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I Used AirPods for 5 Years — Here’s What I Wish I Knew Before Buying

A woman holding true wireless earbuds and their charging case while commuting, reflecting on the buying advice from a long-term owner.

A charging case that barely lasts the day is the kind of thing you only notice after the honeymoon phase wears off.

// Whether you’re buying AirPods for the first time or considering an upgrade, here’s what you need to know.

By Brianne Sandorf

Aug 29, 2026

4 min read

Edited ByBrenna Elieson

My husband’s love for me tends to manifest itself in the form of brand-new tech. When he gave me AirPods six years ago as a Christmas gift, I didn't expect them to become my most-used possession. In that time, they’re the only headphones I’ve used to listen to music and podcasts when working, doing chores, or exercising.

Now that I’m several years in and have also added a pair of AirPods Pro to my headphone lineup, I’m here to advise you on all things AirPods. I can tell you which features are worth the price tag and which aren’t, what model you might prefer, and how you can delay replacing any AirPods you already have.

What you should know about AirPods before buying

The AirPods are the OG Apple earbuds and the cheapest Apple headphone option. They currently come in two versions, the regular AirPods 4 and the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (for $50 more). The buds are rigid plastic and come in just one size, so they don’t work for everyone, and they always kinda feel like they’re about to fall out (though they never have for me, even when I’m bending over).

The reviewer’s pair of AirPods 2, purchased in December 2020. Image courtesy of Brianne Sandorf, Reviews.org

AirPods make the most difference when your hands are occupied. You don’t have to fumble to pick up your phone when someone’s reaching out. If you receive a text message, the audio pauses so the headphones read the message aloud to you. And if you get a call, you can just take them using the AirPods.

Get these if you spend a lot of time hands-on activities like crafts, chores, or yardwork or if you have a smaller budget.

Don’t get these if you have sensitive ears that won’t like the hard plastic.

What you should know about AirPods Pro before buying

AirPods Pro are a step above the regular AirPods. The current version is the AirPods Pro 3, which costs almost twice as much as the basic AirPods 4. AirPods Pro come with soft earbud tips in several different sizes so that you can find your perfect fit.

The reviewer’s pair of AirPods Pro 2, purchased in July 2025. Image courtesy of Brianne Sandorf, Reviews.org

The “Pro” in AirPods Pro refers to the higher-quality sound and different listening modes:

Active Noise Cancellation blocks out all outside sounds
Transparency mode lets in outside sounds
Adaptive Audio allows you to customize the level of outside sounds coming in by toggling ambient noise volume and the Conversation Awareness setting

Get these if you need more comfortable earbuds or to block out serious distractions during deep focus time.

Don’t get these if you have no interest in the upgraded features.

What you should know about AirPods Max before buying

AirPods Max are Apple’s old-school, gamer-looking headphones, currently on their second iteration, the AirPods Max 2. They’re big, they’re clunky, and they’re expensive, but they get the job done, and they look oh-so-cool while doing it.

The huge earphones aren’t just an aesthetic choice — the shape assists with the rich audio and signature noise cancellation feature. “The noise cancellation is just the best. Of all the headphones I've had, these work amazingly, especially on airplanes; they block out noise incredibly well,” says Chris Oberman, a two-year AirPods Max user who travels frequently with his family.

Color options for the Apple AirPods Max 2, seen from a side view

The AirPods Max 2 come in lots of different colors. Image courtesy of Apple Newsroom.

AirPods Max come with two special listening modes to bring you the best from your music, movies, and games:

Lossless Audio “preserves every detail of the original recording” to bring out each and every distinct sound
Personalized Spatial Audio is like having personal surround sound that attunes to your body’s movements

Get these if you’re a serious audiophile or can’t stand earbuds in your ears.

Don’t get these if you have a limited budget. “They're excellent headphones,” says AirPods Max user Ashley Torres. “They are not an excellent bargain.” Torres leads a team at a house cleaning company. She uses her AirPods Max to focus on her work in loud homes and pass the time when vacuuming.

What you should know if you already have AirPods

Already have AirPods and don’t want to upgrade? Instead of buying a whole new pair of AirPods, you might be able to replace the battery itself. This replacement may be free if you have Apple Care+. But even if you don’t have Apple Care+ and end up having to pay, a new battery usually costs less money than brand-new headphones.

AirPods use lithium-ion batteries which you can’t swap out yourself, and unfortunately, they degrade over time with charging and use. For instance, Apple says the AirPods 4 can provide up to five hours of use on a single charge and up to 30 on a fully charged case. But online sources like RefurbMe estimate that the battery life of all models degrades significantly after two to three years. So what’s an AirPods owner to do?

Just remember, if you don’t have Apple Care+, at some point replacing the battery multiple times becomes more expensive than investing in new AirPods. After a couple battery switches, it may be time to get fresh hardware.

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Written by

Brianne Sandorf

After five years with Reviews.org, Brianne can and will tell you which internet or mobile provider you should sign up for. She’s talked with internet customers across the U.S. and beyond and addresses their real-life concerns in every piece she writes. Brianne also created the ratings system for the Reviews.org internet service provider reviews and wrote most of them. Brianne channels her lifelong interest in detective work by hunting for obscure, need-to-know information about internet service providers. She’s always learning so that she can pass her knowledge on to Reviews.org readers. Her writing and expertise have appeared in numerous other publications, including Move.org, Parents.com, and the Stanford student blog. Her work for Reviews.org is also cited in a research paper about smart home assistants titled “Expert-Generated Privacy Q&A Dataset for Conversational AI and User Study Insights.” Brianne is a homegrown Utahn who loves to travel and see new places. She graduated from Westminster College with a double major in honors and creative writing. After 20 years in a 8,000-person city, she now lives in Murray, a bustling metropolis of 50,000 where she and her husband raise their two little girls.