Apple Developing New AirPods Pro With H3 Chip and Camera

Explore this post with:

Key Takeaways:

Next-gen AirPods lineup in progress: Apple is developing new AirPods models, including possible AirPods Pro 3 or AirPods 4, expected to introduce stronger performance and design upgrades.
Model names still unclear: Apple may release two versions — one standard and one with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) — though final branding remains uncertain.
New H3 chip and infrared camera support: Upcoming AirPods could feature the H3 processor and IR sensors for gesture control and Vision Pro integration.
Health monitoring in AirPods 5: Apple is reportedly testing temperature tracking and heart rate sensing, positioning AirPods as future health accessories.
Long-term production roadmap: With AirPods Max updates planned through 2027, Apple’s wearables strategy focuses on gradual innovation across tiers.

Apple is wasting no time in its AirPods lineup. Just a month after launching the AirPods Pro 3, Apple is reportedly working on the next version of its high-end in-ear buds, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

AirPods Pro or AirPods 4? Naming Still Unclear

The reason we refer to them as high-end in-ear buds because it’s unclear whether the new release will be branded as AirPods 4 or as an updated AirPods Pro 3. Gurman referred to it simply as a “new version” of the premium in-ear AirPods. For context, Apple updated the AirPods Pro 2 a year after launch with a USB-C charging case and small tweaks without renaming the model.

Renowned Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo suggests that Apple might give the AirPods Pro a significant upgrade next year, possibly including a tiny infrared camera. To clarify, a leaker on Weibo suggested these could be a higher-end AirPods Pro 3 rather than a completely new generation.

If these rumors prove true, AirPods Pro 3 might follow a similar pattern to AirPods 4, which are offered in two configurations: with or without active noise cancellation.

FaceTime Like a Pro:

Get our exclusive Ultimate FaceTime Guide 📚 — absolutely FREE when you sign up for our newsletter below.

What’s Coming: H3 Chip, Camera, AirPods 5

Mark Gurman, via his latest Power On newsletter, says Apple is developing a new H3 chip for wireless audio. The new chip promises better sound quality and lower latency. While it’s not confirmed which AirPods will feature the H3 chip first, it’s expected to debut in the next AirPods Pro.

Currently, AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 run on the H2 chip introduced with AirPods Pro 2, while the over-ear AirPods Max still use the older H1 chip.

Besides this, Apple is also working to introduce infrared camera support on AirPods to add in-air gestures and tighter integration with the Vision Pro headset, suggests Kuo.

Moreover, AirPods 5 are also in development and might come in two tiers, just like the AirPods 4. While the AirPods Pro 3 already include heart rate monitoring, Gurman doesn’t expect this feature to extend to AirPods 5. However, he noted that Apple is exploring new health-related features like temperature sensing for future models.