What makes the Apple AirPods the best earbuds for most iPhone owners?

AirPods are very easy to use.

In short, all AirPods are great for iPhone owners. My mom, brother, and the whole family will tell you, “AirPods just work.” AirPods seamlessly switch between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and work within Apple’s advanced Find My network. When paired specifically to an iPhone, you also get personalized Spatial Audio and Audio Sharing, the latter of which lets you share your music with a friend.

Apple’s H1 and H2 chips power its AirPods and perform much of the heavy lifting that allows them to work without a hitch when connected to an Apple device. These proprietary chipsets make pairing instantaneous, let you speak to Siri hands-free, and maintain a reliable connection. Of course, there is a catch: these features are limited to Apple devices. When you buy the AirPods Pro (2nd generation), you also get the U1 chip baked into the case. This chip allows you to precisely locate the case, which emits a “chirp” sound when you need to find it.

As an iPhone owner, when you buy AirPods, you're paying for convenience.

As an iPhone and AirPods Pro (2nd generation) owner, my favorite perk from this iconic duo is power efficiency and battery optimization. Grossly simplified, the AirPods use less power when paired to an iPhone than an Android phone. Additionally, battery optimization manages your AirPods’ battery health, slowing overall degradation, and extending their lifecycle. After a couple of weeks, my iPhone learned my listening habits and only charges my AirPods to 80%, topping them off at 100% right before I use them.

Although I’ve been using the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) since their release, I get that they’re not for everyone. Let’s explore why an iPhone user might want to sniff out other wireless earbuds.

Why you shouldn’t get AirPods

The Nothing Ear (right) are OS-agnostic and fit my ears better than Apple’s.

AirPods are generally not a great value for your money. For instance, the Nothing Ear () wield a similar feature set and cost $100 less than the AirPods Pro (2nd generation). On top of that, Nothing’s buds include a powerful companion app that works on Android and Apple phones. Apple, on the other hand, locks you into the Apple ecosystem for complete control, and even then it’s lacking some basics. Nothing also supports Microsoft Swift Pair and Google Fast Pair for instantaneous pairing across a wider range of devices than Apple’s one-touch pairing.

Audio enthusiasts will mostly stay away from the AirPods Max and AirPods earbuds because you can’t customize the sound (easily). Apple doesn’t let you adjust the EQ directly in its Settings app, forcing you to tweak it within your preferred music streaming app. Changing the settings in your streaming app means the changes only apply to that single app. Meanwhile, the Nothing X app hosts a multi-band EQ that lets you create a custom EQ profile and even share it with friends via QR code.

If you generally have a hard time getting earbuds to fit well, avoid the un-tipped AirPods (3rd generation).

Another con of AirPods is that they only stream over AAC. It is the highest-quality Bluetooth codec supported on iPhones, so this may not matter to Apple device owners, but many iPhone owners also use Windows machines for work (like I do). A Windows computer supports LDAC for higher audio quality than AAC as well as imperceptible lag. Certain Android phones also support LHDC, which delivers the highest streaming quality at up to 1Mbps (24 bit/192kHz) to compatible hardware like the Nothing Ear. While AAC is very good, some people want the highest bitrate, end of story, and you won’t get that from AirPods.

My last major gripe revolves around fit. While we’ve had good luck fitting the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and AirPods Max to our staff’s varying head and ear shapes, the untipped AirPods series has always given us trouble. Admittedly, Apple improved the fit stability with the AirPods (3rd generation), but even now, these open earbuds tend to shake loose from my ears and require constant readjustment. This is something you won’t find with other buds because many AirPods alternatives come with ear tips like the AirPods Pro line.

Apple doesn't allow listeners to directly customize the AirPods' sound profile.

I’m using the Nothing Ear as a case study, but you’ll find similar features and audio quality from sub-$100 earbuds too. A huge chunk of the AirPods’ price tags ($179, $249, or $549) goes toward convenience. Ultimately, you’re paying for the ease of having a decision made for you; Apple is telling customers that the AirPods are the best choice and the only choice worth considering. As we well know, that’s not true.

