Ultimate AirPods Guide - I Tried Every Model of Apple AirPods

In this video, I am testing every AirPods model sold today and comparing the AirPods Max vs AirPods Pro vs AirPods 3 vs AirPods 2. Is it worth the money to upgrade? I tested the latest AirPods to find out.
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Please comment below with any questions you might have. Thank you all for watching! I appreciate you!
Disclaimer: This video is purely based on my experiences, research, and opinions. You and only you are responsible for your actions. I made this channel to advise viewers and I truly hope to help you all out. I love making these videos and connecting with my viewers!
One or more of the products shown in this video may have been sent to me at no cost. This does not influence my opinions; I always cover both pros and cons.
This channel is monetized via KZbin ads as well as some affiliate links. If a purchase is made after clicking the link, I will receive a small commission at no extra charge to the buyer. Thank you all for watching!
ADDITIONAL REVIEW NOTES:
Design
AP Pro have USB-C, others do not
All buds have wireless charginging
AP3 & APP have magsafe
AP Max & 2 have optical sensor, 3 & pro have skin detection sensors
I always hated the lack of a power button on airpods max - buggy with the case
Water resistance & durability
AirPods Pro are IP54 resistant in buds & case
AirPods 3 = IPX4
AirPods Max = no rating
AirPods 2 = no rating
Battery life
AirPods 3 = 6/30
AirPods Pro = 6/30 - more like 5/25 with ANC
AirPods 2 = 5/24
AirPods Max = 20 hrs
Cool features they all have
Seamless switching - but faster on airpods pro
One tap setup
Audio sharing
Siri
Unique features
APP have H2 chip
All others have H1 chip
AP Pro have adaptive audio - others do not
AP Pro have conversation awareness - others do not
AP Pro have 20 bit lossless audio capabilities with the Vision Pro
AP Pro have UWB find my capabilities for precise locating
AP Pro have speaker on case
AP Pro have lanyard hook on case
AP Pro are bluetooth 5.3, others are 5.0 - better range and way better data rate
AP Pro have conversation boost - accessibility feature
All have spatial audio EXCEPT AP 2
All have adaptive EQ EXCEPT AP 2
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Introducing The 4 Options
2:30 Charging Methods
3:30 Secure Fit comparison (best airpods for workouts)
4:55 Comfort comparison (best airpods for the workday)
6:16 Important Design Differences
6:45 Controls
8:40 Microphone Comparison (Best AirPods Mic)
10:22 Sound Quality Comparison (Which AirPods sound best?)
11:30 ANC comparison
12:30 Transparency comparison
13:00 Durability, Longevity, & Water Resistance
14:30 Battery life comparison
15:15 Best AirPods Features (compared!)
18:30 Best AirPods to buy in 2024

[@MikeOBrienMedia]

Which pair of AirPods would be the best purchase?

[@Eternal_D4RKNESS]

Definitely the AirPods 3rd Gen it was a huge upgrade whenever I play music it sounded so good i love my AirPods 3rd Gen

[@KxC-FK6349]

the pros tbh blocked that bus out so it would seem the perfect fit for me

[@Eternal_D4RKNESS]

@@KxC-FK6349 the AirPods Pro’s are good and the noise cancellation and transparency mode is very useful when ever your by crowds the AirPods Pro fit my ears very well and I think it’s worth the money

[@SuperDave30]

Apple EarPods Pro!

[@Zunair.]

Pro 2nd gen if coming from 1 gen pods or max for those who can’t easily afford

[@Parischick11]

The AirPods Pro has the best sound in my opinion. The Pro Max does too but the AirPods are much more convenient to carry around. Thanks for your in depth reviews 👍

[@p4o3nix99]

I've only tried the 3rd gen and the pros, and in my opinion i like the 3rd gen more, maybe its bcuz of the bass

[@confidentletter]

AirPods Max have the best sound quality as there's less reliance on a chip for noise cancellation, bigger build for a larger driver, have a much longer battery life. They're both pretty mobile but the AirPods Pros have a compact design which makes them more optimal for everyday use.

