Great news students and teachers! If you've been researching the best Apple back-to-school deals in 2025, the Apple Education Store special offers are now live through September 30.

Whether you are in the market for a new MacBook, iPad, or iMac, you can select a free pair of AirPods or select accessories with the MacBook or iPad. If you just need the MacBook or iPad, you can find a deeper discount amoung our best MacBook deals or best iPad deals, but the free AirPods or accessory changes that math during the back-to-school season.

Prices start from $899 for the MacBook Air M4 — the best-value MacBook you can get and a rare 5-star Editor's Choice laptop. Eligible free items are:

• AirPods 4 with ANC
• AirPods Pro 2
• Magic Mouse
• Magic Trackpad
• Magic Keyboard with Touch ID.

Apple offers a similar back-to-school deal on the iPad Air and iPad Pro, but free options only include the Apple Pencil Pro or AirPods 4. The following AirPods and accessories are available at a discount of $119-$129, so you just pay the listed shown here:

• AirPods 4 with ANC ($50)
• AirPods Pro 2 ($120)
• Magic Keyboard for iPad Air 11-inch ($130)
• Magic Keyboard for iPad Air 13-inch ($180)
• Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11-inch ($160)
• Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 13-inch ($210)

Of course other retailers also have great Apple deals for back-to-school season, so if you're looking for the best Apple back-to-school deals, there are plenty of ways to save.

Browse our favorite Apple back-to-school deals below.

Apple back-to-school deals — Quick links

• Apple Edu Store: up to $100 off MacBooks, iPads, + free AirPods or accessory
• Amazon: up to $400 off MacBook, iPad, AirPods, Apple Watch, more
• B&H: up to $300 off MacBook Air, up to $400 off MacBook Pro
• Best Buy: up to $200 off MacBook Air, up to $700 off MacBook Pro
• Walmart: Save on MacBooks, iPads, and Apple accessories

Apple back-to-school Apple deals

MacBooks

iPads

Apple Watch

AirPods

Apple might be focusing its efforts on the iPhone thanks to the current tariff situation, but it does have other popular devices that it's working to improve upon with newer versions.

One of its most popular lines of devices is the AirPods. Last year, Apple sold more than $18 billion in AirPods, and it appears a new version could be coming next year.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo tweeted on Sunday about the next iteration of the AirPods. He predicts a new version won't be coming until sometime next year.

"AirPods may not see significant updates until 2026 (aligning with my earlier prediction that IR camera-equipped AirPods would enter mass production in 2026)," Kuo wrote.

The addition of cameras to the earbuds would be used for gathering data for AI. Visual info picked up by the cameras would give an AI more details about the environment, which could be used for some features although no details have surfaced about what those features could be.

Earlier in the week, a string of code was discovered in an Apple update that is being viewed as a leak of the release of the AirPods Pro 3, as reported by 9to5Mac. The snippet of code referencing a task changed from saying "This task requires Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation" to "This task requires Apple AirPods Pro 2 or later." This change doesn't mean a new version of the earbuds is right around the corner, but it does hint that they're being worked on.

Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about new versions of the AirPods.

The AirPods already have some interesting changes coming thanks to AI. Apple plans on using the earbuds to incorporate new health features such as checking a user's temperature, heart-rate monitoring, and other biometric data. The company also wants to bring live translation to the AirPods later this year. And just last year, Apple added a hearing aid feature to the earbuds as well.

What's next for AirPods Max?

The AirPods weren't the only device Kuo mentioned in his tweet. He also said a new version of the AirPods Max would also be coming.

"A lighter version of the AirPods Max is expected to enter mass production in 2027," he wrote.

The current iteration of the AirPods Max came out in 2020 with only a few changes made since then such as going from Lightning to USB-C, slight changes to the build, and more colors.

Back in 2023, Kuo predicted that the AirPods Max 2 would come out in 2025. That ended up not being the case, although it's unclear what might have caused this two-year delay by Apple.

Mother's Day is right around the corner, but it's not too late to get a great gift! If the mom in your life is an Apple fan, a new pair of AirPods could be the perfect gift, whether she prefers comfy over-ear headphones or ultra-portable earbuds. You can also take advantage of the sale and pick up a pair for yourself.

Right now, you can save up to $80 on a few top pairs of AirPods on Amazon. The AirPods Max are a great pick, pairing luxury build quality with top-tier audio and active noise cancelling.

Alternatively, if a pair to wear on the go is preferable, the AirPods Pro 2 could be the perfect fit. They feature silicone ear tips so they stay in place during workouts while also offering the same stellar audio quality and features you get on the AirPods Max, including ANC and even a built-in hearing aid feature!

See also: Best laptop deals in April 2025

Top 3 Mother's Day AirPods deals

More from Laptop Mag

• Best headphone deals in April 2025: Beats Studio Pro $150 off
• ANC and hot-swappable batteries are great, but here's why the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro isn't my go-to gaming headset
• Apple is racing against time to shift iPhone production away from China to dodge Trump's tariffs

Today is your lucky day if you love Apple's audio products but don't love the Apple premium.

In an early Prime Day deal, Apple's AirPod Max over-ear headphones are selling for $399 — a full $150 cheaper than their normal retail price.

If you're looking for top-tier audio, powerful active noise cancellation, and an iconic Apple aesthetic for a more reasonable price, now is your time to act. 

Note that not all colorways are on sale right now, but if you're a fan of Sky Blue, green, Space Gray, or Silver, then you should snag this deal while you can. Keep reading for details.

Welcome to Laptop Mag's coverage of the September 2024 Apple iPhone event. During the September 9 'It's Glowtime' event, Apple unveiled a new iPhone 16 lineup alongside the latest Apple Watch and AirPods models.

You can catch a recap of events as they happened below, with our live blog containing build-up coverage and our coverage of the event in full. However, if you want to dive straight in and learn more about the products Apple revealed during its presentation, we've got you covered.

Not only will you find a rundown of events on this page, but you can also find our follow-up coverage below, where we go in-depth on the day's iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods reveals.

"It's Glowtime" Apple iPhone event: Coverage

Apple's 'Glowtime' event saw the iPhone 16 series showcased in full alongside new Apple Watch 10 and AirPods Pro 2 models. You can learn more about all of these devices below, or continue further down the page for a complete recap of Apple's livestreamed presentation.

• The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are Apple's biggest, fastest, and most AI-infused phones yet
   
• Apple's iPhone 16, 16 Plus add 'Camera Control' button and a faster A18 processor
   
• 5 features that prove the iPhone 16 is a sweeter deal than the iPhone 16 Pro
   
• Apple's iPhone 16 event left out the one device I'd ditch my Android phone for
   
• The AirPods Pro 2's first-of-its-kind hearing aid feature is here to end your reliance on subtitles
   
• The Apple Watch Series 10 is brighter, thinner, and can help detect sleep apnea

The build-up to today's Apple iPhone event begins now! We're live and will be offering quick rundowns of everything surrounding the latest iPhone 16, Apple Watch 10/Ultra, and AirPods, which are expected to be revealed later today! Stay tuned.

Let's start things off with a brief look at the device that will no doubt draw a lot of attention today: the iPhone 16.

While iPhone Pro models will, generally speaking, gain a lot more attention due to their higher specs and advanced hardware, this year's iPhone 16 is bound to catch the eye of many as it reportedly sports a new look, offers new colors, and will hopefully retain the same affordable price tag.

We've seen plenty of leaks emerge about the iPhone 16 ahead of today's event, including those that hint towards the handset's reported specs and pricing. Check out a brief rundown of the base iPhone 16 models below.

Beyond its specs, the iPhone 16 is said to feature a new re-deigned camera island that switches out the previously diagonal layout for a vertically stacked set of lenses. Why the change? The answer may be linked to Apple's mixed-reality headset, the Vision Pro.

Last year, the iPhone 15 Pro received an update that saw its ultrawide and telephoto lenses switch places. We caught early wind of this change thanks to one reliable tipster's claims in May 2023.

At the time we weren't sure exactly why Apple intended to make such a switch, given that it would make no real aesthetic difference to the phone or its photography. However, as we would later find out, it was all to do with further taking advantage of the Vision Pro's ability to view spatial photographs.

The revised camera layout for the iPhone 15 Pro models allowed them to take spatial photos and video, perfect for playback on the Vision Pro headset.

The iPhone 16's redesigned camera array, should (in theory) now be positioned in a way to allow similar spatial photography opportunities when the device is turned to landscape, making it an affordable option for those looking to add another dimension to their digital snaps.

The iPhone 16's new camera layout won't be the only visual change we expect to see revealed today. Another change for the iPhone 16 could see Apple wave goodbye to its pastel colorways for the most part, bringing in some deeper hues thanks to blue and teal/green additions that join the lineup's black, white, and pink options.

These new, bolder colors are likely the result of Apple bringing the iPhone 15 Pro's color-infused back glass to its base models this year, allowing for stronger tones and a more striking, stand-out look for the handsets.

If you're hoping for any further upgrades to coincide with the iPhone 16's rear-camera shakeup, then we may have some bad news for you, at least for this year.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, we shouldn't expect much change in the specs of the iPhone 16's cameras to the iPhone 15 that came before it. That means seeing a return of the same 48MP main lens met with a 12MP ultrawide array and the same 12MP selfie camera.