What are some of the best AirPods and AirPods Pro alternatives?

The Headphones Connect app lets you customize how the earbuds act in various situations.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 () are the best wireless earbuds for most people. At $299, the WF-1000XM5 carry a higher retail price than the AirPods Pro (2nd generation), but regular sales get the buds down to $229 – expensive but palatable. These active noise canceling (ANC) earbuds boast a better fit than the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and AirPods (3rd generation) due to their memory foam ear tips and ergonomic design. On the whole, the WF-1000XM5 block out even more noise than the AirPods Pro line, canceling out more low-frequency rumble than the AirPods Pro. On top of the active noise cancellation, Sony’s proprietary memory foam ear tips isolate you from midrange and upper frequencies (where ambient noise falls), effectively muting your environment.

Like the Nothing Ear, the WF-1000XM5 support LDAC for high-quality streaming with virtually no lag on Android and Windows devices. Sony’s Headphones Connect app provides extensive customization options that let you create personalized sound profiles and adjust controls to their preference. If you take phone calls, pick up Sony’s flagship buds. They cancel out almost all background noise while relaying your voice clearly. We can’t say the same about the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) mic quality, though it is very good.

You can toy with the smart case to control your earbuds in your phone’s place.

For an oddly practical twist, we suggest the JBL Live Beam 3 (). Unlike JBL’s competitors, the Live Beam 3 case has an integrated touch screen. Yes, I too was skeptical at first, but the smart case is really useful. Using the case’s touch screen means you hardly have to reach for your phone. Right from the case, you can control playback, cycle through ANC modes and EQ presets, locate your earbuds, and more. Similar to an Apple Watch, you can even personalize the case’s appearance with custom backgrounds.

The JBL Live Beam 3 have effective noise canceling that will quiet the sound of your office printer and morning train commute. Per our testing, the Live Beam 3’s sound quality is great for most listeners — though a bit bass-heavy for my tastes. Still, JBL makes it easy for people like me to de-emphasize the bass response through the mobile app, something that can’t be said of any AirPods. These retail for $199, but most JBL earbuds and headphones tend to go on sale for 25-40% off throughout the year. We expect the Live Beam 3 to follow suit.

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC delivers all the features most people need for only $100.

Budget listeners who love stemmed earbuds but don’t want to skimp on features should give the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC () a spin. These earbuds retail for $99, and we’ve seen them go for as little as $69. True to the Soundcore line, the Liberty 4 NC provide a great bang for your buck with ANC, high-quality Bluetooth codec support (SBC, AAC, and LDAC), and wireless charging.

Like the JBL Live Beam 3, most casual listeners will enjoy the bass-heavy frequency response from these buds. If extra bass isn’t your thing, the Anker app supports 22 EQ presets and an 8-band custom EQ for the audio cooks among us. Microphone quality isn’t anything to jump for joy here, but it’s good for cheap earbuds.

Should iPhone users buy AirPods in 2024?

There are plenty of great earbuds beyond Apple.

AirPods have set the standard for wireless earbuds by balancing convenience, sound quality, and features. But it isn’t 2017 anymore, and the wireless earbuds market has expanded rapidly over the past seven years. With competitors rapidly innovating and expanding their offerings, Apple’s crown may be slipping. While next-generation AirPods rumors have been circulating for months, the reality is that the current lineup hasn’t been updated in at least two years. Apple’s rivals have refined their products during the release gap. Now, you can find compelling alternatives with better sound quality, customizations, and often, for less than the competing AirPods model.

Ultimately, the best earbuds depend on your priorities and use case. If seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem is non-negotiable, AirPods may still make the most sense. However, if you want a more blended, balanced package that’s a better value, explore the increasing number of alternatives.

Frequently asked questions

If you’re invested in the Apple ecosystem, you’ll probably want to stick with a nice set of AirPods. Lucky for you, we’re celebrating Amazon Prime Day and Apple’s own headphones and earbuds couldn’t be left behind. All the best Apple AirPods are discounted today, and by quite a bit!