[@FrenzyFields]

@@confidentletter personally I just don’t like the headsets with the little whatever it is going over my head and it feeling like it could fall of at any moment. Personally I’ve tried all of them but I daily drive the 2’s since they are a great fit. They are just so much more comfortable and compact and they fit in my pocket.

[@confidentletter]

@@FrenzyFields Perfectly stated. I mentioned the compact design in my initial reply as that's generally what AirPods Pro 2's are used for in contrast with the AirPods Max!

[@FrenzyFields]

@@confidentletter ah sorry about that. Sometimes I forget what people say while I’m typing a response, especially late at night like that one, and I repeat what’s already been said. Have a nice day!

[@paulmckee6072]

The Apple AirPods Pro mic tests were the best 🎉

[@child_of_God_fr]

No it wasnt

[@nskbhatia1]

I am happy that you brought up the sound cores. There are days when I choose my soundcore liberty over my pros, they are comfortable and sound really good.

[@noilok_]

there truly are big diffrences in airpods but whats common in them are white stim and good only with iphone

[@shahra1280]

Yes. The Stim is absolutely remarkable

[@nylotical]

I guess. The pros are still great headphones on Android, just limited ofc. I’m assuming you meant ‘only good with Apple Products’ even though you specified iPhone. If you didn’t know that, well boom. Now you know. They work well with an Apple TV.

[@Windows98R]

Not really. I have a dedicated pair of my old AirPods Pro 1s for my windows pc. Combined with a decent Bluetooth receiver and a front end UI app, it works very smoothly. (Unless you want to use the microphone but who uses the mic, especially on a PC that has so much better options for input for cheaper)

[@Cosmos_6]

I love the stem if they get rid of it I’m not getting them again

[@mrdextrous355]

The stim on the old AirPods are ugly. Thank god they shortened it. The pro gen 2 are the best ones in every way

[@ratrat77]

Thank you so much this actually helped me out A LOT All other videos on this topic are old and not up to date or by tech bros that don’t understand my practical needs or my budget. The comparisons reealllyyy helped

[@fluffyoreo6275]

i’ve had the airpods 2 for about 2.5 years now and their finally starting to die out. thank u for making a really helpful video. this really helps me make a decision.

[@koenbader2000]

Same here have had my 2s for about 3 years now and have now ordered the pros this was super helpful

[@llucas_brr]

Same here. I started with the original and I wanted better earphones with better features and sound so I bought the Pro 2

[@thomasgarner-actingthestor5695]

Thank you so much for this review. Seriously. I have been considering an upgrade from my old AirPods 2 for Black Friday sales and have been watching KZbin reviews all day trying to figure out if it was worth it for my needs. To be honest, when I saw your video time was over 21 minutes, I rolled my eyes - so I played you in the background. Very quickly, you had my full attention. I was riveted the entire time and you actually gave me your opinion without any BS on the comparisons - AND this video wasn't 2 years old... Imagine that! Thank you. the Pros may be awesome, but for all the other stuff you said (and given my needs) it's Gen 3 for me. Can't beat it for $139 on sale! Cheers.

[@WazabisQuest]

Was thinking gen 3 also. I didn’t know about the pinch/ scroll spot option. Really cool.

[@Jezee213]

That glasses holder in the b-roll would be a sweet way to charge like, Ray Bans smart glasses or something. Also, I was surprised at how much clearer the AirPods Pro 2 are! It's actually very noticeable.

[@Gabriel52023]

Bought the Airpods 2 on sale. I watched tons of KZbin videos about all the different AirPods. I don’t like the pro’s because the silicone tips. The 3th gen i tried but they don’t fit well and not comfortable at all for me. The AirPods 2 are the winner for me because the comfort fit and can wear it all day without any pain or discomfort, battery life is great and microphone is very good and the sound sounds much more bass then on the 3th gen tbh. Fit of the 2nd gen is just the best fit ever made on Airpods and i hope Apple makes like Airpods SE thats based on Airpods 2 design but with more features and more adjustments.