Those seeking an upgraded photography experience from the base iPhone may want to skip this year's offering, as it's reported that the base iPhone 17 will at least feature a 24MP upgrade to the handset's selfie camera. 

Perhaps the upgrade that will have the biggest impact on the iPhone 16 is its rumored increase to RAM, which will see the device take the leap from 6GB to 8GB — in turn seeing the handset able to support the AI features included with the upcoming Apple Intelligence suite for iOS 18.

This upgrade would mean that all models of iPhone 16 will be compatible with the upcoming feature, as would the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, which also offer 8GB of RAM. However, that also suggests that the vast majority of iPhones won't support on-device Apple Intelligence.

That said, Apple may offer cloud computing options for lower-specced handsets, though whether or not they'll gain access to all Apple Intelligence features this way remains to be seen.

Thankfully, it would appear from everything we've seen so far that both the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will retain their $799 and $899 asking prices.

However, for a further glimpse at what you might be able to expect in terms of pricing, we've rounded up a look at some of the deals we expect to see after the handset is revealed later today.

We'll be updating this list when official news breaks, but if you're already locked in on wanting to purchase this year's iPhone, then check out our predictions of the best deals and discounts that early adopters can expect to see.

The stars of today's showcase will most likely be Apple's iPhone Pro models. This year's iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max handsets will once again be among the best smartphones on the market thanks to some impressive upgrades over last year's models.

We've once again been lucky enough to steal a glimpse at each handset's rumored specs and pricing, and it's all pointing to yet another solid refresh for Apple's premium iPhones. Let's take a quick look at what we can expect.

Without context, you'd assume that the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models are unchanged, retaining same titanium chassis, overall design, and triple-lens rear camera array. However, if you should place them next to last year's Pro and Pro Max models, then the differences would become instantly apparent.

Both the Pro and Pro Max have had something of a growth spurt over the last 12-months, granting each a bigger chassis and display.

The iPhone Pro 16 will now feature a 6.3-inch display over the iPhone 15 Pro's 6.1-inch offering. The iPhone 16 Pro Max shows similar gains, housing a whopping 6.9-inch display over the 15 Pro Max's 6.7-inch screen.

Interestingly, while the chassis of each handset is slightly bigger to accommodate these bigger displays, their dimensions change as little as possible, with a portion of that additional screen space is gained from the trimming of each display's bezels, granting these iPhone 16 Pro model's their slimmest screen borders to date.

Those larger sizes also won't impact their weight a great deal either, with the biggest shift in heft found on the iPhone 16 Pro which is said to weight 194 grams, where previously the iPhone 15 Pro weighed 187 grams. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is only four grams heavier than its 221-gram iPhone 15 Pro Max counterpart.

Size won't be the only thing changing for the iPhone 16 Pro models, there's also a new colorway inbound if recent rumors turn out to be true.

After making the switch to titanium last year, Apple has had to make compromises over which colors it can produce its premium handsets in. This is because of the PVD coating process required to ensure the titanium frames retain both color and durability.

The new color is reportedly referred to as "Desert Titanium," and can be seen on the iPhone 16 Pro render in the above image. This new colorway will join white, black, and titanium options according to reputable tech tipster Majin Bu, who shared an early look at the iPhone Pro's lens colors on X last month.

iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to receive some love on the camera front from Apple, with each rumored to be gaining a sizable upgrade to their ultrawide lenses.

It's reported that both Pro and Pro Max models of the iPhone 16 will gain a 48MP ultrawide lens (over the iPhone 15 Pro Max's 12MP lens), and both devices will now offer 5x optical zoom across their tetraprism lenses (the first time this will be available on the Pro model).

These upgrades could also feature a glass-plastic hybrid lens that allows up to 20% more light into the iris, allowing for the capture of much better photos in low-light conditions.

Rumored to feature exclusively on the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a new "super periscope" camera, an upgrade to the tetraprism lens that would see the 5x optical zoom capabilities of this device boosted beyond its standard range.

This upgrade could see the iPhone 16 Pro Max outfitted with a 5x optical zoom, but capable of clear and crisp results akin to higher magnifications.

Last year saw iPhone 15 Pro models gain an all-new Action Button. This year it's reported that every iPhone 16 model will receive that new feature, though to keep the Pro and Pro Max handsets one step ahead, they're reportedly set to receive a new 'capture' button.

This new switch will allow iPhone Pro users a more DSLR-like image capture option, that lets you half press the button to activate focus, and fully press to instantly snap your subject.

On the surface, it's a strange addition, especially considering the iPhone's Action Button is already capable of acting like a shutter switch for the phone's camera, and the idea of needing to manually set the zoom doesn't seem all that useful when taking into account the iPhone's speedy auto zoom.

However, much like the Action Button, the new Capture button may offer customization options that allow it to perform multiple roles depending on how a user wants it to perform.

While base iPhone 16 models appear to be locked in on last year's pricing, the same likely isn't true for at least one of the iPhone 16 Pros.

According to a recent rumor that appears to show the specs and pricing of all iPhone models, the iPhone 16 Pro will receive a $100 price increase, taking its starting price from $999 to $1,099.

It would seem that not only is the gap between the iPhone Pro and Pro Max closing in terms of features, but that its pricing is following suit. Will the iPhone 15 Pro still be a compelling purchase next to the Pro Max which is only $100 more expensive?

With the practically guaranteed iPhone 16 models out of the way, we turn our attention to a few devices that are a little bit more out of left field.

Both the iPhone SE 4 and iPad mini 7 are devices that have been long-rumored and long-awaited by budget buyers of the Applesphere. The iPad mini 7 has been rumored to feature at the last few Apple showcases specifically, though nary a word on a new model has been mentioned, let alone revealed as a product decisively on its way.

Could Apple sneak another iPhone into this year's lineup? Or show a little love for the littlest of iPads at its "Glowtime" event?

The dates align for the iPad mini 7 more than they do the iPhone SE 3, but with a global smartphone sales slump to contend with, it wouldn't be a terrible decision for Apple to bring its budget smartphone to market early and reap the rewards of its redesigned and respecced mid-ranger.

Nothing in life is impossible. But that's not to say that it isn't highly, highly unlikely.

We do know that the Apple Watch will feature alongside the iPhone 16, though we aren't certain if this will be referred to as the Apple Watch 10 or Apple Watch X, similar to how the iPhone celebrated its 10th anniversary by adopting the X moniker.

This new Apple Watch is said to be subject to a major design update according to trusted sources like Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. This could involve a thinner chassis and a larger screen, with reports of a 49mm model appearing online more recently.

Hypertension and sleep apnea sensors are reported to feature in this new Apple Watch, and Apple may seek to introduce a new blood oxygen sensor after being forced to disable its previous version due to a patent dispute that arose last year.

The Apple Watch SE typically gets a biannual release, and with 2022 being the last time we saw this budget-friendly wearable, we are likely (though not guaranteed) to see it at this year's event.

Interestingly, the new Apple Watch SE 3 is said to feature a plastic chassis in a range of bold and vibrant colors that make it both durable and more appealing. This plastic chassis could also help keep the cost of the smartwatch down, with reports suggesting its pricing may begin at just $200.

We're unlikely to see an Apple Watch Ultra 3 at this year's event, but rumors point towards the Apple Watch Ultra 2 making an appearance.

Don't hold out hope for any under-the-hood changes, but the Apple Watch Ultra 2 may show off a long-awaited colorway to spark some fresh interest in Apple's premium smartwatch.

The Watch Ultra's titanium chassis has served Apple well, but rumors of a black titanium option being in the works have had many wearable lovers waiting for their moment to pounce.

That moment may well be during this year's showcase, long after the colorway was originally meant to feature as a day-one option following the launch of the Watch Ultra 2 during this very event last year.

Speaking of watches, there's now just one hour to go before Apple's "Glowtime" special iPhone event kicks off in full.

Remember, if you can't watch the event live, we'll be covering everything revealed during the livestream right here for you to catch up on. We'll also be posting follow-up coverage during and after the event, so keep your eyes peeled for more content from Laptop Mag throughout the day.

If you're looking to pass some time until then, why not check out some of our wider iPhone coverage while you wait?

• iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Will it be worth the upgrade?
• iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15: Will the next iPhone be worth upgrading?
• iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Which big phone is the best?

Every Apple fan's favorite pair of wireless earbuds are also likely slated for an upgrade.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a fourth-gen pair of AirPods will come in two tiers: a stripped-down budget version and a mid-tier premium variant. Notably, the new mid-tier AirPods may come with a speaker that enables Find My location tracking. With a tap of a button, the AirPods would be able to emit a noise, making them easier to find.

That's a bit of trickle-down from AirPods Pro that I'm sure standard AirPods owners would appreciate — after all, who among us hasn't forgotten their AirPods case at a bar or two?

Apple's official event livestream is starting now! If you can't watch live, don't worry. We're covering all the highlights, so stay tuned!

Apple is kicking things off with a short promo video. The iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods are front and center. Various uses for this tech trio are taking the spotlight with features like dictation, medical alerts, and fitness. Now on to Apple Park...

