Apple’s AirPods lineup falls into three main families: the AirPods 5, AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2.
For most buyers, the choice is between the AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3. AirPods 5 start at $129 and combine an open-ear design with Active Noise Cancellation, while the $249 AirPods Pro 3 use foam-infused silicone tips for a more secure fit and stronger noise isolation, and add heart-rate sensing and Apple’s hearing-health features.
AirPods Max 2 are a different proposition: $549 over-ear headphones aimed at buyers who prioritize sound quality and noise cancellation and specifically prefer an over-ear design.
In this guide, we compare Apple’s current AirPods lineup to explain the key differences between each model and help you decide which is best for you. We look at design and fit, noise cancellation, sound, battery life, health and hearing features, and price, as well as whether it’s worth considering older AirPods at a discount. We also compare AirPods 5 directly with AirPods Pro 3 and explain which AirPods offer the best value for different types of buyer.
Which AirPods are the best?
We recommend AirPods Pro 3 as the best AirPods overall, thanks to their combination of noise cancellation, secure fit, longer battery life and additional health features.
For many people, however, AirPods 5 will be the better buy. They now include Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode and Conversation Awareness, closing much of the feature gap with the Pro model while costing substantially less. They’re also the obvious choice if you prefer an open fit rather than silicone ear tips.
AirPods Max 2 are best considered separately. They are over-ear headphones rather than earbuds and cost more than twice as much as AirPods Pro 3, so they make most sense for buyers specifically looking for that style of headphone.
1. Apple AirPods Pro 3 – Best AirPods overall
Best Prices Today:
- Best for: Buyers who want the strongest combination of ANC, fit, battery life and features.
- Buy AirPods Pro 3 if: You want the best noise cancellation of Apple’s earbuds, longer battery life, a secure in-ear fit or the health and hearing features.
- Don’t buy AirPods Pro 3 if: You dislike earbuds that seal the ear canal or don’t need enough of their extra features to justify spending $100–$120 more than on AirPods 5.
For most buyers who don’t object to silicone ear tips, AirPods Pro 3 are the best AirPods you can buy.
Released in September 2025, the third-generation AirPods Pro improved on an already excellent pair of earbuds without increasing the $249 launch price. In our review, Jason Cross praised their more comfortable and secure fit, improved battery life, better noise cancellation and Transparency mode, and effective heart-rate sensor. Taken together, those apparently small changes add up to a significant improvement.
The biggest physical change is the fit. AirPods Pro 3 have redesigned earbuds with foam-infused tips available in five sizes, including XXS. In our testing, they stayed securely in place even during intense activity and felt more comfortable than the previous generation.
Noise cancellation is another major advantage. Apple says AirPods Pro 3 remove twice as much noise as AirPods Pro 2, while our review also found improvements to noise reduction, Transparency mode and bass response.
Battery life is strong too. Apple rates the earbuds for up to eight hours with ANC enabled, an estimate that was broadly borne out in our testing. The charging case takes total ANC listening time to up to 24 hours.
AirPods Pro 3 also have features the AirPods 5 don’t. The built-in heart-rate sensor works with workouts in the Fitness app, while Apple’s Hearing Test, Hearing Aid and Hearing Protection features make the Pro model particularly compelling for users interested in hearing health.
Read our full
Apple AirPods Pro 3 review
2. AirPods 5 – Best AirPods for most people
Best Prices Today:
- Best for: Most buyers who prefer an open fit or want ANC without spending $249 on AirPods Pro 3.
- Buy AirPods 5 if: You prefer an open-ear fit, want effective noise cancellation and want to spend substantially less than AirPods Pro 3.
- Don’t buy AirPods 5 if: Maximum isolation and noise cancellation are important, or you want heart-rate sensing and Apple’s hearing-health features.
AirPods 5 are no longer simply the cheaper AirPods that miss out on most of the Pro features.
