On the other hand, the AirPods Max offer a better noise-canceling experience by virtue of that form factor. Both products offer a transparency mode for hearing environmental noise and noise canceling to focus on the audio itself, but the AirPods Max handle the latter better because they cover your entire ear.

Apple is expected to release AirPods Pro 3 in 2025. These are the main rumored features that will make this the best earbuds available.

Each bud has full volume and track controls, so you don’t need to fumble with your smartphone to make adjustments. And that smartphone can be an iPhone or Android device — the Powerbeats Pro are compatible with both. They also have Audio Sharing so you can pair two sets of Powerbeats Pro with the same device so you can listen with a friend.

The Beats Fit Pro and second-gen AirPods are both a few years old, but that doesn't mean they're long in the tooth — here's how each pair performed