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Which AirPods Should I Buy in 2026? Every Model Compared

Jamie Nye

November 8, 2026

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For most people in 2026, the best AirPods to buy are AirPods Pro 2, refurbished from £140. They have proper noise cancellation and Apple’s H2 chip, at a fraction of the new price. On a tight budget, get AirPods 4 from £104. If money is no object, AirPods Pro 3 are the best earbuds Apple makes.

We check refurbished AirPods prices from UK sellers every morning: Back Market, musicMagpie and specialist refurbishers on eBay. Every price below is for a complete set, never a single earbud or a spare case. This guide explains what each model does, who it suits, and which ones to skip.

The short answer: which AirPods to get

Prices update every morning. See every model side by side on our refurbished AirPods price comparison.

First decision: open-fit, in-ear or over-ear?

AirPods come in three shapes, and the shape matters more than the model number.

• Open-fit (AirPods 2, 3 and 4): hard plastic buds that rest in your ear. Comfortable for hours, and you can still hear what’s around you. They let in more noise on a train or bus.
• In-ear (AirPods Pro): soft silicone tips seal your ear canal. That blocks far more noise and gives fuller bass. Some people find tips uncomfortable over long periods.
• Over-ear (AirPods Max): full-size headphones. The best sound and noise cancelling, but heavy, and too bulky for the gym.

If you’ve never got on with in-ear tips, choose AirPods 4 with ANC. It’s the only open-fit model with noise cancellation.

Every AirPods model compared

Battery figures are Apple’s, for new AirPods. A refurbished pair will usually give less, depending on age. More on that below.

Each model: what it’s good at and who it suits

AirPods Pro 2 (2022): refurbished from £140

The pair we’d recommend to most people. Apple’s H2 chip brings strong noise cancellation, Adaptive Audio that blends noise cancelling and Transparency as you move around, and Conversation Awareness, which lowers the volume when you start talking.

• Good: Excellent noise cancelling, a case with a speaker so Find My can locate it, and sweat and water resistance. The 2023 version has a USB-C case; the 2022 version uses Lightning. Both have the same earbuds features.
• Less good: Silicone tips don’t suit everyone. Newer than Pro 1 but no longer the latest.
• Best for: Commuters, travellers and anyone who wants the best value noise cancelling.

AirPods 4 (2024): refurbished from £104

The best cheap AirPods. They use the same H2 chip as the Pro 2, a smaller USB-C case, and an improved open-fit shape that Apple says fits more ears.

• Good: Comfortable, modern, and often not much dearer refurbished than the much older AirPods 2. Dust, sweat and water resistant.
• Less good: No noise cancelling. The standard version’s case doesn’t charge wirelessly.
• Best for: Anyone who wants simple, comfortable AirPods for calls, podcasts and music at home or in the office.

AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (2024): refurbished from see today's prices

AirPods 4 with noise cancelling, Transparency mode and Adaptive Audio added. The case charges wirelessly and has a speaker for Find My.

• Good: Noise cancelling without anything pushed into your ear canal.
• Less good: The open fit can’t block noise as well as AirPods Pro, so busy trains will still come through.
• Best for: People who find in-ear tips uncomfortable but still want quieter commutes.

AirPods Pro 3 (2025): refurbished from £157

Apple’s best earbuds. They add heart-rate sensing for workouts, longer battery life, better noise cancelling than the Pro 2, and Live Translation with a recent iPhone.

• Good: The strongest noise cancelling and the longest battery of any AirPods earbuds. More water resistant than the Pro 2.
• Less good: Refurbished stock is still scarce, so the saving over new is small.
• Best for: Runners and gym users, and anyone who wants the newest features and will keep them for years.

AirPods Max (2020): refurbished from £335

Apple’s over-ear headphones. Refurbished, they cost well under half the new price of the AirPods Max 2.

• Good: Rich sound, strong noise cancelling and 20 hours’ battery. Made with a Lightning port (2020) and a USB-C port (2024).
• Less good: Heavy, at about 385g. The Smart Case covers only the ear cups. No power button.
• Best for: Long flights, home listening and anyone who prefers over-ear headphones.

AirPods Max 2 (2026): refurbished from £415

The 2026 update to AirPods Max. Same design and 20-hour battery, with the H2 chip bringing stronger noise cancelling, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Live Translation and lossless audio over USB-C.

• Good: The best AirPods sound and noise cancelling, with the newest features.
• Less good: Still heavy, and refurbished prices haven’t fallen far from the £499 new price yet.
• Best for: Over-ear fans who want the latest model and will use the newer features.

Which AirPods to skip in 2026

• AirPods (2nd gen): they’re from 2019, have no water resistance and run on the older H1 chip. Refurbished from £89, they’re often only a few pounds cheaper than AirPods 4. Spend the extra.
• AirPods (3rd gen): good in their day, but AirPods 4 are newer, more comfortable and usually similar money refurbished.
• AirPods Pro (1st gen): from £92, they’re tempting. But the battery was the weak point even when new, and most pairs on sale now are several years old. AirPods 4 with ANC or a refurbished Pro 2 is a safer buy.

Are refurbished AirPods worth it?

Yes, if you buy from a seller with a warranty. Refurbished AirPods are tested, cleaned and graded, and often cost a third to a half less than new. They work exactly like new ones once paired with your iPhone.

The catch is the battery. AirPods batteries are small and can’t easily be replaced, and they lose capacity with age. That’s why we suggest newer models: a refurbished 2024 pair has had far fewer charge cycles than a 2019 pair.

Before you buy, check:

• Warranty: Back Market and musicMagpie both give 12 months. On eBay, look for refurbishers offering at least 6 months.
• Battery: some sellers state the battery health or say they’ve tested run time. That’s worth paying a little more for.
• What’s in the box: both earbuds, the charging case and, for AirPods Pro, spare ear tips.
• Which case: Lightning or USB-C, and whether it charges wirelessly. Listings for the same model can differ.
• Seller: business seller with strong feedback. We only list eBay sellers with at least 97% positive feedback.

Worried about fakes? Once paired, open your iPhone’s Bluetooth settings, tap the info button next to your AirPods and note the serial number. You can check it on Apple’s coverage page. Genuine refurbishers are happy for you to do this.

Do AirPods work with Android?

Yes, as ordinary Bluetooth earbuds. You’ll get music, calls and noise cancelling on models that have it. You lose the iPhone extras: one-tap pairing, automatic switching between Apple devices, Spatial Audio head tracking, Live Translation and battery levels in the phone’s settings. If you use Android, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds are worth comparing.

Should you wait for Black Friday?

Black Friday is on 27 November 2026. New AirPods prices usually drop, and that tends to pull refurbished prices down too. But refurbished stock is limited, and the best listings sell quickly before Christmas.

If you find a model with a 12-month warranty at a price you’re happy with, it’s fine to buy now. Our AirPods price comparison updates every morning, so you can watch prices until then. Pairing them with a phone? Compare refurbished iPhone prices too.