Table of Contents
Design
The AirPods come in three styles: open-ear tips (AirPods 3 and AirPods 4), noise-isolating earbuds with noise cancellation (AirPods Pro 2), and over-ear headphones (AirPods Max). Some people like the standard AirPods because they have an open design and don’t require you to stuff silicone tips into your ears. Note: The discontinued AirPods 2, which are based on the original AirPods design, have longer stems and slightly smaller eartips than AirPods 3. The new AirPods 4 are a bit more compact than AirPods 3 but a bit larger than AirPods 2. Meanwhile, the Beats Fit Pro have built-in wingtips that can help you get a more secure fit.
Budget
Before you do anything else, you’ll want to figure out how much you’re willing to spend on a new pair of AirPods. The quality of value-priced AirPods continues to improve as more models are released, so you can often find good affordable AirPods on sale for under $100. The premium models, which offer better build quality and performance, typically cost $300 or more — sometimes much more in the case of the AirPod Max.
Fit
It’s important that the AirPods you buy fit your head properly. They should be comfortable, but not too tight. Ideally, you want a pair of headphones that you can wear all day with minimal breaks. Consider the differences between in-ear and over-ear AirPods before you buy.
Sustainability
You want headphones that will last, so choose AirPods models that have a solid build quality.
AirPods or Beats earbuds and headphones?
Since Apple owns Beats, the various AirPods models and Beats models may share similar components and features. Beats products are generally aimed at both Apple and Android users, while AirPods are more aimed at Apple users (they have more features exclusive to Apple users), although they can be paired with Android devices.
Return Policy
Because the fit of your earbuds is so important, it is essential that you purchase them from a store with a good return policy. This is useful in case the earbuds do not fit your ears properly.
