How to choose the right Apple earphones during the Double 11 shopping festival? A comprehensive comparison of AirPods Max 2, Pro 3 and AirPods 5
Every year during the Double 11 shopping festival, AirPods are always one of the most noteworthy categories among Apple's products. Unlike iPhone and MacBook, Bluetooth earphones are not products that rely heavily on performance iteration. For most consumers, as long as the battery does not show obvious degradation and the wearing experience remains comfortable, AirPods released three or four years ago can still fully meet daily usage needs.
But this year, the situation is a little "slightly" different.
In 2026, Apple successively launched the AirPods Max 2 and AirPods 5. Together with the AirPods Pro 3 released last year, Apple's three main headphone product lines have all completed a round of updates.
Image source: Unobjective Lab
Among them, AirPods Max 2 is finally equipped with the H2 chip, filling in many smart audio features that were missing before; AirPods Pro 3 further optimizes noise cancellation, wearing comfort and sports health experience, making it an excellent "all-in-one" model; while AirPods 5, released this September, brings active noise cancellation as a standard feature across the entire product line, and its noise cancellation capability is 1.5 times higher than that of the previous generation.
However, this round of upgrades also brings up an interesting question: When an AirPods 5 priced at around 1000 yuan already delivers active noise cancellation, adaptive audio and spatial audio experiences, is it still necessary to pay nearly twice the price to buy AirPods Pro 3, or even four times the price to choose AirPods Max 2?
I. From 999 Yuan to 3999 Yuan, Apple has clearly differentiated the positioning of the three headphone models
Please note that all the prices above are the current listed prices on Apple China's official website, not the actual transaction prices during the Double 11 promotion.
In terms of pricing, Apple's product positioning is very clear: AirPods 5 is designed to meet the widest range of daily needs, AirPods Pro 3 further enhances noise cancellation, sound quality, battery life and sports experience, while AirPods Max 2 aims to deliver a different listening experience through its over-ear design, larger acoustic space and premium materials.
Image source: Unobjective Lab
However, a higher price does not mean the product is suitable for everyone.
Especially after Apple has gradually popularized features such as the H2 chip, adaptive audio and active noise cancellation across different products, the key factor deciding which AirPods to buy increasingly depends on the wearing style and usage scenarios.
II. The most noteworthy Apple headphone this year is AirPods 5
If I had to pick the most cost-effective product in this year's AirPods product line, I would cast my vote for AirPods 5.
The reason is not that it has the best sound quality or the strongest noise cancellation capability, but that Apple has finally solved a rather awkward problem in the past AirPods product line: consumers no longer need to pay extra for "active noise cancellation". In today's market where 199-yuan Bluetooth earphones from competing brands already offer noise cancellation functions, this is a "not trivial upgrade".
Image source: Unobjective Lab
The AirPods 4 released in 2024 is divided into a standard version and an active noise cancellation version, with obvious differences not only in price but also in functional experience.
For AirPods 5, Apple retains the dual-version strategy, but both products support active noise cancellation. This means that even if you choose the entry-level version priced at 999 yuan, consumers can still experience features such as active noise cancellation, transparency mode, adaptive audio and conversation awareness.
The version with wireless charging case, priced at 1149 yuan, further adds features like volume adjustment by swiping the earphone stem, longer battery life, and a charging case that supports wireless charging and sound finding.
How big is the upgrade compared to AirPods 4?
AirPods 5 is still equipped with the H2 chip, but Apple has redesigned the acoustic architecture and introduced a new generation of adaptive equalization technology. According to official data from Apple, the active noise cancellation effect of AirPods 5 is up to 1.5 times higher than that of the active noise cancellation version of AirPods 4.
The biggest difference between open-ear earphones and in-ear earphones is that open-ear models do not have silicone ear tips to help isolate external noise, so they need to rely more on microphones, algorithms and acoustic design to offset ambient noise. This also determines that there are natural limitations to the active noise cancellation performance of open-ear earphones.
Image source: Unobjective Lab
For example, active noise cancellation can usually bring certain improvements to the sound of air conditioners running continuously in the office, low-frequency ambient noise, or part of the background noise in subway carriages. However, for sudden human voices, sharp noises, or noisy street environments, open-ear earphones can hardly achieve the same isolation effect as in-ear earphones.
Therefore, the significance of AirPods 5's upgrade is not to replace AirPods Pro, but to allow consumers who do not like silicone ear tips to also have a better noise cancellation experience. In addition, AirPods 5 also brings IP57 level dustproof, sweat-resistant and water-resistant capabilities, as well as studio-level audio recording and other features.
Image source: Unobjective Lab
In addition, the battery life of the two versions of AirPods 5 is not exactly the same. When active noise cancellation is enabled, the standard version can be used for up to 4 hours on a single charge, and up to 6 hours when noise control is turned off. The wireless charging case version increases these numbers to 5 hours and 7 hours respectively. With the charging case, the total battery life of the two versions can reach 20 hours and 22 hours respectively when active noise cancellation is enabled.
Do AirPods 4 users need to upgrade?
For users who already own the active noise cancellation version of AirPods 4, I do not think AirPods 5 is a must-upgrade product. Although the noise cancellation capability has been improved, the basic positioning of the two generations of products has not changed.
