Which Apple AirPods Should You Buy?

CR rates every option—AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2 and 3, and AirPods Max— and previews the new AirPods 5, so you can choose the best headphones for you

Allen St. John, Consumer Reports Senior Home & Tech Writer.

By Allen St. John
Senior Home & Tech Writer

Updated September 9, 2026

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Apple AirPods Max (USB-C),
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancelling, AirPods Pro 3 — Apple's headphone lineup offers slick design and some unique features Models shown (clockwise from left): AirPods Max (USB-C), AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, and AirPods Pro 3.

Apple AirPods earbuds and headphones are wildly popular and have improved a lot over the years, but our testers will tell you that they’re not all created equal.

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We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.

Allen St. John

Allen St. John has been a senior product editor at CR since 2016, focusing on digital privacy, audio devices, printers, and home products. He was a senior editor at Condé Nast and a contributing editor at publications including Road & Track and The Village Voice. A New York Times bestselling author, he's also written for The New York Times Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and Rolling Stone. He lives in Montclair, N.J., with his wife, their two children, and their dog, Rugby.