Best AirPods 2026: Apple's wireless headphones ranked and rated

First, the good news: we have a new entrant to our list of best AirPods. That doesn't happen too often, given Apple's relative scarcity of headphone launches. The bad news? The AirPods Max 2 didn't impress us quite as much as the original Apple over-ears.

It's not that the Max 2 are worse than their predecessors. It's just that the headphone world has moved on significantly since Apple first created the super-premium category of wireless cans.

The AirPods Max 2 are still a very good pair of headphones though, as are all the models on this list.

The AirPods Pro 3 are Apple's latest flagship in-ears, with better bass than their predecessors, and active noise cancellation (ANC) that's twice as effective. And the AirPods 4 with ANC offer a lot of what makes the Pro 3 so compelling but for a lot less money.

We haven't reviewed the standards AirPods 4, but they are identical to the ANC model but with no noise cancelling.

Bringing up the rear, we have the AirPods (2019). Yes, they're seven years old now, and yes, there are much better wireless earbuds available. But if it's an Apple pair you want, you should be able to pick these up dirt cheap (just not from Apple, as it no longer sells them).

And how do we know which AirPods are the best? Experience. Our in-house reviewers have more than 100 years of testing 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 headphones page.

• How do active noise-cancelling headphones work?
• AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods Pro 2: which are better?
• AirPods Max 2 vs AirPods Max: how do they compare?

Written by

Written by

Joe Svetlik

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 usability 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 best AirPods we recommend in 2026

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

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Apple finally cracked a five-star rating for a pair of in-ears with the AirPods Pro 2, so how do the follow-ups fare? With improvements all round (apart from in one area, that is), it's another five-star score for Apple's latest, proving the firm can still mix it up with the best wireless earbuds around.

The built-in heart rate monitor might have grabbed most of the headlines, but for us, the best thing about the Pro 3 is the gains in the more prosaic – but significant – areas of sound quality and noise cancellation.

They've had a design tweak, too. With a smaller body and differently-angled eartip nozzle, they're designed to fit a wider range of ear shapes and sizes. But we still found them divisive – those who achieved a snug fit with the Pro 2 found these to protrude too far, while those who didn't get on with their predecessors found the Pro 3 fit well.

Our advice? Try them for yourself.

The charging case has also grown slightly larger than the Pro 2's, but is lighter.

You get all the features of the Pro 2 (yay!) but still no hi-res codec support (boo!). The new heart rate monitor can track health and workout stats, and the Live Translation feature is very neat (even if it's not exclusive to the Pro 3).

While Apple would seem to have made gains in the battery life, it's actually more of a mixed picture. True, the life of the buds themselves has grown from six hours to eight, but the total battery life (including the charging case) has dropped from 30 hours to 24. How annoying that is will depend on how you use them.

But the Pro 3 have upped their environmental protection from IP54 to IP57. That means greater resistance to rain, sweat, splashes, and water generally.

Of course, it's the ANC and sound quality we're really interested in, and Apple hasn't let us down. Despite having the same H2 chip as their predecessors, the new model's ultra-low noise microphones, advanced computational audio, and new foam-infused eartips combine to offer twice the noise-cancelling capability of the Pro 2.

And it shows. During a flight, "the deep rumble of the airplane’s engine noise was damped down further than when listened to through the Pro 2, while the general chatter from people and announcements from the pilot were quieter through the new earbuds on full ANC mode," we found in our AirPods Pro 3 review.

Sound too has been been upgraded, courtesy of a new 'multiport acoustic architecture'. This helps the Pro 3 to sound clearer and more detailed, more spacious-sounding and more dynamic.

The results are impressive across genres. "There is bite and attack to the crunchy, brash highs of Fontaines D.C.’s Starburster, while the basslines in Forgot About Dre are taut, agile and tuneful, and punch with quite a good deal of depth and power in Billie Eilish’s Blue," we found.

