If you happen to’re pondering of shopping for AirPods any time quickly, you’ve received a couple of choices to select from. Apple at the moment has 4 fashions within the vary, however how do they evaluate by way of options? On this article, we check out which AirPods are the very best on your wants, to not point out your financial institution stability.
What varieties of AirPods are there?
Apple sells numerous varieties of AirPods. These vary from the usual AirPods proper as much as the over-the-ear AirPods Max and because the fashions range fairly a bit by way of building and options, the vary additionally encompasses a large span of pricing.
In September 2024 Apple introduced a listening to assist replace for the AirPods Professional 2 and two completely different variations of the brand new AirPods 4. Extra about that replace under.
Apple’s AirPods lineup as of September 2024:
These aren’t the one earphones that Apple sells.
Apple additionally sells the $19 Apple EarPods/£19 Apple EarPods (both with Lightning connector, USB-C connector, or 3.5mm plug).
Plus, Beats is a subsidiary of Apple, so Beats headphones typically embody Apple-specific options.
In case you are comfortable to contemplate options to AirPods, check out our roundup of the very best wi-fi headphones, finest USB-C headphones and finest over-ear headphones.
There are some AirPods which can be now not offered by Apple, we’ll point out them right here since you may nonetheless discover considered one of these older fashions on sale elsewhere, so you have to be conscious of them:
- AirPods (1st era): Launched in December 2016 and discontinued in March 2019.
- AirPods (2nd era): The model that got here with the MagSafe case is now not offered.
- AirPods (Third Era) with Lightning or MagSafe charging case, discontinued in September 2024.
- AirPods Professional (1st era): Apple discontinued the first era AirPods Professional when it launched new Professional fashions in September 2022.
- AirPods Professional (2nd era with Lightning): Apple discontinued the Lightning model of the 2nd-gen AirPods Professional when it launched the USB-C outfitted fashions in September 2023.
- AirPods Max with Lightning, changed by USB-C outfitted model in September 2024.
You could possibly get any of the above AirPods at a reduced worth from an unbiased reseller, together with the generations now not on sale. We’ll embody the very best pricing for Apple’s AirPods proper now within the sections under, however we even have a separate roundup of the very best AirPods offers that we replace month-to-month.
Apple
What can AirPods do?
Chances are you’ll be pondering of Apple’s AirPods as earbuds, earphones, headphones, or no matter you name them. Maybe all you wish to do together with your AirPods is hearken to music, however there’s a lot extra that they will do.
Listed below are a couple of of the advantages of getting AirPods:
- Easy setup: the AirPods are straightforward to arrange to make use of with all of your Apple merchandise. You possibly can immediately pair them with each system linked to your iCloud account simply by tapping the AirPods as soon as in your iPhone or iPad.
- Bluetooth headphones: that’s to not say AirPods can solely be used with Apple merchandise. You possibly can connect with PCs, Android telephones, sport consoles, and TVs through Bluetooth. See: AirPods compatibility: What Do AirPods work with.
- Automated switching: You possibly can seamlessly transfer from listening to audio in your Mac to answering a name in your iPhone.
- They’re clever: They sense after they’re in your ears, pause whenever you take them out and resume whenever you put them again in. They acknowledge whenever you’re talking and filter out exterior noise in order that your voice is evident.
- Audio Sharing: You possibly can share an audio stream between two units of AirPods. Wish to hearken to your favourite album or Podcast with a pal? Convey their AirPods close to the iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV you’re listening to and they’ll join. You possibly can pay attention collectively and every of you’ll have unbiased quantity management.
- Dialog Enhance: helps you hear folks speaking to you.
- Stay Hear: lets you hear folks throughout the room by working together with your iPhone to choose up sound from a distance.
- Entry to Siri: Siri, your AI assistant, can learn your messages or alerts as they arrive. You possibly can even get Siri to answer to messages utilizing voice instructions.
- Free Apple Music: should you haven’t beforehand had a trial you will get 6 months of Apple Music free See How you can get Apple Music totally free.
