The best AirPods of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

4 days ago 2

Apple's AirPods are ubiquitous, and for good reason. Even the most basic pairs are easy to charge and carry, are trackable, and eschew wires that can tangle and rip. While we love (and have reviewed) a host of earbud and headphone options at ZDNET (including over-ear headphones, bone-conduction headphones, and even wired earbuds), there's a lot to be said for Apple AirPods--especially their newer models that pair seamlessly with iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks.

AirPods offer iOS-specific software features and capabilities, like Spatial Audio with Dynamic Head Tracking, Adaptive Audio, and Conversation Awareness. Additionally, the AirPods Pro 2's breakout feature, Hearing Aid Mode, is only available when the earbuds are paired with a compatible Apple device.

Also: The best earbuds: Expert tested

I have personally tested every AirPods model and have strong opinions on which pairs are the best for specific use cases. I've also used the AirPods Pro every day since they launched in October 2019, and upgraded to the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) at launch in 2022.

What are the best AirPods right now?

My pick for the best AirPods -- the recently-revised AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C -- is based on my extensive experience using and testing the different versions of AirPods and competing earbuds from Beats, Soundcore, Samsung, Sony, and many others. But if you aren't sold on the AirPods Pro 2, there are a few more options to choose from.

The best AirPods of 2024

Out of the current AirPods models, I highly recommend the AirPods Pro 2 because they fit almost every type of ear comfortably and include all of Apple's best and latest headphone features.

These are ideal for those long-haul work sessions when all you want is silent time to focus, or as you're exercising and want to lock in on your favorite music. They're the best earbuds in the lineup and an excellent choice for portable headphones with competitive noise-canceling.

Most Redditors agree that the AirPods Pro 2 take the cake. One user on the r/AirPods thread said the AirPods Pro 2 are worth the money, while another called the earbuds "transcendent."

Also: I've used my AirPods Pro 2 since their 2022 release. Are they still worth it in 2024?

The AirPods Pro 2 use silicon tips to fit into your ears (with four sizes to choose from), similar to the ones you're probably familiar with in most earbuds you've used. Comparatively, the standard AirPods have hard plastic tips like the traditional Apple EarPods that used to come in the box with most iPhones -- which many people found fell out of their ears easily or weren't very comfortable to wear.

The AirPods Pro 2 sport Apple's latest H2 chip for improved sound, more stable Bluetooth connections, and more efficient power consumption. The Pro 2 offer the most effective noise cancellation of Apple's earbuds, working impressively in loud environments like airplanes and city streets. These earbuds also include Adaptive Audio, which automatically adjusts the noise-canceling levels based on your environment's noise levels.

Software-wise, the Pro 2 are Apple's most advanced earbuds. These earbuds offer Lossless Audio with ultra-low latency when paired with the Apple Vision Pro headset, and can be used as an over-the-counter hearing aid for those with mild to moderate hearing loss.

If you use headphones for more than a couple hours every day, wireless headphones might be your most important device next to your smartphone and your laptop -- and they can enhance the experience of using both. If you use headphones that much, spending $250 (or as low as $170 during seasonal sales) on the best and most versatile wireless earbuds Apple offers will likely be a worthy investment to raise the quality of your daily life.

AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) with USB-C features: Type: In-ear | Chip: H2 | Battery life: 6 hours | Water-resistant: IP54 (dust, sweat, and water resistant)

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The AirPods Max are Apple's most premium headphones, and they even do a few specific things better than the AirPods Pro 2 (which due to Apple's H2 chip have more advanced technology). The AirPods Max offer a glorious experience in terms of providing immersive sound and blocking out the world for a premium price of $550 -- although you can regularly find sales and discounts to knock off a chunk of that price.

Review: AirPods Max

The noise cancellation for the AirPods Max is the best I've experienced. I used it on a very loud and long flight, where I was seated just over one of the engines with a constant roar. Putting on the AirPods Max brought almost complete silence and a welcome bit of peace. Equally vital is the transparency mode, where the eight microphones in the AirPods Max make it sound like you're not wearing a pair of over-the-ear headphones. The quality of these two modes is better than any other traditional headphones I've used. It is the main reason to buy the AirPods Max -- along with the fact that they can pair with all your Apple devices and automatically switch between any of them.

Here's another reason to buy the AirPods Max: comfort. I've never been able to wear most over-the-ear headphones for more than 30 minutes because they are uncomfortable on my ears and make the sides of my head sweaty. I've been able to wear the AirPods Max for several hours on long flights because the ear cushions are comfortable and ventilate well.