[@stare4539]

You could have got beats studio buds or plus

[@anastasiiagolovanova3205]

@@stare4539i’ve got beats studio buds and am going to upgrade to Airpods 2 today, because I get tired of silicon tips quickly and that’s why I haven’t been listening to music a lot lately. I tried my friend’s airpods 2 and they fit perfectly

[@lifeisshrt7929]

@@stare4539he just said he didn’t like the silicone tips, why would he get either of those?

[@ElderberryOllie]

Just say u cant afford pros

[@lifeisshrt7929]

@@ElderberryOllie or he doesn’t like silicon tips

[@bykurt_is]

So somehow all these other bigger channels can’t make a basic review on the AirPods Pro alone. Didn’t even mention the capabilities which is the only damn thing I wanted to know. But when I came here, you set the tone in a way that let me know you aren’t gonna waste time and leave anything out. Literally went above and beyond, so thank you. I knew the pro and 3rd gen would be the ones I’d struggle with. Think I’ll try to pro. Cuz I bought some JBL ones to hold me until I had enough for AirPods. So I kinda learned to appreciate the tips but generally would prefer not to have them. It’s just the features of the pros I want and always wanted.

[@child_of_God_fr]

Dork

[@bykurt_is]

@@child_of_God_fr 🤓 fanks

[@karomatjohn254]

I have AirPods Max and pro 2 and they both sound identical, I’m about to return the max since I don’t see using it at all unless you live in noisy area cause the noise cancellation is shockingly impressive

[@jacobgrisson2695]

The AirPods Max mics are actually really good, and they even sound nice outside (which im outside a lot) I just would like to know how they’d sound when you are moving quickly like if you are riding a bike or something.

[@AndrewMatthews]

Great video. Quick question, how did you record the Mic audio for your testing ?

[@dfarias873]

I’ve been using the AirPods 3s since they first came out and I really liked them. I recently decided to upgrade to the AirPods Pro 2 and the ANC is great. One month into my AirPods Pro 2 and I think I would’ve been fine with my AirPods 3. I don’t really need the ANC.

[@Pedro145a]

had my airpods pro 2 since launch and the anc was the best feature for me

[@dfarias873]

@@Pedro145aI had Beats Studio Buds and Soundcore Q45 for ANC. Maybe that’s why I don’t care too much about the feature. I do care about Spatial audio though (which my AirPods 3 had).

[@xvittsl5383]

i like the airpods pro’s cuz they have good features n sounds too good fr

[@Pedro145a]

@@dfarias873 i also hsve galaxy bufs 2 pro and wh-1000xm5 but the package that the airpods had was great

[@autumnatic6507]

@@dfarias873Do you think the q45 anc is as good or better than airpod pro 2? I have the pro 2s and love the anc. Am thinking about getting the q45.

[@210gnx]

I own pro 2s as well as the gen 2 AirPods and I will say I love the anc and transparency on the pros, but comfort for me still goes to the gen 2s, I wear the older ones often for work and wear them for hours with no issues. I have gotten some comply tips for my pros and so far they’re an improvement but of course I need to play with the sizes. I did pickup some gen 3s for my wife so I can’t wait to test them out 😅

[@flchideonbush-_]

what were better? gen 3 or pro 2

[@PeterMateo-zn7nq]

Which had the best bass the pro 2 or gen 2?

[@ballooneyjr4294]

@@PeterMateo-zn7nqpro 2 sound way better than gen 2 but I agree with them the gen 2 are so much more comfortable, thinking of returning my pro 2s for them as they don’t fall out my ears when running

[@TBGames23BM]

I was not sure which I should get but thanks to this I’m going with the AirPods 2.5 pro

[@ritwikgossain]

Lol

[@ehsan-6835]

Great choice

[@Buckethead-bs4zo]

Can I use the airpods 3 with an Android phone

[@Buckethead-bs4zo]

Can I use the Air pro 3 with an Android phone

[@TBGames23BM]

@@Buckethead-bs4zo yes, but some of the features don’t work on it

[@hitori_gurashi]

nice, great timing I'm planning to get iphone 15 next month + airpods

[@Caleb-rp7nh]

Hey! Thanks so much for the in depth review! I agree with all your points on each model. I am currently still using the OG AirPods, first generation, and I just ordered the pros

[@asan1050]

Mike O'Brien ,ThanksMuch for sharing !

