The best AirPods of 2026: We tested all of Apple’s headphones so you don’t have to

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Apple’s AirPods are among our go-to wireless headphones thanks to their dependable audio and seamless integration with iPhones and MacBooks. The best AirPods combine strong audio quality, smart iOS features, and Apple’s instantly recognizable design. Still, with multiple models available, figuring out which pair is right for you isn’t always straightforward. That’s why our audio experts spent hours testing every option to find the best AirPods for different budgets, preferences, and listening habits.

For most people, the best Apple AirPods are the AirPods Pro 3. As Apple’s latest flagship earbuds, they deliver powerful active noise cancellation, a comfortable and secure in-ear fit, and even a heart rate tracking feature designed for workouts. If you’re looking to spend less, the AirPods 4 are our top budget pick. They skip active noise cancellation but still offer the core AirPods experience — and they’re often discounted to under $120.

Below, you’ll find a complete breakdown of every AirPods model based on hands-on testing, along with our recommendations for which ones are best for different types of listeners.

Our top picks for the best Apple AirPods

Best overall: AirPods Pro 3 – See at Amazon

Best for an open fit: AirPods 4 with ANC – See at Amazon

Best on a budget: AirPods 4 without ANC – See at Amazon

Best for audiophiles: AirPods Max – See at Amazon

Best overall

The AirPods Pro 3 are Apple’s latest flagship wireless earbuds, replacing the AirPods Pro 2 as our pick for the best AirPods overall. They offer stronger noise cancellation, longer battery life, improved water resistance, and new heart rate tracking.

Although they use the same custom driver as the Pro 2, Apple has refined the design for improved airflow. In our tests, this resulted in slightly improved sound, with a wider soundstage and deeper bass.

Apple claims the Pro 3’s active noise cancellation (ANC) is twice as powerful as before, and our testing confirmed a clear boost. They effectively block engine hum, vacuums, and subway noise — nearly matching the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2, though Bose still has a small edge in some cases.

The AirPods Pro 3’s in-ear fit has a slightly updated shape, and you get five ear-tip sizes, including a new XXS option. However, our reviewer actually preferred the old shape of the Pro 2, as it fit a bit more tightly against their ear. Ultimately, fit varies by ear shape, but most users should be able to achieve a good seal.

A standout feature not available on other AirPods is built-in heart rate tracking. Each earbud has a sensor that measures your heart rate, providing helpful fitness and workout data when paired with an iPhone. This is a great perk for users who don’t already own a fitness tracker, such as an Apple Watch. Water resistance also jumps from IP54 to IP57, meaning the AirPods Pro 3 can handle sweat and brief submersion. If you’re looking for the best AirPods to use during exercise, the Pro 3 are our top recommendation.

Battery life now reaches eight hours with ANC enabled (up from six hours on the Pro 2), although total battery life drops slightly to 24 hours with the case (down from 30 hours). We think the longer single charge is the better tradeoff, but this is something to keep in mind.

The AirPods Pro 3 retain all of the Pro 2’s aural health features, which you won’t get on standard AirPods. There’s also a Live Translation function (which requires an iPhone with Apple Intelligence), but this feature is also supported on the AirPods 4 with ANC and AirPods Pro 2.

In nearly every way, the AirPods Pro 3 beat their predecessor and aced out tests. Best of all, they accomplish this while carrying the same suggested retail price as the Pro 2. The older AirPods Pro 2 remain a solid choice if you find them discounted, but for most users, the Pro 3 are the better buy.

Read our full Apple AirPods Pro 3 review.

Check out our guide to the best wireless earbuds.

Best for an open fit

Apple’s AirPods 4 are the brand’s midrange earbuds. Unlike the AirPods Pro 3, they use a semi-open fit rather than an in-ear seal, which some people find to be more comfortable. You can choose between two versions: one without ANC for $129 and one with ANC and a wireless charging case for $179.

Both options deliver the same core audio performance and design, but the ANC model’s noise-canceling feature and wireless charging case are useful perks for those willing to pay the extra money. Though the AirPods Pro 3 have some benefits that this model lacks, the AirPods 4 with ANC are an excellent midrange alternative, and they’re the best AirPods for people who prefer an open fit.

Instead of having silicone tips that plug into your ears to create a full seal, the AirPods 4 ear tips rest just outside your ear canal. Although an in-ear seal allows the AirPods Pro 3 to offer better sound quality and noise-canceling capabilities, some people dislike the constricted feeling of the tips inserted in their ears.

