Best Apple buds for working out
Beats Fit Pro
View details
Best high-end wireless headphones for Apple users
Apple AirPods Max
View details
Best open wireless earbuds
Apple AirPods 3rd Generation
View details
Top wireless earbuds from Beats
Beats Studio Buds Plus
View details
Best Apple alternative to AirPods Max
Beats Studio Pro
View details
Best budget AirPods
AirPods 2019 (2nd-gen)
View details
What are the best Apple AirPods overall?
When it comes to earbuds and headphones, Apple makes some of the best models around. With each new release, Apple’s wireless earbuds and headphones have gotten better and better, but the AirPods Pro 2 are still the best Apple AirPods you can buy. The buds are equipped with Apple’s H2 chip, USB-C charging, good sound quality, a new adaptive audio mode and more. If you’re in the market for some classic over-ear headphones or a sportier earbuds option, we have recommendations for those, too.
A good seal is crucial for optimal sound quality and noise cancellation, but not everyone is looking for earbuds that need to be jammed in your ears. There are plenty of other AirPods, along with some headphones and earbuds from Apple-owned brand Beats. They’re not called AirPods, but in some cases, they share the same Apple chipsets and features.
I’ve tested hundreds, if not thousands, of headphones over 20 years of evaluating headphones, and I’ve tested and fully reviewed all of Apple’s headphones and earbuds that are on this list. Note that we also keep a close eye on their prices so we can bring you the best deals on every AirPods model. While Apple doesn’t discount AirPods online or in its brick-and-mortar stores, other retailers do, and sometimes the savings are substantial.
Read more: Best Wireless Earbuds
Best Apple AirPods for 2024
Apple not only swapped in USB-C for Lightning connectivity in its new iPhone 15 models, but it made the switch with the AirPods Pro (2nd generation). The new AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe (USB-C) are nearly identical to their Lightning predecessor, delivering the same excellent sound, noise canceling and voice-calling performance. That said, they offer some other small upgrades, including additional dust resistance and a new acoustic architecture that allows for Lossless Audio with the Vision Pro, Apple’s newly released wearable headset that costs $3,499. Is it possible that new acoustic architecture makes the buds sound subtly different with current devices like the iPhone? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, the AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) are easy to recommend to Apple users despite their high price.
While the Beats Fit Pro technically aren’t AirPods, they’re built on the same tech platform as the AirPods Pro (yes, Apple owns Beats). Unlike Beats’ earlier and less expensive Studio Buds and new-for-2023 Studio Buds Plus, the Beats Fit Pro includes Apple’s H1 chip and has most of the AirPods Pro’s features, including active noise canceling, spatial audio and Adaptive EQ. I’d venture to call them the sports AirPods you’ve always wanted.
Yes, they’re expensive, but the AirPods Max delivers richer, more detailed sound than lower-priced competitors from Bose and Sony. They also feature arguably the best noise canceling on the market along with premium build quality and Apple’s virtual surround spatial audio feature for video watching. While they’re heavy, they manage to be surprisingly comfortable, although I did have to adjust the mesh canopy headband to sit a little more forward on my head to get a comfortable secure fit when I was out walking with them. They should fit most heads well, but there will be exceptions.
Take one look at the new design of the third-gen AirPods ($150), and the first thing you’ll probably think is: “Those look like the AirPods Pro without ear tips.” You wouldn’t be wrong. While they’re more fraternal than identical twins, the AirPods 3 are shaped like the AirPods Pro, with the same shorter stems and same pinch controls as those of the Pro. Aside from the design change, which should fit most ears better than the AirPods 2nd Generation (though not very small ears), the biggest change is to the sound quality: It’s much improved. Also, battery life is better, and the AirPods 3 are officially water-resistant.
Since they’re open earbuds, they let some sound in, so they’re not as good as the AirPods Pro 2 for both listening and making calls in noisy environments. They do a nice job reducing background noise during calls and picking up your voice.
Alas, for those of you who bought the original Beats Studio Buds, which remain on the market for now, I’m sorry to report that these new Plus buds are significantly improved, with better sound, noise canceling and battery life. Additionally, they now deliver top-notch voice-calling performance.
The transparent version is getting a lot of attention (who doesn’t like transparent electronics?), but the big changes are on the inside. Beats says 95% of the components are new and improved, and the buds’ “acoustic architecture” has been revised. The speaker drivers remain the same, but the Studio Buds Plus are powered by a new, more powerful custom chipset and have three new microphones in each bud, which are three times larger and more sensitive than the ones found in the Beats Studio Buds.
