The best AirPods, and Apple headphones more broadly, are known for being top quality for sound, performance, features and design. While they typically sit at a higher price point – just like most Apple products – they do give you your money's worth.
As of September 9, 2024, Apple launched two sets of AirPods 4 – still no sign of the AirPods Pro 3 or AirPods Max 2, mind you, although AirPods Pro 2 are getting new hearing health features and AirPods Max got, er, some new colors and USB-C port. The chief difference between the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with noise cancellation? You've guessed it! But you also get wireless charging support in the pricier pair, plus Apple's Adaptive Audio for that extra $50 (so, $129 / £129 for the entry-level set; $179 / £179 or thereabouts for the ANC model, which is around AU$100 separating them).
Apple headphones have come a long way from the flimsy wired EarPods that came with every new iPhone. They did the job, but not particularly well. Fast-forward to today and Apple is a true contender in the audio space. In fact, AirPods are among the best wireless earbuds and best over-ear headphones on the market and since Apple acquired the Beats brand back in 2014, the best Beats headphones are part of the brand's audio portfolio.
After testing every single pair of AirPods and Beats headphones that have been released, we've put together this list for you, breaking down their special features and specs to help you find the most ideal choice based on your needs, budget and preferences.
The Quick List
Keen to cut to the chase and find out which AirPods and Beats buds are the best? A roundup of our choices is below. You can jump to a more detailed review of every pick, along with our price comparison tool to help you find the best deals.
The best AirPods overall
If you want fantastic audio performance and astounding ANC in a compact, wireless, and still very AirPods-esque, design, these are the best choice.
The best open-ear AirPods
There's excellent ANC here considering they're an open-ear design and there's no seal. They're also comfortable to wear and audio is rich, clear and enjoyable.
The best over-ear AirPods
These are the best (and only) Apple-branded over-ears delivering extraordinary sound and a comfortable design. The only drawback? They're expensive.
The best cheaper AirPods
A solid pair of AirPods with a fun, dynamic sound and a secure fit, despite the lack of ear tips. However, there's no ANC here, which explains the cheaper price.
The best AirPods alternative from Beats
Offering most of the same features as AirPods Pro 2, but for significantly less, these are a great alternative to a pair of mid-range AirPods.
The best Beats over-ears
If you prefer the fit and audio experience of over-ears, these are the best of the bunch from Beats with a solid build, simple features and reliable sound quality.
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The best cheap AirPods alternative from Beats
These cost about the same as the cheapest AirPods, but offer better sound and active noise cancellation, though they lack Find My support or device auto-switching.
Best Beats buds for sports
With many of the features of the AirPods Pro but cheaper, these buds are built for movement with ANC and an IPX4 rating, making them sweat-proof.
I've been testing and reporting on cutting-edge audio products since 2012, stretching back to iPod dock speakers and early neckband wireless earbuds. I've used every pair of AirPods released to date personally, and I've tested all the Beats products in this guide too. The list below is my recommendation for which AirPods are best to focus on, and which Beats products fill the gaps between them, while still offering smart features for Apple users.
Recent updates
October 18, 2024
Added the AirPods 4 with ANC as our 'best open-ear' pick and the AirPods 4 as our 'best cheaper AirPods' choice based on our recent testing. Removed the AirPods 3 and AirPods 2019 entries now they've essentially been superseded. Updated the 'What new AirPods are coming soon?' section to reflect these latest changes. Updated the 'How much do AirPods cost?' section to reflect the prices of the new additions, too.
The best AirPods of 2024
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The best AirPods for most people
✅ You want excellent noise cancellation: No other Apple earbuds in this list deliver such accomplished noise cancellation, wrapping you in a cocoon of sound.
✅ You want a long battery life: You'll find better battery from other brands, but as far as AirPods are concerned, these are top of the class, with 6 hours in the buds.
❌ You don't have a big budget: They're good value compared to other premium buds, but still expensive overall.
