In a surprising twist for Apple fans, the highly anticipated AirPods Pro 3 may not see the light of day until 2026—much later than previously hoped.

Recent hints within the code for iOS 16 sparked excitement that these next-gen wireless earbuds could debut this year, coinciding with the mobile operating system's launch. However, industry analyst Jeff Pu from GF Securities Hong Kong has thrown cold water on those expectations.

Pu has revealed a timeline predicting when various Apple products will be released, listing the AirPods Pro 3 as slated for a 2026 launch. This pushes back the already-speculated 2025 release date, which was never officially confirmed.

The current AirPods Pro 2 hit the market in 2022 and received a USB-C update in 2023, showcasing Apple’s commitment to enhancing user experience. With recent upgrades like hearing aid functionality and upcoming features—such as higher-quality audio recording and the ability to wirelessly trigger your iPhone camera—the existing model remains competitive.

With the AirPods Pro 2 launching three years after the original, a 2026 introduction for the third iteration would mean an extended four-year break from its predecessor.

Excitingly, prior to the recent WWDC conference, rumors circulated about additional features for future AirPods models, including sleep detection and advanced gesture controls. These innovations could very well debut with the AirPods Pro 3, which seems poised to emphasize health technology even more.

As anticipation builds for what's next, Apple aficionados are left wondering: what groundbreaking features await us with AirPods Pro 3?