1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best overall
3. Best premium
4. Best mid-range
5. Best budget
6. Also consider
7. How to choose
8. How we test
9. F.A.Q
10. Recent updates
11. Best deals
Apple's AirPods have come a long way. When they launched in 2016, they were initially derided, with their long stems prompting comparisons to electric toothbrush heads. In its review, CNN asked of the first-gen AirPods: "Would people actually wear these?" Turns out, the answer was yes – in 2021 alone, Apple sold over 120 million units. AirPods are estimated to account for 60 per cent of the global wireless headphone market today.
We've been there since the start, and have watched the AirPods line grow from a stumbling fawn into a gambolling deer. They now features some of the best wireless headphones you can buy, being even more useful and appealing if you're an Apple user, of course. But how do you know which pair is best for you?
We've rounded up the best current models below, with links to our full reviews if you want to go in-depth. We constantly update our reviews to compare them with new rivals, and take into account bug fixes and software updates, adjusting the score accordingly. All of the below have fared very well.
Our in-house review team has more than 100 years of experience between them. Review verdicts are agreed upon by the whole team in order to avoid personal bias and we compare each model to its closest rivals to judge how they stack up. To find out more about our reviewing process, read the how we test AirPods section further down this page.
I've been testing and reviewing all manner of AV gadgetry since 2004, when an iPod with a click wheel was considered the height of sophistication. The best music source in the world isn't much use if you're using substandard headphones. Apple's AirPods haven't always sounded the best, but that is changing with new models offering the perfect mix of seamless use and engaging, detailed and dynamic sound quality. For Apple users who are passionate about sound (that's me), the right pair of AirPods will be a very worthwhile investment.
The quick list
With better sound, more advanced noise-cancellation and a more versatile fit, the second-gen Pros are the best in-ear AirPods Apple has ever made, and the best bet for most AirPods buyers.
Apple's first over-ear headphones are lovingly made and brilliantly executed, with superb performance to boot. They're pricey, but they're the best AirPods for Apple users who prioritise sound quality.
If you want to spend a little less, the AirPods 3 are for you. There's no noise-cancelling, and the fit won't suit everyone, but spatial audio and decent sound quality make them worth a look.
This older pair are considerably cheaper than the AirPods 3, but still offer plenty of what makes the AirPods range so compelling.
The best AirPods we recommend in 2024
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
Best overall
The AirPods Pro 2 are the first in-ear AirPods that earned five stars from us. That's thanks to their improved noise-cancellation, longer battery life, array of new features and better sound quality. And all without a higher price than their predecessors.
They will fit more people too, thanks to the new XS size of eartip that joins S, M and L. Whichever size you choose, they'll feel much less intrusive than their rivals, thanks to their vents allowing for greater airflow. They're also the first AirPods with on-bud volume controls, which is more convenient than using your mobile or Siri.
ANC is one of the main selling points of the Pro variant of AirPods – it's one of the biggest points of difference over the standard model. And the Pro 2's is more advanced than ever, cancelling twice as much background sound as before and boasting an Adaptive Transparency feature which nullifies the loudest noises while allowing in ambient sound. But perhaps the biggest improvement is the jump in sound quality – bass has more impact, sound has greater texture and the dynamics are even subtler than the Pro v1.
It's a richer, more powerful and more open sound, while retaining that lovely way with voices Apple has, with added subtlety and warmth. "There’s a superb sense of drive. The AirPods Pro 2 are rhythmically agile and nimble, songs flow with an easy fluidity, and they communicate both high-energy tracks and ones that are more contemplative with ease," we said in our review. "We have so much more fun listening to these AirPods Pro 2 than the previous generation."
What else do you need to know? September 2023 saw Apple replace the Lightning-charged case with a USB-C one, in order to comply with new EU regulations. But the earbuds themselves remain unchanged. This did bring one welcome bit of news to UK customers – the USB-C model is £20 cheaper than the Lightning model at launch, though the price remains the same in the US and Australia.
Substantially better than the standard AirPods in areas that really matter, yet much cheaper than the over-ear AirPods Max, the AirPods Pro 2 are the best AirPods overall.
Read the full Apple AirPods Pro 2 review
Best premium
Apple might have been late to the over-ear headphone party, but it arrived with a bang. The AirPods Max are impressively engineered, making flagship pairs from industry stalwarts like Sony and Bose look cheap by comparison.