- Listening to assist: The AirPods Professional 2 is getting a software program replace that may permit it to operate like over-the-counter listening to aids.
AirPods comparability
In case you are questioning what the primary variations between the varied AirPods learn on. We additionally cowl parts like design, controls, waterproofing, noise cancelling, sound high quality, charging instances and battery life, under. First we’ll run although the important thing variations between the varied AirPods offered by Apple, beginning with the most costly mannequin. It’s also possible to see the very best costs proper now.
Apple AirPods Max
Value When Reviewed:
$549
At greater than twice the price of the AirPods Professional, the AirPods Max are the definition of a thought-about buy. Because of the scale of the ear-cups, Apple is ready to put a H1 chip in each, versus the only chip that seems in all the different AirPods.
Like on the Execs, there are options akin to Lively Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode and Spacial Audio, however the Max doesn’t have the customized high-dynamic vary amplifier discovered within the Third gen and Professional AirPods, or (extra surprisingly) any type of waterproofing. The sensible case can also be completely different in that you may’t use it to cost the AirPods Max, however this isn’t as unhealthy because it sounds, because the onboard batteries present round 20 hours of listening time.
Once more, due to the scale of the AirPods Max, controls are dealt with not by faucets however a Digital Crown much like that discovered on the Apple Watch, and a devoted Noise Management button. There are additionally a number of microphones to help with noise cancellation, plus up to date sensors for higher efficiency. For a complete take a look at the AirPods Max, learn our full evaluation.
Learn our full
Apple AirPods Max evaluation
AirPods Professional 2 USB-C
Value When Reviewed:
$249
The AirPods Professional had a major replace in 2022, bringing Discover My to the charging case, higher battery life, improved noise cancellation and enhanced audio high quality, new additional small ear suggestions and a lot extra.
Then in 2023 Apple switched Lightning on the case for USB-C and added a couple of new options together with a case that expenses with USB-C as a substitute of Lightning, the flexibility to make use of an iPhone 15 to reverse your AirPods case, higher safety in opposition to mud, and Lossless Audio with ultra-low latency for Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional.
In September 2024, Apple introduced that the AirPods Professional 2 will get a firmware replace that may add listening to assist options to the earphones. The replace ought to be obtainable earlier than the tip of 2024. Be taught extra in regards to the listening to assist function.
The AirPods Professional are higher than ever, however the worth continues to be excessive.
We haven’t reviewed the USB-C mannequin but, however right here is our full evaluation of the 2nd gen AirPods Professional.
Learn our full
AirPods Professional 2 USB-C evaluation
Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC)
Value When Reviewed:
$179 with Lively Noice Cancelation
The AirPods have been redesigned with every era, each promising a greater match. The AirPods 4, in accordance with Apple, has a design with “a natural and secure fit for more people than ever.” The firm stated it used an “unparalleled data set” to make “the most comfortable AirPods ever.”
The effectiveness of the AirPods 4’s lively noise cancelation is closely affected by the open design. The AirPods 4 don’t completely cancel the noise round you, which may be preferable, relying in your scenario. If you happen to’re in situations the place you could muffle as a lot as potential, you’ll wish to flip to the AirPods 2’s comfortable ear suggestions.
Just like the AirPods Professional 2 case, the $179/£179 AirPods 4 with ANC case has a speaker to play alerts via Discover My. It additionally helps USB-C or wi-fi charging–it really works with the Apple Watch charger in addition to Qi chargers.
If you happen to use lively noise cancelation, it shortens the AirPods 4’s battery life—when absolutely charged, Apple states a 4-hour listening time with the earbuds and 20 hours of cost with the case. Flip off ANC, and absolutely charged earbuds can final 5 hours, and the case provides 30 whole hours.
The AirPods 4 with ANC for $179/£179 are a significantly better worth than the Third-gen AirPods with quite a few pro-level options. They sound nice, the lively noise cancelation is extraordinarily helpful and works surprisingly effectively, they match higher than earlier AirPods, and the wi-fi charging and Discover My speaker on the case are much-welcomed conveniences.