Apple introduced AirPods 5 in September 2026 with Active Noise Cancellation as standard. That immediately makes the decision more interesting: you can now get open-ear AirPods with ANC for $129, compared with $249 for AirPods Pro 3.
Like previous standard AirPods, they don’t use silicone ear tips. They sit in the ear without sealing the ear canal, which will be an important advantage for anyone who finds AirPods Pro uncomfortable or dislikes the isolated feeling of in-ear earbuds.
Noise cancellation is much improved. Apple says AirPods 5 remove up to 50 percent more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC, thanks to a redesigned acoustic architecture and updated computational audio. Macworld also notes that Transparency mode has been improved and that Adaptive Audio can automatically blend ANC and Transparency according to your surroundings.
Sound has been upgraded too, with a new acoustic design and next-generation Adaptive EQ intended to improve performance across a wider range of ear shapes.
There are actually two AirPods 5 packages, but unlike the previous generation they don’t differ in whether ANC is included.
The $129 AirPods 5 come with a USB-C charging case. Apple rates these for up to four hours of listening with ANC enabled or six hours with noise control turned off, and up to 20 hours with the case when using ANC.
The $149 AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case are the more compelling option. They can charge over USB-C, with an Apple Watch charger or with a Qi charger, and the case includes a speaker for Find My. They also add volume adjustment by swiping the stem. Battery life rises to as much as five hours with ANC, seven hours with noise control off and 22 hours with the case when using ANC.
At only $20 more, we’d lean toward the Wireless Charging Case version unless you’re particularly keen to keep the price down.
3. Apple AirPods Max 2 – Best over-ear AirPods
Best Prices Today:
- Best for: Apple users who specifically want premium over-ear headphones.
- Buy AirPods Max 2 if: You want over-ear headphones, excellent sound and ANC, and particularly value AirPods integration with Apple devices.
- Don’t buy AirPods Max 2 if: Price, weight or portability are important. AirPods Pro 3 offer many of the same AirPods features for less than half the price.
AirPods Max 2 are the choice for buyers who specifically want Apple’s over-ear headphones rather than earbuds.
Apple introduced AirPods Max 2 in March 2026, finally replacing the original AirPods Max with a model powered by the H2 chip. The change brought features including Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation and Live Translation to the AirPods Max line.
Sound quality remains excellent. Our review also rated the Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode among the model’s strongest attributes. Apple says ANC is up to 1.5 times more effective than on the previous generation.
They also support lossless and ultra-low-latency audio over USB-C.
But AirPods Max 2 still come with significant compromises. They weigh 13.6 ounces, and our reviewer found that weight noticeable when moving around. Apple also retained the controversial Smart Case and the unusual power-management system that means the headphones can’t simply be switched off manually.
Battery life is rated at up to 20 hours with ANC enabled.
And then there’s the price. AirPods Max 2 cost $549, making them more than twice the price of AirPods Pro 3. Our review consequently found them difficult to recommend despite their excellent sound, ANC and Apple ecosystem integration.
Read our full
Apple AirPods Max 2 review
AirPods compared
| AirPods 5 | AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case | AirPods Pro 3 | AirPods Max 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $129 / £119 | $149 / £139 | $249 / $219 | $549 / £499 |
| Design | Open-ear earbuds | Open-ear earbuds | In-ear earbuds with foam-infused silicone tips | Over-ear headphones |
| Chip | H2 | H2 | H2 | H2 in each ear cup |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Adaptive Audio | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Conversation Awareness | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Live Translation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Heart-rate sensor | No | No | Yes | No |
| Hearing Test/Hearing Aid | No | No | Yes | No |
| Battery with ANC | Up to 4 hours | Up to 5 hours | Up to 8 hours | Up to 20 hours |
| Battery with case, ANC | Up to 20 hours | Up to 22 hours | Up to 24 hours | N/A |
| Wireless case charging | No | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| Find My speaker in case | No | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| Volume swipe | No | Yes | Yes | Digital Crown |
| Dust/water resistance | IP57 | IP57 | IP57 earbuds and case | None stated |
| Weight | 4.3g each | 4.3g each | 5.55g each | 386.2g |
AirPods 5 vs AirPods Pro 3: Which should you buy?
AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods 5
Foundry
AirPods 5 are better if…
- You dislike earbuds that seal your ear canal.
- You want to spend less.
- An open fit is more important than maximum noise isolation.
- You want ANC but don’t need the Pro health features.
AirPods Pro 3 are better if…
- You want Apple’s hearing-health features.
- Strong noise cancellation is a priority.
- You want longer battery life.
- You want a more secure in-ear fit.
- You want heart-rate sensing.
The difference between standard AirPods and AirPods Pro used to be straightforward: standard AirPods were cheaper and open-fitting, while the Pros added ANC and Apple’s more sophisticated listening modes.
With the AirPods 5, that distinction is less clear. Both AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3 use Apple’s H2 chip and support Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation and Personalized Spatial Audio.
The remaining differences are nevertheless significant.
Design and fit
AirPods 5 use an open-ear design and don’t use ear tips. AirPods Pro 3 sit more tightly in the ear canal and come with foam-infused silicone tips in five sizes. When we reviewed the AirPods Pro 3 we found the redesigned tips substantially improved comfort and security and kept the earbuds in place during strenuous exercise.
- Choose AirPods 5 if you don’t like the plugged-ear sensation of silicone tips.
- Choose AirPods Pro 3 if you want a tighter, more secure fit and better isolation.
Noise cancellation
AirPods 5 include Active Noise Cancellation as standard, unlike AirPods 4, which were sold with or without ANC. But their open-ear design means they approach noise reduction differently from the AirPods Pro 3.
AirPods Pro 3 use ear tips to create a seal in the ear canal, giving them a natural advantage when it comes to isolation. Apple says their ANC removes up to twice as much noise as AirPods Pro 2, and in our testing both noise cancellation and Transparency mode were improved over the previous generation.
AirPods 5 don’t create a seal, but their open-ear ANC is significantly more effective than before. Apple says they remove up to 50 percent more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC.
- AirPods 5 are the better choice if you dislike the feeling of a sealed in-ear fit.
- AirPods Pro 3 remain the better choice if maximum noise reduction and isolation are your priorities.
Battery life
AirPods Pro 3 have a significant battery advantage. They last up to eight hours with ANC enabled and up to 24 hours including the charging case.
The $129 AirPods 5 manage up to four hours with ANC, while the $149 Wireless Charging Case version increases that to five hours.
That’s a substantial difference if you frequently use your AirPods for long journeys or extended listening sessions.
- AirPods 5 = 4 hours battery life
- AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case = 5 hours battery life
- AirPods Pro 3 = 8 hours battery life
Health and hearing features
The AirPods Pro 3 include a heart-rate sensor that can measure your heart rate during workouts, and our reviewer found the results comparable to an Apple Watch during testing.
They also support Apple’s Hearing Test, Hearing Aid and Hearing Protection features.
Those features aren’t available on AirPods 5.
- AirPods Pro 3 are also the obvious choice if Apple’s health features are important.
Price
The Pro model costs $100 more than the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case and $120 more than the cheapest version.
The gap can shrink during sales. AirPods Pro 3 fell as low as $169 during Amazon Prime Day in June 2026, so it’s always worth checking the live price comparison before deciding.
- AirPods 5 start at $129, or $149 with the Wireless Charging Case.
- AirPods Pro 3 are $249.
Which AirPods 5 should you get?
Unlike AirPods 4, Apple doesn’t sell one AirPods 5 model with ANC and another without it. All AirPods 5 have Active Noise Cancellation.
Instead, the choice is between cases.
The $129 model has a USB-C charging case. It offers up to four hours of battery life with ANC and up to 20 hours including the case.
