Apple perfected wireless earbuds in 2022 with the AirPods Pro 2. I'll still die on the hill that they're the world's best earbuds. Phenomenal sound, near-perfect ANC, and a pretty universal fit equals a slam-dunk. What more can you possibly want?

Nothing. I don't want anything else. It's 2026, and I still use my 2023 USB-C AirPods Pro 2 every single day. I've reviewed over thirty pairs of earbuds — everything from the brand-new Sennheiser Momentum 5 True Wireless to the best bang-for-buck EarFun Air Pro 4+ — and yet, I can't quit my AirPods Pro 2.

But why? What kind of cosmic hold do these earbuds have over me — and can you even still buy them? Let's get into it.

What makes the AirPods Pro 2 so perfect?

I value three things above all else: sound quality, comfort, and convenience. The AirPods Pro 2 tick all those boxes for me.

Sound quality is my number one. The AirPods Pro 2 strike the balance between bass and detail perfectly. As I type this, I'm listening to the indie track "Boyface" by PVA. My AirPods handle the ethereal, echoey vocals and the discordant synths incredibly well, with no suppression of the percussion even in quiet periods.

The AirPods Pro 2 don't balk at heavier tracks, either. "Rusty Cage" by Soundgarden sounds propulsive, the fearless electric guitars, cymbals, and powerful vocals smashing together with zero reluctance. No wimpy, taciturn instruments here.

Next, comfort. Now, I'll preface this by saying I have weirdly small ears. This will not apply to everyone. If you have normal-sized ear holes, you'll be fine with the majority of earbuds. But for other small-eared folk, the AirPods Pro 2 are your perfect earbuds. I can't even wear the AirPods Pro 3 — but I'll get into that a little later.

Because the AirPods Pro 2 don't have the bump-out present in its successor, it's much more manageable for the cartilage-challenged amongst you. If you're struggling to find a pair of earbuds that don't hurt after a few hours, definitely try out the Pro 2.

Finally: convenience. This is one of the most important aspects of an earbud. In my opinion, you need something with wear detection and seamless multipoint connectivity as a bare minimum. I've tested many earbuds without wear detection, and while it's fair enough if the earbuds cost less than about $50, it's, admittedly, annoying.

Multipoint — specifically, multipoint so seamless you don't even notice it — is a non-negotiable. As I drift between my iPhone, MacBook, and iPad, I need my earbuds to follow along. And, as frustrating as it is, AirPods can do this best. They're literally designed for the Apple ecosystem, so, for me, they're best suited to my needs.

What do the AirPods Pro 2 do that other earbuds don't?

Sure, loads of other earbuds have excellent sound quality, comfort, and convenience. I've tested tons of earbuds I would recommend to anyone wholeheartedly.

In terms of sound quality, my favorites are: Sennheiser Momentum 5 True Wireless, Status Audio Pro X, EarFun Air Pro 4+, Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, and for the super-budget-conscious amongst you, CMF Buds 2 Pro. All these earbuds have clear, detailed, satisfying, and faithful sound quality. Some are bassier than others — Samsung — and some are more detailed — EarFun — but they all sound fantastic.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen and Sony WF-1000XM6? Controversial, but honestly... take it or leave it. Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro do what the QC Ultra do but better, and the AirPods Pro 2 do what the XM6s do but better.

Comfort is, quite literally, not one-size-fits-all. Consequently, this isn't going to be an issue for many people. But even the best-sounding earbuds hurt my ears after a while: the Status Audio Pro X, the AKG Hybrid N5, the Sennheiser Momentum 5 True Wireless... the list goes on. Even the AirPods Pro 3.

Basically, if a pair of earbuds is too big, it doesn't matter how good they sound. They could sound like angels serenading me, but if they hurt, I'm not gonna wear them.

Finally, convenience.

This is, unfortunately, a war only Apple can win.

As someone with an iPhone, MacBook, Apple Watch, and iPad, I'm so deep in the Apple ecosystem I couldn't claw myself out even if I wanted to. What do you mean, replace all my tech? Not possible. I have an entire lifetime of photos on iCloud. It's just not going to happen at this point.

But, even so, I can't get the AirPods Pro 3 — they hurt my ears. I'm stuck with the AirPods Pro 2 ... but I'm not mad about it at all. I love my Pro 2. They sound great, feel like I'm wearing nothing, and still get new features thanks to the H2 chip.

Obviously, I know the AirPods Pro 2 aren't the be-all and end-all. I know the battery life could be better. But, really, that's the only major negative. Sure, I have to charge them every other day at this point, but do I care? Not really. When I unplug my phone, I plug in my earbuds. It's really not that cumbersome.

I'm touching wood as I write this, but when my AirPods Pro 2 finally croak, I'm just going to buy another pair. You can still get them refurbished at BackMarket in the U.K. and on Amazon U.S., so that's me sorted for another three+ years.

What do you think? Have you got one pair of favorite earbuds you would never upgrade from? Or do you love trying out as many pairs as possible?

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple AirPods 5 preorders — here's how to get yours today
• Apple AirPods 5 officially announced — here are the upgrades
• AirPods Ultra: Everything we know so far about Apple's camera earbuds

After weeks of rumors, Apple finally announced the AirPods 5 on September 9 at its "Surprise and Shine" iPhone Duo event.

Like the AirPods 4 before them, the AirPods 5 will come in two distinct flavors: a base model with ANC and a higher-end model with a wireless charging case and a volume slider on the stem.

Both versions of the AirPods 5 will be powered by the H2 Wireless Chip that offers personalized spatial audio and live translation, but is all that reason enough to upgrade from the now two-year-old AirPods 4? The answer isn't exactly clear cut.

AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4: Price and availability

Because there are two AirPods 5 models, there are two prices: $129 / AU$219 for the base model and $149 / AU$249 for the higher-end model.

The AirPods 4, now a few years old, are obviously less expensive. They start at just $99 for the base model. Interestingly, however, the more advanced AirPods 4 with ANC is still sitting at $149. That's going to make the decision pretty easy if you need ANC.

My favorite Apple earbuds are the AirPods Pro 3, and those start at $249. It's a pretty big leap in price, but I think they're all-around a better option, especially when compared to the AirPods 4.

AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4: Design

Admittedly, there's not a lot of difference on the design front. Apple claims the AirPods 5 offer "an all-new multiport acoustic architecture" but you certainly wouldn't know it just by looking at them.

The major design difference between the AirPods 5 and AirPods 4 can be found on the stems of the newer model. It's so small you'll likely miss it, but if you look close you'll see a touch-capacitive divot that acts as a volume slider. It's a very minor detail that the AirPods 5 take from the more-expensive AirPods Pro 3.

Speaking of nice-to-have features, the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case (the proper name of the more-advanced AirPods 5 model) do offer wireless charging (duh). You can use the same charger as the Apple Watch, Qi-compatible chargers or plain old USB-C if you don't already own a wireless charging mat.

AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4: Controls

Besides the aforementioned volume slider functionality, both the AirPods 5 and AirPods 4 use touch sensitive stems to control your music.

Both pairs of true wireless earbuds can differentiate between squeezes and taps, but it's up to you to learn which one does what.

I've never been a huge fan of touch technology in earbuds and prefer to use my voice or my phone to control playback, but it's nice to have the option in a pinch.

AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4: Sound quality

Here's where things are going to get a bit murky. Apple claims that, due to its improved sonic architecture, the AirPods 5 are going to sound better than the AirPods 4. Sound, as we all know, is subjective, and I can't really comment on their sound quality until I've heard them myself.

So until then, let's hear from someone who's listened to both.

Kate Kozuch, the Head of Video here at Tom's Guide was in Cupertino this week to check them out. According to her, the "bass was a noticeable improvement" on the AirPods 5. That counts for a lot in a pair of open earbuds like the AirPods.

Still, Kate didn't feel like there was a big enough difference between the two to warrant an upgrade. "This is coming from an AirPods 4 user: I don't think anyone needs to upgrade from AirPods 4."

If you want the best sound quality in a pair of wireless earbuds, then, your best bet is still going to be the pricier AirPods Pro series.

AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4: Features

The AirPods 5 take some of the best features of the AirPods Pro (besides sound quality, obviously) and bring them down to a more affordable price.

Like the Pro, the AirPods 5 offer Spatial Audio support, live translation and "significantly improved" ANC. How significant? According to Apple, the AirPods 5 cancel out "50 percent more external noise compared to AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation." So pretty big.

Now, keep in mind that these are open earbuds, so the ANC isn't going to be world-class here. I'd still expect a pair of Bose over-ears to do a better job than the AirPods 5, but hey, I'll take any improvement we can get.

AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4: Battery life

One of our biggest complaints against the AirPods 4 was that their battery life was a little lacking. You could get around 5 hours of listening with ANC off, and 4 hours when you turn it on. That's a lot less than the competition and it means having to constantly reach for a charger.

The base AirPods 5 don't seem to offer much of an improvement here, but the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case offer an additional hour with ANC turned on thanks to a redesigned battery.

Will an extra hour make or break the experience? Probably not, especially when rival earbuds like the Sony WF-1000XM6 offer around 8 hours with ANC turned on.

AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4: Early outlook

If you're just getting AirPods for the first time, the AirPods 5 seem to be worth the extra $30 to get the ones with wireless charging.

If you're someone who already owns a pair of AirPods 4, however, it's not so cut and dry. Spatial audio, the audio slider and live translation are all great, don't get me wrong, but I'm not sure I'd toss out my old earbuds just to tap into them, especially when key areas like battery life haven't been improved all that much.

There are also some really great AirPods alternatives out there and, if you don't mind spending more for them, the award-winning AirPods Pro Series that I use every single day are some of the best wireless earbuds on the market. If you can, skip the AirPods and go straight for the AirPods Pro, but if the budget is tight, the base AirPods 5 will get you half the performance for around $100.

More from Tom's Guide

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• Apple Watch Ultra 4 vs Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: price, specs and features compared

The AirPods family just got bigger. Apple officially unveiled its AirPods 5 at its "Surprise and Shine" keynote. And whereas most of the devices announced at the keynote included higher prices, the AirPods 5 are actually cheaper than their predecessors.

AirPods 5 preorders are available now for $129 with ANC at Amazon or $149 with a Wireless Charging Case at Amazon. That's cheaper than the AirPods 4 which cost $129 without ANC and $179 with ANC.

The AirPods 5 feature the same H3 Wireless Chip found in previous models, but usher in live translation, full support for Siri AI, and 50% more noise reduction than the previous generation. They'll be available in stores on September 18.

Currently, there are no AirPods 5 deals available. However, it's only a matter of time before a retailer like Amazon or Best Buy knocks $10 off. (For more Apple deals, make sure to check out our Apple Store coupons coverage).

Quick Links

• AirPods 5 w/ ANC: for $129 @ Amazon
• AirPods 5 w/ Wireless Charging Case: for $149 @ Amazon
• AirPods 5 w/ ANC: for $129 @ Walmart
• AirPods 5 w/ Wireless Charging Case: for $149 @ Walmart
• AirPods 5 w/ ANC: for $129 @ Best Buy
• AirPods 5 w/ Wireless Charging Case: for $149 @ Best Buy
• AirPods 5 w/ ANC: for $129 @ Apple
• AirPods 5 w/ Wireless Charging Case: for $149 @ Apple

Apple AirPods 5 preorders

Apple AirPods 5 — what's new?

The AirPods 5 have an open ear fit with next-gen adaptive EQ. You also get better Siri features, real-time Live Translation, and a durable design that can withstand rain. In terms of battery life, you'll get up to 4 hours with ANC or up to 20 hours with charging case. The upgraded AirPods 5 model has a touch sensitive stem that offers 5 hours of battery with ANC and comes with a wireless charging case, all priced at $149.

Apple claims they remove up to 50% more noise than the AirPods 4 with ANC thanks to the new multiport acoustic architecture and improved computational audio algorithms. There's also a new Transparency mode that more naturally represents voices and nearby sounds, helping users stay connected to their surroundings.

Shop more deals

Apple just announced the AirPods 5 alongside a bunch of other products at the "Surprise and Shine" event in Cupertino, California.

Packed with new features, the AirPods 5 definitely look like a worthwhile alternative to the latest AirPods Pro 3.

They have the open fit the previous models were known for, which is great for people who don't like the Pro's tips. Apple says they'll have the best ANC for this type of earbud, which is a big deal.

Apple Watch 5 quick info

• Price: $129 / AU$219 for the base model with ANC. $149 / AU$249 for the higher-end model with a wireless charging case and volume on the stem.
• Availability: Announced at the "Surprise and Shine" event; available for pre-order today
• Features: Live translation, full support for Siri AI, 50% more noise reduction than the previous generation,
• Under-the-hood: H3 Wireless Chip
• Battery life: Up to 4 hours of listening time with ANC on, up to 20 hours with the charging case

What makes the AirPods 5 stand out?

Apple announced some exciting new features for the AirPods 5, but perhaps the most exciting element is the lower price. The base model, now with active noise cancellation, costs only $129 / AU$218. That's the same price as the AirPods 4 without ANC.

At the same time, Apple announced an upgraded version, the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, for $149 AU$249. That's cheaper than the high-end AirPods 4. In today's economy, prices don't drop often, so this is exciting.

As the name implies, it offers wireless charging, but it also has a force sensor with volume swipe, which the company says is a first for the open-ear form factor.

The other big change for the more expensive model is longer battery life. The cheaper model is rated to last about four hours with ANC on, while the upgraded model should last about five hours.

Obviously, audio quality is critical for any pair of headphones, and Apple is making some lofty promises. It described a "new multiport acoustic architecture and next-generation Adaptive EQ deliver richer, more detailed sound across an even wider range of ear geometries."

Apple is also integrating AI features like Live Translation and Siri AI, so you can take advantage of them at a lower price point.

More from Tom's Guide

• Best AirPods: Top Apple models tested and rated
• Apple Watch Ultra 4 needs these 3 features to compete with the likes of the Garmin Fenix 9
• Apple September event live blog

Apple's huge "Surprise and Shine" is just days away and the first major event under the leadership of incoming CEO John Ternus' promises to be a big one. And now we have a fairly clear picture of what the company should announce.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has dropped a massive report that outlines everything Apple should release over the next year. And we expect 9 of those new devices to come at the Apple September event, including Apple's first foldable phone in the iPhone Ultra.

We've got a full breakdown of the devices likely headed your way, from the iPhone 18 Pro series and Apple Watch 12 to a new HomePad.

When is the Apple event?

Apple has slated its "Surprise and shine" event for Wednesday, September 9 at Apple Park. Typically, Apple would hold its event on a Tuesday, but this year it's coming right after Labor Day, meaning it's being pushed to Wednesday.

This has happened before and Apple's reasoning has been that the company doesn't want to ask attendees to travel on the holiday weekend. As an example, the iPhone 14 launched on Wednesday, September 7, following Labor Day on Monday 5.

The event is set to take place at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST and will be livestreamed on various social media platforms as well as Apple's own site.

iPhones generally go up for pre-order the Friday following the Apple event, but this year that's September 11. Gurman has reported that pre-orders will be pushed to Saturday, September 12.

New CEO John Ternus is expected to host the monster event, and his tenure appears ready to start with a bang.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max

This year, we believe that Apple will only launch the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models. The entry-level iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Plus reportedly won't debut until next spring alongside the iPhone 18e.

The design of the Pro models should look similar to last year's iPhone 17 Pro models. However, the Dynamic Island should be smaller, with a 24MP selfie camera. Rumors suggest the Pro Max model will also gain exclusive access new variable aperture lens and might also have a longer 6x zoom.

