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Best headphone deals of nan week
Deals are selected by nan CNET Group commerce team, and whitethorn beryllium unrelated to this article.
Apple's AirPods are ubiquitous, and for bully reason. Even nan astir basal of Apple's headphones are made to travel your Apple devices. The existent AirPods lineup includes premium options, for illustration nan over-ear AirPods Max and in-ear AirPods Pro 2, and fund in-ear options, for illustration nan AirPods 4. We've tested each AirPods exemplary and person beardown opinions connected which pairs are nan champion for circumstantial usage cases. We show you which brace will champion suit your needs to thief you make nan correct decision.
What are nan champion AirPods correct now?
After thoroughly testing each of Apple's AirPods, we've concluded that nan champion AirPods are nan AirPods Pro 2, acknowledgment to their updated USB-C charging port, precocious package features, effective sound cancellation, and superior transparency mode. Additionally, these AirPods are often connected waste for arsenic debased arsenic $170, a bargain considering their precocious capabilities.
Our 2nd prime is nan premium, over-ear AirPods Max, which besides precocious received a USB-C upgrade, allowing for cosmopolitan charging and wired lossless listening for iOS users. The AirPods Max don't person arsenic galore package features arsenic their in-ear counterpart, but they're a suitable prime for Apple users desiring over-ear headphones that seamlessly fresh into nan Apple ecosystem.
Also: The champion earbuds: Expert tested and reviewed
The champion AirPods of 2025
Why we for illustration them: The AirPods Pro 2 are Apple's astir precocious headphones, offering hearing wellness features, effective progressive and adaptive sound cancellation, and Apple's superb transparency mode. They are besides Apple's only in-canal earbuds pinch silicone tips, which supply a tight seal betwixt your ears and nan extracurricular world, allowing you to attraction amended connected your audio.
Also: I've utilized my AirPods Pro 2 since they first launched. Here's my buying proposal for 2025
Who they're for: These AirPods are perfect for iOS users looking for a small, easy pocketable brace of AirPods pinch advanced, "pro"-level features. The AirPods Pro 2 are perfect for group who don't for illustration over-ear headphones and, instead, desire earbuds for mundane use.
The AirPods Pro 2 athletics an IP54 rating, making them dust, sweat, and h2o resistant. This standing provides capable durability to caput to nan gym pinch you aft work. Working professionals, predominant flyers, and group connected nan move tin admit nan Pro 2's compatibility pinch their iPhone, which allows them to bid Siri, return and make telephone calls, and adhd events to their calendars hands-free.
Who should look elsewhere: Although nan AirPods Pro 2 are our favourite AirPods for their versatility and performance, you should see nan AirPods 4 if nan Pro 2 are excessively precocious for your needs, aliases if you don't for illustration nan in-canal sensation. If you want over-ear headphones that are an auditory companion to your Apple devices, see nan AirPods Max.
Like each AirPods, you should see different headphones and earbuds if you person an Android smartphone aliases tablet, aliases a Windows aliases ChromeOS laptop. You'll overpay for these earbuds and miss retired connected their champion features, should you brace them pinch a non-Apple device.
AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) pinch USB-C features: Type: In-ear | Chip: H2 | Battery life: 6 hours | Water-resistant: IP54 (dust, sweat, and h2o resistant)
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Why we like them: The AirPods Max are Apple's premium over-ear headphones, providing an immersive listening acquisition tailored for Apple devices. They athletics an easy recognizable, stylish, and sleek creation that doubles arsenic a manner statement. We for illustration nan AirPods Max's effective noise-canceling capabilities, natural-sounding transparency mode, and heavy receptor pads.
With nan USB-C AirPods Max, users tin entree 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio erstwhile plugged into a tin device. Additionally, nan refreshed USB-C AirPods Max are disposable successful much vibrant colors.
Also: How to fig retired if you should (or shouldn't) bargain nan caller USB-C AirPods Max
Who they're for: These headphones are perfect for group pinch astatine slightest 1 (likely an iPhone) Apple device, arsenic features for illustration spatial audio, automatic instrumentality switching, and Find My are reserved for Apple users. I don't urge Android users walk adjacent $600 to not entree nan Max's astir weighted features.
For iOS users deciding betwixt nan AirPods Max and Apple's earbuds, nan AirPods Max are nan champion prime for commuting, table working, studying, and traveling. Their over-ear shape facet provides a much immersive audio and noise-canceling experience.
Who should look elsewhere: I do not urge Android users salary nan AirPods Max's hefty value tag, arsenic they activity champion pinch Apple devices. I urge nan AirPods Max nan astir to group pinch astatine slightest 1 different Apple instrumentality too their iPhone, for illustration a MacBook aliases iPad.
