Apple's latest iOS 26 developer beta, released following the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025, appears to have inadvertently revealed an upcoming product: the AirPods Pro 3. The discovery was made by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser, who unearthed explicit references to the third-generation premium earbuds within Apple’s system framework, strongly suggesting a launch later this year.

The "AirPods Pro 3" mention was located in a headphone-related UI framework within the iOS 26 code, alongside existing references to the original AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2. This finding in the developer beta is a significant indicator, as Apple has often seen upcoming hardware details emerge through its software updates before official announcements.

While the code itself does not specify features, the AirPods Pro 3 are expected to come with several enhancements. These include a new, more powerful audio chip – potentially an upgraded version of the H2 chip or an entirely new H3 chip – which would drive improvements in overall performance. Users can also anticipate significantly enhanced Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) capabilities and improved audio quality, building upon the strengths of the current generation.

Further rumored upgrades include a refreshed design for both the earbuds and the charging case, possibly featuring a slimmer profile for the case, akin to the AirPods 4. A key area of development appears to be health monitoring, with strong speculation about the integration of sensors for heart rate monitoring and temperature sensing. This aligns with Apple's increasing focus on health features in its wearable devices, and previous reports have pointed towards such capabilities for future AirPods. The new model is also expected to offer improved battery life.

The AirPods Pro 3 are anticipated to be the successor to the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation), which launched in September 2022. Based on this leak and Apple's typical product cycles, the new earbuds could debut in the second half of 2025, possibly alongside the next-generation iPhone 17 series in September. This leak, emerging from Apple's own software, reinforces the expectation that the next iteration of its popular wireless headset is nearing release.