Just a day after the release of the first iOS 26 beta, it has already revealed evidence of an upcoming product: a direct reference to AirPods Pro 3 found in the system code—marking the second recent leak to suggest the next-gen earbuds are on the way.

MacRumors contributor Steve Moser uncovered the reference to AirPods Pro 3 in the code of iOS 26, making this the first time the new model has been mentioned by name in Apple software.

While specific features of the AirPods Pro 3 remain unknown, expectations are beginning to form. This discovery follows a similar leak last month, when Apple software referred to “AirPods Pro 2 or later,” replacing the previous phrasing that only mentioned the second-generation model.

Now, with iOS 26 explicitly naming AirPods Pro 3, the likelihood of a fall launch appears stronger than ever—possibly aligning with Apple’s usual September timeline.

Though analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously suggested the next AirPods Pro might not arrive until 2026, this latest development makes that delay seem increasingly doubtful. With iOS 26 expected to debut mid-September, AirPods Pro 3 may well be unveiled at Apple’s iPhone 17 launch event just before then.