Both models should feature Apple's new 2nm A20 Pro chip and a new C2 modem. A recent leak suggests the A20 Pro could feature the largest ever GPU inside an iPhone, meaning better, more efficient performance. Speaking of performance, the latest rumors suggest the iPhone 18 Pro Max could pack a new battery somewhere between 5,391 mAh and 5,567 mAh, and if Apple pushes the silicon's efficiency performance closer to 30%, it could last over 23 hours on a single charge.

For more, see our iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max comparison.

Unfortunately, analysts have predicted that the new iPhone 18 Pro models could cost between $200 and $250 more than the iPhone 17 Pro family. Here's hoping you have that extra money saved to cover the difference.

iPhone Ultra

The biggest announcement of the Apple event is sure to be the debut of the foldable iPhone Ultra.

An unboxing video from this week revealed a squat passport shape similar to the new Galaxy Z Fold 8, with a 7.8-inch foldable display and a 5.5-inch cover screen. Apple has allegedly made a crease-free display, one of the hangs up that stopped the company from making a foldable until now.

The Ultra could measure between 4.5 and 4.8mm when unfolded, making it one of the thinnest iPhones ever.

Inside, the Ultra would also feature the A20 Pro chipset and Apple's in-house C2 modem, plus a Touch ID fingerprint scanner in the power button — in lieu of Face ID. It's supposed to feature a fairly larger 4,883 mAh battery.

The rear panel should house two 48MP cameras horizontally positioned (wide and ultrawide) and two separate 24MP selfie cameras — one for the cover display and one for the interior screen.

Apple reportedly delayed releasing a folding iPhone until it could eliminate the crease in the display, but whether it's accomplished this remains to be seen. Even Samsung and Oppo, despite their long lead time, have only had moderate success.

One downside is that the iPhone Ultra price could be very expensive, costing anywhere from $2,000 to 2,500. And a recent leak suggests that iPhone Ultra may not be immediately available, with only "extremely limited" availability.

Just keep in mind that the iPhone Ultra could have a number of trade-offs versus the iPhone 18 Pro, including the lack of a telephoto zoom.

AirPods 5

The rumor mill has been excitedly leaking information about the AirPods Ultra, which could feature a camera that will feed into Siri to allow it to "see" the world. But according to a Mark Gurman report, we aren't expecting the AirPods Ultra until 2027 at the earliest.

Instead, we should get a slightly upgraded pair of AirPods 5. AppleTrack claims the design will be similar to the current AirPods 4.

Only two real upgrades have been suggested, including a better chip, volume control on the buds and a heart sensor similar to the Pro models. From a software side, the new AirPods 5 will likely take advantage of the more powerful Siri AI releasing this fall, though what features it gets remains to be seen.

Apple Watch 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4

Similar to the AirPods, the leakers have been fairly quiet about the next Apple Watches. We are expecting to see the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4.

The designs shouldn't change too much, though Apple might offer a ceramic case option for the new watches. The biggest change might be a new kind of band attachment. This does mean that your old bands might not be compatible with the new watches.

AppleTrack suggests Apple will put a new S12 chip in the watches with a focus on speed and battery life, though exactly how fast and how much better was not revealed.

Both watches should get new health and fitness features. We already know that watchOS 27 will bring new AI features, an updated Workout Buddy and more useful data tracking. Plus, it should feature better integration with the upgraded Siri AI, which we've already seen in the iOS 27 beta.

Apple TV 4K

Apple hasn't released a new version of the Apple TV 4K since 2022. We're long overdue for an upgrade — even if it's only a more powerful chip for stronger performance.

Like everything else this year, don't expect new designs. It should look similar to older editions. Rumors have repeatedly suggested that the streaming box will feature the A17 Pro chip — the same as in the iPhone 15 Pro models. It should also get the in-house N1 chip for better Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Outside of chips, the big upgrade would be Siri AI, which could let you connect the Apple TV as a hub for smart devices. One rumor suggested that Apple might release a set-top box with a camera, which would allow for FaceTime calls and gesture-based controls.

AppleTrack suggests that the new Apple TV will be expensive, possibly costlier than the current edition, which is currently priced at $199 and $179 following price hikes this summer.

Smart Home

Since Apple Intelligence was introduced in 2024, rumors and leaks have hinted at Apple's ambitious plans to create a suite of smart home devices, and it all starts with revamped HomePods. The problem has been a lack of a viable AI-powered Siri, which will finally come to fruition thanks to iOS 27.

If it actually releases and works as pitched, this year could actually be the start of Apple Home.

HomePad Home hub

The totally redesigned HomePod would likely get a new name, the HomePad, because it's functionally an iPad stapled to a HomePod speaker.

Several different iterations of this device have been rumored, including one with a $1,000 robot arm. Currently, rumors claim it will launch in two versions: the iPad/speaker and a wall-mounted touchpad similar to the Google Nest Hub or Amazon's Echo Show 8.

The system would run a new HomeOS, based on watchOS. It could have a FaceTime camera for video calls and presence sensors to initiate smart home routines. The camera might enable face recognition that would display personalized displays based on the user.

For more check out our HomePad rumor roundup.

HomePod mini 2

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, long a reporter of the rumored HomePod updates, believes that a new HomePod mini could launch this September alongside the rumored HomePod Home hub.

A new HomePod mini might debut, but it probably won't be as big of an upgrade as the Hub. Most rumors suggest that it will feature a new chip and audio improvements. The current version debuted in 2020, and like the Apple TV 4K, is long overdue for an update.

Like the HomePad, it will use Siri AI to run smart home routines, though only through voice commands.

Apple's future products

While the Surprise and Shine event will take the headlines next week, Gurman's report reveals a total of 41 devices that Apple could launch over the next three years.

This includes everything from an OLED iPad mini and M6 Macs to a MacBook Neo refresh and the iPhone Air 2. There is even speculation on devices that could launch in 2028 and beyond. We'll get into all that elsewhere but for now, here's what should round out the year.

Other Apple devices slated for 2026

Outside of new M6 chips, the big updates on this list are all about adding OLED to Apple's Mac lineup. If Apple sticks with its usual schedule, these will launch around October, maybe early November at the latest.

• iPad mini with OLED screen: Outside of chips, the iPad mini has retained the same design since 2021. An OLED display would be one of the biggest updates in years. It should making gaming, watching media and general tasks more enjoyable. Though with everything getting more expensive don't expect the same $599 price tag.
• M6 iMac refresh: We've already seen the M6 chipset in action with the announced M6 Mac mini, which proved efficient. The iMac should get a similar update this fall.
• M6 14-inch MacBook Pro refresh: Like the iMac, we're only expecting a chip update from the M5 to the M6, but it should prove powerful.
• First MacBooks with touch display and OLED: Like the iPad mini, MacBooks might finally get a touch display and OLED panel this year. However, it will likely feature the M5 Pro and M5 Max processors, not the M6. Additionally, it might get a new name, MacBook Ultra, and a higher price tag.

Will you be tuning in to Apple's event? Let me know which device you're most hyped for in the comments.

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Apple's September event is here, and it's likely to bring us a new pair of AirPods, either the recently rumored AirPods 5 or the entirely new, cutting-edge AirPods Ultra.

Reporting from folks like Mark Gurman at Bloomberg claim that the so-called AirPods Ultra will leverage a new H3 chip, built-in cameras and Apple Intelligence to detect objects around you. They'll be a step in between the AirPods Pro 3 with heart-rate detection and more intrusive wearables like Meta's "pervert glasses."

So, what exactly do we know about these futuristic earbuds? Here's a full breakdown.

AirPods Ultra: Potential release date

The earliest reports of a camera-equipped pair of AirPods came from noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a report dated July 1 2024, Kuo said that "the cameras can detect changes in the environment" and could "potentially enable in-air gesture control to enhance human-device interaction."

The legend of the camera-equipped AirPods Ultra has only grown from there.

These days, the person who seems to know the most about the AirPods Ultra is Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Back in January of 2025, Gurman said in a newsletter that Apple was “exploring other types of wearable products” that included a pair of AirPods that could come with miniature infrared cameras. Back in June, he said that we're likely looking at a 2027 release date. This was then repeated in a post on X.

It's possible Apple might unveil them at this September's iPhone 18 event, but I'm not entirely convinced. Apple is rarely in a rush to release a product, especially one as potentially complex as the AirPods Ultra are rumored to be, so I'm not exactly putting money on this.

The most likely scenario based on the reports I've read peg the AirPods 5 as the most likely candidate for the 2026 event and the AirPods Ultra for a Spring or Fall 2027 launch.

AirPods Ultra: Potential features

So what are the AirPods Ultra going to do different from the current-gen AirPods Pro 3? Well, it turns out, quite a lot.

As far as we know right now, there are two different models in the works: There's a B790 model and a B798 model. The former is closer to launch than the latter, and it's unlikely that both will debut at the same time.

On the outside of the earbuds will be IR cameras that can scan objects around you using Apple's Visual Intelligence. (If you have long hair that impedes the view of one of these cameras, the earbuds will ask you to move it to the side.)

A video purportedly found in the latest macOS Tahoe 26.7 software shows what this could look like in action.

The AirPods Ultra's IR cameras are, reportedly, lower resolution than Meta's AR glasses and will feature a light-up LED that will turn on when it's scanning, which should mean that they'll be less of a privacy concern than other wearables we've seen lately.

There are a number of potential uses for IR-enabled earbuds, including proximity detection to other people that can improve ANC functionality.

To power this functionality would be a new H3 chip. Little is known about it other than the fact that it is the key driver of the deeper Apple Intelligence integration. Better processors usually enable better noise cancelling, however, so expect to see that as a feature Apple touts sometime in the future, too.

AirPods Ultra: Potential price

All this cutting-edge tech isn't likely to come cheap. A fair assumption right out of the gate is that the AirPods Ultra will cost more than the current-generation AirPods Pro 3 that currently sit at $249 / £249 / AU$429.

I would not be surprised if Apple charged $349, which would be $100 more than the AirPods Pro 3. There is some wiggle room if Apple wants to increase the sticker price of its new earbuds: Two of the AirPods' biggest rivals, the Sony WF-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2, cost $299.

For now, all we can do is prognosticate what Apple will do with pricing as the AirPods Ultra are truly a one-of-a-kind device that doesn't really match up with anything on the market at the moment.

AirPods Ultra outlook: Why I'm skeptical

The AirPods Ultra do sound like an extremely inventive innovation in the world of wireless earbuds. The ability for a pair of earbuds to detect objects around a user has major implications for the future of wearable technology.

However, I have two major reservations about the AirPods Ultra.

The first is that it's unlike Apple to jump first when it comes to launching a new type of product. Apple wasn't the first AR glasses manufacturer, for instance, and it certainly wasn't the first to make an MP3 player or laptop. What Apple usually does is that it lets competitors lead and then presents a more elegant solution.

Even if the AirPods Ultra are production-ready, that doesn't mean Apple will put them out without waiting for something else on the market first.

I'm also skeptical about the cameras themselves. Apple paints itself as extremely privacy focused. Putting cameras on a pair of earbuds flies in the face of that stance. Unless there are some serious limitations of the technology (like the only data it collects are IR images), it'll be hard for Apple to keep its privacy-first reputation.

But if Apple finds the balance between features and privacy, locks in at a reasonable price and gets developers on board, the AirPods Ultra could truly be the next big thing in wireless earbuds.

More from Tom's Guide

• AirPods Ultra with cameras are 'nearly ready' — here's 4 features you need to know
• AirPods Ultra 'almost certainly' hinted at in iOS 27 code — and they could be a huge audio (and camera) upgrade
• Apple iPhone 18 event — all the new products expected to launch in September

Apple's AirPods are a mainstay on our list of best wireless earbuds due to things like sound quality, noise canceling, and the way they fit seamlessly into the Apple ecosystem. While the AirPods are almost universally loved, the next iteration of the famous white buds could prove a bit more divisive.

We've heard rumors for awhile that a new pair of AirPods reportedly called the 'AirPods Ultra' could feature on-board cameras for the first time. These are believed to act as a visual input for Siri and could be revealed next month at Apple's iPhone 18 event.

Now, the team at MacRumors claims to have uncovered a video in the macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate showing the AirPods Ultra in action.

The video shows a man picking up a book and glancing at it while wearing a pair of distinctive white AirPods. Meanwhile, a Siri-esque voiceover says, "With Visual Intelligence, your world becomes savable. See something you like? Just ask me to save it for later."

According to the site, if an obstruction like long hair is in the way of the AirPod cameras, the wearer receives an alert that reportedly states: "To get the most accurate information about things in your environment, make sure AirPods are not covered."

Unlike some of the best smart glasses, the cameras on the AirPods Ultra aren't designed for taking pictures. Instead, they're believed to act as a way to feed Siri information for Visual Intelligence without users having to take out their iPhone to snap a picture. A small LED is expected to be included that will reveal when the earbuds are capturing information from the outside world.

Avoiding a backlash

Launching any kind of head-mounted wearable with cameras attached is turning into a risky endeavor right now. There's a growing privacy debate about the 'pervert glasses' aspect of smart eyewear and Apple could easily fall into this trap if it doesn't nail the messaging.

A quick glance over at X shows plenty of users ready to be concerned about what Apple has planned.

The user @MatheasRomak wrote on X: "Yuck… I don’t need the NSA stapled to my head."

But an equal number seem convinced that Apple will integrate this tech in a non-intrusive way.

For example, the X user @imlwi writes: "We're seeing Meta AI Glasses get banned due to privacy. I'm guessing these AirPods will temporarily capture a few frames, identify the object, send Siri something like the book/author, throw away the camera frames."

I don't imagine Apple will face the same kind of backlash that's currently plaguing Meta, especially if it sticks to privacy-centric messaging.

Furthermore, the AirPods are one of Apple's best-selling and most popular products with a dedicated install base. Apple goes to great lengths to process data on-device and if the company can demonstrate that the AirPods Ultra can meaningfully improve Siri's capabilities without compromising privacy, I think adoption will overcome the criticism.

Genuinely useful

Apple's innovations with the AirPods have already helped those who are hard of hearing, and giving the AirPods cameras could be a game-changer. One of the rumors I'm particularly excited about is that the AirPods Ultra will be able to use external landmarks to help you navigate through unfamiliar areas. Voice prompts will tie to what the earbuds see and guide you around a foreign city.

When you combine this with the buds' real-time translation feature, you arrive at a genuinely useful feature for anyone who travels regularly.

Let me know in the comments below if you find the idea of camera-equipped AirPods concerning. In the meantime, here's everything we expect to see at Apple's iPhone 18 event next month.

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• Apple iPhone 18 event — all the new products expected to launch in September

Apple's annual iPhone event has been officially confirmed to take place on September 9, and it could easily be the biggest Apple event in years. We're expecting a slew of new devices to be unveiled as John Ternus takes the reins as Apple's new CEO.

And all of that is before we discuss the launch of the long-rumored, much-hyped foldable iPhone Ultra — Apple's first attempt at a foldable phone. It's not clear when the device will actually launch, but at the very least, its reveal is almost certainly right around the corner.

In all, Apple is expected to launch up to eight different devices, from the expected new iPhones and upgraded Apple Watches to several new smart home-focused products.

Here's what we expect to see at Apple's 'Surprise and shine' September event, and when it's kicking off

When is the iPhone 18 event?

Apple has officially confirmed its "Surprise and shine" event will be held on Wednesday, September 9 at Apple Park. Although Apple normally holds its events on a Tuesday, the Labor Day weekend means it's being moved forward to Wednesday.

