AirPods are Apple’s brand of wireless earbuds. They offer Apple’s trademark simple design, high audio quality and seamless user interface. They integrate with all Apple products, offering features like instant pairing, automatic switching, Find My location tracking and more. You can also treat them like ordinary Bluetooth earbuds for use with a PC or Android device.
There are three product lines. The entry-level buds offer the basics, with the option of adding noise cancellation. The Pro models have in-ear rubber tips for a better fit and stronger noise cancellation, and add advanced features like precision finding and hearing aid functionality. AirPods Max are premium over-the-ear headphones.
The first AirPods were announced on September 7, 2016 alongside the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. Compared to traditional Bluetooth earbuds, Apple’s offered instant device pairing and smart device switching. The flip-open magnetic case makes it easy to charge the buds, and offers a quick way to top up their charge.
Apple introduced the wireless earbuds as the high-end solution after removing the phone’s headphone jack — although the iPhone 7 also came with wired earbuds with a Lightning port in the box for free.
They were originally scheduled to release in October 2016, but were delayed to December 13, 2016. The original retail price was $159.
AirPods 2
The second-generation model was announced online on March 20, 2019. The new H1 chip and Bluetooth 5 capabilities inside allowed for more advanced features, like “Hey Siri,” faster pairing times and longer battery life.
They also came with an optional wireless charging case compatible with Qi chargers. The entry-level price was unchanged at $159, but the model with a wireless charging case cost $199. The wireless charging case could also be purchased separately for use with the original models for $79.
AirPods Pro
AirPods Pro are the more advanced models.
AirPods Pro were introduced on October 28, 2019. The buds feature a shorter, wider stem with force-sensitive touch controls. The rubber tips, available in multiple sizes, provide a stronger seal, enabling active noise cancellation. Spatial Audio lets you hear surround sound mixes of your music, using head tracking to make it sound like you’re in the center of a live performance (on supported audio tracks).
However, these premium features come at a higher price of $249.
AirPods Max headphones
The first over-the-ear headphones sold under the Apple brand.
AirPods Max are Apple’s full-size over-the-ear headphones, announced on December 8, 2020. The larger speakers can provide a truly superior sound quality. The Digital Crown at the top allows for easy adjusting of the volume, while the button switches between noise cancellation modes.
They were updated with a USB-C port and new colors in September 2024. Unfortunately, they were not updated with new features like Adaptive Audio or Conversation Awareness. However, using a wired connection, you can listen to high-quality lossless audio.
An all-new, lighter version is rumored for 2027. Presumably, these all-new headphones would have updated internals and catch up with smart features available on the other models.
AirPods 3
Featuring a streamlined, rounder design.
The third generation of the entry-level buds was announced on October 18, 2021. They feature a stouter, rounder design more similar to the pro models. They also support Spatial Audio, although due to the lack of rubber ear tips, lack active noise cancellation. The charging case now supports MagSafe as well as Qi wireless charging.
They were sold for $179 new, with the prior model still available for sale at $129.
AirPods Pro 2
The second generation is the current model of Apple’s high-end earbuds, first announced on September 7, 2022. The H2 chip inside boosts battery life by 30 percent. It also powers more advanced features (that have been added over time) like Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness and more — with double the sound cancelling capability. The charging case is MagSafe-compatible, and adds a lanyard loop. For Find My compatibility, the case has a built-in U1 chip for precision finding and a speaker of its own. They are currently for sale at $249.
AirPods 4 are more advanced, and borrow much from AirPods Pro.
The fourth-generation buds replaced both the second- and third-generation models, with two new models. Both come with the H2 chip, which enables Personalized Spatial Audio and higher audio qualities. The new charging case has a USB-C port, the now-standard connector. They are currently for sale at $129.
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
The same earbuds also come with Active Noise Cancellation, and all its smart features — Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness. The tweaked shape of the buds and the advanced H2 chip enable this without having in-ear tips. They replaced the third-generation model in the lineup. They are currently for sale at $179.