Tim Cook is here to open up today's event. As expected, it will focus on the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. It sounds like AI (Apple Intelligence, in this case) will also play a star role. 

Cook is starting things off with the Apple Watch with an emphasis on life-saving and life-changing features. A new design is incoming...

It's here: an Apple Watch redesign! 

Well... kind of. The Apple Watch Series 10 retains the same classic look of the Apple Watch but it now has a larger display. The ultra-thin design that was rumored for the Series 10 isn't here just yet. 

Jeff Williams, Chief Operating Officer, takes over for Cook to share more. 

The Apple Watch Series 10 has a slightly larger display than the Ultra and a 30% larger screen than the Series 6. It also has a wider aspect ratio and more rounded edges. Plus, it features Apple's first-ever wide-angle OLED display! Williams notes that it's 40% brighter than previous Watch displays when viewed from an angle. 

To highlight the Series 10's snazzy new display, Apple is also launching a new "Flux" watch face. 

In some good news for fans of black tech, the Apple Watch Series 10 will come in a sleek new "Jet Black" colorway. It's noticeably darker and bolder than the classic Space Gray. 

The Series 10 is thinner than previous Apple Watches, but not drastically. It's about 10% thinner than the Series 9. It's always nice for wearables to be thinner and lighter, though, so even a minor decrease is still a welcome update. The speaker was completely redesigned to fit into this narrower chassis and you can now use it to play media like music or podcasts directly on your watch, which is definitely convenient. 

The Series 10 is also the "fastest-charging Apple Watch ever." It can recharge up to 80% battery in just 30 minutes. 

Titanium is replacing stainless steel in the Watch materials line-up. It's 20% lighter than stainless steel and will come in three colors: gold, silver, and dark gray (not to be confused with the new "Jet Black" polished aluminum). Williams also notes that Apple's titanium is carbon neutral. Neat! 

The Series 10 will come with Apple's new S10 processor. Williams is highlighting machine learning features like crash detection and fall detection. The S10 will also use AI to reduce background noise during calls on Apple Watch. 

In more AI news, watchOS 11 will also include the Translate app and new AI-powered watch faces. 

The Series 10 is getting a long-awaiting feature: sleep apnea monitoring. The Watch monitors breathing disturbances while you're sleeping to detect sleep apnea. 

Dr. Sumbul Ahmad Desai, Apple's VP of Health, explains, "[Sleep apnea] is a potentially serious condition where breathing stops repeatedly and causes disrupted sleep. Sleep plays such a vital role in our overall health and well-being, and people with sleep apnea can experience excessive daytime tiredness, have difficulties concentrating, and be more irritable." 

Dr. Desai also notes that an estimated 80% of people with sleep apnea are undiagnosed. Apple's new sleep apnea detection feature on the Apple Watch Series 10 is designed to help address that issue. 

It's worth noting Samsung beat Apple to the punch with this feature. Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra, announced at its Galaxy Unpacked event back in July, includes a sensor capable of detecting and monitoring sleep apnea. It's also FDA-approved already, but Apple's version is still awaiting FDA approval. 

The Series 10 includes a depth sensor, which will be helpful for swimmers and divers. It can also detect water temperature. While the Apple Watch still might not be ideal for deep water SCUBA diving, it will include some new features specifically for snorkeling. You can also create "float plans" for water-based workouts and monitor tides. 

Now on to Apple Watch Ultra! 

Stan Ng, VP of Apple Watch and Health Product Marketing, takes over for Williams. He recaps all the existing highlights of the Ultra and mentions that watchOS 11 will include offline maps. 

It looks like we're not getting an Apple Watch Ultra 3 just yet, but the Ultra 2 is getting a minor update this year with a new black colorway. It's more polished and matte than the glossy "Jet Black" for the Series 10, but it still looks great. Plus, it can be paired with a new titanium strap inspired by SCUBA diving gear. The trail loop, alpine loop, and ocean loop bands will also be available in new colors this year. 

Now back to Tim Cook to cover AirPods!

We're getting an all-new generation of AirPods. Cook turns things  over to Kate Bergeron, VP of Hardware Engineering, to tell us more. 

The AirPods 4 have a light redesign with a slightly different shape, although they maintain roughly the same design as the current generation. They will include the new H2 chip and new acoustic architecture, which will power personalized spatial audio. 

Plus, there will be a version of the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), which is great for anyone who commutes with their AirPods or just wants to block out distractions. Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness will help automatically adjust volume based on surrounding noise levels. 

In a welcome, convenient update, the AirPods 4 will come with a USB Type-C charging case! You can charge it wirelessly, too, and there is now a speaker on the case for Apple's Find My feature. 

AirPods Max are getting a minor update, too. Five new colors will be available this year, featuring USB Type-C charging! The new colors include black, lilac, starlight, orange, and a light blue-green. 

Apple is bringing some new features to the AirPods Pro with an emphasis on health and fitness. The AirPods Pro 2 will include a new Hearing Protection feature that will help protect your ears from loud environmental noise. The feature is on by default. 

Apple is also introducing a Hearing Test feature that allows you to check your hearing directly from your iPhone using the AirPods Pro 2. You can view and track your results through the Health app. This could make hearing tests much more accessible to many people. 

Speaking of accessibility, the AirPods Pro 2 will have a built-in Hearing Aid feature! It will use the results from the Hearing Test feature to customize performance and automatically adjust volume settings on your Apple devices. 

The Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features will be available later this fall in a software update for iOS 18. 

It's finally time for the star of today's event: the iPhone 16!

Kaiann Drance, VP of iPhone Product Marketing, is up to tell us all about it. We're getting some bold new colors, including pink, green, and ultramarine blue. They're a breath of fresh air after years of pastels! 

The iPhone 16 is also getting a tougher, brighter display. It will be available in two sizes: 6.1-inches and 6.7-inches. 

As expected, the iPhone 16 has a new action button on the side. You can customize it to perform different actions and even assign multiple actions for different times in the day. There's also a dedicated camera control button on the right side of the iPhone 16 below the action button. 

The iPhone 16 is jumping two generations forward to the A18 chipset! As expected, Apple Intelligence seems to be a major reason for this leap forward in processing tech. 

Sribalan Santhanam, Vice President Silicon Engineering Group at Apple, notes that the A18 is 30% faster than the A16 Bionic chip in the iPhone 15. Plus, the GPU in the A18 is faster and more power-efficient than the A16, which should come in handy for mobile gaming. 

Craig Federighi, Senior VP of Software Engineering, is here to tell us more about Apple Intelligence on iPhone 16. It's worth noting, Apple Intelligence was announced at WWDC 2024 in June but hasn't launched yet and won't be in the initial release of iOS 18. 

Federighi recaps most of the details about Apple Intelligence we got at WWDC 2024. There is a helpful update, though: Apple's Private Cloud Compute will be independently verified, which may be reassuring for anyone who's still concerned about their data privacy and security with Apple's new AI platform. 

Federighi also dives back into image playground, generative emojis, the writing assistant in Apple Intelligence, upcoming photo editing features, notification summaries, and a much-needed Siri update, as covered at WWDC 2024. 

Federighi also announces that the first set of Apple Intelligence features will be available in beta starting in October, however, some languages won't get support until next year. 

The iPhone 16 is getting a unique Apple Intelligence feature called Visual Intelligence that uses the new camera control button. You can use it for things like visually searching for images or adding an event to your calendar. It looks like a handy AI image search tool. Federighi even notes that it will be able to use ChatGPT (with a helpful reminder that this feature will never use third-party tools without notifying you first). 

Next up, we're getting some more details on the new camera control button. You can use it to quickly snap photos or start recording, much like a physical camera shutter button. We've seen this type of button on other phones in the past, but it's cool to finally see it on the iPhone. 

Different taps and press-and-hold gestures open various functions from the camera control. Third-party apps, like Snapchat, can also use this button for shortcuts. 

The iPhone 16 features a 48 MP main camera and a 12 MP telephoto lens. It will include a new feature that allows you to blend high-detail and light-detail photos. 

A new ultrawide camera now allows you to capture macro photography on the iPhone 16. 

Plus, you can capture spatial videos and photos on the iPhone 16, which are viewable in 3D on the Apple Vision Pro, a feature that was formerly only available on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. 

As unveiled at WWDC 2024, the Photos app is getting a redesign, as well, complete with some new AI photo editing features. 

Next up, gaming on the iPhone 16. 

Apple made some thermal updates to the iPhone 16, which unlock 30% faster sustained performance and better ray tracing. You can now even play AAA games on the iPhone 16, which was formerly only possible on the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max. 

Honor of Kings World will be the next AAA game to come to iOS, joining a growing number of titles like Assassin's Creed: Mirage and Resident Evil 4. 

As expected, Apple is maintaining its existing starting prices for the iPhone 16. So, the base iPhone 16 will start at $799 and the iPhone 16 Plus will start at $899. (That means the prices of previous generations will drop.)

Now it's time for the iPhone 16 Pro. 

It got a light design update with a larger display, thinner bezels, an always-on display, and a Grade 5 titanium chassis. It will come in four colors: black, light, natural, and desert gold titanium. 

