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.
Table of Contents:
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
They were updated with a USB-C port on September 12, 2023 to coincide with the iPhone 15.
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.
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 next update to the high-end earbuds are rumored to be released in 2026. The biggest new features they may come with include an IR camera in each bud for in-air hand gestures and a body temperature sensor.
Beats, an Apple subsidiary, also produces earbuds using the same technology. However, the Beats products come in different styles and colors.
AirPods support noise canceling to silence out background noise. There are a few different smart modes you can use:
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.
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 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.
If you want to protect your AirPods case — and also make it easier to find — you can buy a case. The Cult of Mac Store has a plethora of options for all models.
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.
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:
December 15, 2020: Apple releases AirPods Max, its first over-ear headphones, touting the device’s pristine design and advanced computational audio.
The pricey cans with the sleek aluminum ear cups retail for a wallet-thrashing $549. But they supersize the magical AirPods experience, and deliver Apple’s best audio experience yet.
December 13, 2016: After months of anticipation and delay, Apple finally launches the first-generation AirPods. The tiny wireless earbuds arrive in Apple’s online store just in time for holiday shoppers looking for stocking stuffers.
Like so many Apple products, they aren’t the first wireless earbuds to arrive on the scene. However, AirPods’ rapid success will fuel a wireless listening revolution.
Apple released new firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 on Thursday that offers bug fixes for a major recent firmware upgrade. Version 8B28 and 8B30 merely tweak the wireless earbuds, but every AirPods update is worth installing.
Apple recently 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 find all current AirPods firmware versions, along with instructions for getting the AirPods update as quickly as possible.
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation have dropped to near their Black Friday low at just $99.99. Amazon’s stock of entry-level AirPods 4 (without ANC) seems depleted, because those earbuds shot up to cost more than their more sophisticated siblings!
With the “regular” AirPods 4 AWOL from holiday sales, you should jump on this deal on AirPods 4 with ANC if you want to gift a pair of Apple’s affordable earbuds.
If you’re trying to listen to podcasts or music on your iPhone, it can be annoying when your AirPods keep switching to other devices, like your Mac or iPad.
Personally, I don’t mind this behavior. If I’m sitting at my Mac, I want to use the Music and the Podcasts apps on the Mac. But a lot of people consider their iPhone their primary device — and always want to play audio from their phone, no matter which other device they’re using.
If you want your iPhone to retain supreme control over your ears, here’s how to disable AirPods auto-switching.
These excellent Cyber Monday deals on all AirPods models make Apple’s lineup of trend-setting headphones more affordable than ever.
Whether you want Apple’s entry-level earbuds (AirPods 4, with or without active noise cancellation), the amazingly versatile AirPods Pro 3 or the luxurious over-ear AirPods Max headphones, you can be sure that the latest models will work like a charm with all your Apple devices.
They’re even better when you can snag them at a discount — and most of these Black Friday deals drop AirPods to their lowest prices yet!
Our guide to the best Cyber Monday 2025 deals on Apple products and accessories showcases some prices that are even lower than Black Friday’s blowout sales. We’ll update this post throughout the day, but the clock is ticking. These Cyber Monday deals should end at midnight!
Our favorite earbuds — AirPods Pro 3 — remain at an all-time low price. The iPad mini just hit a new low of $349. And somehow, an amazing deal on the latest M4 MacBook Air got even more amazing as Cyber Monday approaches.
Find our absolute favorite Apple Cyber Monday picks, and our other favorite deals sorted by product category, below.
We put together the ultimate guide to the best Black Friday 2025 deals on Apple gear — and all the accessories you could want. We’ll be updating this post throughout the week as deals come and go.
Our favorite earbuds — AirPods Pro 3 — remain at an all-time low price. And somehow, an amazing deal on the latest M4 MacBook Air got even more amazing as Cyber Monday approaches.
Find our absolute top five picks, and our other favorite deals sorted by product category, below.
In a rare AirPods Max deal, both Amazon and Best Buy offer a $120 discount on multiple colors of Apple’s premium over-ear, noise-canceling headphones with USB-C charging.
This is one of the lowest prices we’ve seen — you can’t knock picking up a pair of AirPods Max for just $429.99. Especially considering we don’t see discounts on them all that often.
Love the convenience of 3-in-1 wireless chargers for iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods — but wish they were faster? Well, Ugreen joined the early wave of Qi2.2 chargers with it MagFlow 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger. And that means it leaps from 15 watts (Qi2) to 25W (Qi2.2) of charging power for late-model iPhones, which makes a big difference in charging speed. And with this Ugreen MagFlow charger deal, you can get $40 off right now on Amazon.
Apple continues testing iOS 26.2, seeding the third beta to developers. Building on the first two betas, the third beta contains several changes.
Below is everything new in iOS 26.2 beta 3.
AirPods Pro 3’s redesigned ear tips are an unexpected hit-or-miss change. The new foam-infused tips radically change how the earbuds feel when worn.
Apple knows the ear tips are not one-size-fits-all, so the company includes five sizes of ear tips in the AirPods Pro 3 box. You can easily switch them out to find the best size for your ears.