[@benjiebarker]

is there a way for the airpods to beep automatically when the airpods are like 10 feet away from the case without having to enable sound from find my iphone app?

[@haleydonovan3421]

Great analysis! Thanks

[@ryananderson1215]

My pair of original Airpods lasted 5 days in the snow, after likely being run over. They durability is incredible, and even though they're basically the same as the second generation, I feel like they should have been in the video

[@yolandamichele9940]

Awesome review! Just bought the AirPods Pro 2 and I clearly made the right choice.

[@aaron.saladbar]

i always have issues with earbuds with ear tips bc my earholes are so small. the airpods 2 and 3 are the only ones i can wear lol.

[@Souklopath]

Airpods pro microphone sounded the best in both the indoor and the outdoor situation.

[@gg_chris9802]

Bro it was crazy you couldn’t even hear the bus

[@julianvelichkov2282]

Great video with a lot useful information in order to help buyers. Thank you! I become part of your subscribers becouse of this! Keep going! As user of Sony wf-1000xm4 I can say that they are the best on the market but for big over ear headphones. Now I am searchin for smaller.

[@DoctorTube73]

Excellent video thank you for your work.

[@nikolanovakovic9655]

Excellent review.

[@leonardselita5035]

This was a great guide. Thanks a lot

[@MikeOBrienMedia]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@youngkidez5158]

I have tried all of them as well and I like the pros the best there more convenient and have the best sound quality and they have the find my air tag feature I bought recently no regrets for me at least

[@ep1ctravel]

finally someone with the same perception with the AirPods for me as u mentioned the silicon tips doesn't work on my right ear lol , thanks

[@gwiz4915]

Just switch the eartip

[@ep1ctravel]

@@gwiz4915 i tried many types and nothing, seems that my right ear alwyas fall after 20/30 min of usage

[@realinformative4264]

Fantastic Good work keep it up ❤

[@SlipScope]

I have the AirPods 3 and AirPods 2, I thought it would be a straight upgrade but while they sound great, they are larger in the ear and don’t fit as comfortably. I think for most people looking for a bud without tips, you want the 2nd gen. Hopefully AirPods 4 are more like the 2 than the 3

[@hizoum]

Good review.actuly non of them.Why shoud i pay dubble prise for a headphone just has AAC codec?A lot of option is out there with LDAC and Hires codec with beter feature.

[@Fjerid]

Nah not really. Apple does have overpriced products but the quality is unmatched.

[@LunaticTheCat]

Of the in ear Airpods, the Airpods Pro definitely have the best sound, but personally, I much prefer the comfort of the regular Airpods.

[@Zunair.]

Do maxes save you from cold? Temperature is in negative I can’t stop thinking of them when I’m out 😢😂

[@Bells770]

To be honest, I just got the AirPod 3 for Christmas and really happy with my purchase so excited to see em! :)

[@flchideonbush-_]

niceee if you got them, are they nice?? i got pro 2 airpods and i love them!

[@Bells770]

@@flchideonbush-_ they are really nice I love how’s your?

[@Gemneye6]

Just ordered last night Picked up this morning 😁 Merry Christmas 🎁

[@Userjaxk]

Same

[@giovannisanchez869]

I’ve had my AirPods 1 for about 5 years now and they’ve been the best thing I’ve ever bought. They’re pretty much dead now as they die in 10 min of use so I’ll be getting the AirPods Pro gen 2 soon

[@giovannisanchez869]

Update: I’ve owned the AirPods Pro gen 2 for a month and half and I don’t recommend mainly because of how easily they fall out of your ear. The noise canceling is decent but apart from that they’re nothing special. Save your money and get the AirPods 3

[@CanIHasThisName]

The Airpods Pro are a great product for the most part, but Apple dropped the ball on the silicone tips. The way they're designed, there should be at least 5 sizes. They're not "compliant" enough and will not give a good fit for many people. Third party foam tips are a huge improvement.

[@SavVvageCODM]

I prefer the pro 2nd gen silicon tips version because the extra seal helps with anc and the overall experience while using fixed stereo

[@rezymu5337]

You can solve the problem of slipping out with airpods pro if you use the ear tips that come in the box. They came out with a small tip last year for extra options.