The related Powerbeats Pro 2 have ear hooks for a more secure fit.
Beats, an Apple subsidiary, also produces earbuds using the same technology. However, the Beats products come in different styles and colors.
Beats Solo Buds are small and compact earbuds, much like AirPods. They come in gray, purple, black and translucent red. They offer long battery life, a small, compact case and a much lower starting price at just $79.99.
Beats Studio Buds + add active noise cancellation and more premium sound, at a comparable price of $169.99.
Beats Fit Pro feature short wings on the top to stay firmly in your ears, and also feature advanced sound and noise cancellation at $199.99.
Powerbeats Pro 2 have large wings that wrap around your ear, 45 hours of battery life and a built-in heart rate monitor for health and fitness tracking.
Beats Solo 4 and the higher-end Beats Studio Pro are premium on-ear and over-the-ear headphones.
AirPods features
AirPods noise canceling
AirPods can keep ambient noise down, like stray marching bands.
AirPods support noise canceling to silence out background noise. There are a few different smart modes you can use:
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) uses microphones on the outside to cancel out the sound through the ear buds. This is more effective on AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, as they have a better seal in/around your ear.
Transparency mode boosts the noise of your surrounding environment, so you can be more aware of street traffic or others in the room.
Adaptive Audio intelligently blends noise cancellation and Transparency mode so that ambient sounds are muted, while important sounds like alarms or sirens come through.
Conversation Awareness is like Adaptive Audio, but specifically for speech. You’ll have background noise silenced, but when you speak or someone is talking to you, it’ll lower your media volume and boost vocal volume.
Voice Isolation will cut out background noise while you’re on a phone call, so the other person only hears you.
Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode are supported on AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation and all models of AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, although AirPods Max do not support Adaptive Audio nor Conversation Awareness.
AirPods pairing
AirPods intelligently pair with your Apple products.
One of the best AirPods features is its smart pairing. You don’t have to dig into Bluetooth settings, hold a button down and wait for it to start blinking, nor wait to unpair it from another device. Just open up the case next to your iPhone and you’ll see a card slide up from the bottom of the screen to connect them.
They also intelligently switch between all your devices on the same Apple Account. So if you move from your iPhone to your iPad to your Mac to your Apple TV, you can keep playing audio seamlessly.
AirPods hearing aids
The Hearing Aid function will help you hear conversations in noisy places.
AirPods Pro 2 can be used as clinically-approved hearing aids, for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. You can take a hearing test directly from the Health app, which will create a custom audio profile you can use. In our own testing, it can work surprisingly well.
AirPods case
Check out the fleur and marble colors of this case.
Some cases are simple and just add a pop of color, as Apple is staunchly opposed to making them in anything other than white. This can help you identify which ones are yours, if multiple people in your family have a pair.
Other cases add more personality and cute styling. You can buy a case that resembles a tiny classic Macintosh or iPod, for the retro Apple fans in your life. Or, cases that look like a cute shark, ice cream, a peach and more.
Some AirPods cases have an integrated spot for an AirTag, to make them easier to find. This can add in precision finding to older models that don’t support it.
AirPods firmware update
You can hurry up an AirPods firmware update.
Apple periodically brings out new AirPods firmware with improvements and bug fixes. It’s well worth installing these updates because they fix bugs and sometimes contain significant new features. While the process is a little obtuse, you can force AirPods to update.
You can check the current firmware version in Settings. Open Settings > Bluetooth and look under My Devices for the name of your AirPods. Tap in the blue ⓘ icon and look under Version.
To force your AirPods to update:
Make sure that your AirPods are in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac that’s connected to Wi-Fi.
Put your AirPods in their charging case and close the lid.
Plug the charging cable into your charging case, then plug the other end of the cable into a USB charger or port.
Keep the lid of the charging case closed, and wait at least 30 minutes for the firmware to update.
