Just like Apple’s older Powerbeats Pro 2, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 (from $249 on Amazon) come with a heart rate sensor, but Apple does not use the same sensor for these two different pairs of headphones. While Beats relies on an optical heart rate sensor that utilizes a green LED and a sample rate of over 100 times per second, the AirPods Pro 3 feature a PPG sensor that uses invisible infrared light and a frequency of 256Hz.

Apple’s smallest PPG sensor to date is significantly more accurate than the optical sensor of the Powerbeats Pro 2, as an analysis by DC Rainmaker shows. Under certain conditions, the AirPods Pro 3 may not collect data as frequently as the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro, but the data is exceptionally accurate. Even during demanding interval workouts, Apple’s wireless earbuds provided practically identical results to Garmin’s flagship smartwatch in DC Rainmaker’s review.

Therefore, the heart rate sensor is accurate enough to track the heart rate during workouts, so users do not necessarily have to wear a smartwatch, a separate chest strap or a smart ring in order to record the intensity of a workout. Since the Powerbeats Pro 2 were quite inaccurate in this regard, it is good to see that Apple was able to drastically improve the sensor in just a few months. More details on AirPods Pro 3 can be found in our corresponding launch article.

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Editor of the original article: Hannes Brecher – Senior Tech Writer – 18699 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2018

Since 2009 I have written for different publications with a focus on consumer electronics. I joined the Notebookcheck news team in 2018 and have combined my many years of experience with laptops and smartphones with my lifelong passion for technology to create informative content for our readers about new developments in this sphere. In addition, my design background as an art director at an ad agency has allowed me to have deeper insights into the peculiarities of this industry.

Translator: Enrico Frahn – Managing Editor Accessory Reviews, Tech Writer – 5321 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2021

My fascination for technology goes back a long way to the Pentium II era. Modding, overclocking and treasuring computer hardware has since become an integral part of my life. As a student, I further developed a keen interest in mobile technologies that can make the stressful college life so much easier. After I fell in love with the creation of digital content while working in a marketing position, I now scour the web to bring you the most exciting topics in the world of tech. Outside the office, I’m particularly passionate about motorsports and mountain biking.