Apple Rolls Out Festive AirPods Pro 3 for Lunar New Year
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Last week, Apple unveiled a limited-edition AirTag in Japan to celebrate the new year, and now it’s completing its annual Asian collection with a special edition of the AirPods Pro 3. This commemorative release pairs the latest flagship features — including heart rate tracking and improved ANC — with a custom design to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
As with the AirTags, you’ll only be able to get the AirPods Pro 3 in Asia — specifically China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore — but they’re also not a giveaway like Japan’s promotional offer. They’re a standard set of AirPods Pro 3, and can be purchased for the same price, with the only difference being the unique Year of the Horse design that’s engraved on the front of the case.
While it’s possible to get a custom emoji or other glyph engraved onto the case for any set of AirPods, including a simple horse, the Year of the Horse edition features a special stylized engraving that’s not otherwise available. This isn’t a custom order, but a pre-packaged version of the AirPods Pro 3, and Apple is only making a limited number of units, so they’ll only be available while supplies last.
Apple’s Far East Promotions
The special edition AirTags and AirPods have become an annual event. The AirTags celebrate Japan’s “Hatsuuri,” the country’s New Year’s celebration that includes a three-day sales event equivalent to Black Friday that traditionally runs from January 2–5 each year, while the special edition AirPods are released in China and several other Asian countries to celebrate the Lunar New Year, which typically lands between late January and mid-February.
This year, that’s the Year of the Fire Horse, and it arrives later than usual on February 17, 2026. That might partly explain why Apple went in a different direction with the Japanese AirTag this year.
Japan doesn’t widely celebrate the lunar new year, as it officially follows the solar calendar, but there are still Chinese and Korean communities in the country that hold vibrant Lunar New Year festivities. When Apple released its first special edition AirTag in Japan in 2022, it commemorated the Year of the Tiger, and was accompanied by special edition Beats Studio Buds featuring an all-red design with gold tiger print accents — a much more vibrant offering than a simple glyph on a white AirPods case.
However, the Year of the Tiger also started on February 1, 2022. Subsequent Japanese AirTags recognized the Year of the Rabbit (January 22, 2023), the Year of the Dragon (February 10, 2024), and the Year of the Snake (January 29, 2025). While some of those came close to this year’s Lunar New Year, February 17 is almost as late as it gets. That’s because the date is determined by the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, where it lands on the second new moon following the winter solstice.
Regardless of the timing, this year’s limited edition AirTag in Japan honors local culture with a special engraving of the Daruma, a traditional Japanese talisman symbolizing good luck and perseverance. It also serves as a traditional Japanese icon for “Hatsumode” New Year’s visits, arguably making it a more appropriate choice for that country.
In China, Hong Kong, and several other Asian markets, Apple is selling several exclusive third-party Year of the Horse themed accessories, including more artistic Tech21 cases for iPhone, AirPods Pro 3, and AirTags, along with a Bellroy Travel Organizer and Cinch Messenger Bag.