Learn our full AirPods 4 with ANC evaluation.
Apple AirPods 4 (with out ANC)
Value When Reviewed:
$129 with out Lively Noise Cancelation
Apple presents the AirPods 4 with out Lively Noice Cancelation for $129/£129, a $50/£50 lower cost than the mannequin with ANC. Apple identifies this product because the AirPods 4. The earbud and case designs are the identical because the $179/£179 AirPods 4 with ANC. Nonetheless, the $129 AirPods 4 doesn’t have the next options:
- Lively Noise Cancelation (in addition to Adaptive Audio and Transparency mode)
- Dialog Consciousness
- Wi-fi charging case
- Speaker on the case for Discover My alerts
In any other case, they’re the identical. The AirPods 4 have an H2 chip just like the ANC mannequin in addition to the identical audio high quality, match, and options. So that you’ll have to contemplate if these options listed above are value the additional $50.
AirPods options: How to decide on the very best AirPods
We’ll now run via all of the variations between the varied AirPods, wanting on the design, controls, waterproofing, noise canceling, sound high quality, compatibility, charging instances and battery life that will help you resolve which AirPods will meet your wants.
Design
All earbud type AirPods can be found in white, similar to the iPod earbuds that had been so iconic. Nonetheless, if you’re prepared to spend extra on a pair of over-ear Apple headphones then the AirPods Max are available in quite a lot of two-tone colors together with Blue, Midnight, Orange, Purple, and Starlight. The AirPods Max are designed to create an acoustic seal round your ear to help noise cancellation. There’s a Digital Crown on one aspect for quantity management.
There was an expectation that the AirPods Professional would have shorter stems when Apple up to date them in 2022, however this wasn’t the case. Because of this to tell apart between the AirPods 4 and the AirPods Professional (2nd era) you could look to the earbud. Solely the AirPods Professional include silicone ear tricks to create a seal in your ear. There are 4 sizes: XS, S, M, L included within the field. The additional small dimension is new with the AirPods Professional 2. The AirPods Professional are the one different AirPods to supply exterior noise cancellation.
You may not be eager on pushing one thing inside your ear, during which case it’s value noting that the AirPods Professional 2 supply a vent system for stress equalisation in order that it feels snug to put on them. This vent system mixed with the silicon ear suggestions means you might discover the AirPods Professional 2 extra snug to put on than the usual AirPods with their laborious plastic suggestions that sit in your ear.
The obvious distinction between the brand new AirPods 4 and the older AirPods 2 and three is the scale of the stem. There’s lots else that’s visibly completely different although, as you possibly can see from the picture above.
Measurement is one other distinction, which will or might not matter to you because it doesn’t actually affect consolation or match. The AirPods 4 are lighter than the AirPods Professional 2, that are 5.3g (0.19oz). The AirPods Max weigh much more at 384.8g (13.6oz).
Controls
One of many advantages of utilizing any type of AirPods is that you may additionally inform Siri (the unreal clever assistant) to do issues for you. Nonetheless, you don’t have to make use of Siri to manage your music playback (fortunately). You need to use a mix of faucets and swipe relying on which AirPods you could have.
On AirPods 2nd era you utilize a double faucet to play, skip or reply the cellphone.
AirPods 3 and 4 use a pressure sensor. It’s one press for play, pause or reply name, two presses to skip ahead, and three presses to skip again. Press and maintain to activate Siri.
AirPods Professional 2 use contact management with completely different presses for various options. It’s one press for play, pause or reply name, two presses to skip ahead, three presses to skip again. You press and maintain to modify between Lively Noise Cancellation and Adaptive Transparency, swipe up and down to regulate quantity, and also you Say Hey Siri to set off the voice assistant.
AirPods Max function a Digital Crown that you simply flip to manage quantity, press to play, pause or reply a name, press twice to skip, thrice to return, and press and maintain to activate Siri (or say Hey Siri). There’s additionally a Noise management button to modify between Lively Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode.