❌ You don't like an in-ear fit: The ear-tip fit isn't for everyone – if you like the outer-ear fit, or to not be cut off from the world as much, the AirPods 4 may suit you better.
The highly-anticipated Apple AirPods Pro 2 entered our best AirPods guide in the top spot because they're a significant upgrade over the original AirPods Pro, offering fantastic audio performance and astounding ANC in a compact, wireless, and still very AirPods-esque, design.
The Apple AirPods Pro made waves when they first launched, bringing ANC and better audio to the AirPods form factor. Now the Pro 2 offer much more, including fantastic audio performance thanks to new drivers and amplifiers. There’s also better ANC on-board too which, during our testing, we found to be remarkably effective, blocking out almost all external sounds.
Battery life has had a decent boost over the originals as well. It’s good for all-day listening at 6 hours from the buds and 30 hours from the charging case. The case has been revamped too, with an IPX4 water resistance rating for light showers and sweat as well as a built-in speaker so you can find it if you lose it.
If you already have a pair of AirPods Pro buds you might not be able to justify an upgrade, despite some of the changes. However, if you're looking for the best Apple has to offer, the AirPods Pro 2 are the top option, rivalling many of the top wireless earbuds from the likes of Bose, Sennheiser and Sony. They're even more of an attractive proposition in late 2024 because you'll usually find them reduced to around $170, especially in the sales.
Read our full Apple AirPods Pro 2 review
The best open-ear airpods
✅ You want ANC: This is the first time that ANC comes to non-Pro AirPods and it works well here.
✅ You don't want a tight ear seal feeling: There's an open-ear design, which means if you don't like that stuffed ear canal feeling these will suit you.
❌ You want best-in-class ANC: ANC is good, but because the design is open-ear it's not going to silence all noise around you. The AirPods Max might better suit you instead.
❌ Longevity is a priority: There's only 4 hours of battery life with ANC on, which is a little low compared to rivals.
The Apple AirPods 4 with ANC are the first non-Pro AirPods that have ANC, which is surprising given what Apple calls their 'open-ear' design. To clarify (because the design is unlike most true open-ear options on the market) they do fit inside your ear canal, just like other true wireless earbuds do, but they don't create the same tight seal. What this means is that there's ANC here, but it's not the kind of eerily silent ANC you'd find from other earbuds from the likes of Bose or from the AirPods Max over-ears. Still, in our review, we wrote: "it can reduce loud rumbles, like a jet engine, down to a drastically reduced sound."
The sound is great, easily as strong as the AirPods Pro 2. In our review, we wrote: "There’s a clear and rich audio mix with a fairly wide sound stage." We also rated the bass, which is powerful, especially considering the open-ear design. But be wary that because this is technically an open-ear bud, you might experience a little sound leakage. Part of this impressive sound is thanks to the Adaptive EQ via the H2 chip, there's one of those in each bud, and the cherry on top is Spatial Audio support, which we rated highly for enjoyment and immersion.
Design-wise, they look similar to most other AirPods with the shorter stems of the Pro and the AirPods 3rd gen they're replacing. The plastic part that sits in your ear has been redesigned though, which gave us a better fit during our testing. They stayed very stable when we were wearing them, which is surprisingly considering there are no interchangeable ear tips here.
The battery is a little disappointing compared to rival true wireless earbuds. Apple quoted around four hours of playback with one of the ANC or listening modes activated and during our testing we got around four hours and 15-20 minutes of usage. If you don't have ANC or a listening mode on, expect five to five and a half hours instead. Overall, these are a very comfortable, accomplished pair of AirPods that we'd recommend to anyone who wants the convenience of a true wireless design without the tight seal feeling that some find uncomfortable.
Read our early Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation review
The best over-ear AirPods
✅ You want the very best sound: The audio quality offered here is exceptional. You can't go wrong if you care about best-in-class sound from a pair of over-ears.