You can grab the Apple AirPods 3rd-gen for just $120, a 29% discount on the full $169 price point. If you want to upgrade to a nicer set of wireless earbuds, the AirPods Pro 2nd-gen are going for $169, which is 32% off the $249 MSRP. Lastly, you can even get the mighty AirPods Max at a 28% discount, bringing the price down from $549 to just $395.

Get the 3rd-gen Apple AirPods for $120

Get the 2nd-gen Apple AirPods Pro for $169

Get the Apple AirPods Max for $395

Apple AirPods 3rd-gen

The base AirPods are for those who want all the functionality without the higher price tag. As such, you get less sound isolation and more basic sound quality. That said, these are still great earbuds, especially if you can find them at just $120, thanks to Amazon Prime Day. The 3rd-generation AirPods come with an H1 chip, an IPX4 rating, adaptive EQ, spatial audio support, and a great MagSafe case with wireless charging.

Like all other AirPods, you will enjoy features like auto-pausing when taking off the earbuds, or switching between Apple devices seamlessly. And battery life is pretty nice at over six hours, based on our internal testing. Learn more about these in our full Apple AirPods 3rd-gen review.

Apple AirPods Pro 2nd-gen

If you can afford a bit more on the Apple AirPods Pro, you’ll be rewarded with better sound isolation, thanks to the more sealed tip fit. You’ll also get active noise canceling, which has been improved thanks to the H2 chip. We also loved the adaptive transparency modes, as we mentioned in our AirPods Pro 2nd-gen review.

Of course, you also get a wireless charging case. Battery life is also pretty good, albeit a little worse than the base AirPods. We managed to get five hours and 43 minutes out of a single charge, based on our testing.

Apple AirPods Max

These are obviously the biggest, meanest, most capable AirPods. The Apple AirPods Max come with a gorgeous design and solid build quality. The active noise canceling is impressive, and competes only with the best ANC headphones out there. This headset is very comfortable, too. Not to mention, the sound quality is great, with no distortion to be heard.

While Apple claims these should last 20 hours on a single charge, the headphones surpassed these expectations in our internal tests. We got them to last closer to 21 hours! Our only main complaint with these is the price, but at $400, the price is a bit less painful. They are definitely worth it if you can afford it and use Apple products, though.

If you’re looking for more deals, you can always take a look at our Sound Guys deals hub. We update it daily, and you’re bound to find some great audio deals in there.

Editor’s note: this article was published on July 10, 2024, and is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

What’s it like to use the Beats Solo Buds compared to the Apple AirPods (3rd generation)?

You get four different sizes of ear tips, an Apple Music trial, and as always a Beats sticker.

The Beats Solo Buds are much smaller than the Apple AirPods (3rd generation), at least when it comes to the charging case. The pill-shaped case is a lightweight 22g and easily fits into most pockets. Portability does come with a trade-off though, as the charging case doesn’t have a battery inside of it. This means the earbuds won’t recharge when you put them inside the case, unless the case is plugged in via USB-C.

Four different sizes of ear tips come with the Beats Solo Buds, which should ensure you get a comfortable fit. This is a big advantage over the Apple AirPods (3rd generation), which don’t have ear tips. If the shape of the AirPods doesn’t fit your ears, you’re out of luck.

The Apple AirPods (3rd generation) earbuds have a more rounded speaker element opening meaning a better fit in your outer ears—and a worse fit at the ear canal openings.

While the Apple AirPods (3rd generation) have a stem design, each earbud is still lighter than a Beats Solo Buds earbud. The charging case is a bit larger but has a battery inside that can charge up the earbuds on the go a few times over. Since the AirPods have some water resistance, they are the better option for wearing at the gym or out in the rain.

When it comes to onboard controls, the AirPods are superior to the Solo Buds. The stem of each earbud has a force sensor that you squeeze to control music playback or activate Siri. Using these controls doesn’t disrupt the fit of the earbuds in your ears. The AirPods also have ear detection to automatically pause your music when you take them out of your ears.

