AirPods Lineup Explained: Which Apple Headphones Are Best For You?

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Years after Apple ditched the headphone jack on iPhones and pitched AirPods as the solution, the in-ear headphones are some of the most popular in the world, but there are four different models to choose from. On top of the different models that are available, there are also different revisions and charging cases that can be sold with each pair of AirPods. This can be pretty tough to decipher when ordering a pair of AirPods, since some of this information is listed in smaller print on the sides or back of the box. Regardless, it's easy to make the right choice when buying a pair of AirPods — when it's clear what to look for.

AirPods are a particularly solid purchase for people heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, because the headphones are designed to work well with the company's products. Features like Spatial Audio, Automatic Switching, and Quick Start are examples of the software integration that sets the AirPods apart from other truly wireless headphones. This software integration becomes stronger with iOS 16, as there's a new AirPods settings menu front-and-center in the Settings app. With the redesigned menu, customizing the Apple earbuds and over-ears to the user's preferences is even easier. Only so much can be customized through software, though, so purchasing the right model is important.

Related: Can AirPods Overheat? Using Apple's Earbuds In High Temperatures

Apple still sells the second generation AirPods on its website alongside the three newest models: the third-generation AirPods, the AirPods Pro, and the AirPods Max. The second-generation AirPods are the trickiest to buy — outside of the Apple store — because they look identical to the first generation AirPods. The change to the second-generation