[@Psrrrraj]

I bought the gen 1 AirPods, when I broke them I got gen 2 because I already knew they fit well and never fell out of my ears. I had no issues with the gen 1s so I figured why get something better

[@ballooneyjr4294]

Yeah I lost mine after like 4 years and got the pros 2 to replace them, they’re not uncomfortable but they slide out my ears when running, thinking of returning and just getting gen 2 that I know fit

[@mitchskygaming613]

just change the ear tips and they will fit bro, don't nitpic. i have a XS in my one and a S in the other and that is perfection

[@dronzer007]

I never thought of doing that, will try this trick.

[@rajat9feb]

Very helpful.. amazing work.. 👍🏼best wishes 🙌🏼

[@NurseFoodBuddy]

You should include the ear phone the old school. One hahha. I already bought twice because it is more comfy for me 🤣🤣🤣

[@jackteng5279]

AirPods Pros do come with 3 different sizes for the silicone tips. Anyone know of you’re able to test them at an Apple Store like other products? Looking to get the pros this fall but afraid if they come out with new AirPods Pro later

[@justyourgeneralguy]

i got the airpods pro and had the same issue with them falling out. i just removed the silicone tips and lost a bit of comfort and noise cancelation, but now atleast ican use them. Nobody spends 200$ on something and ends yp not using it.

[@DavidJonesImages]

That was perfect, Thanks..

[@loconius]

You get a double like for that drawer full of Guinness!!!🎉

[@yunabriones7913]

I agree! I also have the airpods 2, airpods 3 and airpods pro. airpods 3 FTW!

[@Gadgets-N-Gear]

I have the airpods Pro 1st gen. The Airpods Pro 2 look really sweet.

[@YordanHristooov]

I have the first ever pods that are 6y old plus and what bothers me now it’s they last like 3.5h when I’m just listening to music. Sometimes 4 hour. Seeing that the new ones will barely last more it’s disappointing 😅

[@scaredpanda1260]

Thanks I’m thinking of buying new ones since my current ones I got before covid because they die in 30 min

[@johnnyblaze5551]

I got AirPods 2 OG and they are the best

[@LouisPlays02-jq3ge]

I think the pros are the best because there comfortable and they don't fall out of my ear with the silicone and don't hurt when I lay down.

[@JelleDeRoeck]

Is battery life with transparency/adaptive the same as with AC?

[@Keyessentialsco]

No, anc will take more battery

[@Lucieyk]

Love the Gourd bowl lol.

[@iboKirby]

I’ve had the AirPods 2 since 2019. They work fine, but do have some issues being 5 years old now. However, I have tried the AirPods Pro when those came out and had to return them. Same story with AirPods 3. They just couldn’t stay in my ears. I hope they make newer version of the 2s in a similar design with more of the newer features. They’re really the only ones they stay in my ears.

[@Appleaddict22]

How do you return used in-ear headphones?

[@lotdominguezcastellon6028]

Question? Which one is louder on phone calls?

[@juheewatareka4710]

Can you please tell me what is the latest airpords

[@SuS69571]

I got my AirPods 2 on sale on Black Friday for 80 bucks

[@holyjoe3073]

You absolutely right AirPod pros 2nd gen are the best Plus, I could charge it with my iPhone 15 plus I love them

[@RajPatel-pn2jz]

I would suggest you to make video on realme buds air 5 pro and oppo enco air 3 pro these are from Asian market and I would love to here your opinion on these devices and what it's like in comparison of galaxy buds and airpods

[@chiniko312]

Bro I think that all of them are really good

[@Speed_Cristiano]

Mike The new earbuds with USB C are really good basic buds which are amazing value and great sound for the price

[@ItsMinarmy]

I have the same exact issue with the AirPods Pro 2, one ear is perfectly sealed and the other just pops out after time. AirPods 3 are the winner but the AirPods Pro 2 have their use cases

[@darwinlaureles]

Airpods pro 2 was amazing

[@faultyfrostyii]

I do own AirPod Pros Generation 2s, I believe these are the best choice.

