The best AirPods of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

Pros

Cons

Out of the four current models of AirPods, I recommend the AirPods Pro 2 the most because they fit almost every type of ear, are comfortable to wear, and include all of the best and latest features that Apple offers in headphones. Plus, they get a bonus set of new features as part of the iOS 17 update.

These will be ideal for those long-haul study sessions at the library when all you want is silence and time to focus or as you're exercising at the bustling campus gym and want to lock in on your favorite music. They're the best earbuds in the lineup and a great choice for portable headphones with competitive noise-canceling. 

Most Redditors agree that the AirPods Pro 2 takes the cake. When searching on Reddit for the best AirPods to buy, it isn't easy to find an alternative recommendation. One user on the r/AirPods thread called the earbuds "transcendent," and another said they are worth the money.  

The AirPods Pro 2 uses 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 to fall out of their ears easily or weren't very comfortable to wear. 

The AirPods Pro 2 were the first to get Apple's latest H2 chip for improved sound. That includes active noise cancellation, which roughly doubles the noise cancellation of the first-gen AirPods Pro and works impressively in loud environments like airplanes and city streets. It also includes adaptive transparency mode, which lets you hear the world around you when you have your earbuds in while also automatically reducing loud sounds such as sirens. 

In 2023, Apple slightly revised this model as the "AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) with USB-C," swapping out Apple's Lightening connector with the more universal USB-C that has also come to iPhone 15. But it also added Lossless Audio with ultra-low latency for the Apple Vision Pro headset that launched this week.

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 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: Yes

Pros

Cons

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

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. 

There's one other main 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. 

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, which 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 $500 to spare. Some users recommend waiting for the next generation of these headphones, though it's TBD when that next generation arrives. 

Read the review: AirPods Max review

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

Pros

Cons

The original AirPods remain as iconic as ever. They are still available to purchase in the upgraded 2nd-generation version, even if the newer generations of AirPods, like the Pro 2s, have made this generation less popular, according to Reddit. While they retail for $129, they regularly go on sale for $99 at Amazon and other places. With their solid sound, easy setup, ability to connect to all your Apple devices, and 5-hour battery life, the AirPods 2nd gen are a very straightforward buy. 

A fully charged case can charge the AirPods 2nd gen up to five times. With up to five hours of battery life on each charge, that results in over 24 hours before you need a full recharge of the case and the AirPods. 

Also: How I used the same AirPods for five years straight (and you can, too)

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 drop out. That's not ideal, especially for an expensive product where falling out could mean losing an AirPod down a drain or a subway tunnel. So, I'd recommend getting silicone ear tips (such as these from AhaStyle for less than $10) 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 2nd gen is a great first introduction to Apple's wireless headphones. They're an excellent option for students who want earbuds in the Apple ecosystem but aren't picky about special features or noise-canceling. 

AirPods (2nd Generation) features: Type: In-ear | Chip: H1 | Battery life: 5 hours | Water-resistant: No

Pros

Cons

The AirPods (3rd Generation) offer nearly all of the same high-end audio features as the AirPods Pro 2 -- except for noise cancellation and transparency mode -- but at a lower price of $169, or $179 with the wireless case, which is well worth it. That means you get spatial audio surround sound, adaptive EQ using Apple's algorithms to adjust the sound quality, better dynamic range, an extra 20% battery life per charge, and faster charging while in the case. (Five minutes in the case gives an hour of usage time.) 

These AirPods also integrate more controls directly into the stems. With the AirPods 3rd gen, 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. Those are the same controls the AirPods Pro 2 have (minus the volume control gesture that doesn't work well).

The AirPods 3rd gen suffers from the same ear fit issues as the first two generations of traditional AirPods. For some AirPods 3 owners on Reddit, the hard plastic tips won't stay in your ears or will fall out easily, depending on the shape of your ears. I'd recommend getting some silicone ear hooks, as mentioned above, for the AirPods 2nd gen; however, the silicone tips for the 2nd gen won't fit the 3rd gen because of the new design. So I'd suggest getting these $15 ones on Amazon for the AirPods 3rd gen if these fit loosely in your ears or have issues falling out.

The AirPods 3rd gen are generally the Apple headphones that are the hardest to recommend. That's because -- if you want the least expensive entry into the AirPods experience -- the AirPods 2nd gen is a no-brainer at $99. And if you're seeking a more advanced pair with the latest features and upgrades, then you want the AirPods Pro 2 -- even at $249, they could be worth the investment if you spend multiple hours a day with headphones on. The AirPods 3rd gen sits uncomfortably in the middle between those two products. There are people out there who prefer the traditional hard plastic fit to the silicone ear tips. If you're one of those and want to get most of the features of the AirPods Pro 2 but want to save $70, these are the ones for you. 

Read the review: Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) review

AirPods (3rd Generation) features: Type: In-ear | Chip: H1 | Battery life: 6 hours | Water-resistant: Yes