Choose your AirPods by use:
- for sports: AirPods Pro 2
- to save: AirPods 2
- for sound: AirPods Max
- for good value for money: AirPods 3
- for active noise reduction: AirPods Pro 2
1 – AirPods Pro (second generation): sport and accessibility
With their silicone ear tips, AirPods Pro are the ones thatare best maintained in the pavilionwhen you are moving. So certainly the result is not at the level of that of real intra, but if you are looking for which AirPods to choose for moving, there you have your answer. The AirPods Pro also have the advantage of being resistant to splashes and sweat, unlike the AirPods Max and AirPods 2. As a result, no problem if you sweat while running or it starts to rain.
The AirPods Pro are also the only AirPods in our comparison equipped with aconversation amplifier. A tool that focuses the sound on the person speaking in front of you, to better understand them, useful for the hearing impaired or those with concentration problems (ADHD).
Finally, as their name suggests, the AirPods Pro are the best if you are looking for which AirPods to choose in the headphones templatetrue wireless.
2 – AirPods 3: the best autonomy?
Official comparative figures provided by Apple announce that its third generation AirPods, launched at the end of 2021, offer up to six hours of listening time on a single charge or thirty with their MagSafe charging case. The AirPods Pro 2 offer almost the same endurance, sometimes with a few minutes more depending on use. As for the AirPods 2, their full endurance is the same but they can last five hours on a single charge.
AirPods 3 © iPhon.fr
The AirPods Max, for their part, reach a maximum of twenty hours of listening time on a single charge but they are not entitled to a case that serves as a battery. Theirs, on the other hand, allows them to be kept on standby while spending little energy (we just wonder why Apple doesn't simply turn them off).
On fast charging
If you are looking for which AirPods to choose for your long trips, the “classic” AirPods of 2021 and the second generation AirPods Pro seem ideal. What's more, “5 minutes of charging in the case provides approximately 1 hour of listening timeor approximately 1 hour of conversation” according to Apple. But on this point, it is the AirPods Max which make the difference because in the same period of time, they offer thirty minutes more autonomy.
3 – AirPods 2: the cheapest
They last less time, do not have active noise reduction, only charge with a Lightning connector and not wirelessly, but AirPods (2nd generation) are the most affordable. Indeed, a quick updated comparison of the prices charged by Apple shows us that the brand increased their price to 149 euros (instead of 179 euros) by launching the AirPods 3. A price which has since increased by 10 euros with the inflation.
Other differences to keep in mind if you're looking for which AirPods to choose for a small budget: AirPods 2 are not waterproof, they are not compatible with Spatial Audio and have one less microphone than AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro 2.
AirPods 2 USB-C at the best price Base price: €149
4 – Which AirPods to choose for audio quality?
AirPods Max hands down win the award for best AirPods for music. And for good reason: these are real headphones, with a large diaphragm and very good speakers. The difference in size is obviously also in favor of this device, being that the other AirPods are entitled to a format that is not comparable.
As for the microphones, same remark:AirPods Max (complete technical sheet)count on a total of nine sensors, eight of which are for active noise reduction.
AirPods Max © iPhon.fr
Which AirPods to choose for noise reduction?
And precisely; noise cancellation, let's talk about it. This aircraft technology has been miniaturized to arrive in the AirPods Pro, butas our comparative test with the AirPods Max proves, the result is clearly different - and better - with the Bluetooth headset. “As good as they are, headphones from Sony, Bose or Sennheiser never compete with those from Apple in this area. We expected no less from a helmet sold for almost twice as much.”
In short, if you are wondering which AirPods to choose for taking public transport for example, or in any case operating in a noisy space, opt for the AirPods Max. Also very practical for working and/or studying in a shared location (library, media library, open space, etc.), with your special “concentration” music playlist playing in your ears.
5 – Which AirPods should I choose if I travel?
Please note that all the AirPods presented in this comparison are compatible with the Locate app, to find them in the event of loss or theft. But this may not be the key characteristic for nomads.
AirPods 2 © iPhon.fr
No, if you are looking for which AirPods to choose before going on vacation, taking a plane or even boarding a TGV Ouigo, then the second generation AirPods are perhaps the most suitable. In fact, they are the easiest to transport because they take up much smaller space than other AirPods. Andless weight at check-in, Also.
The difference with AirPods Max, for example, is just obvious: more than five hundred grams for the headset with its Smart Case compared to... only around forty-two for the AirPods 2.
6 – Price comparison
In addition, as you will see in the comparison that follows, AirPods are the cheapest to replace in the event of loss. It costs seventy-five euros per unit for basic headphones, a difference of almost 25% with the same price for AirPods Pro. As for AirPods Max… The AppleCare+ deductible is twenty-nine euros, for eighty-five euros if the battery needs to be changed. And we are of course not talking about the total value of the accessory in the event of a major incident.
Moreover, if your objective is to know which AirPods to choose according to your means, here is the price list provided by their manufacturer upon purchase:
- 159 euros for AirPods 2with wired charging case
- 219 euros for AirPods 3
- 299 euros for AirPods Profrom 2022
- 629 euros for AirPods Max
Tip: second generation AirPods with wireless charging case are also sold from 149 euros, but no longer in the Apple Store. However, resellers regularly offer interesting offers on this product, precisely because it is starting to date. Same thing for the old AirPods first of the name, sometimes close to100 eurosonly.
7 – Compatibility comparison
AirPods Pro 2, AirPods (2nd generation),AirPods (3rd generation)and AirPods Max are all compatible with the iPhone 14 line. Same for iPhone 12 and all iPhone 13. There's actually no difference for compatibility (iPad and computers included), although some headphones should stop to be supported by their manufacturer before others depending on their release date.
Which AirPods to choose for iPhone 6, 6 Plus and 5s?
Among the AirPods still available in the Apple Store, the AirPods 2 are the only ones announced as still compatible with the iPhone 5s, iPhone6 and iPhone 6 Plus models. This does not mean that it will be impossible to pair other AirPods with it, but you risk encountering serious differences in functionality, or even bugs.
The same goes for the iPod touch 6 and the iPad mini 2 and 3.
