Apple - AirPod Series

I have both and I ll make it simple for you how much ANC do you need? If you are in flights, trains and want to block lot of noise go with pros if you are going to listen music, calls and at work take airpods 4 with ANC. They are much more comfortable than pros and can wear for a long time.

Yeah. Airpods work with Android phones they just don't support all the features (they don't show battery %, no spatial audio, no Find My Device). Still mostly usable.

airpods is by far your best bet; worth the money, takes at least 3years to notice the battery degrade (assuming you use it everyday).

The NRR rating in AirPods is a relatively recent update as well so I think most people still aren’t aware because for years they didn’t have any official rating.

The Pros have better ANC and sound because of the tight seal. However I prefer the 4s because i don’t like the silicone tips on the pros.

Exactly the case. Everyone should try airpod pro 2 first and if the tips don’t fit just return it for 4

I got tired of my AirPods falling out so I've been bringing my bluetooth JBL speaker with me to the gym. No issues so far.

They’re literally the same form as the Gen 3s. Little to nothing has changed from the Gen 3 form factor and I’ve had the Gen 3s.

I’ve had 5 pairs of the Gen 2s and not ONCE have they ever slipped out of my ears. I bought the Gen 3s last year and the fitment sucked so bad I gave them to my girlfriend.

Yeah agreed. I do not like them at all. They are terrible. I don’t even like in ear buds but my Pros fit better than the Gen 3s

I’ve had 5 pairs of the Gen 2s and not ONCE have they ever slipped out of my ears. I bought the Gen 3s last year and the fitment sucked so bad I gave them to my girlfriend.

I have AirPods and the clear Beats. I just have to flap up my diath before putting in my bud.

I posted a long review. They aren’t as good as 3 in so many ways. There’s too much treble and brightness it and every instrument is pronounced. This is not music should be heard with everything in the near same volume. The bass is much better for me … loudness at same volume is better but if 3 had better bass or same bass as 4. It will knock the 4 out of the park. Have a strong feeling some dumb idiots from beats team started working on the AirPods team. Beats never makes anything with good sound, I have no idea what Apple gained by buying them .. they are only ruining this product. They need to update with a headphone eq feature or don’t shove non flat sound signatures on our faces. For these kind of crappy sound , beats is always there to buy.

The 4’s are going to sound better than pro 2. People always worry too much about noise cancellation but imo 3 was a bit better for me in sound stage because of their open nature. 4 is going to kick pro 2 in sound quality. I am sure of it.

The 4’s are going to sound better than pro 2. People always worry too much about noise cancellation but imo 3 was a bit better for me in sound stage because of their open nature. 4 is going to kick pro 2 in sound quality. I am sure of it.

I still have AirPods 2 and I tried the pro 2’s last year but ended up giving them to my son. I like buds that I just pop in and sit in my ear. I had og AirPods and loved them. I need to try on the 4’s and see how they fit to consider a purchase.

I still have AirPods 2 and I tried the pro 2’s last year but ended up giving them to my son. I like buds that I just pop in and sit in my ear. I had og AirPods and loved them. I need to try on the 4’s and see how they fit to consider a purchase.

It probably is, if the 2 pros block less noise then the 4’s they either got nerfed to make the 4’s look good, or they are broken.

I have the air pods and they work seamless with both.

Memory foam tips are where it’s at. Way better at blocking out sound. Regular AirPods don’t fit my ears at all

Pros sound better I have them and don’t use them much (sometimes when I’m outside for an hour or two). I just hate the feeling with silicone tips inside my ears (tried different brands and it was the same or worse). I loved AirPods 2,3 and now just bought 4s with ANC (actually haven’t unpacked yet). I also really like Samsung LiveBuds - I think those are much better than people say.

Pros sound better I have them and don’t use them much (sometimes when I’m outside for an hour or two). I just hate the feeling with silicone tips inside my ears (tried different brands and it was the same or worse). I loved AirPods 2,3 and now just bought 4s with ANC (actually haven’t unpacked yet). I also really like Samsung LiveBuds - I think those are much better than people say.

Pros sound better I have them and don’t use them much (sometimes when I’m outside for an hour or two). I just hate the feeling with silicone tips inside my ears (tried different brands and it was the same or worse). I loved AirPods 2,3 and now just bought 4s with ANC (actually haven’t unpacked yet). I also really like Samsung LiveBuds - I think those are much better than people say.

I just unpacked and tested my 4s with ANC. They are pretty awesome sounding for my ears. Even ANC seems to work somehow - impressive. If anything - they may have a bit too much bass for my liking. Especially in dialogue.

The difference in quality between wireless JVC earbuds costing hundreds and the airpods are night and day. I'm no fan of Apple except for their wireless earbuds. I'm convinced they set the standard against the similarly priced wireless competition.

At my desk it’s either PreSonus Eris E5’s, or MDR-7506 cans. When I’m mobile/outside, basic old AirPods or a $30 Amazon special Bluetooth speaker.

AirPods 4 are great and $99

I finally decided to get a pair of Bose quiet comfort earbuds. They initially worked for like 30 minutes and then stopped working. I’ve sent them back today. People may not like to hear this but if you have an iPhone, the best earbuds are the AirPods second generation.

Horrendous price.

I take the Eearpads out of my SandBox helmet cause who needs em and I use my Apple AirPod

I find it annoying with the silicone eartips and not least very difficult to make it fit properly in the ear. The Airpod 3rd gen has worked perfectly for me. Super easy to get in and out. Can't wait to get the 4th Gen ANC.

Agreed re: OG airpods - not built to last. They do not sync properly & one of the two fails usually before the other battery wise.

I hate the silicone ear tips. I can’t stand IEM’s because of that. I’ll pick up the AirPods 4 specifically because they don’t have those ear tips.. and I lost one of my original AirPods 😅

I’ve had both and prefer the 4s with active noise cancellation simply due to comfort. The ANC is amazing for not being plugged. I can wear them all day without issue.

I already have the pro 2’s I just want a second pair. The pros are kinda my work headphones at this point. Had them for a while. So they are kinda my throw around. Going to use the 4’s for use after work. Smaller case easier to bring around and such in my pocket. Idk I just want both lol

Works airpod 4 + s21ultra

I use AirPods because they’re tiny. They are very comfortable for me.

I use my airpods

This. I hated the silicone tips of APP. That’s why I just only get the Airpods

I had airpods, forgot them at home once so I bought skull candy sets for a similar price at the airport and I was pleasantly surprised

AirPods feel like shit with my helmet on, it presses on my ear too much. I got Aleck, a brand similar to Chips

I love my AirPods 4’s, haven’t tried the pros but maybe go to the store and try them out before deciding.

I got some replacement foam “buds” (?) for my AirPods and they don’t fall out anymore. Amazon find that has been well worth the $7.

With all my AirPods, AirPods Pro and the new AirPods Pro, there’s about a quarter second of latency, it has to do with Bluetooth not the devices, Bluetooth just doesn’t go fast enough So I’d keep looking for one with a usb c dongle

I hope the shape redesign help the new 4s to stay in my ears.

I have the XM4s, XM6s arriving next week. Also have the AirPods 2. XM4s work solid for me for traveling, you do not want those AirPods to drop somewhere you cannot reach. I do my conference calls on AirPods as they seem clearer but looking forward to the XM6s which should be as good or better. I wear AirPods in the gym

Bose QC if u want ANC or Bose AE2 if you want good sound. if you’re on the budget end try checking out Baseus head phones they do make ANC versions. Overall most suitable for Apple devices is prolly Apple headphones(ie:AirPods AirPodsPro ) wait for a revised Airpods Maxes if u really want them

I have owned AirPods 2, Pro and Pro 2. The Pro 2 blew every other pair of earbuds out of the water. The ANC alone is so good it’s kinda crazy. In terms of comfort, I prefer the structure of the Pros to the regulars but that’s just me and can vary. But if audio quality or ANC are major factors for you, it should be a no-brainer to pick the Pro 2. One tiny thing - I’ve heard rumors that Pro 3 might be coming out sometime this year.

My ap4ANC sound incredible to me. I don’t mind the less anc they feel great also

Personally, I’m not a fan of the silicone ear tip because it hurts my ears after prolonged use. However, the features of the AirPods Pro 2 are hard to overlook, especially the convenient volume control feature by swiping, which is not available on the AirPods 4. If the AirPods 4 had this feature, that would be the one I would choose. Comfort and features are important to me, so I’ve found a solution to make the AirPods Pro 2 more comfortable for me. I simply use the smallest ear tips, and that solves the problem. It’s similar to the AirPods 4 now, and it’s more comfortable for me.

I have had a lot of issues with my AirPod Pros 1. The battery sucks, I don’t love the silicone ear tips, and now I get audio feedback on them when I’m exercising. Now that the AirPods 4 have noise cancelling, it was a no brainer for me to go back to the classic style. I really liked my OG AirPods and am excited to get the 4s!

I have the 3 and the pros and I use the 3s 90% of the time.

It mostly comes down to whether you like the silicone tips If you like them or prefer them, the Pro 2 are objectively better in, I believe, every other way except price - but if you don’t like them then you’re definitely gonna prefer the Gen4 just for comfort. There’s no point having slightly better ANC and sound quality if they don’t fit you properly or aren’t comfortable to wear I’m wearing my Gen4 with ANC right now, though, and they’re excellent. The ANC isn’t as good as the Pro 2 but it’s still good, I’m on a diesel (DMU) train and it removes almost all the engine noise and most of the general din of other passengers I do find the Gen4 don’t fit my ears quite as well as my old Gen1 AirPods did, but that might just be me

Go with the Airpods. Makes also sense since she has already an iPhone and Apple earphones work perfectly within their eco system. If you want to potentially end or damage your relationship over broken overpriced audiphile earphones she does not value at all and even not wanted in the first place go with the Sennheiser MTW4.

I wanted to love the Bose QC Ultra earbuds but didn’t. Can’t get a proper fit; couldn’t get the seal to stay on no matter which combo eartip and stabilizer I used. The earbuds also shift in my ears until they fall out. Same thing happened with AirPods Pro but not having a problem with AirPods 4 with ANC. ANC on AirPods 4 is no where near Bose earbuds or AirPods Pro but I guess earbuds with eartips aren’t for me.

I do the exact same thing. No case. Bose over my neck and “spare” AirPods.

Have to say I agree. Had mine 4 years and they’ve been through the washing machine twice. I use them every day.

How does she wear them? I have a similar problem, only the airpods2 fit my ears (and the buds live) and I just got my buds3 and they fall out immediately, fit like the airpods3 instead 😭

I don’t know, I have done maybe 6 races in the past couple of years and none of them forbade ear blocking ones. I like my air pods. Depend a on where you run.

I have/had several earbuds with silicon or foam tips: AirPods Pro 1&2, various Galaxy Buds, Pixel Buds Pro and the Sony WF-1000XM5. Some of theses are fantastic (especially the Sony XM5). But they all fall out and bother my ear canal. I've tried different sizes tips, Comply and other 3rd party tips nothing works. I wanted higher quality sound, but the AirPods 1 and 2 are the only ones that fit, didn't fall out and bother me. I never tried the AirPods 3, I'll try the 4s and hopefully they work like generations 1/2 did.

M50x and AirPods

The only two you need, no question. And I have quite a few different headphones including some high end open backs.

I’ve tried every version of the AirPods and AirPods Pros and still use the v2 for this reason. I can’t understand anyone preferring the squeeze gesture over a simple tap.

It barely works as sound dampener, imagine if it actually did ANC without proper seal.

I use Air Pods 3 - it's also fine. When I was checking the [rtings.com](http://rtings.com) tests the Airpods has one of the lowest latency when it comes to a "standard bluetooth" connection.

Tozos. $20 on Amazon and they’re great for the price. My Airpods only lasted 6 months before one quit working.

They sound better than the pros..And the silicon tips hurt my ears..I can keep these in all the time

wired ones are good cuz you can’t lose them on the bus. wireless are good but maybe don’t bring your best AirPods and get a cheaper pair for tour.

I got the 4's when they came out because a friend of mine says he likes them better than his Pro 2's. They didn't fit nearly as well or sound as good as my Pro 2's did, so I ended up returning them. But everyone's ears are different, so I'd suggest trying them both out and return the ones you don't like.

Me too. And I use Apple Airpods. $$$$$

Imo if you have an iphone, air pods are an easy rec sound good enough for the environment upu would be listening to wireless inears and have great anc.

The shockz are cool, but honestly - if you already have working headphones you probably don’t need another pair. Have you considered saving the money and just using a single AirPod so you can hear better? Ive had shockz before but currently just run with 1 AirPod in and can hear the environment sooooo well……better than when I was just using shockz

yeah it kinda depends, for me the tips work wonders as long as i clean my ears before. original airpods fit in my ears but start hurting much sooner. haven’t tried the 4 yet but i also like having the best noise canceling 

I've had no issues with the standard AirPods with a double conch in one ear and a daith on the other. All are fully healed though. I did have an over the ear type of wireless headphones too that were helpful before getting AirPods.

The AirPods without the silicone still falls out for me either way, u have gen 3 by the way idk what i can do to stop it bc I feel like the more I drop it the harder it is to charge and I got mine last year

I have the same problem. Only first gen air pods work (the pros are too small even with the xs bit)

it honestly depends on your preference. both are very good but airpods pro 2 are a little better because of the silicone tip that goes in your ear blocking out noise in general, while the 4’s sit in your ears.

This is exactly my experience. I got them yesterday and left ear is snug and the right ear feels like it could fall out any second, and does on occasion. I’m hoping I get used to it or it somehow gets better bc I’m pretty annoyed so far.

I have an S22 Ultra and they work great. ANC on and off works. The only things it looks like I'm missing out on are EQ options and the ability to use the case speakers for finding the case when lost but I'll live.

I had the jabra and move to AirPods. Like them better in every way.

I have both. AirPods are less fiddly with Bluetooth connection. Beats have a little better battery life and stay in better. Really can’t go wrong with either. 

Simple. 4’s do not fit in my ear. The pros do. Do what fits and is more comfortable for you.

Three features are lacking in AirPods 4 with ANC compared to AirPods Pro 2. Everyone knows the first one: upcoming hearing health-related functions. I find it surprising that nobody talks about 2nd and 3rd features of AirPods Pro 2: Loud Sound Reduction and Conversation Boost. Loud Sound Reduction: your AirPods Pro 2 detect and reduce loud sounds that you're exposed to from the environment so it kind of protects your ears. It technically makes you attend loud EDM concerts and your AirPods Pro 2 will reduce music to healthy levels. This feature can be turned on in the AirPods menu in the setting of your iPhone. This is not the same as Reduce Loud Audio in the Headphone Safety under Sounds & Heptics. Loud Sound Reduction = reduce loud sounds from outside; Reduce Loud Audio = reduce loud audio coming from your AirPods. Conversation Boost focuses your AirPods Pro on the person talking in front of you, making it easier to hear in a face-to-face conversation. It technically makes you hear better than you would without AirPods Pro, especially in loud surroundings like in a stadium or a concert. You can turn this on in Settings>Accessibility>Audio & Visual>Headphone Accommodations>On>Transparancy Mode>On>Conversation Boost>On.

With a budget of $200USD and already being a fan of the OG AirPods, I feel like the obvious choice here should be the new Apple AirPods 4 with ANC, costs $180. Keeps the classic AirPod design of resting at the entrance of the ear instead of going inside https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-airpods/airpods-4

I went w/the 4 ANC b/c I don’t like the silicone gasket things on the pros. Incredible sound and ANC. Def recommend the 4s 👍👍

I went w/the 4 ANC b/c I don’t like the silicone gasket things on the pros. Incredible sound and ANC. Def recommend the 4s 👍👍

Agreed. I swap between my bone conduction (same brand as above) and my AirPods. The former are MUCH cheaper.

I’ve used AirPods for 3 years now and I will say this While they work first, as your head/neck/face start to become sweaty so will your ears and holy is silicon really slippery on wet surfaces so they’ll move around and shift Also they aren’t technically rated for ear protection above 110 dBA. When driving at highway speeds, you have to increase the volume on your phone for sound to still be crisp and I have noticed my hearing has taken a slight toll due to that and I have started using the classic ol’ orange tips as a result that are rated for 32dB NRR since then

Mine are borderline. I’ve never had one fall out but I definitely adjust them more than even my most basic Amazon ones. It’s still my recommendation though. Love them besides the slightly less than perfect fit.

Original style airpods. I tried a bunch of different "waterproof" varieties (I'm a heavy sweater) but the airpods seem to have better waterproofing even though they're rated worse than some of the other ones.

Air pods 2, the shorter ones w the gels, i love at the gym. I have an android phone

I love my AirPods and it switches seamlessly to my phone when I want to watch a video for a quick break.

I bought and returned these. Still have my AirPod 4’s despite them sometimes falling out doing certain extreme exercises. It’s not so frequent that I NEED workout designed earbuds. I thought the heart rate sensors and more snug fit would keep me more engaged in my workouts but the software implementation of heart rate on iPhone is not front and center, having to use external apps for clear real time data in the background.  Why oh why is Apples health app not updated to support real time heart rate tracking at the tap of a button. Instead an anomalous green light on the earbuds is your only indicator that it’s tracking. I can only assume a better implementation is coming with next AirPod pros, typical Apple. The earbuds still wiggle out of my ears reducing bass response so despite them not falling out it does not keep them tight inside the ear. I have always had this problem with ear tips, ear hooks unfortunately didn’t solve it.  These issues do not pair well with a 250$ price tag and a sound signature that has very little engagement. AirPods 4 sound right, bass response is simply more dynamic in comparison. Soundstage is more engaging as well, I can only assume beats marketing makes you expect an Apple experience that misses the mark on purpose. The only great thing about these is instant paring and long battery life. For heart tracking I may try a chest strap or something, the software implementation for these beats is surprisingly lackluster and unintuitive. Couple workout YouTube channels elaborating on this more.  If you are a highly active person and swayed by all the videos released after the embargo period I would suggest lowering your expectations.  

