I recall a science textbook from school with a small segment on what looked like fantastical future technologies, almost science fiction at the time. Cut to 2025, and I have seen most of those become reality, from video calling to humanoids and high-speed transportation. What the new AirPods Pro 3 can do with live translation is almost in the same league if you ask the dreamy-eyed 80s kid in me. As someone who has used all AirPods since their launch, I can say with some conviction that they are the best daily-use earphones out there. And even as it plays back audiophile-quality sound, Apple seems to perceive the AirPods as a device that can do much more with, slowly pushing the smartphone out of the picture and still empowering its users in more ways than one. And as an AirPods Pro user for many years now, I can tell you listening to music is just a small part of my use case. I am using this often to create a space of my own that lets me think without distraction, to be part of important calls, and often just to sleep. The new AirPods Pro 3 adds some more power to the kitty of the most popular earphones in the world. Live Translate in your ears This feature is easy to set up via the AirPods settings and the Translate app. You have to download the languages you want to use — I downloaded French, which my teenage son has chosen as his second language in school. But remember that each language file is large at almost 800MB, so best to keep this set up before you land in a new country. But this means you can use the feature offline and without an active internet connection. But there are only a handful of European languages available at the moment. As soon as you have the language selected, long-press both the AirPods in your ears at the same time to start Live Translate. And it works really well, at least with the broken French my 14-year-old was dishing out. You get a translated voice in the language of your choice, and the translated text also shows up on your screen. When you reply, let’s say in English, it shows the translated text in French on the screen, which you can play for the other party. Interestingly, this feature is now available on some of the earlier AirPods models, too. Also, the live translate feature extends to FaceTime calls and Messages as well. While many companies have tried versions of live translate, for me, this is the most seamless and practical implementation yet. Once there are more languages, you can walk around Times Square and communicate with everyone in their language. This is almost a superpower. Heart rate counts without the Apple Watch Another new feature on the AirPods Pro 3 is the heart rate sensor, which made its way to some other earphones a couple of years back. I could go for my regular walks without the Apple Watch and get the same calories and heart rate readings in the Health App. This is not a big use case for those who have the Apple Watch on at all times, but for those who don't like wearing their watch to the sweaty gym, this could be a new option. However, the dashboard here does not show steps, which is what someone like me tracks most of the time. For those with hearing issues, the AirPods Pro 3 can be used as a listening device. This is something Apple announced last year. But with the new device, you can take a hearing test at home. And whatever might wife might think of it, my test said I was hearing fine. Better transparency mode I found that the noise canceling, which was already very good, has improved by a notch, not just because of the tech, but also the foam-infused tips that Apple is using in the new AirPods. I was a bit skeptical when I tried them on at the demo zone in Apple Park, as they felt different from what I was used to with pure silicone tips. But after using them for a few hours, I started enjoying the new feel, which sealed the ears better and kept out the brown noise, which is like the background music of our lives in the subcontinent. The improved noise cancellation is one thing, but I felt the transparency mode here is the best I have experienced on any earphones. Inside our office studio, I could not feel that the transparency mode was even on, as the audio was very natural. When you add ambient noise, you suddenly become more than aware of your surroundings. During my morning walk, I could hear a car turn the corner and come towards me, which I would have missed if I hadn't been wearing the AirPods. So technically, you hear more and sharper with this mode on. Hi-fi music as always I have always loved the audio playback of the AirPods Pro, and this is why, despite all the earphones I test and use every year, the AirPods are ultimately my fallback device when it comes to consuming audio. This time I could not make out if the audio quality has improved… There was nothing to improve, I guess. Still, this makes it easier to listen to the 90-minute Ezra Klein episode while walking around with noisy kids and dog walkers all around you. Marguerite’s La Maison gave a good showcase of the capabilities of these AirPods with the right mix of bass and sharp vocals. The beats were soft, but still packing a punch you could feel. Listening to Bad Bunny’s Monaco felt as if I was in some lounge with the bass going to a whole new level, making me feel as if I was sitting between two tower speakers. I was visualising the diaphragms of the speakers vibrating as the lights flared red and blue. John Mayer’s Say was at the other end of the spectrum, the kind of feel that makes you curl up inside a cozy blanket and take a quick nap before the start of your busy week. Should you buy the new AirPods Pro 3? At Rs 25,900, the AirPods Pro 3 is still the best all-round earphone you can buy. Yes, they are premium, but they do pack more than music inside their familiar white shell. You are buying a personal office space, a translator, a fitness coach, and a smart assistant, too, with the top-quality audio playback. I suggest it is time to upgrade if you are on the first AirPods Pro or older AirPods. For others, it is time to switch over.
