AirPods are, on the whole, great. But which version is best for you? I tested them all, and I've got answers. (Rick Broida/Yahoo)
For many a music-minded shopper, it's not a question of which earbuds or headphones to buy, but rather which AirPods. Apple makes some of the best-known and most popular products in these categories, so it's not surprising they're top-of-mind. But with four to choose from, what are the best AirPods for your specific needs and preferences?
You've got ears; I've got answers. As Yahoo's senior tech writer, I've not only tested and reviewed the AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Max, but also used them almost daily for years. Below you'll find summary reviews of each product along with my recommendations.
Take note, however, that Apple's annual September product-launch event is imminent, and there's a good chance we'll be seeing new AirPods. At a minimum, there are new features coming to existing AirPods, and rumor has it live language translation might be in the works as well.
Also, if you're not an iPhone user, this story probably isn't for you. Although AirPods can and do work with Android devices, you'll miss out on various iPhone-only benefits. Have no fear, however: We have more generalized roundups of the best noise-cancelling headphones and best wireless earbuds for your perusal.
Ear detection: Yes | Spatial audio: Yes | Multipoint connectivity: Yes | Case charging: USB-C | Max battery life: 5 hours on a charge | Water resistance: IP54 | Special features: None
Don't like the feel of silicone ear-tips wedged inside your ears? Apple's AirPods 4 have a "semi in-ear" or "open" design, meaning they rest gently just inside your concha. (Bet you didn't even know you had a concha, huh?) That's not only less invasive, but also better at allowing outside noise to slip in.
Why would you want that? Situational awareness: If you use ANC (active noise-cancelling) earbuds, you might not hear the sound of, say, an oncoming car or bike messenger. You might not hear a shouted warning. Open earbuds can be a safer option.
And, in this case, a cheaper one: AirPods 4 are the most affordable AirPods you can get right now. List price: $129, but very often discounted to $99. (By often I mean once a month, on average, so do not pay full price for these unless you're in a hurry.)
There's another AirPods 4 option available, one that does have ANC — meaning you're getting the best of both open-earbuds worlds. You also get a case that supports Apple Find My and wireless charging; the non-ANC AirPods 4 rely solely on USB-C. In most other respects, the two products are identical.
Consequently, I'll refer you to my full AirPods 4 with ANC review — and also to the write-up below.
Ear detection: Yes | Spatial audio: Yes | Multipoint connectivity: Yes | Case charging: USB-C or wireless | Max battery life: 5 hours on a charge (4 with ANC enabled) | Water resistance: IP54 | Special features: Find My, head gestures
Positioned smack in the middle between standard AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2, the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (that's the full product name, for real) is a great option for anyone who doesn't like silicone ear-tips but still wants respectable ANC.
Apple also borrowed from the AirPods Pro feature list the H2 chip, spatial audio, Personalized Volume, Conversation Awareness, wireless charging case with speaker (and USB-C charging port) and so on. The relatively new Head Gestures feature — nod to accept calls/announcements, shake to decline — is here as well.
Overall sound quality is quite good, though the AirPods Pro still win the day thanks to that silicone-powered noise isolation. Similarly, while the AirPods 4's ANC works surprisingly well, it's not quite as effective as the Pro's. If I'm getting on an airplane, I'm bringing the latter.
But as an open-ear option, this is hard to beat. Read my complete AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation review to learn more.
Ear detection: Yes | Spatial audio: Yes | Multipoint connectivity: Yes | Case charging: USB-C or wireless | Max battery life: 6 hours on a charge (5 with ANC enabled) | Water-resistance: IPX4 | Special features: Hearing aid, protection
AirPods Pro 2 are, of course, Apple's famed noise-canceling wireless earbuds. They're also a high-ranking member of our best wireless earbuds list. The second-generation version, released in 2022 (and updated in 2023 with USB-C charging to match the iPhone 15), builds on that with a few incremental improvements — nothing you can't live without, but all very nice to have.
The big game-changer, however, arrived here in late 2024: Thanks to new software updates, AirPods Pro now double as hearing aids. FDA-authorized hearing aids. They also offer hearing protection and even a hearing test. Those features are, for now, exclusive to these AirPods — but things could change after Apple's September product-launch event (as mentioned above).
In the meantime, be on the lookout for AirPods Pro 2 deals: The $249 list price is for suckers only, as Amazon has routinely sold them for $199 or less. At this writing, you can pick up a pair for just $169.
I always struggled with that list price, but $169? Totally worth it. These are without question my favorite AirPods overall, offering superb sound, immaculate spatial audio and nearly unrivaled ANC. The hearing-aid stuff is just icing on the cake.
Want the full rundown? Read my detailed Apple AirPods Pro 2 review.
Spatial Audio: Yes | Foldable: No | Controls: Analog | Colors: Green, Pink, Silver, Space Gray, Sky Blue | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Weight: 14 ounces | Carrying case: Sort of | Max battery life: 20 hours on a charge
After I first reviewed the AirPods Max back in 2023, I made the mistake of handing them to my 25-year-old daughter — who has stubbornly refused to return them. This despite my offer of trading for something I consider better, namely the latest headphones from Sonos or Bose. Nope. She loves the AirPods Max.
