You don’t need a set of AirPods to get wireless audio from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, but Apple’s headphones and earphones offer plenty of convenient integrations with other products you won’t find anywhere else. After helping to popularize true wireless headphones with the original AirPods, the company has expanded its lineup to include noise-canceling models and a set of over-ear headphones. Here’s what you need to know about AirPods in general, along with the best overall, budget, and over-ear options from Apple’s current lineup.
What you need to know about AirPods
When it comes to Apple headphones and earphones, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind before making your final decision. First, AirPods are open-design headphones with no tip, allowing ambient noise to enter your ears at all times. AirPods Pro is a model with soft ear tips that completely enclose your ear, providing features such as stronger noise cancellation and a hearing test. Finally, the AirPods Max are Apple’s on-ear headphones, and are currently the company’s only option for wireless headphones that aren’t made by Beats.
There are a few features that are available on all models because they are unique to the AirPods experience. First, you can expect Automatic switching between Apple devices synced with your iCloud account. This means that when you’re listening to music on your MacBook, for example, when you get a call, the AirPods will automatically switch to your phone. It’s functionally similar to multipoint Bluetooth, but the feature isn’t limited to two devices like most headsets and headphones. Second, silent access to Siri is the default, allowing you to ask the assistant for help without touching your AirPods. And finally, the Personal Spatial Sound system with dynamic head tracking is present in the entire series, even in the most affordable version of AirPods 4.
If you think none of the AirPods options are right for you, check out our recommendations best wireless headphones and best wireless headphones for some alternatives.
Engadget
Read in full AirPods Pro 2 review
Battery life: 6 hours, up to 30 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IP54 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Automatic switching: Yes
Simply put, AirPods Pro 2 are the best AirPods choice because they offer the full suite of Apple’s current audio technology. Equipped with the H2 chip, the headphones give you access to advanced features such as Adaptive Audio, Conversation awareness, Sound Isolation, Personalized Volume, Adaptive EQ and Personal Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. Of course, you’ll also get “pro-level” active noise cancellation (ANC), which offers twice as much distraction as the first-generation AirPods Pro or AirPods 4 with ANC.
In addition to Sound Isolation, the AirPods Pro 2 also feature the most natural-sounding Transparency mode you’ll find in a set of headphones. This pair of features makes this model the best choice for calls in Apple’s lineup. You’ll also get the convenience of built-in volume control that other AirPods options (earbuds) don’t offer. The case charges wirelessly via MagSafe or Qi-certified accessories, and Auto Switch quickly switches from your MacBook or other iCloud-synced Apple devices to your phone when you need it.
AirPods Pro 2 also offer Apple’s hearing test, hearing aid and hearing protection features that arrived as part of iOS 18.1. In about five minutes, you can take a clinically validated hearing test with nothing but an iPhone and these headphones. Results are immediately available, and if you have mild to moderate hearing loss, AirPods Pro 2 can act as a hearing aid (with customizable settings). Moreover, these headphones can offer strong hearing protection against continuous noise below 110 dB. Hearing protection is enabled in all noise modes, including Transparency, Adaptive and ANC.
- Improved sound
- Star transparency mode
- Solid ANC
- Seamless transition between Apple devices
- Same design
- The new touch gesture takes practice
- Average battery life
- Customized Spatial Audio results vary
Engadget
Read in full AirPods 4 review
Battery life: 5 hours, up to 30 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IP54 | Noise cancellation: No | Automatic switching: Yes
Apple gave its “regular”. AirPods A major overhaul in 2024 most notably added ANC to the outerwear design for the first time. Of course, the addition of noise cancellation raises the price, so the non-ANC version of the AirPods 4 is the most affordable option in Apple’s mobile audio lineup. This model still packs Apple’s H2 audio chip, so you can expect some of the company’s latest features on board.
H2-powered tools on AirPods 4 include Sound Isolation, Custom Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, Personalized Volume, and Adaptive EQ. They lack ANC and the main features of AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 are Speech Awareness, Adaptive Audio and Transparency mode. Unlike those two models, the AirPods 4 charging case does not offer, nor does it have, MagSafe or Qi-compatible wireless charging. the accessory has a built-in speaker for Find My.
You’ll get all the benefits of a sleeker shape that offers a more secure and comfortable fit on AirPods 4. Like the third-generation AirPods, this model still lacks touch volume controls, instead offering playback controls, volume modes, and force-touch options for answering calls. The main downside to the open design is that you won’t have access to Apple’s hearing health tools. Since the AirPods 4 don’t cover your ears or have proper ANC, the company’s hearing test won’t be accurate, the hearing aid won’t be useful, and the hearing protection won’t provide adequate protection in loud environments.
- Improved fit and comfort
- Better sound quality
- Advanced features from more expensive models
- Still pretty affordable
- There is no volume control on board
- There is no ANC
- No wireless charging
- No conversational awareness
Engadget
Read in full AirPods Max review
Battery life: 20 hours | Water resistance: None | Noise cancellation: Yes | Automatic switching: Yes
If you prefer over-ear headphones to headphones, there’s only one option for you in Apple’s lineup. The AirPods Max It debuted in 2020, and the company offered a minimal update in September 2024 that replaced the Lightning port with USB-C (and added five new colors). While the design is still relevant, the technology inside this model is a generation behind the AirPods Pro 2 arriving in 2022. The AirPods Max are still powered by the H1 chip, meaning Apple’s more advanced audio features aren’t available here.
Because the Max doesn’t have the newer H2 silicon, features like Adaptive Audio, Personalized Volume, Conversation Awareness, and Noise Isolation aren’t available on these headphones. However, you can still expect hands-free access to Siri, Custom Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, Adaptive EQ and a very natural-sounding Transparency mode. The noise cancellation works well with most constant noise sources, but like many headphones, it struggles with human voices. Automatic switching is also here, so you can expect Max to quickly switch between iCloud-connected devices.
And then there’s the design. Even though the ear pads are a bit thin after hours of continuous use, the AirPods Max feel light and comfortable. Physical controls for playback, volume, and noise modes are centered around a rotating crown similar to those on the Apple Watch and a single button, both located on the right side. This excellent Transparency mode keeps you from shouting during calls, and the sound reception is good enough to use them during important virtual meetings without fear of sound quality issues.
- Excellent balanced sound
- Solid ANC Handy features
- Unique but reliable control
- Solid battery life
- Expensive
- It still uses the old H1 chipset
- “Work” offers little protection
- No high quality music streaming service support
Other AirPods we’ve tested
AirPods 4 with ANC
The AirPods 4 with ANC represents the first time active noise cancellation has been introduced in open-wear, “regular” AirPods. In terms of design, they are identical to the non-ANC model, so the difference is entirely in the feature list. This more expensive version adds Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, Conversation awareness and a wireless charging case. The ANC is not as strong as the AirPods Pro 2, partly because the AirPods 4 don’t completely seal your ears. Noise-canceling performance is definitely useful, though it works best with constant, low-frequency irritants like fans and white noise machines. Finally, you won’t have access to Apple’s hearing test and hearing aid features, in part because the AirPods 4 with ANC don’t seal your ears, which would affect accuracy and effectiveness.