This has happened in the past, and the reasoning is that Apple doesn't want to ask attendees to travel on a holiday weekend. For example, the iPhone 14 launched on Wednesday, September 7, following Labor Day on Monday 5, and that'll likely be the case this year too.

The event is set to take place at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST and will livestreamed on various social media platforms as well as Apple's own site.

iPhones usually go up for pre-order the Friday following the Apple event, but this year that's September 11. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has reported that pre-orders will be pushed to Saturday, September 12.

This year's edition will be hosted by incoming CEO John Ternus, and it looks like his tenure will start with a bang.

New iPhones

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max

This year, Apple is expected to launch only its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models. The entry-level iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Plus reportedly won't debut until next spring alongside the iPhone 18e model.

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are both tipped to feature Apple's new 2nm A20 Pro chip, a smaller Dynamic Island and Apple's new C2 modem. And both phones should get larger batteries.

However, the iPhone 18 Pro Max might have some exclusive upgrades, including a variable aperture camera and longer zoom. For more see our iPhone 18 Pro vs Pro Max comparison.

Unforutnately, analysts have predicted that the new iPhone 18 Pros could cost between $200 and $350 higher than the iPhone 17 Pro family.

iPhone Ultra

The biggest announcement of the Apple event is sure to be the debut of the foldable iPhone Ultra.

Leaks have suggested that it will have more of a wider shape, similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 8, with a 7.8-inch foldable display and a 5.5-inch cover screen. It could measure between 4.5 and 4.8mm when unfolded, making it one of the thinnest iPhones ever.

It's rumored to sport a 4,883 mAh battery, the A20 Pro chipset, Apple's in-house C2 modem, and a Touch ID fingerprint scanner in the power button. The rear is expected to come with a pair of 48MP cameras, horizontally positioned like the back of the iPhone Air, alongside two separate 24MP selfie cameras — one for each screen.

Apple reportedly delayed releasing a folding iPhone until it could eliminate the crease in the display, but whether it's accomplished this remains to be seen. Even Samsung and Oppo, despite their long lead time, have only had moderate success.

One downside is that the iPhone Ultra could be very expensive, costing anywhere from $2,000 to 2,500. And a recent leak suggests that iPhone Ultra may not be immediately available, with only "extremely limited" availability.

Just keep in mind that the iPhone Ultra could have a number of trade-offs versus the iPhone 18 Pro, including the lack of a telephoto zoom.

AirPods Ultra

These ones are a little surprising as based on a previous Gurman report, we weren't expecting the AirPods Ultra until 2027 at the earliest. However, rumor aggregator AppleTrack just reported this week that the Ultra version of AirPods will launch at the iPhone event.

The big change with these headphones is they will allegedly feature a camera that will feed into Siri to allow it to "see" the world.

It would utilize a version of Visual Intelligence to let you ask Siri questions about your surroundings or get turn-by-turn directions from the more powerful AI Siri releasing this fall.

The AirPods Ultra has also just appeared in a leaked video buried within the macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate, and it shows how they'll help you identify objects in the real world.

Apple Watch 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4

Unlike the iPhones, we know a bit less about the next Apple Watches. We are expecting two new models in the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4.

The leaks have been sparse, but Apple is reportedly not bringing many upgrades this year. The biggest change might be a new kind of band attachment. This does mean that your old bands might not be compatible with the new watches.

Reportedly, Apple could offer a ceramic case option for the first time in years. It should also sport new health and fitness-related upgrades. We already know that watchOS 27 will bring new AI features, an updated Workout Buddy and more useful data tracking. Plus, it should feature better integration with the upgraded Siri AI which we've already seen in the iOS 27 beta.

Smart Home

Apple's smart home ambitions and the rumors surrounding them need to be taken with a massive grain of salt. Leaks have suggested Apple is planning on introducing a suite of smart home devices starting with a revamped HomePod and an AI-powered Apple TV 4K streaming device.

Those rumors have existed for more than two years and largely feed into the company's promises around the AI-powered Siri.

However, this year with iOS 27, Apple may finally have the chatbot that was promised. If it actually releases and works as pitched, this year could actually be the start of Apple Home.

HomePod Home hub

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, long a reporter of the rumored HomePod updates, believes that a new HomePod mini could launch this September alongside the rumored HomePod Home hub.

Several different iterations of this device have been rumored, including one with a $1,000 robot arm. The most common version involves a wall-mounted touchpad or a HomePod speaker with a touch display about the size of an iPad mini.

This device would have a FaceTime camera for video calls and presence sensors to initiate smart home routines.

HomePod mini 2

A new HomePod mini might also debut, but it might not be as big of an upgrade as the Hub. Most rumors suggest that it will feature a new chip and audio improvements.

To be clear, this one feels even more far-fetched than the Hub; the HomePod mini 2 has been on our rumor radar since at least 2023. The current version debuted in 2020, and like the next device, is long overdue for an update.

Apple TV 4K 2026

Like the HomePod series, Apple hasn't released a new version of the Apple TV 4K since 2022. We're long overdue for an upgrade — even if it's only a more powerful chip for stronger performance.

Previously, it was suggested that a new Apple TV could feature the A17 Pro chip, but it's more likely it'll get the new A20 or, to save some money, last year's A19. The device should also get the rumored N2 chip for better Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Outside of chips, the big upgrade would be Siri AI, which could let you connect the Apple TV as a hub for smart devices. One rumor suggested that Apple might release a set-top box with a camera, which would allow for FaceTime calls and gesture-based controls.

Will you be tuning in to Apple's event next month? Let me know which device you're most hyped for in the comments.

What we don't expect to see

Even with a huge event like this, there are still going to be devices that won't make an appearance. Due to staggered release schedules and supply-chain timing, Apple is spreading its hardware roadmap across multiple release windows over the next year. As a result, the following devices are unlikely to make any sort of appearance at the event.

• iPhone 18: Apple is reportedly holding back the base model until early 2027 to drive early demand toward the Pro models.
• AirPods Ultra: Rumored AirPods with cameras for Siri AI context are reportedly delayed until 2027 due to software and supply-chain bottlenecks.
• New Macs: Upgraded M6 MacBooks and touchscreen models are typically saved for dedicated computing announcements in October or later.
• OLED iPad mini: The next refresh of the compact tablet is slated for an October arrival rather than competing for stage time with the new iPhones.
• Apple Watch SE (4th gen): The entry-level wearable update will sit out this event, with Apple likely to focus on the Series 12 and Ultra 4 instead.

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As a single mom, it’s a miracle I remember my son when packing the car to leave the house for a weekend break (I’m joking). I’ll always forget something, and last weekend, it was the baby monitor.

My son is two-and-a-half, so while it’s not as much of an essential as it was a year ago, I like to be able to keep an eye, or an ear, on the tiny Houdini, especially when he’s sleeping somewhere new. Luckily, I’d seen this simple hack to turn the best AirPods and your iPhone into a combined baby monitor. It’s one all parents should know about ahead of the summer vacation period.

How to use your AirPods as a baby monitor

Ok, so you won’t be able to see your baby using this hack, but you’ll be able to hear him or her. All you’ll need is your phone and your AirPods (or Beats) headphones. Once you pop your headphones in your ears, you’ll be able to use your AirPods Live Listen feature to leave your phone in the room with them and listen to your tot from somewhere else in the house.

Here’s how to do it:

• Wear one or both of your AirPods or Beats headphones. The list of headphones that work with this feature includes: AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, Powerbeats Pro, Beats Fit Pro, or Powerbeats Fit. You’ll also need an iPhone with iOS 26 or later installed.
• To turn on Live Listen, go to your iPhone’s Settings, then scroll to Accessibility.
• From here, go to Audio & Visual, Live Listen, then tap Start Live Listen.
• From your lock screen, swipe down to go to the Control Center.
• From here, click on the ear icon, and select Live Listen — this will only work if you have a headphone in.

You’ll then be able to hear your baby should they cry. I found that the Live Listen was surprisingly sensitive, and I was able to hear him waking up and moving around after his nap before he called out for me. A game changer for traveling, or if you’re as forgetful as I am!

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I've been using the first-generation AirPods Max since they debuted over five years ago. So I have no trouble recommending their follow-up, the AirPods Max 2, when I see a welcome price drop courtesy of Amazon.

Right now, the AirPods Max 2 are $100 off at Amazon, bringing them down to $449. At a time when Apple is raising prices across the board, this kind of deal is worth taking advantage of.

It's not the only AirPods deal at Amazon right now, either. The retailer is currently discounting the AirPods Pro 3 and the AirPods 4 with noise cancelling.

If you're an Apple user and want to pick up a pair of the best headphones, now could be the time to do it.

While I'd contest other over-ear speakers will give you better overall sound, more control and certainly better portability — I can't knock the AirPods Max 2 when it comes to simplicty and comfort.

I don't mean to say the Max 2 sound bad — far from it. They have a wonderfully wide soundstage with a balanced output that won't overpower you in any one area, regardless of genre. The treble is bright and, as our reviewer noted, the low-end is "rich yet balanced, with propulsive, deep sub-bass and a detailed, clarified upper-bass."

Alongside the sound are pitch-perfect physical controls that sit on the outside of the anodized aluminum ear cups. The buttons have a reassuring travel to them, and the Digital Crown is a much better way of interacting with volume than touch controls in my honest opinion.

Finally, if you're a die-hard Apple user, then there's no substitute for the ease with which the AirPods plug into your existing setup. If you're working on a MacBook and suddenly get a call coming into your iPhone, the headlines will switch automatically. Done with work and pick up one of the best iPads to watch a video? The AirPods Max will follow along with you like a loyal puppy.

The only drawback I can really point to is that because they don't collapse, they aren't a good option as a pair of travel headphones. For everything else, though, the AirPods Max 2 are a great purchase.

iOS 27 beta 3 introduces a faster way to adjust your AirPods' Adaptive mode intensity. Instead of digging through multiple settings menus to fine-tune ambient noise blending, you can now control everything directly from the primary settings page for your AirPods or AirPods Pro using a streamlined new interface.

It's one of those quality-of-life improvements that makes everyday adjustments actually intuitive. If you've ever wished controlling Adaptive mode was more accessible, this update solves that problem. Here's how to find the new feature and use it.

What AirPods Adaptive mode actually does

Adaptive mode blends Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode together, automatically adjusting to your changing environment. When you're on a relatively quiet street, it lets more ambient sound in so you're aware of your surroundings.

The system continuously monitors your environment, automatically scaling up noise cancellation to suppress sudden loud sounds and maintain a comfortable listening volume.

Adaptive mode balances isolation and awareness, but because preferences vary, customizable intensity adjustments let you fine-tune exactly how much ambient noise or blocking you want.

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A reference to what is "almost certainly" a new pair of AirPods has been spotted in the code for Apple's iOS 27 beta 2 by developer Sam Henri Gold — which when you line up the features with recent leaks, it matches up with the much rumored AirPods Ultra.

The code includes a mention of a system prompt for a product codenamed B790 to work with Visual Intelligence. While Henri Gold initially assumed this was referring to Apple's long-rumored smart glasses, the team at MacRumors pointed out the AirPods Pro 3 were codenamed B788. So, he revised his finding, saying that "B790 is almost certainly the new AirPods and not glasses."

Why a pair of AirPods would need access to Visual Intelligence is down to another persistent rumor we've been hearing for some time: the next AirPods may have integrated cameras. These won't be designed for taking pictures or video like the Meta Ray-Ban Display smart glasses, but instead they'll act as visual input for Siri.

The new earbuds, dubbed AirPods Ultra, are believed to be dropping in 2027 according to an earlier report from Bloomberg. In practice, users wearing them will be able to ask Siri about their surroundings without having to use their iPhone camera to provide context. Reportedly, the design will remain the same as the current AirPods Pro apart from small LEDs that display when the earbuds are capturing information from the outside world.

The timeline makes sense. Apple revealed the AI-powered Siri this spring at WWDC and aims to follow up with the iPhone Fold / Ultra in September. Next year, the company celebrates the 20th anniversary of the iPhone and is believed to be planning an ecosystem of AI products to accompany it.

But is development actually happening?

From that above snippet of news and the previous reports from the last few months, you'd assume the AirPods Ultra to be a done deal. However, over the weekend one particular leaker claimed development has been put on ice.

A leaker known as 'Kosutami' has taken to X with a blunt post saying the AirPods with cameras have been "suspended." We don't get any reasoning or proof of this, but the tweet has done enough to get mentioned in a variety of news posts — including this one.

I, for one, find it tough to imagine Apple would abandon a project like this. The company will be all too aware of discomfort from some consumers about cameras on wearables.

But if Apple sticks to its privacy-centric messaging and is able to meaningfully improve Siri's capabilities with this add-on, it would seem a logical next step. We already know AirPods are one of Apple's best-selling and most popular products, so using them to leverage Siri's abilities is a no-brainer providing the public gets on board with it.

Of course, all this is very early speculation since we're still around nine months out from spring 2027 and 14 away from next year's iPhone 20 September event. That's a long time to wait for the arrival of the AirPods Ultra and more than long enough for Apple's engineering team to get ahead of any problems or roadblocks. Like how are the cameras supposed to work for people with long hair?

At any rate, "suspended" and "cancelled" are two entirely different things. But let me know below if you think AI cameras in AirPods are a good idea. And in the meantime, you can actually get the non-camera equipped AirPods Pro 3 at a slight discount at Amazon right now.

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Way back at the end of March, I was lucky enough to be one of the first people to test the new AirPods Max 2. With an all-new H2 chip, improved ANC, and a more vibrant sound, they were (and still are) some of the best headphones I've ever had the pleasure of using.

But not everything came new and improved. Much to everyone's chagrin, Apple made zero upgrades to the design or battery on the AirPods Max 2. This decision was a little baffling, if you ask me. The most common complaints with the predecessor? Poor battery life and extremely heavy weight. So why didn't Apple fix these for the "upgraded" version?

Alas, this is still a mystery, but three months later, I've spent a lot of time with the new AirPods Max 2. I've been using them as I'd use my normal headphones — at work, on the bus, at the gym, out and about — and I'm intimately familiar with them now.

Sound quality? Connectivity? Style? Top marks all round

The AirPods Max 2 are the best-sounding headphones at this price point, and I'm sorry to say this, but there's very little competition. While the Bose QuietComfort Ultra ($449) have superior ANC and comfort, the sound is too bassy and muddy for my personal sonic palate. And while the Sony WH-1000XM6 ($459) are, again, much comfier and have better call quality, there's some vibrancy missing in the sound for me.

But the AirPods Max 2 sound perfect. I honestly could not improve them. They sound so good that I forget I'm wearing headphones and feel like the music is traveling directly from the artist's mouth into my brain. The treble is clear and vibrant, the mids are balanced, detailed, and expansive, and the bass is well-rounded and rich without overpowering soft details. Yep, I have nothing bad to say about the sound quality at all. It's my perfect signature.

Connectivity is another thing I take really seriously. I want my headphones to move with me, from my phone to my laptop, and back to my phone again. Thankfully, because I have an iPhone and a MacBook, the AirPods Max 2 do just that. I can listen on all my Apple devices without having to fiddle with my settings, and this is a luxury I can't live without now.

Last, and also kind of least, is the style. I'm not the kind of person who will buy headphones purely for aesthetics, but it helps when they're pretty. Thankfully, the AirPods Max 2 are supremely pretty. The anodized aluminum ear cups are super premium and the minimalist, sleek Apple design is so simple yet effective. No egregious touch controls (unlike Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Sony WH-1000XM6) and a weight-bearing mesh headband make these my perfect headphones.

