Are older AirPods still worth buying in 2026?

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In 2026, older models of AirPods are not worth buying. Apple currently sells AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods Max 2 in new condition. These headphones have all been released within the last year and a half and feature similar features, thanks to Apple’s H2 chip. The price range is from $129 to $549, which means there’s a price for everyone. — not to mention how Amazon usually has them discounted for up to $50.

Even if you find an old but sealed model of AirPods, it’s unlikely they’ll be priced much lower than current models. On Amazon, a pair of renewed AirPods 2 were on sale for $87 at the time of writing, while the new AirPods 4 were available for $99 without ANC – something the older model also lacks. If you really want to save $12 in a similar deal, know that outdated earbuds like AirPods 2 don’t have important features like new ones, like adaptive EQ, custom spatial audio, and IP54 water and dust resistance.

The main reason to buy older AirPods is if the new ones don’t fit well in your ears. For years, customers have complained about the fit of AirPods, with issues ranging from a simple earbud coming off to AirPods Pro 3 causing users’ ears to bleed because of the new tip. Although Apple says it is constantly improving the shape of its eartips to make them better fit most customers, their shape won’t fit everyone, so previous models might feel better in your ears.

I’ve had all of Apple’s wireless earbuds since the original AirPods came out in late 2016. Although I’ve always been lucky to know how the AirPods would work In my ears, I had some issues with the new AirPods Pro 3. Although I used the medium tips with the Pro 2, the large ones fit me better with the Pro 3. Not only did it take me a while to realize this, but over the past few weeks, the discomfort that many users experienced was real for me as well. In the current generation, Apple used a different foam tip that should fit the user’s ears more naturally, but the first few days of use still weren’t pleasant.

I’ve always been an advocate for customers owning different AirPods depending on what they do, but I know it’s not practical to keep buying every model if you’re not a tech journalist like me. Still, I can guarantee that there’s nothing more comfortable than a pair of regular AirPods during a voice or video call, because they’re so lightweight that it barely feels like you have them in your ears. The Pro line, on the other hand, is great for suppressing background noise, and the Pro 3 is particularly useful for workouts thanks to the heart rate sensor. Finally, AirPods Max are the go-to model for long trips and ultimate ANC support.

If AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 3, or AirPods Max 2 aren’t to your liking, there are a few things you should keep in mind. For standard models, the AirPods 3 remain excellent headphones, although they still have a Lightning port and lack recently introduced fancy features like live translation. Still, they have six hours of battery life with up to 30 hours of total listening time and are very comfortable to use. I wouldn’t recommend the previous models, as their battery life won’t be as good and will lack strength in touch gestures.

The AirPods Pro 2 remain a good deal in 2026, especially if you don’t care about heart rate monitoring. Apple continues to use the same audio chip on the new generation. To be honest, the Pro 2s are more comfortable and still deliver great sound quality while saving you up to $80.

Last but not least, if you’re still in the market for AirPods Max, the USB-C version released in late 2024 remains a solid option. It features the same colors as the current AirPods Max 2, and the improvements in the newer model are mostly related to the new H2 chip, like live translation, better ANC and transparency modes. However, I would tell you to wait until Apple releases a brand new AirPods Max instead of paying over $500 for these overpriced earbuds.