CR reviews every AirPods model—AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Max—so you can make the right choice
Apple’s headphones offer slick design and some unique features, though occasionally at a head-scratching price.
By Allen St. John
Apple AirPods earbuds and headphones are wildly popular, and have improved a lot over the years, but they’re not all created equal.
We’ve evaluated all of the headphones in Apple’s current lineup in our Yonkers, N.Y., sound labs and our testers have found significant differences among the models in terms of fit, sound quality, noise-canceling performance, and value for the money.
To help you choose the right AirPods, we explain the pros and cons of each option, starting with the best all-around pick for most people. And as always, we purchase all of the test samples through regular retail channels at full price; no freebies for us.
CR members can see the full test results for each model in our ratings, which feature nearly 200 headphones and earbuds.
AirPods Pro 2: Best for Most People
Who they’re best for: The AirPods Pro 2 are for anyone who wants the best AirPods, with solid sound and many features, including active noise cancellation and hearing support.
How they perform: The AirPods Pro 2 are the latest and best incarnation of the company’s top noise-canceling true wireless earbuds. Our testers report that they sound significantly better than the less-expensive AirPods 4.
The AirPods Pro 2 have soft silicone tips that physically seal the ear canal, unlike the AirPods 4, which have hard plastic ear tips that rest just outside of it. Coupled with passive isolation from the ear tips, the Pros do a great job of quieting the world around you. The transparency mode is effective at piping in just enough outside sound.
The biggest news is a fresh suite of hearing protection and enhancement features available via a free software update on your iPhone. You can take a quick and easy clinical-grade hearing test through your AirPods Pro 2, even if your earbuds are a couple of years old. The test can tell you if you need hearing assistance. If you do, the app will boost some frequencies and lower others to turn your AirPods into an over-the-counter hearing aid that can work when listening to content like music, podcasts, or television, as well as conversation. There are even protection features that can help guard your hearing in noisy environments like a concert or a shop filled with power tools.
While the over-the-counter hearing aid functionality is not a substitute for an expensive custom-fitted hearing aid, it does work well for some people, according to our informal assessment, and, of course, it’s free, and you can always turn it off if you don’t like it.
Best alternative: If sound quality is your top priority, the Sony WF1000XM5 sound significantly better than the AirPods. They also have effective noise cancellation, but lack the hearing enhancement features.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Case (USB-C)
AirPods 4: Best for Old-School Apple Fans
Who they’re best for: AirPods 4 are for anyone who likes the look and fit of the original AirPods and wants the best-ever version of that classic model.
How they perform: With their plastic ear tips, the AirPods 4 are a throwback to the early days of AirPods. If you don’t like the earplug-like seal of most earbuds with silicone or foam ear tips, the AirPods 4 provide a solid alternative. Apple claims that the ear tips have a slightly different shape and better sound than those on the AirPods 3, but our testers didn’t find a huge difference in the fit or sound quality.
The biggest difference? There’s now a version of the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation (ANC). Our testers give it a middling grade for noise cancellation, because it doesn’t offer the passive noise cancellation of the AirPods Pro and other earbuds with silicone or foam eartips. However, for fans of the model’s iconic design, this openness to hearing what’s going on around you when you need to is a feature, not a flaw.
And the ANC still does a decent job of reducing background noise, so you can, for example, wear the buds on a commuter train with the ANC on and turn it off on your walk to work.
Do the AirPods 4 sound better than the AirPods Pro 2? No. The AirPods 4 are good, but the Pros 2 offer better sound quality and better noise cancellation, as well as the suite of hearing-related features. So unless you’re infatuated with the fit of the 4s, the more expensive AirPods Pro 2 are probably better for most users.
Best alternative: The Soundcore Space a40s, which have conventional silicone ear tips, are much, much cheaper than even the non-noise canceling version of the AirPods 4, and our testers give them an even higher overall grade.
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancelling
AirPods Max: Stylish but Expensive
Who they’re best for: If you think that style is more important than sound quality, or you’re simply an Apple superfan who prizes easy compatibility with your other devices, the latest AirPods Max might work for you.
How they perform: The AirPods Max are cool, feature convenient USB-C charging, and do sound really good, though not quite as good as the top performers in our tests. However, they’re also expensive at $549.
What you do get for your money is sound quality that’s really good—not truly outstanding—and excellent active noise cancellation that you can ramp up or down with a handy dial. The biggest selling point for the Maxes is the distinct look and the premium feel you’ve come to expect from an Apple product.
Are the AirPods Max worth it? Not unless you’re a huge fan of the company’s products. While we recognize that many Apple devices carry an Apple Tax, in the case of the Max, it seems excessive.
Best alternative: The Bowers and Wilkins PX7 S2e sound even better than the Maxes, have great noise cancellation, and are significantly less expensive.
Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)
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