Sorry, but I'm an AirPods Max 2 apologist. I feel like Apple designed them just for me.

But those "AI features"? I've not touched them once

Some people may disagree with me here, and that's fine. Life would be boring if we all shared the same opinions! But I'm not the kind of person who wants, or needs, AI in her headphones. I've gone my whole life without having a (disobedient, cloth-eared) personal assistant living in my headphones, so why would I need one now?

The Live Translation feature? Sure, I've used it for fun. I've used it after my Duolingo lessons to check I've got my pronunciation right. I used to live in South Korea, so I've used it to test my (dwindling) Korean skills.

But I've not used it for its intended purpose, and I really don't think I will.

The same can be said for the "improved" Siri integration. Siri is a glorified egg timer at this point, and I just use my brain instead of asking Siri. The likelihood is, she wouldn't listen anyway. Girl's got serious obedience issues — she needs military school, stat.

Of course, don't take my negativity as gospel. You may love having these features. Maybe you're always on vacation and need to communicate with people who don't speak your language, or you're super busy and need to check your calendar hands-free. But that's just not me.

These features are great if you need them, but don't ditch your non-smart headphones if you're anything like me.

But they're not for everyone

There are three types of people who should not buy the AirPods Max 2.

1. No iPhone? No MacBook? No iPad? Don't get the AirPods Max 2.
2. Can't drop $500 on headphones? Don't get the AirPods Max 2.
3. Want "audiophile" sound? Don't get the AirPods Max 2.

There's very little point in investing in extremely expensive headphones if you don't have the ecosystem they're built for. Even though you can use AirPods Max 2 with an Android phone, you don't get the full experience. You can't customize any settings or take advantage of the AI smart features.

If you have an Android, I would recommend getting the Sony WH-1000XM6 instead, which are some of the best headphones you can get, period.

Again, if you can't afford $500 on headphones (me neither), then you shouldn't buy the AirPods Max 2. To put it kindly, they're overpriced. I would go for the Soundcore Space One Pro, JBL Live 780NC, or the CMF Headphone Pro. At $199, $249, and $99 respectively, these headphones sound good, look cool, and won't break your bank.

And, finally, arguably the touchiest of all subjects — sound quality. Don't get me wrong, I love how the AirPods Max 2 sound. They scratch that audio itch perfectly. But I know Apple's sound signature can upset some people. In that case, you should invest more in headphones like the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 or the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2. Both headphones offer superior sound — and an even steeper price tag to match.

Am I going to keep using the AirPods Max 2? 100%. They are my perfect headphones. As someone who takes connectivity, ANC, and sound quality seriously (everything else I can take or leave), the AirPods Max 2 are ideal. They automatically switch between my MacBook and my iPhone and they block out every speck of sound. Of course, the best part is the sound quality — Apple's sound signature must have been designed solely for me. It's everything I want and more.

Even so, I know the AirPods Max 2 are overpriced, and that battery life makes them a pretty controversial product. But what do you think? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

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As someone both deep in the Apple ecosystem and a music lover, I know a thing or two about AirPods. I've tested every single pair of AirPods — so the AirPods 4, AirPods 4 ANC, AirPods Pro 3, and the AirPods Max 2. I know which ones are worth the high Apple price tag, and which don't pull their weight.

It just so happens that all of these AirPods are discounted right now thanks to Prime Day. You can save a huge $150 off the brand-new AirPods Max 2 — the over-ears' first-ever discount, by the way — and you can save $60 on the AirPods Pro 3.

But which of these models is actually the best earbuds money can buy? Are the AirPods Max 2 actually the best headphones nowadays? I'll tell you exactly which pairs you should buy and which you should skip — and I'll even throw in some cheaper alternatives.

The AirPods I'd recommend

I have a pair of the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and the AirPods Max 2, and while you can't get the Pro 2 anymore, they're the earbuds that started my love affair with Apple's audio gear.

The AirPods Max 2 are my personal favorite over-ear headphones in the world. The sound quality is just unbeatable at this price point, they look great thanks to the anodized aluminum ear cups, and the button controls are straightforward. No messing around with egregious touch controls (like Bose, or Sony...) and no unwanted interruptions due to an errant finger. The battery life could be better, but this is something I can forgive.

The AirPods Pro 3 are the best iPhone earbuds you can get — the sound quality is rich, bassy, but detailed and vibrant. The silicone ear tip and algorithm help block out literally 99% of ambient noise, and the 8-hour battery life is a great improvement on the previous model.

I recommend both of these AirPods with every fiber of my being.

The AirPods I wouldn't recommend (yet!)

If you want entry-level AirPods, I would honestly wait until a bigger sale. The AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 ANC are good, but you can get better earbuds for cheaper — even when they're discounted.

If you need earbuds right now, I'd recommend grabbing the super-budget CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2, which have a Dirac-tuned EQ that fakes immersive 360° audio (and boy, does it work). These earbuds are just $37 at Amazon right now, which is just unfathomably cheap.

Then, if you really want AirPods later and they're majorly discounted, you can always grab them at $69-$99 instead.

We're tracking all the best Prime Day headphones deals

As a fitness editor, I review the best fitness tech for a living, and one of the recent launches I’ve been most impressed with is the Apple AirPods Pro 3, which have built-in infrared sensors pulsing 256 times a second, tracking your heart rate from your ears.

I’ve used the AirPods Pro 3 for countless workouts, and love the ability to leave my watch behind and still get heart rate monitoring. My colleague Nick Harris-Fry tested the heart rate monitor of the AirPods Pro 3 against a chest strap while running and was also impressed.

These are, by far, some of the best workout headphones on the market, and the good news is, right now they are on sale in an early Amazon Prime Day deal.

To use the heart rate tracking on the buds, you need to start a workout in the Fitness app on your iPhone, where you’ll see the headphones connected and your live heart rate during workouts.

If you also have an Apple Watch connected, Apple says readings from the heart rate sensor on the watch and the headphones will both be looked at, and the most accurate one will be used for the workout recording.

During our testing, the AirPods Pro 3 have kept up with a heart rate monitor strapped to the chest, and have proven to be far more accurate than the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2.

They also have a redesigned fit, and I’ve found them to be the most comfortable AirPods to date. I’ve worn them for 20-mile runs and found they’ve stayed perfectly in place. The biggest tactile change to the AirPods Pro 3 is the squishy tips at the end of the buds. This foam infusion feels different from the silicone used on the older models, and makes them a lot more comfortable for hours of wear.

Multiple reports suggest Apple has big plans for an ecosystem of AI products, but the lack of progress with Siri AI has been an obstacle. Now that Siri AI has been unveiled, and set to roll out to iPhones later this year, progress can finally be made on those devices. That includes the long-rumored camera-equipped AirPods, which some have referred to as "AirPods Ultra."

According to a new report from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Apple is set to release those AirPods sometime in late 2027. This means they will likely launch around the same time as the iPhone 20, which is being released to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone's release.

The report notes that the AirPods are set to be the first wearable AI product Apple releases, and will be built around communicating with Siri AI. That includes being able to speak to the AI as normal, while also adding extra input via the AirPods' built-in cameras.

How the AirPods Ultra will work

The cameras themselves are not designed for recording video or taking photos, and are instead meant to offer Siri some visual input. The idea is that users can ask Siri about different objects or the environment, and have the AI understand what's going on without needing to look through an iPhone camera — as has been the case so far.

It's not entirely clear what kind of cameras are included, and past reports suggested that they could be infrared to enable hand gestures. However, considering Siri is supposed to be able to see things from those cameras, it's likely they're going to be pretty traditional camera lenses — albeit rather small and low-powered. If that's the case, it's going to be interesting to see how Apple stops these AirPods from being hacked or jailbroken in order to record video from your ears.

What AirPods Ultra could look like

Gurman says that these new AirPods will resemble the AirPods Pro, with the only major design difference being the presence of both the camera and status LEDs that are visible to other people. Those lights are supposed to show others whenever the AirPods are sending data to the cloud for processing.

The AI AirPods were expected to launch this year, but the issues Apple faced with Siri saw them pushed back. Don't expect them to be the only AI wearables Apple has to offer, either. Gurman has reiterated that Apple's AI glasses are supposed to launch at the end of next year too, and the rumored AI pendant will likely arrive in the near future.

The AirPods are apparently further along the development process than both of these. The earbuds are said to have reached "advanced stages of development," with Apple actively testing them alongside iPhone 20, iPhone Fold 2 and iOS 28.

This seems a little early, considering we're still around 15 months out from the 2027 iPhone launch event. But I suppose being proactive about these things ensures problems can be solved early, rather than scrambling to fix them at the last possible minute.

It's going to be a long wait before these AirPods Ultra actually arrive, even if there aren't any issues that crop up over the next several months. But, hopefully, as time goes on we'll be hearing more leaks and rumors about what Apple has in store.

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It's been a long time coming, but iOS 27 finally gives AirPods users control over their sound profile. The new AirPods custom EQ feature lets you adjust bass, midrange, and treble to match your listening preferences.

Whether you want to dial down heavy bass, boost vocals, or brighten the highs, the simple three-band EQ works for both audiophiles seeking precise control and casual listeners wanting better sound.

Here's exactly how to change your AirPods equalizer settings on compatible models.

Which AirPods models support custom EQ?

Custom EQ is available on AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods 4. The original AirPods Max and earlier models don't support this iOS 27 AirPods feature. You'll need iOS 27 running on your iPhone to access the AirPods custom EQ settings.

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Headphone volume creeps up over time. You start at a reasonable level, then gradually increase it to compensate for ambient noise, distraction, or just habit. Before you realize it, you're listening at levels that damage your hearing. The damage is permanent and often goes unnoticed until it's too late.

Your phone has built-in settings designed to prevent this. Both Apple and Google included hearing protection features that either cap volume automatically or alert you when you're pushing into dangerous territory. Many people never actually find these settings because they're buried in menus designed for accessibility.

Here's where they are and how to enable them.

Why these settings make a difference

Headphone notifications work by monitoring sound exposure over time. Most hearing damage from headphones happens gradually and silently, you don't notice it happening. These alerts catch the problem before permanent damage occurs.

Automatic volume limiting provides passive protection. Even if you forget about hearing safety, the phone enforces a safe listening level automatically. You literally can't exceed the decibel cap no matter how high you try to turn the volume.

Neither feature is perfect. Notifications require you to pay attention and change behavior. Volume limiting can feel frustrating if it cuts off music at what feels like normal volume. But both are better than discovering hearing loss years later when it's irreversible.

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In a world where everything is getting more expensive, Apple seems to be quietly making some pretty solid choices that benefit the budget-conscious among us. First, the company launched the MacBook Neo, which we called the "best budget laptop ever" in our review. Now, the company is going to pay you back more cash for trading in your old devices.

As spotted by MacRumors, Apple has updated its trade-in estimates and raised the value of several iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and Apple Watch models. It's not entirely altruistic, of course — Apple is facing the effects of the RAM crisis as much as any company and being able to rescue and reuse old components is a benefit.

Still, what's interesting is that while raising the price offered for its own products, Apple has also reduced the amount it's willing to pay for Android trade-ins.

Here are the new rates Apple will estimate for trade-ins. That "estimate" qualifier is important; the value you're offered will largely depend on the device's condition.

iPhone and iPad

Trade-ins for the iPhone 16 family have increased by $10 for the Pro Max, Pro and Plus models and $25 for the regular iPhone 16.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale, you can still get up to $35 for the iPhone 8 and $45 for the iPhone 8 Plus.

• iPhone 16 Pro Max: Up from $685 to $695
• iPhone 16 Pro: Up from $550 to $560
• iPhone 16 Plus: Up from $455 to $465
• iPhone 16: Up from $435 to $460

For a current iPad, you will now get an extra $20 for a Pro in good condition and an extra $15 for other models.

• iPad Pro: Up from $670 to $690
• iPad Air: Up from $445 to $460
• iPad: Up from $220 to $235
• iPad mini: Up from $250 to $265

MacBook

The estimated trade-in prices for the MacBook are a little less clear-cut. While Apple has increased the value of the current MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and Mac mini, the iMac remains unchanged. Meanwhile, the Mac Pro drops from $2,090 to $2,045.

• MacBook Pro: Up from $685 to $690
• MacBook Air: Up from $485 to $520
• Mac mini: Up from $340 to $375
• Mac Pro Down from $2,090 to $2,045

Apple Watch

If you're looking to trade-in an old Apple Watch, then you'll get an extra $10 in estimations for the Ultra 2 and the Apple Watch Series 9.

However, the last-gen Apple Watch Series 10 remains unchanged at up to $150, while the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra estimation has actually gone down by $10.

• Apple Watch Ultra 2: Up from $295 to $305
• Apple Watch Series 9: Up from $120 to $130
• Apple Watch Ultra: Down from $215 to $205

Final thoughts

Apple's trade-in program is good, but it's likely that you'll be able to get more for your older devices by selling yourself through a service like eBay or Amazon. Of course, what Apple does offer is convenience as well as a certainty that your electronics will be recycled wherever possible — which isn't going to happen if they go into landfill.

Also, it's worth remembering that Apple won't give you cold, hard cash for your old devices. The company's trade-in amounts to credit on another purchase or on an Apple Gift Card. Which might not be a bad thing, with Father's Day on the horizon.

Finally, Apple states, "Trade-in values will vary based on the condition, year, and configuration of your eligible trade-in device." So if your Apple Watch or MacBook is particularly beat up and well-used, you may not see as much for it as you hoped.

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From AirPods to MacBooks, several Apple gadgets are getting their biggest discounts this month over the Memorial Day weekend. The budget-friendly MacBook Neo goes on sale for the first time, while the AirPods 4 drops to one of its lowest prices of the year. So if you’ve been waiting to save a bit of cash, I’ve found the 12 best Apple deals you can get right now. For more deals, make sure to check out our full guide to the best Memorial Day sales.

Apple reportedly wants customers to sign up for its Apple Card and could sweeten the deal with a new promotion offering new users a free pair of AirPods Pro 3. This deal could start as soon as next week.

According to an X post by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the promotional offer will only be available in Apple's retail stores in the United States.

"Apple is planning a pretty big Apple Card sign-up incentive for as early as next week in retail stores," Gurman wrote.

It's a pretty crazy deal, especially since the AirPro Pro 3 is one of the best noise-canceling earbuds you can buy.

To be clear, Apple has not officially announced this promotion, so the exact terms and conditions are not currently available. But here's how it might work, according to Gurman.

How the promotion works

Per Gurman, if you sign up for the Apple Card, you also need to buy AirPods Pro 3, but then Apple would give you $249 cash back. Effectively, this makes the AirPods free.

Currently, the AirPods Pro 3 are priced at $249. Gurman does not say whether the cashback would cover any taxes or fees tacked onto the price of Apple's earbuds. Considering he said the offer is for $249 cash back, we're guessing tax will be covered by you, the buyer. Still,

Apple Card cash back is called "Daily Cash," so the $249 should come back to you the day after you sign up for the card, if it works like traditional cash back on a popular credit card.

What is the Apple Card?

As a reminder, Apple launched its credit card in 2019, which remains available only in the U.S.

You can manage the card in your iPhone Wallet app, where you can see color-coded spending summaries. It has no annual fee and offers 2-3% cash back on purchases made via Apple Pay. You get 1% back on purchases with the physical card.

Since 2023, Apple has offered a high-yield savings account to Apple Card holders. That offers an annual percentage yield of 4.15%.

Currently, the card is backed by Goldman Sachs, but Apple announced this year that it is transitioning to Chase Bank by 2028.

