The best AirPods of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

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Apple's AirPods are ubiquitous, and for good reason. Even the most basic pairs are the headphones to accompany your Apple devices. The current AirPods lineup includes premium options, like the over-ear AirPods Max and in-ear AirPods Pro 2, and budget in-ear options, like the AirPods 4 and the AirPods 3.

All AirPods models in this list (except the third generation) offer users seamless iOS integration, effective noise reduction, dynamic sound, and decent battery life. We've tested every AirPods model and have strong opinions on which pairs are the best for specific use cases. We tell you which pair will best suit your needs to help you make the right decision.

Also: The best earbuds: Expert tested and reviewed

What are the best AirPods right now?

Our pick for the best AirPods goes to the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C. This conclusion is based on extensive experience using and testing the different versions of AirPods and competing earbuds from Beats, Soundcore, Samsung, Sony, and many others. The AirPods Pro 2 deliver a snug, in-ear fit, thanks to the silicone ear tips that mold to your ear canal. The earbuds' fit enhances noise-canceling performance, an immersive listening experience, and in-ear security.

Additionally, these AirPods have the most advanced software out of the lineup, offering Apple's most coveted features and hearing health technology. The AirPods Pro 2 can perform basic at-home hearing tests and double as an over-the-counter hearing aid. The AirPods Max are equally popular but fall far behind the Pro 2 earbuds and their over-ear competitors from other brands in the software department. For budget-conscious buyers, the new AirPods 4 offer similar software features to the Pro 2 earbuds for more than $100 less.

But if you aren't sold on the AirPods Pro 2, there are a few more options to consider.

The best AirPods of 2025

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 long-haul work sessions when all you want is silent time to focus or when 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.

Also: I've used my AirPods Pro 2 since they first launched. Here's my buying advice for 2025

The AirPods Pro 2 have active noise cancellation (ANC) and adaptive noise cancellation. Active noise cancellation actively blocks out all external noises, while adaptive noise cancellation adapts to your environment's noise levels to reduce ambient noise in real time.

The AirPods Pro 2 use silicon tips that fit into your ears and reach deeper into your ear canal to create a seal between your ear and the outside world. Comparatively, AirPods 3 and 4 sport hard plastic tips that sit on the outside of your canal, letting in more ambient noise.

The AirPods Pro 2 are equipped with Apple's latest H2 chip, which provides improved sound, stable Bluetooth connections, and efficient power consumption. Software-wise, the Pro 2 are Apple's most advanced earbuds. These earbuds offer Spatial Audio, Conversation Awareness, Transparency Mode, and can be used as an over-the-counter hearing aid for those with mild to moderate hearing loss.

These earbuds are ideal for exercising, as their IP54 rating makes them dust, sweat, and water resistant, meaning they can survive quick stints in the rain and sweaty workouts. However, their six-hour battery life and 24-hour case battery are shorter than earbuds from competing brands. Still, for their long list of features and relatively low price during seasonal sales, it's worth it.

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 premium over-ear headphones, offering a glorious listening experience in immense style.

Review: AirPods Max

The AirPods Max have strong and effective noise-canceling capabilities, making them superb for deep work and long-haul traveling. Equally vital is the transparency mode, where the headphones' eight microphones 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. These two features and their easy integration with all your Apple devices are the main reasons to buy the AirPods Max. The AirPods Max support Find My, Siri, and automatic switching between your Apple devices.

The AirPods Max are also very comfortable, but they are a hefty pair of cans. Still, you can wear them for several hours on long flights or deep work sessions because of their plushy and well-ventilated ear pads. The oversized ear cups encase your whole ear and deliver a highly immersive listening experience, reproducing a deep bass response and reliable spatial audio performance.

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

The AirPods Max don't have an IP rating, so you'll probably also need a separate pair of earbuds for walking outside, working out, and wearing under a warm cap in cold weather. However, if you want to work out in your AirPods Max, consider buying ear pad covers to keep your ear pads clean and in pristine condition.

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. 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 iPhone, Mac, iPad, and other 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.

The AirPods 4 offer upgraded software features and are compatible with Find My, Siri, Adaptive Audio, Transparency Mode, Conversation Awareness, and automatic switching between your Apple devices. Their IP54 rating makes them dust, sweat, and water resistant, durable enough to survive short trips in the rain and sweaty workouts.

The biggest drawback to these earbuds is that their hard plastic tips don't fit into everyone's ears and sometimes fall out. So, consider buying silicone ear tips (such as ) to keep them more securely in your ears.

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.

Last September, Apple announced two 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.

Apple will likely release the next generation of AirPods Max and AirPods Pro later this year or early next year. 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.

The AirPods Pro 2 run 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 AirPods Pro 2 are a no-brainer. However, the AirPods 4 with ANC offer 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.