Airpods Pro 3: How Well Does the Heart Rate Measurement Work?

With the Airpods Pro 3, Apple launched its first in-ear headphones with a heart rate monitor. A recent test showed that the Airpods Pro 3 can keep up with most smartwatches.

Home
News
Hardware & Gadgets

Add t3n as a preferred source on Google

Don't miss any news!

With the Airpods Pro 3, Apple launched its first in-ear headphones with a heart rate monitor last year. As a recent test showed, the Airpods Pro 3 can keep up with most smartwatches.

By Sebastian Milpetz

In September 2025, Apple released the Airpods Pro 3. As the company's first in-ear headphones, they came equipped with an integrated PPG sensor for heart rate measurement.

Magazine Compared Airpods Pro 3 with Apple Watch 11 and Others

Apple presented the Airpods Pro 3 with the promise of checking heart rates across 50 different types of workouts. But can headphones deliver the same or even better accuracy than a smartwatch on your wrist?

The answer is yes. At least that was the conclusion of a test conducted by CNT magazine. Editor Vanessa Hand Orellana wore the Airpods Pro 3 while running four laps on a track, varying her speed.

She then compared the values from the Airpods with previous tests of a range of wearables. In addition to the Apple Watch Series 11, she included the Garmin Venu 4, Google Pixel Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, and the Amazfit Bib 6.

How the Comparison Was Conducted

For reference on measurement accuracy, the reporter used the Polar H10 chest strap, which is considered the gold standard for non-medical heart measurements by CNET.

Before starting with the Airpods Pro 3, the editor ran again with the Apple Watch 11, which had performed best in her previous comparison of smartwatches.

The Apple Watch now delivered a margin of error of 0.63 percent compared to the Polar H10. Additionally, there was a deviation of 0.89 beats per minute (BPM) in heart rate. This topped the Apple Watch's previous best performance of 0.98 percent and 1.40 BPM.

Airpods Pro 3 Come Close to Apple Watch 11

Then it was the turn of the Airpods Pro 3. They provided a margin of error of 1.23 percent and a heart rate deviation of 2.02 beats per minute.

Thus, Apple's headphones do not quite reach the accuracy of their own smartwatch. However, all other wearables tested by Vanessa Hand Orellana in her earlier trial fell short against the Airpods Pro 3.

Advantages of Headphones for Heart Rate Measurement

Even though the Apple Watch ultimately had a slight edge: According to CNET, there are advantages to using in-ear headphones as a tool for heart rate measurement compared to smartwatches.

Experts consulted by CNET noted that heart rate measurements are more accurate the closer the body part being measured is to the heart. Additionally, in-ear headphones typically move less than a watch on the wrist.