They're not quite as refined or spacious as some of the best wireless earbuds we've tested, but they are a lot of fun to listen to. If it's AirPods you're after, look no further.

Read the full Apple AirPods Pro 3 review

Best premium

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Apple basically invented the category of super-premium wireless over-ear headphones, and it was quite a move by a company with no prior experience of making cans. That's probably why the original AirPods Max lasted nearly six years unchanged (bar a minor refresh in 2024).

Now we have the AirPods Max 2, and it's another great pair from Apple. That we awarded it four stars instead of its predecessor's five points to how far the competition has come.

There's plenty new about the AirPods Max 2. But the design and case remain disappointingly familiar, and the 20-hour battery life is comprehensively beaten seemingly by all comers nowadays. So in some ways, the Max 2 are a missed opportunity.

They are still very well made, though. The design might be unchanged, but is still very premium: the anodised aluminium earcups, the stainless steel headband, the memory foam earcups... The hinges, telescopic arms and buttons are all beautifully made and finished to precision.

They're comfortable enough to wear for hours, too. Though we do have a few gripes about the design. The headband could contract more to accommodate smaller heads. The headphones are much heavier than a lot of rivals. They don't fold at all. And the silly case makes an unwelcome return.

The new H2 chip does enable some new features, like Conversation Awareness and Adaptive Audio, as well as live translation (which requires an iPhone 16 or later). Higher-quality codecs are still omitted, which we've come to expect from Apple.

The H2 also helps improve the active noise cancellation (ANC), which is 1.5 times more effective than on the original AirPods Max. They do silence the rumbles and screeches of the London Underground, and the effect is more natural and airy than a lot of ANC headphones.

For sound quality, they improve on their predecessors, but not by much. That's not as bad as it sounds – the original Max were a standout pair – but it is still a little disappointing to those of us craving new standards in wireless headphone sound performance.

"The Max 2 headphones have an admirably smooth balance, one that is very easy to listen to," we wrote in our AirPods Max 2 review. "There’s a dash more punch to the sound and the edges of notes are etched out with a little more precision, and they sound a bit more open compared with the first-gen model."

Voices are strong, and Apple balances all the elements very well. Though a slightly rolled-off top end does sacrifice some bite.

But overall, the differences between these and the originals could be more substantial. You can get greater sound elsewhere, but if you want the complete Apple experience in an over-ear form factor, these are the cans for you.

Read the full Apple AirPods Max 2 review

• Apple AirPods Max tips: how to pair, reset, charge and more

Top Tip

Top Tip

Alastair Stevenson

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

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The AirPods 4 come in two varieties – one with ANC (for £179 / $179 / AU$299) and one without (£129 / $129 / AU$299).

Despite the ANC, they stick with the standard design without adding eartips, though their shape has been refined somewhat.

It's a partial success – some members of our team found they fit their ears very well, while others struggled to keep them in. Try before you buy.

The active noise cancellation is impressive, given there are no eartips to form an air-tight seal and block out unwanted sounds. The effect is most effective with lower frequencies – those further up the frequency scale are more likely to slip through the net. And it's not as comprehensive a solution as with the pricier AirPods Pro 3.

The AirPods 4 with ANC's charging case is the smallest yet, has a speaker for the Find My function, and supports wireless charging.

The non-ANC model lacks the latter two features.

Inside is the same H2 chip as the AirPods Pro 3, which means the Voice Isolation feature can make calls clearer in high wind, and the Personalised volume feature automatically adjusts the volume depending on how loud your environment is.

As well as ANC, the pricier variant of AirPods 4 also have the Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness and Transparency features from the AirPods Pro 3, all of which are useful.

What's disappointing is the battery life, which is a measly four hours on a single charge with the ANC turned on, although you do get a total of 30 hours with the charging case.

The AirPods 4 with ANC's sound is more detailed, powerful and overall more entertaining than their predecessor's.

