AirPods Pro 3: Heart-Rate Tracking — How it Works and How to Use It
Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 now include in-ear photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors to measure heart rate for workouts and periodic pulse checks. The earbuds work with your iPhone’s accelerometer, gyroscope, GPS and on-device AI to provide live cardio insights and estimate calories burned.
How they measure heart rate
PPG sensors pulse infrared light hundreds of times per second to detect blood-flow changes in your ear. Data from the AirPods is combined with iPhone sensors and Health information to improve accuracy. If you wear both an Apple Watch and AirPods Pro 3, the device with the most accurate recent data is used.
Requirements
- AirPods Pro 3 (older AirPods do not have heart-rate sensors).
- iPhone running iOS 26 (iPhone 11 or newer, including iPhone SE 2nd gen).
Turn heart-rate sensing on/off
- Put AirPods Pro 3 in your ears and connect to your iPhone.
- Open Settings → tap your AirPods name.
- Scroll to Heart Rate and toggle it off or on.
View your heart rate
Live heart rate appears as Live Activities on the Lock Screen and in the Health app (Heart → Heart Rate). During workouts, heart rate shows in the Fitness app and compatible third-party apps (grant Health permissions on first use). You can also ask Siri “What’s my heart rate?”.
Tips for best accuracy
- Ensure a good fit—sensor contact with the skin matters.
- Keep Health profile info (height, weight, age) up to date.
- Cold ears, earwax, moisture, piercings, or skin differences can affect readings—clean and check fit.
- You may wear a single AirPod Pro 3 to track heart rate if you prefer one ear free.
Where to buy & more info
Search for AirPods Pro 3 on Amazon (affiliate): https://www.amazon.com/s?k=AirPods+Pro+3&tag=f1rede-20
Official Apple support guide: Apple Support — Monitor your heart rate with AirPods Pro 3
Independent coverage and testing: Tom’s Guide — AirPods Pro 3 heart-rate testing
Question for readers
Would you consider relying on earbuds for heart-rate monitoring during workouts instead of a dedicated wearable? Share your experience in the comments below.
Sources: Apple Support, Tom’s Guide