✅ You care about noise cancellation: The AirPods Max are an almost unbeatable choice if you need excellent ANC that blocks out the world around you.
❌ You can't afford the huge expense: Yes, they're a phenomenal pair of headphones, but they've got a high-end price tag to match.
❌ You want a 3.5mm port: Fine, you can buy a USB-C to 3.5mm audio port adaptor, but it doesn't seem right there isn't one built-in for listening via a wired connection.
The Apple AirPods Max were some of the most highly-anticipated headphones ever. Rumors and speculation about what they'd look like and sound like had been swirling for years. Fast-forward four years later and they're still our top pick for the best over-ear AirPods, but that's mostly because they're still the only over-ear AirPods. As such, they're disappointingly out-of-date for new features compared to the others.
Still, the audio quality on offer here remains nothing short of extraordinary. The design and build is also solid and unmistakably Apple and they're comfortable too. We also appreciate the use of physical controls as opposed to the voguish swipe controls that most wireless headphones seem to favor these days.
During our testing, we particularly liked the reprisal of the Apple Watch's Digital Crown, which allows you to precisely adjust the volume and easily control your music playback. What's more, they have brilliant quality of life features for those already devoted to the Apple ecosystem.
But it isn't all good news. The most obvious drawback is the price. Apple has always created luxury tech with a higher-than-average price tag, but these are $549 / £549 / AU$899 and it's still quite hard to find them more cheaply even though they've been out for a long time now. In our review, we didn't think the performance (although great) matched the sky-high price, and we can understand why many would prefer to shop for budget headphones instead.
The AirPods Max also come with a case that automatically puts them into a low power standby mode, and into an even lower power mode after 18 hours. That's useful, but the case itself is exceptionally ugly, doesn't offer significant protection and leaves the headband of the AirPods Max totally exposed.
Yes, we'd hoped for the Max 2 by now and instead, a minor September 2024 update means you can now pick up a set in new colorways with a USB-C charging port instead of Lightning. Is it enough in 2024? Time will tell.
Read our full Apple AirPods Max review
The best cheaper AirPods
✅ You want Apple tech for cheap: If you love Apple devices and want Apple buds but you're on a budget, these are the cheapest you'll find.
✅ You don't like in-ear tips: Most true wireless designs have silicone tips, if you don't like how they feel, these are a solid alternative.
❌ You don't already have Apple devices: These buds only really make sense when tapped into the Apple ecosystem.
❌ You need ANC for travel: If you plan to listen to them in noisy places you may not be able to enjoy your music.
The Apple AirPods 4 are our top choice if you're desperate for a pair of Apple's AirPods but don't have the budget to stretch to the ANC version of these buds or the Pro range. They're also a solid choice for anyone who doesn't want to feel anything inside their ear canal. That's because the AirPods 4 sit just outside of it, and managed to stay very stable in that position during our testing.
As with most AirPods, you'll be able to unlock the best features if you're already an Apple user. This includes spatial audio with head-tracking – a delight for watching TV shows and movies – as well as auto-device switching between your other Apple devices, which is really handy and tends to work seamlessly. Be warned, however, that if you want to switch between Apple and non-Apple products, like an iPhone and a Chromebook, you won't be in luck.
We enjoyed listening to the AirPods 4 during our testing, commenting that "the sound is fulsome and fairly dynamic, and it's easy to have a good time listening to all kinds of tracks, thanks to their superb balance between frequencies." However, we did notice there was a lack of detail, especially in the mid-range. The design, because it's open-ear, did also let a lot of sound in, too, which messed with audio performance.
Although we like the Apple AirPods 4, we think they only really make sense for those who love Apple, have plenty of Apple devices already that'll play nice with these buds and really want those AirPods-specific features. Otherwise, most people would find better audio, connectivity features and ANC from rivals for less, particularly the Nothing Ear (a) or Sony WF-C700N.