If the battery status of your current earphones is good, the wearing experience is comfortable, and there are no obvious problems in daily use, you can continue to use them completely.
However, if you are using the standard version of AirPods 4, AirPods 5 makes active noise cancellation a standard feature, which means consumers no longer need to choose between open-ear wearing and noise cancellation functions, so there is still a certain need for "upgrading".
Purchase suggestions:
If you are buying AirPods for the first time, or upgrading from AirPods 2 or AirPods 3, AirPods 5 is worth prioritizing. If your budget allows, I would prefer to recommend the 1149-yuan version with wireless charging case.
The official price difference between the two products is only 150 yuan, and what you get in return is not only wireless charging, but also longer battery life and volume adjustment via the earphone stem. For a pair of earphones that you may use for three or four years, these conveniences are more important than you imagine.
III. AirPods Pro 3: Not the latest model, but the most suitable choice for most people
If AirPods 5 solves the "entry-level" experience, then AirPods Pro 3 solves another thing: how to make a pair of wireless earphones adapt to as many scenarios as possible in the user's daily life.
AirPods Pro 3 was released in September 2025. Although more than a year has passed since its launch, it is still a very comprehensive pair of earphones in Apple's current product line. Especially compared with AirPods Pro 2, the upgrades of this generation are not limited to a single feature, but involve multiple aspects such as noise cancellation, acoustic structure, wearing design, sports health and battery life.
Image source: Unobjective Lab
Active noise cancellation is the most noteworthy upgrade of AirPods Pro 3
According to the data officially announced by Apple, the active noise cancellation effect of AirPods Pro 3 is up to 2 times higher than that of AirPods Pro 2, and up to 4 times higher than that of the first-generation AirPods Pro. For users like me who often take planes, high-speed trains or subways, noise cancellation capability is the core reason why I buy AirPods Pro.
AirPods Pro 3 uses a new porous acoustic architecture, and enhances passive sound insulation through a new ear tip design. Compared with the open-ear AirPods 5, its advantages come not only from the active noise cancellation algorithm, but also from the physical sound insulation formed by the silicone ear tips. This means that in environments with continuous low-frequency noise such as subways and planes, AirPods Pro 3 can more easily deliver a quiet and stable listening experience.
In scenarios such as cafes and offices, users can also achieve a balance between noise cancellation and environmental awareness through adaptive audio.
Wearing design, an upgrade that is easy to be "ignored"
Apple has redesigned the internal structure of AirPods Pro 3, and adjusted the connection between the ear tips and the main body of the earphones. The new ear tips are available in five sizes, including the newly added XXS size.
Image source: Unobjective Lab
However, wearing comfort has strong individual differences. The new design does not mean that everyone will find AirPods Pro 3 more comfortable than the previous generation. Especially when wearing for a long time, the shape of the ear canal, the size of the ear tips and the individual's acceptance of the closed feeling will directly affect the final experience.
Therefore, for users who do not like in-ear earphones, even if AirPods Pro 3 has stronger noise cancellation capability, I will not recommend you to forcefully choose it just for the parameters.
Evolution from earphones to sports health devices
AirPods Pro 3 also has a very special change: a heart rate sensor is added. It uses a customized photoplethysmography sensor, which can monitor heart rate during exercise and track sports data in combination with the iPhone Fitness app.
Image source: Unobjective Lab
Apple says this feature can be used to track 50 types of workouts. For consumers who do not have an Apple Watch but want to record sports data such as running and fitness, the value of AirPods Pro 3 has been further expanded. At the same time, its protection level has been upgraded to IP57, which also makes it more secure for use in sports scenarios.
Of course, earphone heart rate monitoring cannot completely replace Apple Watch. For users who already own an Apple Watch, the heart rate function of AirPods Pro 3 is more of a supplement and cannot completely replace the watch.
Battery life improvement makes it more suitable for long-time use
AirPods Pro 3 can last up to 8 hours on a single charge with active noise cancellation enabled, which is about 33% higher than the 6-hour battery life of AirPods Pro 2.
This means that for users who take long-distance flights, cross-city high-speed trains, or need to wear earphones for work for a long time, AirPods Pro 3 can reduce the number of times you have to put the earphones back into the charging case to recharge halfway. Compared with the 5-hour noise cancellation battery life of the AirPods 5 wireless charging case version, AirPods Pro 3 also has obvious advantages.
Is it worth upgrading for AirPods Pro 2 users?
If you are using the AirPods Pro 2 that you bought when it was first launched in 2022, by 2026, the battery health status of the earphones may have become an important factor affecting the experience. For these users, upgrading to AirPods Pro 3 can not only get better noise cancellation and longer battery life, but also solve the problem of battery degradation of the old earphones.
But if you are using the USB-C version of AirPods Pro 2 that you bought later, and the current battery performance is normal, then the necessity of upgrading is not that strong.
AirPods Pro 2 itself is already equipped with the H2 chip, adaptive audio, transparency mode and quite mature active noise cancellation capability. AirPods Pro 3 is more of a comprehensive experience improvement, rather than a product that completely changes the way of using.
Purchase suggestions:
If you take the subway or high-speed train every day, or often go on business trips and travel, then AirPods Pro 3 is still the most worthy choice among the three products. It balances noise cancellation, portability, battery life and sports scenarios, and it is also the product I think is most suitable to be used