Apple released USB-C compatible AirPods Max during the iPhone 16 launch event, making Apple's only over-ear headphones compatible with lossless wired listening.

Also: How to figure out if you should (or shouldn't) buy the new USB-C AirPods Max

The audio quality of the AirPods Max is excellent, but it's generally about the same as that of other wireless over-the-ear headphones that cost $250-$350. If you have multiple Apple devices, truly love audio or immersing yourself in your favorite music or movie, and are a frequent traveler, then you're likely to love the experience of the AirPods Max. Just keep in mind that you'll probably also need a separate pair of earbuds for walking outside, working out, and wearing under a warm cap in cold weather.

Owners on Reddit say the AirPods Max is worth it if you have nearly $600 to spare. Some users recommend waiting for the next generation of these headphones, though it's TBD when that next generation arrives.

AirPods Max features: Type: Over-ear | Chip: H1 | Battery life: 20 hours | Water-resistant: N/A

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The original AirPods remain as iconic as ever. Apple's latest release is the upgraded fourth-generation version and they're still a great buy, even if Redditors claim the Pro 2s have made them less popular. Apple released two pairs of AirPods in the fourth-gen lineup, but the addition of noise cancellation gives these AirPods more utility and value.

A fully charged case can charge the fourth-generation AirPods up to six times. With up to five hours of battery life on each charge, the case and the AirPods can last over 30 hours before needing a full recharge. These AirPods debuted with Apple's latest H2 audio chip, which enhances connection stability, sound quality, and power consumption when paired with your Apple devices.

Review: AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC

The fourth-gen AirPods are more comfortable, portable, and intuitive than the second and third-generation predecessors. The noise cancellation is impressive, but the earbud's design naturally allows some ambient noise to enter your ears. If you want noise cancellation that blocks out the world to the highest degree, consider the Pro 2 earbuds.

Aside from not having the latest tech available in the AirPods Pro 2, the biggest drawback to these earbuds is that their hard plastic tips don't fit into everyone's ears and sometimes fall out. So, I'd recommend getting silicone ear tips (such as ) to keep them more securely in your ears -- even though it can be a bit of pain to have to carry the extra ear tips and to take them off and on between uses.

If you can live with their drawbacks, the AirPods 4 with ANC are a great middle-ground option for iOS fans. They're an excellent option for students who want earbuds in the Apple ecosystem but aren't picky about special features.

AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation features: Type: In-ear | Chip: H2 | Battery life: 5 hours | Water-resistant: IP54 (dust, sweat, and water resistant)

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The AirPods (3rd Generation) offer nearly all of the same features as the AirPods 4—minus the ANC, an upgraded audio chip, USB-C charging, and dust resistance. However, since the release of the fourth-generation AirPods, Apple has discontinued sales of the third-generation AirPods, so you'll have to buy them from retailers like Best Buy or Amazon while supplies last.

Review: Apple AirPods (3rd Generation)

These AirPods integrate more controls directly into the stems than their second-generation predecessors. With the third-gen AirPods, you can press once to play/pause or answer a call, twice to skip forward, three times to skip back, and press and hold to activate Siri, which are intuitive features found in Apple's more advanced earbuds.

The third-generation AirPods also suffer from fit issues and will likely fall out of your ears if you try to work out in them, so I'd recommend getting some silicone ear hooks, as mentioned above. However, the silicone tips for the second generation won't fit the third generation because of a new bud design. So I'd suggest getting for the AirPods 3 if these fit loosely in your ears.

The AirPods 3rd gen are generally the Apple headphones that are the hardest to recommend. These aren't the cheapest AirPods -- you can get more upgrades for a little less money with the AirPods 4. However, the third-gen AirPods are more heavily discounted during seasonal sales than the brand-new AirPods 4.

AirPods (3rd Generation) features: Type: In-ear | Chip: H1 | Battery life: 6 hours | Water-resistant: IPX4 (sweat and water-resistant, but no dust resistance.)

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If you're not familiar with the four models of AirPods that are currently sold by Apple, here's a quick look at their primary features.

Best Apple AirPods	Retail Price	Battery	Audio Chip
AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) with USB-C	$249	6 hours	H2
AirPods Max	$549	20 hours	H1
AirPods 4 with ANC	$179	5 hours	H2
AirPods (3rd Generation)	$169	6 hours	H1

If you're still trying to decide which set of AirPods are the best for you to buy, here's the main reason to buy each of the products in the lineup.