Read our full Apple AirPods 4 review
The best Beats headphones
Apple headphones aren't just limited to AirPods. When Apple acquired the Beats brand back in 2014, it expanded its audio portfolio considerably. Today, the best Beats headphones rank highly among our best workout headphones thanks to their Apple smarts.
Best AirPods alternative from Beats
✅ You want stylish buds: Beats has always been a good-looking brand, but these buds are exceptionally cool with a transparent design.
✅ You want a comfortable, reliable fit: Not only do they look good, they feel great. They're lightweight enough to wear for hours and gym-proof for working out.
❌ You want to tweak the sound: These buds don't have an iOS app to customize the sound, which is a shame as they have an overly crisp sound signature.
❌ You need wireless charging: They charge using a USB-C port on the case instead, putting them behind most rivals.
Beats went back to the drawing board for its May 2023-issue Studio Buds Plus, making improvements to the call quality, noise cancellation and design compared to the original (slightly further down this list).
Beyond updated ANC, the new earbuds feature configurable on-bud control buttons, Siri voice command support, auto-switching between Apple devices, and Find My for iOS – very comparable to the AirPods models above. They also support head-tracked spatial audio, letting you listen in a 360-degree sound field when playing music and movies mixed in Dolby Atmos. There’s certainly enough going on here feature-wise, though the lack of a wireless charging option is a disappointment.
In our testing, we found that the crisp sound of the Beats Studio Buds Plus should appeal to those who value sonic sharpness and clarity above all else. When compared to other wireless earbuds with a more neutral and natural presentation, however, it seems that Beats went overboard in that respect. Noise cancelling is effective and so is the buds’ Transparency mode, so the company hit its mark when it comes to those features – though the AirPods Pro 2 do both better, for a little more money.
The Buds Plus also provide a firm fit – four silicone ear tip size options are provided – that holds up even during strenuous exercise, and they are comfortable enough to wear for hours at a time. A solid overall wireless earbud option for commuting and exercise – and if you buy them on a discount, they undercut the AirPods Pro 2 very nicely on price, making them a great mid-range AirPods options. Most of the features of AirPods Pro 2, but for a price closer to AirPods 4 – great stuff.
Read our full Beats Studio Buds Plus review
Best AirPods Max alternative from Beats
✅ You want lossless via USB-C: Want lossless sound from an iPhone 15 or other USB-C device? That's possible here.
✅ You want good-looking headphones: Beats headphones always look stylish, but these over-ears are minimal, sleek and fold up nicely.
❌ You want the best battery life: The battery here isn't bad at 24 hours with ANC on, but most over-ear noise-cancelling rivals can beat it.
❌ You want all of the finest features: No multi-point pairing or wear detection isn't a big deal but if you want a premium experience with all the trimmings, this isn't it.
The Beats Studio Pro are our top pick if you want Beats headphones with an over-ear design. Unfortunately, they lack Apple's H1 or H2 chip, multi-point pairing and wear detection, but there are enough features on offer to make them practical for everyday use, like choosing between noise cancellation modes. You also get lossless audio and EQ options, but only via USB-C and not Bluetooth.
In our review of the Beats Studio Pro we wrote that these over-ears sound good and have powerful bass. For Apple users, support for personalized spatial audio and Dolby Atmos provides a noticeable boost, alongside head tracking. Android users get standard spatial audio without head tracking.
The Beats Studio Pro have a simple and sleek over-ear design. They're lightweight at only 270g and fold inwards, making them easy to pack up and put in a bag. The over-ears have physical buttons, which work well compared to some rivals with only gesture controls, but we still didn't enjoy the feeling during our testing. The only issue we had with the design of these nice-looking over-ears is they're quite tight. Yes, you can adjust the fit but we think if you have a head that's on the larger side these might get uncomfortable.
The Beats Studio Pro are a solid pair of over-ears that may not have the bells and whistles of rivals but will deliver good sound and ANC – and they dropped in price by 50% during sales events not long after their launch in 2023, so if you can find them for 40%-50% off, they're definitely well worth a purchase.