Apple
Waterproofing: Are AirPods waterproof?
Provided that lots of people prefer to put on headphones when exercising or strolling round outdoors, so the query “can AirPods get wet” is a good one. The reply to the query is that the AirPods 4 era and AirPods Professional 2 are sweat and water-resistant (IPX4 rated), in accordance with Apple. Which implies you possibly can put on then when exercising, within the bathe and within the rain however not within the swimming pool. The AirPods aren’t thought-about water-resistant.
Noise cancelling: Are AirPods noise cancelling?
The AirPods Max, AirPods Professional 2 and the AirPods 4 supply Lively Noise Cancellation. Noise cancellation works through the use of a microphone to detect exterior sounds after which countering them by enjoying anti-noise. The AirPods Professional 2 supply higher noise cancellation due to a brand new driver and improved acoustic algorithms in addition to higher microphones and a brand new speaker grille on prime of every earbud to assist filter out outdoors sounds.
Apple additionally presents the AirPods 4 with out Lively Noise Cancelation.
Lively Noise Cancellation isn’t the one sound associated function within the AirPods. There’s a Transparency mode obtainable on the AirPods Professional or AirPods Max that lets the surface noise in when you could hear what’s occurring round you. You possibly can swap between these two modes by tapping on a location in your AirPods Professional or AirPods Max (indicated by the blue arrows within the picture above).
There’s a distinction between the Transparency Mode on the AirPods Max and the Professional: the AirPods Professional 2 supply Adaptive Transparency, which is able to minimise the depth of loud noises like sirens, so that you gained’t be deafened if an ambulance passes when you are utilizing Transparency Mode.
Dialog Enhance is a function that got here to the AirPods Professional in an October 2021 software program replace. The function can be utilized to reinforce the voice of the individual speaking beside you, which could possibly be useful for the laborious of listening to. The function may be turned on in iOS Accessibility settings, right here’s How you can use Dialog Enhance to show your AirPods Professional right into a listening to assist.
One other associated function is Stay Hear, which can be utilized together with an iPhone or iPad that will help you hearken to somebody talking from throughout the room or in a loud place. You need to use Stay Hear with AirPods, AirPods Professional, AirPods Max, and in addition Powerbeats Professional or Beats Match Professional. Learn How you can use Stay Hear.
Sound high quality: Which AirPods have the very best sound high quality?
We’ve by no means had any motive to criticise any AirPods sound high quality, though they aren’t essentially the very best sounding headphones you should buy. Nonetheless, we had been glad to search out that the AirPods 4 and the AirPOds Professional 2 use the identical H2 chip that processes sound, so the audio high quality is comparable in each, which the variations due largely to the eartips within the AirPods Professional 2.
One other approach that AirPods can create personalised sound is through Personalised Spatial Audio , which requires iOS 16 on iPhones with the TrueDepth digicam and is suitable with 1st and 2nd era AirPods Professional, AirPods, and AirPods Max. It can be used with Beats Match Professional. A private profile primarily based in your distinctive ear form is about up for you primarily based on a photograph of your head and every of your ears to be able to create a three-dimensional audio expertise whenever you transfer your head. Dynamic head monitoring can be useful in group FaceTime calls.
All AirPods help Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio in Apple Music, however solely the Third-generation AirPods or both era of the AirPods Professional help Spatial Audio for video with head monitoring.
Charging and battery life
Apple
Earlier than we get onto battery life, a couple of phrases on charging. The $129/£129 AirPods 4 case expenses solely via USB-C. The $179/£179 AirPods 4 with ANC has USB-C charging but in addition can cost wirelessly. The charging case for the AirPods Professional 2 consists of USB-C and wi-fi charging. However even perhaps higher, you don’t have to discover a energy adapter to plug the cable into: you possibly can reverse cost the 2023 model by plugging the case into any iPhone 15. It’s also possible to cost the 2nd-gen AirPods Professional and the MagSafe-equipped Third-gen AirPods wirelessly.
