Apple AirPods Pro 2

Unbeatable iPhone earbuds with world-class noise cancelling and middling sound. Get 'em on sale, skip 'em for music.

The AirPods Pro 2 are Apple's most complete earbuds yet. If you're in the Apple ecosystem, stop reading and just buy them. The pairing is instant, the ANC is nearly best-in-class, and the new USB-C case finally brings some sanity. That said, audiophiles should steer clear. Sound quality sits at the back of the pack compared to the best true wireless buds, and the build feels a little too plastic for this price. But for calls, comfort, and seamless iPhone integration, they're the no-brainer choice.

What surprised us most is how dominant the adaptive transparency and ANC are. In our database, the ANC ranks 97th percentile, putting it neck and neck with Sony and Bose's best. It silences subway rumble and office chatter with almost eerie precision. The H2 chip makes touch controls snappy and the switch between modes feels telepathic. Microphone quality is solid for calls, though not the absolute top. The real letdown is sound: it's warm and inoffensive, but compared to the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 or Technics AZ80, the AirPods sound small and lack detail. 28th percentile is generous—music just doesn't sparkle here.

You won't find a single price from Apple, but store listings swing wildly from $82 to $286. If you can grab them near the low end, it's a steal. At full retail, you're paying a heavy Apple tax for that seamless integration. Hunt for a deal, especially from third-party sellers like Best Buy, to make the value math work.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra are the serious rivals. Sony beats the AirPods on sound fidelity and battery life, Bose matches the ANC but adds better sound. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 is the audiophile pick, leaving Apple in the dust on music but lacking the AirPods' mic and transparency magic. For Android users, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro offer a similar ecosystem lock-in with better sound. But none of them can touch the AirPods' instant pairing and Find My integration with iPhones.

Android users, fitness junkies, and anyone who cares deeply about sound quality. These aren't gym buds, they aren't a Sony or Sennheiser replacement, and they're wasted without an iPhone. Get the Sony WF-1000XM5 for better music or the Beats Fit Pro for a workout-friendly Apple alternative.

For iPhone owners, these are the default best buds. The ANC alone justifies the upgrade from older AirPods, and the new case fixes a real headache. Just don't buy them expecting studio sound—these are for podcasts, calls, and cancelling the world, not critical listening. If you want both, grab the Sonys.