Read our full Beats Studio Pro review
Best cheap AirPods alternative from Beats
✅ You want a comfortable pair of buds: These buds manage to be both stylish and exceptionally comfortable – a rare combination.
✅ You want a good value pair of buds: You'll find cheaper options, but these buds are more affordable than the AirPods Pro while offering solid all-round performance.
❌ You want the best noise cancellation: It's great that there's ANC here – and it should be fine for most listeners – but the AirPods Pro 2 are far superior.
❌ You want all-day listening: Battery life isn't bad at 5 hours from the buds, but it isn't the best either, and won't suit anyone who wants uninterrupted listening all day.
The Beats Studio Buds came out in 2021, but thanks to big price cuts, they're still a pair of solid true wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation – and they're a good value option for most people who aren't satisfied with the AirPods options above. For the price of the cheapest AirPods, you get better sound quality and the addition of ANC, so this may be the bargain you're looking for.
Despite the fact audio tech has moved on since their launch, they sound good. In our Beats Studio Buds review we said they offer a "fun, lively sound quality that's a pleasure to listen to" and that's still the case today. Design-wise, expect the cool and minimal Beats aesthetic as well as a design that we found supremely comfortable to wear for long periods of time during our testing.
They're not without some drawbacks, though. Chief among them is their lackluster call quality battery life with ANC turned on is a little short at only five hours (plus 15 hours from the case), and their noise cancellation isn’t exactly class-leading, either. For around the same price, the Sony WF-C700N or Nothing Ear (a) are superior for sound features and mic quality.
They also lack the Apple-friendly features you get from the Beats Studio Buds Plus further up this list, which is why those are a better option for people looking for an AirPods alternative overall – you still want AirPods features, right? But if you mainly want to keep your budget low, these are worth consideration still, when discounted.
Read our full Beats Studio Buds review
Best AirPods alternative from Beats for sports
✅ You're looking for a solid pair of workout buds: Built for sport, they're perfect for workouts. They're comfortable, sweat-proof, have a wing tip and deliver a bassy sound.
✅ You want Apple H1 chip features: You'll get Spatial Audio support and hands-free Siri access, which basically no other workout buds offer.
❌ You want a small case: These have a big, bulky case to carry around – far beyond the AirPods Pro 2's case size.
❌ You want best-in-class ANC: The noise-cancellation on offer here is good, but it won't beat the likes of rivals from Sony, Bose or the AirPods Pro.
It's best to think of the Beats Fit Pro as the AirPods Pro in disguise. That's because they have the same H1 chip as Apple's earbuds, which brings many of the same features, including hands-free access to Siri and Spatial Audio in Apple Music. But the good news is that they're slightly cheaper, and their IPX4 rating means they should be sweat-proof for working out and running, which is why they're our top Beats recommendation for fitness.
Although the Beats Fit Pro were launched back in 2021, you'll still enjoy the sound quality on offer here. There's a driving bassline and Dolby Atmos tracks deliver an excellent sense of immersion that'll keep you focused whether you're at work or the gym. The design is what's really worth shouting about here. The Beats Fit Pro have a wing tip design that may not look innovative, but fits onto the inner ear to provide excellent stability.
As you'd expect, you'll get much better noise cancellation and sound quality from newer buds, like the AirPods Pro 2. We also did have a few criticisms in our review. They're not as loud as some rivals, and they seal so tightly that they can start to get uncomfortable after long periods. And while Android users can use these headphones quite happily, they don't get the Apple-specific features of the H1, which means we'd only wholeheartedly recommend them for iPhone users.
With that in mind, if you don't do workouts or other intensive fitness activities these probably aren't the Beats for you. But if you do, these are a superb pair of in-ears that stay put no matter how much you move around and deliver solid audio and call clarity in a compact and sweatproof package.
Read our full Beats Fit Pro review
What new AirPods are coming soon?
