Apple unveils new AirPods, iPhones and more — here’s what travelers need to know

Apple unveiled a slew of product updates Tuesday at its annual fall event in Cupertino, California. And for travelers, some of the revamped devices stood out above the rest.

Apple’s popular headphones saw improvements, while the company’s newest iPhones and watches introduced design changes and new features, too.

If you’ve been holding off on upgrading your tech, you might be wondering if the updates live up to the hype and if the splurge is worth it for travelers.

Well, I can’t answer those questions just yet — stay tuned for an update whenever I test some of the new products — but if Apple’s marketing is to be believed, perhaps the devices could be a worthwhile update for heavy travelers.

Here’s what was announced, and one thing that wasn’t.

AirPods Pro 3

The next generation of AirPods Pro launched Tuesday.

Sound quality gets an improvement, but perhaps the more noticeable change is twice the noise cancellation compared to the existing model, which could be music to travelers’ ears (pardon the pun).

Other changes include a more compact form factor for the earbuds, additional fit options and better resistance from the elements when you’re out and about.

The AirPods Pro 3 also support a new feature called Live Translation, which automatically translates conversations into your preferred language in real time. This means that if you’re traveling abroad, you can use your AirPods to get live translations instead of needing to type everything out in a translation app.

The AirPods Pro are already among the bestselling headphones worldwide thanks to their portable bud-style form factor and pocket-size charging case. With the improved noise cancellation, you should be better able to drown out more background noise on the subway, planes and even the sidewalk.

Apple last fully updated the AirPods Pro in 2022. Travelers still using legacy models may be enticed by these changes, especially if Apple can back up its claim that they offer the best noise cancellation of any wireless earbuds.

IPhone 17 family

Apple updates the iPhone family with the latest technology each year. Some years, we see new designs, and other years, just smaller under-the-hood updates that aren’t as splashy.

But in a major shift for the tech giant, this year’s event ushered in an all-new iPhone model, the iPhone Air.

Historically, Apple hasn’t used the “Air” moniker for the iPhone family, preferring to keep it limited to the iPad and MacBook lineup.

However, with the introduction of the iPhone Air, travelers will have a more portable choice of Apple smartphone.

True to its name, this model is Apple’s thinnest one yet, clocking in at just 5.6 millimeters thick. Holding it in my hand after the event made me do a double take, as I’m used to far bulkier smartphones. I even compared it to four premium credit cards stacked together; the Air was about as thin.

But the tradeoff with the slimmer form is the camera system.

Personally, I’m always capturing pictures and videos when I’m on the road, so even though I’m tempted by the portability of the iPhone Air, I’ll probably be sticking with the more powerful Pro family, which also got a noteworthy update.

The base iPhone 17 model and the more robust 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max were redesigned with bigger cameras, larger batteries and more.

I’m particularly excited about the elimination of physical SIM cards on many of the new iPhones. The new(ish) digital standard, eSIM, makes swapping SIMs — basically, your phone number — while traveling very easy.

For the first time, Apple is using the space left over from the elimination of the physical SIM slot to add more battery space.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

Lastly, Apple also updated its watch lineup, introducing the new Series 11, Ultra 3 and SE 3 models.

Although less of a mainstay in the travel journey, the watches got two connectivity changes that might be intriguing to some travelers.

First is the introduction of 5G wireless technology to this year’s watches. You probably don’t need the speeds to stream YouTube videos on an Apple Watch, but faster connectivity means that the odds of missing a notification when you’re on the go will be lower.

Plus, satellite connectivity comes to the watch lineup for the first time, meaning that you can contact emergency services, send messages and share your location in real time, even if you don’t have cellular service. This feature is limited to the more expensive Ultra 3 model, but could be really useful if you frequently find yourself off the grid.

Still missing: AirTags 2

While it’s been rumored for months, Apple didn’t update its beloved item trackers Tuesday.

Rumors have indicated that Apple is on the verge of introducing new AirTags with a greater range, which could help in crowded airports or when retrieving bags from a full luggage conveyor.

Plus, the next-generation AirTags are expected to debut louder speakers, which should make it easier to hear your missing bag or item.

Other upgrades will probably be included as well, but I guess we’ll need to wait just a little bit longer for those.

Related reading:

• TPG’s 2025 travel trends report
• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you’re a beginner or expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can’t travel without