Whether you’re buying your first pair of AirPods or replacing a well-used old pair, it’s easy to understand why so many iPhone owners prefer Apple’s earbuds and headphones over other options. Apple has spent years slowly adding new features to what works best – and sometimes Only Work absolutely – with the company’s own equipment. These convenient tricks include audio sharing, automatic switching between different Apple devices, live translation, Apple TV integration, and more.
There are currently four AirPods models to choose from, each with its own distinct appeal and features. You probably already know whether you’re more interested in earbuds or over-ear headphones, so that’s the first split. In terms of over-ear headphones, your only choice is the AirPods Max. But in the earbuds category, Apple offers three options: the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, and the plain old AirPods 4.
We spend dozens of hours using AirPods products for our initial reviews, and this testing continues for weeks and months thereafter. This is where we assess sound quality, mic performance, and overall reliability. Where applicable, we test active noise cancellation in a variety of environments and test the hearing protection of AirPods Pro at concerts. We also take a closer look at the benefits of the ecosystem and how AirPods and Apple’s other products work together.
Good
- Better ANC and sound
- long battery
- Standalone Workout Tracking
- live translation
- same price
- ip57
- better fit
- Camera remote control is easy!
bad
- If you’re expecting traditional foam ear tips, this is not it
noise cancellation: Yes / battery life: 8 hours (ANC on) / water resistance: IP57/ bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC/ Multipoint: No , Works best with: iOS, Windows, MacOS / Ear Tips: Foam & Silicone (XXS, XS, S, M, L)
The third-generation AirPods Pro are better than their predecessor in many ways, right from the fit. Apple’s latest flagship earbuds feature a more angular design and a wider range of ear tip sizes – including an XXS option. Their “foam-infused” tips combine foam and silicone, so they expand slightly for better comfort and a stronger seal. If you’ve ever cursed AirPods for falling out of your ears, the Pro 3’s improved fit alone may sell you.
They also offer upgrades to noise cancellation, which allows them to rival even the AirPods Max. They’re much better at reducing high-frequency sounds like voices than previous generations of AirPods Pro, and they can eliminate the low rumble of an airplane engine. The sound quality has also been improved in ways that were surprisingly easy to pick out: bass is more punchy, vocals are clearer, and you’ll notice new layers in your favorite tracks. Meanwhile, battery life with ANC enabled will last an entire work day before the buds have to go back to the charging case to refill.
In addition to letting users use these earbuds as clinical-grade hearing aids — a feature introduced last year — Apple has added a heart rate sensor to this model, so you can track workouts directly from your ears. Add IP57 water and dust resistance, robust Find My capabilities, and a Live Translate feature, and it’s clear that the AirPods Pro are Apple’s best wireless earbuds by a wide margin.
Read our full AirPods Pro 3 review.
Best AirPods for people who find ear tips uncomfortable
,74
Good
- enhanced sound quality
- Voice isolation can significantly improve call clarity
- Deep Apple Ecosystem Integration
bad
- no wireless charging
- Case has no built-in speakers
- no proper multipoint
noise cancellation: No / battery life: 5 hours / water resistance: IP54/ bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC/ Multipoint: No / Works best with: iOS, Windows, MacOS
Not everyone likes the feel of ear tips. Even with the venting and other measures Apple has taken to improve comfort and reduce that stuffy feeling in the AirPods Pro 3, some people prefer regular, one-size-fits-most AirPods. Their open design means you’ll never be completely cut off from the outside world. The AirPods Pro have an impressive transparency mode, but the AirPods 4 don’t need it.
Apple currently sells two versions of the AirPods 4. No matter which one you choose, you’ll get the same great sound quality, microphone performance on voice calls, and IP54 water resistance. The more expensive pair has the features you’ll want, including active noise cancellation and a more advanced charging case (it supports Find My and wireless charging). You might be surprised to see how well the noise cancellation works even with an unsealed design; This reduces office ambiance and annoying rumbling, but loud sounds and voices still cut through ANC, as these don’t use sealed ear tips.
If you’re really interested in noise-canceling earbuds, consider upgrading to the AirPods Pro 3. They offer better audio quality, stronger ANC, and an overall better experience. If you are, I’d just steer you toward the noise-cancelling AirPods 4. In fact Opposition to the tips of the ears.
Read our full AirPods 4 review.
Best for those who love headphones
,450
Good
- high-luxury design
- Excellent, balanced sound quality
- very effective noise cancellation
- Reliable and accurate control
- Spatial Audio for immersive entertainment
bad
- heavier than many competitors
- no 3.5mm jack
- Wired listening requires a $35 cable
- the matter is disgusting
- Lack of latest AirPods Pro features
noise cancellation: Yes / battery life: 20 hours (ANC on) / water resistance: No / bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC/ Multipoint: No , Works best with: iOS, Windows, MacOS
We’ve been recommending Apple’s $549 AirPods Max for the past few years. They have an exceptional design, but good looks and a premium feel come at a high price. Not only that, these headphones are quite heavy compared to most competitors and can get tiring when used for long periods of time. But the fabric ear cups on the AirPods Max are more pleasant in hot weather than the pleather ones found on Bose and Sony products, and probably won’t leave you with sweaty ears.
The AirPods Max offer impressive noise cancellation, and the Transparency mode is clearer and more natural-sounding than any other set of headphones on the market. As for sound, Apple’s headphones have a pleasant sound signature that works well across a variety of genres. They’re easy to listen to, with an impressive soundstage thanks to closed-back headphones.
You lose some of the features found in the AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 with ANC — including conversation awareness and adaptive audio — because the AirPods Max use Apple’s older H1 chip. However, the company added lossless audio over USB-C in April, meaning these headphones offer the richest audio fidelity in Apple’s entire lineup.
Read our full AirPods Max (Lightning) review.
With Apple’s fall hardware event in the rearview mirror, we’re at a point where the company’s lineup seems settled (for now). Apple doesn’t upgrade its entry-level AirPods line on an annual basis like some of its other products, and the Pro 3 hit the market quite recently. Meanwhile, the AirPods Max have gone relatively unchanged since their release in 2020, with Apple adding a USB-C model and new color options last year. It’s possible we’ll see a camera-equipped pair of AirPods with support for Apple Intelligence in the future – a report from last year hinted at the same – but it’s unlikely to happen any time soon.
Update, December 15: Adjusted to reflect current pricing/availability, as well as several related links.
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