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The long-rumored AirPods Ultra may already be in the later stages of development, meaning their release might be sooner than we initially thought. According to sources speaking to Bloomberg, development has now entered a phase featuring prototypes with "near-final design and capabilities."

Sources say that testers within Apple are actively using prototypes of the new AirPods, as part of what's known as design validation testing (DVT). This is the final stage of the development phase, and once complete Apple will start a production validation test (PVT). That's when the sample units of the final design are built, ahead of full-scale mass production.

What we know about AirPods Ultra

The AirPods Ultra will reportedly have a design that's siimilar to the AirPods Pro 3 but with a number of important enhancements. For one, these AirPods are supposed to be built around Siri and AI, offering the kind of AI-enhanced hardware we've started seeing from the likes of Meta and others.

The AirPods Ultra aren't designed for taking photos or shooting video; they're designed to help Siri see the world and are only capable of capturing "visual information in low resolution." Potential AirPods Ultra features include:

• A version of Visual Intelligence: that lets you ask Siri questions based on your surroundings. The example cited includes looking at the contents of your fridge and suggesting dinner options based on the ingredients within.
• Visual reminders: The AirPods Ultra can remind you about tasks or activities based on what it sees around you, such as picking something up at the store when you see it on the shelf.
• Enhanced turn-by-turn directions: The AirPods Ultra use external landmarks to help you navigate through unfamiliar areas with voice prompts ties to what the earbuds see.
• Built -in LED: Bloomberg's report mentions a small LED light that indicates whenever the AirPods Ultra are recording and communicating with the cloud. This would be a privacy feature.

Sadly, while early rumors suggested these cameras would offer gesture controls, this claim has been shot down multiple times. According to Mark Gurman, the technology to fit gesture controls into a pair of AirPods doesn't exist yet

It's all up to Siri

The big question is when will the AirPods Ultra will actually launch? According to Bloomberg, Apple had hoped to put the AirPods on sale during the first half of this year, but the launch was postponed due to the high-profile delays to Siri's AI-overhaul.

Reports tell us similar delays have affected Apple's HomePad smart display, which was built on the assumption that Siri would be ready in time. Sadly, the emphasis on AI was so encompassing that releasing the display without Siri 2.0 wasn't worth it. No doubt the rumored AI glasses and camera pendant are similarly affected by this.

Siri is expected to debut in September, powered by Google Gemini, alongside iOS 27 and iPhone 18 Pro. But so far, that hasn't been confirmed by Apple, and likely won't be until WWDC 2026 at the earliest. Still, even if the Siri upgrade does arrive by the end of the year, there's no telling Apple will start rushing out AI-centric devices to capitalize on that. Given the issues it's had upgrading Siri, Apple may want to give the AI the time it needs to adjust to widespread daily use by the general public.

But, assuming the development process is as far along as this report claims, we could be seeing the AirPods Ultra arrive pretty soon. It may just be down to what Apple does with Siri.

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Most people use Apple AirPods for two things: music and calls. That's it. They go in, they come out, the case gets charged. But Apple has quietly packed in a set of features that most owners never find — because they're not signposted anywhere obvious.

Enable the right settings and your AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 can work as a hearing assistance device, picking up and amplifying sounds around you in real time. They can let you answer calls with a nod or decline them with a shake of your head. They can turn a solo listening session into a shared one, with two people tuned into the same audio from a single iPhone.

Here's how to turn them on.

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As reports of the demise of the Apple Vision Pro began circulating in the last two days, conflicting stories have popped up over what the leftovers will contribute to other Apple devices.

In a social media post, Mark Gurman pushed back on rumored gesture controls on Apple Glasses and reiterated that Apple is developing new AirPods that will feature cameras meant "for Siri." It harkens back to reports from March when Gurman said Apple has a set of "AirPods Ultra" in the works.

Rumors about a version of AirPods featuring infrared cameras first popped up in July 2024 from supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. At the time, Kuo said the cameras would detect environmental changes and possibly enable "in-air gesture control to enhance human-device interaction."

Gurman, on the other hand, doesn't believe the technology for camera-based gesture controls exists. "The technology to do this reliably with a single camera, no neural band and no eye-scanning doesn’t exist today as far as I know," he said in a different post.

He's previously reported that the cameras would work by "feed[ing] visual intelligence data to Siri." In essence, this would be similar to how the camera is used in the Face ID system on iPhones.

Another link in the Ultra chain

In recent weeks, several rumors have suggested Apple is pursuing "Ultra" branding across several of its most popular devices. Currently, Apple sells one Ultra-branded device, its Apple Watch Ultra 3.

Later this year, alongside the AirPods Ultra, we could also get the foldable iPhone, rumored to be labeled the iPhone Ultra, and the long-rumored touchscreen MacBook Ultra.

All of these Ultra models would supersede the Pro moniker that currently denotes Apple's highest-end devices. Though we have been hearing rumors about an alleged iPhone Ultra for years now, usually centered on rebranding the Pro Max.

Regarding all three devices, we likely won't see them debut until September at the earliest, when Apple holds its annual iPhone event. The AirPods would probably be announced then as well.

The MacBook Ultra will most likely launch in the usual October window when Apple typically debuts its MacBook Pros. If not in October, then possibly in early 2027, as Apple did with the M5 Pro and Ultra versions this year.

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You wear earbuds on your commute, during work calls, at the gym, while cooking dinner. They're as essential as your phone, blocking out the world and keeping you connected. But this constant use comes with a cost most people don't recognize until it's too late.

Hearing damage from earbuds doesn't announce itself dramatically. It creeps in through subtle warning signs your body sends long before you realize something's wrong. By the time you notice you're struggling to hear conversations in noisy environments or asking people to repeat themselves, permanent damage has already occurred.

James Grifo, owner and CEO of Audio Visual Nation, a provider of professional audio solutions, explains the three most common warning signs that your earbuds are harming your ears and what you can do to protect your hearing right now.

Why earbuds cause hearing damage

It's not just volume that damages hearing. Prolonged sound exposure, even at moderate levels, puts ongoing pressure on the delicate structures of your inner ear. When you add high volume, the damage accelerates.

Poorly fitted earbuds make this worse. When they don't sit properly in your ear canal, most people compensate by turning up the volume to block out background noise. This creates a cycle where your ears work harder than they should.

"Think of it like holding a weight," Grifo explains. "Holding five pounds for a minute is easy. Holding it for eight hours straight causes serious strain. That's what's happening inside your ears when you wear earbuds all day."

Noise-canceling earbuds add another problem. While they're effective at blocking external sound, they make it comfortable to listen for extended periods. What feels like a quiet, peaceful listening experience is actually prolonged exposure your ears weren't designed to handle.

3 signs your earbuds are damaging your hearing

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I’ve been covering Apple for 25 of its 50 years, and I’ve had a front-row seat for the moments that for many redefined modern life. I was there when Steve Jobs pulled the original MacBook Air from a manila envelope. I reviewed the first iPhone when it was considered a "gamble," and I was among the first to step into the spatial computing era with the Vision Pro.

Over the last half-century, there have been plenty of "wow" moments, but also the high-profile flops and setbacks you'd expect from a brand that recently became the world's first $4 trillion empire.

The Apple of the pre-iPhone era was more tumultuous—and honestly, more interesting. They didn't just build computers; they made personal computing a household reality with the Apple II and refined the mouse for the masses. But they also faced a near-death experience in the '90s during Steve Jobs’ exile, famously sitting just 90 days away from bankruptcy before his 1997 return.

That "Second Act" sparked a wave of hits—from the iPod and iPhone to the App Store—that changed how we live. But it wasn't all smooth sailing; we lived through controversies like the “you’re holding it wrong” Antennagate, too.

Since taking the baton, Tim Cook has ushered in a massive Apple “ecosystem era,” scaling the brand to heights once thought impossible with the Apple Watch, AirPods, and the revolutionary shift to Apple Silicon. Today, services like iCloud and Apple Music are the invisible glue holding it all together.

To celebrate 50 years of "Thinking Different," we’ve curated a definitive list of the 51 biggest moments in Apple’s history—the iconic triumphs, the public stumbles, and the one "bonus" moment that points to where the next 50 years are headed. — Mark Spoonauer

The Early Years

1977: Apple II revolutionizes personal computing 👍

Where it all started — the big bang of personal computing. Announced in front of a small audience at the West Coast Computer Faire, the Apple II was the first pre-assembled machine to bring color graphics and a built-in keyboard to the masses. With a sleek plastic case and expansion slots, what was once a hobbyist dream had turned into a consumer reality overnight. This is where modern consumer computing truly started. — Jason England

1983: The Lisa's $9,995 price tag buried a beautiful interface 👎

The Lisa was a brilliant, $9,995 disaster. Because sure, it pioneered a lot of things we take for granted today like the mouse and a graphical user interface. But its astronomical price (nearly $30,000 in today’s money) and sluggish performance doomed it. Fun fact: thousands of unsold units ended up in a Utah landfill. — Jason England

The "1984" ad 👍

Apple is perhaps less known for the computer it launched this year than the seminal ad that ran during the Super Bowl. Directed by Ridley Scott, it depicted a female athlete throwing a sledgehammer at an Orwellian Big Brother, shattering his preachings to the hypnotized masses — otherwise known as PC users. It not only positioned Apple from then on as the iconoclastic computing brand, but also shook up the advertising market, too. — Mike Prospero

1985: Steve Jobs is fired 👎

Despite the big push around the Mac the year before, declining sales led to internal divisions between Jobs and CEO John Sculley over the direction Apple should take. A power struggle between the two led to Jobs’ resignation, and a dozen years in the wilderness — during which time he founded NeXT and Pixar. — MP

1990 – 1999

1993: The ambitious (but flawed) Newton MessagePad 👎

Before there was the iPad, there was the Newton MessagePad. John Sculley coined the term PDA to describe this pocketable computer that could take notes, store your contacts, manage a calendar and even send a fax. Handwriting recognition was billed as the device’s killer feature, but it was very inaccurate and widely mocked — including on an episode of The Simpsons. The device’s high price ($700) and poor battery life also hampered it. Once Jobs returned to Apple, he unceremoniously killed the product. — Jeff Parsons

1993: Apple licenses 3rd party Mac clones 👎

In an effort to emulate Microsoft’s strategy, Apple started licensing its operating system to third-party computer makers to capture greater market share. However, it was only pursued half-heartedly, and Steve Jobs killed the initiative upon his return in 1997. — MP

1996: The Apple Pippin flop 👎

Long before the Apple TV was a "hobby," Apple tried to dominate the living room with this game console. And failed miserably. Ten months before Steve Jobs came back to Apple, the company collaborated with Bandai to make the $600 Pippin game machine. Poor graphics, a weird controller (with trackball!) and utter lack of games all conspired against this machine. Apple wound up selling only 42,000 units total, compared to over 300,000 for the Nintendo 64 — in its first three days. — Mark Spoonauer

1996: Steve Jobs returns to Apple and gets a lifeline from … Bill Gates 👍

Apple in 1997 was reportedly just 90 days away from possible bankruptcy, and Steve Jobs needed to buy some time after just returning to the company. That lifeline came in the form of a $150 million investment from Microsoft in non-voting Apple stock. Announced at Macworld Expo, the news was met with boos, but the agreement helped Apple in multiple ways, including a patent truce between the two companies and a commitment from Microsoft to develop Office for Mac. — Mark Spoonauer

1998: The colorful iMac G3 saves Apple from bankruptcy 👍

The fight was on to bring Apple back from the brink, and the company’s answer was a Bondi Blue revolution in the iMac G3. Up until this point, we’d gotten used to boring beige boxes sitting atop desks, but Jony Ive’s translucent all-in-one turned computing into fashion. At the same time, it killed the floppy drive, bet everything on USB and made getting on the internet a three-step process — all three future bets worked out for sure! — Jason England

1998: The terrible "Hockey Puck" mouse 👎

Apple matched the aesthetics of its iMac G3 range with a circular USB Mouse dubbed “Hockey Puck” with a singular button at the top. It was small, with a short cord and forced users to crab their hands around it. Many users also complained of losing the orientation of the mouse when they took their hands off it to type something. The hockey puck mouse only lasted two years, from 1998 to 2000, before it was discontinued. — Jeff Parsons

1999: The iBook – "iMac to go" 👍

I miss this era of Apple design, and you can tell Apple does too with the bright, bold colors of the MacBook Neo. This vivid triumph brought “iMac to go” to the masses with a rugged design and iconic carrying handle. But the huge win here was what laid inside with AirPort — making it the first consumer laptop with Wi-Fi (which Jobs demonstrated by passing it through a hula-hoop). — Jason England

2000 – 2009

2001: The original iPod — "1,000 songs in your pocket" 👍

Before the iPod, we carried Walkmans. Before 2001 other MP3 Players existed at the time, sure, but they offered limited storage and junky user interfaces. The iPod killed both Walkmans and other MP3 players in one fell swoop. Its cutting-edge design was irresistible and its easy-to-use software made transferring music a breeze. It’s no wonder why the iPod and its numerous smaller-sized siblings took over the world for the better part of the aughts. — Nick Pino

2001: The first Apple Stores 👍

Forget Best Buy! Emulating the aesthetic of its products, the Apple Store features a clean, minimalistic design with all of Apple’s products nearly laid out, and with scores of Apple “Geniuses” on hand to answer your questions. Within three years, the company was making $1 billion in sales from these stores. Since then, other major tech brands, including Microsoft and Meta, have tried to emulate this model. — MP

2003: iTunes Store saves the music industry from Napster-era chaos 👍

If you’re going to launch the most successful MP3 player, you need to offer some way to easily download music to the device — for a fee, of course. After securing deals with every major record label, the iTunes Store launched in April 2003. Initially, individual songs cost 99 cents; Apple sold more than 1 millions songs within the first week of its launch. By 2008, it had become the largest music service in the U.S., and eleven years after its launch, Apple had sold more than 35 billion songs. While Apple has in recent years shifted its model towards the subscription-based Apple Music, the impact of the original music storefront was seismic. — MP

2005: iPod Nano (really) shrinks the iPod 👍

After dominating its rivals for several years, Apple pushed the envelope further with the release of the iPod nano in the fall of 2005. While the iPod mini had already reduced the size of Apple’s original portable music player, the iPod nano took portability to the extreme. Steve Jobs famously revealed it at an event by pointing to the small watch pocket of his jeans, from which he pulled the engineering marvel — complete with its 6.9 mm frame. Just like the iPod mini before it, the nano could store the same amount of songs, but at 62% of the size. — John Velasco

2007: The original iPhone: Peak Steve Jobs 👍

No gadget in history had as much hype leading up to it as the original iPhone. But Steve Jobs delivered when he unveiled the iPhone at Macworld in January 2007 with his now-iconic 3-in-1 pitch. “It’s a widescreen iPod with touch controls," a "revolutionary mobile phone," and a "breakthrough internet communications device.”

Jobs also successfully argued that having a fixed keyboard on the bottom third of a smartphone was a waste of space. Even after the iPhone launched there were plenty of skeptics, including Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer ("500 dollars? Fully subsidized?”) and BlackBerry’s Jim Balsillie (“It’s okay, we’ll be fine.”).

The competition underestimated the magic inside the iPhone, including the first-of-its-kind multitouch display, powerful Safari browser and visual voicemail. The first iPhone didn’t have 3G or App Store, but it redefined the user experience on phones for generations to come. — Mark Spoonauer

2008: The MacBook Air 👍

I actually had the chance to attend the launch of the MacBook Air, during which Steve Jobs pulled this iconically sleek laptop out of a manilla envelope. And it wound up transforming the entire mobile computing industry. The $1,799 notebook was the thinnest laptop ever at the time at just 0.16 to 0.76 inches, and the tapered aluminum chassis weighed just 3 pounds.

