AirPods Pro 3: H2 or H3 Chip? The Real Answer

AirPods Pro 3 use the H2 chip. Not H3. If you’ve been Googling “AirPods Pro 3 H2 or H3” — there’s your answer, and it surprised us too. Apple kept the same silicon generation from the Pro 2 and still managed to make everything better. Here’s how.

Why Apple Stuck with the H2

This confused a lot of people. New product, same chip name — what gives?

The short version: Apple squeezed more out of the H2 through firmware and hardware design changes around the chip, not inside it. The Pro 3 uses an updated H2 variant with better power management and additional sensor integration. The chip architecture is the same, but the implementation is different.

In practice, this means the AirPods Pro 3 aren’t held back by “old” silicon. The H2 was already overkill for audio processing when it launched in 2022. What changed is everything the H2 talks to — new drivers, new microphones, new sensors.

What Actually Improved (Despite the Same Chip)

Active Noise Cancellation: 2x better. Apple claims double the ANC performance over the Pro 2, and we believe it. The Pro 3 use redesigned acoustic architecture — better seal, repositioned microphones, improved computational models running on the same H2. Walking into a busy cafe, the difference is immediate. The Pro 2 were great. The Pro 3 make the Pro 2 sound like they had a leak.

Heart rate monitoring is entirely new. This is the headline feature. The Pro 3 pack a PPG sensor firing 256 infrared pulses per second. It tracks heart rate during workouts across 50+ activity types. This has nothing to do with the H2 chip specifically — it’s new hardware Apple added to the earbud stems.

Hearing health features. Clinical-grade hearing test, hearing aid functionality, and Active Hearing Protection. These are FDA-cleared medical features. They run on the H2 but require the Pro 3’s new sensor array and speaker hardware. You won’t get these on Pro 2 through a software update.

Battery life jumped significantly. 8 hours listening with ANC on (up from 6 on Pro 2), 10 hours in Transparency mode. Total with case: 24 hours. The efficiency gains come from better power management circuits around the H2, not a die shrink.

Durability upgrade: IP57. Up from IPX4. The Pro 3 can handle dust and brief submersion, not just splashes. Gym rats and outdoor runners, this matters.

H2 in Pro 2 vs H2 in Pro 3: The Differences

Feature	Pro 2 (H2, 2022)	Pro 3 (H2, 2025)
ANC Performance	Excellent	2x better
Adaptive Audio	Yes	Yes (improved)
Conversation Awareness	Yes	Yes (faster activation)
Heart Rate Sensor	No	Yes (PPG, 256 pulses/sec)
Hearing Test / Hearing Aid	No	Yes (FDA-cleared)
Battery (earbuds, ANC)	6 hours	8 hours
Battery (total w/ case)	30 hours	24 hours (case smaller)
Water/Dust Resistance	IPX4	IP57
Ear Tips	4 sizes (silicone)	5 sizes incl. XXS (hybrid foam)
Live Translation	No	Yes

The takeaway: same chip name, meaningfully different product. Apple didn’t need an H3 to deliver the biggest generational leap in AirPods history.

When Is the H3 Actually Coming?

Reports from 9to5Mac and supply chain analysts point to late 2026 for the H3 chip. It’s expected to debut in next-generation AirPods with camera sensors — yes, cameras in earbuds. The H3 will reportedly bring lower Bluetooth latency, faster device switching, and improved spatial computing features tied to Vision Pro.

If you’re waiting for H3, you’re waiting at least another year. And the Pro 3 with H2 are already the best wireless earbuds available.

Should You Buy the Pro 3 Now or Wait?

Buy now if: You’re on Pro 1 or older, you want hearing health features, or your Pro 2 battery has degraded after 3+ years. The jump from any previous generation is massive.

Wait if: Your Pro 2 work perfectly and you don’t care about heart rate tracking or hearing tests. The ANC improvement alone probably isn’t worth $249 if your current pair sounds fine.

Coming from non-Apple earbuds? The Pro 3 at $249 are the best wireless earbuds on the market. Nothing else combines this level of ANC, spatial audio, and health features at this price.

AirPods Pro 3 on Amazon (paid link) (paid link)

The Bottom Line

The H2 chip in the AirPods Pro 3 proves that silicon isn’t everything. Apple improved every aspect of these earbuds — ANC, battery, durability, health features — without needing new chip architecture. The H3 is coming eventually, but waiting for it means missing out on what’s already the biggest upgrade AirPods have ever seen.