As long as you aren’t trying to record on-time, nothing wrong with wireless buds for production. I’ll use AirPods occasionally to cook up an idea, then use monitors to mix when I’m home. Whilst I would never recommend wireless for any sort of performance capture, do not shy away from using whatever tool is most convenient in the moment.

I keep buying the old gen 2 air pods, they were the last model that had the tap to pause/skip/etc. before they switched to a physical squeeze thing. It’s so easy to do while running and works every time I also like that they aren’t sealed off buds and aren’t noise cancelling, I like being able to hear my environment if music is down low enough

Most people are going to say the Pros 2, but it really up to your comfort and preference if you like, dislike, or don’t mind in-ears. Both contain similar features like ANC and the Find My capabilities, along with Spatial Audio and stuff. Don’t be mistaken, AirPods 4 can sit in your ear and don’t fall off (Unless you have some type of ear shape) so it won’t differ in that from the pros dramatically. Don’t totally consider on features but more in comfort

Pro 2 are quite a bit better in ANC but for me, Airpods 4 are loads better in comfort and the case is lighter and smaller. Sound quality is surprisingly close. For some people, the in-ear fit is just as comfortable though. For those, Airpods 4 makes little sense.

I have weird ears and I have to have silicone tips or they just fall right out. I use mine everyday for gym with no issues. I use AirPods Pro I am not sure if which model. You guys keep mentioning the Bose I’m curious now. I also use my AirPods when I ride. I have no issues with them under both my full face and my Bell Rouge music sounds great, I sort of “feel” my bike as much as hear it but the NC makes it so a nice ride. I forget how loud my bike really is sometimes

In my ears, they stay in perfectly fine. Despite really liking Apple earbuds (the wired ones) for years and never having problems with them, it wasn't until a few years ago I took the plunge to buy the wireless AirPods, even if I was worried about them falling out. I haven't had a problem with them falling out in regular, normal usage.

Wish these had come out a few months ago when I bought my Pro 2's. They work well but the silicone tips make it difficult to wear (for me) for hours on end. My AirPods 3 did not have this issue. Alas, they did have the issue where I left them in an airport never to be seen again.

Very helpful! I can share the results of my own research, though I haven't yet purcahsed these. I think AirPods might be one of the better solutions for you. They have good sound quality and noise cancellation, but some people seem to complain that they don't fit or stay in well enough. They're lightweight and reliable, though, and the passthrough audio is supposed to be excellent which enables you to hear your surroundings if and when you need them.

I have both. The Pro 2s sound better, but they sure don’t feel better in my ears. That’s just my personal opinion. I don’t like the fit on the Pros, so I use the 4s with ANC.

Agreed ,i love mine. Feels like i’m playing video games on my airpods , and my friends say the mic is decent.

Running with them is a disaster.

No idea why you’ve been downvoted. It’s absolutely aggravating running with them. Squeeze is impossible while desert trail running, and the volume swipe gimmick is awful.

Really? Like just the buds……. Without charging the case?

Really!?!? That’s crazy I have 2nd gen? I think? And I get about 4 hours well maybe more like 6 I think phone calls drain out quicker but still. That’s nuts

Just reporting back, I was able to stress test my AirPods 4 perfectly over the past two days. I had a 2 hour plane right and an 8 hour day working in a datacenter. On both occasions, the AirPods drastically reduce the noise of the environment. I will say it didn’t eliminate the noise and if you only have your AirPods in with no content playing, you could definitely still tell that the outside was loud. It just didn’t sound loud to me. As soon as you turn on any content even at low volume, it immediately overrides the environmental noise. I was able to comfortably listen to a podcast or was it below 50% volume completely satisfied with the purchase. I will say battery life takes a hit. You definitely need a lunchtime recharge, but all is good with that.

For me Bose and Apple AirPods is good

In my opinion, Bose earbuds sound quality are terrible on iPhones. Not sure why. But I noticed this a long time ago. They have better quality on Android products. If you have iPhone, AirPods are unfortunately the way to go

Pros. I’m not liking my 4s because I have to charge them often

Cracking noise of original Airpods Pro 1st gen while on phone call was getting litte annoying. Went with Airpods 4 without noise canceling.

Like you, Airpods are probably the best for my ears.  Only buds that fit and sound good.  Would love. Would love the ANC feature. May take the risk and see if it works

If you have an iPhone, your best bet is definitely AirPods as much as I hate to say it. The simple reason being Apple likes to make it very difficult for non-Apple products to work with iPhones.

Man I’ve been wrestling with this question for my upcoming trip to Japan. Last time I brought AirPods and they started to get uncomfortable. Then I bought some Bose over the ear headphones for the trip back and it was a world of comfort difference. I’m considering wearing them around my neck during boarding and flight so they are not in the bag.

I'm sure it's not as "quite" as Pro 2 since those literally block sounds from getting your ears through the silicon tips hahaha. But I do love the shape of normal airpods and in ears like Pro 2 kinda hurt my ear when wearing it for awhile

After getting a string of ear infections after a long summer of water sports I have not been able to comfortably wear the pro ear tips without feeling like my ears start sweating and ear infections start flaring up. The regular AirPods have always felt so much better for me and I’ve already ordered my AP4

After losing two pair of Airpod pros, I tried to find something cheaper. I use my ear buds for phone conversations, and listening to podcasts. After trying a highly recomended pair of JBLs, which had inferior microphone issues, I went back to the original Airpods as they were far more comfortable, and gave me everything I needed at $80.

AirPods 4 with anc if you like ease of use and comfort.

Big agree. Always dealing with discomfort and ear wax and they give a lot of static any time I wear a hood or sometimes for no reason despite already having this pair replaced for the same issue. I actually have started to despise my pro 2’s and have no reason to upgrade to new ones when they’ve always had issue. The 4’s are a great upgrade since I’ve just been using my gen 2’s the most for convenience.

Yeah I’ve tried that and it’s just cumbersome. What I liked about the AirPods one was they just worked. Clean them every now and then and they go. I meant replacements as in the 3s or 4s.

Just used them in flight last week. While they’re no Bose earbuds or even AP2s they really do cut down the noise to the point you can enjoy music or a movie.

Every kind hurts my ears except AirPods. Not pros just the regular ones .

I tried both and found not that much of a difference. It was marginal; I’d say the 4s were about 85% as good as the pros. Pros kind of gave me a headache. 

I got my first AirPods on Wednesday and before that I had never used any form of ANC or AirPods at all.  It’s reallyyy cool. The demo in store sold me immediately. 

I’m not a fan of the gummy thingys. I had a pair of Beats Studio buds and no matter what tip I put in they never fit. The right ear bud would just jump out of my ear and not fit. Meanwhile while my AirPods gen 1 have rarely fallen out. I’m crazy to update my gen 1 AirPods because the battery is bad (1 hour of listening time)and I lost one of them.

I use them everyday for work, music, gym etc and while they’re amazing when they work, I’ve also had some bad experiences and have gone through like four pairs between the OG AirPods and the gen 1 pros. I’ve been trying to decide whether to snag these since my left pod is making a terrible noise, or wait it out for pro 3’s later this year.

Price (there is a ~60$ CAD difference), first and lack of silicon tips, I have the first AirPods Pro and they just don’t fit, they always fall off my ear and I just bought a pair of Sennheiser. And I pre ordered a pair of AirPods 4 to replace my girlfriend’s first gen AirPods and couldn’t justify the pro price

I’ve had the pulse 3d in a drawer for years. Recently started using it when I got a portal. Also have AirPods 4 ANC. And both work well. I don’t know what to say if you found the explores tinny. They are in ear and sealed so I figured they’d had more bass. Bad seal maybe

i have the non anc gen 4 and to be honest the improvement from the gen 2 that i was previously using is massive and they also do naturally have a more sort of noise cancelling feel to them i find but that may just be me, for the price i couldn't fault them one bit and would say they are worth it but i would definitely consider the extra $50 for the anc now that i know how good they are

i have the non anc gen 4 and to be honest the improvement from the gen 2 that i was previously using is massive and they also do naturally have a more sort of noise cancelling feel to them i find but that may just be me, for the price i couldn't fault them one bit and would say they are worth it but i would definitely consider the extra $50 for the anc now that i know how good they are

I know it’s not what you asked but apple airpods have lasted me over 3 years now whereas my partner spends £20 every few months for cheaper ones as they break. CEX and sales on.

Airpods doesnt have the best from my testing, but it for sure is the most comfortable, since there is basically no pressure, and minimal white noise hiss. From my experience I'd say its most likely Bose, but overall airpods are still the nicest to wear

I used them for work, have them on my ears 9-5 even I am not listening to anything. I can't have the silicone in my ear canal for that ammount of time. I barely notice i have the airpods 3 on and having this new 4 that are smaller and with ANC, I am sold. I have IEM and Over ear headphones for other uses like ANC and music quality

I used them for work, have them on my ears 9-5 even I am not listening to anything. I can't have the silicone in my ear canal for that ammount of time. I barely notice i have the airpods 3 on and having this new 4 that are smaller and with ANC, I am sold. I have IEM and Over ear headphones for other uses like ANC and music quality

I have all apple airpods, hate the pro ones. Uncomfortable af, gave it away.. using regular 3rd gen ones.

I bought both to try and I did end up returning the ones without. ANC and fitment IMO make 4ANC the best buds

It's impressive but not at the 2nd Gen Pro levels. I would say for low frequency noises like airplanes and loud fans, it's good enough. For high frequencies like TV and people talking, you definitely notice the difference. With that said, it's definitely a game changing product -- I always prefer open designs when working out, trapping sweat in my ears seems to lead to lots of health issues for me. But in a noisy gym I felt like I couldn't really enjoy music with open buds unless they're cranked really loud. The AirPods 4 definitely solve that problem for me.

I bought some today and and can tell you these are next level, very impressed for the price tag. These will be highly talked about in the coming weeks.

Lol.. same!! I dusted off my airpods yesterday just to power-up the battery and make sure they're still good, then back on the shelf 😄

Love my AirPods 4 I just dry them up every 5-10 KM with my tshirt And with Apple care I don’t even care much if they fall down and break you can just replace them for little $

Lately I’ve been using Apple AirPods, but before that, I was a fan of the Jaybird brand.

Airpods 2nd gen, using since 2019. I love their design the most

I travelled with them so I had to use them. They also get hot. AirPods or earbuds is the way to go

Be careful with air pods and running. The ear pieces themselves have protection from sweat, but the copper conductors in the case easily corrode. Make sure the air pods are fully dry before putting them in the case.

If you have all apple stuff and don't plan to change that, then go airpods, it still has several downsides, but that's apple for you. Get the xm5 if you will use them with anything other than apple devices (laptop, work computer, game console, etc.)

I hated them at first. But somehow started to really love the sound now. The bass is tight specially up to 80percent volume and I somehow love Spatial Audio on for most tracks except a few where I turn it off. Also the Headphone Accommodations with balanced slight or moderate both help a little as well. The anc is incredible in this form factor and really helps specially for podcast listening during flights where my volume can be much lesser than my EarPods hence good for ears. Adaptive mode works brilliantly in most cases and seems intelligent enough to keep as default imo. Although I’d love a little more oomph in the overall soundstage but it seems like a step in the right direction and I feel apple has tried their best to bring them closer to the AirPods Pro 2 as much as technically possible. I feel if someone doesn’t like in ear headphones like app2 and wants to use these for long, 50usd difference for anc seems worth it overall. All the best

I honestly just use my Apple AirPods and I haven’t noticed any problems. Dunno if I’d buy them just for steam deck though.

I just got the 4s with ANC - my gen 2s are still working perfectly so (disregarding all of the new and very cool features with the 4s), I am currently switching them back and forth while playing music to compare only the sound quality. With everything set to default, the sound isn't much different (not a bad thing) however, I am pretty sure the bass is stronger on my gen 2s which is just a tad disappointing. The 4s are crisper and seem to be missing a tiny bit of bass... I have not tried the pros 2 but I am considering switching these out for a pair of pros only because of the lack of bass. How do the pros sound in terms of tone/bass?

If anyone out there is currently deciding between the 2 AirPods models, I returned the new 4s with ANC for the Pros 2 and the sound quality alone is insanely better (wider, clearer, bass-ier) I’m kind of surprised how much better the sound was. The 4s’ design (tip-less ANC) is ingenious but, so ingenious that I might consider them still in beta. The ANC seemed to panic with any kind of activity that involved continuous shifts in small movements (for example, driving in my car). With each subtle movement, I could hear a whomp and feel the pods try to re-gain the seal after losing it just briefly. This would happen the entire time I wore them in my car at a rate similar to a heartbeat. I bet the next version of this kind of ANC will be much better.

I just got the 4s with ANC - my gen 2s are still working perfectly so (disregarding all of the new and very cool features with the 4s), I am currently switching them back and forth while playing music to compare only the sound quality. With everything set to default, the sound isn't much different (not a bad thing) however, I am pretty sure the bass is stronger on my gen 2s which is just a tad disappointing. The 4s are crisper and seem to be missing a tiny bit of bass... I have not tried the pros 2 but I am considering switching these out for a pair of pros only because of the lack of bass. How do the pros sound in terms of tone/bass?

I had the 4s with ANC for about a week. They sound great and the noise canceling is pretty cool considering the pods are just plastic and technically don't seal around your ear canal opening. However, because there is no seal, the noise canceling starts to act up during certain activities like driving on a bumpy road (which is something I do a lot). I also still have a perfectly good pair of AirPods (2nd generation). I compared the 4s with the 2nd gen and the sound quality is different but I can't decide if it's any better. The 2nd gen clearly has more bass but the 4s are a bit clearer. I eventually returned the 4s for the Pros 2 which sound better, are bass-ier, and clearer than both the 2nd gen and 4. And, because of the silicon tips, the ANC is much more accurate and consistent.

I had the 4s with ANC for about a week. They sound great and the noise canceling is pretty cool considering the pods are just plastic and technically don't seal around your ear canal opening. However, because there is no seal, the noise canceling starts to act up during certain activities like driving on a bumpy road (which is something I do a lot). I also still have a perfectly good pair of AirPods (2nd generation). I compared the 4s with the 2nd gen and the sound quality is different but I can't decide if it's any better. The 2nd gen clearly has more bass but the 4s are a bit clearer. I eventually returned the 4s for the Pros 2 which sound better, are bass-ier, and clearer than both the 2nd gen and 4. And, because of the silicon tips, the ANC is much more accurate and consistent.

I love everything about them after losing my Pixel Buds Pro without being able to actually locate them using the location process. Same issue with Apple Airpods. The sound quality is great, they feel great in ear and don't feel like they are going to fall out. I can't stand the case, I want them in my pocket but don't want to have to have cargo pants to keep them on me. I can't have a case hanging off of my belt loop, working in construction and having a 3 year old makes this a non-option. Maybe I need to embrace the fanny pack lifestyle, or grab a man-purse for my headphones?

Agreed. I got the 4’s today and immediately processed a return. I am Super bummed because the size of the case is so much smaller and I wanted them to work so bad. But literally standing still they kept just falling out. Maybe I have weird ears lol but I cannot keep them in my ears without the rubber tips 🤷🏻‍♀️

If you care a lot about sound quality then the short answer is just don’t get airpods, period. Airpods main feature is NOT sound quality, especially since Apple still use Bluetooth and loose way too much quality over the air. If you want audiophile quality go with wired headphones, no bluetooth headphones come close. Now the quality is good enough for everyday use, and the ANC is nice to have even though people seem to have varied experiences with it. For me it’s okay I’d say, nothing more. The airpods 4 with ANC are definitely bassy though, I’ll give them that. Also, please don’t touch the Spotify EQ if you want quality sound and crispness, leave it flat. The Spotify EQ is notorious for being shit

The thing that makes the most difference seems to be the ”Spatialise Stereo” setting though, it really widens the sound so it sounds more like you’re listening to speakers inside a room instead of earbuds, quite neat I must say, I enjoy that option more. The Airpod 4’s are also quite good in mid to low volume, they’re really lacking in the high volumes though. So if you buy them, don’t expect great quality at high volumes :)

Yeah I get that. I got the 4’s for that exact reason, convenience. I also don’t like plugs going into my ears so I’ve had the exact same issue before. Sadly no headphones without plugs will sound amazing (note that it’ll probably be fine for the average listener). As far as I’ve heard the Pro 2’s still clear the 4’s (even those with ANC). But I would say the ANC model does improve the quality somewhat. When I turn ANC off you get a flatter and narrower sound, when it’s on it’s noticeably wider and certainly more bassy. It’s not got the peaks that I personally prefer but it does the job for everyday use. When it comes to other brands I can’t say I’ve tried or seen any that offers the same convenience or comfortability. Those are my main points when looking for wireless, which Apple actually are very good at. Make of that what you will, I’m not an expert, I just enjoy music, convenience and high quality products!

