While Apple is best known for laptops, smartphones, and tablets, they also make sleek headphones with a minimalist design. Their 'AirPods' audio products are designed to integrate seamlessly into the Apple ecosystem. It's not an expansive product line, and their headphones have limited functionality on Android; still, AirPods effectively deliver the simple yet premium user experience that Apple is known for. When choosing, you'll want to consider whether you prefer earbuds with silicone tips, a looser fit without tips, or over-ear headphones, along with how much noise isolation and battery life you need.
Updates
- 04/22/2026Apple AirPods Max 2 reviewed
- 10/14/2025Apple AirPods Pro 3 reviewed
- 12/05/2024Apple AirPods Pro 2 updated
- 11/20/2024Apple AirPods 4 reviewed
- 11/14/2024Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation reviewed
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You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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Best AirPods Earbuds
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are the best Apple AirPods we've tested. They're a good choice for Apple users who want versatile earbuds that will do a good job in most situations. Whether you're on your daily commute, taking a call in the office, or jogging on the treadmill, these earbuds are a great choice. Their outstanding ANC blocks out a remarkable amount of noise around you, and their mic works well when paired with Apple devices. These earbuds also have a slightly warm sound profile that's suitable for music, videos, and podcasts.
These earbuds have a comfortable and stable fit for long listening sessions. Their roughly 9-hour battery life is a big improvement over the previous generation's 5.9 hours, although the case now holds two additional charges instead of four. On the plus side, the case has a chip that allows you to locate it via software on your paired Apple device. The Pro 3 also offer hearing-related features such as a hearing test, hearing protection, and hearing aid functionality. This generation also adds heart rate tracking for workouts and is rated for improved dust and water resistance, making these earbuds a solid choice for outdoor jogs.
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Best Mid-Range AirPods Earbuds
If you don't tend to like how in-ears fit, the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are the best Apple earbuds we've tested. They feature the unlikely but welcome pairing of an open-back, tip-less design with an ANC system. Unlike the Apple AirPods Pro 3, that tip-less design means these buds don't seal your ear canal, so they rely heavily on ANC to reduce sounds like bus engines and background conversations. Still, their noise isolation is solid for open-back buds, and you can let outside sounds through when you want to hear your surroundings, or have the earbuds automatically adjust noise control as your environment changes. Still, it's worth noting that while many people appreciate the looser fit, it can reduce stability.
These earbuds have a warm sound signature, largely because of the softened treble range. In the bass region, kicks and 808s aren't brimming with thump, but there's enough mid-bass punch to keep them feeling substantial. The balanced mid-range helps render vocals and podcast content naturally, but the roll-off in the treble range won't be to everyone's taste. Their 4.5 hours of continuous battery life isn't the longest, but they charge quickly, and there are an extra four charges from the case.
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Best Affordable AirPods Earbuds
If you're looking for the cheapest way into Apple's wireless earbud lineup, consider the Apple AirPods 4. They share the fit and design of the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, but you give up noise control features, wireless case charging, and the ability to locate the case via its own tiny speaker. Still, they feature the same one-size-fits-all design, which should fit comfortably in most ears, though they're liable to fall out if your ears are especially large or small. Their open-back design lets in a lot of external noise, which is less than ideal if you prefer to commute in peace. That said, if you'd like to remain aware of your environment, these buds come in at a significant discount compared to their ANC-equipped sibling.
They last a little under seven hours on a single charge, with four more charges from the case. When it comes to sound, these AirPods offer a smooth, warm tuning, though a roll-off in the low bass robs kick drums of some thump. Still, the mid-range is remarkably accurate, so vocals and lead instruments are reproduced with just the right amount of detail. You can always adjust it with the iOS-supported 3-band EQ if the default tuning isn't to your tastes.
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Best Apple Headphones
The Apple AirPods Max 2 are the best Apple headphones we've tested. They're worth considering if you find earbuds uncomfortable or struggle to keep them in place, since their padded ear cups surround your ears instead. Their roughly 22-hour battery life also lets you listen much longer between charges than the earbuds above, but they're heavier and bulkier to carry. These are the follow-up to the original Apple AirPods Max, and Apple hasn't changed much with the second generation. They keep the same sleek, sturdy metal design. In fact, replacement earpads from the first generation are still compatible with the second generation.
The main upgrade is to their active noise cancelling. The original model already performed superbly, but the improvement is still noticeable, particularly when it comes to rumble. They have a warm sound profile that works well with most kinds of audio, and you can tweak their sound with the three-band EQ on iOS 27 (and later). Unfortunately, they have the same drawbacks as the first generation: you can't turn them off. Even when you put them in the carrying case, they only enter a low-power mode. And the carrying case itself remains underwhelming; it's just a sleeve that covers the ear cups and offers very little protection. That's disappointing for a flagship pair of over-ears. Since the improvements over the first generation are modest, if you can find the originals at a discount, they're well worth considering.
Compared To Other Brands
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Seamless integration with Apple devices.
Apple's wireless headphones feature proprietary chips, allowing them to pair seamlessly with your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. You can also purchase their wired earbuds with a Lightning or USB-C connector instead of a regular audio jack for compatibility with newer iPhones that don't have a headphone jack.
