Apple’s latest earbuds aren’t just about sound. The AirPods Pro 3 have stunned reviewers with heart rate monitoring accuracy that rivals chest straps and smartwatches, an area where competitors, including Apple’s own PowerBeats 2 Pro, have struggled.
AirPods Pro 3 use a custom infrared sensor
Unlike the PowerBeats 2 Pro, which relied on optical sensors with green LED lights flashing over 100 times per second, the AirPods Pro 3 use a custom PPG (photoplethysmography) sensor. This new design pulses invisible infrared light at 256 times per second. Apple calls it its smallest heart rate sensor yet, and it’s exclusive to these earbuds.
The result? Data that aligns closely with the Apple Watch Ultra and other premium devices, even during demanding workouts.
MediaTek flagship SoC taped out on TSMC’s 2nm process, with mass production and availability expected by late 2026.
AirPods tested against seven fitness trackers
Reviewer DC Rainmaker compared the earbuds against a full lineup of devices:
- AirPods Pro 3
- Apple Watch Ultra
- Whoop 5.0/MG wristband
- Garmin Fenix 8 Pro (solo)
- Garmin Fenix 8 Pro with chest strap
- Polar 360 band
- PowerBeats 2 Pro (from earlier tests)
He found that while PowerBeats fell apart once he switched from indoor cycling to outdoor running, the AirPods Pro 3 stayed consistent even during interval training, the toughest test for optical sensors.
AirPods Pro 3 surprise even harsh critics
Rainmaker admitted he had “written off Apple’s ability to get optical HR correct” after the PowerBeats 2 Pro failed so badly just months earlier. But after testing the new model, he was emphatic:
“Holy crap that’s good… I’m blown away. Not because Apple couldn’t do it, but because the PowerBeats 2 Pro were so bad.”
He stressed that other companies, including Polar with Sennheiser, have failed at in-ear heart rate sensors. Apple, on the other hand, has delivered something close to breakthrough performance.
This headphone stands alone as an all-in-one workout bud
For anyone who wants accurate heart rate tracking and great sound in one package, Rainmaker says there’s simply no competition. Other headphones with heart rate features have been inaccurate or outright unusable, while these hit both marks cleanly.
“If you want great sound for workouts with great heart rate, this seems like not just the easy button, but frankly, the only button.”