[@KaYasin41]

Does it gives the same quality on samsung phones

[@Karaoke-Bear]

I was surprised when you mention you see a lot of people wearing the max. Here in the Philippines and in Japan, most airpods that i see are the pros and the 2 (older people mostly use the 2 and the younger ones use the pros). Only saw the max once in Shibuya in the same color on the video.

[@anuarsollehudin7428]

Same here in Malaysia most people use airpod

[@Tex7ohn]

Great video! +1 sub

[@ILikeDreamcoreEyes]

I just use JBL Tour One headphones. They’re good. I also have house of marly wired earphones.

[@siamimam2109]

Are there any major difference between the USB-C vs the lightning version of the AirPod pros??

[@stuartlittle8622]

Apparently, they tuned the newer one with an upgraded h2 chip to be compatible with vision pro

[@siamimam2109]

@@stuartlittle8622 thanks

[@Buckethead-bs4zo]

Can the airport 3 super pros work on it with an Android phone

[@francisailo]

I had the Pods 1 - was good but falls easily Pods 2 - was better than 1 but didn't have ANC Pro1 - was nice but the right bud started to have issues after 6months(some rattling noise inside, was a common issue that time,2019) Pro 2 - very good, just not a fan of silicon tips(irritates my ears) Max - heavy, very very good music quality and ANC/Transparency. (better anc for gym)

[@edwardj5571]

I think I’m gonna go with the AirPods Pro 2.5

[@warrengaskin3863]

The Beats Fit Pro stays in my ears when I’m running the AirPods don’t, not even the Pro

[@ItsIsaiahSanchez]

I tried em all. And my opinion the apple AirPods Pro gen 2 is the best

[@kidjiujitsu]

I’d have the pro’s if the in ear feature didn’t bother me so much. That’s why I absolutely love the AirPod 3’s. Best overall headphones on the market for people like me.

[@J8lv]

Thank you .

[@jonstrider8380]

@MikeObrienMedia, My only issue with the soundcore liberty earbuds is that they are not trackeable, so when you lose them, their gone.

[@Buckethead-bs4zo]

Can I use the airport 3 earbuds with a Android phone

[@juwanrigby1924]

I still got the pro 1 gen

[@batuksri]

I just dont like the feel of plugged up earholes. Its the 2 for me.

[@kamilwhaley-kalaora4839]

Jesus Christ that’s a lot of Guinness. Great video!

[@edergaming9805]

I have the AirPods 3 and after a two years one of my AirPods lost sound and was barely able to produce sound

[@OldGrowthRedwood]

Yeah, we all need “burpee” proof AirPods 😂

[@msrilalith2292]

please also do a review on jbl liv pro 2

[@JY-tq4ir]

good compare

[@TheGingerBooch]

My AirPods 3, I’m not joking, survived 4 months under snow all winter in Montana and survived plenty of spring rain before I found them, and they still sound the same as when I originally had them

[@SudeeptoDutta]

Hi Mike. Offtopic. But I recently purchased the Galaxy Buds2 Pro on discount. I saw your review which was helpful. I also own a S23 as well. The audio quality is great but the volume on the buds are not too high. I usually have to crank up the volume to 80-85 minimum. Did your pair of buds also have the same issue? Let me know so that I can replace mine. Thank you.

[@Dirtnasty73]

4:39 Just use a different sized tip on the ear that gets loose

[@notleoeliazar]

Will the airpods pro work if I weren't to use the eartips?

[@hottamali3601]

Yes but there won’t be ANC, sound might leak, may not fit right but that depends on the shape of your ears

[@kobiehenley8088]

I subbed because you give me Peter Parker vibes and I felt safe 😂

[@tobz4403]

Currently watching this video with my 4 year old AirPods with volume on full just to hear anything.

[@cococinnamon2236]

Air pods 2 are on sale on Amazon

[@joeyweinstock2272]

I personally think the best one for the money is definitely the pro gen 2

[@WolfBandit89]

I love my AirPod Max, and they stopped working for me after 3 yrs. So I got AirPod Pro 2nd Gen.

[@ali_soleimani_r]

Wow so helpful thanks a lot for sharing