Which AirPods to choose in 2023? The first AirPods came out in 2016, and since then there have been several new models, including the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. Given this choice, you may be wondering which AirPods are better to buy? In this article, we will find out by comparing the difference between AirPods models.
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AirPods or Sony, Bose and other third parties
First, why choose AirPods when the market is full of headphones from other brands? The main reason is the better integration of AirPods with iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple TV.
Many features are not supported by third parties, such as one-touch quick device pairing, one-touch switching between devices with the same Apple ID, surround sound for movies, TV shows, and music, integration with Hello Siri, and support for Headphone Finder. If you have Apple devices, then AirPods are your choice.
All AirPods are wireless and are designed to connect to your devices via Bluetooth.
Beats headphones or AirPods
Apple owns the Beats by Dre brand, and they have several wireless earbuds that compete with AirPods, including the Beats Fit Pro, Beats Studio Buds, and Powerbeats Pro. These headphones support many of the same features as AirPods, including quick pairing and auto-switching. You may like the design and fit of the Beats headphones more than the AirPods.
Beats headphones are more fitness-focused than AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max, while Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats are for those who want a more secure fit in their ear.
AirPods vs. On-Ear AirPods
There are two main types of AirPods, on-ear headphones – AirPods Max and in-ear headphones – AirPods, AirPods Pro, which are smaller and designed to fit in your ear. If you’re looking for over-ear headphones with a padded headband, AirPods Max are the only option available from Apple.
AirPods and AirPods Pro have roughly the same compact earbud design, but the difference is that AirPods Pro are in-ear headphones with silicone tips for better sound sealing, while AirPods are regular in-ear headphones without ear pads.
Noise canceling AirPods vs. AirPods Pro and AirPods Max
Aside from design, the main difference between AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max is the presence of noise cancellation. AirPods Pro and AirPods Max provide active noise cancellation, while low-cost AirPods don’t have noise cancellation capability.
AirPods 2 or 3
The first headphones that Apple released were AirPods, and there have been three iterations in total so far. AirPods 3 are the latest version and cost $179, while AirPods 2 are the previous generation and are available for $129.
AirPods 2 have longer legs compared to AirPods 3, which have shorter legs like AirPods Pro. Compared with AirPods 2, AirPods 3 are equipped with Force sensor for more music control gestures, support for spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, better water resistance, longer battery life, improved sound quality, better skin detection sensor for better accuracy when picking them up from the ears and a MagSafe charging case (the Lightning-only model is $10 cheaper).
If your budget allows, go for the AirPods 3, they are significantly upgraded from the AirPods 2. The difference is $50, but they will be the perfect headphones for you, your family, or as a gift. The last AirPods update was in 2021 when Apple introduced the third generation of AirPods.
AirPods 3 Key Features:
- In-ear design with ventilation system
- Force sensor control
- Chip H1
- Latitude-Enabled MagSafe Charging Case
- Spatial Audio
- Skin detection sensors
- 5 hours battery life with spatial audio
- 24 hours of listening time with charging case
- Waterproof IPX4
Bottom line: AirPods 3 are iconic Apple headphones that are versatile and comfortable for everyday use when listening to music, making calls, and more. They are simple, affordable, easy to use and pair perfectly with Apple devices.
AirPods 2 are a more affordable version of AirPods 3 but without MagSafe charging. Please note that none of the versions of the classic AirPods have noise cancellation, so if this feature is important to you, then AirPods Pro are worth checking out.
AirPods Pro
AirPods Pro are Apple’s latest headphones, updated in September 2022. The second-generation AirPods Pro are Apple’s in-ear noise-canceling headphones that offer the ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) capabilities of AirPods Max, but in the size of classic AirPods. Notably, the AirPods Pro have adaptive transparency that lets you hear what’s going on around you while drowning out very loud sounds like sirens, concert noise, and more.
Because AirPods Pro are Apple’s latest devices, they feature an updated H2 chip with more advanced noise cancellation, IPX4 sweat and water resistance, and longer battery life. If you’re looking for small, portable noise-cancelling headphones for everyday use, AirPods Pro are the way to go. AirPods Pro cost $250, for that price you get earphones with a MagSafe charging case.
