Where's the Noise › Apple
The AirPods to buy if you use an iPhone, how the Pro 3 differs from the Pro 2, and when Apple's headphones stop making sense.
Links to Amazon are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. It does not change our order. Details
| If you want | Buy | Because | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most iPhone owners | AirPods Pro 3 | Best all-round AirPods | Amazon |
| Apple over-ear | AirPods Max 2 | For all-Apple households | Amazon |
| Apple-adjacent, also Android | Beats Studio Pro | Pairs easily on both | Amazon |
Best for most iPhone owners
The AirPods to buy now. Stronger noise cancelling than the Pro 2, two more hours per charge, IP57 for the gym and the rain, and a heart-rate sensor. The only step backwards is the smaller total in the case.
Only at a clear discount
Still good, but the Pro 3 launched at the same price with better noise cancelling and battery. Buy the Pro 2 only if it is clearly cheaper on the day.
Good if you find it well below the Pro 3. Skip if the price gap is small.
Apple's over-ear
For all-Apple households who want an over-ear and do not mind the weight.
Good if you are all-in on Apple and want an over-ear. Skip if you want the most noise cancelling per dollar.
Works with both platforms
Easy pairing on iPhone and Android, plus USB-C audio. Noise cancelling sits below the Sony and Bose flagships.
Good if you want Apple-style convenience on either platform. Skip if noise cancelling strength is the priority.
| AirPods Pro 3 | AirPods Pro 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery per charge, ANC on | Up to 8 h | Up to 6 h |
| Total with case | Up to 24 h | Up to 30 h |
| Water and dust rating | IP57, buds and case | IP54 |
| Ear tip sizes | Five, XXS to L | Four, XS to L |
| Heart-rate sensing | Yes | No |
| Launch price | $249 | $249 |
Apple's ratings, as reported by reviewers. Pro 2 tips do not fit the Pro 3.
AirPods work on Android as ordinary Bluetooth earbuds with noise cancelling. What disappears is everything that makes them feel effortless: the pop-up pairing, automatic switching between devices, Find My, most settings, and the heart-rate features. If your phone is Android, the earbuds page has better choices for the money.
The Max 2 is Apple's over-ear. It makes sense if everything you own is Apple and you want spatial audio and switching to just work at home and on flights. It is heavier than the Sony and Bose flagships and costs more, so if you are not deep in Apple's ecosystem, the Sony WH-1000XM6 does more for less.
Beats is owned by Apple but pairs easily with Android too. The Beats Studio Pro is the one to consider if your household mixes iPhones and Android phones and you want one pair that behaves on both.
If your Pro 2 still fit and work well, it is optional. The clearest reasons to upgrade are the stronger noise cancelling, IP57, the heart-rate sensor and the longer per-charge battery.
Yes, but as plain Bluetooth earbuds. Most of the Apple features disappear.
Yes for most runners: IP57 covers sweat and rain, and the heart-rate sensor feeds workouts to the Fitness app. On roads with traffic, consider open-ear instead.