What truly set the MacBook Air apart is what Apple decided to leave on the cutting room floor, including an optical drive and multiple ports. You got just a single USB 2.0 port and Micro DVI-connector behind a flip-down door. This Intel Core 2 Duo laptop wasn’t the fastest, and the battery life was below-average, but the sheer innovation on display with the design (including the multi-touch trackpad) would spur an avalanche of Windows copycats. — Mark Spoonauer

2008: The App Store creates a multi-billion dollar economy overnight 👍

While the iPhone was a sensation, it didn’t really take off until Apple introduced the App Store, which let third-party developers get their apps in front of iPhone owners in one convenient storefront. In its first weekend, more than 10 million apps were downloaded; by 2025, the App Store generated $114 billion in revenue. There have been a number of legal challenges in recent years — including in-app transactions and the percentage that Apple gets — which have only underscored the dominance of this business model. — MP

2010 – 2019

2010: iPhone 4: A peak design moment 👍

Even though many would argue the original iPhone is the most memorable phone in Apple’s history, I believe that title better fits the iPhone 4. The fourth-generation model wasn’t just a step forward; it was a generational leap that set new benchmarks. For instance, it introduced a premium glass-meets-metal design that ditched the plastic construction of its predecessors. On top of that, it was the first iPhone to feature the Retina Display, FaceTime, a backside-illuminated camera sensor, and Apple’s first custom chip, the A4. — John Velasco

2010: Antennagate — The iPhone 4 flaw that birthed the phrase: "You’re holding it wrong" 👎

There’s hubris, and then there’s HUBRIS. Labeled as the biggest tech fail by many of 2010, “antennagate” refers to how the iPhone 4 suffered from weaker reception when you gripped the lower left corner of the phone. But the bigger controversy was Apple’s reaction. The official statement basically told users that they just needed to stop holding the phone the wrong way or to buy a case. — Mark Spoonauer

2010: Apple TV 2nd Gen — The $99 price point that made streaming accessible 👍

Once Roku hit the market in 2008, it became clear that the streaming player market was going to be a race to the bottom. At just $99, the Apple TV 2nd Gen was Apple’s take on the more affordable streaming box, and while I can’t say that it disrupted the market in the same way Roku did, it’s the linchpin that kept the company’s “hobby project” alive and well in the face of steep (and cheap) competition. — Nick Pino

2010: Ping — The "music social network" that no one asked for 👎

"It is sort of like Facebook and Twitter meet iTunes," Steve Jobs said at the launch of Apple’s music-based social network. Only it wasn’t. Shortly after it went live, Facebook blocked any linking via API to Ping, which disabled a much-touted feature — and squashed any hopes of jump-starting the network. It was also inundated with spam comments soon after launch. Ping sputtered on for another two years before Apple killed it off, and simply added Facebook and Twitter to iTunes. Mission Accomplished! — MP

2010: The iPad Launches 👍

Remember netbooks? These cheap laptops with tiny screens were all the rage back in 2007 and were a big deal for a few years — until the iPad came along. During the iPad launch event in 2010, Steve Jobs mocked the category, saying that “they’re not better at anything.” He wasn’t wrong. Meanwhile, the iPad took tablets mainstream with a 9.7-inch multitouch display, making it a great device for checking email, playing videos, reading e-books and more. Critically, the iPad ran apps developed for the platform, unlike Android tablets that merely ran supersized phone apps. And thanks to the A4 chip you got a very impressive 10 hours of battery life. — Mark Spoonauer

2011: Siri launches, then stumbles 👎

Siri’s original launch came alongside the iPhone 4s in October 2011, and while it initially won a lot of praise for its voice recognition, it wasn’t long before the cracks started to show. Siri could (and still does) function well for basic tasks like scheduling calendar appointments and checking the weather, but Apple’s voice assistant was swiftly overtaken by more capable alternatives from Google and Amazon. Even now, Siri continues to lag behind the current crop of generative AI chatbots like Gemini and ChatGPT. Apple promised an upgraded “Siri 2.0” powered by Apple Intelligence back in 2024, which has yet to materialize… — Jeff Parsons

2012: Apple Maps launches a thousand memes 👎

The errors within Apple Maps were enough to drive people crazy, or at least in the wrong direction. Apple released its own navigation app to counter Google Maps, but things were so bad — missing and misplaced landmarks, bad spelling, and more — that CEO Tim Cook issued a written apology, and both Scott Forstall (senior vice president of iOS) and Richard Williamson (the head of the Maps team) left the business. While the problems have been fixed, Apple Maps’ disastrous initial rollout is still referenced every time the company updates the app. — MP

2013: Mac Pro "Trash Can": A thermal design that neglected pro users for years 👎

“Can’t innovate anymore, my ass!” Phil Schiller exclaimed with confidence when announcing the new generation of Mac Pro, which was then famously dubbed the “trash can.” It sacrificed the one thing pros want — modularity — for a sleek cylindrical silhouette. And don’t get me wrong, it looked cool. But by betting on this super small build while packing it with dual GPUs, Apple painted itself into a thermal corner and learned a big lesson in style over substance. — Jason England

2014: iPhone 6 Plus — Finally going big, Apple triggers largest upgrade cycle in smartphone history 👍

For the longest time, Apple was reluctant to follow the industry trend of making phones with larger screens. It wasn’t until the iPhone 5 that Apple finally upgraded from the 3.5-inch screens of its previous models to a slightly larger 4-inch version — a strategy that changed substantially with the iPhone 6 release. In addition to a much larger 4.7-inch display in the iPhone 6, Apple introduced an even larger 5.5-inch display with the iPhone 6 Plus. This change convinced many Android users to make the switch, triggering the biggest upgrade cycle in the company's history. — John Velasco

2014: iPhone 6 Bendgate 👎

If you remember Unbox Therapy’s infamous video of the iPhone 6, then you’ll remember, as I do, how easily the iPhone 6 Plus frame bent under pressure. This kicked off the “Bendgate” controversy, sending Apple’s PR into crisis mode shortly after the video revealed the phone’s structural weakness. Apple learned a hard lesson from the ordeal, eventually switching to 7000-series aluminum with the subsequent iPhone 6s and reinforcing the internal frame. — John Velasco

2014: U2’s Songs of Innocence — forcing an album into 500 million libraries 👎

Who wouldn’t want a free new album from one of the world’s most popular bands? Millions of Apple users, apparently. During the launch of the iPhone 6, Tim Cook announced that he was treating everyone to U2’s newest album, which then showed up on every iPhone, iPad, and iPod — whether you wanted it or not. The backlash was so strong that U2 frontman Bono apologized for how it was delivered. — MP

2014: Apple Watch — Apple’s first major new product category under Tim Cook 👍

The world was waiting to see what Apple’s first new major hardware category would be under Tim Cook and the Apple Watch was the result. Smartwatches were gaining ground thanks to early efforts from Fitbit and Pebble but Apple made its wearable an extension of your iPhone and a capable health and fitness device in its own right. Yearly releases and refinements followed like clockwork, but by always keeping the distinctive squircle design, Apple created a thriving cottage industry of bands, cases and accessories for the Apple Watch. Today, the Apple Watch (and Apple Watch Ultra) continues to be one of the company’s biggest products and is the most popular smartwatch in the world. — Jeff Parsons

2015: The Butterfly Keyboard: The design that launched lawsuits 👎

You know when your keyboard design inspires legal action that you have a problem. The stiff and flat Butterfly Keyboard debuted with the 12-inch MacBook in 2015, but the reports of sticky keys and double typing started to really surface in 2016 once the keyboard landed on the MacBook Pro. Apple would update the Butterfly keyboard multiple times but issues persisted, and class-action lawsuits followed in 2018. Apple retreated and launched the new “Magic Keyboard” in 2019 with traditional scissor switches, and the company began paying out settlement checks in 2024. — Mark Spoonauer

2015: Magic Mouse with charging port on bottom?! 👎

After the Hockey Puck mouse, Apple decided to continue the tradition of form over function when it comes to mice with the arrival of the Magic Mouse. While the Apple Magic Mouse is visually sleek with a single unbroken surface, the decision to put the Lightning port (and later, USB-C) on the underside of the mouse means there’s no way to use it while charging. The $79 mouse will provide up to 9 hours of use from a 2-minute charge, while a full charge will last over a month. But the decision to put the port in such an inaccessible place is still an odd one that Apple has kept in place for over a decade. — Jeff Parsons

2016: RIP headphone jack: Defended as "courage” 👎

When Apple introduced the iPhone 7 back in 2016, it shook the industry by doing something totally unexpected: removing the headphone jack. I remember when Apple’s Phil Schiller famously defended the move as an act of “courage.” While many — myself included — initially saw it as a lackluster excuse, Apple maintained that the extra internal space paved the way for a larger Taptic Engine and improved water-resistant construction. As we eventually learned, the massive success of AirPods would largely negate the need for the jack. Unsurprisingly, the iPhone’s rivals soon followed suit. — John Velasco

2016: AirPods — Apple's first wireless earbuds become a cultural phenomenon 👍

To Apple’s credit, the decision to remove the headphone jack single-handedly popularized the wireless earbuds form factor and, effectively, paved the way for the AirPods to corner the market. The AirPods launched in 2016 and delivered instant Bluetooth pairing, automatic pausing when you pulled them out of your ears and a handy charging case that delivered 24 hours of extra juice. Some criticized the design, but it wasn’t long before these buds were ubiquitous. — Nick Pino

2016: Macbook Pro Touchbar fail 👎

The Touch Bar was an OLED touchscreen strip added to the top of the MacBook Pro instead of traditional function keys. The idea behind it was to offer contextual controls based on the app being used. In some cases, it worked well — like using it to scrub through video edits quickly. However, many users complained that the innovative idea wasn’t as useful as having familiar and ever-present physical buttons. The Touch Bar lasted from 2016 until 2021 when it was phased out on newer MacBook Pros for the return of a standard function row. — Jeff Parsons

2017: iPhone X — The "all-screen" shift and introduction of FaceID 👍

We take the innovations inside the iPhone X for granted now, but they truly changed the game. Face ID revolutionized how we unlock our phones easily and security — and still has not been copied, while gesture-based navigation allowed Apple to ditch the Home button. Add in an edge-to-edge OLED display and the iPhone X was a true turning point for phones. – Mark Spoonauer

2017: Batterygate — Throttling older phones without telling customers 👎

Another major PR crisis for Apple hit in late 2017 when it was discovered that the company was intentionally throttling the performance of older iPhones. Following the release of iOS 10.2.1, it was revealed that CPU speeds were being capped on devices with degraded batteries — an event that kicked off “Batterygate.” Apple defended the move as a way to extend the overall life of the devices, but it was the lack of transparency that sparked the most outrage. Critics accused Apple of attempting to force users to upgrade to new models, a controversy that eventually led to a massive $500 million class-action settlement. — John Velasco

2018: HomePod 1st Gen — Too expensive (and rings on wood furniture) 👎

Several years after Amazon and Google launched their own smart speakers, Apple debuted the HomePod, which, despite excellent audio, cost much more than the competition. And, early reviewers (like yours truly) also discovered that the silicone ring on the bottom of the speaker could leave white rings on wood furniture. To be fair, other smart speakers did too, but none so prominently as the HomePod. — MP

2019: AirPower Cancellation 👎

Apple’s advanced charging mat was supposed to offer a sleek, all-in-one solution to wirelessly charge all your devices. In theory, you could put any Apple device anywhere on the pad to have it charge up. In practice, a prototype mat apparently got so hot it began to melt an AirPods case. In 2019, Apple officially confirmed the product was dead, saying “AirPower will not achieve our high standards and we have cancelled the project.” — Jeff Parsons

2020 – Present

2020: Apple Silicon and M1 — ending the Intel era with a bang 👍

Talk about a gamble. The MacBook Air M1 was Apple’s very first attempt at Apple Silicon in a Mac and a very purposeful move away from Intel. And it could not have gone better. Apple’s M1 chip delivered the longest battery life we’ve ever seen in a MacBook Air at nearly 15 hours in our testing — compared to 9:30 for the Intel model — and it offered remarkably fast performance to boot along with instant wake times. Plus, unlike Windows-on-ARM laptops, most of the software on Apple Silicon actually worked on day one. It would take several years for Intel to catch up. — Mark Spoonauer

2020: The totally underrated MagSafe launches 👍

It might seem like a simple addition, but the arrival of magnetic charging in the iPhone 12 heralded not only an easier way to charge iPhones but enabled all sorts of MagSafe accessories, from battery packs and charging stands to wallets, grips and iPhone mounts. Apple introduced StandBy mode a year later with iOS 17, which turns iPhones with always-on displays into alarm clocks. Samsung hasn’t even added magnets to its phones yet. – Mark Spoonauer

2020: AirPods Max "Smart Case" — The "bra" case that offered zero protection 👎

Woof, for a company that prides itself on design, the AirPods Max’s carrying case is… a choice. AirPods Max owners were quick to take to social media to voice their concerns about how little protection the case offered and it’s still being used as a meme today to diss products with bad designs. The headphones are great, but the case is easily Apple’s worst-designed product of the last decade. — Nick Pino

2020: Ted Lasso — The "kindness" hit that defined the early TV+ era 👍

I’d argue it was the infectious positivity of “Ted Lasso” that truly put Apple’s own streaming service on the map. For a while there, the main reason that you signed up and/or used a free trial of Apple TV+ (as it was called then) was to watch Ted (Jason Sudeikis) stumble his way through his new gig as head coach for Premier League soccer team, AFC Richmond. What followed was three seasons of feel-good, warm-hearted TV that made many of us “believe” in Apple’s exclusive shows. — Martin Shore

2021: Apple AirTags and Find My change how you find stuff 👍

GPS trackers have been around for a long time, but Apple’s take completely changed the field with the release of the AirTag in 2021. This diminutive tracker relied on a totally different type of tech to help people track items down, by transforming every Apple device into a beacon for pinpointing the location of a missing AirTag. Apple leaned on Ultra-Wideband technology and its own custom U1 chip to offer Precision Finding through the Find My network. This made an immediate impact on the way we keep track of our personal items and, perhaps most importantly, it was and continues to be remarkably affordable. — John Velasco

2022: CODA’s Best Picture Win — Apple becomes first streamer to win the big Oscar 👍

Another big entertainment win came in 2022 when Apple Original Film “CODA” bested the likes of “Dune,” “West Side Story” and two Netflix releases — “The Power of the Dog” and “Don’t Look Up” — at the Oscars, scooping up Best Picture, plus wins for Troy Kotsur (Best Supporting Actor) and Siân Heder (Best Adapted Screenplay). It made history as the first movie with a predominantly Deaf cast, and it meant Apple became the first streamer to win the top prize at the Academy Awards. — Martin Shore

2024: The Apple Intelligence waiting game 👎

In the aftermath of ChatGPT’s meteoric rise, Apple needed to respond in 2024, and let's just say that Apple Intelligence has not lived up to the hype so far. Two years later we’re still waiting on some of the key features promised — like in-app actions and personal context within Siri — and I had a chance to interview Apple’s Craig Federighi and Greg ‘Joz’ Jozwiak about the delay. Yes, we got some useful AI stuff like Writing Tools and Clean Up in Photos, but we’re still waiting for the revamped Siri. That should change with iOS 27. — Mark Spoonauer

2024: Apple Vision Pro wows (and then underwhelms) 👎

The Apple Vision Pro amazed me when it launched, but I called it a “revolution in progress” for a reason. Being able to navigate with just your eyes and finger gestures wowed, and I loved being able to watch 3D movies and just stare at my MacBook to get a supersized desktop. But the $3,500 asking price was way too high and the design too heavy. And while the new Vision Pro M5 is more powerful with a comfier strap, it’s just not accessible to the masses. Perhaps the rumored Apple Glasses could take visionOS to the spatial computing promise land. – MS

2025: Pluribus becomes Apple TV’s most-watched show ever 👍

When it was revealed that Apple TV won the bidding war for “Pluribus,” it was a big deal. The “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” creator had just wrapped up producing two of the best shows of this century, so whatever was coming next was guaranteed to make a splash. But it exceeded expectations when it not only beat out “Severance” for the biggest launch of a drama series, but then became the most-watched series in Apple TV history, right before its season 1 finale. — Malcolm McMillan

2026: Macbook Neo puts all budget Windows PCs on notice 👍

At a time when Windows laptop makers are raising prices due to RAMageddon, Apple has released the $599 MacBook Neo ($499 for education) — and it could wind up being the laptop of the decade. This system features pretty much everything most users want from a MacBook, including a sturdy aluminum design, a bright display and long battery life, in a very affordable package. — Mark Spoonauer

Apple is known as a premium brand, and while it's true a lot of its products aren't easy on the bank balance, that's not the whole story.

