Apple currently has four active headphone lineups — from simple earbuds for 10 thousand rubles to over-ear headphones for 50 thousand. In fall 2024, AirPods 4 came out in two variants, in fall 2025 — AirPods Pro 3 with a heart rate monitor and twice-improved noise cancellation, and in March 2026, Apple finally revealed AirPods Max 2 — the first proper update to over-ear headphones in six years. Choosing has become harder: on paper the models look similar, but the prices differ quite significantly. Let’s figure out which AirPods are worth buying for you specifically.
Choosing AirPods in early 2026. Image: gearpatrol.com
All AirPods Models in 2026: How They Differ
Four models — three form factors. This is important to understand right away, because it’s the fit that determines whether the headphones will work for you or not. No noise cancellation will save you if earbuds fall out of your ears or silicone tips create pressure.
Earbuds (open design, no ear tips):
AirPods 4 (2024) — the base model on the H2 chip. No noise cancellation, no wireless case charging. The most affordable option in the lineup. Suitable for those who need simple headphones for calls, podcasts, and music in quiet places.
Simple earbuds without any revelations. Image: pocket-lint.com
AirPods 4 with Noise Cancellation (2024) — the same design, but with ANC, adaptive audio, transparency mode, and MagSafe wireless charging. The world’s first earbuds with active noise cancellation without silicone inserts. Noise cancellation here is weaker than on the Pro 3 — you can’t cheat the physics of an open design — but it’s enough for everyday tasks.
Having ANC makes this model much more interesting. Image: phonearena.com
In-ear (with silicone ear tips):
AirPods Pro 3 (2025) — Apple’s flagship earbuds. Noise cancellation is twice as powerful as the previous generation. Built-in heart rate monitor, 8 hours of battery life with noise cancellation, IP57 water resistance, five pairs of ear tips with acoustic foam inside. Plus hearing health features: hearing test, hearing aid, and loud sound protection.
The Pros now fit more comfortably in ears. Image: engadget.com
Over-ear (on-ear):
AirPods Max 2 (2026) — announced on March 16, pre-orders are open, sales start in April. The first serious update in six years: H2 chip instead of the old H1, adaptive audio, conversation awareness, live translation, Camera Remote. Noise cancellation is 1.5 times more powerful than the predecessor. Lossless audio at 24-bit / 48 kHz over USB-C. The design hasn’t changed — the same 386 grams and the same ridiculous Smart Case.
The Max 2 changed on the inside, but not the outside. Image: wired.com
All four models run on the Apple H2 chip and support spatial audio with head tracking, personalized volume, and Siri control. The differences are in noise cancellation, battery life, form factor, and of course, price.
AirPods 4, Pro 3, and Max 2 Specs Comparison: Table
To make things more visual, we’ve compiled the main differences between the four models into a table. Save it — it’ll come in handy at the store.
| AirPods 4 | AirPods 4 ANC | AirPods Pro 3 | AirPods Max 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2024 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| Chip | H2 | H2 | H2 | H2 |
| Type | Earbuds | Earbuds | In-ear | Over-ear |
| ANC | No | Yes | Yes (2× vs Pro 2) | Yes (1.5× vs Max 1) |
| Adaptive Audio | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Transparency | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Heart Rate Monitor | No | No | Yes | No |
| Hearing Aid | No | No | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 5 h / 30 h | 4 h (ANC) / 20 h | 8 h (ANC) / 24 h | 20 h |
| Water Resistance | IP54 | IP54 | IP57 | No |
| Lossless | No | No | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Wireless Charging | No | MagSafe | MagSafe | — |
| Camera Remote | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Live Translation | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
A few points that aren’t obvious from the table:
- All four models run on the H2 chip. The basic smart features are the same: spatial audio, voice isolation during calls, and gesture-based Siri control. The differences are in noise cancellation and additional features.
- The heart rate monitor is only available in AirPods Pro 3. If you want to track your heart rate during workouts without Apple Watch — there are no alternatives in the lineup.
- AirPods 4 with ANC is a unique product on the market. Active noise cancellation in headphones without silicone tips is rare. But ANC here is noticeably weaker than on the Pro 3 or Max 2.
- Lossless audio is only available on the Max 2 and only via cable. None of the AirPods models transmit lossless over Bluetooth. If this is critical for you — you need a USB-C cable.
- Live Translation works through Apple Intelligence and currently does not support Russian. English, French, German, Spanish, and several other languages are available.
As you can see, the headphones have a lot in common but also a huge number of differences. And you haven’t even seen the prices yet.
AirPods Prices in Russia in 2026
Just a reminder that there are no official Apple shipments to Russia. All headphones reach us through parallel or gray imports. In March 2026, you can buy AirPods at the following prices.
| Model | Price in Russia |
|---|---|
| AirPods 4 | 10,499* ₽ |
| AirPods 4 with ANC |