On the other hand, the Beats Solo Buds have physical buttons on the outside of each earbud that require a hard press to activate. I found using the controls disrupt the fit in my ears, which is uncomfortable and has a negative impact on sound quality and isolation.

Do the Beats Solo Buds or Apple AirPods (3rd generation) have more software features?

The AirPods have more intuitive controls.

If you have an iPhone, you don’t need to download an app to control either the Beats Solo Buds or the Apple AirPods (3rd generation). All of the functionality is baked directly into the iOS Settings app. You can customize the controls for both the Beats Solo Buds and Apple AirPods (3rd generation), but there is no native equalizer support to adjust the sound quality. You can use the Find My app on iOS to find either your lost Beats Solo Buds or Apple AirPods (3rd generation).

If you have an Android phone, you can download the Beats app to control the Beats Solo Buds. The app gives you access to most of the same functionality that iOS users enjoy, such as control customization and finding a lost earbud. One iOS-exclusive feature for both sets of earbuds is audio sharing, which allows you to listen to audio coming from the same Apple device on two different sets of Beats or AirPods earbuds. There is no Android app for AirPods, and you should not buy AirPods if you own an Android phone.

How do the Beats Solo Buds and Apple AirPods (3rd generation) connect?

Connectivity is not a concern with the Beats Solo Buds.

Both the Beats Solo Buds and Apple AirPods (3rd generation) have quick pairing to iOS devices. Simply open the earbud case near your iPhone, and you’ll see a pairing card pop up. Once you’re connected to one Apple device, you’ll enjoy instant pairing to all your iCloud devices. The Beats Solo Buds also have fast pairing to Android devices, whereas you’ll need to manually pair the AirPods by pressing and holding the button on the case.

We didn’t experience connectivity issues with either set of earbuds. The Beats Solo Buds have Bluetooth 5.3, while the Apple AirPods (3rd generation) have Bluetooth 5.0. Both support the standard Bluetooth codecs SBC and AAC.

Is battery life better on the Beats Solo Buds or Apple AirPods (3rd generation)?

The case is easy to operate with one hand.

In our battery testing, the Beats Solo Buds lasted 17 hours and 24 minutes on a single charge, whereas the Apple AirPods (3rd generation) lasted 6 hours and 21 minutes on a single charge. While this looks like a clear victory for Beats, keep in mind that the AirPods also have a battery inside the charging case for additional charges. Unless you plan on listening for longer than six hours at a time, battery life shouldn’t be a deciding factor here.

The Apple AirPods (3rd generation) have a few tricks up its sleeve in this department, such as wireless charging and MagSage charging. The AirPods also have optimized battery charging that won’t charge past 80% until you need to use it, which helps preserve the lifespan of AirPods.

Do the Beats Solo Buds or Apple AirPods (3rd generation) block noise better?

Save for some high-end attenuation, the Apple AirPods (3rd generation) don’t really block outside noise well.

Since the Apple AirPods (3rd generation) don’t seal to the ear canal, they don’t block out external noise. You can pretty much hear everything going on around you while wearing these. If you are planning on wearing your earbuds outdoors or on a train or airplane, you will find this extremely annoying, and it could result in noise-induced hearing loss.

While the Beats Solo Buds don’t have ANC, they do passively isolate a good amount of noise thanks to the silicon ear tips. Our testing shows that the earbuds reduce the loudness of most noise by 75%. That said, if you live in a noisy city, you should check out good noise canceling earbuds.

Do the Beats Solo Buds sound better than the Apple AirPods (3rd generation)?

The Beats Solo Buds and Apple AirPods (3rd generation) both have passable sound quality. You won’t be blown away by the sound quality of either, but I find both good enough for casual quick listening sessions.

Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)

The chart below shows how the sound of the Beats Solo Buds and Apple AirPods (3rd generation) was assessed by the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm from HEAD acoustics.

More people will likely prefer the sound of the AirPods, but it is close.

A simulated panel of listeners rates the sound quality of the Beats Solo Buds very similar to that of the Apple AirPods (3rd generation). Across Timbre, Distortion, and Immersivenes, we see very similar scores for both products, with the AirPods slightly winning out in each category.

