The Best AirPods to Buy in 2023
Apple AirPods Pro 2 – Best Overall
- Apple AirPods Pro 2 – Best Overall
- Apple AirPods 3 – Best Option for Most
- Apple AirPods (2nd Gen) – Best on a Budget
- Apple AirPods Max – Best for Audiophiles
(Image Credit – PhoneArena) AirPods Pro 2 earbuds
The AirPods Pro 2 are the best earbuds for iPhone users. They offer amazing sound quality with clean and wide sound, allowing for better separation of vocals and instruments, and a pinch of bass. What sets them apart is their superb active noise cancellation, which is the best we have tested on a pair of earbuds.
Upgraded Features
- Option to adjust volume with touch
- Upgraded case with metal lanyard loop and own speaker
- Case can magnetically snap to MagSafe chargers
The AirPods Pro 2 come at a price of $249, which is justified by their seamless integration with other Apple products, great audio quality, and useful features.
Apple AirPods 3 – The Go-To AirPods for Most
Apple’s new AirPods 3 feature the company’s new Spatial Audio technology, among other improvements. The Spatial Audio feature is impressive and sets them apart from other earbuds.
The AirPods 3 are a great option for most users, offering good sound quality and useful features at a reasonable price point.
Apple AirPods (2nd Gen) – Best on a Budget
The Apple AirPods (2nd Gen) are the best option for those on a budget. They offer good sound quality and useful features at a lower price point than the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 3.
Apple AirPods Max – Best for Audiophiles
The Apple AirPods Max are the best option for audiophiles. They offer amazing sound quality and noise cancellation, but come at a higher price point than the other AirPods models.
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Apple AirPods: Which Model is Right for You?
If you’re in the market for truly wireless earbuds with fantastic sound, a stylish, curvy and portable design, solid battery life and Apple’s newest gimmick – spatial audio, then the latest generation AirPods are a worthy pick. But with so many options available, which AirPods should you choose? In this article, we’ll break down the best AirPods for different budgets and needs.
Apple AirPods (2nd gen) – Best on a Budget
The AirPods Pro price can be sometimes hard to swallow, especially if there aren’t any deals around. That’s why the best AirPods if you’re on a budget, are the second-gen AirPods – the ones Apple calls – AirPods with wireless charging case. These ones utilize the design of the original AirPods, the “hanging-from-the-ear” thing, and many people swear by the comfort this design offers. Some of us on the PhoneArena team agree that the AirPods 2 have a comfortable fit, and some of us don’t, so it is a personal thing really. You would just have to try them out for yourself, if you haven’t already, to find out.
The AirPods 3 hover around $179 and they’re a good option if you don’t require any of the “Pro” features like ANC.
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Even though it’s already 2023, and the second-gen AirPods are more than three years old, this model is still a viable option and also very popular. The sound is nice, and the battery life is actually better than the Pros, as our testing has confirmed. Granted, there’s no ANC or Adaptive EQ magic, but the H1 chip inside offers great connectivity and low latency, you can activate Siri with your voice, and most importantly, these are way cheaper than the Pros.
Are they the best AirPods out there in 2023? No, of course not. But if you want to stay inside Apple’s ecosystem and get something on a budget, these are a great choice.
Apple AirPods Max – Best for Audiophiles
When Apple first announced the AirPods Max there were riots on the streets. People dug up their pitchforks, lit up the torches, and went berserk. Joking aside, the $550 price tag that Apple slapped on the AirPods Max was a bit of a worry.
Fortunately, after the reviews started to come in, people realized that there’s substance behind the high asking price. For starters, the design and build quality are top-notch, and the sound quality is simply amazing. The AirPods Max are perfect for audiophiles who want the best possible sound quality from their earbuds.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, the AirPods are a great choice for anyone looking for truly wireless earbuds. Whether you’re on a budget or you’re an audiophile, there’s an AirPods model that’s right for you. So go ahead and pick the one that fits your needs and enjoy the amazing sound quality that Apple’s AirPods have to offer.
AirPods Max: The Ultimate Audiophile Experience
The AirPods Max is a true masterpiece in terms of design and sound quality. These headphones are made of metal and have an elegant, clean, and simplistic look that is very Apple-like. Despite being a bit on the heavy side, they are incredibly comfortable to wear thanks to the soft mesh canopy on the headband and cushions that embrace your ears like a soft feather-stuffed pillow.
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But what really sets the AirPods Max apart is their exceptional sound quality. They deliver a clean and detailed sound that allows you to hear every instrument, every little pluck, reverb, delay, and even shoddy compression done in the production work if you have the ear for it. Our reviewer, Preslav, is not easily pleased in the audio department, but he was blown away by the AirPods Max.
The noise cancellation on the AirPods Max is also top-notch, with the best Transparency Mode out there, hands-down. The battery life is decent, and you also get bells and whistles such as Spatial Audio, easy switching between paired devices, a magnetic carrying case, and more. Whether or not all these features are worth the $550 price tag is up to you.
Read More: Apple AirPods Max Review
What is the Difference Between AirPods and AirPods Pro?
The new AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro 2 may look similar, but there are some key differences between the two models. For about $70 more, the AirPods Pro offer silicone ear tips and a vent system that prevents the nauseating pressure you get with regular in-ear buds. They also come with noise cancellation, Bluetooth 5.3 (compared to 5.0), and the new H2 chip, which allows for features such as Adaptive Transparency and Conversation Boost.
Another important difference is that users can adjust the volume with the AirPods Pro 2, which is not possible on the third generation regular AirPods. The AirPods Pro also have a longer battery life for the earbuds and 4 hours more with the new MagSafe charging case. The case comes with a built-in speaker, as well as the U1 chip for Precision Tracking making it much easier to discover if lost. In contrast, the case of the AirPods 3 only has Find My support.
While you can use AirPods with Android devices, their functionality is limited to listening and speaking. Other features like Siri, Spatial Audio, Find My, Conversation Boost, and even the battery life status indicator are not available on Android devices. If you’re an Android user, you may be better off getting a different pair of earbuds or headphones.
When it comes to noise cancellation, the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max are the two models to compare. Both offer stellar active noise cancellation, but the AirPods Pro are marginally smaller in size. However, as far as ANC goes, you can’t go wrong with either choice.
Overall, the AirPods Max and AirPods Pro are both excellent choices for anyone looking for high-quality wireless headphones. Whether you’re an audiophile or just looking for a comfortable and stylish pair of headphones, you can’t go wrong with Apple’s AirPods lineup.