In fact, the recent introduction of the MacBook Neo just served to remind me that Apple offers a budget option in almost every product category. And since the company's ace-up-the-sleeve is the synchronicity between devices, you don't have to spend as much anymore to access it.

So that got me to wondering: just how cheaply could you go all-in on Apple's ecosystem? The answer surprised me. For less than $2,300, you can get fully set up with all of Apple's core product categories: phone, tablet, watch, laptop, earphones, and a smart speaker — plus a couple of accessories thrown in for good measure. All that for just over the cost of two iPhone 17 Pros.

I've collected all the picks below so you can see for yourself. Do me a favor: if you've got any friends or family who snub Apple for being an overpriced, premium brand, just send them this article as proof.

The products

The reviews

If you need any further proof that Apple's budget products are worth picking up — and you don't need to spring for the "Pro" models, just check out our reviews below:

• iPhone 17e review
• iPad 11 review
• Apple Watch SE 3 review
• MacBook Neo review
• HomePod mini review
• AirPods 4 review

Your earbuds go everywhere: the gym, your commute, the office, even bed. But despite daily use, most people never clean them properly. Earwax, sweat, and dust accumulate in the speaker mesh over time, affecting both sound quality and hygiene.

Worse, common cleaning methods actually damage earbuds. Cotton swabs push debris deeper into speakers, water can ruin internal electronics, and harsh chemicals can degrade protective coatings. What seems like basic maintenance often causes permanent harm.

James Grifo, Owner and CEO of Audio Visual Nation — an AV production company trusted by Microsoft and Nike — explains the proper cleaning process to protect your earbuds while keeping them hygienic.

How to clean earbuds safely

Common cleaning mistakes that damage earbuds

Grifo highlights several widespread cleaning habits that cause more harm than good. Avoiding these protects your earbuds from accidental damage.

More from Tom's Guide

• 3 hidden AirPods features that instantly boost sound and comfort
• Spotify's Lossless Listening makes music sound amazing — how to enable it
• I just discovered these 5 hidden AirPods features — they're game-changers

It's finally happened: Apple has revealed the AirPods Max 2. The company didn't hold an event or tease the announcement. Instead, a post suddenly appeared on Apple's website announcing the new model, which features the powerful H2 chip and vastly improved noise cancellation.

The company says the new AirPods Max 2 features better ANC, improved sound quality, and other intelligent features while maintaining the over-the-ear design for which Apple's most expensive headphones are known. And they're still expensive, coming with the same $549 price tag as the previous model.

AirPods Max 2 — what's new?

According to Apple, the H2 chip and new computational audio algorithms have allowed the cans to reach 1.5x more effective noise cancellation than the previous generation. For anyone who wants to keep the outside out while listening to high-quality music and podcasts, this could be a game-changer.

Beyond noise cancellation, Apple claims the headphones feature improved microphones that make the Transparency sound even more natural. I've never liked the Transparency feature on AirPods, so I'd be curious to try the new and improved version to see how it is.

While most users will probably prefer Bluetooth, Apple also supports 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio when connected via the included USB-C cable. For those willing to trade the convenience of wireless for sound quality, this could be a massive upgrade.

And for the wireless crowd, AirPods Max 2 offers lower-latency wireless audio, making playing in Game Mode on iOS, macOS, and iPadOS games feel even more responsive and immersive.

Spatial Audio is also seeing improvements. The company promises improved instrument localization, more accurate and consistent bass response, and more natural-sounding mids and highs.

The microphones are also better, with Apple saying they include "studio-quality audio recording," which "allows interviewers, podcasters, singers, and other creators to record their content with higher-quality audio and more natural vocal texture."

More from Tom's Guide

• 5 signs you need to upgrade your wireless headphones
• I just tested Skullcandy’s high-end headphones and they’re awesome in so many ways
• 5 ways the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 can revive the series and beat the AirPods

Yes, the JLab Go Sport+ cost $29 — which makes them just $5 more than Netflix. I don't know about you, but $29 is way cheaper than my monthly gym membership, cheaper than my weekly grocery bill, and a fraction of the price of my running leggings.

Obviously, if you already have a pair of the best earbuds, like I do, you might not want to shell out even more for some of the best running earbuds. But trust me — proper running earbuds make a huge difference. It's like running with fashion sneakers as opposed to proper running shoes. The JLab Go Sport+ have one job, and they do it really well.

But I wanted to really test them. As I primarily use my AirPods Pro 2 for everything, including running, I wondered how these $29 running buds would stack up against my $249 (but now discontinued) AirPods Pro 2. Can these ultra-cheap buds really beat Apple?

Challenge 1: the fit

Running earbuds and lifestyle earbuds have one major difference: fit. The entire purpose of a running earbud is to stay put in your ear hole, no matter how vigorously you're running.

That's why running earbuds tend to have a 'hook'-style design. This hook fits around the outside of your ear cartilage to prevent falling out or wobbling inside your ear.

It goes without saying that the JLab Go Sport+ fit much, much more securely than my AirPods Pro 2. That's not to suggest that my AirPods fit precariously or that AirPods aren't also great for running — it's more that the Go Sport+ have one job, and they do it really well.

Take a look at my colleague Nikita modeling the Go Sport+ — look at how the hook fits around her ear tightly.

When I was running, I forgot I was wearing them. The Go Sport+ are that secure. Alright, getting them in my ears took a few seconds longer than your AirPods or standard earbuds, but once they were in, they were in. No movement. Like they were soldered onto my cartilage itself. This is ideal for running, as your constant up-down movement can dislodge generic earbuds.

Comparatively, AirPods fit more like those aforementioned generic earbuds. As I have the Pro 2, the silicone tip makes the buds more secure than AirPods 4 (sans silicone tip). Even so, they still move around a little when I run, enough to necessitate my repositioning them mid-sprint.

I don't think this is a surprise, but the JLab Go Sport+ win over the AirPods Pro 2 for fit and security. If you want a pair of cheap earbuds you don't mind getting sweaty — and you want them to lock onto your ears so well you forget you're wearing them — then the Go Sport+ will not let you down.

Challenge 2: sound quality

Don't think I'm about to throw away my AirPods Pro 2 anytime soon, though. There's (obviously) one main area where the Pro 2 reign supreme: sound quality.

Of course, no one buys $29 with the intention of getting some Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2-dupes or anything. You know what to expect when you pay $29 for earbuds.

I don't think you're really focusing on sound quality when you're running, though. Or, I know I'm not. All I need is a powerful low-end with enough bass to help me propel my legs forward. I try to listen to 180BPM+ music when I run, so I can easily fix my slow cadence.

The Go Sport+ have plenty of bass. When I was listening to electronic music, the synths and drum machines crashed through the earbuds with gusto. In more complex soundscapes — like when I was listening to Slipknot, Linkin Park, and Evanescence — some of the guitars muddied. But even so, these are a) running earbuds, and b) $29.

My AirPods Pro 2 sound much, much better than the Go Sport+. The mids are clearer, and the bass has more separation. However, I was also pushing the darn things back in every five minutes, which distracted me from my workout.

I'm going to keep using the Go Sport+ for runs, but continue to wear my AirPods Pro 2 for everything else. Now I've experienced a run without needing to readjust my earbuds every 0.2 seconds, I'm not sure I can go back.

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• I ran 50 miles in the Mizuno Hyperwarp Pure, and it’s the most exciting racing shoe I’ve tested this year

Apple is currently playing a high-stakes game of “cover the spread.” Right now, we’ve got the MacBook Neo for the budget-conscious users — putting Chromebooks and Windows laptops on notice. But next up (according to a report by Mark Gurman), the Cupertino giant is turning its gaze back to the stratosphere.

The rumored MacBook Ultra suggests that Apple isn’t content with just being “Pro” anymore, and this new higher tier could represent a massive pivot. For years, the line between iPad and Mac was a church and state affair, but the Ultra could break that wall down with an OLED panel and (finally) a touchscreen.

What to expect from the MacBook Ultra?

Well, it’s in the name! Expect it to be the “ultra” interpretation of an Apple laptop. Gurman reports that this notebook will sit above the MacBook Pros, rather than replace them. That (in my mind) is the best course of action, because there’s a whole lot of Pro fans (me included) who don’t need the features a potential Ultra could be touting, and that subsequent price increase.

So to top the beastly Pros, the Cupertino crew’s going to have to go big. And that may mean two key things: OLED and touchscreen capabilities. This would be a huge change from keeping the iPad and Mac distinct in the way you use them, but could be huge for creators.

Now, figuring out where the pricing will go, you can take a look at what happened in other moments where Apple brought an OLED to the party. The iPhone X launched in 2017 with this display tech, and the iPad Pro with Tandem OLED in 2024. In both situations, the price went up by roughly 20%.

Of course, this isn’t taking into account any RAM price crisis-based shenanigans later in the year, but this is the kind of uplift you can expect from a MacBook Ultra. Also, given the anticipation that this notebook lands closer to the fall, I’d expect these to come with an M6 chip — using a new “chips on a system” architecture that you already see in M5 Pro and M5 Max.

Going all-ultra

But this isn’t the only Ultra device that’s set to come. Gurman does suggest two other products may sport this moniker:

• iPhone Ultra: this could very well be the first foldable iPhone Apple makes with a price tag over $2,000.
• AirPods Ultra: these could be the rumored AirPods with a built-in camera to fuel real-time visual intelligence and run the new Siri we’re expecting to see more of at WWDC 2026.

So one thing is becoming clear — Apple’s hitting both the budget and premium prices hard with a wider range of devices to suit all bank balances. The MacBook Neo is going to be a nightmare for Chromebooks and budget Windows laptops, while this rumored MacBook Ultra will gun straight for the luxury market.

It’s going to be interesting to see how this all plays out over the course of 2026.

More from Tom's Guide

• 2026 is the year smart glasses will finally stop being cringe, but has their moment come too late?
• MacBook Neo vs MacBook Air M1: There’s a clear (and colorful) winner
• I zoned out and stopped listening to my fiancée — and the Even Realities G2 made sure she never knew

The world is, currently, very expensive. I watch my beloved Nespresso coffee pods get more costly by the day, and my packets of sandwich ham seem to rise in price by a few cents every week. Let's not even get started on eggs — waking up just isn't the same without my butter-filled morning scramble.

Headphones and earbuds are expensive, and in a time when it's more important than ever to save a few bucks (especially when a ham sandwich costs what it does now), they're a luxury that's easy to forgo or cheap out on when replacing old or damaged models.

But what do you get? EarPods. No matter if you're an Apple user with an iPhone or an Android faithful wielding a Pixel thing, you should get EarPods. For $20 bucks, you're not going to do any better than Apple's cheapest buds — and there are other benefits besides price. Let me explain.

1. No battery life

Look, I love wireless earbuds. I really do. But there's nothing quite as annoying as opening your buds case, slipping them in your ear, only to receive no sound because you completely forgot to charge them.

Or, when you're on a long trip, and you have no time to add battery life to your buds. Musicless train journeys are simply a no-go in my books.

You know what doesn't have battery? EarPods. They plug into your phone, play music and take calls. They don't need recharging, so you won't need to worry about music-less train journeys anymore. No brainer.

2. More intuitive controls

You see that funny rectangle on the right EarPods cable? That's a controller, and it's so much easier to use than the touch controls on your AirPods. And AirPods controls are great.

You press the volume up button to turn the sound up. You press the volume down button for the sound to go down. You press the middle button to play pause, and the volume up and down buttons twice to skip and go back a track. That's it. Those are the controls.

Not only does this placement make them easy to access, physical buttons are also a cinch if you're wearing big bulky gloves in colder weather.

3. Harder to lose

AirPods (and other wireless earbuds) are small. They're tiny, in fact, in the grand scheme of things. And what happens to tiny things? They get lost — a universal truth that follows us all. Train seat? See ya later, left earbud. Or never again.

By virtue of being attached by a cable, you're far less likely to lose your EarPods. Sure, if you leave them on the tray table and leave the train, you might, but you're not going to drop one down the sofa and be left with just one ear of music.

And if you do leave them on the tray table, you can buy another pair. Because they're $20.

4. Increased call quality

Call quality with modern wireless earbuds is fine, but it's never exemplary. There's a reason most companies supply you with a wired headset when you join — they sound better.

You see, when taking a call, the connection suddenly has to deal with two-way communication. One is the sound you can hear, being transferred from your phone or laptop to the buds.

The other is your voice being transferred from the microphone in your buds to your phone. That's double the audio streams, and Bluetooth just isn't man enough to handle both with much grace.

A cable, though? A cable does just fine — a pair of EarPods will, I'd wager, outperform even the most expensive wireless headphones mics in a head-to-head battle.

5. They're $20

Look, I know I said I wouldn't talk about price, but I have to. The EarPods are cheap. They cost less than a family meal at Burger King. They're cheaper than Coffee for two at a nice cafe in Manhattan. There are everything bagels that cost more than the EarPods. They're so cheap.

And you know what? That's important. Because, like I said up at the very top, the world is currently putting us through the financial wringer, and saving money where you can is paramount. And getting EarPods instead of AirPods is a great way of making sure there are some eggs in the fridge for that all-important morning scramble.

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• This $70 USB-C iPhone dongle makes my wireless headphones sound amazing — and I don't think I could live without it anymore
• Apple's AI wearable roadmap is getting wild: Apple Glasses, AI pendant and AirPods with cameras detailed in new report

Apple is doubling down on its AI efforts, and not just with its Siri 2.0 coming in 2026. As reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the Cupertino tech giant is working on an Apple AI pendant, the long-rumored Apple AI smart glasses, and AI AirPods that come equipped with cameras. These have been rumored, but Gurman claims that Apple is actively developing these new AI wearable products.

The AI AirPods with cameras could launch this year, and the Apple glasses could start production as soon as December with a 2027 launch. The AI pendant could also launch next year. Here's a closer look at what to expect from Apple's new lineup of AI wearables.

Apple AI Pendent

Previously, Apple's rumored AI device had been expected to be an AI pin, not unlike the Humane AI Pin. However, Gurman suggests it could be worn like a pendant, hence an Apple AI pendant.

