Whatever you do, don’t buy AirPods right now

Apple’s AirPods have long been the default wireless earbuds for iPhone users. The AirPods Pro 2 are still among the most popular models out there, with excellent ANC, spatial audio, and even hearing aid functionality. But as good as they are, now is quite possibly the worst time to buy AirPods — and there’s one very good reason for that.

Why buying AirPods now is a bad idea

If you’ve followed Apple’s product cycle for even a minute, you probably know what’s coming. Still, it bears repeating.

Rumours have been swirling about Apple’s annual September event, where the company is expected to reveal the iPhone 17 lineup — and with it, the highly anticipated AirPods Pro 3. Currently, rumours suggest the event will take place on September 9, which aligns with Apple’s annual release calendar for their new mobile devices. On September 9 last year, Apple announced the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, as well as major updates to the AirPods Pro 2, and even some minor updates to the AirPods Max.

Based on rumours, as well as Apple’s typical upgrade cycle, this year’s event should feature the AirPods Pro 3. This next-gen model may be the biggest leap forward in AirPods history. Buying AirPods today — especially the AirPods Pro 2 — means missing out on what could be the most advanced version yet.

Major upgrades are on the horizon

The AirPods Pro 3 aren’t just a spec bump. Reports suggest Apple will finally bring real-time heart rate monitoring and temperature sensors to the AirPods Pro lineup. With the new enhanced health tracking, the AirPods Pro 3 could effectively become fitness wearables. This aligns with the direction Apple has been going since the company added a slew of hearing health and hearing aid features to the AirPods Pro 2 last year.

There’s also a possibility of a touchscreen charging case. According to patents filed earlier this year, Apple may ship the AirPods Pro 3 with a case that lets you control playback, toggle ANC, or even launch Siri — all without touching your phone. If you’ve ever fumbled through menus mid-run or struggled with stem controls in gloves, this could be a game-changer. If you’re curious what this feature could look like, check out the JBL Tour Pro 3 wireless earbuds, which launched last year with a touchscreen charging case.

Considering the AirPods Pro 2 debuted the H2 chip, we expect to see the AirPods Pro 3 powered by an improved H3 chip. With upgraded internals, the AirPods Pro 3 would likely have improved noise canceling and transparency modes compared to previous AirPods. We also wouldn’t be surprised to see some tweaks to sound quality, as our testing showed that the AirPods Pro 2 came with a little bit more bass out of the box compared to the AirPods Pro 1.

Do yourself a favor and wait for the AirPods Pro 3

While these are the upgrades we expect to see based on current rumours, patents, and historical trends, it’s also possible Apple has something entirely unexpected coming.

At the time of writing, we’re just about a month away from Apple’s September event. That’s a short wait for a product that could completely reshape what AirPods can do — from audio performance to health tracking.

Even if you’re not sold on the AirPods Pro 3, waiting a few weeks could mean deep discounts on the current AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4. Buying now means you’ll pay full price for tech that’s about to be outdated.

There’s simply no upside.

Buying AirPods is generally a smart move if you’re in the Apple ecosystem. But buying them right now is not. Hold off until September. Your ears (and your wallet) will thank you.