Kind of annoying that the only improvement to AirPods Pro 2 of note is the hearing aid functionality. For that reason I’ll probably go with the AirPods 4

I have no problem w/ Gen 2 airpods but everyone's ears are different. They get rained on all the time without issue. I avoid anything noise canceling for safety and consideration of others on the trail. Really curious about the bone conduction headphones. I'm mostly listening to audiobooks so dunno if they'd be loud enough.

I use Apple AirPods with over the ear things they slide into. My tragus pushes one of my earbuds out.

This is the problem I have. OG pods just fall right out

I have had mine for about a month now and I have had the Bose QC2 and QC45 over ears as well as AirPods 4 with ANC. I use the buds when it’s windy as the 4’s pick up too much noise. They are smaller than the QC2 buds and you can have them in longer. The sound is classic Bose the best imo and the ANC is decent. They connect easily with all my different devices across brands and they are cheaper than the Ultras which has slightly better ANC just. I would highly recommend them they are the best Bose in ears I have tried. Get some!

Just wanted to chime in to say I just got these AirPods 4 and they feel awesome in my ears. So comfortable. They were redesigned for comfort and I expected that to be BS but I can really tell, coming from AirPods 3. As far as AirPods Pro 2, I had some and returned them. My reason was because I realized I needed over ears for my music listening. I like that banging bass. The AirPods 4 I just bought for movie watching and everyday walk around use. I maybe would have kept the AirPods Pro 2 if I knew I was going to eventually buy the AirPods 4, but now that I have them I would say they feel more comfortable than the silicone tip style of the APP2. They have more of a “not-there” feeling which I like more than the “I’m wearing ear plugs” feeling of the silicon tips

AirPods or just my phone speaker when going around the house

I had the original AirPod Pros, and the ANC was impressive. However, I picked up the AirPods 4 ($120 USD option, which lacks the improved case, and ANC), and I’m fine with them. If you travel often, in noisy environments, and want the added features of the improved case, then go with the Pro model.

Bought the AirPods 4 ANC because my AirPods Pro 1 slowly stopped working. The Silikon tips in the pros never really bothered me, but they also never fit properly and started to fall out of my ear after a short period of time. The AirPods 4 fit much better and are on par with my old Pro’s. The ANC works mostly great and sound quality is good enough for me.

Apple AirPods honestly work great for this

Hmm I’ve used it on both windows and Mac with success. Are you positive your sound settings are good? IIRC there’s some sound “enchantment” features in windows that makes it sound terrible. Might be worth playing around with those and audio settings in the video meetings apps. Cause even the most basic earbuds should sound fine

I have 3 pairs because I love them so much. My first pair I had for years and years then the battery started to go downhill so I bought a cheap set of gen2s and put them in my old wireless charging case and voila I have a set I use in the house and on runs and I have a set for the car when I forget my main pair. My 3rd set was given to me with my work phone so now I have a set at work too. Woo love me some gen 2s. I ended up buying the gen3 but I can’t wear them. They literally sit and collect dust

Klipsch SF-2 in my living room. They are just entry level speakers but paired with a velodyne sub, are pretty rocking for music/TV/video games. AirPods for podcasts & music on the go.

i have them. The ANC version. I also have the Max and the Pro 1's. I thought forsure I would love these way more than my pro 1's, because I was such a fan of the launch/original airpods non-silicone fit/feel. However, these are slightly different than the ones I so fondly remember, and I really cannot make up my mind as to whether I should keep these ANC4 or just return them and get Pro3 (whenever those come out). I was so sure I would love these anc4 like 100000% more than my pro 1's. but strangely enough, it's not as obvious as I would've predicted, unfortunately. A cool (yet completely unnecessary) thing I do for funzies sometimes is put on either of the in-ears, and set them to transparency. Then i put the Max on over, with noise cancelation on. I share audio to both sets of headphones, and then i have a very intense surround sound effect (as long as i adjust the volume levels very meticulously)!

AirPods never worked for me. They fall out and don’t filter out the noise. I use Jabra Elite 7 Active and they fits perfectly.

it all comes down to whether or not you’re comfortable with a silicone tip in your ear canal, if that doesn’t bother you then the AirPods Pro 2 is what you should go with. I don’t like my ear canal sealed so I got the AirPods 4 ANC it’s cheaper too.

APP2 would probably have better sound quality cause of the seal and you can also adjust the volume on it but if all fits were comfortable and convenient to me and Im going for best sound quality I’d go with the AP Max big over the ear headphones. I have no regrets with the AP 4 anc these things are great.

been using it for about a couple months, been great the noise cancelling is great but I rarely use it, I typically use one bud at a time but I like how it makes the volume turn down when I talk. I recommend.

I use the non pro and they are kinda loose, however they don't hurt like others always did. I guess it is always a compromise.

Their quality is good but I wish I’d gotten AirPods. Jabari’s don’t listen for hey siri And I use AI and Siri all the time

Apple airpods if you could ,i used both sony wf1000xm5 and senheiser m4 but airpods are best imo

Pro2 is better for sound, ANC, battery life, etc. Only reason to buy the 4 is if you can’t get a comfortable fit with the Pro 2.

I have JBLs that fall out all the time. Same with apple airpods. Looking into over the ear options. For running, i am thinking that 'open ear' is safer, esp bc i am running in the city. What ear buds do people like?

No newer pairs work good on teams. I’m on my 5th pair of Gen 2’s currently.

This answer truly depends on what type of headphones you like/want. For me I do not want the type of tips that are shoved in my ear like the Pros are. I really like the regular AirPods because they sit just outside/ slightly inside my ears. Even though people rave about the Pros I will never get them for as long as they have that type of ear bud/tip.

Depends on what type of headphones you are looking for. A lot of people will say the AirPod pro 2 are the best. But personally I will never get them to replace my AirPods 2 because I do not like the in ear aspect of the pros. My next set will be the AirPods 4 or whatever is current when my 2s die.

Good timing on the question. all four family members in my house use Airpods. I had Gen2 Airpods up until last week when I had gotten my daughter the latest and greatest Gen4s (not the Pros and not the ones with noise cancelling) to replace her dead Gen1s. Okay, so here's the thing: 1. If you are a woman or someone with small ears, check the fit. My daughter and Wife both HATE the fit of the latest Airpods...they are apparently uncomfortable and don't fit well. However they fit me fine and are very comfortable. They also went to the Apple store to try on the Pros, and hated those even more. My wife actually gave my daughter her Gen1's to use, and now we are in search of replacements for my wife to use. 2. If fit is not the issue, then overall I like the Airpods for exercise. I run and work out with them, including with Apple Fitness. They're actually probably the best choice for AF+, because they quickly sync up to your device and/or your apple TV, and have other features like Siri integration. 3. I ended up trading in the new Gen4s to get the version WITH noise cancellation. I'm not sure how much of a fan I am of it. When ANC kicks on, if I don't have anything playing currently it feels like someone put my head inside a soundproof balloon. Also, while ANC works quite well, the tech is somewhat "reactive". The best example of this is when I tried them out while using a nail gun. The did nothing to cancel the sound of the shot from the gun, because it's an instantaneous, quick sound. They do, however, cancel out (mostly) the sound of the compressor. Overall, if they fit well I highly recommend them for exercise.

Good timing on the question. all four family members in my house use Airpods. I had Gen2 Airpods up until last week when I had gotten my daughter the latest and greatest Gen4s (not the Pros and not the ones with noise cancelling) to replace her dead Gen1s. Okay, so here's the thing: 1. If you are a woman or someone with small ears, check the fit. My daughter and Wife both HATE the fit of the latest Airpods...they are apparently uncomfortable and don't fit well. However they fit me fine and are very comfortable. They also went to the Apple store to try on the Pros, and hated those even more. My wife actually gave my daughter her Gen1's to use, and now we are in search of replacements for my wife to use. 2. If fit is not the issue, then overall I like the Airpods for exercise. I run and work out with them, including with Apple Fitness. They're actually probably the best choice for AF+, because they quickly sync up to your device and/or your apple TV, and have other features like Siri integration. 3. I ended up trading in the new Gen4s to get the version WITH noise cancellation. I'm not sure how much of a fan I am of it. When ANC kicks on, if I don't have anything playing currently it feels like someone put my head inside a soundproof balloon. Also, while ANC works quite well, the tech is somewhat "reactive". The best example of this is when I tried them out while using a nail gun. The did nothing to cancel the sound of the shot from the gun, because it's an instantaneous, quick sound. They do, however, cancel out (mostly) the sound of the compressor. Overall, if they fit well I highly recommend them for exercise.

Depends on what your ears like. Originally got the 4’s after a much needed upgrade from my 2’s but they kept falling out my ears so I got the pro 2’s which fit much better (and thus sound better)

All buds are basically throwaway products unfortunately, just the base airpods ive seen are always gunked up with earwax which is the cause of the volume decrease in my experience. The AirPods pro's I've had (Both gen 1 and gen 2) were great and long lasting products, they have filters over the eartips so its harder for wax to become an issue too. If that's too much or you want to try another brand, I've moved to OnePlus Buds 3 and Pro 3 and they have been excellent for much less money too

Becuz they want to force u that shitty airpods pro max. Airpods 4 are amazing so were the 3’s

Becuz they want to force u that shitty airpods pro max. Airpods 4 are amazing so were the 3’s

That's good to hear. I'm moving from Pro 1's to Airpods 4 after my some idiot left my Pro's behind on a cruise ship. (It was me. I'm the idiot.)

I have both and I enjoy the pro2s way more and they are often on sale on Amazon.

I was using an extra pair of AirPods that I eventually gifted my brother with, and bought a wired JBL Quantum 50C, given that sometimes I play my 3DS or Switch.

Same. Conch, rook, tragus. AirPods have been no issue.

My AirPods work great even from under a hat.

For calls the AirPods are going to be your best bet. For calls I prefer the AirPods over the AirPod Pros. They are more comfortable over the course of a day as they let your ears breathe, and you can better regulate how loud you talk because you can hear yourself. I’ve had just about every version, plus Sony, Bose, and other, but I recommend the new AirPod 4 with noise cancelling.

For calls the AirPods are going to be your best bet. For calls I prefer the AirPods over the AirPod Pros. They are more comfortable over the course of a day as they let your ears breathe, and you can better regulate how loud you talk because you can hear yourself. I’ve had just about every version, plus Sony, Bose, and other, but I recommend the new AirPod 4 with noise cancelling.

Just had mine delivered and these instantly fit in my ears with no issues. With the 3s, I would have to nudge them around to make them feel secure. Loving these already!

Just had mine delivered and these instantly fit in my ears with no issues. With the 3s, I would have to nudge them around to make them feel secure. Loving these already!

If quality is what you want stick with earphones like AirPods, Bose, etc. anything else engineered for the snow will be subpar.

I am convinced that I have alien ears because I haven't encountered a single earbud that stays put if I so much as turn my head too fast. So when I bought the original Airpods, I found some earbud hooks on Amazon. They work perfectly, the only downside is having to remove them so the airpods can be placed in the case. I just bought the Airpod Pro 2s and they do feel a bit more snug. I'm not going to trust it though and just bought some earbud hooks for them too. They were $15 on Amazon.

I am always shocked that this isn’t the answer everyone gives. They are relatively cheap, always work, IMO have as good if not the best sound for non bone conduction. I have had many pairs over the last decade: Jabras, Bose, cheap-os, JBL, etc, and all of them have lack one feature or another. If you are using them with an iPhone or Apple Watch I don’t think you can beat the Gen 2 plain earbuds. I am a heavy sweater as well, so on long runs I try to member to have even a wipe down with a damp cloth and leave them out to dry before putting them back in the case. I can get a year+ out of them no problem.

I should add, I can’t count the number of times I stood there waiting to start my run and not having my Jabras pair with my phone. Absolutely the most infuriating thing.

transparency mode is incredibly useful

I also sweat a lot and have been using AirPods , used them for a half marathon without issue. I’m not sure how running in heavy rain would affect them, but so far so good. The only thing I’ve noticed is you need to seat them completely in the case or one side won’t charge.

You can also get the normal AirPods 4 without anc if you never use ANC.

It really is dependent if you want to have ear tips in your ears or not. The pro 2 will have better anc since it has the seal. The 4 will have a better transparency since it’s open.

Unfortunately, my 2nd gen airpods can’t hold a charge for long runs anymore, so I just got bmani wireless headphones with ear hooks and they’re awesome. Currently $27 on amazon and there’s a QR code that lets you sign up for a life time warranty. Before that I got JBL endurance peak 3’s and TWICE they broke down on me and I paid probably triple the price. I just feel that with running headphones they get beat up so much by sweat that I’m not willing to spend top dollar anymore. Just give me something that stays put, sounds good, and can hold a charge. Highly recommend those bmani’s (so far).

AirPods kicked it on a sweaty run. Have had Powerbeats pro for 2 years and no issues. No marathons but have ran a few halves.

The AirPods pro 2 with silicone ear tips are painful to wear beyond 20-30 minutes and I find they can increased earwax and oiliness, which cause them to slide out, regardless of which tip I use. The AirPods 4 fit my ears even better than the Airpods 3 as they sit more securely on the bottom part of the concha of my ear.

The case is ok, just get used to it, its just a matter of habit. I had all airpods models and buds pro2 and buds 3 (sometimes I like to go out or make zoom calls without rubber in ears)) I will put buds pro 2 on the first place in usability but they say buds pro 3 have better sound. buds 3 don't position well in ears, I like airpods nonPro more. The last place go to Airpods pro which I gave to one younger relative and he was happy.

So i realized i got Buds3 (Regular) ones earlier than global release and there are not much info about them so i had to make this post but most importantly this is for guys and gals that can NOT wear earphones with silicon tips and had problems with others before. I insta bought this for my GF who has massive issues with earphones and ONLY Airpods2 fit her ears before and by only i mean i bought and returned shit ton of earphones and just gaveup till this one. and it works best since i also made her to switch to Samsung ecosystem and only thing that was left was the earphones. The earphones before these that we tested were: Samsung: Galaxy Buds Pro, Galaxy Buds Pro2 and the AKG wired one Apple: Airpods 2, Airpods 3, Airpods pro Soundpeats: Soundpeats Air 3, Soundpeats Air 4 Anker Soundcore: Liberty 3 Pro with wingtips +Other generic stuff that i don't remmber Fit wise ONLY Airpods2 worked for her and researching this topic got me through numerous other posts that i saw that it's common as well. Others like Airpods3 and Soundpeats fit inside her ear easily but as soon as she walked or talked it fell off. It's so light and comfy according to her (I don't like this formfactor) and it stays there even if she runs or chews like crazy! So if you have this problem rest assured that you're saved with Buds3. What makes this unique though it's the fact that it has ANC despite not sealed inside your ear canal and it worked much better than Soundpeats Air 4 that i got couple of weeks ago and the ANC on that one was almost non-existence. It cancels out quieter noises (like air conditioner/ air purifier that i got in home) with ease even without music and for crowded places or airplanes i have yet to try it out but with music and traffic it was almost silent. So i would place it just a tad bit below Buds2 Pro in that regard. Sound quality wise since again it doesn't go INSIDE your ear canals it's not in the same level as Buds2 Pro but it's much better than Airpods 2 even in Spotify and using Hi-Fi music in platforms like Amazon/Apple/Qobuz/Tidal it makes it sound even better than Airpods 3. For extended sound quality/ EQs and different music Genres i have to test it out more but so far it looks like the perfect earphones that i wanted samsung to do for ages.i'll update this post soon. I've also ordered Buds3 Pro and that one is still yet to be shipped and i'm skeptical to keep or not since i got an over the ear headphones for my self and might just stick to Buds2pro but if i get that i'll update the post as well.

So i realized i got Buds3 (Regular) ones earlier than global release and there are not much info about them so i had to make this post but most importantly this is for guys and gals that can NOT wear earphones with silicon tips and had problems with others before. I insta bought this for my GF who has massive issues with earphones and ONLY Airpods2 fit her ears before and by only i mean i bought and returned shit ton of earphones and just gaveup till this one. and it works best since i also made her to switch to Samsung ecosystem and only thing that was left was the earphones. The earphones before these that we tested were: Samsung: Galaxy Buds Pro, Galaxy Buds Pro2 and the AKG wired one Apple: Airpods 2, Airpods 3, Airpods pro Soundpeats: Soundpeats Air 3, Soundpeats Air 4 Anker Soundcore: Liberty 3 Pro with wingtips +Other generic stuff that i don't remmber Fit wise ONLY Airpods2 worked for her and researching this topic got me through numerous other posts that i saw that it's common as well. Others like Airpods3 and Soundpeats fit inside her ear easily but as soon as she walked or talked it fell off. It's so light and comfy according to her (I don't like this formfactor) and it stays there even if she runs or chews like crazy! So if you have this problem rest assured that you're saved with Buds3. What makes this unique though it's the fact that it has ANC despite not sealed inside your ear canal and it worked much better than Soundpeats Air 4 that i got couple of weeks ago and the ANC on that one was almost non-existence. It cancels out quieter noises (like air conditioner/ air purifier that i got in home) with ease even without music and for crowded places or airplanes i have yet to try it out but with music and traffic it was almost silent. So i would place it just a tad bit below Buds2 Pro in that regard. Sound quality wise since again it doesn't go INSIDE your ear canals it's not in the same level as Buds2 Pro but it's much better than Airpods 2 even in Spotify and using Hi-Fi music in platforms like Amazon/Apple/Qobuz/Tidal it makes it sound even better than Airpods 3. For extended sound quality/ EQs and different music Genres i have to test it out more but so far it looks like the perfect earphones that i wanted samsung to do for ages.i'll update this post soon. I've also ordered Buds3 Pro and that one is still yet to be shipped and i'm skeptical to keep or not since i got an over the ear headphones for my self and might just stick to Buds2pro but if i get that i'll update the post as well.