Reviewer’s notes

The Beats Solo Buds emphasize upper mids where female vocals and guitars typically live. In a song such as “Without You” by Kygo, the vocals sound more prominent than the piano. These earbuds also have a strong amount of bass, especially compared to the highs. In “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk, drum cymbals sound much quieter than the bass guitar and vocals.

On the other hand, the Apple AirPods (3rd generation) are lacking in the lowest lows and highest highs, but pretty much nail everything in between. Since you don’t get ear tips, a lot of the sound quality experience here will depend on how well the earbuds actually fit in your ears.

You don’t get a proper equalizer to adjust the sound of either the Beats Solo Buds or the Apple AirPods (3rd generation), but the AirPods do come with Adaptive EQ which makes real-time adjustments to the low and midrange frequencies to compensate for fit. The AirPods also support spatial audio with head tracking, which makes it feel like the sound is coming from directly in front of you. Beyond listening to tracks mixed in Dolby Atmos, you can also use the Spatialize Stereo feature to convert any audio source to surround sound. While we find it often doesn’t sound as good as the original stereo mixes, you can convert mono mixes to stereo using this feature, which is pretty cool.

Objective Measurements

Bass is always poor with unsealed earphones, and Apple’s AirPods (3rd generation) buds are not immune to this.

As you can see in the frequency response chart above, the Apple AirPods (3rd generation) under-emphasize frequencies below 50Hz and above 10kHz. This leads to a lack of sub-bass and detail in cymbals and other high-frequency percussion instruments, depending on how the earbuds fit in your ears.

The Beats Solo Buds under-emphasize low-mids where piano and male vocals are typically found, as well as the highs where cymbals are heard. For the most part, both the Beats Solo Buds and Apple AirPods (3rd generation) follow our target preference curve.

Do the Beats Solo Buds or Apple AirPods (3rd generation) have a better microphone?

The Apple AirPods (3rd generation) have a significantly better microphone than the Beats Solo Buds. In ideal conditions, the Beats Solo Buds microphones sound okay but not as clear as the AirPods. In noisy conditions, such as a simulated street environment, the Beats Solo Buds microphones are abysmal. They have a noise gate that often cuts out the voice in addition to the background noise.

Beats Solo Buds microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Beats Solo Buds microphone demo (Street conditions):

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) microphone demo (Street conditions):

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Beats Solo Buds vs Apple AirPods (3rd generation): Price and availability

The price of the Beats Solo Buds is an easier pill to swallow.

When it comes to price, the Beats Solo Buds score a major win. They cost less than half that of the Apple AirPods (3rd generation), though you can now often find the latter on sale. Availability isn’t an issue for either model, as you can find both at pretty much any Apple store or other tech retailer.

Should you get the Beats Solo Buds or Apple AirPods (3rd generation)?

To be completely honest, neither the Beats Solo Buds nor Apple AirPods (3rd generation) are great options. You can find much better earbuds for less than $200, and some great options for less than $100.

If I had to choose one, I would lean towards the Beats Solo Buds. Even though the Apple AirPods (3rd generation) have more features, that significant price difference is hard to overcome. The lack of ear tips for a good fit with noise isolation also means I can’t use the AirPods in my noisy city.

What should you get instead of the Beats Solo Buds or Apple AirPods (3rd generation)?

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC delivers all the features most people need for only $100.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get better performance than the Beats Solo Buds and Apple AirPods (3rd generation). For starters, take a look at the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC, . The Liberty 4 NC have active noise canceling, a feature you won’t find on either the Beats or Apple earbuds. There’s also a very good chance you’ll like the way these earbuds sound more than the Beats and Apple offerings.

If you really care about sound quality, you should check out the Creative Aurvana Ace 2, . Using innovative xMEMS dual drivers, these earbuds have better sound quality than pretty much anything else currently on the market. You can also check out the Nothing Ear, , which have great sound quality and a ton of features.

Frequently asked questions