And they've got the sound quality to back up the design. They're so sonically gifted they cross over from wireless headphones to wireless hi-fi. Delivery is spacious and super crisp, with an energy and clarity rarely heard from wireless headphones. The precision is such that – combined with the wide open soundstage – it sounds as if you're in the room with the musicians.
They're also superb for watching movies – Spatial Audio combines with dynamic head-tracking to anchor sounds to the screen, so when you turn your head it sounds as if the audio is still coming from the TV.
In our original review, we said: "All of the notes are full and solid, lending a physicality to the recording that is missed by lesser headphones, plus a texture that makes everything that bit more moving... The sound is that bit more engaging on account of that precision, and more atmospheric thanks to the added openness and the space given to each instrument. It’s a more transportative experience: it feels as if you’re sitting in the room as the musicians play around you."
Add excellent noise cancelling to the mix, and you've got a first-rate pair of headphones. Just remember to use them with an Apple device to make the most of their abilities.
Read the full Apple AirPods Max review
While AirPods do work with Android devices, you’ll miss out on lots of iOS-only features like Audio Sharing, full Spatial Audio (with dynamic headtracking) and customisable controls. The user experience is more seamless with an Apple device too. Unless you're dead set on AirPods, Android users will be better off with another pair of the best wireless headphones.
Best mid-range
This is the latest version of the headphones that started it all. As the standard model, they're cheaper than the AirPods Pro, but boast many of the same features, including Spatial Audio, which positions sounds around you, creating a wider, more immersive soundstage. Adaptive EQ is also new to this model – this adapts the sound in real-time based on how the earbuds fit in your ear.
There's new tech for voice calls, too. That's because they support a codec called AAC-ELD, which is designed to enhance speech, and the beamforming microphones on each earbud are covered with an acoustic mesh to reduce wind noise.
Battery life has been upped to 30 hours (from 24 on the second-gen AirPods), and the case also has the same water resistance rating as the earbuds themselves.
They're closer in design to the AirPods Pro, with shorter stems replacing the ludicrously long ones of their predecessors. And the sound? It's the same trademark neutral sonic profile, though now it has added fullness and oomph in the bottom end. The midrange is clear and lush, and there's a sharper kick and precision to basslines – overall it's an evolved step over the 2019 AirPods 2.
We said in our review: "The leap from second to third generation is defined by greater clarity and cleanliness, too – everything in the presentation is that bit more present and organised – and Apple has been sure to make headway in terms of insight too. It’s evolution over revolution, but that is OK. We’re fans of their neutrality and clarity."
They're not the best-sounding earbuds out there and are relatively expensive for a pair without active noise-cancelling. They won’t fit everyone either and, of course, they still hugely favour Apple device owners. But if you want a step up on the older AirPods below without spending too much, these strike a nice bang-for-buck balance.
Read the full Apple AirPods 3 review
Best budget
As a premium company, Apple takes a smart approach to cheaper devices. Instead of investing in new low-end devices, it drops the price of its older ones – or, as with the iPhone SE, rebadges an older one as new. The first-generation AirPods aren't around anymore, but you can pick up the second-gen model (from 2019) for a pretty reasonable price.
Your money gets you Apple's typically seamless wireless tech, decent – if unremarkable – sound quality and healthy battery life. There are downsides, of course. They don't sound as good as the latest model, and the battery doesn't last as long. The stems are longer on this model too, and they don't fit as well as the third-generation model.
In terms of sound, it has that neutral, fairly balanced presentation that's present across all AirPods. It sounds more open and organised, offering a greater degree of subtlety and better dynamics than the first-gen pair, which sounded rather dull and lifeless. But it's not perfect, as we said in our original review: "While cleaner and more organisationally adept than the preceding pair, they still veer towards harshness at high volumes and struggle to make sense of the most built-up sections of some tracks."
But if you're looking for the AirPods experience on the cheap, these are your best option. They're certainly better than some of the knock-offs.