The AirPods Max deficiency immoderate now-commonplace package features for illustration speech awareness, adaptive sound cancellation, and Bluetooth multipoint and person a shorter artillery life than their nonstop competitors.
Suppose your tech arsenal includes a operation of iOS, Android, Windows, aliases ChromeOS devices. In that case, I propose over-ear headphones compatible pinch aggregate operating systems, for illustration nan Bose QuietComfort Ultra aliases Sony WH-1000XM5.
AirPods Max features: Type: Over-ear | Chip: H1 | Battery life: 20 hours | Water-resistant: N/A
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Why we for illustration them: The AirPods 4 are Apple's latest midrange AirPods, this clip pinch a immense caller feature: sound cancellation. We for illustration these earbuds because they connection nan champion of AirPods for a lesser price. The AirPods 4 person transparency mode, sound cancellation, and spatial audio, making them nan cleanable AirPods for casual, mundane use.
The fourth-generation AirPods are overmuch much comfortable than erstwhile AirPods pinch integrative eartips, and they debuted pinch Conversation Awareness, Adaptive Audio, and an upgraded H2 audio chip.
Review: AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 pinch ANC
Who they're for: The AirPods 4 pinch sound cancellation are champion suited for iOS users wanting Apple's champion earbud features without nan in-canal fresh that nan AirPods Pro 2 provide. The AirPods 4 athletics an in-ear fit, which allows much ambient sound into your receptor and provides a relaxed fit. Still, nan AirPods 4 are fantabulous for taking and making casual telephone calls connected nan go, and they person capable h2o guidance (IP54) to travel you to your after-work workout.
Who should look elsewhere: You should not acquisition nan AirPods 4 if nan accepted integrative AirPods thin to autumn retired of your ears. Unlike nan AirPods Pro 2, nan AirPods 4 do not person silicone tips to assistance successful keeping nan earbuds successful place. Otherwise, nan AirPods 4 pinch sound cancellation connection galore of nan aforesaid precocious package features arsenic their much costly counterpart, making them a awesome action for iOS users who don't want to salary a premium for nan Pro model.
AirPods 4 pinch Active Noise Cancellation features: Type: In-ear | Chip: H2 | Battery life: 5 hours | Water-resistant: IP54 (dust, sweat, and h2o resistant)
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Why we for illustration them: Apple's guidelines exemplary AirPods 4 supply a elemental and applicable acquisition to Apple users. These AirPods debuted pinch important upgrades from nan third-generation model, providing a much comfortable fit, improved sound quality, and accrued particulate resistance.
Additionally, these AirPods are nan cheapest AirPods during awesome sales, pinch prices arsenic debased arsenic $100. In comparison, nan AirPods 3, which are little precocious than nan AirPods 4, are still $150 during sales.
Also: How to cleanable and sanitize your AirPods (and why you should)
Who they're for: I urge these AirPods for group who want a elemental AirPods experience. If you don't for illustration noise-canceling earbuds, these are a coagulated option. The AirPods 4 would activity champion for group desiring Apple-branded earbuds for taking and making telephone calls and casually listening to music. You should take nan AirPods 4 if you don't require galore precocious package features and, instead, want a brace of no-frills Apple earbuds that activity good pinch your Apple devices.
Who should look elsewhere: You should see different options if you want AirPods pinch much precocious package features, for illustration Conversation Awareness, which pauses your euphony erstwhile nan earbuds observe you're trying to person a speech pinch someone.
AirPods 4 features: Type: In-ear | Chip: H2 | Battery life: 5 hours | Water-resistant: IP54 (dust, sweat and water-resistant)
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If you're not acquainted pinch nan 4 models of AirPods that are presently sold by Apple, here's a speedy look astatine their superior features.
Best Apple AirPods | Retail Price | Battery | Audio Chip |
AirPods Pro 2 | $249 | 6 hours | H2 |
AirPods Max | $549 | 20 hours | H1 |
AirPods 4 pinch ANC | $179 | 5 hours | H2 |
AirPods 4 without ANC | $129 | 5 hours | H2 |
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If you're still trying to determine which group of AirPods to buy, here's nan main logic to bargain each merchandise successful nan lineup.
Choose this pair of Apple AirPods... | If you want... |
AirPods Pro 2 | Apple's astir upgraded and tin headphones. These earbuds connection awesome sound cancellation, are compatible pinch nan Vision Pro headset, and person an in-canal fresh for enhanced immersion. |
AirPods Max | Over-ear headphones pinch Apple-specific features. Although you tin find arsenic yoked headphones for cheaper, these headphones radiance pinch their integration pinch Apple devices. |
AirPods 4 pinch ANC | Impressive AirPods without nan precocious features recovered successful nan Pro 2. If you want sound cancellation and spatial audio without nan cutting-edge tech, these are cleanable for you. |
AirPods 4 | An moreover much watered-down brace of Apple earbuds. These earbuds deficiency sound cancellation, but connection spatial audio and Siri integration. |
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In evaluating nan 4 models of AirPods, I've particularly focused connected these 4 factors:
- Cost: Budget is wherever astir group start, truthful we ever person to support that astatine nan forefront of nan speech astir AirPods. The AirPods connected this database costs anyplace from $99 to $550, depending connected nan exemplary you choose. The AirPods Max are nan astir costly AirPods, while nan AirPods 4 without ANC are nan cheapest. The AirPods Max are made pinch heavier metals for illustration aluminum and stainless steel, adding to their price, while nan AirPods 4 are chiefly plastic.