Nice! She had that problem with airpods3, it fit in nice but as soon as she started to speak or walk, they fell off and it was kinda hurting her inner ear as well. Try to put it in and twist the stem 45° to your mouth side to see if they fit better. Worked on alot of other headphones before

Airpods and Pro, Status Between Pro But I use Sony IER Z1R and a bluetooth tws module Fiio UTWS5

3rd gen Airpods for general out and about, cooking and exercising (and checking Spatial translation). Not amazing but good, but I'm so used to these that I pretty much always check mixes on them before sending. Sony XM2 noise cancelling for travel, have EQ'd the mids up a bit in the app. ProAcs in the living room.

I just use Soundpeats GoFree2, which is an open earbud with an ear hook. I loved Airpods until the new design just keeps falling off my ears, and I can’t deal with buds due to sensitive ears. I also tried Shokz but had to return it since it didn’t sound right to me.

I own them both & find myself gravitating towards the AP4 more & more.

I tried the smallest tips available. Didn’t work. Then the smallest foams available. Same. Crushed em down, shoved them in. Held in until expanded. Fall out in 2 mins or a shake of the head. No problem with the AirPods 3. Looking forward to the 4s with ANC.

I hate the silicone tips. My ear canal is sensitive to silicone or any ear tips I tried. Also on top of that the anc plus the blockage on the tips sometimes gives me a slight headache. I switched from the AirPods 1 pros to the AirPods 3 and have been comfortable with that shape since. I know it’s a slight downgrade but It’s just way more comfortable to use.

Airpods are good but it sucks when they start to crap out on you. I’ve been using a pair of soundcore liberty 4 NCs for a little over a year now and they’ve been great. Honestly, they sound better than at least the first gen airpods (idk what the second gen ones sound like) and they’re a fraction of the price of a brand new pair.

So with the 3’s, you just rest them in your ear and they stay? I the Pros (1st and 2nd) but my 2nd got stolen and just been without but decided to try the 4’s. I guess it’s hard to remember how the first gen AirPods were without tips. For some reason, I don’t remember much about that experience.

So with the 3’s, you just rest them in your ear and they stay? I the Pros (1st and 2nd) but my 2nd got stolen and just been without but decided to try the 4’s. I guess it’s hard to remember how the first gen AirPods were without tips. For some reason, I don’t remember much about that experience.

Comfort - the regular 2s and 3s are my favourite earbuds ever because they don’t even feel like I’m wearing earbuds at all, with the trade off of being able to hear everything around me. The silicone tips of the pros never fit me well and I don’t like feeling them in my ear.

Comfort - the regular 2s and 3s are my favourite earbuds ever because they don’t even feel like I’m wearing earbuds at all, with the trade off of being able to hear everything around me. The silicone tips of the pros never fit me well and I don’t like feeling them in my ear.

Same and for longer races I just swap one AirPod in ear and one AirPod in the case to charge. Works to keep the charge going for longer and keeps an ear free.

I’ve had some before they never really stayed in my ears before. Felt like I had to push them back in ever 10 seconds. And that was with the smallest tips on them. That’s really my only issue with AirPods

My AirPods died at mile 24 of my marathon last year. I got Shokz open run mini’s this year and have been thrilled with them. No more constant pushing the AirPod in to make sure it’s not going to fall out. Also more waterproof and WAY better battery life.

i had pros if you don’t like a silicone buds 4 is ideal choice!! if you are still confused go to any apple store and ask then you need to try both and decide! I found quality and ANC much better on 4 . i returned pros and bought 4ANC on sale

I vouch for Airpods and Airpods Pro

I know you said you wanted to buy some but I still wanted to point out If you already have airpods. Then save your money and use those. I was going to spend some money on earbuds but there is a plugin called magic pods on decky loader that lets you control pretty much everything about the air pods. You can set noise cancellation etc from the plugin as well .

I’ve used Apple AirPods and I’ve never experienced lag

xiaomi buds 5, samsung galaxy buds 2 and huawei freebuds 5, or the airpods 4 anc.

Thanks for review. Could you make a photo with size comparison of earphones from airpods 2 and buds 3? I have the same porblem. Only airpods 2 suits me

More of just an fyi for those who need it… When using AirPods with the deck you have to completely disconnect them from your phone. I had continual issues with it dropping the sound until I figured this out.

Air pods work flawlessly with it! They swap over as smoothly as they do with Apple devices

Are you only using the Airpods Pro, or did you try the normal Airpods? Your post is unclear on this. If you have only used the Pro then the normal Airpods would probably be the simplest solution. A lot of people react badly to having their ear canal blocked. The normal Airpods don't create a seal, the Pros do. I have a set of Airpods (non-pro) specifically so I can avoid using IEMs too much. I also use flatheads a lot. If you think it's not the seal and is a problem with the plastic Apple is using, I'd recommend either the Yincrow Rhino (warm/bassy) or RW-2000 (bright-neutral) because those are made of metal. Also either of these sound better than the Airpods, as long as you don't care about wires (and they're cheaper too).

I bought the ones without ANC and they suck tbh. Treble is way too high and without fixing it with an EQ its just bad sound quality. Cant believe apple put these on the market

Sorry to necro this thread but i picked up 4s with ANC today over AirPods 2 as I already have a pair of WF-XM5s for true ANC but prefer earbuds without a seal for day to day comfort. And jeepers - these things exceeded my expectations! Bloody marvellous. My old 3s will be up for sale

I have AirPods with memory foam ear tips. They block ambient noise like earplugs, but play music and I can take calls or even voice to text. I put them in my ear, put the helmet on, then do one final “push” with my finger to seat them in my ear for the ride. The batteries die before they work out of my ear.

Earplugs (good quality) + com. kit., the higher priced one have really good quality sound and you can ear it perfectly with your earplugs. Airpods will destroy your ears even more than just riding. You'll put them at full blast + the wind noise. It is asking to be deaf. You also have brand now that make earplugs with speaker Bluetooth. They cut up to 32dB. These are the same used by sound engineer at concert/festival. I don't remember the brand.

If you have room for the over-ear, then you def have room to also bring in-ear (I am imagining something like an AirPods Pro case or similar?). Why not both? AirPods will take up next to no space in your bag and having both options is always nice.

Apple 4 ANC, only ones that do not hurt or bother my ears.

This is why I got 4s. They’re kinda uncomfortable but way better than having to deal with silicone tips

Good question, I’m tired of AirPods. One of my AirPods seem to lose hearing fast all the time and I’m done getting new pairs so I’m trying to switch it up

AirPods 4 slides out of my right ear. Left ear is ok. However no comparison to 2 which sit in my ears perfectly!

AirPods 4 slides out of my right ear. Left ear is ok. However no comparison to 2 which sit in my ears perfectly!

AirPods 2 are only $10 more it seems like a no brainer

Yep. This is was the deciding factor for me. For only $10 more you get volume control (which I actually use more than I thought I would), better battery and better ANC.

Look. I had a big concern of whether to upgrade to the AirPods Pro 2 or the AirPods 4 having owned the AirPods Pro 1 for a long time. The AirPods Pro 1 are a very good AirPods but my seller asked me to just test the AirPods Pro 2s and if I did not like then I could return. We did a bet. Results: The transparency mode on the AirPods Pro 2 is miles….miles …..miles better than the AirPods Pro 1s. For get noise cancelation. These AirPods Pro 2 sit on my ears like I am wearing nothing. Another thing. When I was wearing the AirPods Pro 1 with the transparency set in accommodation mode I would bang the car door and want to remove the AirPods. The bang was so loud because of the sensitivity. The AirPods Pro 2s removes that completely. Finally the hissing that came with transparency is gone. In short. AirPods Pro 2s are far ….far better than the AirPods Pro 1s. As for the AirPods 4s what I hear is the noise cancellation is not as good as the AirPods Pro 2s. Of course this is the case because they have no proper seal the the ANC algorithm keeps having to work hard to compensate.

AirPods Pro 2 are factually and objectively better than AirPod 4s

airpods if ur good at ur job ive been wearing airpods for 2 years now i just keep one in

airpods are good not gonna lie, both the regular and pros. good battery life, amazing connectivity to apple stuff while retaining good functionality with non apple stuff. noise cancelling is very good apple other beat and air pod max thingies?? not so much...

I’ve just bought them over the pro 2. I am a dancer coming from the AirPod 3s and I had the problem of not hearing my own music properly when others had their music blasting through music boxes in dance practice. For me comfort plays a big role and I can’t stand having these rubber tips in my ears. I think they are very impressive! The music quality sounds a lot better compared to the 3s and the ANC actually surprised me, since I wasn’t expecting them to work as well as they do. I am very happy with them .

My AirPod 3 feel far better, and sit more securely in my ears than my Pro 2. Of course this does not apply for everyone. I use both regularly as I prefer my AirPod 3 for casual listening of voice content, however the mic is no longer reliable on them (I have had them since launch). If I got a set of AirPod 4, I suspect they would become my daily drivers. 

If you want to be able to use the mic, no. When using AirPods if you enable the mic, it switches the headphones to a lower audio quality (I think for bandwidth reasons?). Whatever the reason, the game will immediately sound like its occurring on the other end of a phone call until you disable the mic again. Id deff look at a cheaper wired headset, can get ones used for work at like walmart for pretty cheap.

It’s slightly better than the other generations, I would say. With ANC on and watching a movie, I got about three hours on a flight (almost all the way between Chicago and Las Vegas). Without ANC, the battery life is closer to five or six hours.

The standard AirPods don’t stay in mine either, the Pros do, though I do upgrade the tips to silicone

Get the 2s unless you can’t handle silicon tips. Literally the only reason to not get the 2s

Oh I have to try the 4s in store. I only have the 2s cause the 3s didn’t fit in my ears as well. It’s funny because with the imagery I was thinking they were more closer shaped to the 3s!

I bought both and tried them out, I really wanted to make the pros work bc their anc is really really good and the volume control is also convenient but for some reason the pros hurt to wear in my left ear only. I tried different size tips, tried foam tips, nothing worked so unfortunately I am returning them. the airpods 4 are a good enough replacement tho, they are way more comfortable and the anc is solid so I'm happy with them.

Ugh. Scared. I really want them and the gens 1/2 had my right bud falling off. 3rd is perfect.

Great!!! Gonna go try in store and if they're ok getting my friends 20% rebate at Walmart 👍👍

It fits super well!

Does it work? Yes. Did I find it underwhelming? Yes. I was really looking forward to the ANC after all the rave reviews I've read about it. I'm no stranger to ANC. I've used ANC headphones for years. I found the ANC effect for Airpods to be subtle at best. It's no where as apparent as the ANC I've experienced with headphones.

I wish I couldn't hear my surroundings with ANC. But even the very best ANC doesn't come close to that. On the Airpods, that's the point of transparency mode. So that you can listen to music and hear your surroundings.

İf you can use the silicon tips, pro2 absolutely. İ used airpods 1-2-3 and pro 2. Pro 2 is way better.

İf you can use the silicon tips, pro2 absolutely. İ used airpods 1-2-3 and pro 2. Pro 2 is way better.

İf you can use the silicon tips, pro2 absolutely. İ used airpods 1-2-3 and pro 2. Pro 2 is way better.

you can fix this by just disabling the AirPods mic or just go into settings and switch to MacBook input instead of AirPods, i find it works much better

latency got reduced in recent updates and gaming mode helps

AirPods for the flight and I generally use these for sleeping in as they don’t get on the way. I have a hoodie on also in case they pop out but never had that happen. I have my loop ear plugs in my pocket ready to go if/when the AirPods go flat while sleeping.

I know right. I bought them as an upgrade to Gen 2. Honestly the Gen 2 is far far better and I am feeling so bad of spending extra money to get something so cheap. Even one plus buds I tried is better than this. Airpods 4 suck with flat sound

I know right. I bought them as an upgrade to Gen 2. Honestly the Gen 2 is far far better and I am feeling so bad of spending extra money to get something so cheap. Even one plus buds I tried is better than this. Airpods 4 suck with flat sound

I was really interested to hear how the noise cancellation works on these AirPods. "If the AirPods Pro are an 8/10 for noise cancelling, these are a 4/10 \[...\] It's less noice cancellation and more noise reduction."

Pros never stuck in my ears plus are uncomfortable for my liking. I’ve also had the 3rd gen which I’ve always liked the fit of so much more. I went with the AirPod 4s and am really happy w it. The audio is very clear and crisp compared to the 3s. Obviously these are just not going to be up to par if you are a real sound wizard but if you are just a casual user of AirPods, I highly recommend the 4s. I am happy with my purchase.

Pros never stuck in my ears plus are uncomfortable for my liking. I’ve also had the 3rd gen which I’ve always liked the fit of so much more. I went with the AirPod 4s and am really happy w it. The audio is very clear and crisp compared to the 3s. Obviously these are just not going to be up to par if you are a real sound wizard but if you are just a casual user of AirPods, I highly recommend the 4s. I am happy with my purchase.

If I really had to choose, considering all the situations, gym (sweat), possibly hot summer days... and a little more comfort due to their smaller size and ease of carrying in your pocket... Airpods Pro. I myself have the Sony XM4 together with the Airpods 4 ANC, I use both during the day, when I want a better quality sound and good bass, XM4. When I want more freedom of use mainly due to the interaction with iOS, immediate device switching between my iPhone and iPad (the XM4 can also do it), and still have quality sound and bass, Airpods 4 ANC. With a slight adjustment in the bass on Spotify + spatial sound, the Airpods fly! The bass and quality of the Airpods almost reach the same level as the XM4! I replaced my Airpods 3 with 4 and it was an absurd change!

I had my AirPods Pro for long time, even though they were always falling down my ears. Not comfortable at all after a few calls/meetings. Decided to give a try on AirPods 4 ANC and not going back to AirPods Pro anymore. The only better thing on the AirPods Pro is the noise cancelling, in my opinion. But again, not for very long, otherwise starts hurting the ears.

Dude, Samsung galaxy buds 2 has a good rating doesn't mean every TWS is better than every wired iems. Compare prices, use logic. For eg i have Letshouer s12 n it sounds better than Airpods or xm5, n it certainly sounds better than Buds3. TWS have other feature like Noise Cancellation, bluetooth, battery, ambient mode etc.. but dont compare them for sound quality. Because most of them have small drivers. I knw Crinacle is legend n i have bought some of my gear based on his videos but still i would beg to differ atleast for my set of ears.

I just use AirPods with my phone or watch. Usually my phone so I can log my lifts too. That seems to be what everyone does at my gym, minus the logging.

Air pods are surprisingly good

I run with AirPods 2nd gen. Battery life ain’t amazing now but they don’t fall out. Do the job unless my runs are over 2h

With AirPods, I'm getting 1-2 years at best.

Ease of use for me. I mostly use them for audiobooks.

I’ve dropped gen 1 & Gen 2s in toilet a few times each and they have survived, they are quite robust! Plus you will struggle to find an earbud with a similar IPX Rating.

I’ve dropped gen 1 & Gen 2s in toilet a few times each and they have survived, they are quite robust! Plus you will struggle to find an earbud with a similar IPX Rating.

I have no issues with AirPod pros but it's 100% ear dependent. Because the normal AirPods never stayed in my ears

I have AirPods and JBL and I prefer the JBL wave flex for audiobooks.

Me too. I just can't find way to turn off ANC. I searched for an answer but still none. Hope you respond if you find a way..

Yeah I'm utterly baffled at the decision to use the stem squeeze. In comparison to tapping, the squeeze controls feel like a step backwards in usability. Trying to locate and squeeze a stem while running is ridiculous.

My AirPods work fine with it. BUT I don’t know why my Sony WHXM3 headphones lose audio every 10 seconds, it’s unbearable to be honest. There might be other headphones that face the issue out there

Like most ppl said it’s the eartips. I am an AirPods 3 user and AirPods Max for when I need that ANC. But if AirPods 4 with anc can quiet down the environment just a touch, it’s already a win for me for something I carry everyday.

Like most ppl said it’s the eartips. I am an AirPods 3 user and AirPods Max for when I need that ANC. But if AirPods 4 with anc can quiet down the environment just a touch, it’s already a win for me for something I carry everyday.

It dynamically changes for me. The SD is prioritized when it turns on. When I turn it off, the AirPods switch back to my phone. Very seamless.

To each their own but the pros left me with a non healing scrape in my left ear that I could never find a reasoning for. There’s even a sub reddit about it; apparently I wasn’t the only one to have this mystery effect. I got the 4s recently and I like them, but they’ve started to pop and then send a blowing sound while on noise reduction mode only. Just had an automated chat yesterday with Apple and they said I needed to update my iPhone’s OS. I did that and am waiting to have some time to try it out to see if that fixes the issue.

Make the switch, you won't regret it. I was in the same boat as you.

This has been my experience also, as someone who wears them on/off for hours a day. The 4 is amazingly 80% there with ANC compared to the Pro 2, also I can turn ANC off and not feel like I've got clogged ears.

I wish I could but I can’t wear the pros they hurt my ears. The fours fit perfect and feel great. It’s all about what suits you.