The AI wearable will reportedly come in the same size as the recent AirTag 2, possibly along with an aluminum flat disk and glass. With a clip, this will allow users to attach it to their clothing or bag, but reports also note there's a hole so it can be used as a necklace.

As for what's under the (likely small) hood, the AI pendant will feature a camera for visuals, a microphone for sound and a dedicated chipset — all of which will be used for users to interact with Siri via an iPhone. Notably, the cameras won't be used for taking pictures or video, but will be always-on to record the user's surroundings.

According to a leak from The Information, the pendant will come equipped with two cameras, three microphones and a small speaker, along with a physical button. This would allow for voice and gesture controls, but it isn't certain if Apple will incorporate all these components.

As Gurman states, the Apple AI pendant is looking to be the "eyes and ears" of the iPhone, so more of an accessory and less of a product that can be used by itself.

For now, there's no telling when Apple plans to release its AI pendant, or how much it will cost, as it's reportedly in the early stages of development. If its rumored smart glasses end up arriving by 2027, we could see the pendant launch soon after. And, as an accessory, fingers crossed it won't cost as much as the now-dead $699 Humane AI Pin.

Apple AI Smart Glasses

Apple plans to catch up with Meta's Ray-Ban and Google's Android XR in the smart glasses race, and it's looking like we'll finally see its first pair of AI specs by the end of 2026, or in 2027. Apparently, production on these glasses could begin in December 2026.

Apple's AI smart glasses are expected to be fitted with built-in speakers and cameras, depending on Siri for AI capabilities. These aren't likely to receive a display, like the Meta Ray-Ban Display specs, as these should be reserved for Apple's AR glasses predicted to arrive by 2028.

As with its other AI wearables, the specs will connect with a user's iPhone, which will handle the processing. With its built-in cameras, speakers and microphone, the glasses will be able to take and receive phone calls, snap photos and record video.

On top of that, you'll be able to play music and use Visual Intelligence to look at objects, read text and get information about them. Plus, it's expected to have live navigation and translation.

We're expected high-resolution cameras in the Apple AI smart glasses for pictures and video, along with one dedicated to Visual Intelligence. As for design, as with the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, Apple is tipped to deliver a range of sizes and styles, but it's uncertain what these could be.

AI AirPods with cameras

According to the report, the AirPods with cameras are real, but are at an earlier level of development compared to the AI pendant. We've been hearing rumors of these for a few years, and Apple may finally be taking the plunge to launch these AI-powered earbuds.

Again, this AI wearable will come with cameras, but will be used to record information on the user's surroundings rather than capturing photos. From previous rumors, these would be IR (infrared) cameras, offering advanced gesture controls and support for Siri.

There's still a lot to learn about these AI wearables and how they could support other Apple products, but it sounds like they will take more advantage of Apple Intelligence and Siri features.

With Apple pushing forward with its AI plans, we're now expecting to see AI-dedicated products come into the fold, and it's only a matter of time until we see if these devices are worth the wait.

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It’s the first big retail holiday of the year! So if you’ve been craving an upgrade, there are lots of Apple Presidents’ Day deals up for grabs. Sure, some of these items were cheaper on Black Friday — but I don’t expect those prices to appear again until the end of the year. So, if you don’t want to wait, these are the deals I’d pick up this February.

For starters, I’d recommend getting the Apple Watch 11. I think it’s the best smartwatch for most people and it’s on sale for its lowest price ever. Or, if you want pro power on the move, I steer you towards the 11-inch iPad Pro M5 for $100 off — also its lowest price ever.

Plus, it looks like Amazon is trying to clear out Gen 1 AirTag stock to make way for the new second-generation model: you can get a 4-pack of 1st Gen AirTags for just $64 ($34 off.) Both the 1st and 2nd Gen AirTags do a great job of tracking your important stuff, so I’d definitely recommend grabbing a pack while they’re on sale.

Check out all my favorite Presidents’ Day Apple deals below!

AirPods work great straight out of the box, but most people never discover the features that can make them sound significantly better and fit more comfortably. Apple builds audio enhancement tools and fit customization options into iOS, but they're buried in various settings menus and can be easy to miss.

These features can boost sounds, create immersive 3D audio, and help you find the perfect ear tip size for AirPods Pro. Once you know where to find them and how to use them, you can improve your listening experience.

Here are three ways to make your AirPods sound better and fit more comfortably.

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In a surprise to no one, Apple is working on a new pair of AirPods Pro earbuds. However, the unexpected news is that the company plans to launch the new models in 2026. They won't replace the current AirPods Pro 3, which are easily among the best earbuds, but will instead sit alongside them as an ultra-premium model.

Of course, if Apple wants to justify a higher price tag for a pair of AirPods Pro, it needs to add new features, as no one is going to pay extra out of the kindness of their hearts. Based on a report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and a leak from Instant Digital, it sounds like Apple has some big plans, including advanced gesture controls and the powerful H3 chip.

What to expect from the expensive AirPods Pro 3 model

The biggest hardware upgrade we've heard of is coming to the new, pricier version of the AirPods Pro: a gesture-reading infrared camera. With this, users will be able to control their music, answer calls and do anything else they'd expect to do with the earbuds without pressing any physical buttons or touch areas.

In fact, Instant Digital suggested that these cameras could prompt Apple to remove the fancy new model's pressure sensors and offer gesture controls only. That would be an interesting move from Apple, as people have grown comfortable with swiping to control music and calls.

The H3 chip is also being rumored for the new AirPods. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who has a very reliable track record of reporting on all things Apple, the next-generation audio chip is in development. It could be for a future model, such as the AirPods 5 or an upgraded Max, but that remains to be seen.

Either way, Apple has a large price gap between the AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max, with the headphones selling for $249 and $549, respectively. If it were to drop the advanced AirPods Pro 3 this year in the $349-$399 range, it would fill the space nicely.

If these do come to fruition, it'll probably be a few months before we see anything official, as Apple typically drops new AirPods in the back half of the year.

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If you've ever wanted to watch a movie with someone on a plane or share a song with a friend, you've probably ended up passing one AirPod back and forth. It's awkward, uncomfortable, and you both get tangled in the same wire or deal with one ear going silent.

Your iPhone actually has a built-in solution called Audio Sharing that lets two people listen through separate pairs of headphones at the same time. The catch is it only works with Apple and Beats headphones, not just any old wireless pair. Here's how to set it up this feature on your iPhone.

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Taking group selfies or photos where you want to be in the frame usually means awkwardly stretching your arm to reach the shutter button while trying to keep your hand out of the shot. Apple's iOS 26 introduced a feature that solves this problem: Camera Remote for AirPods.

You can set up your iPhone at the perfect angle, step back into frame, and trigger the camera with a simple press. However, it only works with AirPods that have an H2 chip, which includes AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4. Here's how to enable Camera Remote and use your AirPods to take photos.

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Apple's AirPods are some of the most popular earbuds and headphones that you can buy today. It's no great surprise why, considering how well they work with iPhone devices and the sheer number of features available out of the box. But; did you know that there's loads about your AirPods that you might not know about?

There are loads of different hidden features built into the AirPods line, from funky extras that let you take photos with your earbuds to head gestures that can answer and reject calls. Whether you own a pair of AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 3 or AirPods Max, here are the hidden features you didn't know were in your AirPods.

1. Take a picture

I'll bet you didn't know you could use your AirPods as a remote control for the camera on your iPhone! It's super easy as well — you just need to activate it in the settings menu.

Head to the settings menu, and find your AirPods. Scroll down to the camera control section, and choose the option that suits you. You can choose a single or long tap to activate the shutter in the camera app.

From there, open the camera app, and try your new shortcut. You'll get a countdown on screen, and then your phone takes a picture. Perfect for group photos!

Airpods this works with:

• AirPods Pro 3
• AirPods Pro 2
• AirPods 4

2. Nod to accept a call

Ever found your hands full, only to need to answer a call on your earpuds? Don't worry, Apple thought of a solution. There's a setting that lets you nod your head to accept a call and shake your head to decline it. It's found hidden away in the settings menu.

Open the menu, and find your AirPods settings. Scroll down until you find head gestures, and toggle the option on. Now, you can accept and decline calls with a nod or a shake of your head.

AirPods this works with:

• AirPods Pro 3
• AirPods Pro 2
• AirPods 4
• AirPods 3

3. Make sure your AirPods fit correctly

Finding the right fit with any pair of earbuds can be tricky. Which ear tips should you use? How do they slip in properly? Apple has made it easier to make sure that your earbuds are fitting properly with fit test.

Head to the settings menu, and select your AirPods. Navigate to Ear Tip Fit Test, and then run the test. Adjust their fit as needed with a new set of tips — remember, you might need one side to be bigger than the other.

Once it's all done, your AirPods will fit better, they'll even likely sound slightly better. and, as an added bonus, the ANC will block more noise. Make sure you run this test!

AirPods this works with:

• AirPods Pro 3 (it's called "Acoustic Seal Test")
• AirPods Pro 2

4. Chill out with relaxing sounds

Did you know that your AirPods can help you relax? There are built in sounds that can calm you down. They're called "Background Sounds," and there's a series of different options to choose from. Six, in fact.

Head to the settings menu, and go to the accessibility section. Then you'll choose the Audio/Visual menu, and navigate to the Background Sounds option. From there, choose your sound. Now you can sleep peacefully without being woken up by your snoring partner. Or the hamster wheel. Or, well, whatever it is that keeps you up.

AirPods this works with:

• AirPods Pro 3
• Airpods Pro 2
• AirPods Pro
• AirPods 4
• AirPods 3
• AirPods 2
• AirPods Max

5. Watch your movies without disturbing your family

If you've got an Apple TV, you can connect your Airpods and listen to the audio without waking anyone else up at more... interesting hours. It's super easy, and if your AirPods support Spatial Audio, then you'll get surround with some of your content as well.

To see if your AirPods are connected to your Apple TV, press the power button to bring up control center. Check the audio menu here and find your AirPods. Now you can watch all your movies and TV with your AirPods! Simple, and very useful.

AirPods this works with:

• AirPods Pro 3
• AirPods Pro 2
• AirPods Pro
• AirPods 4
• AirPods 3
• AirPods 2
• AirPods
• AirPods Max

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One of my favorite ways of watching movies and TV shows with my Apple TV is with a pair of AirPods. I still get all the surround benefits of Spatial Audio, but I don't disturb the rest of the house with elevated volume levels.

It's super easy to connect your AirPods to your Apple TV, as well. It's even simpler if you've got other Apple devices — you'll almost certainly be able to use them straight away. Here's how to connect your AirPods to your Apple TV.

Models this will work with

• AirPods
• AirPods 2
• AirPods 3
• AirPods 4
• AirPods Pro
• Airpods Pro 2
• AirPods Pro 3
• AirPods Max

The easy way

If you use other Apple devices with your AirPods, like an iPhone or an iPad, your AirPods are likely already connected to your Apple TV without you even realizing. It's all down to that magic Apple device connection — they're linked with your Apple ID.

To check that they're connected to your Apple TV, boot up the TV device and then open your buds. Then put them in your ears, and you should see a connection notification on screen.

Go and play something on your favorite streaming service and check that the audio is coming through. Job done!

If they don't immediately play the audio, you need to choose them as an audio output. Hit the power button on the top right of your remote, select the "audio" section, and choose your AirPods from the list.

If they're not there, then you'll have to connect them manually. Have no fear, it's actually super easy.

The harder way

First, navigate to the settings menu on your Apple TV. From there, find the Remotes & Devices tab. Now, you'll need to find the Bluetooth tab.

Now we need to get the AirPods into pairing mode. This will depend on your AirPods.

For the AirPods 1, 2 and 3, and the AirPods Pro 1 and Pro 2, open the case and find the pairing button on the back. Hold down the button until the status light on the front flashes white.

AirPods 4 (both models) and AirPods Pro 3 have a touch panel instead. Open the case, and then double-tap the front of the case near the Apple TV.

Finally, for the AirPods Max, hold down the ANC button until the status light flashes white.

With your AirPods now in pairing mode, you can find them in the Bluetooth connections menu of the Apple TV. Select your AirPods in the list, and you're away!

Back out of the settings menu, and then double-check that the AirPods are connected properly. Using the power button on the remote control, find the AirPods in the audio devices section.

This is also where you can configure the Spatial Audio settings (if applicable). And with that, your AirPods are connected to your Apple TV — go forth and watch some movies and TV!

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In a matter of months, my AirPods Pro 3 have become my go-to running headphones, and it’s not because they have the ability to track my heart rate. The fit and sound quality is far superior to their predecessors, and they don’t budge, even on really sweaty workouts (nice). However, over the holidays, my AirPods started making a weird clicking, mainly whenever Apple’s Workout Buddy paused my music or podcast with Active Noise Cancellation enabled, but click they did, and it drove me mad.

Luckily, this story has a happy ending, and a rather simple fix, so if you find your AirPods start clicking during your workouts, here’s what to try before you head to a Genius bar.

My AirPods Pro 3 started clicking — here’s the simple fix that saved me having to replace them

When I first googled the problem, I saw that the clicking noise can stem from firmware bugs or hardware issues, or a far simpler alternative — a buildup of dirt causing friction in the ear tip.

I often leave the case for my AirPods at home, and chuck my pods themselves in my jacket pocket when I finish a run, and after a few months of wear, I had yet to clean them. Here are the steps I took:

• I removed the tips of the AirPods and used a cotton bud with micellar water to remove the dust that had accumulated both in the part that sits in my ear, and the opposite side, that sits flush with the headphones themselves — there was a surprising amount hidden in the headphones.
• While they were dying, I used another dry cotton swab to clean out the speakers themselves.
• I allowed everything to dry, before putting the headphones back together and returning them to their charging case.

So far, so good in terms of the clicking noise, and a decent lesson that the simple fix is always a good place to start.

Of course, if this doesn’t work, it’s worth taking your headphones back to Apple to see if the popping or clicking sound is related to hardware, but keep your headphones clean, folks, especially if, like me, you carry them around without the case.

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The AirPods Pro 3 launched to a great deal of fanfare last year, landing with pinpoint accuracy onto our list of the best wireless earbuds. They've got better sound, a (supposedly) improved fit, and a whole load more battery life. Apparently, though, we could see a new version at some point — according to 9to5Mac.

Not happy with having a pair of premium earbuds in its roster, Apple seems intent on making the AirPods line more convoluted and confusing than ever. Two AirPods 4 models and two Pro models.

All of the AirPods

Apparently, the new version of the AirPods looks to replace the traditional idea of smart glasses. To that end, the new model would be equipped with IR cameras, as well as AI integration, so they can make sense of the world around you.

In my opinion, though, it feels like a lot of unnecessary feature bloat, forgetting what makes the AirPods so good in the first place: An excellent audio experience and magical connection with Apple devices.

How likely are they?

Most of the rumors and rumblings that 9to5Mac reports here are old — some of them even pre-AirPods Pro 3 launch. It could be that we see a version of the AirPods Pro 3 launch with some fancy new cameras in the future, but there hasn't really been anything new since last September.

Going by AirPods release calendars past, we could expect a light refresh of the Pro 3 after about a year and a half. That's if things go the same way as the AirPods Pro 2, and given that they only upgraded to match the EU's USB-C mandate, I'm not sure the Pro 3 will follow suit.

Do we need another AirPods Pro model? I'm going to say probably not — the AirPods line is getting confusing enough already, without a second model of more premium AirPods Pro 3 cluttering things up even more.

IR cameras could well be an update to future models of AirPods, but only time will tell whether it's a new model or a refreshed one.

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