- Features: The things that find really AirPods activity and what you tin do pinch them are ever going to beryllium astatine nan halfway of consideration, truthful we person to look astatine sound cancellation, transparency mode, spatial audio, h2o resistance, charging case, interface controls, comfort, and different cardinal features.
- Battery life: Few things impact regular usage much than artillery life, truthful we person to return that into relationship erstwhile considering nan usefulness of each product. Apple's earbuds connection 5 to six hours of artillery connected a azygous charge, but nan charging lawsuit provides up to 25 much hours of playtime.
- Chip: Apple uses some nan H1 and H2 chips to powerfulness its AirPods. These chips are cardinal to sound quality, noise-canceling abilities, and package features. The AirPods Max person nan H1 chip, truthful they deficiency adaptive sound cancellation and Conversation Awareness. However, Apple's earbuds athletics nan H2 chip, which powers those features.
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I person been utilizing AirPods each time for complete 5 years, and person tried each of nan various models. I've besides utilized galore different wireless earbuds, wireless over-the-ear headphones, and wired earbuds and headphones. I've utilized inexpensive $20 models and I've utilized ones that costs complete $500. I've taken each of that acquisition and utilized it to make recommendations connected nan champion AirPods to buy, based connected nan AirPods' performance, artillery life, customer reviews, your needs, your usage cases, and your budget.
ZDNET only spotlights products we really urge to people, and erstwhile we for illustration a product, we will spotlight it aliases constitute an charismatic review, and past put nan merchandise connected 1 of these champion lists.
To study much astir our attack to headphone and earbud testing, publication our comprehensive headphone testing methodology.
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Last September, Apple announced 2 caller pairs of AirPods, an updated AirPods Max model, and caller package features for nan AirPods Pro 2. Here's a short breakdown of nan caller AirPods and nan latest package features.
- AirPods 4: Apple released 2 AirPods successful nan fourth-generation lineup. One brace has progressive sound cancellation and 1 brace does not. Noise cancellation is nan awesome favoritism betwixt nan two. Both AirPods person Apple's precocious H2 audio spot for improved sound quality, Spatial Audio, and an improved fresh for enhanced comfort.
- AirPods Max pinch USB-C: Apple released USB-C compatible AirPods Max successful caller colors. USB-C compatibility brings wired lossless listening to nan updated AirPods Max.
- Hearing Aid Mode: The precocious Pro 2 earbuds will person proceeding wellness features, including acting arsenic an over-the-counter proceeding assistance for those pinch mild to mean proceeding loss. Users concerned pinch their proceeding wellness tin behaviour a proceeding trial connected their iPhone and entree insights and metrics successful nan Health app erstwhile wearing nan Pro 2 earbuds.
According to manufacture insiders, Apple is moving connected nan AirPods Pro 3, which will characteristic a caller design, enhanced audio quality, a caller chip, and biometric sensors to show bosom rate, temperature, and perspiration levels. However, those aforesaid analysts asseverate that Apple has nary coagulated plans for nan AirPods Max 2 this year.
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The champion inexpensive AirPods are nan AirPods 4 without progressive sound cancellation. These AirPods connection spatial audio and speech awareness, making them a coagulated action for casual earbud wearers. You tin find these earbuds for arsenic debased arsenic $100 during awesome sales.
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The AirPods Pro 2 are amended for avid earbud wearers than nan AirPods 4 owed to their comfort, in-ear security, precocious features, and awesome sound cancellation. If you want AirPods that will person nan latest and top package features, nan AirPods Pro 2 are a no-brainer. However, nan AirPods 4 pinch ANC connection captious features for illustration sound cancellation, spatial audio, Find My compatibility, and wireless charging.
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Apple ever sells its products for their MSRP. If you bargain from Apple's website, expect to salary afloat price. However, you tin find Apple products for illustration AirPods regularly discounted connected sites for illustration Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. During seasonal sales, you tin find nan AirPods Pro 2 for arsenic debased arsenic $170 and nan AirPods Max (Lightning) for arsenic debased arsenic $395, and nan AirPods 4 without sound cancellation for arsenic debased arsenic $100.
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Other alternatives to AirPods we've tested
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