AirPods 3 Available to Order Today for $179 and Launch October 26

Apple today announced that the third-generation AirPods are available to order starting today, with pricing set at $179 in the United States. Apple also said the second-generation AirPods with a wired charging case are remaining available for $129, down from $159.

airpods lineup 2021
The third-generation AirPods will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores on Tuesday, October 26, according to Apple.

The third-generation AirPods feature a similar design as the AirPods Pro, but without noise cancellation or silicone ear tips. Newly added Adaptive EQ tunes sound in real time based on how the AirPods fit in the user's ear for an optimal listening experience. Other new features include spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, IPX4-rated water and sweat resistance, longer battery life, and a MagSafe-compatible charging case.


To learn about more third-generation AirPods features, read our announcement coverage.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Neutral)
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

iOS 26

When Will Apple Release iOS 26.2?

Monday December 1, 2025 4:37 pm PST by
We're getting closer to the launch of the final major iOS update of the year, with Apple set to release iOS 26.2 in December. We've had three betas so far and are expecting a fourth beta or a release candidate this week, so a launch could follow as soon as next week. Past Launch Dates Apple's past iOS x.2 updates from the last few years have all happened right around the middle of the...
ios 18 to ios 26 upgrade

Apple Pushes iPhone Users Still on iOS 18 to Upgrade to iOS 26

Tuesday December 2, 2025 11:09 am PST by
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent. Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 Release Candidates to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Wednesday December 3, 2025 10:33 am PST by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming two weeks after Apple seeded the third betas. The release candidates represent the final versions of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found during this final week of testing....
iphone 17 cyber

iPhone 17 Demand Is Breaking Apple's Sales Records

Tuesday December 2, 2025 9:44 am PST by
Apple's iPhone 17 lineup is selling well enough that Apple is on track to ship more than 247.4 million total iPhones in 2025, according to a new report from IDC. Total 2025 shipments are forecast to grow 6.1 percent year over year due to iPhone 17 demand and increased sales in China, a major market for Apple. Overall worldwide smartphone shipments across Android and iOS are forecast to...
Photos App Icon Liquid Glass

John Gruber Shares Scathing Commentary About Apple's Departing Software Design Chief

Thursday December 4, 2025 9:30 am PST by
In a statement shared with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Apple confirmed that its software design chief Alan Dye will be leaving. Apple said Dye will be succeeded by Stephen Lemay, who has been a software designer at the company since 1999. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Dye will lead a new creative studio within the company's AR/VR division Reality Labs. On his blog Daring Fireball,...
Touchscreen MacBook Feature

Here Are the Four MacBooks Apple Is Expected to Launch Next Year

Monday December 1, 2025 5:00 am PST by
2026 could be a bumper year for Apple's Mac lineup, with the company expected to announce as many as four separate MacBook launches. Rumors suggest Apple will court both ends of the consumer spectrum, with more affordable options for students and feature-rich premium lines for users that seek the highest specifications from a laptop. Below is a breakdown of what we're expecting over the next ...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air's Resale Value Has Dropped Dramatically, Data Shows

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:27 am PST by
The iPhone Air has recorded the steepest early resale value drop of any iPhone model in years, with new data showing that several configurations have lost almost 50% of their value within ten weeks of launch. According to a ten-week analysis published by SellCell, Apple's latest lineup is showing a pronounced split in resale performance between the iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air....
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

iPhone 17 Pro Lost a Camera Feature Pro Models Have Had Since 2020

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:18 am PST by
iPhone 17 Pro models, it turns out, can't take photos in Night mode when Portrait mode is selected in the Camera app – a capability that's been available on Apple's Pro devices since the iPhone 12 Pro in 2020. If you're an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max owner, try it for yourself: Open the Camera app with Photo selected in the carousel, then cover the rear lenses with your hand to...
chatgpt logo

Sam Altman Declares 'Code Red' for ChatGPT, Delays OpenAI Advertising Plans

Tuesday December 2, 2025 3:30 pm PST by
OpenAI is deprioritizing work on advertising as it focuses on improving the quality of ChatGPT, reports The Information. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declared a "code red" on Monday, and told employees that the company needs to improve ChatGPT so it doesn't fall behind competitors like Google and Anthropic. Altman said that OpenAI needs to work on personalization for each user, image generation,...

Top Rated Comments

Bane-Thunder Avatar
54 months ago
I consider the no silicon ear tips as a feature of the AirPods 3 ?

Already pre-ordered.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sir_Macs_A_Lot Avatar
54 months ago

so 179 for AirPods 3 or 199 for AirPods pro? Kinda silly to not get the airpod pros. (they are currently on sale almost everywhere)
Not silly at all. (1) Some of us don't like the intrusive feel of those silicone tips in our ear canals. (2) Some of us like the abiltiy to hear external sounds while using. (3) No one wants to spend more money on a product than they need to.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
neoelectronaut Avatar
54 months ago
Pretty much my dream product. The Airpods Pro feature set without the godawful earplugs.

I'll pick 'em up on sale down the road when my current Airpods start failing me.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HornOfAbraxas Avatar
54 months ago


What is the point of a post like this? Are you expecting to get some kind of meaningful discussion out of an order confirmation? Or are we supposed to provide congratulations that you navigated the order process?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
deeddawg Avatar
54 months ago

so 179 for AirPods 3 or 199 for AirPods pro? Kinda silly to not get the airpod pros. (they are currently on sale almost everywhere)
Some of us abhor silicone ear tips.

Also - those $199 airpod pro's likely don't have the new magsafe compatible charging case which the $249 verson from Apple.com is now shipping with apparently.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GuilleA Avatar
54 months ago
Already ordered mine, the 3rd. gen is pretty much everything I was hoping it to be.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)