The AirPods are Apple's totally wire-free earbuds that are meant to compensate for the lack of a headphone jack on modern iPhones. Available for $129 for the base model and $179 for the model with Active Noise Cancellation, the AirPods 4 feature a refined fit, improved audio with dynamic head tracking, a force sensor on the stem to play and pause media, and the smallest case yet on any AirPods model.
With the debut of the AirPods 4, Apple has stopped selling the AirPods 2 and the AirPods 3, although third-party retailers may continue to have stock for a while.
In fall 2025, Apple introduced AirPods Pro 3 for $249, with upgraded H3 chip, better Active Noise Cancellation, better in-ear fit, upgraded audio, and IP57 sweat and water resistance. Specifically, Apple said that AirPods Pro 3 feature 2x better ANC than AirPods Pro 2, and 4x better ANC than the original AirPods Pro.
Lastly, in March 2026 Apple debuted the AirPods Max 2 for $549. The AirPods Max 2 feature the H2 chip, increased active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, and Live Translation. The new AirPods Max have the same overall design as the previous generation, with most of the new features coming from the upgrade to the H2 chip.
AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max can sometimes be hard to find, but several third-party retailers offer the Apple-designed earbuds. To read more on the AirPods family, make sure to check out our AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max roundups.