Apple’s range of wireless AirPods has steadily expanded since the first generation released in 2016 and took the world by storm. These days, there are four different types of AirPods available on the Apple website, each at a distinct price point with its own set of pros and cons.In case you’re struggling to decide which AirPods are best for you, or which AirPods to buy as a gift for someone else, we’ll compare all the latest models below, looking at their design, audio quality, battery life, price, and more.
What Are All the Different AirPods Models?
In this comparison, we’ll look at the four different AirPods models available to buy from Apple right now. These are the:
AirPods (2nd generation): $129 AirPods (3rd generation): $179 AirPods Pro: $249 AirPods Max: $549
As you can see, Apple stopped selling the first-generation AirPods, which were very similar to the second-generation AirPods we’ll be covering.
To help you distinguish between these AirPods, let’s start out by looking at the design.
Design
The AirPods (2nd generation) feature an all-white, plastic enclosure with long-stems protruding from each bud. They match the now-iconic design of the original AirPods and fit in the ear the same as Apple’s wired EarPods do.
With a slight twist on that original design, the AirPods (3rd generation) and AirPods Pro feature shorter stems with slightly larger buds. The AirPods Pro take that a step further by including silicon ear tips that create a seal in your ear canal and fix the buds into place.
The AirPods Pro actually come with three different ear tip sizes, to allow you to find the right fit. This is essential for the Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes present on the AirPods Pro (but missing from the second- and third-generation AirPods).
In stark contrast, the AirPods Max are large, over-ear headphones, made from anodized aluminum ear cups, a stainless steel frame, and a knit mesh headband. Inside the ear cups are comfortable mesh cushions that provide a seal around the outside of your ears, allowing for the same Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes found on the AirPods Pro.
The only downside to the AirPods Max design is that their size and materials make them considerably heavier than in-ear AirPods. Some users have also complained that the ear cups squeeze onto their head too tightly.
While all the in-ear AirPods are only available in white, you can choose between five color combinations for the AirPods Pro.
Sound Quality
The sound quality of Apple’s AirPods seems to increase alongside the price of each model. The cheapest model, the AirPods (2nd generation), offers the poorest sound quality while the most expensive model, the AirPods Max, offers the best sound quality.
That said, the AirPods (2nd generation) still sound good! They’re as good as Apple’s wired EarPods and they’re perfectly adequate for casual listening, podcasts, and phone calls. But if you’re passionate about music or films, you’d benefit from stepping up to the AirPods (3rd generation).
The AirPods (3rd generation) benefit from the same Adaptive EQ, high-excursion driver, and high dynamic range amplifier found in the AirPods Pro. In fact, these two AirPods models sound very similar and are both a noticeable step up from the AirPods (2nd generation).
The AirPods (3rd generation) and AirPods Pro also introduce Spatial Audio and dynamic head tracking, which makes a very noticeable difference to the sound of music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and even FaceTime calls.
Finally, the AirPods Max offer a massive leap in sound quality. Benefiting from larger drivers and amplifiers, they offer improved bass response, clearer high ends, and a vastly improved listening experience. If you want the best sound quality possible from a set of AirPods, you need to get the AirPods Max.
Charging Case and Battery Life
Since we’re talking about wireless earphones, it’s very important to look at the charging cases and battery life you get with each of these AirPods models.
The in-ear AirPods (2nd generation), AirPods (3rd generation), and AirPods Pro all come with white, plastic charging cases that are small enough to fit into a pocket. Due to the longer stems, the AirPods (2nd generation) come with a taller and narrower case that you may find easier to slip into a tight pocket.
However, the AirPods (3rd generation) and AirPods Pro charging cases offer MagSafe wireless charging alongside water and sweat resistance, which isn’t available for the AirPods (2nd generation) case.
Note: If you bought AirPods Pro before October 2021, you won’t have a MagSafe or water-resistant case, though it will still support Qi wireless charging.
Whenever your AirPods get low on battery, just put them back into the case to recharge. Then charge the case up whenever it runs low on battery itself.
Bucking the trend once again, the AirPods Max come with a very unpopular sleeve, rather than a case. This sleeve doesn’t hold any charge or allow you to recharge your AirPods Max—it doesn’t even offer any physical protection. Instead, all it does is reduce the amount of battery your AirPods Max drain when you aren’t using them.
Bearing all that in mind, here’s how long Apple expects the battery to last for each option:
AirPods (2nd generation): 5 hours, with an extra 19 hours in the charging case AirPods (3rd generation): 6 hours, with an extra 24 hours in the charging case AirPods Pro: 4. 5 hours, with an extra 19. 5 hours in the charging case AirPods Max: 20 hours, with no charge help by the case
Extra Features
No matter which model of AirPods you purchase, they’re all easy to use and pair with an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. You can even pair them with non-Apple devices over Bluetooth.
Every current model of AirPods supports Hey Siri, making it easy to get information or complete simple tasks with Apple’s virtual assistant.
The AirPods (2nd generation) all you to double-tap the stems to play or skip music and answer phone calls. Better than that, the AirPods (3rd generation) and AirPods Pro allow you to squeeze the stem in a combination of patterns to unlock even more controls.
The AirPods Max feature a Digital Crown that you can use to control playback and volume, it also features a dedicated Noise Control button for toggling between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode.
Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode are only available on the AirPods Pro and the AirPods Max. Active Noise Cancellation is excellent if you want to block out the sound of traffic, AC units, plane engines, and other monotonous sounds while listening to something. Transparency mode does the exact opposite, making it sound as though you aren’t wearing any AirPods to give you better awareness of your surroundings.
Finally, the AirPods (3rd generation) and AirPods Pro are water and sweat resistant, making them good options for a walk in the rain or a workout. Remember, though, water resistant is not the same as waterproof, so you shouldn’t take them swimming.
So Which AirPods Should You Buy?
You’ve should now have an understanding of what’s on offer from each model of AirPods. But you may still be struggling to decide between them, so here are some quick and dirty rules to go by.
The best AirPods for most people are the AirPods (3rd generation). These benefit from improved sound quality over the AirPods 2, with more features and a subtler design, while coming in $70 cheaper than the AirPods Pro.
The AirPods Pro are only worth it if you want Active Noise Cancellation. And the AirPods (2nd generation) are still a good option if you’re particularly budget-conscious.
Finally, the AirPods Max are only worth buying if you’re a bit of an audiophile and a massive Apple fan. If you aren’t an Apple fan, there are cheaper headphones you can buy with better sound quality. If you aren’t an audiophile, there’s no reason to get them over in-ear AirPods, which are less than half the price.