Apple Intelligence is once again a star feature in Apple's iPhone 16 Pro presentation. Most of the core Apple Intelligence features will be available across the iPhone 16 line-up, but if you want the best AI performance possible, the Pro models will have more computing power. 

The iPhone 16 Pro will feature the A18 Pro chip, which includes a 16-core neural engine for AI tasks. Apple Intelligence runs 17% faster on the A18 Pro and games run 20% faster compared to A17 Pro. The 6-core CPU is 15% faster but uses 20% less power, so we can expect even longer battery life. According to Apple, the A18 Pro is the fastest CPU in any smartphone (but we'll have to wait for benchmark results to confirm that). 

Photography is always a highlight on Apple's Pro models and the iPhone 16 Pro is no exception. 

This year's Pro models will feature a new 48 MP fusion camera, 48 MP ultra-wide camera, and 12 MP 5X telephoto lens. The new camera control will be especially helpful on the Pro, allowing photographers to quickly access advanced functions and settings. 

You can also use new photographic styles to quickly apply a different aesthetic to your photos, much like the styles available for portrait photos. You can change the photographic style before or after you capture a shot. 

On the video side of things, the iPhone 16 Pro will include a new Cinematic Slow Motion feature and support 4K video at 120 frames per second. Conveniently, you will also be able to capture 4K videos directly to external storage, which will be helpful for professional videographers. 

The iPhone 16 Pro will be able to capture Spatial Audio, which you can listen to with AirPods Pro or an Apple Vision Pro headset. It will also have support for a new Audio Mix feature that allows you to adjust audio in videos using different presets like "studio" or "cinematic." This will help you isolate and enhance the audio quality in videos captured on the iPhone 16 Pro. 

The Voice Memos app is getting a bit of an upgrade for music recording. You will now be able to play and adjust different audio tracks and have an existing recording playing while capturing a new one (i.e. singing along to a music track you've already recorded). Neat! 

The iPhone 16 Pro will start at $999 and the Pro Max will start at $1199. All of the new iPhones announced today will be available for pre-order on Friday and will arrive in stores on September 20. 

That wraps things up for today! Our coverage of today's Apple event is just getting started, though! 

Stick around for more updates as we unpack all of the details on the iPhone 16 line-up, the new AirPods, and the Apple Watch Series 10. We will also have a full recap here, so if you missed today's event, you can get a quick overview of all the highlights. 

The iPhone has been the focal point of Apple’s annual releases for well over a decade, but new plans point to the smartphone taking a backseat in 2024 — with Apple giving its wearable lineup a push to the front and center as it prepares to launch it’s first-gen mixed reality headset the Vision Pro, an overhauled Apple Watch X, and it’s ever-popular AirPods.

The news arrives from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who reports that the Cupertino company is poised to make 2024 the year of the wearable after a slump in sales throughout fiscal 2023. Apple’s response to this is to treat its wearable tech to some of the “biggest upgrades ever”, while simplifying its catalog in much the same way as it recently did by dropping the 13-inch MacBook Pro to avoid clashing with the MacBook Air’s offerings. 

Apple’s wearable road map for 2024: What to expect 

According to Bloomberg, Apple is looking to release two new fourth-gen AirPods with updated designs and USB-C charging cases to suit different price points with one including Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).

Gurman also claims that the AirPods Max headphones, while not a huge seller, will receive a USB-C makeover too – though we shouldn’t expect any massive overhauls in terms of design or software.

The new Apple Watch could be one of the more notable changes in Apple’s wearable lineup as it’s already been rumored to bring a huge redesign to the product. Dubbed the Apple Watch X, the 10th generation of Apple Watch is set to receive a new look and a new watch strap mechanism that relies on magnets, while potentially taking advantage of Apple’s 3D printing technology, and microLED displays.

The new Apple Watch is also claimed to feature a new pair of health monitoring features including hypertension and sleep apnea detection. Alerting wearers if it senses either of these conditions and recommending them to reach out further for more information and further checks as a result.

However, the star of the show will no doubt be the Vision Pro headset, which could launch as early as January 2024, with Apple planning to train retail employees on the hardware the same month to ensure they’re familiar with set up and how best to market it to people.

Outlook

The Vision Pro is Apple’s first foray into the VR/AR realm, and there’s a lot riding on its success. Switching focus to wearables this year more than any other makes a lot of sense for Apple. Not only does it help boost flagging sales of its earphones, headphones, and smartwatch devices, but it also elevates the status of wearable devices as a whole, reminding consumers that this is a key market for Apple going forward.

Will Apple’s wearable-focus for 2024 pay off? It’s high time some of these devices got the love and attention they deserve, so hearing word of new designs, new features, and new options will be great news to many. Hopefully these changes can result in an increase in sales and a push to keep wearables at the forefront of Apple’s plans over the coming years.

The Beats Studio Pro combine Apple-exclusive features and proprietary technologies into a fancy-looking package. Upgrades like adaptive active noise cancellation and Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic headtracking are substantial. Universal compatibility via new Beats’ second-gen chipset grants seamless usability between iOS and Android devices.

In embracing the nostalgic and trendy look of past releases, the Studio Pro also inherit their flaws. Breakable components and physical buttons are just a few of the unvaried details that show Beats isn’t fully committed to change, at least from a design standpoint. 

Thankfully, the Studio Pro’s many performance hallmarks overshadow their shortcomings, making them one of the best noise-cancelling headphones for their price, as well as an affordable AirPods Max alternative worthy of Apple’s noise-cancelling throne.

• Beats Studio Pro for $349 at Apple (Black)
• Beats Studio Pro for $349 at Apple (Deep Brown)
• Beats Studio Pro for $349 at Apple (Navy)
• Beats Studio Pro for $349 at Apple (Sandstone)

Beats Studio Pro review: Availability and price

You can purchase the $349 Studio Pro directly from Apple. Four colors are available at launch: Black, Deep Brown, Navy, and Sandstone. Inside the box are a 3.5mm aux cable, user manual, USB-C to USBC charging cable, and carrying case.

These headphones are priced lower than current category leaders, including the Bose 700 ($379) and Sony WH-1000XM5 ($399), as well as the sibling AirPods Max ($549).

Bookmark our headphone deals page to stay up on the latest headphone sales.

Beats Studio Pro review: Design and comfort

The Studio Pro look identical to the Studio 3, from the all-plastic frame to the button placement to the silhouette. That doesn’t keep them from being some of the most attractive wireless headphones out there. It made sense for Beats to stick with an iconic look that hasn’t gone out of style, though they could have added more accents for distinction.

The shiny matte finish with trademark B logo remains eye-catching. Details like the brushed metal hinges and tiny LEDs underneath the right earcup to indicate battery levels are much appreciated. UltraPlush memory foam now covers the earcups for adequate comfort and comes wrapped in premium leather.

Even the woven carrying case is nicely constructed to store the headphones and accessories.

Beats’ design hasn’t been completely enhanced. The hinges still feel like they’re going to snap every time you collapse the headphones inward. Scratches and stains accumulate quickly if not kept in a safe place. I’m not a fan of the tight clamp force either. Those with high pain thresholds may withstand the pressure for 3-hour stretches. Everyone else won’t last a full hour.

Beats Studio Pro review: Controls and digital assistant

Physical buttons make their unpopular return. The B logo on the left earcup acts as a multifunctional button for playback, call management, and digital assistant activation. The outer circle around the MF button handles volume: press above/below the B to raise/lower sound. On the right ear cup is a tiny oval button to enable pair mode or switch between ANC modes.

The buttons have great tactility and respond quickly to single and multi-press gestures. I just have issues with their presentation. For instance, the MF button is so flush that it’s difficult to locate at times. I’ve often confused it with the volume button. Swipe-friendly touch controls would have better suited the Studio Pro’s gorgeous exterior. It’s also baffling that Beats excluded wear detection to auto-pause content when removing the headphones.

One control that didn’t disappoint was “Hey Siri” voice activation. Speaking the wake-word phrase automatically fired up Apple’s AI bot on my iPhone 14 and MacBook Pro. Beats developed a new six-mic array that demonstrates superb speech recognition. It captured every spoken word accurately, while Siri took care of inquiries in prompt fashion. Google Assistant performed similarly on my OnePlus 11 and pulled off basic voice commands with ease.

Beats Studio Pro review: Audio quality

I thought the AirPods Max and Sony WH-1000XM5 were sonic savants. Well, the Studio Pro just put them on notice. Beats went all out to give their flagship cans elite specs devoted to first-class audio performance. A fully custom 40mm active driver and advanced digital processing produce vibrant, full-bodied sound with minimal distortion. Full Spatial Audio support made the cut and supports Beats’ IMU (inertial measurement unit) for precise headtracking.

The Studio Pro provide more faithful reproduction. Bass is refined, yet still boomy, and leaves enough room for other frequencies to shine. Give a-ha’s “Take on Me” a spin to hear what I’m talking about. The pounding kicks and snares at the beginning have amazing snap to them, while the energizing synths sound crisp and free of distortion. More compelling is the soaring hook, which elevated the mid-highs to a level I haven’t heard since testing audiophile models like the $999 Mark Levinson No. 5909.