I love my AirPod 4 anc!! They are more comfortable to me than the pros. I’ve had ear issues all my life and never could wear in ear earbuds. The fours just fit really well and don’t irritate my ears. They also sound really good and the noise cancellation is great for not having rubber inserts.

I have the 3 and reeeeally regret not getting the Pros instead.

Bought Airpods 4 (without noise cancelling) and msteams/webex audio is very, very low. Other windows sounds are fine. Took it to our corporate helpdesk & the guy was in disbelief he couldn't fix it, but he couldn't. * Airpods 4 (without noise cancelling) - not compatible * Airpods 4 (with noise cancelling) - ? * Airpods Pro 2 - ? I actually bought a refurb pair of Airpod 2's from Amazon & they're fine, but I hate myself for buying them (and for losing my old ones). Also hate the pros, I don't like that rubber thing in my ear. So I guess my question is do new Airpods 4 (with noise cancelling) work well with msteams? I get this is a driver issue, so it'll probably be fixed later but I don't want to assume that.

Bought Airpods 4 (without noise cancelling) and msteams/webex audio is very, very low. Other windows sounds are fine. Took it to our corporate helpdesk & the guy was in disbelief he couldn't fix it, but he couldn't. * Airpods 4 (without noise cancelling) - not compatible * Airpods 4 (with noise cancelling) - ? * Airpods Pro 2 - ? I actually bought a refurb pair of Airpod 2's from Amazon & they're fine, but I hate myself for buying them (and for losing my old ones). Also hate the pros, I don't like that rubber thing in my ear. So I guess my question is do new Airpods 4 (with noise cancelling) work well with msteams? I get this is a driver issue, so it'll probably be fixed later but I don't want to assume that.

Airpod 2s (the ones with the long stem) work fine. I lost mine & as of now I own a new refurbished pair, just so they'll connect to teams. Kinda hate myself for buying them, it's for work & I'm paying. Work will only pay for a wired Jabra.

Sigh. OK, I guess I'll keep my refurbished Gen 2's. I think I overpaid for them because of this issue TBQH - there's a limited supply & sounds like they're the only airpod's that'll work with teams.

100% People act like silicone tips are objectively better but they're really uncomfortable for some folks. Also for me personally, the Pro's will NOT stay in if I'm working out (I somehow have no issue with the regular buds). Strongly considering ditching my Pro 2's for these, purely for comfort. Biggest bummer is the lack of volume slider, which is probably my favorite feature.

I got the Airpods 4 with ANC and its pretty good for train rides. Only wish is that the fit could be a bit more snug.

I bought airpods 4 non anc because i dont need it and i am very happy with them.

airpods. i’ve never found headphones that were comfortable enough to hold alllll my piercings for 2+ hours. it gets uncomfortable to have some metal smooshed on my skin and it’s too much work to change my jewelry to make it more comfortable lol i have a conch, daith, tragus and forward helix on my left ear and most brands of ear buds are no problem for me

Got mine today and they’re really decent, it’s noticeably quieter with noise cancellation turned on. Pros obviously block more noise but I wouldn’t say it’s entirely on the ANC. The pros are noice isolations + ANC, the 4s are just ANC. 

Mine keep falling out, unfortunately 😔 Gen 2 are the only earbuds I've ever found that stay in my ears.

I downgraded from the AirPod pros to the 2nd gen air pod because of the stupid tips. Likely just me being too used to the wired headphones that used to come with the iPhones, but the tips just didn’t feel as good. I’m hoping the 4s will resemble the same fit and feel as the 1st and 2nd gen AirPods

AirPods non pro with the shorter stem. I can't use headphones with the rubber things that jam in your ear canal. I've never found a size that doesn't pop out or is uncomfortable. If Google made a Pixel Buds without the rubber thing that fit like the AirPods for me I'd be in.

Of cuz the one with ANC. it’s life changing !

Disagree. Gen 1 was amazing, it’s just that gen 2 is even better it pales in comparison. Both are incredible and can’t imagine brtter headphones.

Disagree. Gen 1 was amazing, it’s just that gen 2 is even better it pales in comparison. Both are incredible and can’t imagine brtter headphones.

I use my AirPods to make calls, works to about 50 mph with my helmet. The noise canceling is good enough now the people I call can’t really hear the motorcycle running.

airpods for me

Airpods work really well for me personally as well. I do have an external mic/dac on my personal pc setup which is hands down better, but for work the best thing is just avoiding background noise and providing a clear voice chat and airpods/teams do that fine together.

I just don't think I can go back to earbuds after using headphones. I have the Sony xm4s and whenever I use my airpods they seem so much worse in comparison.

I listen to books while I'm walking my dog, about an hour a day. Switched from AirPods to Shokz a few months ago and now can hear cars coming behind us.

My ears are too small for the silicone, it flops out of my ear in a short time. I have the 3. After 5 months my right pod isn’t working properly. The sound is 10% while the left pod works works fine. I have a warranty so I brought it to the store were I’ve purchased it. I’ve lost it for 3 weeks. Only yesterday I got a mail about my pods being ready for pickup. Once I got there, they told me that apple couldn’t find malfunctions to my AirPods. I let the men in the store test it and he could immediately hear the problem. So.. it’s being sent back to apple and I will have to wait for another e weeks. I won’t recommend apple AirPods to anyone. I never used it durning the rain.

Update: they didn’t repair it and I got my money back. I’m now looking for a decent pair of headphones.

I think the same. I've had mine for like 2 months and though I usually avoid full ANC, it's amazing how good it works. This little things had me googling the physics behind active noise cancellation 🤣

If you’re connecting your earphones to your PC, use a HyperX headset. Great mic quality and comfy. If you’re dialing from your phone, use AirPods.

i just wear airpods

Bose NC700 and AirPods, but might switch to AirPods Pro Max since Airpods lowkey suck.

As a Casual? AirPods.

I just got the gen4 today without anc and I love them they have the best audio quality I have ever heard I should have got the anc but I’m extremely happy with the ones without anc

Right they are so good

They fit and feel a lot better to me

Yeah the fit and feel just like the gen2 they are great

I got the 4s without ANC for Christmas (I sent my sister the wrong ones and she ordered what I sent). For the price it’s worth it. They fit great in the ear, the sound quality is decent, and if you’re in a work area and put them loud enough you can’t hear outside noise. That being said, I work in New York and during my commute no matter how loud they are you can hear everything outside your music. I would say great if you’re on a budget or live in the suburbs but if you walk a lot in the city you will be disappointed. (I’m not ungrateful though. I will use this until they die or I get pushed in front of a subway)

3rd gen

You can replace the cushions! I did mine once, wasn’t too bad. Amazon has them. I use an old pair of Galaxy Buds that my wife bequeathed me or my usual AirPods. But I keep the Galaxy Buds on my side table in bed.

I use 2nd gen Apple Airpods. Tried 3rd gen, but didn’t fit as well so went back to 2nd gen

I use 2nd gen Apple Airpods. Tried 3rd gen, but didn’t fit as well so went back to 2nd gen

I was AirPods gang until one fell out of my ear into a sewer while I was running 🥴

tbh i’ve used airpods in a pinch, and the noise esp for shooter/online games are terrible and the batteries run out super fast :(

Just got mine. I knew the ANC wouldn't be as good as my first gen Pros, but it's a pretty big difference. I may return them and keep using my old Pros.

I could tell a significant difference when switching back and forth with the TV on in the room. It's amazing how good they are without silicone tips though. I just need to decide if the other features and the better battery life is worth it for me. I got a pair for my wife too. She hates the fit of the Pros and doesn't like the silicone tips. I'm hoping she likes the fit of these better.

I also have never had any problems with AirPods, I have the pros

Apple only supports AAC Airpods never supported lossless, I understand apple advertised that they are lossless somehow but they actually which they aren't, my friend with 14PM and airpods, mine with S23 and Buds 3 pro Samsung seamless codec is way better than AAC on airpods, in songs like skyfall there is a treble extension and buds 3 pro which sound better than airpods... Any LDAC codec supported devices can stream at almost 24 bit and 96kz max, but if you have an iPhone even LDAC earphones are useless, couz apple doesn't support anyway..

Apple tuning is good, they don't support lossless Have you ever heard on one of those ?

Best audio quality would be AKG N5005. No ANC but sounds great. When it comes to ANC, it’s hard to beat apple. AirPods are amazing at ANC

Apple AirPods 2 have worked flawlessly with my 965. Actually work better than with my AWU2.

I'll give it a try. I absolutely HATE in ear ear buds and can't use them. I tried the airpods 3 but they bulge was way too big for my ear. It literally hurt when I put them in my ear but everyone says these are slimmer so I'll give it a try.

Exactly my position. I hate the tips and could not be more happy that they put the pro features into the 4s.

Pros would not stay in my ears no matter which tips I used. The 4’s fit perfectly and the ANC works well enough for me.

Airpods 4 for comfort and casual use. Pro 2 for seriously good sound and noise cancellation. If you are prioritise on calls 4 would suffice. If you are deep into music, Pro 2 takes the experience to next level !

I use my gen 2 airpods and my beats buds. Haven’t noticed any issues with latency.

Very true. I watched loads of reviews saying that the normal AirPods were perfect for exercise and running but for me they constantly feel like they are about to fall out. I actually sleep with my AirPods in my ears and they are still there in the morning when I wake up. I guess a bit of trial and error to see which ones fit different people the best 👍

For both sides then Airpods imo. Buds 2/3 pro are insanely good with Samsung devices tho, never try them on an Iphone so I can't comment.

I adore the AirPods 4. So comfortable to me. Sometimes forget they're in my ear. Sound great too.

Airpods mics wear out pretty quickly and need to be replaced. I use a pair if JBLs right now with my phone, and plug in my apple wired headphone/mic on my laptop.

Just went to the Apple Store to pick up new phone. While I was there I compared the new AirPods with ANC to my AirPods Pro (2nd gen). Connected them both via share audio option. And listen per the them simultaneously… The difference in ANC is noticeable but not a deal breaker. For the comfort factor it would be totally worth it. My ears tend to feel “sweaty” after a couple hours with my APP.. but in my opinion the audio quality was still better in the AirPods Pro.. but it was still a reasonable trade off if you don’t already have the pros.

Newest Airpods 4 with ANC are my fav right now. They connecting to my Pixel faster then Pixel Buds Pro. Amazon Echo Buds 2 took the longest time, usually 1 minute to connect.

The obvious answer is that some people dislike silicone tips. Another point to consisder is that the AirPods 4 charging case is considerably smaller than the AirPods Pro 2 case. It's about 20% in volume difference and it's about 35% lighter. That's a massive difference to me, that the main point of wireless earbuds is convenience, so if it's something I can always have in my pocket without it annoying me, it's win.

Same, except the in ear jelly type physically make my ears hurt. The regular AirPod design is the only type I can wear without pain

So am I Too much issues with airpods pro anc ecc,airpods 4 no anc super quality 

So am I, Airpods 4 super quality,better without anc,I have had always issues with anc,+ airpods 4 are cheaper

 Airpods 4 super quality,better without anc,I have had always issues with anc,+ airpods 4 are cheaper

Is this a serious question? AirPods.

Significantly better. Airpods wouldnt be even remotely worth their price if they were just regular tws earbuds. Supermix 4 and a qudelix 5k. Shove that in your back pocket and run your iems down the back of your neck :)

Most audiophiles agree that airpods are the best value for 120 bucks

I mean if you really don’t care then yes but the anc model brings so many more features for only like $40 more. I’m surprised how good the anc is on the 4’s, they cancel out a bunch of noise for not having a eartip. I came from the 1st gen pros and I’d say they’re about the same noise cancellation wise but the pros cancel out high frequency noises a little better.

After my dog are multiple pairs of AirPods, I’ve gone with the Tozo NC9s. Because he has expensive taste, they haven’t been eaten and I find them ok value for money. They’re not as good as AirPods. AirPods either transparency mode is good for running, and ANC for your other use cases.

Beats is owned by Apple so they work just the same as AirPods. It depends on your budget and what you use them for mainly. If its for talking on the phone, interacting with sire, dictation and occasional music listening than AirPods is still the best bet because of the H chip in them. But if its primarily to listen to music and consume media, there are much better alternatives.

I like the features of AirPods Pro 2 (own) like the swipe on stem to change the volume. Something that doesn’t sound like a big deal actually is super useful when I need to hear someone talking to me quickly. MagSafe on the case and lanyard are also nice. I heard also they have more battery life. I don’t like the silicone ear tips too much. Honestly AirPods 4 NC just had those features I mentioned, they’d be one I’d get.

Airpods 4 anc alll the way. TBF, I haven’t used the Pro 2s but I do have the original pros. The design of the 4 anc fits in my ear way more comfortably for longer periods, and the sound quality is fantastic. Better than the OG Pros. The noise canceling works quite well, battle tested on planes and noisy areas. I’m just in love with the 4 ancs after 6 months of use. I hope you get them.

I had to get the 4s, because the silicone tips on pros were not fitting my ears correctly. One was inside nicely, but the other one was falling out everytime.

Pro 2’s, I genuinely hate the 4’s so much. I have both. Lost my pros, tried to switch to the 4s, awful

AirPods 4 user. I also use Beats Fit Pro for more active purposes. To me, I found music listening on AirPods 4 better than AirPods Pro 2. I don’t know if it’s only me but the AirPods 4 are more relaxed and fuller sounding than the AirPods Pro 2. I found the AirPods Pro 2 sounding more direct and less smooth for music listening compared to the AirPods 4. I don’t know why but AirPods 4 sounds smoother to me.

Yeah my most important thing to leave the house with is my AirPods with noise cancellation. Even if my device is dead and I have nothing to play on them they’re still such a nice thing to have when out and about. Especially anywhere busy like doing the shopping.

Earpods, Airpods 4, Airpods Pro 2, Sony WH-1000XM4 (over-ear), Bose QuietComfort (over-ear),

Hey i was in the same boat as you. I currently still use Airpods 2nd Gen as they were the best fit for my ears. I also have Airpods Pro 2 which the XS tip works well for me. And i also have Airpods 4 which is a better fit compared go 3’s but still not as good as the 2’s. But definitely audio quality is superb on the 4’s.

Hey i was in the same boat as you. I currently still use Airpods 2nd Gen as they were the best fit for my ears. I also have Airpods Pro 2 which the XS tip works well for me. And i also have Airpods 4 which is a better fit compared go 3’s but still not as good as the 2’s. But definitely audio quality is superb on the 4’s.

I think its better to take airpods pro 2 than airpods 4 . Purely my opinion , I think the airpods are better in the ear , as well as their listening time is longer than the airpods 4.

I absolutely have to use my AirPods. I get up and move around a lot in my office on calls, helps my back and keeps me awake, so I just can’t be chained to the laptop with wired headphones anymore. I’ve only had a couple days where calls have been extreme and they’ve died. On those days I was literally in calls from the moment my day started to the end, no lunch breaks and about two seconds of a bathroom break. If you keep your case charged, you can do one earphones in at a time so the other is always charged. I’ve fine this now when I have higher volume days.

I have a set, I use them sometimes but my AirPods are just better

depends on your needs. airpods are always the solid choice for an iphone. mic quality isn’t bad, it just suffers from what a lot of true wireless earbuds from. which is not having a mic directly facing your mouth. if you don’t mind wired i would go that route. especially if mic and audio quality is a top priority for you. i’d start with just the regular earpods. their cheap and in most stores.

AP Pros were too good with the ANC/silicon tips. For me it was very disorienting to wear them. Went back to my AP 3. Will probably get the AP 4 w/o ANC just because I don’t care about that enough to pay the extra $50 for that and the wireless charging.

Like silicone tips and actual ear sealing feel? Yes-Go for the Pro 2 No-Go for Airpods 4

I have never found a set of AirPods that stay in my ears. Half a mile of running maximum before they’re gone.

I am also Shokz fan like most of the people here lol. They were a game changer for me, hated running with airpods or other wireless earbuds, i always had a feeling they are falling out of my ears and was bothered i cant hear anything around me. Shokz are great

4s are open-ear and are less prone to infections and honestly more comfortable, and the sound quality is just fine (unless you’re an audiophile - but if you are, you should be looking at Devialet Gremlin, Sony CRE-c20, Astell & Kern, etc)

The difference is down to personal-preference, situation, and terminology. I use a pair of headphones with 'active noise-cancellation' and 'transparency mode'. They allow me to choose whether to eliminate (almost) all ambient noise around me, with or without listening to music or other media, OR to reduce the ambient noise and still hear if someone is trying to talk to me. I have found that using 'active noise-cancellation' helps me with other sensory issues (reduced pain sensitivity, anxiety, all probably related to the interplay of hyper-focus, monotropism, and interoceptive issues. Note, some 'active noise-cancellation' headphones will not stay on without an active media source. Try out the different types of noise-cancellation. SoundCore is a good entry point to try out the technologies at a lower price-point than the high-end stuff. I've tried out products from SoundCore, JBL, Beats, Apple, Sony, and Bose. For now, I've been very happy with my full-size over-the-ear Bose headphones for home use, and Apple AirPods for when I am out and about. I consider both therapeutic/assistive-devices for my sensory issues. To reiterate, I use my headphones in both your desired-use example (as quiet as possible), and in the case of a preferred sound/noise masking external noise/sound. I hope you find some relief.

