you can’t imagine a day without them. But as someone who has tested countless gadgets for the Indian market, I have to ask the big question: are these features we actually need, or just another spec to justify a price hike? Let’s break it down.

First, The Obvious Stuff: Sound and Silence Get a Real Boost

Let’s get the expected upgrades out of the way, because they are genuinely impressive. Apple is claiming the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) on the AirPods Pro 3 is twice as good as the last generation. That’s a huge claim.

I’ve used the Pro 2 in some of the loudest environments imaginable—a Mumbai local train, a busy Delhi market—and its ANC is already fantastic. If the new version is significantly better, it could mean near-total silence on your commute. For students trying to study in a noisy PG or anyone working from a chaotic home, this feature alone could be a massive quality-of-life improvement. They’ve also added a fifth ear tip size, which is a small but welcome change for those of us who could never get a perfect seal.

Okay, Let’s Talk About the Elephant in the Room: The Heart Rate Sensor

This is the big one. The AirPods Pro 3 can now track your heart rate directly from your ear. They can also track over 50 different workouts, logging your metrics like calories burned, presumably right into the Apple Health app.

On one hand, this is technically amazing. Your ear is actually a great place to get an accurate heart rate reading. For someone who goes for a run without their Apple Watch, this means you can still get your health data just by wearing your earbuds. It declutters your tech.

But here’s my skeptical side kicking in. Most people in India who are serious about fitness tracking already own a smartwatch or a fitness band. A Mi Band costs a fraction of what these AirPods will. Is the convenience of having it in your ear worth paying a premium for a feature you might already have on your wrist? I’m not so sure. It feels like a feature designed for the Apple Watch user who sometimes forgets their watch, which is a very small, specific audience.

The Price: Prepare for Impact

Apple announced the US price as $249. Let’s do some quick and slightly painful math. After adding Indian GST, import duties, and Apple’s own brand tax, I am willing to bet the official Indian price for the AirPods Pro 3 will be at least ₹28,900, if not higher. It could very well touch the ₹30,000 mark.

That is a serious amount of money for earbuds. At that price, they are no longer an accessory; they are a primary tech purchase. You have to ask yourself if the new health features and better ANC are worth the cost of a decent mid-range smartphone. For many, that answer will be a hard no.

The One Feature Nobody is Talking About: Live Translation

Hidden among the big headlines was a feature that I think is actually the most interesting: Live Translation. Using a hand gesture, you can activate a mode that translates a conversation in real-time.

Think about the possibilities. For business travellers, or even just for watching foreign movies without subtitles, this could be incredible if it works as advertised. It’s one of those “living in the future” features. However, the success of this will depend entirely on how well Apple Intelligence handles Indian accents and regional languages. We’ll have to wait and see on that one.

Key Takeaways: Your Buying Guide

• The Noise Cancellation is the Real Star: The claim of 2x better ANC is the most practical and compelling reason to upgrade, especially if you live or work in a noisy Indian city.
• Health Features Are a Niche Bonus, Not a Revolution: The heart rate monitor is cool technology, but it’s probably not a primary reason to buy these unless you are a fitness enthusiast deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem and often forget your watch.
• Expect a Price Bump in India: The official price will likely be close to ₹29,000, so you need to decide if these incremental upgrades are worth the significant investment over the still-excellent AirPods Pro 2.
• The New Fit is a Welcome Fix: With five tip sizes and a tweaked design, more people should be able to get a comfortable and secure fit, which has been a common complaint with previous models.

Should You Upgrade? A Quick Comparison

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