It can be risky buying new AirPods, because what if a new model is released in a few months you wish you’d waited for? We’ve got you.
Now that the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC are here, we're most looking forward to the AirPods Max 2 over-ear headphones. They haven’t been officially announced, but considering the hugely popular original AirPods Max were released four years ago, we hope we won't have to wait too much longer. The original AirPods Max were a surprise December launch, will the AirPods Max 2 be the same?
We can only speculate about what to expect from the AirPods Max 2, but would love to see Apple's H2 chip on board, as well as some added features, like Adaptive Transparency and advanced Voice Isolation – features that could be borrowed from the AirPods Pro 2. We’ve also created a wishlist of the features we think the AirPods Max 2 should take from Sennheiser, Bose and Sony.
It seems unlikely that the AirPods Pro 3 will land in 2024. Rumors have been circulating that improved audio quality and some hearing-related health features might arrive in the Pro buds, but it’s looking as if we’ll have to wait until 2025 to find out for certain – AirPods Pro 2 only got updated to include USB-C a year ago, after all.
We've recently removed the older AirPods 3 and AirPods 2019 from our guide. That's because the AirPods Pro 2 are our best pick overall, the AirPods 4 with ANC are our top open-ear pick with ANC and the AirPods 4 are the best cheap recommendation. There's nothing wrong with the AirPods 3 and AirPods 2019 other than their age – especially if you can find them at a discount – but these newer buds beat them in almost every way.
How to choose the best AirPods
How to choose the best Apple AirPods
If you know you want a pair of Apple headphones, then there isn't a huge amount of choice between AirPods and Beats buds. However, there are a few key considerations to bear in mind that should help you pick the right Apple headphones – whether it be AirPods or Beats buds – for you.
The most important consideration to begin with is the design. Do you want a pair of over-ears, like the AirPods Max or the Beats Studio Pro? Or do you want a pair of true wireless earbuds, like the AirPods Pro 2 or Beats Studio Buds? Some people like the feel of a pair of over-ears, but many like the convenience and flexibility of true wireless earbuds. It all comes down to personal preference.
Next up, which features are most important to you? For example, if you want great noise cancelling, then the Apple AirPods Pro 2 provide exceptionally immersive sound. If that's not a priority for you, then the Apple AirPods (3rd generation) might be a good option – and you'll save some pennies, too.
Finally, consider whether you definitely want a pair of earbuds or headphones from Apple. As you can see from this guide, Apple creates some excellent audio products, but if you're on a budget you might be disappointed by the lack of options here and can generally find a solid pair of all-rounder buds or headphones much cheaper elsewhere.
How much do Apple AirPods cost?
The AirPods 4 are the cheapest Apple-branded wireless earbuds, at $129 / £129 / AU$219. These are Apple's entry-level buds and do not offer noise cancellation. For added ANC, you'll need the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, which are priced at $179 / £179 / AU$299.
The AirPods Pro 2 are more expensive at $249 / £249 / AU$399, although you can usually find these reduced to closer to around $189 / £199 in the sales. Finally, the AirPods Max are the most expensive pick at $549 / £549 / AU$89.
All models are regularly discounted during big sales events such as Black Friday (though not by much) – read our guide to the best AirPods deals for the latest price cuts.
Are Apple headphones worth buying?
It depends on what you're looking for – if you want easy pairing with your iPhone, you can't go wrong with Apple or Beats headphones. But if you're looking for pure audio fidelity, you're better off looking at competitors like Sony and Bose, though the AirPods Max sound very good indeed.
Because all of the Apple AirPods are more expensive than a lot of their competitors, budget is a big consideration here too. Although we do think most of the AirPods are great value for money, you will find similar audio quality, designs and comfort in headphones that are significantly cheaper.
If you know you want to buy Apple AirPods but you're struggling to decide between AirPods models, our Apple AirPods vs AirPods Pro guide should help.
Can I work out with Apple headphones?