Right here’s how the battery lifetime of the completely different AirPods Apple sells compares:
- AirPods 4: 5 hours listening or 4.5 hours speaking, plus 30 hours listening or 20 hours speaking from charging case.
- AirPods 4 with ANC: 4 hours (with ANC on) or 5 hours (with ANC off) listening or 4.5 hours speaking, plus 20 hours (with ANC on) 0r 30 hours (with ANC off) listening or 20 hours speaking from charging case.
- AirPods Professional 2: 6 hours listening or 4.5 hours speaking, plus the AirPods Professional 2 charging case can add a complete of 30 hours of listening or 24 hours speaking.
- AirPods Max: 20 hrs on one cost, however no charging case increase right here.
These battery life measures are claimed by Apple. It’s value noting that the AirPods Professional 2 battery life if superior to the first era of that mannequin (beforehand 4.5 hours and 24 hours listening time).
To test the remaining battery life customers can maintain AirPods subsequent to their iPhone or ask Siri “How’s the battery on my AirPods?”. Ought to AirPods want charging a notification will seem on the paired iPhone.
Potential consumers may also wish to understand how rapidly the AirPods will cost – or how rapidly you possibly can cost them earlier than leaving the home.
- AirPods 4: 5 minutes within the case gives round 1 hour of battery life.
- AirPods Professional 2: 5 minutes within the case gives round 1 hour of battery life.
- AirPods Max: 5 minutes of cost time gives round 1.5 hours of battery life.
Once more, these are the instances quoted by Apple.
You gained’t at all times be in a rush to cost your AirPods after all. Underneath extra typical circumstances the AirPods have quite a lot of methods during which they are often charged.
All however the AirPods 4 with out ANC can include a wi-fi charging case. There did was once a model of the AirPods 2 that got here with a wi-fi charging case, however Apple now not sells that mannequin.
Compatibility
We talked about already that AirPods don’t solely work with Apple merchandise. They’re Bluetooth headphones and as such can connect with any system that helps Bluetooth. In that respect there may be some distinction primarily based on the truth that each era of AIrPods and the AirPods Max help Bluetooth 5.0 whereas the AirPods Professional 2 help Bluetooth 5.3, which brings enhancements akin to much less interference and improved sound high quality.
So, should you had been questioning if AirPods can connect with your PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Android and even Samsung cellphone, the reply is sure. You simply want to attach through Bluetooth.
One last item to notice: if in case you have a very outdated iPhone and wish to use AirPods, solely the AirPods 2nd gen work with iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 5s and the iPad mini 3, iPad mini 2 and iPad Air (1st era) and iPod contact (sixth era). Different AIrPods gained’t work with these ageing gadgets. However we are able to’t think about many AIrPod customers can have such outdated Apple gadgets.
We cowl numerous situations individually:
How you can use AirPods with PlayStation or Xbox
How you can pair AirPods with a Nintendo Swap (with out an adapter)
How you can join AirPods to Apple TV
Which AirPods to purchase
The AirPods which can be best for you will little question rely upon quite a lot of components. Maybe you need the most affordable choice, during which case the 2nd era AirPods at $129/£129 may look probably the most engaging.
However if you’re an actual music lover the AirPods may not be sufficient for you. The AirPods Professional supply noise cancellation, superior sound and plenty of extra advantages (together with USB-C and reverse cost from the iPhone following the 2023 replace). They value much more although, at $249/£229. We expect they’re value the additional expense, however you may not.
In case you have cash to spend although then the AirPods Max, which have a really excessive worth compared with the remainder of the vary, at $549/£549, do have lots of enchantment. However those that would recognize what they provide can look past Apple’s providing and doubtless discover one thing simply nearly as good, or higher.
One different issue influending your choice although is should you discover a whole lot on a brand new or outdated pair of AirPods. Try the offers under to see if the AirPods you need are discounted – then maybe you possibly can afford to splash out on the AirPods Professional as a substitute of the AirPods.
For extra recommendation learn AirPods vs AirPods Professional. Additionally learn: New AirPods: What to anticipate from the next-gen AirPods.