Using the wrong size can cause problems. The earbuds can slip out if they’re too small or irritate your ears if they’re too big. They might even cause high-pitched feedback if you engage active noise cancellation with the wrong size ear tips (especially when flying).
If you don’t like how your new AirPods Pro 3 feel in the ear, don’t be hasty and return them. You should try out different ear tips first. Here are some tips to make sure you achieve the best results.
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 the settings on your iPhone running iOS 26.1, and it’ll never happen again.
Here’s what to do.
Nomad launched updated versions of its Stand One and Stand One Max wireless chargers Tuesday, bringing support for the new Qi2.2 standard. It enables 25W fast charging for compatible iPhones. The upgrade matches the charging speeds of Apple’s latest MagSafe chargers and represents a significant improvement over the 15W charging supported by previous Qi2 models.
Apple’s nifty new feature that lets AirPods translate speech in real time will reportedly become available to EU residents while they’re in Europe next month.
That will put an end to an odd situation: Currently, non-Europeans can use the AirPods Live Translation feature while in Europe, and EU residents can use it when traveling outside the European Union but not within the EU.
Imagine being on a long plane flight and one of your new AirPods Pro 3 earbuds keeps whistling in your ear. Infuriating, eh? That’s what some users of Apple’s latest wireless earbuds say happens while flying.
It certainly doesn’t happen to every user. But there’s no easy solution for those experiencing the problem. Still, there are a few things you’ll need to be ready in case you’re unlucky.
★★★★☆
In the evolving landscape of wireless charging, Ugreen has positioned itself at the forefront with the MagFlow 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger — one of the first products to receive official Qi2.2 certification from the Wireless Power Consortium. With that boost from 15 watts (Qi2) to 25W (Qi2.2) for late-model iPhones, it’s great — but not without some minor problems.
Apple is already working on future generations of its AirPods lineup despite only recently releasing the AirPods Pro 3, according to a new report. The company focuses development efforts on transforming its popular earbuds into AI-powered devices with enhanced health tracking capabilities.
Shockingly, many of the amazing discounts on Apple gear that we saw during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days remain available for anyone who blinked and missed them. Some disappeared, but some actually got better!
We double-checked the deals early Thursday. Below, you can see all the best Prime Big Deal Days sales still going on Apple gear, from AirPods to iPads to MacBooks to the Studio Display. And that includes Apple audio subsidiary Beats, too.
Be aware that Amazon’s pricing often changes, and we have no idea how long any of these amazing Apple deals will last.
I put AirPods’ new Live Translation feature to the test and came away impressed with the results.
I tested the feature with the help of Niléane, a native French speaker and fellow tech blogger. While we hit a few stumbling blocks in our conversation, we were able to have a perfectly good chat for a solid 10 minutes.
I cut it down to a seven-minute video, where you can see it for yourself. Keep reading for my full thoughts and analysis of the fantastic new feature.
★★★★★
In testing the latest AirPods Pro 3 for this review, I found Apple’s high-end earbuds deliver remarkable audio quality and practically unbelievable active noise cancellation. Add to that a heart rate monitor that’s on par with the Apple Watch’s sensor, and Apple has made the best earbuds around even better.
The biggest upgrade is the AirPods Pro 3’s new foam-infused ear tips. They help increase the earbuds’ noise cancellation to uncanny levels. Plus, somehow, the audio quality sounds punchier than ever. I get better sound out of Apple’s tiny earbuds than from some over-ear headphones.
Here’s how the AirPods Pro 3 stack up to their predecessors.
Want noise-canceling Apple earbuds for less? Hop on this deal to snag a pair of refurbished first-gen AirPods Pro for just $89.99.
No, they don’t come with all the advanced features of second- and third-gen AirPods Pros. But they deliver quality audio and active noise cancellation at a price that even Amazon can’t beat.
AirPods have a new trick that lets them work as a camera remote. Simply pressing the earbuds’ stem can control your iPhone’s Camera app and snap a picture. This proves helpful when you want to set your iPhone to take a large group photo with you in it.
However, the feature is off by default. You need to activate it. Here’s what to do.
Early reviews of AirPods Pro 3 are out, and wow, are they positive. Engadget calls Apple’s latest a “comprehensive update to its best set of earbuds.” Cnet‘s headline perhaps said it best: “Big improvements, same price, no compromises.”
After poring over AirPods Pro 3 reviews from a wide variety of sources, it’s hard to find a negative comment anywhere.
With AirPods Pro 3 coming September 19, it’s time to sell your old AirPods for quick upgrade cash. The bad news is that Apple doesn’t let you trade in old AirPods, and neither will most other buyback services.
However, Cult of Mac offers good money for your old AirPods, making your next upgrade more affordable. We won’t leave you waiting weeks for your e-check if you sell us your old AirPods, AirPods Pro or AirPods Max to our buyback program. And we promise that none of the tech we receive will end up in a landfill.
So, what are you waiting for? Lock in a 30-day guaranteed quote in seconds, with no haggling or hassles. It’s the easy way to sell your old AirPods.