Key Takeaways
- AirPods 4th Gen provide fundamental and ANC variations with improved options over older fashions.
- AirPods Professional 2nd Gen have enhancements like Apple H2 chip and extra eartip sizes.
- No new AirPods Max technology; solely colour updates with unchanged options at a excessive worth.
As Apple is raring to level out, not all AirPods are created equal. Whereas all the Bluetooth headphones are wi-fi, there are a number of generations of fundamental AirPods, and even a number of generations of the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max (type of). There will be substantial function variations, to the purpose that even at a cut price, you won’t take into account earlier generations price it.
So what is the newest technology of AirPods in every class? We’ll make clear that scenario, in addition to what separates the brand new tech from the previous.
What is the latest technology of fundamental AirPods?
Just a little extra sophisticated than common
Apple
That may be the AirPods 4, however there are literally two variations of it. Each of them share these upgrades over the third-gen AirPods:
- Improved ear match
- Apple H2 chip
- Personalised Spatial Audio
- Drive sensor stem controls
- IP54 mud and water resistance (up from IPX4)
- Head gestures for answering or rejecting voice calls
- USB-C charging case
Apple is hoping many individuals will step as much as the AirPods 4 with Lively Noise Cancelation. That function permits Adaptive Audio, Dialog Consciousness, and Transparency modes, usually reserved for the AirPods Professional.
You additionally get a greater charging case, geared up with a speaker for Find My monitoring, and wi-fi charging when you’ve got a appropriate Qi or Apple Watch charger. It will not lock into place with a MagSafe iPhone charger.
What is the latest technology of AirPods Professional?
Be very cautious once you’re purchasing

Apple AirPods Professional (2nd Gen)
- Battery Life
- 6 hours
- Case battery
- 30 hours
- Charging Port
- USB-C
- Noise Cancellation
- Sure
You will need the second-generation AirPods Professional. On the floor, it is similar to the first-gen, however there are some necessary variations:
- Apple H2 chip for higher noise cancelation, longer battery life, Adaptive Audio, and Dialog Consciousness
- Case with speaker and Apple U1 chip for location monitoring in Discover My
- Extra eartip sizes
- Swiping gestures on the stem
We should always notice that by the top of 2024, Apple may also be updating the firmware on the second-gen Professional to help its new Listening to Support and Listening to Safety options. You will want a tool operating iOS 18, iPadOS 18, or macOS Sequoia.
Pay shut consideration if you are going to order a pair, as a result of there are each USB-C and Lightning variations of the charging case. You will need the previous, particularly if you wish to make the most of low-latency audio on the Vision Pro.
What is the latest technology of AirPods Max?
There can solely be one, apparently

AirPods Max
- Battery Life
- 20 hours
- Noise Cancellation
- Sure
- Waterproof
- No
- Chip
- H1
In Apple-speak, there’s truly no new technology of AirPods Max — we’re nonetheless on the primary. The one issues new within the fall 2024 refresh are a number of new colours — Midnight, Blue, Purple, Orange, and Starlight — plus a USB-C port taking the place of Lightning. That is welcome, on condition that just about each different Apple product has made the change, however the firm is charging $549 for a product that is in any other case gone unchanged since 2020. It nonetheless makes use of an H1 chip, not the H2, so you do not get extra superior ANC applied sciences like Adaptive Audio or Dialog Consciousness. It additionally will not get Listening to Support or Listening to Safety options.
The headphones nonetheless sound glorious — simply do not buy them at full worth. Search for reductions on websites like Amazon and Finest Purchase, together with refurbished items once they’re accessible.
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