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Beats Studio headphones are among the most popular headphones of all time, launching as wired headphones back in 2008. This is the fourth generation of them, and they carry the same list price as their predecessor and look very similar on the outside but have some big changes on the inside that make them significantly better headphones. I’m tempted to describe them as more affordable plastic versions of the AirPods Max. That’s not quite accurate due to a choice in chipsets and one notable missing feature. Read our full review to find out what makes these good quality headphones, albeit with some caveats.
Apple’s second-generation AirPods remain in the line but no longer include a wireless charging option. Apple has dropped the official price of the AirPods 2 to $129, though you can usually find them for $100 or less.
They’re not as feature-packed as the other AirPods on this list, but they remain an appealing option for folks on a tighter budget or those who’ve worn out their original pair but love their fit and simply want to replace them.
AirPods price comparison
| Model | Apple store price | Best price right now | Best all-time price |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirPods 2 | $129 | $80 | $80 |
| AirPods Pro 2 | $249 | $190 | $189 |
| AirPods 3 | $179 | $140 | $149 |
| Beats Fit Pro | $200 | $160 | $160 |
| AirPods Max | $549 | $450 | $395 |
Beats Studio Buds: The Beats Studio earbuds often sell for $150 and offer decent sound and performance. The new Studio Buds Plus is a significant upgrade, with better sound, noise canceling and voice-calling performance, so we recommend users buy those instead.
Show more
Design
The AirPods come in three styles: open earbuds (AirPods 2 and AirPods 3), noise-isolating earbuds with noise canceling (AirPods Pro 2) and over-ear headphones (AirPods Max). Some people like the standard AirPods because they have an open design and don’t require you to jam silicone ear tips into your ears. Note that the AirPods 2, which are based on the original AirPods design, have longer stems and slightly smaller buds than the AirPods 3, which feature a new design. The AirPods 3 have better sound and spatial audio, but the AirPods 2 may fit some smaller ears better. Meanwhile, the Beats Fit Pro has built-in wingtips that may help you get a more secure fit.
AirPods or Beats earbuds and headphones?
Because Apple owns Beats, the various AirPods models and Beats models can share similar components and features. Beats products tend to be geared to both Apple and Android users, while the AirPods tend to be focused more toward Apple users (they have more exclusive features for Apple users), although they can be paired with Android devices.
Return policy
Because the fit of your earbuds is so important, it’s critical to buy your buds at a retailer that has a good return policy, in case the buds aren’t a good match for your ears.
Show more
We test wireless headphones and earbuds based on six key criteria: design, sound quality, noise-canceling performance, voice-calling performance, features and value.
- Design: We assess not only how comfortably the headphones or earbuds fit (their ergonomics) but also their build quality and how well the controls are implemented. With wireless headphones and earbuds, we’ll note if they’re water-resistant, but only a few full-size headphones have water- and dust-resistance ratings.
- Sound quality: We evaluate sound quality by listening to a set playlist of music tracks and comparing headphones to top competing products in their price range. Sonic traits such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range and how natural the headphones sound are key factors in our assessment.
- Noise-canceling performance: If the headphones we’re testing feature active noise canceling, we evaluate ANC performance by wearing the headphones in the same spot indoors near a noisy HVAC unit to see how well they do at muffling lower frequencies. Then we head out onto city streets to test the headphones in a real-world environment where we see how they do at muffling not only street noise but also people’s voices.
- Extra features: Some great-sounding headphones and earbuds aren’t loaded with features, but we do take into account what extra features are on board. These include everything from quick-access awareness to transparency modes (your music pauses and the headphones open up to the outside world so you can have a conversation) to special sound modes to ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off your ears. We also take a look at the companion app for the headphones if there is one and how user-friendly it is.
- Voice-calling: When we test voice-calling performance, we make calls on noisy city streets and evaluate how well the headphones or earbuds reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear our voices.
- Value: We determine value after considering the strength of the headphones against all these criteria and what they’re able to deliver compared with other models in their price class.
Show more
What are the newest AirPods?
Are the AirPods Pro 2 better than the Beats Fit Pro?
Should I buy AirPods in the Apple Store?
Does spatial audio sound different on different AirPods?