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Compact yet comfortable earbud and in-ear options.
Their earbud and in-ear models are ultra-compact and easy to carry. The AirPods and AirPods Pro product lines have a lightweight earbud design that makes them barely noticeable once in your ears. The over-ear AirPods Max models are also quite comfortable on the head, but they tend to weigh more.
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Open-back and closed-back models available.
Apple is among the few brands with open- and closed-back earphone options. While the open-back EarPods and AirPods aren't always great if you're looking to block out noise while traveling or listening to bass-heavy music, many people prefer their looser fit.
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Few customization options.
Apple prides itself on delivering a simple, intuitive user experience, but this comes at the expense of customizability. Many high-end headphones have expansive custom EQs and deeply adjustable controls and behavior. However, Apple's wireless headphones still have limited customization, even when paired with an Apple device, though iOS 27 introduced a 3-band EQ.
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Limited functionality on Android.
Since Apple's headphones are designed to complement their other products, some features aren't available when connected to devices from other brands. Some useful functions, like live translation and voice assistant activation, aren't usable when connected to non-Apple devices.
Apple vs Bose
Bose and Apple are strong competitors in the world of premium in-ears, and often trade blows at the top of many 'best of' lists. While Apple's headphones offer seamless integration with the rest of the brand's product ecosystem, Bose provide more variety in its lineup, with better customizability and a top-of-the-line active noise cancellation (ANC) system that's on par with Apple's best performers. For more info, check out our article on the best Bose headphones.
Apple vs Sennheiser
Sennheiser and Apple both produce premium earbuds for everyday use. However, Sennheiser have a greater variety of products. Their range includes earbuds for workouts and wired over-ear headphones for focused listening at home. However, the design and controls of their earbuds aren't as intuitive as Apple's. You can see more info on this brand in our article on the best Sennheiser headphones.
Apple vs Google
Google and Apple manufacture earbuds designed to pair seamlessly with other products in their respective ecosystems. Google's buds are a little less pricey than Apple's and feel slightly less premium in general. However, they're more customizable and have wider compatibility across a variety of operating systems. Ultimately, the right choice depends on which ecosystem you already use.
Apple vs Bowers & Wilkins
Bowers & Wilkins focus on high-end speakers and headphones for audiophiles, while Apple makes consumer electronics designed around its device ecosystem. While both produce high-end headphones, Apple headphones tend to have more seamless controls with Apple devices. However, Apple doesn't offer many customization settings for their audio products.
Apple vs Beats
Apple currently owns Beats. Since Apple purchased the brand, Beats have released select models with features that make pairing and switching between Apple devices easier. But unlike Apple's headphones, Beats cans now include more substantial app support for Android devices. While originally known for delivering excited and bass-heavy sound profiles, Beats also now release headphones with more balanced tunings. To find out more, check out our article on the best Beats headphones.
Apple makes compact, portable earbuds and in-ear headphones suitable for casual, daily use. They're comfortable and easy to use with other Apple products. The over-ear AirPods Max line also sets Apple apart from competitors by using premium materials. However, customization remains limited compared to many competitors, and some features require a compatible Apple device. Their lineup is small, and most of their products look more or less the same. Still, they have open- and closed-back models, which is rare.
Lineup
Apple's headphones lineup is relatively small. They offer one pair of over-ear headphones and one pair of wired buds. The rest of their limited selection consists of wireless earbuds and in-ears sold under the AirPods name, with a few notable subcategories:
- AirPods: Apple's standard true wireless earbuds, including their lowest-cost wireless models, with an open-back, rigid plastic build that fits in your inner ear.
- AirPods Pro: Premium in-ear earbuds with silicone tips that seal your ear canals and active noise cancelling to reduce background noise.
- AirPods Max: Premium over-ear headphones with padded ear cups that surround your ears. They also offer active noise cancelling to reduce background noise.
- EarPods: Inexpensive wired earbuds that fit similarly to AirPods and are made of white hard plastic.
Recent Updates
Sep 10, 2026:
We rewrote parts of the text to better clarify the features available with each pick.
Aug 11, 2026:
We've checked the article for accuracy and availability, reviewed our picks, and confirmed they're still relevant and in stock, so we've made no changes.
Jul 17, 2026:
We've streamlined the text and updated out-of-date sections, including a mention of iOS 27's new 3-band EQ. Our picks are still in stock and relevant.
May 27, 2026:
We've edited the text for brevity in a couple of places. We also confirmed that all picks are still available and relevant.
Apr 22, 2026:
The Apple AirPods Max 2 replace the original Apple AirPods Max as our over-ears headphones pick for their superior ANC performance. But the originals are still a worthwhile purchase if you don't need top-tier noise isolation.
Conclusion
Apple is known for its commitment to simplicity, with products that work smoothly without requiring many setup steps or manual adjustments. They don't have many models in their lineup, but the headphones they've released fit the company's vision and perform well overall. Their headphones have sleek, minimalist designs and tend to sound good. However, they can get quite pricey, especially the more feature-packed models, though their wired earphones are still affordable.
We've heard from Apple users who have experienced issues when they accidentally switched their audio to mono. Check out our article What is Mono Audio? to make sure you're not making this same mistake.
