AirPods Pro 3 only dropped in September, but the rumor mill is already pointing to something bigger for 2026. Apple is reportedly preparing a new, higher-end version of AirPods Pro with IR cameras and AI-driven features, and yes, a higher price. And honestly, I’m down with this.
A more premium AirPods Pro 3 could land in 2026
AirPods Pro has been one of Apple’s most consistently excellent products since the original arrived in 2019. Quiet, polished, and hugely reliable. And for six years, Apple kept them at the same price: $249.
But 2026 might finally be the year Apple changes things up.
According to leaker Instant Digital, Apple plans to split the AirPods Pro lineup into two models next year. The current AirPods Pro 3 will stick around at 249 dollars. Then there will be a new upgraded tier with infrared cameras built in, designed to unlock advanced AI and visual intelligence features.
That premium model is expected to cost at least 280 dollars and could easily land at 299 dollars.
Normally, higher prices would feel like a gut punch. This time, though, the idea actually has me excited.
Why a more expensive AirPods Pro makes sense
I live in my AirPods Pro 3. I use them all day for work, then take them with me across the city when I’m walking around New York. They are hands-down one of my most used Apple products. And once the initial comfort issues faded, they became basically perfect for everyday life.
Which is exactly why this rumor hits differently.
If there’s one product Apple should push further, it is AirPods Pro. The amount of time I spend with them justifies a model that goes beyond iterative tweaks. Give me smarter noise control. Give me context awareness. Give me features that make them feel alive in a way no earbuds have yet.
I don’t know the exact capabilities IR cameras will enable, but if Apple is adding new hardware just for AI and spatial features, it’s because they believe the upgrade will be worth paying for. And if the new version meaningfully improves the experience of a product I use constantly, then yes, a premium option actually sounds great.
A higher tier is good for everyone
What makes this rumor even better is the lineup structure. Apple keeping the standard AirPods Pro 3 at 249 dollars means the baseline stays accessible. Anyone who wants the current model can still get it without paying more.
The higher tier becomes a choice, not a replacement.
Apple gets room to innovate. Power users get a version that pushes the hardware forward. And the mainstream still gets the same trusted model at the same price.
That is a win across the board.
If Apple genuinely delivers new capabilities that take AirPods Pro to the next level, I will happily consider the premium model. When a device becomes part of your daily life, meaningful upgrades are worth it.
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