Following the launch of the AirPods Pro 3 last month, Apple is reportedly already working on the next AirPods Pro , according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman
It's unclear whether the new AirPods Pro will be called AirPods Pro 4 or considered an updated version of AirPods Pro 3. Gurman didn't take a position, choosing to describe them as a "new version" of the "high-quality in-ear headphones."
See also: AirPods Pro 3 still not being repaired
The AirPods Pro 2 were upgraded with a USB-C charging case and a few other tweaks a year after their release, without receiving a name change.
Last month, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that the AirPods Pro will receive “more significant” hardware upgrades next year, including at least a tiny infrared camera. A leaker on Chinese platform Weibo also claimed that these will be a higher-end AirPods Pro 3, rather than the AirPods Pro 4.
This would be similar to the standard AirPods 4, which are available in two configurations, with and without active noise cancellation.
AirPods Pro: New H3 chip
In his Power On newsletter, Gurman mentioned that Apple is developing the next-generation H3 chip for wireless audio, with improved sound quality and less latency. It would make sense for this chip to be included in the upcoming AirPods Pro, but Gurman didn't explicitly mention which AirPods models the chip will debut in or when.
See also: iOS 26 notifies when AirPods case runs out of battery
Apple is also developing two tiers of AirPods 5, according to Gurman.
The AirPods Pro 3 offer heart rate monitoring during workouts, but Gurman doesn't expect that feature to be extended to the AirPods 5. He said Apple is planning several new health features for future AirPods, such as temperature detection. Gurman reiterated that Apple is considering adding cameras to at least some AirPods models.
See also: Apple's tips for better fitting AirPods Pro 3
Kuo previously said that AirPods with infrared cameras will support in-air gestures and allow for deeper integration between AirPods and Vision Pro. The AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 are equipped with the H2 chip, which debuted in the AirPods Pro 2. The over-ear AirPods Max still have the H1 chip. Kuo previously said that the new AirPods Max will enter mass production in 2027.