Open the lid of the charging case to reconnect your AirPods to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Apple's September 9 event is coming up fast, but is there anything we don't already know? Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: Apple sent out invites for its Surprise and Shine event this week, and the big question is, will there actually be any surprises on September 9?
The invite itself doesn’t reveal much, naturally. And a crazy deluge of rumors and leaks already painted a pretty thorough picture of what to expect from the iPhone 18 Pro, the first folding iPhone and more.
Still, it’ll be incoming Apple CEO John Ternus‘ first time running an event, and surely he’ll want to make it special. We discuss how he might make the event shine.
Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:
This week’s rollout of new Mac mini and Mac Studio models gets us wondering if it’s time to upgrade.
Apple’s new M6 chip sounds pretty amazing, but what about the M5 Pro?
And finally, Leander shares a tip that will make charging your AirPods easier.
Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video version, embedded below.
AirPods with cameras weren't the only thing that leaked this week. Image: Cult of Mac
This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: The Apple leaks are getting out of hand! Code in the macOS 26.7 release candidate spills the beans on tons of unreleased Apple products, and that’s just the start.
Tim Cook must be fuming — unless it’s the world’s craziest marketing campaign!
Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:
How the AirPods with cameras will work (and when to expect them).
Apple’s rumored home hub will wow us with widgets.
One more reason not to buy the iPhone 18 Pro: a lack of feature parity with the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Boo! Hiss!
And finally, Graham gives us an update on the race to get Reps & Sets, his strength-training app, pumped up for iOS 27. Developers face this unwelcome task every year, but AI’s making it easier.
Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video version, embedded below and also available on our YouTube channel.
Apple's AirPods with cameras use twin sensors to capture synced images, according to newly uncovered code. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple’s AirPods with cameras just got a lot less mysterious. Buried in the macOS 26.7 release candidate’s code is a hidden framework that reveals exactly how the earbuds will perceive and process the world around you.
The discovery goes far beyond the recently leaked demo video spotted in the same code. It details resolution numbers, capture modes, calibration systems and a built-in privacy light. This gives us the clearest picture yet of the long-rumored AirPods upgrade.
A leaked macOS 26.7 RC build revealed Apple’s camera-equipped AirPods in action, but the product may not launch until 2027. Photo: Cult of Mac
That video of AirPods with cameras built in? Cool. But don’t expect to buy them anytime soon. Despite a leak that made AirPods with cameras look imminent, Apple is still holding the product for 2027. This year’s iPhone event won’t be the moment they show up.
If you were hoping to buy AI-powered earbuds alongside your next iPhone, you’ll have to wait. And that’s actually the more interesting story here: what almost shipped this year, and why it didn’t.
A macOS 26.7 slipup from Apple reveals what's coming next. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple rarely lets details about unreleased products slip out ahead of schedule. But every once in a while, the company accidentally spoils its own surprises.
That’s exactly what happened with the macOS 26.7 Release Candidate, which contains references to several unreleased Apple devices, including upcoming iPhones, Macs and smart home products.
Your AirPods and Bluetooth speaker compete for audio coming from your iPhone. You can settle the fight. Graphic: ChatGPT
You’re happily listening to music on your AirPods when the audio suddenly gets yanked away by a Bluetooth speaker. Don’t get frustrated. Make a quick tweak to your iPhone settings, and it’ll never happen again.
Your iPhone can charge your AirPods. It’s easy. Image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
In a pinch, you can charge your AirPods with your iPhone. This feature can prove very convenient if you know how to use it. You can also use your iPhone to charge your Apple Watch, or even another iPhone.
Discover great AirPods deals. Upgrade your audio experience today! Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
A pair of AirPods 4 is quite a deal at $99 — that’s 23% below the regular cost. This is a great choice for people who want Apple’s latest earbuds with excellent sound quality and seamless pairing with iPhone, iPad and more, without paying for features you may never use.
There’s also a version that adds Active Noise Cancellation that is currently 19% off at $144.99 .