Yes. The best Apple headphones for working out are the Beats Fit Pro, thanks to their earhook design and sweat proof IPX4 rating. Other models, like the AirPods Pro 2 also have an IPX4 rating, but their design means they're more liable to fall out during vigorous exercise. For a more detailed overview of which AirPods are waterproof, read our guide.
Can AirPods connect to Android phones?
Yes, they can. You might find they're marginally slower to pair than they would be with an iPhone, but the difference is negligible. However, if you are using AirPods with an Android, you'll miss out on features like auto-pause or the ability to customize noise cancellation. That's worth considering if you have an Android phone and you're about to pay quite a hefty price for a pair of AirPods.
For more information about how AirPods work with Android phones and step-by-step instructions, read our what non-iPhone users need to know about Apple earbuds guide. Alternatively, if you're looking to connect your AirPods for the first time or wondering how to connect your AirPods to a laptop, then read our step-by-step instructions for more.
Do AirPods drain your iPhone battery?
A little bit, but they shouldn't make a massive difference to your iPhone battery life. When you're connected normally to your iPhone (as opposed to using AirPlay, which uses more power) your Bluetooth connection will use some battery power.
However, Bluetooth is designed to be a low power technology so even all-day streaming shouldn't do much damage to your battery life. AirPlay is more demanding because it uses the more power-hungry Wi-Fi to transmit and receive data.
The bigger drain on your battery isn't your AirPods connection: it's streaming music from the internet to your phone, especially when you're using mobile data rather than Wi-Fi.
If you're finding that you're only really listening to music and your battery isn't lasting all day, you might want to use your music app's offline mode and download the music to your phone rather than stream it when you're out and about.
But there are plenty more ways to make your AirPods battery life last longer. Read our guide to check your AirPods' battery level and learn how to make them last longer. After all, the battery – like with all earbuds – determines how long AirPods last so it's important to take care of it.
How we test the best AirPods
We've tested hundreds of audio devices over the years, which means that we know what makes an excellent pair of earbuds or over-ear headphones.
Each of the earbuds and headphones have been tested rigorously for sound quality, comfort, design and, in some cases, additional features, like ANC. We take earbuds out running and headphones on busy commutes, so we can say with authority how they work out in the real world.
In our guide above, we've listed all of the best Apple AirPods. And, because there aren't many models available, most of the Apple AirPods and Beats headphones you can buy today are included. However, that's not because we want to fill up the guide but because all of the products we've listed are genuinely excellent, all offering a brilliant Apple-esque design, solid sound and good features, too.
It might seem tempting to say all Apple products are great solely because they're from Apple. But in the guide above, we've detailed the pros and cons of each product. And we're not afraid to recommend other brands where we think you'd get better value for money, either.
Latest updates to the best AirPods
October 18, 2024
Added the AirPods 4 with ANC as our 'best open-ear' pick and the AirPods 4 as our 'best cheaper AirPods' choice based on our recent testing. Removed the AirPods 3 and AirPods 2019 entries now they're older. Updated the 'What new AirPods are coming soon?' section to reflect these latest changes. Updated the 'How much do AirPods cost?' section to reflect the prices of the new additions, too.
September 10, 2024
Added info on the AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2 incoming features, AirPods Max update at Apple's Glowtime event – and the fact that we still didn't see AirPods Pro 3.
August 27, 2024
Added more information about next-gen AirPods we expect to see in Apple's September 2024 event.
July 1, 2024
Expanded our write-ups to include more of our hands-on experience with each product. Added a new section discussing what new AirPods models are expected in the near future.
June 3, 2024
Added additional details to each write-up about why readers should or shouldn't consider buying each of the recommend products.
March 4, 2024
Added additional images to each write-up and extra copy throughout the guide that links out to more how to and explainer articles related to AirPods.
December 6, 2023
Added new quick menu navigation to make it easier to scan all the products in this list. Updated the list based on our latest reviews, including adding in the Beats Studio Pro.