For $149, the Wireless Charging Case can also charge using an Apple Watch charger or Qi charger and includes a speaker for Find My. The earbuds in this package also support volume adjustment by swiping the stems. Battery life increases to five hours with ANC and 22 hours with the case.
Our recommendation: Buy the version with wireless charging case – given the relatively small $20 difference, the $149 version is the better buy for most people.
Should you buy older AirPods?
We’d generally recommend buying the latest generation rather than deliberately seeking out older AirPods because there is a considerable gap between the different generations.
Should you buy AirPods 4?
AirPods 5 start at the same $129 MSRP previously charged for AirPods 4 without ANC, but now include ANC as standard, along with improved noise cancellation and sound quality.
That makes AirPods 4 difficult to recommend unless you find them at a substantial clearance discount. They dropped to $99 during Prime Day 2026, but with AirPods 5 now available at $129, we’d want to see them priced noticeably lower than that.
Our recommendation: Only buy AirPods 4 at a steep discount.
Should you buy AirPods Pro 2?
AirPods Pro 2 remain capable earbuds, but AirPods Pro 3 improve the fit, noise cancellation and battery life, while adding heart-rate sensing.
If you find AirPods Pro 2 at a heavy discount, they can still make sense. But the closer their price gets to a discounted pair of AirPods Pro 3, the harder they are to recommend.
Our recommendation: Only buy AirPods Pro 2 at a significant discount and if you don’t need heart-rate sensing.
Should you buy the original AirPods Max?
AirPods Max 2 retain many aspects of the original design but add the H2 chip, which enables Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation and Live Translation. ANC has also been improved.
If you’re going to spend close to AirPods Max money, the second-generation model is therefore the one to get.
Our recommendation: Only buy if the discount is substantial.
FAQ
What’s the difference between AirPods and AirPods Pro?
The biggest difference is fit. AirPods 5 use an open-ear design, while AirPods Pro 3 use foam-infused silicone tips that seal the ear canal.
Both now have Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode and Conversation Awareness. AirPods Pro 3 nevertheless offer stronger isolation, longer ANC battery life and exclusive features including heart-rate sensing, Hearing Test, Hearing Aid and Hearing Protection.
AirPods 5 start at $129; AirPods Pro 3 cost $249.
Do AirPods work with Macs and iPads?
Yes. AirPods work particularly well with Apple devices.
Once your AirPods are paired, they can automatically connect to devices associated with your Apple account, and Automatic Device Switching can move playback between devices depending on what you’re using.
Apple lists current versions of macOS and iPadOS among the supported platforms for AirPods 5, AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2.
Can you use AirPods with non-Apple devices?
Yes. AirPods are Bluetooth headphones and can be used with non-Apple hardware.
We have, for example, demonstrated how AirPods can be paired directly with a Nintendo Switch using its Bluetooth Audio settings.
Apple also explicitly states that current AirPods can be used as Bluetooth headphones with non-Apple devices, although some functionality may be limited.
The main reason to use AirPods with Apple hardware is therefore the deeper ecosystem integration rather than basic Bluetooth compatibility.
Do AirPods have Find My?
Yes, but the capabilities depend on the model and case.
AirPods can be located through Apple’s Find My system. The $149 AirPods 5 Wireless Charging Case includes a speaker for Find My alerts, while the standard $129 USB-C case does not. AirPods Pro 3 also include a speaker in their MagSafe charging case.
Find My support is useful not just for locating misplaced AirPods but also when checking whether a suspicious pair of AirPods behaves as genuine Apple hardware. See our guide to spotting fake AirPods for more advice.
Are AirPods waterproof?
No. AirPods aren’t “waterproof”, but they do offer some water resistance.
AirPods 5 are rated IP57 for dust, sweat and water resistance. AirPods Pro 3 and their charging case are also rated IP57.
That makes them suitable for exercise and provides protection against water exposure, but water resistance isn’t the same thing as waterproofing and shouldn’t be taken as an invitation to use them for swimming.
AirPods Max 2 don’t have a water-resistance rating.
