Applehas resign six different genesis ofAirPodsacross three distinct card , making it clear that the company is serious aboutits presence in the consumer sound space . AirPods have been around since late 2016 , and in the years since then , Apple has made some little ( and drastic ) upgrades to crusade the ware product line forrad . They may not have the very good audio quality and battery life compared to other earbuds , but that ’s outweighed byhow well AirPods workplace within the Apple ecosystem . Between well-situated union , seamless gimmick switching , and reliable connectivity , the experience of using AirPods with other Apple gadgets has yet to be matched .

TheAirPodsstory begin in September 2016 when Apple set up the first - generation AirPods . The first - gen AirPods stuck around for quite a while , but then in March 2019 , they were supercede by AirPods 2 . AirPods 2 persist as the go - to AirPods alternative for a couple of years — though they were eventually succeeded by AirPods 3 in October 2021 . Alongside its standard AirPods , Apple also launched AirPods Pro in October 2019,AirPods Pro 2 in September 2022 , and AirPods Max in December 2020 .

Related : How Fast Do AirPods Charge & How Long Does A Full Charge Take ?

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Key Differences Between AirPods Generations

In the subject of AirPods 1 vs. AirPods 2 , Apple offer small improvement to speaker and microphone character , slightly long electric battery life , faster equipment switching , and avoice - activation feature for accessing Siri . AirPods 3 is where things generate really exciting . The third generation introduced an all - new design with myopic stems and a all-embracing case — not unlike AirPods Pro . Compared to AirPods 2 , AirPods 3 also add together spacial audio with dynamic promontory tracking , travail / water resistance , long battery life , and a MagSafe - compatible file grammatical case .

The novel AirPods Pro 2 offer a core experience that is similar to AirPods 3 , but they are unspoilt in multiple ways . They feature personalized spatial audio , have alive noise canceling , and do with customizable ear tips . It ’s a pretty great overall bundle , though the $ 249 asking price may be a deterrent to some shoppers . AirPods 3 are more affordable at $ 179 , or folks can still buy AirPods 2 for $ 129 .

And , last but not least , there are AirPods Max . AirPods Max are technically in the same category as AirPods and AirPods Pro , but it ’s a totally unlike product outside of the name . Where AirPods and AirPods Pro are earbuds , AirPods Max takes the form of over - auricle earpiece . They have excellent phone , workmanship , and features , but the exorbitantly eminent cost of $ 549 is reverberate to keep most shopper with either AirPods or AirPods Pro .

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Which AirPods Type Is Best For You?

In sum , Apple has launch six AirPods so far . There are three genesis in the standard AirPods batting order , two in the AirPods Pro chain of mountains , and the AirPods Max . While it ’s been two years since the AirPods Max were announced , it looks like fans of the over - ear headphones will need towait a bit longer for a successor . When it come to choosing the best AirPods , the options are currently set to the AirPods 2 , AirPods 3 , AirPods Pro 2 , and AirPods Max .

The AirPods 2 are ideal for those who desire Apple ’s earbuds without spend too much , but buyers would be well off cull up the AirPods 3 owe to their better features and improved battery living . The AirPods Pro 2 however are the best AirPods for most users . Apple ’s late earbuds feature the new H2 flake that fetch better spatial sound and better battery life . They are also equipped witha new touching sensor for controlling volume . Even the charging case has been promote with Find My functionality , a speaker for emitting a sound , and a lanyard loop . Apple has also include superfluous - small ear crown for the AirPods Pro 2 , making them accessible to even more users .

How To Tell What Generation Of AirPods You Have

Those who take in their AirPods as a gift or perhaps purchase them secondhand may not be sure what generation of the earbuds they own , but there are a few gentle slipway to confirm . Each version ofApple ’s AirPodsis tag by a model number , and these model number correspond to the generation : A2931 , A2699 , or A2698 for AirPods Pro 2nd generation ; A2565 or A2564 for AirPods 3rd generation ; A2084 or A2083 for AirPods Pro first generation ; A2032 or A2031 for AirPods second genesis ; and A1523 or A1722 for AirPods first multiplication . There ’s so far only one generation of the AirPods Max , but for those just singular , the manakin number is A2096 .

To find the model numbers for a exceptional set of earbuds , AirPodsowners can check in their phone ’s preferences or on the earbuds themselves . On a smartphone , hit ‘ preferences > Bluetooth’or‘preferences>[your AirPods ] ’ and tap the ‘ More Info ’ button . The model number will be displayed with the earbuds ’ details . On an AirPod itself , users will find the model figure printed on the underside of each earbud in lilliputian text edition . For the AirPods Max , that info is under the shock absorber on the unexpended earpiece .

Source : Apple1,2

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Product renders of AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max

AirPods 3

AirPods Pro 2 in the case on a black background

Apple Airpods Settings