The AirPods 4 offer a more open fit, and Apple has refined the design over previous models to ensure they stay securely in place across a variety of ear shapes. However, opinions remain divided over the comfort of open-ear AirPods, so this ultimately comes down to personal preference and the size of your ears.

During our review, we were impressed by the earbuds’ audio quality, which holds up well against other options in this price range. Noise-canceling performance is also solid, which is surprising, given that most open-fit earbuds struggle with ANC. The earbuds’ transparency mode is also excellent for when you want to let in outside sound to stay aware of your surroundings. That said, the AirPods Pro 3 outperform the AirPods 4 in blocking out louder distractions, such as the engine of an airplane.

Read our full Apple AirPods 4 review.

Best on a budget

The standard AirPods 4 without ANC are the cheapest AirPods available. They retail for $129 and are sometimes on sale for just under $100.

This model replaces the second-gen AirPods as Apple’s current entry-level offering. The second-gen AirPods were frequently sold for an even lower price of $89, but they’ve been discontinued. As it stands, the AirPods 4 without ANC are now the best AirPods on a budget.  

This model is essentially identical to the more expensive AirPods 4 with ANC, save for two important differences. This option does not have active noise cancellation, so it can’t block out ambient sounds or pass them through via a transparency mode. Additionally, this version features a wired charging case instead of a wireless one.

Beyond those two limitations, the earbuds offer the same open-fit design, solid audio performance, and robust set of features as the more expensive version. This makes the AirPods 4 without ANC a good fit for casual listeners who don’t want to pay more for noise cancellation.

Just note: We’ve occasionally seen the AirPods 4 with ANC go on sale for less than the standard AirPods 4. When that happens, opt for the ANC version instead.

Best for audiophiles

The AirPods Max stand apart from Apple’s other models. While the rest of the lineup consists of earbuds, the Max use a full over-ear design with padded cups and a sturdy headband. This larger build lets them deliver impressive sound quality and strong noise cancellation in a premium-feeling package. They’re ideal for anyone who values high-end audio over portability.

Apple first launched the AirPods Max in December 2020 and refreshed them in September 2024. The updated version retains the same sound quality as the original but features USB-C charging and is available in more colors.

Under the hood, the AirPods Max use Apple-designed drivers and 10 audio cores for computational audio and adaptive EQ, which fine-tunes the sound based on how the ear cups fit. They also support spatial audio and quick pairing.

In testing, they produced crisp and full audio that compares favoriably to similar flagship cans from brands like Bose and Sony. Noise cancellation is another strong point. Under an elevated subway line on a busy street, the Max dulled train screeches and traffic noise impressively well. They’re not the single best noise-canceling headphones we’ve ever tested, but they come close.

The main drawback is the included case. It doesn’t charge the headphones, and instead of fully protecting them, it simply wraps around the ear cups to put them in low-power mode. If you’re looking for something more functional, check out our guide to the best AirPods Max accessories.

The AirPods Max are pricey, but they do go on sale. If you’re an Apple fan who wants top-tier sound in an over-ear design — and you’re willing to splurge — they’re the best AirPods you can buy.

Read our full Apple AirPods Max review.

Check out our guide to the best over-ear headphones.

How we test AirPods

To test the best Apple AirPods, our audio reviewers evaluated various performance elements, including design, fit, sound quality, extra features, and ease of use. We listen to a diverse range of tracks across genres and from various sources, including many of the best music streaming services. For AirPods that support spatial audio, we also listen to Dolby Atmos tracks.

Likewise, if an AirPods model supports noise cancellation, we evaluate that feature in a real-world noisy environment, such as near heavy traffic outside, to test how well the feature reduces ambient sounds. We also sample transparency modes to see how well the AirPods let in surrounding noise naturally.

For this guide, we focused on how each AirPods model compares to other AirPods to determine each model’s strengths and weaknesses within Apple’s headphones lineup. We also compared them to similar options from competing companies to gauge their performance against the best headphones from other brands.

What to look for in AirPods

When selecting the best AirPods for your needs, it’s helpful to consider a few key factors: price, sound quality, noise cancellation, and design.

Price: Apple’s current lineup includes the AirPods 4 ($129), AirPods 4 with ANC ($179), AirPods Pro 3 ($249), and AirPods Max ($549). Discounts are common, especially on the standard AirPods 4, which often dip to just under $100.

Sound quality: For earbuds, the AirPods Pro 3 offer the best overall audio performance. If you prefer over-ear headphones and don’t mind paying more, the AirPods Max are Apple’s best-sounding option, period. The AirPods 4 sound solid, but their open-fit design leads to some audio leakage.

