My recommended headphones
Need headphones to keep Zooming or to keep groovin'? Here are my top picks. I almost always recommend Apple's headphones because their advanced pairing abilities make it easy to move from one Apple device to another—no tedious pairing rituals required! If you are an audiophile you might prefer the sound quality of other headphones, but if you are looking for the best balance of sound quality and flexibility with several Apple devices, these are where it's at.
While these are designed to work with Apple devices best, they will also work with other Bluetooth devices.
What about AirPods Max? The over-the-ear design is certainly a statement, but apart from getting USB-C they haven't had any technology updates in several years. The AirPods Pro surpass them in just about every way. If you find a great deal or just prefer them as a fashion statement go for it. You'll enjoy them. But I think the AirPods Pro 2 are a better product at a fraction of the price.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). This feature uses the microphone to create an inverse sound to what's in your surroundings, canceling out all kinds of background noise. Great for flying or focusing in noisy spaces.
Adaptive Audio. This is a light-handed ANC that blocks background noise but allows important sounds like sirens, people talking to you, and engine noises through. Great for going on walks.
Transparency Mode. This allows all sounds around you to come through clearly so that you can listen to music and not miss a thing.
Conversation Awareness. This automatically reduces the volume of whatever you are listening to you when you speak or are spoken to.
Spatial Audio. When listening to music or watching a movie, this simulates surround sound. When you turn your head you'll even hear the "speakers" stay in place.
OTC Hearing Aid. If you have mild hearing loss, this mode can be enabled to operate as an over-the-counter hearing aid to better hear things around you. These are not as good as a real hearing aid and the batteries only last a few hours, so if you have severe hearing loss you should visit an audiologist.
Hearing Protection. When in Transparency or Adaptive modes, Hearing Protection will reduce the sound of loud noises around you, with a goal of never reaching a level that can damage your hearing. Think of it as earplugs without the muffled sound. This is great for clubs and concerts.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Price | $249 | $179 | $129 | $19 |
| Purchase Links | Amazon / Best Buy / Apple | Amazon / Best Buy / Apple | Amazon / Best Buy / Apple | Amazon / Best Buy / Apple |
| Description | Wireless earbuds with silicone tips to better isolate sound. These are the most flexible and full-featured option. | Great if you want something basic but would still like noise cancellation sometimes. | Great for someone who wants basic wireless headphones with no frills. | If much of your day is spent on Zoom calls these are the headphones for you. No recharging, no audio latency. |
| Active Noise Cancellation | ✅ (Significantly better than AirPods 4) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Adaptive Audio | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Transparency Mode | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Conversation Awareness | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Spatial Audio | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Apple Intelligence Live Translation | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| OTC Hearing Aid | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Hearing Protection | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Charging Methods | USB-C, Qi-certified chargers, MagSafe, Apple Watch charger | USB-C, Qi-certified chargers, Apple Watch charger | USB-C | No charging; wired (3.5mm or USB-C) |