The best AirPods for 2024

Read our 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, the AirPods Pro 2 are the best AirPods option because they offer the full suite of Apple’s current audio technology. Powered by the H2 chip, the earbuds 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 “pro-level” active noise cancellation (ANC), which provides up to twice as much distraction blocking as the first-gen AirPods Pro or the AirPods 4 with ANC.

In addition to Voice Isolation, the most natural-sounding Transparency mode you’ll find on a set of earbuds 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 onboard volume controls that other AirPods options (earbuds) don’t offer. The case charges wirelessly via MagSafe or Qi-certified accessories and Automatic Switching quickly jumps to your phone from your MacBook or other iCloud-synced Apple devices when you need it to do so.

AirPods Pro 2 also offers Apple’s hearing test, hearing aid and hearing protection features, which 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 earbuds. Results are available immediately, and if you exhibit mild to moderate hearing loss, the AirPods Pro 2 can function as a hearing aid (with customizable settings). What’s more, these earbuds can offer robust hearing protection against sustained noise under 110 dB. Hearing protection is enabled across all noise modes, which include Transparency, Adaptive and ANC.

Read our 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 “regular” AirPods a big overhaul in 2024, most notably adding ANC to its open-wear design for the first time. Of course, the addition of noise cancellation raises 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 packs Apple’s H2 audio chip though, so you can expect several of the company’s most recent features onboard.

H2-powered tools on the AirPods 4 include Voice Isolation, Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, Personalized Volume and Adaptive EQ. They lack Conversation Awareness, Adaptive Audio and Transparency mode from the core specs on the AirPods 4 with ANC and AirPods Pro 2. Unlike those other two models, the AirPods 4 charging case doesn’t offer MagSafe or Qi-compatible wireless charging, nor does the accessory have a built-in speaker for Find My.

You’ll get all the benefits of a refined shape on the AirPods 4, which offers a more secure and comfortable fit. Like the third-gen AirPods, this model still doesn’t have touch controls for volume, but instead offers force touch options for playback controls, noise modes and taking calls. A key downside to the open design is that you won’t get access to Apple’s hearing health tools. Since the AirPods 4 don’t seal off your ear or have the requisite ANC, the company’s hearing test wouldn’t be accurate, hearing aid wouldn’t be helpful and hearing protection wouldn’t adequate defense in loud environments.

Read our full AirPods Max review

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

If you prefer over-ear headphones to earbuds, there’s only one option for you in Apple’s lineup. 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 tech inside this model has been a generation behind since the AirPods Pro 2 arrived in 2022. The AirPods Max are still powered by the H1 chip, which means Apple’s more advanced audio features aren’t available here.

Since 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. Noise cancellation works well with most sources of constant noise, but like a lot of headphones, it struggles with human voices. Automatic Switching is here as well, so you can expect the Max to swap between iCloud-connected devices quickly.

And then there’s the design. The AirPods Max feel lightweight and comfortable, even though the ear pads feel a bit thin after hours of constant use. Physical controls for playback, volume and noise modes center around a rotating crown akin to what’s on the Apple Watch and a single button – both situated on the right side. That excellent Transparency mode keeps you from getting shouty on calls, and the voice pickup is good enough for you to use them during important virtual meetings without fear of audio quality issues.