Future AirPods get to keep the trademark slim design. Photo: Apple
Apple’s AirPods appear to have dodged a costly redesign after the European Commission carved out new exemptions to its upcoming replaceable battery rules for portable electronics.
The requirement could have also required changes to the design of the Apple Watch.
Get a free AirTag or AirPods with your new Mac or iPad. AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
Update: Apple’s Back to School 2026 offer is now available in the United States and Canada. We updated this article with the latest details.
After a slight delay, Apple’s Back to School 2026 offer is now live across most major markets. It first launched in select Asian countries before expanding to the United States and Canada.
Code buried in iOS 27 beta points to AirPods Ultra, not smart glasses, as Apple's next camera-equipped wearable. Photo: Unsplash
Apple’s smart glasses may be waiting, but AirPods Ultra may just be confirmed. Buried in iOS 27’s beta code is a mystery wearable that reads images from two cameras, located on each side of your head. And Apple’s own sample data has it identifying the Eiffel Tower and a coffee mug.
If you’ve ever wanted Siri to actually see what you’re looking at instead of just hearing you describe it, this could be it. Apple is reportedly working on just that, and the newly spotted code hints at how close it might be, and which product, AirPods or glasses, is likely to land first.
Prime Day is from June 23 to 26, 2026. Graphic: Amazon/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Prime Day is always an advertising blitz of products — what are the good products and what’s crap? At Cult of Mac, we put together the best Amazon Prime Day deals on the products we’ve actually used, reviewed and love.
While the occasion is as artificial and arbitrary as ever, the pressure is actually real this year. Apple CEO Tim Cook warned earlier this week that prices are inevitably going to rise sometime soon. So if you’ve been thinking about a new computer, now may be the best time.
We review tons of products, from official Apple products to top accessories offered to our staff. Take a look at some of our top recommendations this Prime Day.
AirPods Max 2 only debuted this spring, but that doesn't mean you must pay full price. Photo: Apple
Apple’s AirPods Max 2 headphones just dropped to their best price yet. You can snag a pair of the premium headphones for just $399 in all five colors available. That’s a crazy 27% discount off the $549 retail price.
There’s new firmware for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4. Get it today. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple released new firmware for AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Pro 2 on Tuesday. The new version, 8B41, offers bug fixes for Apple’s high-end earbuds.
Last year, Apple finally explained exactly how to update your AirPods firmware. The process can happen automatically, in the background, but there is a way to speed things up. It’s a good idea to manually check that you’re running the latest version, which brings bug fixes and sometimes great new features.
Read on for more details, and to find all current AirPods firmware versions along with instructions for getting the AirPods update as quickly as possible.
What might be called AirPods Ultra could be an AI-focused device, not just a simple audio player. AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
Apple intends to make 2027 one of its most ambitious product years ever, targeting a late-year window for three major launches, according to a new report Tuesday.
That ain't no Apple car, but it's close! Image: Ferrari/Cult of Mac
This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: The new Ferrari Luce is a $540,000 electric vehicle that’s the closest thing to an Apple car we’re ever going to see. That’s no surprise, considering the key role ex-Apple design chief Jony Ive played in crafting the EV.
We discuss the good, the bad and the laughable about the car (and fantasize about sliding behind the wheel).
Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:
A last-minute bombshell gives us an awfully good look at what the new AI-powered Siri — and the rest of iOS 27 — will look like. It’s filled with major spoilers for the WWDC26 keynote, which is coming on June 8. Tim Cook must be seething!
A long-overdue tweak in iOS 27 should make it easier to use AirPods‘ advanced features. We’re thrilled. But will the changes go far enough?
And finally, special guest Christina Warren returns to join in on all the fun. Plus, she gives us an update on what’s going on at GitHub amid the AI frenzy.
Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video version, embedded below.
The AirPods' settings page just keeps getting more crowded as Apple adds new features. Photo: Apple
Apple is reportedly preparing to overhaul one of the iPhone’s most cluttered menus: the AirPods settings screen.