Listening to Apple Music’s exclusive live performance of Mary J. Blige’s “I’m Going Down” with Personalized Spatial Audio on left me in awe because of how well Apple’s 3D audio format augmented the engaging atmosphere. Her pain-filled vocals soared through the soundscape. However, the crowd singalongs captured my attention most. Fidelity was spot-on to hear the different harmonies and cracks in certain people’s voices. Headtracking created a more immersive listening environment that let vocals fluidly transition from one direction to another with every head turn.

Another sound feature introduced on the Studio Pro is USB-C audio. Using the USB-C presents you with three EQs optimized for wired listening. Beats Signature creates more tonally balanced sound, Entertainment increases select frequencies when watching movies or playing video games, and Conversation tweaks sound for vocal output. Double-press the power button to cycle through them. Much of my time was spent testing Signature, which increased bass response and mids. Entertainment was fun when binging action movies; the car crashes and melee combat in John Wick: Chapter 4 sounded visceral. Conversation sufficed for clearer vocal output on podcasts. Note that USB-C audio disables ANC and Transparency modes. On the plus side, it delivers lossless playback with compatible tracks. The bundled 3.5mm cable does the same.

Streaming quality is consistent and satisfying on Apple and Android devices. I got some great sound quality from Dolby Atmos content, as well as Spotify and Tidal tracks.

Beats Studio Pro review: Active noise cancellation

Beats’ fully adaptive ANC is some of the category’s finest. According to the company, the Studio Pro have feed-forward/back and MEMs mics with enhanced signal-to-noise ratio and higher sensitivity to reduce noise at 48,000 times per second. Playback correction is also included to identify and remove unwanted sounds present during ANC or Transparency processing. Most consumers won’t know what to make of all this technical jargon, so just interpret it as intelligible, strong noise neutralization.

ANC mode is effective in loud settings and reduces frequencies at an incredibly high rate. The feature served me best when working from home during a week-long span where my son was fighting off the flu, which meant dealing with lots of crying and distractions. Typical household noises like electronic toys, kitchen appliances, TVs, and the humming from my centralized AC unit were muted. Using the headphones on my balcony was also peaceful. Any large gatherings or construction work taking place near the pool area didn’t disrupt my Tidal time.

High frequencies were handled well, but still audible. I could hear my son yelling for Daddy’s attention from two rooms over, as well as ambulance sirens from several blocks away. Whether the Pro Studio offer better noise cancellation than the AirPods Max is still undetermined; I need more time with these cans before making that call.

What I will say is that Beats’ Transparency Mode is very powerful. Voices sounded clear from up close, which made it easy to communicate with the missus at home. My sense of awareness was heightened when walking outside, as the mics picked up oncoming vehicles from just a few feet away. I could also hear car and train horns from afar.  

Beats Studio Pro review: App and special features

Beats had compatibility in mind when they engineered the Studio Pro. Hence the inclusion of their updated processor that’s optimized for use with iOS and Android and offers native features on both platforms.

Apple users can instantaneously pair to brand devices through one-touch pairing. Favorites such as Find My support and “Hey Siri” are accounted for. Other available iOS features include automatic switching, audio share, Live Listen, and Spatial Audio just to name a few. You can enable some of these on the dedicated Studio Pro menu in Settings, while others can be found on the Control Center (swipe down on the top right of your iDevice screen). I just wished the Studio Pro were as macOS friendly as the AirPods, so you can manage more than just the listening modes on the menu bar.

Meanwhile, Android users get different versions of some features: Find My Device support, one-touch Google Fast Pair, and Audio Switch to transition between compatible audio sources. Android users can also use the Beats app to enable features (e.g., listening modes, Locate My Beats, over-the-air updates).

Beats Studio Pro review: Battery life and charging case

Battery life is some of the highest we’ve seen on Beats headphones: 24 hours with ANC on and 40 hours with ANC off. By comparison, this beats the AirPods Max and Bose 700, which max out at 20 hours. Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones offer longer ANC playtimes at 30 hours.

The Studio Pro hold a charge long enough to keep you entertained on international flights and long road trips. I’ve used them 5 hours daily for the past week and still have juice left in the tank.

Fast Fuel technology is onboard to generate 4 hours of playback (ANC off) on a 10-minute quick charge. This is stronger than what most noise-cancelling headphones offer, including the AirPods Max (5 minutes = 1.5 hours).

Beats Studio Pro review: Call quality and connectivity

Call quality is what you would expect from an Apple audio product: exceptional. Beats’ advanced voice mic architecture and updated machine-learning algorithm result in superb clarity with minimal background noise. My wife was surprised by how well the headphones suppressed wind effects. FaceTime calls impressed me most, producing loud and clear vocals on both ends.

Connectivity is another Apple specialty. I had zero issues pairing to my iPhone 14, MacBook Pro, or any Android devices. All functions operated well on all platforms, except for Google Fast Pair, which never showed up on my Android phones.

Bottom line

With adept noise cancellation, long battery life, solid compatibility, and terrific sound quality, the $349 Studio Pro undercut rivals like the Bose 700, Sony WH-1000XM5, and sibling AirPods Max. Beats could have reinforced the headphones a little better and thrown in touch controls for convenient operation. Are these deal-breakers? Nope.  

So, whether you are team Apple or team Android, the Studio Pro have more than enough to satisfy your listening needs, and for a lower price than most category leaders.

The best Apple headphones and earbuds integrate complementarily into Apple’s ecosystem, delivering features that elevate the iOS/macOS experience. They also interconnect seamlessly with all Apple products. That’s not to say they won’t work with Android or Windows devices because they will; some functions just remain exclusive to Apple’s platform.

As far as options go, you’re looking at four different pairs of AirPods wireless earbuds, an over-the-ear AirPods headphone, and a massive Beats lineup (Apple’s greatest acquisition yet) that continues to welcome new critically acclaimed releases.

We are anticipating a potential shift to USB-C for future AirPods models, but no other updates are rumored at the moment, so unless the port change is crucial to you our advice on which models are best will remain the same.

Settling on the right headphones is just as difficult as picking out your next iPhone or MacBook. Hence, we compiled this list to make the selection process a little easier on your mind and wallet. After testing the company’s top offerings, we’ve ranked the best Apple headphones and earbuds.

Sitting in first place on our best Apple headphones and earbuds list are the AirPods Pro 2. The first-gen model may have revolutionized wireless earbuds, but this noise-cancelling sequel took things a step forward with key additions such as Adaptive Transparency, Personalized Spatial Audio, and FindMy compatibility with the MagSafe charging case. Apple continues to roll out new features with every other iOS update, keeping these porcelain danglers in the best wireless earbuds conversation for a few more years.

A close second is the AirPods Max, Apple’s first noise-cancelling headphones that blend strong audio and ANC into a sleek, contemporary design. The price point might be more of an eye sore than the silly smart case. However, you're buying the wireless cans for their powerful tech. The 40mm drivers, 9 microphones, H1 processors, and a gaggle of sensors bring a level of functionality that only category leaders like the Bose 700 and Sony WH-1000XM5 can match.

Third place goes to the recently launched Beats Fit Pro, which miraculously takes most, if not all, of the AirPods Pro’s biggest hallmarks and stuffs them into a sporty package. We’re talking ANC, spatial audio, and several iOS perks like audio sharing, automatic switching, and “Hey Siri” voice activation. The wing tips also provide a proper fit and stability for workouts.

Quick list

Best overall

Despite most rumors around the AirPods Pro 2 being nothing more than hearsay, Apple’s latest wireless earbuds still live up to their hype. Personalized Spatial Audio enhances the 3D listening experience by scanning your ears via the iPhone’s TrueDepth camera and creating a sound profile that accurately places music, voices, and effects on the soundscape. ANC can now reduce twice as much noise as the first-gen AirPods Pro and Adaptive Transparency has been greatly improved to hear ambient noises and vocals clearly. Music sounds richer and more detailed, thanks to Apple’s new low-distortion driver. Cool features like Precision Finding also make locating your misplaced charging case easier by pinpointing its location in the Find My (AirPods) app.

Very few will complain about the mostly unchanged design or the performance struggles with Android devices, while those with an iOS device will be excited about having the AirPods Pro 2 as their go-to for music listening.

Read our full AirPods Pro 2 review.

Best Apple headphones

Apple’s wireless headphones live up to the hype with exceptional audio and ANC performance. Underneath the sleek, clean-looking design are 40mm custom dynamic drivers that pump out near-audiophile-grade sound, balancing frequencies superbly well to enjoy rich mids, highs, and lows. Spatial audio helps create the illusion of a 360-degree soundscape when listening to music or watching movies. If you like the AirPods Pro’s noise cancellation, the AirPods Max is even more impressive, employing eight mics to effectively block out the majority of external sounds. Seamless iOS integration means you’ll not only connect to Apple devices with ease, but also gain access to numerous software perks including audio sharing, automatic switching, and “Hey Siri” voice activation.

It’s ballsy for Apple to price their headphones $150 higher than Bose. However, for Apple fanboys who live on iOS and macOS devices, these cans are the ideal audio investment, if you can afford them.

