There's only one clear winner in Apple's new AirPods lineup

Apple’s AirPods lineup has been confusing for a while now. At one point, the tech giant was selling three different versions of the wireless earbuds with AirPod in the name, not even counting the over-ear AirPods Max.

With the launch of the new AirPods 4, it appears that Apple will no longer be selling the older 2nd or 3rd-generation AirPods directly as it has in the past. This simplifies the company’s wireless earbuds lineup in some ways.

Four pairs included in Apple's 2024 AirPods lineup on a white background, including the AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Pro Max — Apple’s new AirPods lineup now includes two different versions of the AirPods 4, the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods Max.

Now, as of September 2024, if you want to buy a pair of Apple-branded wireless earbuds directly from Apple’s online store, the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 are your only two options.

But there’s a new addition to the lineup that confuses the issue even more. The AirPods 4 lineup now consists of two separate models instead of just one.

The entry-level AirPods 4 cost $129. For $50 more, users can purchase a version of the AirPods 4 that comes with active noise cancellation.

But for those who aren’t extremely budget-constrained, there’s really no need to debate these different choices.

The premium version of the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation is arguably the only pair of AirPods worth upgrading to right now, at least for those planning on paying the full price.

All AirPods 4 models offer several practical benefits

Illustrated X-ray view of the AirPods 4 stem showing the integration of the H2 chip. — The new AirPods 4 include Apple’s most advanced audio chip, which even the high-end AirPods Max don’t have.

All versions of the AirPods 4 feature several improvements over previous models that anyone interested in wireless earbuds can appreciate.