Noise cancellation: If ANC is a priority for you, consider the AirPods 4 with ANC, AirPods Pro 3, or AirPods Max. The Max block out the most noise thanks to their over-ear build, while the Pro 3 also perform impressively. The AirPods 4 with ANC offer the lightest noise cancellation of the group, but still do a decent job.

Design and fit: The AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, and AirPods 4 with ANC are all earbuds. The Pro 3 use an in-ear fit that creates a seal for better sound and stability. An in-ear design is great for performance, but not everyone loves the feel. The AirPods 4 use a semi-open design that sits just outside the ear canal, making them more comfortable for some but less effective for sound quality and ANC. For an entirely different experience, the AirPods Max use an over-ear design with padded cups and a headband. They deliver the strongest performance but aren’t nearly as portable as earbuds.

What are the top AirPods alternatives?

Apple’s AirPods are popular headphones, but they may not be the ideal choice for all users. This is especially true if you plan to use your earbuds primarily with an Android phone or PC. Thankfully, many brands sell similar headphones that are less rigidly tied to the Apple ecosystem.

Some of our favorite AirPods alternatives include the Beats Fit Pro, Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, and Soundcore Liberty 4 NC. The Beats brand is actually owned by Apple, and the Fit Pro earbuds use the company’s H1 chip, just like older AirPods. Meanwhile, the Powerbeats Pro 2 use the H2 chip and have heart rate tracking just like the AirPods Pro 3. Beats headphones also offer a more Android-friendly set of features and an Android app. The Soundcore earbuds are an affordable alternative to AirPods, priced under $100, and feature a stem-like design reminiscent of classic AirPods.

Check out our guide to the best AirPods alternatives for details on all of our picks.

For more affordable options, visit our guide to the best budget headphones. For earbuds geared more toward active use, visit our guides to the best running headphones and best headphones for working out.

AirPods FAQs

Are the third-gen AirPods still worth buying?

Now that AirPods 4 are available and frequently discounted, we no longer recommend the third-generation AirPods. That older model is discontinued and hard to find in stock. When they are available, they often sell for the same price or higher than the base AirPods 4. Since the AirPods 4 are better headphones, there’s no reason to consider the third-gen AirPods.

Are the AirPods Pro 2 still worth it?

The AirPods Pro 2 have been replaced by the new AirPods Pro 3, but the Pro 2 are still in stock at some online retailers and are often sold at a discount. Although the new Pro 3 model is a better buy for most people, the AirPods Pro 2 remain a worthwhile pair of earbuds as long as they’re on sale. The Pro 3 have better ANC, longer battery life, and added heart rate tracking, but the AirPods Pro 2 are otherwise similar.

As long as you can find them for less money than the Pro 3, the Pro 2 are a good alternative for people who want an in-ear pair of AirPods but don’t want to pay full price for the Pro 3.

Do AirPods go on sale?

Although Apple rarely offers direct discounts on AirPods through its online or physical stores, the headphones frequently receive great deals through other retailers, such as Amazon and Walmart. In fact, it’s actually rare to find the AirPods 4 selling at full price through those stores.

Based on typical street prices, we don’t recommend paying more than $120 for the AirPods 4 or more than $170 for the AirPods 4 with ANC. The lowest price we’ve ever seen the AirPods 4 discounted to was $69, while the AirPods 4 with ANC have dropped to $99 for a limited time.

The new AirPods Pro 3 just launched in September 2025, so they’ve received fewer discounts so far. However, you may be able to find the older AirPods Pro 2 at a discount. If you’re aiming to buy that model, we don’t recommend paying more than $200.

How often does Apple release new AirPods?

Apple’s standard AirPods are now in their fourth generation, the AirPods Pro are in their third generation, and the AirPods Max are still in their first generation.

• AirPods: Apple’s fourth-generation AirPods launched in September 2024 during the brand’s iPhone 16 launch event. The release cycle for new AirPods is typically two to three years, so we don’t expect another model until 2026 at the earliest.
• AirPods Pro: Apple released the first-generation AirPods Pro in 2019, followed by the second-generation model in 2022, and the third-generation model in September 2025. Another brand-new generation model is unlikely to launch this year, but a report by Bloomberg indicates that an upgraded model with infrared cameras could be in the works. The cameras would be used to enable more AI functions.
• AirPods Max: Apple released the AirPods Max in December 2020 and launched a refreshed Max model with USB-C charging and new colors in 2024. There’s currently no indication that a new model is forthcoming.

Source: The best AirPods of 2026: We tested all of Apple’s headphones so you don’t have to