Weird. These are not the best wireless headphones you can buy, not by a longshot. They sound great, sure, but they're very expensive, with mediocre battery life and some notable usability quirks. For example, there's inexplicably dumb, super-tiny charging LED. It shows battery status only when you press a button. (I initially thought I had a defective product, because I couldn't tell if it was charging.)
Maxes have the same controls as an Apple Watch: a button and a "digital crown." The button quick-switches between ANC and transparency modes; the crown adjusts volume when you rotate it, which is great. But I find myself overwhelmed by the crown's multiple button functions. (My daughter, on the other hand, loves that about them.)
Meanwhile, these headphones don't fold, so they're bulky to travel with. The purse-style case offers no protection for the headband, but you have to use it if you want to activate ultra-lower-power mode (and preserve battery life).
Make no mistake, AirPods Maxes sound great; ANC quality: also great. Spatial audio: superb. I also like the build quality, shiny metallic coloring and overall comfort. (These are some seriously cushy and breathable earcups.)
And let's remember: If you want an over-the-ear headphone instead of earbuds, this is your only choice. That's why we named this the top pick for Apple die-hards in our roundup of the best wireless headphones. And that's where you can read a much more detailed Apple AirPods Max review.
I tested the four available AirPods the same way I test all audio products: by listening to lots of different stuff. Mostly music (Billy Joel, Rodriguez, Vivaldi), but also podcasts (Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend) and video (Arrested Development rewatch for probably the fifth time). The obvious goal is to measure overall sound quality — which I found ranged from "very good" to "excellent" — but I was also interested in usability: Are AirPods easy to set up and operate? Did Apple supply decent printed instructions for novice users?
Comfort is an important aspect for any earbud or headphone purchase. I'm lucky in that my ears are fairly average size, and consequently all the earbuds fit me quite well; I found I could wear them comfortably for long stretches. Same with the AirPods Max, which have a wide, soft headband and extra-cushy earcups. But that's me; your mileage may vary.
Full disclosure: We didn't test battery life, which is time-consuming and often imprecise. It varies depending on what you're listening to, what volume you've set and whether you've enabled ANC. And if we're being real, it doesn't matter: If you're set on buying AirPods, battery life is what it is. Anecdotally, they're all pretty much in line with Apple's ratings, which are what we've quoted in this story. Unfortunately, AirPod battery life is on the lower-than-average side across the board: A lot of competing earbuds and headphones last longer on a charge. Remember, too, that activating the ANC feature will always drain the battery faster.
Of course! But if you specifically mean, "Use AirPods with the in-flight entertainment system," that's going to require a bit of accessorizing. For the AirPods Max, you'll need Apple's (ridiculously overpriced) USB-C to 3.5mm adapter cable, which will allow you to plug into the system's AUX jack. There's no such option for earbud-style AirPods, though, so unless the system supports Bluetooth, you're out of luck. There is a workaround, though: The AirFly Pro 2 is a Bluetooth dongle that plugs into those AUX jacks, effectively bridging the gap.
To paraphrase Henry Ford, you can have AirPods in any color you want, as long as it's white. The exception is AirPods Max; Apple offers those headphones in five different colors (white not among them, surprisingly).
All the time! As noted above, we routinely see the AirPods Pro 2 selling for $199 or less, despite having a $249 list price. Similarly, the $129 AirPods 4 can often be found for $99. Around the office we refer to this as "perma-sale" pricing. The only exception is new products, which tend to stay at full price for at least the first few months.
There's no set schedule, but new AirPods are sometimes announced during Apple's September product-launch event, albeit with two or three years between upgrades. Based on the rumor mill, we're fully expecting new AirPods Pro next month, though this isn't official just yet.
Yes! The arrival of iOS 26 will bring several new AirPods features, including studio-quality recording, improved call clarity (it's already extremely good, though) and a camera remote (meaning you can squeeze the stem to snap a photo). These will be free upgrades on compatible hardware.
It's shockingly easy: Just flip open the AirPods case. Your iPhone should automatically detect it and walk you through the pairing process. Now, there's a little more to it if you want to pair the AirPods to a second or different device. For that, check Apple's AirPods pairing instructions.
First, venture into your MacBook Settings and make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Then put your AirPods in pairing mode; in the list of devices on your MacBook, choose the AirPods and click Connect. That's all there is to it! If you need help enabling pairing mode, check Apple's AirPods pairing instructions.
Price | Active Noise-Cancelling | Spatial Audio | Est. Battery Life | Hands-Free Siri | |
AirPods 4 | $129 | No | Yes | 5 hours | Yes |
AirPods 4 with ANC | $179 | Yes | Yes | 5 hours (4 w/ANC) | Yes |
AirPods Pro 2 | $249 | Yes | Yes | 6 hours (5 w/ANC) | Yes |
AirPods Max | $549 | Yes | Yes | 20 hours | Yes |