AirPods 4. I have no issues running with noise cancelling where I run (although you can turn it off and there is a lower priced version without it), but I have the ear shape where in-ear headphones always make a loud bumping sound when I'm moving, so AirPods 4 give the benefits of noise cancelling and great sound without the in-ear effect. AirPods 3 always fell out my left ear but they dialed in the size perfect for the 4's, they sit perfect and I've never had it fall out or shake loose doing sprints and a full marathon. I've run in the rain with them, and run them through the wash (accidentally!) a few times, and occasionally wear them in the shower and they still work great. But if they'd just make AirPods 2 with a USB-C charging case and noise cancellation I'd go back to those in a heartbeat lol

Not sure if you've tried AirPods 4 yet, they really fit a hell of a lot more secure than 3, are water resistant (I've run mine through the wash and they still work no problems), and the noise cancellation is nice if you live in a place it is safe to run with it. I always get a loud muffled bumping sound with every step when I wear in-ear headphones and I can't get into the music enough with Shokz lol

So if they actually work I dont mind at investing because in the end I am making money with the earbuds. My current headset smooshes my glassed into my brain so... I need to change but apple airpods sounds like im in a wind tunnel no matter how quiet my office is.

3s are fine if I’m just chilling listening to music. But if I’m up walking around and talking on the phone. One it both is constantly on the verge of falling out

Agreed. I eventually bought some aftermarket silicone things that go over the AirPod and then an extra little arm that goes up into an upper fold of me ear. With great for exercising

because the UX is dogshit, you have to charge them, they randomly don't pair, or one side mysteriously runs out and then won't connect after you charge it, they can remotely make the ANC worse any time they want, the source switching is pure dogshit...

I have the wired Earpods, an Airpods 2, an Airpods 4 ANC and now the new Powerbeats Pro 2. From all of them, the Powerbeats Pro 2 sounds the worst. I have small ears, I tried out at least 25 several wireless earbuds within 1,5 years, only the Airpods 2 stays in my ear, and the new Airpods 4. I hate and can’t wear eartips. I think the poor sound quality of the PBP2 is becuse of the eartips. I have small ears, but the Sound Test says, I have a good seal only with the XL sized tip. Weird. The PBP2 should be pushed deep into the ear canal for better sound quality, but the width of the tips doesn’t allow this. So that’s why the sound quality is and will be trash - in my opinion. All earbuds I own sound better than the PBP2. The Airpods 4 ANC is the best, Earpods is 2nd, Airpods 2 is 3rd for me. But also a simple 12$ Redmi Buds 6 Active sounds better. Really.

I have the wired Earpods, an Airpods 2, an Airpods 4 ANC and now the new Powerbeats Pro 2. From all of them, the Powerbeats Pro 2 sounds the worst. I have small ears, I tried out at least 25 several wireless earbuds within 1,5 years, only the Airpods 2 stays in my ear, and the new Airpods 4. I hate and can’t wear eartips. I think the poor sound quality of the PBP2 is becuse of the eartips. I have small ears, but the Sound Test says, I have a good seal only with the XL sized tip. Weird. The PBP2 should be pushed deep into the ear canal for better sound quality, but the width of the tips doesn’t allow this. So that’s why the sound quality is and will be trash - in my opinion. All earbuds I own sound better than the PBP2. The Airpods 4 ANC is the best, Earpods is 2nd, Airpods 2 is 3rd for me. But also a simple 12$ Redmi Buds 6 Active sounds better. Really.

I use AirPods Pro now and they do sometimes slip. But my previous non-pro AirPods stayed put and were much more snug.

Yeah, I picked up the 4s, and although they don’t fit as well as the originals, they’re still good enough (they at least don’t fall completely out). Absolutely love the noise cancellation on them.

Yes. I'm not even sure you have other options besides AirPods 4 if you want ANC without in-ear design.

No don’t get them they still have an issue when they don’t get charged for a while they can’t be charged and won’t work never been fixed just get AirPods

airpods have always worked for me - don't like the look of a massive headset when at this point in my career most of my calls are video calls

AirPods 2, 3 and Pro are fine for some use. Especially on apple devices but latency can hurt in quick games AirPods Pro 2 (and probably AirPods 4) have nonexistent latency. Even on Steam Deck or Switch

AirPods 2, 3 and Pro are fine for some use. Especially on apple devices but latency can hurt in quick games AirPods Pro 2 (and probably AirPods 4) have nonexistent latency. Even on Steam Deck or Switch

AirPods or SoundCore’s that give zero wireless latency

If you plan on getting semi in ear earbuds, don't expect them to have "good" ANC. At most they will block out (some) low frequency rumbling but definitely not mid or high frequencies as they don't create a seal in the ear like ones with eartips. I've also used the Airpods 4 (ANC), Samsung Galaxy buds 3, the Jbl live flex 3, and in my testing when using a binaural microphone, they only block 60-75 percent of low frequencies (overall) from 50 to 15 decibels but I'm not 100 percent sure how accurate it really is. Like you mentioned, you could try getting your wife some over ear headphones.

I’ll be buying the AP4. I’ve wanted the ANC but I hate how the silicone tips of the Pro’s feel in my ears so this generation is perfect for what I’m looking for.

Just got mine. ANC is not as good as the pros, but that’s to be expected. Better than I thought considering there’s no seal. The volume lowering feature while speaking is game changing though.

Same, i do not like the feeling of the ear tip but holy shit is it better than the 4’s like 10 times.

Take it your apple fan having there buds at top the only good thing about them is transparency not sound quality Samsung buds pro 2 sound way better than apple's plus bowers and Wilkins pi6 and pi8 even better sound quality again than this

I have been running with the Airpods 4 and they fit wonderfully for me, but it sounds like it depends on your ears.

AirPods just seamless if you have an iPhone

It’s tough to say, because people have such different preferences. I LOVE my AirPods, because I think they sound great, they’re comfortable and connecting them to all my Apple devices was just so seamless. BUT, if I just want to close my eyes and listen to music, I prefer my Bose QuietComfort over ear headphones. They sound fantastic and are super duper comfy. And if I go for a run, I prefer using my Shokz Airs for the bone conduction/open ear style to keep my music going, while I’m audibly aware of my surroundings. A lot of folks here will have some awesome recommendations based upon their experiences and preferences.

AirPods have a great sound and with ANC that works as expected. The mic on the other hand, horrible. Every call I make, everyone tells me I sound muffled. Speakerphone mic is so much better. Because taking calls, zoom/team meetings, etc is so important to me, I’m about to try the Shokz Openrun 2 headset. It’s open ear with bone conduction, but mic is reported to be better, as recommended by my buddy at work.

I honestly cannot live without my AirPods. It’s the only thing that makes going out in public largely bearable anymore.

The bone conduction ear loops like the Shokz will work a lot better if you use wind blocking strips on your helmet straps. It’s also better for your hearing, wind noise can damage hearing over time especially if you hit high speeds descending. And you can hear cars coming behind you or team mates talking better as well. They do make you look a bit like a Fred, but they work! I wear them on solo rides when no one is looking 👀 Fred = noob cyclist aka googan for fishing, kook for surfing, etc [https://wind-blox.com/](https://wind-blox.com/) AirPods have better sound quality, but I place these aftermarket silicone sleeves over them that make them stay in my ear much better.

We aren’t born equal LOL I can’t stand the AP 4 due to the pain in my ears after 15 minutes… So I got the Pro 2 and I can keep them forever in my ears. Just need the right plug size. Also I wouldn’t pass the amazing noise canceling but that depends on your usage

Lucky you. I have tried to take a call on my AirPods but the caller complains about wind noise, even with a buff pulled down over my ears. I have to stop cycling to continue the call.

Recommendations would be great - I'm done with the crappy 2-year shelf-life of Airpods.

airpods have always been the winner for me. they fit my ears well

Tbh i like the regular more. Currently have the pro but will prob switch back for my next pair

Anyone able to compare the fit to gen 1/2 and gen 3? Edit: Got mine today. The fit isn’t as good as gen 1/2, but much better than 3. Pretty much as people said. They are *considerably* harder to get in and out of the case, though. I’ve already dropped one twice while trying. And they just feel cheaper and more cheap plasticky than gen 1/2 did. Will spend some more time with them before making a decision. Edit 2: Somehow one feels too tight in my ear and other constantly falls out. Every aspect of the design of the AirPods and especially the case feels worse. The noise cancellation gives me a headache. I can’t do the stem squeezing with my bad hands. The sound quality is better but I almost exclusively listen to audiobooks so that’s almost a disadvantage. Will be returning them. Edit 3: When I turn on spacialise audio it sounds like I’m sitting next to the narrator. It’s weird but nice. Edit 4: They don’t disconnect when I put them in the case. My gen 1s and 2s always did. Not sure if bug or intended behaviour. I have to manually change output source every time.

Honestly might be enough for me to buy another pair of gen 2s instead of 4s. I'm going to go into the Apple Store next week and see if I can try them out and see how viable stems are for me. Edit: They are not.

They sell them in 3 pairs which usually can last for 1year+, just clean your ears more often. Also incase anyone thinks about cleaning them with rubbing alcohol, avoid doing this, rubbing alcohol will absolutely disintegrate comply foam tips. I'm glad those worked for you though, the only airpods that never fell out of my ears were the original ones with the long stem, these short ones fall the moment I move my face.

Regular AirPods 2 lmao they work well, but I kinda want newer ones.

I just got them today and love how they stay in my ears compared to the EarPods and AirPods 3 that slowly slides out my ear. I had to get wingtips just for it to stay in my ears but hate how I have to put on/remove the wing tips every time I want to use my AirPods or put it back into the case.

Just to let you know; Powerbeats Pro 1's Driver Size is 12mm; Powerbeats 4's Driver Size is 12mm; Powerbeats Pro 2's Driver Size is 9.5mm; Beats Fit Pro's Driver Size is 9.5mm; AirPods Pro 1's Driver Size is 11mm; AirPods Pro 2's Driver Size is 11mm; AirPods 4's Driver Size is 11mm. The "Driver Size" is the thing that makes sound (usually) louder, richer, fuller, more bass, etc. You may think of "Driver Size" like "Speaker Size". The bigger the Speaker, (usually) the louder, fuller, more bassy it sounds..

It gonna lie, best noise cancelling is still air pods.

Both, at home chilling on my macbook I will use the 4, on airplane, they gym definitely the pros

u/payus_maximus is misinformed. The AirPods Pro 3rd Gen are not out and possibly won’t be ‘till end of next year. That article he’s linking to is pretty bad and shows the standard AirPods 3rd Gen as some new Pro model among other inaccuracies and poor, outdated options. The standard AirPods are open back earbuds that don’t seal your ear canal. They also don’t have ANC. These are not what you’d buy if you’re looking for high audio performance with ANC to match. Not to mention, you shouldn’t buy AirPods if you don’t have an iPhone for a multitude of reasons. [There’s a lack of high quality codecs needed for Android](https://www.soundguys.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-bluetooth-headphones-aac-20296/), for example, and other features and behaviors that are stripped away. Bowers & Wilkins’ Pi7 and Pi7 S2 are not at all worth it. They’re poorly tuned, have lackluster ANC, poor battery life, etc. Just extremely overpriced and riding on name only. I have several comments with details you can scroll down to - [HERE](https://www.reddit.com/r/Earbuds/s/72CdG7dczl). . . [HERE](https://www.reddit.com/r/Earbuds/s/uBPWmIUujY). . . [HERE](https://www.reddit.com/r/Earbuds/s/O5kv8e5RGF). . . [HERE](https://www.reddit.com/r/SonyHeadphones/s/pXaBjbZc4U). . . [HERE](https://www.reddit.com/r/Earbuds/s/KHYZ9fqfjM). You should check sources like **RTINGS** and **SoundGuys** for excellent in-depth details. There’s a search bar up top where you can look up many different earbuds. [Stem style earbuds could offer a better fit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Earbuds/s/qLdgV1HhAT) as you’re thinking. It all depends on your own ears and preference. You could likely find some more traditional buds style options that work fine. Especially if you switch to high quality third party eartips like those from **Spinfit** and **AZLA**. But as my last linked comment describes, stem style could have an even greater chance to be better for more people. I mention some great options [HERE](https://www.reddit.com/r/Earbuds/s/CCJ4GTvpU1), many of which are stem style. As I described [HERE](https://www.reddit.com/r/Earbuds/s/flB3b0WteT) and [HERE](https://www.reddit.com/r/Earbuds/s/zd2EHH2J4p), some of your better stem options are, in order: AKG N5 Hybrid - [YouTube (0DiBi)](https://youtu.be/XKRXLoJ2V5E?si=-vu2TG47n_PLtuLm), [YouTube (AREGINA Tech Review)](https://youtu.be/Xf-ngI88si4?si=o3AZcSOVTGSGH4jk) JBL Live Beam 3 - [SoundGuys](https://www.soundguys.com/jbl-live-beam-3-review-118335/), [YouTube (Paul’s POV)](https://youtu.be/TfGnsqkagTg?si=GZUWLhdoUlgGaySs) Nothing Ear (2024) - [SoundGuys](https://www.soundguys.com/nothing-ear-review-114404/), [RTINGS](https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/nothing/ear-truly-wireless), [YouTube (This is Tech Today)](https://youtu.be/iXnveSlOAFM?si=6vZhV0xP_X3hCpQc) [If you have a Samsung device that supports their SSC codec](https://www.reddit.com/r/Earbuds/comments/1ed4z03/doubt_galaxy_buds_pro_2/lf61i7e/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1&context=3), don’t overlook their latest Galaxy Buds3 Pro - details [HERE](https://www.reddit.com/r/Earbuds/s/zXvxB995jt) and [HERE](https://www.reddit.com/r/Earbuds/s/LRfTMRVEXC). **There are some quality control issues that delayed their release.** But when they clean that up, these are obviously high performers all around.

Second this, I always put AirPods in under my hijab

yes it does. As an autistici individual airpods 2 are life savers. The noise cancelling is good when you need it but the most impressive thing to me is the transparency. I HATE having stuff in my ears which is why i hate using earplugs. But with the airpods transparecy mode is so good i can actuallly hear myself and everything like i don't have them on and you don't feel the pressure on your ears at all it's like you don't have them in at all. it is actually really incredible

I understand people talking about the aversion to having their ears plugged by the silicon tips and you do not understand just how much I understand that yeah i have that aversion too. And transparecy mode just... fixes that completely and in fact i can't go back to regular earpods cuz that feels a lot more blocking and weird and off than transparecy mode. It's super clear if i like, forget to charge them and one runs out (tho they last so long it's not really an issue) and suddenly it's like AH SOMETHIN'S IN MA EAR. seriously transparecy is great. I hope more companies start to lean into it.

As a lot of people mention in this thread I think your best bet is AZ100 right now. Sony XM5 is old news now, but it's still decent. Bose is a good alternative for AirPods. AirPods are the most consistent earbuds for me. Just refer to [this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/soundnation/comments/1in69fm/best_wireless_earbuds_2025_reddit_recommendations/) it has a bit more info. Also you might need to consider the new earbuds coming in the next few months.

AirPods 2 are great because of how interconnected they are with the ecosystem. Easy to find if lost, etc.

My AirPods work just fine. When they don’t I use wired Apple headphones.

I tried that, the 4's kept working themselves loose (left ear especially). I would be sitting still, put them in my ears, rotate, they would feel snug at first, but maybe 20 minutes later, it would literally just fall straight out of my ear. I know it's not cost effective for Apple but I wish they'd make multiple sizes of the regular Airpods.

Apparently I was born with unlucky ears - I’ve tried regular wired earbuds, original AirPods, and AirPod pros, and they all fall out of my ears (using any size tips for the pros or using Comply foam tips). The only ones that do stay in are the Beats Pro with the silicone wings, but the wings exert a lot of pressure on my ears and makes them hot and uncomfortable after 30-40 minutes. I’m really hoping that the new 4’s shape is different enough to fit me better. I don’t even need to be able to sleep in them or go running in them, just be sturdy enough to not fall out when walking. I’m jealous of people who can put AirPods in their ears and keep them in all day.

Omg. Are you me? I also prefer the AirPods 3 (though, I do find them a touch too big), and use Bose QC for noise cancelling (great in an open concept office for blocking out chatter, or even while on calls).

i personally use cheap over the ear firearm ear muffs with a wireless earbud in one of my ears like this: https://www.amazon.com/Yewltvep-Shooting-protection-including-shooting/dp/B0BTLKN64N FWIW i use sony true wireless earbuds and have had good luck. use airpods if you have an iphone i wouldn't overthink it

Half worse, it seems. Equivalent to Pro 1st generation from what I saw online. Which to me is a good compromise. I’ll be getting the best of both worlds: open ear design and a little NC for daily conveniences

The airpods 2 is great, but yes the Sony WF-100XM5 is a beast also

For ease of connection, as everyone says here, AirPods. If you’re looking for sound quality there are countless other better options out there.

Use AirPods and they sound terrible . The cheap Anker 4nc is even better, but still far from desirable, all reviews and tests say that Jabra is the best in your list, also Nothing is good choice, especially now as they are on sale.

I used both AirPods and an other brand (can’t find which one right now). Both lasted well through the night, but to be fair I usually only use them 5 hours max. My only problem is they hurt my ears, because the pillow pushes them too deep. Recommendations for a ‘shallow’ Bluetooth earpiece would be appreciated!

Yeah it would be nice if you could tell the earbuds to silently die instead of beeping… Maybe changing the pillow is an alternative but I was kind of expecting technology to be advanced enough to make the earbud smaller 🤷‍♂️ (my current workaround is sleeping on my hand and/or giving the pillow an extra fluffing..)

