Best AirPods for 2026: Expert Tested and Reviewed

With all of our wireless headphones and earphones, we test Apple AirPods based on six key criteria: design, sound quality, noise canceling performance, voice call performance, features And value.

Design

We evaluate not only the comfort of fit of the AirPods (their ergonomics), but also their manufacturing quality and the quality of the implementation of the controls. With earbuds and wireless earbuds, we’ll note whether they’re water-resistant, but only a few full-size earbuds have water and dust resistance ratings, which is especially important for workout earbuds that you can take to the gym or on a run.

Sound quality

We rate sound quality by listening to a set playlist of music tracks and comparing the headphones to the best competitors in their price range. Sound characteristics such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range and naturalness of the headphone sound are key factors in our evaluation.

Noise-cancelling performance

If the AirPods we’re testing have active noise cancellation, we evaluate ANC performance by wearing the earbuds in the same location indoors, near a noisy HVAC unit, to see how well they do at drowning out low frequencies. Next, we head to the city streets to test the headphones in a real environment where we see how they manage to drown out not only street noise but also people’s voices. Those who are able to reduce ambient noise as much as possible are rated and highly rated on this list.

Additional Features

Some great-sounding AirPods don’t come with features, but we take into account additional features built-in. These include everything from awareness to quick access via double-tap to transparency modes (your music pauses and the earbuds open to the outside world so you can have a conversation) to special sound modes and ear detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you remove the earbuds from your ears. The newest models even incorporate hearing health measures with hearing tests and a new hearing aid mode. We also look at the companion app for AirPods, if any, its usability, and its wireless charging capabilities.

Voice call

When we test voice call performance, we make phone calls on noisy city streets and evaluate how well AirPods reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear our voices. Call quality is a key metric in today’s work-from-home world, so we’re sure to evaluate this feature in several areas.

Value

We determine value after looking at how well AirPods stack up against all of these criteria and what they are capable of offering compared to other models in their price class. Some models require additional purchases, like a wireless charging case, to get the most out of their features. We therefore also take these needs into account.