See our full Apple AirPods Max review.

Best Beats wireless earbuds

The Fit Pro offers near-identical performance to the AirPods Pro (Gen 1) and improves on Beats’ innovative design. Noise cancellation is highly effective, and sound is superior to all AirPods models. Having access to most iOS features is always appreciated. The installed wingtips and IPX4 rating make the Fit Pro a must-have for gym rats.

Be mindful that the Eartip Fit Test isn’t as reliable as the AirPods Pro version. Also, the Android app lacks extra features, though you’re still getting much of the meat and potatoes that come tied to Apple’s ecosystem.

Best budget buds

The first-gen AirPods Pro is a much bigger deal than any of us could have predicted. Through some clever engineering, Apple managed to squeeze three microphones and six sensors into the tiny buds, redesigned the casing, and still had room for its lauded H1 chip. This all makes for one well-rounded experience that makes usability seamless across numerous verticals, from connectivity to sound personalization to voice activation (“Hey Siri”). Audio quality surpasses what previous AirPods models offered, and noise cancellation is undeniably great for blocking out incidental noises during commutes.

The stem design isn’t the most attractive, but at least it has been shrunk down to a more discrete size. You’ll also need to deal with the low battery life, granted the charging case does provide some relief when on the go.

Read our full AirPods Pro review.

Best all-around audio

The AirPods 3 is a definite step up from the AirPods 2. It gives listeners a more premium look in line with the AirPods Pro, though it stops just short of aping the top-tier product, falling more into the barely mid-tier range category. Thanks to Apple’s chip wizardry, the earbuds deliver clear, warm audio whether you listen to music, watch TV, or are on a video call. And I highly recommend taking the spatial audio feature for a spin.

You get many of the AirPods Pro’s premium features on the AirPods 3 at about $20 cheaper and nearly an hour more battery life with MagSafe charging capabilities. If you’re looking for a powerful update to the popular AirPods 2 without totally breaking the bank on the Pro, the AirPods 3 is the way to go, hands down.

Read our full AirPods 3 review.

Most balanced headphones

Beats headphones get a bad rap for being more style than substance. While the company’s original noise-cancellers, the Studio 3, was a solid pair of sound blasters, they didn’t exactly live up to their promise as a potential category leader. The Solo Pro certainly changes that argument. This sleek pair of on-ears pumps out refined, balanced sound and features effective noise cancellation and a nifty transparency mode that filters in more ambient sound so you can be aware of your surroundings. You get a decent amount of battery life to work with at 22 hours, but Beats’ Fast Fuel technology helps speed up the recharging process when necessary, generating 3 hours of playtime on a 10-minute charge.

Apple also brings its H1 chip to the Solo Pro, which enables seamless pairing and a fun audio-sharing feature for when you want to listen with friends who also own pair of Beats headphones or AirPods.

See our full Beats Solo Pro review.

Best Apple multi-platform wireless earbuds

Platform-neutral performance on a pair of Apple earbuds was a pipe dream until the Beats Studio Buds came along. These super-tiny, cordless in-ear monitors play nicely with iOS and Android devices, operating on a new (and undisclosed) processor that provides true Find My Buds support and one-touch pairing to Apple or Android phones via Class 1 Bluetooth connection. Apple tweaked the soundstage to give these buds more refined sound than the Powerbeats Pro. ANC is also shockingly good on the Studio Buds and cancels out a wide number of ambient sounds. Battery life is rated higher than the AirPods Pro as well.

Some iOS users won’t be happy about unsupported features such as auto switching between iCloud-registered devices and Siri Announce Notifications; these are exclusive and tied to Apple’s H1 processor. Nonetheless, the performance and value these buds offer is too good to ignore.

Read our full Beats Studio Buds review.

Best value earbuds

Fast, smart, and longer-lasting than the first-gen model, the AirPods 2 remains a top-tier option for iPhones owners who want the true wireless Apple experience without spending extra on the AirPods Pro. A current price drop to $135 (check Amazon) makes them even more appealing. Apple gives people what they want with wireless charging and a hands-free approach to Siri. Other notable features include a Find My iPhone setting, Announce Messages with Siri, audio sharing between two AirPods or Beats headphones, and instantaneous connectivity to iOS/MacOS devices. The AirPods 2 are also set to receive automatic switching as part of the upcoming iOS 14 update, which is rumored to launch this September.

On top of all of that, you’ll find much pleasure in knowing the AirPods 2 holds a longer charge (5 hours) than the AirPods Pro (4.5 hours). However, portable power is the same, with the charging case holding 24 hours of juice. And the fact that they offer 50% more talk time is the icing on the cake, especially since the original AirPods' was near-instantaneous.

Best Apple workout buds

Apple isn't making a fitness version of its popular AirPods, or so we think. Until then, the PowerBeats Pro is the best you will get in terms of a true sporty model. These buds pack great performance in a durable, water-resistant shell. The company's even gone as far as to include the new H1 chip, making seamless integration with all iDevices even faster. Automatic switching has been added as well via the iOS 14 update.

Audio is crucial for any pair of sports headphones, and fortunately, Apple has toned down the Beats' bass-heavy sound signature. The Powerbeats Pro has a more balanced presentation that blends emphatic lows and tighter mids and highs. Those who constantly complain about the AirPods poor battery life can breathe easy knowing these buds hold nearly double the amount of playtime on a full charge at nine hours. While not the most portable-friendly, the charging case gets you about two extra charges on the go as well.

Best ANC headphones

The Studio3 Wireless remains a hot seller among brand enthusiasts and budget-conscious millennials who aren’t ready to splurge big on the AirPods Max. These stylish cans welcome some notable improvements on the sonic front that put Beats previous headphones to shame. Mids and highs are emphasized, blending well with Beats’ signature bass profile. Noise cancellation has been increased as well to provide acceptable results; it’s good enough to drown out construction equipment and hush rowdy pedestrians.

Apple users get the best experience, thanks to the W1 chip, which increases battery life and connectivity range on iPhone models. Android users aren’t afforded the same luxuries, as the headphones often have trouble connecting to non-iOS devices. That doesn’t mean you won’t be able to enjoy the Studio3’s quality sound and strong battery life.

How to choose the best Apple headphones and earbuds for you

It goes without saying that your Apple/Beats products should all support the most current iOS version. This gets you the latest software perks and enhances the user experience across all iOS/macOS devices. Note that some features won’t apply to every Apple-made headphone or wireless earbuds. Just make sure you get the essentials like audio sharing, instantaneous connectivity, and “Hey Siri” voice activation, just to name a few.

Next on the list is audio. You want the best sound and call quality, so having a model that boasts powerful drivers and microphones can help big time. Apple’s introduction of Spatial Audio, which uses dynamic head tracking to create 360-degree immersive sound, is available on select models.

Apple doesn’t have the greatest track record when it comes to battery life, but the company is responsible for setting the industry average time for wireless earbuds: five hours. Newer AirPods and Beats wireless earbuds either fall in the same range or offer higher playtimes. The company’s over-ear and on-ear ANC headphones also fall within the category’s industry average time (20 hours) and can extend playtime when ANC is off.

These products don’t come cheap, so to ensure their safety, seek out models that either have IPX4 sweat and splash resistance or have third-party covers available for full-on protection. Consider adding an AppleCare warranty, too.

How we test the best Apple headphones and earbuds

When testing for the best Apple headphones and earbuds, Laptop Magazine evaluates several factors: design, comfort, sound, value, and multiplatform compatibility. Our selections are then compared to similar products in the category in terms of features, fit, and pricing.

Apple headphones and earbuds are worn over the course of a week for 2 to 3 hours at a time. We assess comfort, ease of use, and audio quality during this time. Sample tracks across several music genres (hip hop, rock, jazz, classical) are played, analyzing clarity, depth, imaging, and volume. Audiobooks, games, podcasts, and videos are taken into consideration. Any models supporting spatial audio are also tested using compatible hi-res streaming services (e.g., Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal).

Those who want to improve the sound quality on their laptop or mobile device may want to look over this audio codec FAQ to learn about FLAC files, MP3s, and other audio file codecs.

Once testing is completed, every model is rated based on our five-point system (1 = worst, 5 = best). Any truly exemplary product is awarded an Editor’s Choice.

Why trust Laptop Mag

Laptop Mag reviews over one hundred different laptops every year, from paperweight ultralights to everyday workhorses to lumbering gaming notebooks that scorch the frame rates of even the hottest AAA games. We're not just experts in the laptop field, as we go one step further by meticulously testing smartphones, tablets, headphones, PC accessories, software, and even the latest in gaming.

We are 100% independent and have decades of experience to help you buy with confidence. In fact, Laptop Mag has been testing and reviewing products for three decades, and we continue to deliver trustworthy reviews you can rely on.

Our experienced team of writers and editors scour the available information about the laptop and put it through its paces to determine which is best for you. But before they start, the testing team subjects each system to a rigorous regimen of synthetic and real-world tests to see how a system handles the type of work and games you’re most likely to throw at it.

Our editorial trustworthiness is enforced by one of the world's largest technology publishers, Future Publishing. As a company, we have unrivaled experience across every tech sector — and we're the group's specialist for all things mobile tech.

