Which AirPods to buy
Which AirPods should I buy in the UK? Every model compared: AirPods Pro 3 £200.00, AirPods 5 £119.00, AirPods 4 £99.00 and Max 2 £499.00, and who each suits.
On this page
Which AirPods should I buy?
The AirPods Pro 3 are the AirPods to buy for most iPhone owners, at £200.00 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026). Buyers on a budget should take the AirPods 5 at £119.00, which add noise cancelling as standard.
Two earlier questions are covered in AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods Pro 2.
| Situation | Why | Pick | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commuting, flights, gym | Sealed fit, 8 h of noise cancelling | AirPods Pro 3 | £200.00 |
| Noise cancelling on a budget | Standard noise cancelling, IP57 | AirPods 5 | £119.00 |
| Wireless charging case | Qi and Apple Watch charger | AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation | £120.43 |
| Calls and podcasts, lowest price | No noise cancelling | AirPods 4 | £99.00 |
| Over-ear, Apple ecosystem | 20 h with noise cancelling | AirPods Max 2 | £499.00 |
How do the AirPods models compare on audio and features?
Every current model uses Apple's H2 chip, so the differences sit in seal, noise cancelling and battery. SoundGuys scored the AirPods Pro 3 noise cancelling 9.0 out of 10, against 5.3 for the AirPods 4 with ANC, and gave them MDAQS sound scores of 3.8 and 3.6.
| Model | Price | Chip | ANC | Per charge (ANC on) | With case | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirPods Pro 3 | £200.00 | H2 | Yes | 8 h | 24 h | IP57 |
| AirPods 5 | £119.00 | H2 | Yes | 4 h (6 h off) | 20 h | IP57 |
| AirPods 4 with ANC | £120.43 | H2 | Yes | 4 h (5 h off) | 20 h | IP54 |
| AirPods 4 | £99.00 | H2 | No | 5 h | 30 h | IP54 |
| AirPods Max 2 | £499.00 | H2 | Yes | 20 h | n/a | Not listed |
Apple says the AirPods 5 deliver up to 1.5 times the noise cancelling of the AirPods 4 with ANC.
How much does each AirPods step up cost?
The £20.00 step from the AirPods 4 to the AirPods 5 is the cheapest upgrade in the range. Compare Electronic divided each Amazon UK price by Apple's rated hours with noise cancelling on.
- AirPods Pro 3: £200.00 over 8 hours is £25.00 per rated hour.
- AirPods Max 2: £499.00 over 20 hours is £24.95 per rated hour.
- AirPods 5: £119.00 over 4 hours is £29.75 per rated hour.
- AirPods 4 with ANC: £120.43 over 4 hours is £30.11 per rated hour.
| Step up | Extra cost | What it buys |
|---|---|---|
| AirPods 4 to AirPods 5 | £20.00 | Noise cancelling as standard, IP54 to IP57 |
| AirPods 4 to AirPods 4 with ANC | £21.43 | Noise cancelling, Qi charging case |
| AirPods 5 to AirPods Pro 3 | £81.00 | Sealed tips, 4 h to 8 h per charge, heart rate, hearing aid |
| AirPods Pro 3 to AirPods Max 2 | £299.00 | Over-ear fit, 20 h per charge, 386.2 g |
The AirPods 5 with the Wireless Charging Case cost £139.00 on Amazon UK, £20.00 more than the standard AirPods 5. The original AirPods Max with the H1 chip cost £424.00.
How do the AirPods generations differ in design and comfort?
The AirPods Pro 3 seal the ear and the AirPods 4 do not. Apple lists the AirPods 4 at 4.3 g per earbud with an open design and no tips, and the AirPods Pro 3 at 5.55 g with foam-infused silicone tips in five sizes, XXS to L.
- Comfort: buyers who dislike tips choose the AirPods 4. The AirPods Pro 3 give the better seal.
- Durability: IP57 on the AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 5 against IP54 on the AirPods 4.
- Longevity: battery wear is covered in how long AirPods last.
