Read us in full AirPods Pro 2 review

Battery life: 6 hours, up to 30 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IP54 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Automatic switching: Yes

Simply put, AirPods Pro 2 are the best AirPods option because they offer the full suite of current audio technology from Apple. Powered by the H2 chip, the headphones give you access to advanced features like Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, Personalized Volume, Adaptive EQ and Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. Of course, you’ll also get “professional-level” Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), which offers up to twice the fun blocking of the first-generation AirPods Pro or AirPods 4 with ANC.

In addition to Voice Isolation, the most natural transparency mode you’ll find on a set of headphones is available on the AirPods Pro 2. This pair of features makes this model the best option for calls in Apple’s lineup. You’ll also get the convenience of built-in volume controls that other AirPods (headphone) options don’t offer. The case charges wirelessly via MagSafe or Qi-certified accessories, and Auto Switch quickly switches to your phone from your MacBook or other iCloud-synced Apple devices when you need it.

AirPods Pro 2 also offers Apple’s hearing test, hearing aids, and hearing protection features that arrived as part of iOS 18.1. In about five minutes, you can take a clinically validated hearing test with nothing more than your iPhone and these headphones. Results are available immediately, and if you have mild to moderate hearing loss, AirPods Pro 2 can work as a hearing aid (with customizable settings). In addition, these headphones can provide robust hearing protection against sustained noise below 110 dB. Hearing protection is enabled in all noise modes, which include Transparency, Adaptive and ANC.

Read us in full AirPods 4 review

Battery life: 5 hours, up to 30 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IP54 | Noise cancellation: No | Automatic switching: Yes

Apple gave its “ordinary” AirPods a major overhaul in 2024, notably adding ANC to its open design for the first time. Of course, adding noise cancellation increases the price, so the non-ANC version of the AirPods 4 is the most affordable option in Apple’s mobile audio lineup. This model still includes Apple’s H2 audio chip, so you can expect some of the company’s latest features.

H2 tools on AirPods 4 include voice isolation, custom spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, custom volume, and adaptive EQ. They lack Conversation Awareness, Adaptive Audio and Transparency from the base specs of AirPods 4 with ANC and AirPods Pro 2. Unlike the other two models, the AirPods 4 charging case does not offer MagSafe or Qi-compatible wireless charging, nor does it offer the accessory has a built-in speaker for Find My.

You’ll get all the benefits of a refined shape on AirPods 4 that provides a more secure and comfortable fit. Like the third-generation AirPods, this model still lacks touch controls for volume, but offers force-touch options for playback controls, noise modes, and call answering. A key downside to the open design is that you won’t have access to Apple’s hearing health tools. Because the AirPods 4 don’t seal your ear and don’t have the necessary ANC, the company’s hearing test wouldn’t be accurate, the hearing aid wouldn’t help, and hearing protection wouldn’t be an adequate defense in noisy environments.

Read us in full AirPods Max review

Battery life: 20 hours | Water resistance: None | Noise cancellation: Yes | Automatic switching: Yes

If you prefer over-ear headphones to headphones, there’s only one option for you. in the Apple range. The AirPods Max debuted in 2020, and the company offered a minimal update in September 2024 that swapped the Lightning port for USB-C (and added five new colors). While the design still feels current, the technology inside this model has fallen a generation behind since the AirPods Pro 2 arrived in 2022. The AirPods Max are still powered by the H1 chip, meaning Apple’s more advanced audio features aren’t available here.

Because the Max doesn’t have the newer H2 silicon, features like Adaptive Audio, Personalized Volume, Conversation Awareness, and Voice Isolation aren’t available on these headphones. However, you can still expect hands-free access to Siri, Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, Adaptive EQ and a very natural-sounding Transparency mode. The noise cancellation works well with most constant noise sources, but like many headphones, it struggles with human voices. Automatic switching is here too, so you can expect Max to quickly switch between iCloud-connected devices.

And then there’s the design. AirPods Max feel light and comfortable, even if the ear cushions feel a bit thin after hours of constant use. Physical controls for playback, volume and noise modes center around a rotating crown similar to what’s on the Apple Watch and a single button – both located on the right side. This excellent transparency mode prevents you from being shouted at on calls, and voice pickup is good enough to use during important virtual meetings without fear of audio quality issues.