The Apple Watch Series 7 is now less than £300 — down to £298 after a massive £70 discount! 

To see the latest Apple Watch not just get a price cut, but a massive one at that, is a massive surprise. Snap it up now before the offer disappears.

Best of the rest: Quick Links

• Sony PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller: was £64.99 now £46.99 @ Amazon
• Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro: was £129.99 now £74.99 @ Amazon with discount applied
• LG C1 OLED TV (55-inch, 4K, HDMI 2.1): was £1,699 now £949 @ Amazon
• Samsung Galaxy Book: was £835 now £529 @ Laptops Direct
• Mario Strikers: Battle League Football: was £49 now £38 @ Currys with code MARIO
• Apple M1 Pro MacBook Pro 14: was £1,899 now £1,763 @ John Lewis
• Apple 10.2-inch iPad (128GB WiFi): was £319 now £309 @ Amazon

Today’s best deals: In more detail

Looking for more deals?

Every day, we scour the internet for the best bargains for your buck. Check out these lists for the most up-to-date curated selection of savings worth every penny.

• Best laptop deals
• Best MacBook deals
• Best gaming laptop deals
• Best iPad deals
• Best headphone deals
• Best monitor deals

Apple's fantastic AirPods Max headphones have just dropped to their lowest ever price after a massive £174 discount!

Definitely the best headphones deal of the day, these top quality cans pack impeccable sound quality, seamless integration with iOS and a really comfortable fit.

And as the PlayStation Days of Play sale continues, the best deal right now is still the huge £20 discount on the PS5 DualSense controller!

Best of the rest: Quick Links

• ElectriQ 32-inch 4K HDMI 2.1 gaming monitor: was £615 now £299 @ Laptops Direct
• Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro: was £129.99 now £66.99 @ Amazon
• LG C1 OLED TV (55-inch, 4K, HDMI 2.1): was £1,699 now £949 @ Amazon
• Samsung Galaxy Book: was £835 now £529 @ Laptops Direct
• Mario Strikers: Battle League Football: was £49 now £38 @ Currys with code MARIO
• Apple M1 Pro MacBook Pro 14: was £1,899 now £1,763 @ John Lewis
• Apple 10.2-inch iPad (128GB WiFi): was £319 now £309 @ Amazon

Today’s best deals: In more detail

Looking for more deals?

Every day, we scour the internet for the best bargains for your buck. Check out these lists for the most up-to-date curated selection of savings worth every penny.

• Best laptop deals
• Best MacBook deals
• Best gaming laptop deals
• Best iPad deals
• Best headphone deals
• Best monitor deals

Apple rolls out firmware updates for its popular AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max frequently, and when it does you should update as soon as possible to enjoy access to all of the latest features right away.

Both the AirPods and AirPods Pro are among the best wireless earbuds around and that's in part due to the excellent software support enabling new features months or years after you bought them. 

Whether you're looking for performance improvements or need to fix an annoying bug, make sure your AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max are up to date with the latest software version with our quick guide. 

How to update Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro

Apple doesn't offer a specific method to update its AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max, as firmware updates usually roll out automatically. However, some may still be due for an update if not paired to an iPhone or iPad.

Follow the steps below to find out how to update your AirPods' firmware. 

1. Navigate to your Bluetooth settings in the Settings app on your iOS device (iPhone or iPad). 

2. Tap to connect your ‌‌AirPods‌‌ or ‌‌AirPods Pro‌‌ to your iOS device. Make sure your AirPods are connected and in their case.

3. Leave the AirPods or AirPods Pro next to your iOS device. The AirPods should update automatically. It's a good idea to charge the AirPods or AirPods Pro case while updating, either with a Lightning-to-USB cable or with Qi wireless charging (if supported). 

How to check if the AirPods are updated 

Knowing whether or not your AirPods or AirPods Pro are up to date can be tricky, as updates may not be obvious. However, you can find out by checking the earbuds' version number. 

Next to AirPods or AirPods Pro in Bluetooth settings, tap on About (the blue "i" icon).

Scroll to the bottom and you'll find the firmware version. If it displays an earlier version, such as "4C165," then the earbuds still need to be updated to the latest version.

Apple released beta firmware updates for Apple Developer Program members, offering a sneak peek at new features. This gives us an idea of what to expect, along with how soon we'll see an update for all users.

However, there are a number of steps to install the beta firmware. AirPods Pro owners interested in downloading pre-release firmware should know there is no way to switch back to a previous version of the AirPods firmware. Regular users should wait for the next non-beta update to roll out. 

Wondering what AirPods to get? Check out our AirPods Pro vs. AirPods Pro 2 face-off, along with our AirPods 3 review, AirPods Pro 2 review, and AirPods Max review. 

Right now, you can get over £200 off Apple's AirPods Max by using this secret exploit on Amazon.

We've used this loophole before to save big, which is to shop on one of many Amazon's European stores — this time it's available over on Amazon Italy. The conversion rate really works in your favour and you pick up a pair for just £342!

But that's not all, because with the Nintendo Switch OLED at its lowest price and the cheapest RTX 3070 gaming laptop we've ever seen, this is a good time to save.

Today’s best deals: TL;DR

• Apple AirPods Max: was £549 now £342 @ Amazon Italy
• Nintendo Switch OLED Model: was £329 now £285 @ eBuyer
• Asus TUF Dash F15 (RTX 3070): was £1,399 now £999 @ Box.co.uk
• Apple iPad mini 6 (pink WiFi + Cellular): was £619 now £464 @ Amazon
• Apple M1 Pro MacBook Pro 14: was £1,899 now £1,709 @ Apple (Refurbished)
• Nintendo Switch Sports: was £35 now £30 @ Currys with code SWITCHSPORTS
• Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 (RTX 3080): was £2,343 now £1,799 @ Laptops Direct
• Xbox Series X: was £449 now £419 @ Microsoft
• OnePlus 9 5G SIM-Free: was £629 now £429 @ Amazon
• Bowers & Wilkins Beoplay EQ Wireless earbuds: was £349 now £249 @ Amazon
• Asus VivoBook 15: was £699 now £549 @ Amazon
• Lego Star Wars The Skywalker Saga (PS4): was £49 now £38 @ Base.com

Today’s best deals: In more detail

Looking for more deals?

Every day, we scour the internet for the best bargains for your buck. Check out these lists for the most up-to-date curated selection of savings worth every penny.

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Gucci loves to give tech a fashionable makeover, bumping up the price tag with high-end, luxury material and its signature "GG" logo. It did it for the $10,000 limited-edition Xbox by Gucci, and now Apple's AirPods Max are getting the treatment with a case that's pricier than the headphones themselves.

Gucci's $980 Ophidia case for AirPods Max is now available, making it nearly double the price of Apple's $549 AirPods Max. The online-exclusive case has been specifically made for Apple's high-end headphones, using "recycled raw materials" and "archive-inspired design elements."

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The Ophidia case does feature a number of unique details, including an adjustable shoulder strap with a 23.6-inch drop, brown leather details, gold-toned hardware, and a snap button closure to secure the AirPods Max. You'll also find Gucci's beige and ebony GG Supreme canvas, a green and red web, along with 'Hodiernum' printed inside the case. It's a Latin word that means "belonging to the present day." 

If you're not a fan of Apple's controversial Smart Case, the Italian fashion house's AirPods Max case may be right up your alley — if you have the cash to spare. Do note, however, that the case sports a near-identical design as the original Smart Case, which means the AirPods Max will be exposed to the elements. That said, the $980 case will probably need more attention. On the listing page, Gucci states: "protect from direct light, heat and rain. Should it become wet, dry it immediately with a soft cloth."

We named the AirPods Max one of the best wireless headphones and best noise cancelling headphones on the market, thanks to its powerful H1 chip, nine microphones, 40mm drivers and a gaggle of sensors. Check out our AirPods Max review for a better look. 

Apple offers a host of handy features with each new iOS update, including a sly Live Listen option that turns an iPhone into a microphone that sends sound to your AirPods.

Available on iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, the feature lets you hear conversations around 50 feet away when using AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, Powerbeats Pro or Beats Fit Pro.

Now, I'm sure we all collectively jumped to using the feature to eavesdrop on conversations across the room like sneaky spies, but there are other use cases. Whether you need to drown out a noisy room to help hear someone speaking or need a quick impromptu baby monitor while you're in another room, Live Listen can come in handy. Check out how to access it below. 

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How to turn on Live Listen on iPhone 

According to Apple, the Live Listen feature can be used on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch with iOS 14.3 or later. Users will also need any of Apple's lineup of AirPods, the Powerbeats Pro or Beats Fit Pro. If you have it all, you'll then need to tweak the Control Panel settings to access the feature. 

• On your iOS device, open the Settings app and navigate to the "Control Centre."
• Scroll down and tap on "Hearing" to add it to the included controls. 
• Open the Control Centre by swiping up or down on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. 

• Tap the "Hearing" icon
• With your AirPods, Powerbeats Pro or Beats Fit Pro connected, tap "Live Listen" to turn the feature on. 

There you have it. Once the feature is active, you can place your iOS device around 50 feet away (according to tech site alphr) and be able to hear sounds via your AirPods.