Key features:
- Design – in-ear earbuds with silicone ear cushions and ventilation system
- Force sensors and touch controls
- Chip H2
- MagSafe Charging Case with Locator
- Spatial Audio
- Skin detection sensors
- 5.5 hours of listening time in Spatial Audio mode
- 30 hours of listening time with charging case
- Waterproof IPX4
- Active noise cancellation
- Adaptive transparency
- Loop on strap case
Bottom line: If you’re looking for active noise-cancelling in-ear headphones, the AirPods Pro 2 are definitely worth picking up. Apple improved ANC this year over the original AirPods Pro, plus better battery life, and the earbuds now have a charging case that you can charge via Lightning, MagSafe, QI wireless charging or even an Apple Watch charger, the case is very versatile in this regard. AirPods Pro are Apple’s best in-ear headphones right now.
AirPods Max
AirPods Max are Apple’s first and only on-ear headphones. Offering better sound quality than AirPods or AirPods Pro, AirPods Max are on par with Sony and Bose on-ear headphones.
AirPods Max are equipped with active noise cancellation and a digital head for volume control, and also have the longest battery life of any AirPods headphone – 20 hours. However, the earbuds do not have a charging case and therefore no way to recharge them for extra battery life. For an on-ear form factor, AirPods Max are comfortable, but some users find them heavy and constricting to the head, and they are not as versatile as AirPods or AirPods Pro and may not be suitable for all people.
Apple hasn’t updated AirPods Max since 2020, so they should be getting an update soon.
Key features:
- On-ear design with magnetic ear pads
- Aluminum build, padded headband
- Noise control button, digital crown for volume control
- Active noise cancellation
- Transparency Mode
- Chip H1
- Position sensor
- Working time up to 20 hours
- Spatial audio support
- Smart Case saves battery life
- Charging via Lightning
Bottom line: For those looking for over-ear headphones, AirPods Max will be the only option, though it’s worth noting that AirPods Max haven’t been updated since 2020 and so we should see them update soon. AirPods Max are similar to AirPods Pro with active noise cancellation, but in an over-ear form factor. Much larger than Apple’s in-ear headphones, they feature a high-quality aluminum build with comfortable fabric ear cushions.
Frequently asked Questions
What are the cheapest AirPods?
The previous generation AirPods 2 are Apple’s cheapest earphone option, available for $129, but can sometimes be purchased from third-party sellers for up to $100. They have many of the same features as the AirPods 3 but lack the Force sensor for additional gestures, spatial audio, and the MagSafe charging case. They have the same battery life.
If you don’t need extra features like Spatial Audio, AirPods 2 can save you some money, but AirPods 3 offer better sound quality, better voice quality during calls, and they also have the ability to play Spatial Audio for TV shows, music, and films.
Which AirPods have the best noise cancellation?
AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Max both have Active Noise Canceling, but there is a difference in the quality of noise cancellation between these headphones because AirPods Max are over-ear headphones while AirPods Pro are in-ear headphones.
The AirPods Pro 2 are newer and have better active noise canceling technology. Both models are capable of blocking out typical noises such as airplane sounds, fans, air conditioners, and road noise, but AirPods Pro 2 require a good fit in the ears for better noise cancellation, while AirPods Max don’t need to be adjusted.
The best active noise cancellation is a matter of taste, and it’s best to choose headphones based on personal fit preference. If you want in-ear headphones, get the AirPods Pro, but if you prefer big, over-ear headphones, AirPods Max are your best bet.
Which AirPods are the most comfortable?
AirPods Pro and AirPods are considered very comfortable for most people with their ergonomic design and air vents, but AirPods Pro may have an edge due to silicone ear tips.
Everyone’s ears are different, so it’s best to try on AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max in the store to see which one is the most comfortable for you.
Which AirPods are the most functional?
AirPods Pro 2 are the latest AirPods from Apple and have the most advanced feature set. They feature the latest generation of active noise cancellation technology, adaptive transparency to block out loud noises such as sirens and construction work, a loop on the case for a strap, a case with built-in speakers to find them through Latitude and much more.
If you want the latest and greatest AirPods, AirPods Pro are the ones to go. Classic AirPods were last updated in October 2021, and AirPods Max have not been updated since they were released in December 2020. We expect AirPods Max updates in 2023 or 2024