Choose this pair of Apple AirPods...	If you want...
AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) with USB-C	Apple's most upgraded and capable headphones. These earbuds offer impressive noise cancellation, are compatible with the Vision Pro headset, and an in-canal fit for enhanced immersion.
AirPods Max	Over-ear headphones with Apple-specific features. Although you can find equally yoked headphones for cheaper, these headphones shine with their integration with Apple devices.
AirPods 4 with ANC	Impressive AirPods without the advanced features found in the Pro 2. If you want noise cancellation and spatial audio without the cutting-edge tech, these are perfect for you.
AirPods (3rd Generation)	An even more watered-down pair of Apple earbuds. These earbuds lack noise cancellation, but offer spatial audio and wireless charging.

In evaluating the four models of AirPods, I've especially focused on these four factors:

Cost: Budget is where most people start, so we always have to keep that at the forefront of the conversation about AirPods. The AirPods on this list cost anywhere from $99 to $550, depending on the model you choose, the AirPods generation, the features included in the pair like noise cancellation and spatial audio, and whether you're opting for earbuds or the AirPods Max. All of these factors will raise the price of a pair significantly, but also the quality level.
Features: The things that determine how AirPods work and what you can do with them are always going to be at the center of consideration, so we have to look at noise cancellation, transparency mode, spatial audio, water resistance, charging case, interface controls, comfort, and other key features.
Battery life: Few things affect daily use more than battery life, so we have to take that into account when considering the usefulness of each product. The AirPods on this list have battery life that ranges from six to 20 hours.
Chip: To power the AirPods, Apple has both the H1 and H2 chips. These are the key to a number of features as well as the software upgradeability of the AirPods, as we've seen with the nice feature bump that the AirPods Pro 2 got in iOS 17 because they have the H2.

I have been using AirPods every day for over five years, and have tried all of the various models. I've also used many other wireless earbuds, wireless over-the-ear headphones, and wired earbuds and headphones. I've used inexpensive $20 models and I've used ones that cost over $500. I've taken all of that experience and used it to make recommendations on the best AirPods to buy, based on the AirPods' performance, battery life, customer reviews, your needs, your use cases, and your budget.

ZDNET only spotlights products we actually recommend to people, and when we like a product, we will spotlight it or write an official review, and then put the product on one of these best lists.

To learn more about our approach to headphone and earbud testing, read our comprehensive headphone testing methodology.

During the iPhone 16 launch event, Apple announced two brand-new pairs of AirPods, an updated AirPods Max model, and new software features for the AirPods Pro 2. Here's a short breakdown of the new AirPods and the latest software features.

AirPods 4: Apple released two AirPods in the fourth-generation lineup. One pair has active noise cancellation and one pair does not. Noise cancellation is the major distinction between the two. Both AirPods have Apple's advanced H2 audio chip for improved sound quality, Spatial Audio, and an improved fit for enhanced comfort.
AirPods Max with USB-C: Apple released USB-C compatible AirPods Max in new colors. USB-C compatibility brings wired lossless listening to the updated AirPods Max.
Hearing Aid Mode: The advanced Pro 2 earbuds will receive hearing health features, including acting as an over-the-counter hearing aid for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. Users concerned with their hearing health can conduct a hearing test on their iPhone and access insights and metrics in the Health app when wearing the Pro 2 earbuds.

We'll likely have to wait until next year for the next generation of AirPods Max and AirPods Pro. Industry insiders and analysts assert that Apple is working on the AirPods Pro 3, which will feature a new design, enhanced audio quality, a new chip, and biometric sensors to monitor heart rate, temperature, and perspiration levels.

The Apple AirPods 4 retail for $179 but won't see steep discounts since they were released so recently. The second-generation AirPods also retail for $179 but you can find them for as low as $89 during seasonal sales.

We think the AirPods Pro 2 runs circles around the AirPods 4 due to their comfort, in-ear security, advanced features, and impressive noise cancellation. If you want AirPods that will receive the latest and greatest software features, the Pro 2 are a no-brainer. However, the fourth-gen AirPods with ANC offer all the vital features, like noise cancellation, spatial audio, Find My compatibility, and wireless charging.

Apple always sells its products for their MSRP. If you buy from Apple's website, expect to pay full price. However, you can find Apple products like AirPods regularly discounted on sites like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. During seasonal sales, you can find the AirPods Pro 2 for as low as $189 and the AirPods Max for as low as $395.