An In-Depth Breakdown on Every AirPods Model—Which Ones to Buy in 2024

Apple's most recent release is the one that's going to suit most people. The AirPods Pro have everything you need, and they come in a travel-friendly package.

Let me start with the important stuff. The sound on these is better than any of the other Apple earbuds. While they aren't leaps and bounds ahead of being better quality than regular AirPods— it's really the noise cancelling and locked-in fit that makes these supreme. Even without noise cancelling on—or with transparency mode on—highs are crisp, mids are substantial, and bass us deep. The H2 chip is able to handle lossless audio, so even critical listeners are going to walk away happy here.

Truly, though, it's the less important things that we really rave about with these. The silicone tips keep the buds locked in your ears, and they come in multiple sizes to fit your anatomy. The noise cancelling is great for flights, and easy to switch off when you want to have your head on a swivel. The new release with USB-C or wireless MagSafe charging gives you options on the bedside table.

All around, this is as good as AirPods get.

Of course, if you want real-deal audio, you've got to upgrade to the AirPods Max. You get everything you expect from a pair of $500 headphones. The sound is incredible. The look is good. The materials are high quality, and the headphones are comfortable to wear all day.

The people I'd really recommend to buy the AirPods Max are frequent travelers. Sure, you can get these to wear around town or to the gym, but they really shine in airport lounges and plane seats. First of all, they're sturdy. The aluminum casing can handle the beating they'll inevitably get while traveling. Second, they're comfortable to wear all day, even when you're trying to get sleep on a plane. Apple has done the impossible and made a headphone that's not horribly uncomfortable to sleep with. The headphones are cushioned everywhere they need to be, and the flat outside surfaces don't put undue pressure on your head if you lean up against the plane wall. Lastly, the noise cancelling. Even without it turned on, you can block out plenty of noise, such as the mid-grade hum of plane engines. They're perfect for in-flight entertainment.

Beyond that, everything else is best-in-class. Battery life is up near 20 hours, they recharge fairly quickly, and they have a nice little carry case. Worth the investment, in my opinion.

Okay, let's get serious. You don't need noise cancelling. Sure, it's nice when you're on a flight trying to watch a show or trying to lock in on some work while a coworker next to you is talking. But truthfully, most people will survive without noise cancelling. If you really don't care too much about noise cancelling, I'd advise skipping the current AirPods Gen 3 and going for the original model AirPods.

The sounds is good enough to be heard over anything besides a bus, train, or plane passing by you. They're IPX4 rated, so they're durable enough for your workouts. They a 24 hour battery life with the charging case. And for what it's worth, I prefer the in-ear control on these more than the AirPods Pro. Here, instead of clicking, you pause, play, and skip by tapping the earbud. In my experience, it's less tactile, but more reliable.

Of course, there are limitations. A wireless charging case costs extra, and isn't worth it in my opinion. Plus, as Android users will gladly make known, there are better cheap earbuds on the market. But for me, as an Apple user, these are perfect.

No, they're not AirPods, but humor me. I've had two pairs of AirPods. Lost one, and the other kinda just reached the end of its life cycle. But you know what I've never lost, never broken? The regular old EarPods.

I've had a pair since the mid 2010s, and they're the headphones I use day to day. The on-device click control is easy to use and tactile. And instead of fiddling with my AirPods case when I walk into a coffee shop, I can just stop my music and have one bud dangling. They're more practical than AirPods, because the 3.5mm jack can be plugged into any audio device, and I don't have to worry about disconnecting and reconnecting via Bluetooth. Then, to use it with my iPhone, I just plug into the little dongle.

The limitations with these are what you'd expect. Even compared to the lowest AirPods model, the sound isn't incredible. I'm not critically listening on these. I'm missing lyrics when things get loud. But honestly, I'm okay with that. All I need headphones to do is get loud for blasting Wednesday, my favorite band of the moment, on my shitty train ride to work. These do that, they last forever, and they only cost $20.