I lost ones of mine about 2 weeks before a race. I always come home and put them on the counter by my case to dry and one disappeared. Wife had a pair of AirPods but they just aren’t as good for workouts/running

Yeah I returned mine. Could never got a good fit and I tried every singe tip size. The highs were so harsh and I was shocked at how bad they sounded for $250 headphones. Picked up some AirPods 4 instead and am 1000x more happy with them.

I recently got the AirPod 4 ANC as the AirPod Pro keeps falling out of my ear and the mics are definitely better on the AP4 compared to all the other AirPods I have used. Very comfortable for long use and works great with the Mac / iPhone. I mainly use it for Teams calls on my Mac mini / MBP.

Most of the AP4 ANC reviews on YouTube have microphone comparisons with the other AirPods - worth checking out - the difference is quite noticeable. One of the main reasons I switched to those.

Just got mine. Fit Even better than 1 and 2

I just use my AirPods fr, most of the time i use my phones sound tho

Yeah it’s always good to have a pair of decent earbuds, especially if you are in a somewhat noisy environment.

I know this is rhetorical clickbait but as for why I don't like it, it's the simple reason that I have sensory issues and the tips always hurt / fall out of my ears.

This was my experience too. I wore the first gen for running and cycling without problems; the third gen always falls out of my ears if I laugh or smile or even twitch my face.

This was my experience too. I wore the first gen for running and cycling without problems; the third gen always falls out of my ears if I laugh or smile or even twitch my face.

I'm a bit disappointed with these as they keep falling out of my ears if I do anything more than a slow walk and when you use the controls it just loosens the fit further Tried my wife's airpods, and they're night and day It doesn't matter how good the features are if they don't stay in your ears.

Our right, It's a pity the shops don't have display buds you can try on before buying. I do feel the airpods have a better design that hooks better to the ear rather than just the angled design on the samsung

It’s bizarre, I’ve had tons of earbuds in the past with in ear tips, and never had a problem. For 6 months I used the 1st gen AirPods Pro, and adored them. Then, after I had a separate issue, had Apple care replacements sent. I’m sure it is a coincidence of timing, but right around that time, I started getting major irritation in my ears from them. I tried different tip sizes, at least four different brands of alternative silicone, memory foam tips, and even attempted covers for the plastic parts of the buds. Nothing helped, except for abstaining from using them. I would go two month without them, and then try again, and if I used them (or any in ear buds in fact), now for more than 15 minutes, my inner ears get extremely itchy, sometimes including gross discharge, etc. I’ve been to an ENT, who said there was no issue with my ears themselves, simply a skin irritation in the ear canal. My presumption is that something just clicked with my extended AirPods use to trigger a mild allergy, OR, the environment inside my ear canal has changed slightly with age. Either way, I have to accept that this is likely the new normal, and my choices are either over ears, open ear buds like these, or the kind that clip to the top of the ear. I have since switched to the Max, which I love, and have always preferred over ears anyway. However, there is a convenience factor to using ear buds for phone calls, exercise, etc, that I really miss. I have used my wife’s 2nd gen AirPods, and don’t have any problem with them, except that they sound a bit dinky. The fact that these have head tracking and transparency mode has me sold to finally grab them in the near future, so that I have earbuds to grab in a pinch for convenience.

I put my air pods in and I put noise protection cupped headphones from 3m over them

I tried using AirPods and I could not get the helmet on without dislodging them. I ended up using NoNoise brand plugs which filter out wind noise but let everything else through and I listen to music on my Sena

My airpods work well but I suppose you wouldn't want to spend that amount of money to use them just on the SD.

Had this issue. It was another Bluetooth device in the house conflicting (a laptop). Disabled Bluetooth on the other device and never had the issue again. Check around the home and see what else may be using the same band.

Same. Some devices “snatch” Bluetooth pairing, and will force disconnect the AirPods from other devices when automatically pairing. Steam Deck and my Desktop PC always do this, which I don’t mind because it’s seamless and easy. When I want to switch them back to my phone it’s one swipe and a click which is way faster than going into deck’s Bluetooth settings.

The airpods 4 anc has head move gestures, like when you shake your head, you decline a call.

Yes and no. AirPods only employ a seamless and trouble free connection and experience. That is it. Otherwise, a true audiophile would never disgrace themselves with the presence of AirPods on any level. If you’re looking for a a great experience, any real audiophile will tell you that only a DAC can deliver the results you want from music. This is why Apple Music in particular says that when using Lossless Audio at the highest setting requires a DAC and wired headphones. Otherwise, the quality is diminished over Bluetooth. However, in my experience, Bose, Sennheiser, and Sony are the top 3 I would choose. Bose being the first choice simply because I have more experience with those over the latter 2. But Sennheiser is a close second with Sony, as both of those brands offer professional studio quality options when using a DAC. The other option I may go for is AKG, in this case, a pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds (believe it or not). All in all, Bose or Sony.

I will replace APP2 and get AP4. My ear fit is really awkward, and silicone tips don’t work as good. Fit of original Airpods is amazing to me. I liked ANC tho, so AP4 is ideal. That being said, I like how the silicone tips catch earwax. Have to take regular airpods for cleaning once every 6-12 months.

I bought an airpods 2 for rm280 on carousell full with receipt and serial number verified on my macbook. Maybe you can look there for good deals.

Same. I just got Gen 4 today and they fit like Gen 1 and 2. They finally stay in my ears!

Same I can’t stand the silicone tips

Never had Pros 2 simply because I am not a fan of the tip that goes into your ear. Its known that Pros 2 are better but for me Pods 4 are better simply because they are more comfortable

Agree, I’m the one who don’t like silicon eartips and prefer classic earphones so I bought AirPods 3 instead of AirPods Pro 2 two years ago. Now I will buy AirPods 4 with ANC

Agree, I’m the one who don’t like silicon eartips and prefer classic earphones so I bought AirPods 3 instead of AirPods Pro 2 two years ago. Now I will buy AirPods 4 with ANC

I noticed Apple's noise cancelation is horrible when it comes to phone calls. They seem to always cancel your own voice, so the person on the other end literally hears your surroundings over you. Whenever I'm taking a call when outside, I have to disconnect my airpods and use the phone regular so they can hear me.

I switched to pro (gen 1) from the gen1 when they came out. I used them for a few months (during that time I had one bud changed at a service due to something stuck in the external mic causing the transparency/anc to not work well) and hated them: it is impossible to use them for 2+ hours straight because my inner (is that the right term?) ears were sweating like hell. I couldn’t exercise while using them - again because of the sweating, they would literally pop out (I even thought I lost them once on a bike ride - they popped out in the woods on a bump and I spent a few minutes looking for them). So when I swapped out the faulty one, I immediately sold them for the exact money to buy the ‘original’ form factor gen2 with wireless charging case, and have been happy for the last 2 (3?) years. Unfortunately now my gen2 have started to misbehave (accidentally lost audio in one of them) + battery issues (1-1.5 audios, 40 minutes top for calls) so I’m looking forward to buying the ap4 but want to see reviews (unfortunately where I live I can’t try it out to see how it fits + I haven’t decided if it’s worth paying 50 extra for anc (but I was completely happy with how it worked on the ap pro gen1, so if it’s on the same level - I’d be more than happy to pay little(or not so much=) for that feature) PS:I was almost ready to buy a second pair of the gen2 a few weeks ago, but unfortunately they only have the lightning version (no wireless charging) and that’s kind of a dealbreaker for me (I’m so used to wireless charging that I wouldn’t even consider going back to lightning) PPS:no magnets/magsafe support (or whatever it’s called) in the ap4 case is just a bummer :( I’ve seen how it works on the ap pro2 + watch charger and I really liked it PPPS:plus f***ing "landscape" case I hate it sooooo much zippo-like gen1/gen2 is way better=) edit: ppps added

Having used both xm4 and air pods 1st gen when I'm an android user, I would pick airpods any day. Really disappointed by the battery issue on xm4, and noise cancelling isn't that much different between the 2 when Sony requires foam ear tips for a good seal causing discomfort when wearing for a long time, while airpods achieve similar level of anc while being extremely comfortable. Plus with an iPhone u get a lot of the nice to have features that I didn't. Also the price tag is pretty different between the 2 and I don't think Sony can justify the price difference with its advantages.

If you have an iPhone it’s a no brainer, AirPods. They connect seamlessly between devices. If you have an android consider the nothing brand or pixel buds

Hello yes of course the ANC of the airpods 4 is fantastic for me using my Samsung A15 phone. Good day

I use AirPods 2 all the time with Teams and a Macbook. No problems. Tell us more about your setup

Tried different ones but always come back to the apple airpods. Mine never fall out, i've been wanting to try some bone conductor headphones since I started road cycling though.

God I looking a drawer a few days ago and realized I have 6 (SIX!) broken or missing pairs of AirPods between me and my wife. They shouldn’t be so expensive to repair or buy spares.

I'll actually try to be helpful. I know you said that you had issues with how earbuds fit in your ear. If you need to hear whats going on around you I would really give airpods 4, or airpods pro a try. Airpods 4 dont have those ear tips that can bother people and if you have issues with them falling out, you can buy ear hooks for them (just google airpods ear hooks). You can turn on transparency mode to so you can hear whats going on (Like with the bone conductors), or what I use all the time, noise cancellation, so I can get peace and quiet wherever I am. (these features will work on android too) I would seriously recommend returning the bone conductors, they are understood to be really niche, and not a great all rounder.

I had the 3s and they didn't fit well, always felt like they were going to fall out. Got the 4 (ANC) an hour ago, and it definitely fits a lot better, almost as good as the 2s (non pro). I will be keeping them.

I had the 3s and they didn't fit well, always felt like they were going to fall out. Got the 4 (ANC) an hour ago, and it definitely fits a lot better, almost as good as the 2s (non pro). I will be keeping them.

I had airpods 3 they pick up EVERYTHING. You could fold a paper sheet and people will tell you they can't hear you over the noise

AirPods and then you buy these things: OneCut 5 Pairs Silicone Ear Tips... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098DMLS6N?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share And they’re super comfortable- you don’t even notice them. AirPod doesn’t even move during my run. I usually only wear one when I’m running so I can hear what’s going on around me.

Does the transparency mode help you hear yourself? I mainly use my AirPods for phone calls. When I tried some other earbuds they all had the tips and when I talked I did not like how I felt like I was yelling or I sounded muted. That is the main reason I did not go with any buds with silicon tips. I love how the Airpods 2 just sit in my ear. I can hear people fine and I do not sounds soft/muted. I also find them extremely comfortable.

I use my AirPods without issue.

I also have the regular AirPods and they’ve been on several long runs, halfs, and a full. They fit my ears well and stay in.

Hey, been using the Airpods 4 with ANC on Android (OnePlus 6T). Working perfectly for me so far with no issues. Just haven't figured out if there's a way to turn off the ANC feature to get better battery life out of my buds. Hope this helps

Hey, so i just figured it out. Long pressing the button on any of the buds does the trick. Have a good one

it does, unfortunately. it puts the buds in a sort of ambient sound mode. to configure/change this, im afraid you need an apple device or a nothing phone. i was only able to do it by connecting the buds to my ipad.

No one mentions the microphone? Airpods are great off the bike but it’s impossible to use them for a phone call under the helmet. The microphone will never hear your voice unless your standing still with the engine turned off and you’re shouting. Also, they’re uncomfortable as hell. Cardo and plugs is definitely the best solution.

I own some apple airpods & sony wf (1000xm3-5 series). for me the best for running is sony 1000xm5. but for your budget, trust me when i say this realme buds hav the most similar sound quality to those rm1000+ earbuds. almost perfect for running got noise cancelling etc https://preview.redd.it/t7sfdciy831e1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=22535fe8d76bdca41cf299d28fdca6da3a97006f

I have an old pair of AirPods that don’t work anymore and it helps a lot. Not only will people avoid talking to you it makes it so you can still hear everything it’s just not loud.

I'm quite late but I recently flew across the continental united states. the ANC on the 4 was more than sufficient to entirely tune out all the flight noise, and didn't suffer any noticeable sound quality degradation

I bought and returned AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 3 because of the fit. So far AirPods 4 seems to fit closer to my EarPods but still need to adjust them sometimes 

I bought and returned AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 3 because of the fit. So far AirPods 4 seems to fit closer to my EarPods but still need to adjust them sometimes 

I have to buy the pros. The regular ones won’t stay in my ears.

If outside, AirPods. The volume is controlled by the volume on the phone so it’s never too low. At home, it’s either my AirPods or my Bose headphones.

I’ll stick to my AirPods bro

Sony for me. I had two different sets of AirPods and my ear canals were too small for both sets.

I love rocking no headphones but if I do, my AirPods

Air Pods 3 gen or air pods pro but I don't like the pro

Airpods anc sucks, im seriously considering replacing mine

My OGs aren’t doing so well, so I bought the Pro 2. They wouldn’t stay in my ears for shit. Tried every tip size. No go. Gave them to my wife, and I bought the 4. Still won’t stay in my ears. Just returned those. The OGs are the best. I took my wife’s 2nd gen that are very much like the OGs. They fit fine and never all out. I do miss all the features the Pro 2 offers. I hope Apple makes the original design with all the Pro 2 features.

My OGs aren’t doing so well, so I bought the Pro 2. They wouldn’t stay in my ears for shit. Tried every tip size. No go. Gave them to my wife, and I bought the 4. Still won’t stay in my ears. Just returned those. The OGs are the best. I took my wife’s 2nd gen that are very much like the OGs. They fit fine and never all out. I do miss all the features the Pro 2 offers. I hope Apple makes the original design with all the Pro 2 features.

My OGs aren’t doing so well, so I bought the Pro 2. They wouldn’t stay in my ears for shit. Tried every tip size. No go. Gave them to my wife, and I bought the 4. Still won’t stay in my ears. Just returned those. The OGs are the best. I took my wife’s 2nd gen that are very much like the OGs. They fit fine and never all out. I do miss all the features the Pro 2 offers. I hope Apple makes the original design with all the Pro 2 features.

Me neither, i had those previously and i hated them so much

Thanks for the comment! Sound is important, but I’m also not exactly an audiophile or anything. I have the AirPods 2 right now and was looking for an upgrade, and love the way the AirPods are wireless buds that can connect to all my Apple devices. Is there another brand of AirPod-style phones you can recommend that have reasonably better sound quality and have the convenience of being wireless buds? (Note: nothing that goes IN my ear, I’ve tried the AirPods Pro and hated them.) Thank you!

Android user here; I bought air pods this year for music as I like the way they fit and noise cancelling in that style is rare - they should pair just fine with Android phones - you do miss out on being able to select which modes are on unless you have an iPad or old iphone - the headphones won't update without an apple device I couldn't get mine to pair out of the box though. I have an old iPad though, and that was helpful Once it did the firmware update, its been great, and I also use the ipad if I want to change settings. The nose cancelling is pretty good; gets rid of background noise per week while letting conversation through

I use my AirPods 4 or Bose quiet comforts.

I’d pay extra for the Pros, i’ve heard the regular ones are bad for your ears because they let sound through and you get the urge to turn the volume up to compensate. Plus the Pros are very comfortable. ANC and audio passthrough are amazing features. At home i use “proper” headphones but when i’m writing stuff on my laptop during downtime at work, i like to just connect my Airpods for convenience. I definitely wouldn’t recommend doing the mixing/mastering with them, though it’s good to have a range of devices to see how the song sounds across different devices afterwards. One thing to note - on Ableton when you open the settings and select the Airpods, there might be 2 different Airpods options. One of them is going to sound like cell phone call quality while the other one sounds normal so don’t worry about something being broken if it sounds like demons escaping from hell when you hit play. The only difficulty is getting Airpods to connect to windows, i forgot which one but i had to change a setting a long time ago in the device manager but after that, it’s been smooth sailing. (Except it’ll start to crackle occasionally but turning bluetooth off and on fixes that)

Airpods without eartips do not fit in my ear, which is extremely disappointing. They fall out almost immediately.

Honestly just want to know how they sound vs the Airpods 2nd Gen, thinking about upgrading but don't want to go backwards in terms of sound quality

Nice! I did actually like my 2nds more than the 3rds in terms of sound but I will likely order the buds 3 when I have the money

Nice! I did actually like my 2nds more than the 3rds in terms of sound but I will likely order the buds 3 when I have the money

I carry both and use/bring OTA on long flights over 6 hours. To me it’s comfort and better noise reduction. I don’t easily sleep on planes but OTA helps. It’s one of my few one bag indulgences. I usually carry an old beat up Bose and leave the case behind. For everything else during a trip - AirPods.

I just got mine and its amazing

My 3s fit me fine, but I gotta say I’m very happy at the thought of how many people get to enjoy non-silicone AirPods now. Good for you, OP! Love it.

I enjoy my AirPods 4 ANC. Silicone tips are too big for my ears, prefer not using them.

Airpods 4 I came from an iPhone and don't want to buy a new pair. Plus I don't like silicon tips and these work great with the Pixel. Just missing out on battery levels and siri but siri was trash anyways. Spatial audio works tho!

This. The feel of the buds can be very important. The Pros will always be better at noise cancellation because good NC needs as much outside noise to be blocked as possible, but the Airpods 4 can't make a seal. However, I imagine the Airpods 4 can still block a noticeable amount of noise. (I have an old on-the-ears Plantronics headset with NC, and it does a surprising job at NC. It's not as good as the Pros or the Max but it still works passably.) Also, if you're active/do sports, the Airpods 4 will fall out of your ears more easily. (The Pros can also fall out, but that's a bit harder.)