Over the years, the AirPods settings screen has grown more cluttered with every new feature Apple introduces to the popular earbuds. That could change with iOS 27, which could come with a completely revamped layout for the AirPods settings.
What might be called AirPods Ultra could be an AI-focused device, not just a simple audio player. AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
Details continue to emerge about Apple’s next-generation premium earbuds, widely referred to as “AirPods Ultra” and sometimes described in leaks as fourth-generation AirPods Pro. The next-gen earbuds reportedly will bring a significant jump forward, including adding cameras and health-monitoring features. And they aren’t too far away.
What might be called AirPods Ultra could be an AI-focused device, not just a simple audio player. AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
Apple’s next-gen AirPods are reportedly in “late stages of development,” with the addition of cameras being a standout feature of the earbuds. The goal of adding cameras is apparently to make the earbuds, potentially called “AirPods Ultra,” into AI-friendly devices that are aware of the user’s surroundings.
They could become the first of a new class of wearables from Apple designed for the AI era.
Let's give Apple CEO Tim Cook credit where credit is due. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Tim Cook doesn’t get enough credit for launching groundbreaking products as Apple CEO. He quietly oversaw launches that reshaped how people listen, make purchases and monitor their health. He even revitalized the Mac.
With Cook leaving the CEO spot to become chairman of Apple’s board of directors in September, it’s time for some perspective on his time in office. Here are five examples of Cook embedding Apple deeper into our lives than ever before.
Anker's new Thus chip should come first to earbuds in May 2026. Photo: Anker
Anker just quietly did something no accessory maker has attempted before: It built its own AI chip from the ground up, specifically designed to run powerful neural networks inside tiny, battery-powered devices. It announced the chip, called “Thus,” on Wednesday and plans to release it on Anker Day (May 21) inside its earbuds.
If the chip delivers on its promises, it could fundamentally change what we expect from earbuds — possibly including Apple AirPods — and other devices.
“Every AI chip built to date stores the model on one side and performs the computation on the other,” said Steven Yang, Anker’s founder and CEO. “To ‘think,’ the device must shuttle these parameters back and forth many times per second for every single query. Thus brings the computing power to where the model already resides. The model never has to move again.”
You can keep your AirPods in with this one. Photo: HiDock
A new AI voice recorder promises to solve one of the most persistent frustrations for professionals who live on calls — capturing both sides of a conversation via Bluetooth even when you wear headphones, and without requring bots, subscriptions or complicated setup. It’s the new HiDock P1 AI Voice Recorder.
★★★★☆
The purple AirPods Max 2 are gorgeous. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
AirPods Max 2 are the surprise update to Apple’s premium over-the-ear headphones. Now offering feature parity with the regular AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 — thanks to the H2 chip inside — the headphones’ $549 price tag makes some kind of sense.
The design and controls remain unchanged from the originals, for better and worse. That includes the silly “Smart Case.” But the signature beautiful, booming sound and excellent noise cancellation are better than ever. If you’ve never tried AirPods Max before — only the lesser AirPods and maybe a few pairs of cheaper headphones — you are well and truly unprepared for the remarkable music these cans will pump into your ears.
You don’t need to be a big audiophile to love the AirPods Max 2. But considering how Apple has mistreated the product line so far, you have to be a little bold to buy them yourself.
It’s a big birthday for the fruit company. Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
As Apple turns 50, it’s worth looking back on the company’s greatest accomplishments and lowest moments through history. If you don’t have time for David Pogue’s 600-page epic, Apple: The First 50 Years, maybe you can spare eight minutes to relive the single biggest piece of Apple news every year.
The iPhone's Visual Intelligence feature is a sign of things to come. Photo: Apple
Apple CEO Tim Cook has a well-established habit of dropping subtle hints about where the company is headed. This time, the dropped breadcrumbs all point toward Visual Intelligence. And the impression they leave is of a company preparing to reshape how humans interact with the world around them.