Beats vs Apple: which audio products suit which buyer?
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are the Apple-chip alternative for workouts, at £179.00 on Amazon UK, £21.00 below the AirPods Pro 3. Beats says they use the H2 chip and rate up to 45 hours with the case.
| Spec | AirPods Pro 3 | Powerbeats Pro 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon UK price | £200.00 | £179.00 |
| Fit | In-ear, five sealed tips | Ear hook |
| Weight per earbud | 5.55 g | 8.7 g |
| Chip | H2 | H2 |
| Battery per charge, ANC on | 8 h | 8 h |
| Battery with case | 24 h | 45 h |
| Water and dust rating | IP57 | IPX4 |
| Heart-rate sensing | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Not listed | Beats app for Android |
Android owners should read are AirPods worth it with Android before buying either.
Which AirPods are worth buying?
The AirPods Pro 3 are the best AirPods at £200.00 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026), with IP57 and 8 hours per charge.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 specifications
- Noise cancelling: active, with Transparency and Adaptive Audio
- Chip: Apple H2, Bluetooth 5.3
- Battery: up to 8 hours with ANC, 24 hours with case
- Weight: 5.55 g per earbud
- Water and dust resistance: IP57
- Ear tips: five sizes, XXS to L
- Health: heart-rate sensing and hearing aid feature
AirPods Pro 3 - pros and cons
Where to buy
Check price
Three cheaper AirPods, at Amazon UK prices in October 2026.
Also consider
Radar · 0-100 scores
- AirPods Pro 3
- AirPods 5
- AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
- AirPods 4
Verdict
iPhone owners should buy the AirPods Pro 3 at £200.00 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026) if noise cancelling matters, and the AirPods 5 at £119.00 if it matters less. The AirPods 4 at £99.00 suit calls and podcasts only. The head-to-head is in AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 3 and rivals are ranked in best wireless earbuds UK 2026. Over-ear buyers can compare Sony, Bose and Beats in Sony vs Bose vs Beats headphones.
Frequently asked questions
Which AirPods should I buy?
Most iPhone owners should buy the AirPods Pro 3, £200.00 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026). They rate 8 hours of noise cancelling per charge, carry IP57 and seal the ear with five tip sizes. Buyers who find tips uncomfortable can buy the AirPods 5 at £119.00 or the AirPods 4 at £99.00.
How much are the AirPods Pro 3 in the UK?
The AirPods Pro 3 cost £200.00 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026). That is £81.00 more than the AirPods 5 at £119.00 and £101.00 more than the AirPods 4 at £99.00. Apple rates the AirPods Pro 3 at 8 hours per charge with noise cancelling on and 24 hours with the case.
What is the difference between AirPods 4, AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3?
The AirPods 4 have no noise cancelling unless buyers pay for the ANC version. The AirPods 5 add noise cancelling as standard, which Apple says is up to 1.5 times the cancelling of the AirPods 4 with ANC, and IP57. The AirPods Pro 3 add sealing ear tips, 8 hours per charge, heart-rate sensing and hearing aid features.
Are the AirPods Max 2 worth £499.00?
Only for buyers who want over-ear headphones in the Apple ecosystem. The AirPods Max 2 cost £499.00 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026), weigh 386.2 g and rate 20 hours with noise cancelling, according to Apple. The Sony WH-1000XM6 costs £349.00 and rates 30 hours.
Beats vs Apple: are the Powerbeats Pro 2 better than the AirPods Pro 3?
For workouts, yes. The Powerbeats Pro 2 cost £179.00 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026), £21.00 less than the AirPods Pro 3, and use ear hooks with a case that Beats rates at up to 45 hours. The AirPods Pro 3 are lighter at 5.55 g and carry IP57 against IPX4.
Do AirPods work with Android phones?
Yes, as standard Bluetooth earbuds, but most Apple features need an iPhone. The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 use Apple's H2 chip, and Beats lists a Beats app for Android with one-touch pairing and heart-rate monitoring, so mixed households may prefer them. They cost £179.00 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026).