Just got a pair and put them on and boy do I love em. Coming from gen 1 AirPod pros which I had to constantly adjust these don’t move not one bit. The conversation feature is awesome as well.

I can’t believe I recently bought AirPods 3 and the next gen without silicon tips has anc…

I sent my Pro 2s back and bought the AirPods 3 for that reason.

Yes; I was apprehensive about AirPods at first in case they fell out but I've never had an issue with that. Enough now that I even leave them in when wading across rivers.

Everyones ears are shaped differently so I don't think there is an objective answer to this question, but I can give recommendations on what works for me. A lot of people like apple airpods but they hurt my ears within 10 minutes of wearing them, personally. I liked Bose earbuds for a long time but they have gotten more expensive, for a worse product in recent years. If you can find a second generation of their Quiet Comfort earbuds, they're pretty great, but still gonna be pretty pricey. The third generation cost about $300 and the quality is worse than the second gen. More recently I've found that I really love Altec Lansing Nanobuds. They're the same shape and level of comfort as the Bose earbuds, but they stay in my ear even better and they're waaaay cheaper. They're not quite as user friendly as the Bose are, as far as touch controls on the headphones themselves, but thats a small inconvenience for me. They also have a better battery life and cost about $60 as opposed to $150-$250 for the second gen Bose. Hope this helps. Good luck on your search for the perfect earbuds OP.

I’m pretty sensitive to audio delay and my Air Pods are probably the least delay-prone Bluetooth earphones/headphones I’ve tried. That’s not to say there’s zero delay, but it’s not very noticeable or distracting. Nothing beats wired, though.

Whatever is comfortable for you. I have some in ear ones (like air pods) and some over the ear hook ones for more intense workouts where i risk them falling off. I see alot of people wearing the ear muff style. It's whatever you like.

I am actually doing the opposite. Moving from Pro 2 to 4NC.

Pro2s are better in every way but some people don’t like the silicone tips or it doesn’t fit in their ears so they choose 4s

AirPods 4 is the first Apple product I’ve been disappointed in. I bought them as a replacement for my originals that finally died and these do not fit my ear the way the originals did. Always readjusting them and certainly cannot run in them. If anyone has a suggestion on how to keep them from falling out, I would appreciate it. Take the time to test before buying!!

I bought the Sony, Google, Samsung, and Apple buds to test all four (one at a time, returned each pair as needed). All four fit me differently--I couldn't get the AirPods to seal in my ear, while my daughter found them to fit perfectly. I went with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. They were comfortable and I liked their touch control options.

I got a new iPad Pro (and new pencil, case, and screen protector) at the same time, so any amount of savings is much appreciated. I had AirPod 2nd gen that were finally giving me battery issues so was thinking of upgrading them. I wasn’t looking for much, so when I saw the AirPod 4 with ANC, it seemed like the perfect upgrade. I also didn’t love the Pro 2s the few times I’ve worn them. So I wasn’t dying to get them and I have over-ear NC headphones for the heavy lifting. My AirPods are more for light use and I like the looser fit as a break for my ears and not being so closed in. The ANC on them is better than my 2nd gen AirPods, so that’s enough for me. I’m not trying to compare them to other options that have a proper seal.

I got a new iPad Pro (and new pencil, case, and screen protector) at the same time, so any amount of savings is much appreciated. I had AirPod 2nd gen that were finally giving me battery issues so was thinking of upgrading them. I wasn’t looking for much, so when I saw the AirPod 4 with ANC, it seemed like the perfect upgrade. I also didn’t love the Pro 2s the few times I’ve worn them. So I wasn’t dying to get them and I have over-ear NC headphones for the heavy lifting. My AirPods are more for light use and I like the looser fit as a break for my ears and not being so closed in. The ANC on them is better than my 2nd gen AirPods, so that’s enough for me. I’m not trying to compare them to other options that have a proper seal.

How about meeting half-way. The Kiwi Ears Ardor are on sale @ Amazon for $75 right now. Very comfortable, great sound, and pretty good ANC. The Bluetooth link is rock solid. I can go across the house and not lose the signal. I got them to review, but they are close to unseating my AirPods as my goto set. The AirPods are just so dang convenient in the Apple ecosystem.

I have a conch and tragus and I wear AirPods

I love AirPods 4. I got a set from Best Buy that was both open box and on sale, but you can often find them on sale, if not quite that good a one. I'm talking about that ANC version. The passthrough mode is great, letting me hear everything. It sounds slightly artificial, but it's easy to forget it's there after a few minutes. ANC works shockingly well given that these earbuds don't make a seal with your ears. Apple also increased the number of ears these work with, or so they say. I find them very comfortable and can wear them for hours. I know someone who hates sealed ear tips and who didn't love previous non-sealing AirPods. She loves AirPods 4. The main down side is the relatively short battery life. With transparency or ANC on, I usually get 3.5-4 hours, only some of which is actively playing audio. Still, they're comfortable, can block or allow sounds, have a small case, and do what I need. If you have an iPhone, they're great. If you have Android, they're still usable, just not as convieniently.

100%, I've struggled with finding a balance for good music, ANC, and comfort. Air pods are the GOAT IMO. I've had probably 4 different pairs of JBLs that work great but don't last long. Either the dust gets to them or the case stops charging the buds even when clean. I'm currently using Jabra Elites that are honestly great, though I wish they stayed in my ears better when I'm in weird positions. Edit: adding that I do not care about industry standards, my job isn't OSHA involved and has no actual safety standards enforced.

Seconded! I used to run with airpods but I sweat so much that they constantly slipped out. I changed to shokz and its been amazing. I put them on and then forget about them. They don’t move!

I use airpods

What are you using them for? I’m having this same dilemma and I’m kinda coming to the conclusion that AirPods are gonna be best all around I feel. If you’re gyming, working, traveling, they are worse than alternatives that specialize in those spaces but pretty damn good at being competitive in all

I am very happy with the Shokz Open Fit. They sound good and let outside noise in. These could be described as traditional ear buds but they have a gap between the speaker and the ear. I was not happy with the Shokz bone conducting headphones. My uncovered ears heard the usual wind noise while riding. To compensate, I had to turn the bone conducting headphones all the way up and that drowned out any important sounds anyway (cars approaching, etc…). So, I went back to Apple AirPods until I got the Shokz Open Fit. Honourable mention: The Meta Ray Ban smart glasses with integrated speakers sound great if you want to get smart sunglasses. My only problem with these is the thick frames mean craning my neck higher in an aero position. They would be excellent if you ride in an upright position.

Honestly AirPods have been the best earbuds for metal I’ve tried. I’d just get new ones that have those features you want.

I recently visited the Apple Store and tested both the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2. Both impressed me with their audio quality and build, but here’s a detailed comparison based on my experience: Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): While the AirPods Pro 2 offer slightly better ANC, the difference isn’t huge. The AirPods 4’s ANC is surprisingly effective. I shook my head and jumped vigorously while wearing them, and they stayed securely in place. Key Features and Differences: AirPods 4: • Comfort: Extremely comfortable, perfect for wearing over long hours without causing discomfort. • Fit: Feels less secure due to its lightweight and comfort-oriented design. • Mic Quality: Surprisingly better than the AirPods Pro 2. AirPods Pro 2: • Fit: Offers a tight, secure, and snug fit in the ear canal, making it ideal for sports and physical activities. • ANC: Slightly superior noise cancellation compared to the AirPods 4. • Battery Life: Better battery performance. • Comfort: The snug fit can feel heavy and create pressure in the ear canal, making it uncomfortable for extended use. • Precision Finding: An exclusive feature that adds convenience when locating your AirPods. Conclusion: If you’re someone who can’t wear over-ear or in-ear headphones for more than an hour due to discomfort, go with the AirPods 4. Their lightweight and comfortable design make them an excellent choice for long listening sessions. On the other hand, if you’re involved in a lot of sports or activities where you need a secure fit, the AirPods Pro 2 are a better option. Just keep in mind they may feel tight and uncomfortable over time due to the snug fit.

it’s because people glaze apple too much. literally nothing about it is better than the other earbuds apart from the ambient sound I guess. they’re still stuck with single drivers, and only support the AAC codec.

Don’t get airpods.

I got a pair because of this sub. They’re dogshit.

I had to EQ the bass down to zero in order hear anything else. £20 KZs are way above.

Bro its so underrated here. Tried airpod either same or… tak best sangat compared to soundcore 🤣🤣

Me too I love AirPods and AirPods Pro. I think I prefer the original AirPods with some add on silicone ears….but the battery life in the pros is terrific

Gona go with AirPods Pro. They don’t fall out and o run with them. The regular AirPods actually work amazing if you add the little silicone arms to them

4s because 2s cloged effect and uncomfortable while walking, eating,…

4s because 2s cloged effect and uncomfortable while walking, eating,…

I have an iPhone, found the AirPods a lot easier to use, more comfy, less buggy, and the sound was good enough compared to the Sony. I just can’t get used to the foam tips, even when switching to aftermarket silicone ones on the Sony the ANC and sound quality changed.

I got the 4s with ANC vs the Pro 2s because of the silicone tips. I couldn’t last 2 hours with those tips, but with the 4s, I could comfortably wear them the whole time I’m at work, and I go to the gym, they won’t fall out. ANC and sound quality is better on the Pro, but the fit of the 4s is perfect for me.

I never experienced the 4s dying out on me. I use them for the whole day - with about 15-30 min break in between every 2-3 hours. The only time they're really out of my ears would be at night. Though with my use case, I have to charge every 2 days.

I have both airpods and bose headphones. ever since I bought the bose headphones I’ve barely worn the airpods. they’re quiet comfort 45. if you eq them right they sound amazing

>So do you think your usual music fan wants "better" headphones, or do we just want bass for our face? Not OP, obviously, but I suspect it's the latter for the average customer. I just recently got my third set of headphones (Anker Soundcore A40) that had customer reviews complaining about a lack of bass, and they've got _tons_ of low end and it's actually quite punchy. It just isn't massively artificially boosted, which is what I think a lot of people actually want. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just different tastes. I returned a set of second generation AirPods because I thought they sounded way too cheap for the price, and one of my big complaints was that the low end seemed overwhelmingly boosted and just made everything sound muddy. Then I see reviews complaining that the low end was rolled off too much and it just confuses me. I _wish_ the low end had been rolled off! These $50 Ankers _sound_ more expensive to my ear, partly because the bass is present and plentiful, but they're reasonably accurate overall so I can still hear individual notes in the bass and make out instrument layers that would otherwise be obscured by more bass heavy but less accurate headphones. And there are some tracks that almost give me a headache with how heavy the bass is. And that's not to say that the quality is mind blowing, they're still just $50 headphones. My Sony 7506s definitely sound better to me, even for casual listening despite them being monitoring headphones. My old Sennheiser HD 439s sounded even better when they were new (although they had the same complaints about not having enough bass... they had enough to shake my teeth though), but they're old and stretched out now so they don't clamp hard enough to sound like they used to. I've learned that when I see reviews saying there's not enough bass, it _probably_ has plenty of bass... for _me_. I think some of us prefer accuracy (which probably sounds snobbish sometimes), while some just want their face melted by bass.

He mentioned that the 3s were a decent step up from the 2s, so for anyone who has used both, how much of an improvement was there between generations? I sent a pair of 2nd Gen Airpods back to Amazon a couple months ago because I thought they sounded cheap. If they had been $40 I would've felt like I was just paying for the wireless convenience, but for the $90 I spent I felt like I got ripped off on the sound quality. I did also have the issue that Marques mentioned wherein they just wouldn't stay in my ears. The right one especially would just fall out after a couple minutes, even if I was sitting still. I'm sure that's just a "my ears" thing, and not the fault of the Airpods themselves though. Were the 3s, and now presumably the 4s such a huge step up in sound quality or did I just get a bad set or something?

In ear earbuds with rubber tips never stay in my ears; only Apple’s earbuds (original wired EarPods, AirPods 1st generation and 2nd generation so far) have ever stayed in my ears

In ear earbuds with rubber tips never stay in my ears; only Apple’s earbuds (original wired EarPods, AirPods 1st generation and 2nd generation so far) have ever stayed in my ears

AirPods Pro 2 - Great sound, ANC is the best on AirPods AirPods 4 ANC - Also great sound, no eartips but ANC still the best at its class AirPods 3 - Cheap and good sound AirPods Max - Overpriced earmuffs.

AirPods Pro 2 - Great sound, ANC is the best on AirPods AirPods 4 ANC - Also great sound, no eartips but ANC still the best at its class AirPods 3 - Cheap and good sound AirPods Max - Overpriced earmuffs.

I have the AirPods 3. And it gets the job done. Bass is there if you get a proper fit and Spatial Audio is nice but lacks audio customization. Cheaper than AirPods 4 but I’d choose 4 without ANC if you want long term earbud

I have AirPods 2, AirPods Pro and Max. AirPod pros get the most use and work really well for just about everything. Super quiet and comfortable.

I don’t think anything could dethrone the AirPods as my go-to for day to day usage. ANC and transparency are just so good, and like you say the ecosystem integration is just impossible to replicate. Helps that they sound pretty good as well, haha.

I got mine and I was kinda shocked how good it works

I took them on the subway last night and it was good enough. Usually with my AP3 I need to do like 85-90% volume to get them to be usable but I was able to use the AP4ANC at like 45%

Owned APP1 and currently own APM, APM>APP>AP4ANC in that order obviously but I’d say it’s about 60-80% as good depending on the type of noise. I like the APM the most but theyre the bulkiest and hate the APP since I hate the in ear silicon.

I took them on the subway last night and it was good enough. Usually with my AP3 I need to do like 85-90% volume to get them to be usable but I was able to use the AP4ANC at like 45%

I've found exactly the same harshness - like you I need the XL ear tips but I still find that I need to adjust them in my ears every few minutes. I also have AirPods 4 which fit well and sound great - in fact, quite surprisingly, the AirPods 4 sound very close to the sound of my Sony WH-1000XM5's! (I used to sell high-end audio equipment and come from a technical background.) If listening to hip-hop, edm, workout playlists, etc the Powerbeats sound quite good, but, for example, higher voices, guitar or horns sound overwhelming and harsh, so much so that I am thinking of returning the Powerbeats. Listening to Sam Fender Hypersonic Missiles or something older like Earth Wind & Fire's September and the sound is harsh and fatiguing. It seems to be the 5Khz-6Khz region that is the root of the problem. I use Apple Music on Hi-Res-Lossless. Perhaps a solution for me could be to also subscribe to Spotify and set Spotify's EQ to compensate for the harshness.

AirPods but there are better options when it comes to sound and noise cancellation but nothing really compares to the seamlessness functionality of AirPods on a iPhone

I have pro 2s and the right one is crackling and when I put it in the case it acts as if it’s still in my ears. So when I charge them I come back to a nice surprise every morning to 1 dead ear bud. It’s been 1 year and it’s the worst $250 I’ve ever spent. I’d say go with another brand I’m done with Apple. The og AirPods stopped syncing after 1 year but I learned my lesson. AirPods aren’t built to last.

I use my AirPods with a transceiver.

None at all with this that I’ve noticed. I’ve used others in the past for other applications and had serious lag issues.

I loved my Sony link buds s I’d say they were on par with the air pro’s but the quality mine kept breaking maybe that was Apple fucking around or something but I’ve had my AirPods for 2 years and I love them also Apple customer service doesn’t suck balls. I can find them when I put them down, and idk that’s about it it does suck that they don’t exactly have an equalizer but other wise the best earbuds I’ve had. Its Lexus vs Mercedes

if you're ok with silicone ear tip poking into your ear then pro will be better. else ap4 will be for you. the anc will also work slightly better on the pro because it prevent further noise leaking into your ear too

Second this- I haven’t found anything else that fits comfortably and stays in as well as these.

Pro 2s are better in sound quality and noice cancellation than the 4s, but tbf some people hate silicone tips and I get it, I hate them on every other earbuds but apple somehow make them comfortable

My first gen AirPods are still kicking too and I dropped my right bud into hot engine oil once. They sounds absolutely horrible and battery life sucks now, but the fact they’re still going is crazy. After that I got Beats Fit Pro which I definitely recommend then Sony XM4 which have amazing ANC and now Momentum MTW4 which are my favorites because of the crisp sound.

I have the AirPods 4 non-ANC, and I can say it’s really worth getting considering the price. It’s basically the best base AirPods out there right now. The fit is really great and the sound quality is amazing. If you don’t mind not having wireless charge and noise controls, this would be fine! People here keep comparing it to the Pros and the 4 ANC as those two are meant to be compared to each other, while the 4 non-ANC shouldn’t as it’s just the base AirPods. It’s dumb to compare a base AirPods to the Pro series or the 4 ANC version that’s literally almost the same price as the Pros. Overall, if compared from the 1st to the 4th gen, the AirPods 4 non-ANC is the best one to get.

Put it like this AirPods 4: might fit better and more comfortable AirPods Pro 2. Less comfortable, but more features-better sound, anc, transparency, MagSafe, find my, longer battery, swipe controls. Also $70 more expensive.

I have a pro 2, and I like it. I also have a regular 2, and I like that too sometimes. I didn’t really like my pro 2’s at first before I EQ’d it, but after I did that by adding a custom audiogram, I followed a redditors EQ graph and now I’ve fallen in love with them again.