Read the full Apple AirPods (2019) review
Also consider
The best AirPods alternatives we've tested:
Sony WF-1000XM5: probably the best AirPods alternatives you can buy, the Award-winning XM5 outgun the AirPods Pro 2 for ANC and sound quality, and they work just as well with Android devices.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: noise-cancelling earbuds don't get better than this pair from Bose. The ANC is superb, and sound quality has improved, though they're let down by a sub-par battery life.
Sony WF-C700N: cheaper than the cheapest AirPods, these Award-winning earbuds from Sony pack decent noise-cancellation, very good sound quality and a comfy fit for the money.
How to choose the best AirPods for you
First things first – are AirPods definitely the best headphones for you? If you don't have an iOS device like the iPhone 15, then probably not. Yes, Apple's AirPods do work with other devices, but to get the best out of them, you really need to have at least one foot in Apple's ecosystem.
Next, you'll want to decide between an over-ear or in-ear design. Apple's over-ears are the AirPods Max, a pricey pair of noise-cancelling wireless headphones. Your in-ear options are either the standard AirPods (choose between the third- and second-generation models), and the AirPods Pro (first- and second-generation models – the first-gen AirPods Pro are no longer sold by Apple, but you might find them elsewhere).
The AirPods Pro offer active noise-cancellation, but the standard AirPods do not.
Then there's the question of budget. The AirPods Max sit at the top of the range, and are even more expensive than most of the best noise-cancelling headphones offered by Sony, Bose and Bowers & Wilkins. The AirPods Pro 2 are the next priciest pair, followed by the third-gen AirPods, and then second-gen AirPods. You can always find cheaper AirPods alternatives, but you have to weigh up whether they will meet your needs.
Whichever pair you choose, be sure to check out our AirPods tips and advice on how to clean your AirPods.
How we test AirPods
You've probably read all about our state-of-the-art testing rooms, but they're not the only place we review AirPods. Instead, we take them out and about where most people will use theirs: on the train, to the pub, in busy shops, on the bus. And if the opportunity presents itself, we'll take them on a plane to see how their noise-cancellation handles screaming children.
We don't test AirPods in isolation – we pit them against the best wireless earbuds (or over-ear headphones, in the case of the AirPods Max) in the same price bracket to see how they compare. Because there's nothing worse than discovering you haven't bought wisely.
We test hundreds of pairs of headphones every year for our reviews as well as What Hi-Fi? Awards judging, and with over 100 years of experience between us, we know what we're talking about. Our stock room stays chock full of class-leading products against which we compare new ones.
When it comes to analysing sound quality, the testing rooms come into their own – it's nice and quiet down there, with no distractions. Like all headphones we test, we give each pair of AirPods plenty of time to run in, and play all manner of different music genres through them – ours is a broad church, and there's no better way to judge performance. We try each and every feature – including the oft-overlooked call quality – and subject the ANC to all kinds of different background sounds in different environments (cue the screaming kids).
We agree our review verdicts as a team rather than giving one person the power to make or break a product. Not only does this eliminate the potential for personal bias, it also makes sure we're being as thorough as possible. We don't take any suggestions from PR or sales people, not now, not ever. We've been delivering honest, unbiased reviews for nearly 50 years, and don't intend to stop now.
You can read more on our dedicated how we test page.
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F.A.Q
Which are the best AirPods?
It depends what you're looking for and how much you have to spend. The best in terms of performance are the AirPods Max, but such a pricey over-ear pair won't be for everyone. We find the AirPods Pro 2 the best overall when you consider features, performance and price.
Are AirPods worth it?
If you don't use an iOS device, then maybe not, as quite a few AirPods features are iOS-only. Android users might be better served by a decent pair of Sonys or Boses. But Apple users will find that AirPods work seamlessly with their other devices.
Why are AirPods 3 so cheap?
Not everyone would consider them cheap – there are much cheaper wireless earbuds around. But they forego more advanced features like active noise-cancellation and different sizes of ear tips that you find on the AirPods Pro 2 to be more affordable.
Recent updates
- 9th May 2024: Added Top Tip and a new intro.
- 23rd February 2024: Changed to new Best Buy format. Added new 'Also Consider' section, new F.A.Q section.
- 11th December 2023: Added new intro text.
- 5th October 2023: Added references to the iPhone 15 and the new USB-C case for the AirPods Pro 2. Dropped first-gen AirPods Pro from the list.
- 1st June 2023: Added new images for entries.
