Apple may be gearing up to release the next generation of its premium wireless earbuds, the AirPods Pro 3, later this year. According to new findings within the iOS 26 Developer Beta 1, subtle references to an unreleased model — AirPods Pro 3 — have been discovered, suggesting a potential second-half 2025 release.
The code snippets were first reported by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser, who identified mentions of “AirPods Pro 3” within a UI framework dedicated to headphone functionalities. These hidden clues were embedded in the first iOS 26 developer beta, which Apple rolled out following its WWDC 2025 keynote earlier this week.
Although Apple has not officially commented on the product, the appearance of this reference aligns with previous rumors suggesting the tech giant is preparing a mild upgrade to its AirPods Pro lineup. The current AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) debuted in September 2022 alongside the iPhone 14, and this upcoming model may arrive alongside the iPhone 17 lineup expected this fall.
Industry insiders speculate that the AirPods Pro 3 will feature an enhanced H2 chip, which could bring significant improvements in active noise cancellation, battery performance, and audio processing. Apple’s history of iterative upgrades suggests that while a major design overhaul is unlikely this year, users may benefit from smarter integration with iOS 26 and expanded gesture controls.
Additionally, other reports have hinted at Apple’s long-term plan to introduce infrared cameras in future AirPods models by 2026, potentially unlocking new use cases in spatial computing and health tracking. However, such drastic hardware additions are not expected in the 2025 model.
Apple typically maintains secrecy around upcoming devices, and it’s unlikely we’ll receive official confirmation until the product’s anticipated debut in September.