If you're after more nifty tricks your iPhone has hidden away, check out the iPhone's secret rain map and how to access it along with our latest iOS 15 tips to make the most out of your iPhone. 

"How to connect AirPods to iPhone" is a common question among audiophiles who just got their Apple-branded earbuds and have no idea how to pair them. Thanks to Bluetooth technology, pairing AirPods to your iPhone is a seamless, painless experience.

In this easy, step-by-step tutorial, we'll walk you through the steps on how to connect your AirPods to your iPhone, so you can listen to Spotify, catch up on your favorite podcasts, and more.

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How to connect AirPods to iPhone

First, you must ensure that your iPhone's Bluetooth is enabled. You can do this by going to Settings > Bluetooth and making sure the toggle switch next to "Bluetooth" is on (it should be green). 

Second, your AirPods must be placed in their case and adequately charged. Now that your iPhone is discoverable and ready for pairing, let's connect your AirPods.

1. Make sure you're next to your iPhone. Press and hold the circular button on the back of the AirPods case until a blinking white light appears.

2. Open the AirPods' case. A pop-up window should appear on your iPhone. Tap on "Connect."

3. You may get pop-ups offering tips on how to use your AirPods (e.g. noise cancellation) and/or whether you'd like Siri to announce your messages. You can either skip them or follow the prompts — it's all up to you.

5. You'll get a final pop-up demonstrating your AirPods' battery status, informing you that they're now paired with your iOS device.

If a pop-up doesn't appear when you open the lid (step two), you can try another method. Press and hold the button on the back of the AirPods case until a white blinking light appears; this launches pairing mode.

Go to Settings > Bluetooth. Your AirPods should appear under "My Devices." Click on it to connect it to your iPhone.

Netflix is bringing Apple's spatial audio feature to iPhone and iPad, giving AirPods Pro and AirPods Max owners an immersive surround sound experience when binge-watching Netflix TV shows or movies.

Apple announced new features were coming to its popular wireless earbuds and headphones at WWDC 2021, stating its spatial audio feature will work with tvOS devices and with macOS, including M1-powered MacBook models. Now, Netflix is rolling out the audio experience to iPhone and iPad users.

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Speaking to MacRumors, the streaming giant stated the feature is in the process of rolling out, meaning it may not be available to all users immediately. A post on Reddit claims it is now working on the Netflix app.  

Apple has been working on bringing spatial audio to more platforms, bringing the audio feature and lossless audio to Apple Music, too. The tech giant states it offers a multi-dimensional experience, making it sound like different noises in TV shows or movies are coming from all directions.

There are more features expected to be coming to AirPods Pro and AirPods Max soon, including "Conversation Boost" to make voice calls sound better and to adjust the amount of ambient noise, FaceTime spatial audio, ambient noise reduction, and more.

Netflix is already starting to roll out its spatial audio feature, so expect your iPhone or iPad to receive the update over the next few days. Speaking of, to make sure you're getting all of Apple's fancy features, here's how to update AirPods and AirPods Pro firmware. 

Apple reveals how Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking on its popular AirPods Pro and AirPods Max will work on macOS and tvOS, with the feature set to arrive in a new update coming later in 2021.

At WWDC 2021, the tech giant announced its popular spatial audio feature will work with tvOS devices and with macOS, including M1-powered MacBook models, along with certain tracks on Apple Music (which is available right now). The update for macOS isn't expected to arrive until this fall, but Apple offered more details on how the audio feature will work. 

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Speaking to Engadget, Apple states its spatial audio and head tracking will offer those using AirPods Pro and Max headphones an immersive surround sound experience when watching TV shows or movies using stereo, 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos audio.

Based on your head's position, the audio technology creates the illusion of a three-dimensional soundstage, which means it will sound like noises from content being watched are filling the room. The head tracking feature locks a user in once they are looking in the same direction for a set period of time.

The report also notes that tvOS and macOS devices will pick up the AirPods Pro or Max when close by, displaying a pop-up notification for quick connectivity — similar to how AirPods pair with an iPhone or iPad. While Apple has yet to announce a specific date when the feature is set to arrive, but we can't wait to try out the surround sound upgrade — it's free, after all.

Apple's WWDC 2021 event also offered a sneak peek of more features coming to AirPods, including a Conversation Boost to make voice calls sound better and to adjust the amount of ambient noise, new Announce Notifications that lets Siri read some of your more important notifications, and more.

Plenty of cool updates were announced during Apple's big WWDC 2021 event, including big announcements coming to iOS 15. 

Apple's WWDC 2021 event revealed big features coming to Apple Music, and if you have the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS installed, you'll now be able to use the new Spatial Audio and Lossless Audio features.

Now available on the Apple Music app, you can listen to lossless on an iPhone or iPad after updating to iOS or iPadOS 14.6, or on a MacBook with macOS 11.4. The spatial audio feature with Dolby Atmos is also available, with selected albums from several popular artists including Ariana Grande, J Balvin, and The Weeknd using the upgraded audio. 

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Unfortunately, all of Apple's wireless headphone devices do not support lossless audio. The tech giant's AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and Beats headphones use an AAC Bluetooth Codec, as Bluetooth connections don't use lossless streaming. 

How to switch on Spatial Audio and Lossless Audio

Once you download Apple's latest software updates, Apple Music subscribers will be able to check out and switch on the Spatial Audio and Lossless Audio features. A Twitter user first spotted the change (via MacRumors). 

In the Music section of the Settings app on Apple devices, there will be new sections under Audio including "Dolby Atmos" and "Audio Quality." in the Dolby Atmos option, users can choose to have the Spatial Audio feature Off, Always On or Automatic.  

The Automatic option will play in Dolby Atmos when connected to "capable outputs," including AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max, along with Beats headphones and other Apple products.

In the Audio Quality option, you'll be given the option to switch on lossless audio. Users can also choose the quality of audio files from different formats, including from cellular streaming, Wi-Fi streaming and downloads.

Apple notes that in order to get the lossless version of music that is already downloaded, just delete the music and redownload it from Apple Music.

As stated on Apple's support page, support for lossless streaming will be arriving to the HomePod and HomePod mini in a future update. But don't hold your breath for the same to happen to the tech giant's Airpods anytime soon.

All is not lost, however. Apple states users can listen to lossless audio using its lightning to 3.5 mm headphone jack adapter, as it uses a digital-to-analog converter that supports up to 24-bit/48 kHz lossless audio. 

Plenty of cool features were announced during Apple's big WWDC 2021 event, including big announcements coming to iOS 15. 

The AirPods Max launched without too much fanfare this week. Which is somewhat understandable given the volume of events that Apple has thrown over the last few months and the perhaps more niche appeal of the $550 wireless headphones. 

One detail that got a bit lost in the shuffle was the fact that Apple has opted not to include the U1 chip in the AirPods Max. That is the chip that was first introduced with the iPhone 11 and offers Ultra Wideband (UWB) support for enhanced spatial awareness between devices, something you might appreciate to keep track of your very expensive headphones (via 9to5Mac). 

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To be fair, Apple hasn't exactly been consistent with its inclusion of the U1 chip. Other recent releases that have included it are the iPhone 12, Apple Watch Series 6 and HomePod mini, however you won't find it in the Apple Watch SE, iPhone SE or any of the current iPads. 

It seemed like Apple's high-end mobile products would be getting the U1 going forward and the AirPods Max would certainly seem to qualify. While Apple hasn't made much use of the U1 functionality just yet, the rumored AirTags and refreshed Find My app are expected this spring and should make the benefits of this technology far more apparent.

UWB is also expected to play more of a role in the future as an augmented reality tool. But whether headphones would see a benefit from that is unclear. It's just unfortunate to see Apple fail to include some of its compelling new tech in a product that is at least at the top of the price range for Apple's current position in the audio market. However, whether AirPods Max have transcended that and earned a place with more traditional premium audio brands remains to be seen.

The Apple AirPods Max have been officially unveiled by the Cupertino-based tech giant, promising high-fidelity audio, industry-leading active noise cancellation and a comfy knit-mesh design.

If you're hoping to get your hands on Apple's highly anticipated over-ear headphones before Christmas, beware! Some variants will not be delivered before we say goodbye to 2020.

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Apple AirPods Max units won't be delivered until 2021

The Apple AirPods Max comes in five colors: Space Gray, Silver, Green, Sky Blue and Pink. If you were planning on snagging one of the striking color variants before the holidays, you'll be sorely disappointed.

As of today, the Space Gray and Silver AirPods Max models can be delivered before Dec. 22 — just in time for Christmas. However, the Green, Pink and Sky Blue variants have shipping dates that slip into 2021.

The Pink model will arrive sometime between Jan. 15 and Jan. 22 of next year. If you wanted to channel your inner Grinch this year, sorry to burst your bubble, but the Green variant has a Jan. 25 to Jan. 29 shipping time frame.

Sky Blue fans will have to be the most patient; this color variant will not ship until March 2021. 

The Apple AirPods Max has a $549 price tag. The over-ear headphones, equipped with Apple's H1 chip, is available for pre-order today and will begin shipping on Dec. 15.