"There’s clarity and detail, agility and balance, along with a focus on voices that make them immediately appealing to listen to," we wrote in our AirPods 4 with ANC review.

Though – as you would expect – they don't sound quite as superb as the AirPods Pro 3.

They're a great halfway house between the older, cheaper AirPods and the higher-priced model. A great value proposition with just the right amount of compromise.

Read the full Apple AirPods 4 with ANC review

Best budget

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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 17e, stuffs newer innards into an older chassis.

The first-generation AirPods aren't around anymore, but you can pick up the second-gen model (from 2019) for a pretty reasonable price – they're no longer sold through Apple's website, but they are available from other retailers.

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 fourth-generation model.

In terms of sound, they have 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 AirPods (2019) 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:

Technics EAH-AZ100: Technics is better known for its record players, but the Panasonic-owned brand makes stunning headphones, too. These Award-winning wireless earbuds sound fantastic, and work just as well with Android phones.

Apple AirPods Pro 2: They've recently been superseded by the Pro 3, but the Pro 2 are still a decent proposition, with very good sound quality and noise cancellation. They share a lot of the Pro 3's features too, and cost a fair bit less.

Apple AirPods 3: Apple no longer sells the third-gen AirPods, so stock is likely not being replenished. They offer good sound quality, Spatial Audio and USB-C charging, but they're not quite as great as the AirPods 4.

Sony WF-1000XM6: Probably the best AirPods alternatives you can buy, the five-star XM6 outgun the AirPods Pro 3 for sound quality, and they work just as well with Android devices.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): The second-gen Ultras offer wireless charging and more advanced ANC than the first gen, as well as an upgraded sound from the same driver. The best noise-cancelling earbuds you can buy.

Sony WF-C710N: Cheaper than the cheapest AirPods, these Award-winning Sony earbuds pack excellent noise-cancellation, very good sound quality and a bunch of features that far exceed their price. If you want to go even cheaper – and forego ANC – check out the Award-winning Sony WF-C510.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3: B&W's latest over-ears give the AirPods Max 2 a run for their money. They're slightly cheaper than the Max 2, with the usual premium B&W build quality and great sound.

Sony WH-1000XM6: Sony's best wireless headphones yet. Again, they're slightly cheaper than the AirPods Max 2, but deliver on all fronts. The over-ears to beat right now, and our current Award winners.

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 17, 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 AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with ANC or AirPods 3), and the AirPods Pro (first- and second- and third-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, as do the AirPods 4 with ANC, but other in-ear AirPods do not.

Then there's the question of budget. The AirPods Max 2 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 3 are the next priciest pair, followed by the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 with ANC, AirPods 4 and then third- and 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 2) 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.

F.A.Q

Recent updates

• 14th April 2026: Replaced the AirPods Max with the AirPods Max 2. Updated references throughout with newer headphone models. Replaced 'The quick list' with the tabletop widget.
• 20th January 2026: Replaced the AirPods Pro 2 with the recently reviewed AirPods Pro 3. Moved the Pro 2 to 'Also consider.'
• 11th November 2025: Rewrote intro to mention AirPods Pro 3, which are now referenced throughout.
• 18th August 2025: Replaced Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds with the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) in 'Also consider'.
• 23rd May 2025: Added Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 and Sony WH-1000XM6 to 'Also consider', replaced Sony WF-C700N with WF-C710N in the same section.
• 18th March 2025: Added Technics EAH-AZ100 to 'Also consider'. Added mentions of the iPhone 16e and the AirPods Pro 2's hearing aid features.
• 9th January 2025: Rewrote intro. Updated references to more recent models of AirPods and other headphones. Mentioned that Apple refreshed the AirPods Max at the end of 2024.
• 17th October 2024: Added AirPods 4 with ANC to main list. Moved AirPods 3 to 'Also consider'. Rewrote intro.
• 16th August 2024: Deleted Jump Menu. Rewrote intro.
• 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.

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