It’s been around three years since Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 were launched. The company kept adding new features to the product over the years, but maybe it’s time to launch the next version, possibly at the September 9 Apple event, called ‘Awe Dropping’.

Rumours point to a redesign for the earbuds and the charging case, along with new health-tracking features. Here are a few things we want from AirPods Pro 3, even though there are conflicting reports about the launch of a new set of wireless earbuds.

Heart rate monitoring

Heart rate monitoring using earbuds has an advantage when it comes to activities like weightlifting, because during such exercises, smartwatches may not get it right due to the extreme tension on the wrist.

The accuracy of optical heart rate sensors is dependent on the location, that is, where it’s placed on the body, such as flush on the arm. The light the optical sensor emits and receives depends on the blood vessels it works with. Also, such sensors need to stay put when you are moving. Movement can lead to light leakage between the sensor and the skin, which can impact accuracy. And that is precisely why external heart rate sensors in the form of chest and arm straps exist.

Heart rate measurement from the ear can be very accurate when you wear the correct ear tips. Be it indoor cycling or weight training, heart rate readings from the ears are a good choice.

There are people who don’t want to buy a smartwatch but still want to measure their heart rate during workouts. That’s where earbuds come in.

A new chip

With every release of the AirPods Pro, Apple has delivered a new chip inside. The first AirPods had the H1 chip, the AirPods Pro 2 had the H2 chip, and it’s expected that the AirPods Pro 3 will get a new H3 chip. It may lead to improved ANC. Battery life and sound quality are also expected to improve with the new chip.

... And there is more

Apple is reportedly testing infrared cameras in future AirPods models, and these could enable new AI-powered features and spatial computing experiences. But this may not come with this year’s AirPods. In terms of design, the AirPods may have shorter stems. And Apple may get rid of the physical “setup button,” while the case may become slimmer and lighter.