Apple Airpods

Apple AirPods have become the go-to wireless earbuds for iPhone owners, blending effortless pairing, premium sound and intelligent features like Active Noise Cancellation and Adaptive Audio into a compact, everyday design. Whether tuning out the morning commute, settling in for a long-haul flight or taking hands-free calls between meetings, there's an Apple earbud built for the way you listen - from the entry-level AirPods 4 and wired USB-C EarPods through to the flagship AirPods Pro 3, which deliver up to twice the noise cancellation of the previous generation and up to eight hours of listening on a single charge.

At EE, the full Apple earbuds range is available outright or on flexible monthly plans, including "good as new" refurbished options and Apple Music bundles that spread the cost.

It's all backed by EE's award-winning mobile network - named the UK's number one network by RootMetrics, with 5G coverage reaching around 89% of the population and 5G+ standalone available to more than 50 million people across 610+ towns and cities. So you can stream, download and stay connected to your audio wherever you are.

Things to consider when choosing Apple earbuds

Not all Apple earbuds are built the same. Selecting the right pair depends on how, where and why you listen. Here are the key factors to weigh before you buy:

• Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

ANC is the headline feature that separates the AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 with ANC from the standard AirPods 4. The AirPods Pro 3 remove up to twice as much noise as the previous generation and up to four times more than the original AirPods Pro, making them ideal for noisy commutes, open-plan offices and flights. If you mostly listen in quiet environments, the standard AirPods 4 may be all you need.

• Fit and comfort

AirPods Pro 3 ship with foam-infused ear tips in multiple sizes for a secure, personalised seal that improves both comfort and passive noise isolation - a benefit for workouts, running and long listening sessions. The open-design AirPods 4 sit comfortably in the ear without tips, which some users prefer for all-day wear and situational awareness.

• Battery performance

Battery needs matter if you're a heavy user. AirPods Pro 3 deliver up to 8 hours of listening on a single charge with ANC enabled and up to 24 hours total with the charging case. A quick 5-minute charge in the case provides around an hour of listening. AirPods 4 offer solid everyday battery performance for casual listening.

• Durability

If you train or spend time outdoors, look at the IP rating. AirPods Pro 3 carry an IP57 rating, meaning they resist dust, sweat and water - suitable for workouts and rainy runs. Standard AirPods 4 offer light sweat and water resistance for everyday use.

• Intelligent features

Flagship AirPods Pro 3 add a built-in heart rate sensor, hearing assistance and Live Translation - features that go beyond audio into health and travel utility. Adaptive Audio dynamically blends ANC and Transparency mode based on your environment, while Conversation Awareness lowers your media when you start speaking.

• Budget and how you pay

EE offers Apple earbuds outright or on monthly plans, including "good as new" refurbished options that lower the entry price and 24-month bundles that pair your earbuds with Apple Music. EE Finance lets you spread the cost over 3 to 48 months at 0%–19.9% APR, subject to status.

Frequently asked questions

General Apple earbuds FAQs

• What's the difference between AirPods and Apple EarPods?

AirPods are Apple's wireless Bluetooth earbuds, available in several models including AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with ANC and AirPods Pro 3. EarPods are Apple's wired in-ear headphones with a USB-C connector - a simple, affordable option for direct connection to iPhone, iPad or Mac without charging or pairing.

• Which Apple earbuds are best for noise cancellation?

The AirPods Pro 3 offer Apple's strongest Active Noise Cancellation, removing up to twice as much noise as AirPods Pro 2 and up to four times more than the original AirPods Pro. The AirPods 4 with ANC also provide solid noise cancellation for an open-fit design, while the standard AirPods 4 do not include ANC.

• Can I use Apple AirPods with Android devices?

Yes, AirPods work as standard Bluetooth earbuds with Android phones and other Bluetooth devices. However, Apple-specific features like Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Live Translation and automatic switching between Apple devices require an iPhone, iPad or Mac.

• What does "good as new" mean for Apple earbuds at EE?

"Good as new" refers to refurbished Apple earbuds that have been professionally inspected, tested and restored to a like-new standard. These offer a lower price point than brand-new units while delivering the same features and performance.

• Can I spread the cost of Apple earbuds at EE?

Yes. EE offers monthly payment plans and 24-month bundles that can include Apple Music, as well as EE Finance options ranging from 0% to 19.9% APR over 3 to 48 months, subject to status and order value.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 FAQs

• What's the difference between AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Pro 2?

The AirPods Pro 3 add 2x stronger Active Noise Cancellation, a heart rate sensor for workouts and a redesigned fit with 5 ear tip sizes. You also get up to 8 hours of battery performance with Active Noise Cancellation on, up from 6 hours on the AirPods Pro 2. Both share the same H2 chip and core features like Adaptive Audio and Personalised Spatial Audio.

• How long does the battery last on AirPods Pro 3?

You get up to 8 hours of listening on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation on or up to 10 hours in Transparency mode using the Hearing Aid feature. The MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C) gives you up to 24 hours of total listening time with Active Noise Cancellation enabled.

• Do AirPods Pro 3 work with Android phones?

They work best with Apple devices, where you get the full experience including Adaptive Audio, Personalised Spatial Audio and heart rate sensing. You can pair them with an Android phone over Bluetooth for basic listening, but the Apple-specific features aren't available.

• Are AirPods Pro 3 good for workouts and running?

Yes, they're well suited to workouts. The redesigned shape sits more securely in your ear and IP57 dust and water resistance means they can handle tough sessions. A built-in heart rate sensor measures your heart rate during over 50 workout types in the Fitness app on iPhone.

• How good is the noise cancellation on AirPods Pro 3?

The Active Noise Cancellation is highly effective for a pair of in-ear earbuds. It removes up to 2x more noise than the AirPods Pro 2 and up to 4x more than the original AirPods Pro, thanks to new ultra-low-noise microphones and foam-infused ear tips that improve the seal.

Apple AirPods 4 FAQs

Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation FAQs

• Do AirPods 4 have Active Noise Cancellation?

Yes, but only on the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation model. Powered by the H2 chip, it helps reduce low-frequency noise like airplane engines and city traffic, while Adaptive Audio and Transparency mode adjust to your surroundings so you stay aware when you need to be.

• Can AirPods 4 be used with an Android phone?

Yes, AirPods 4 work as standard Bluetooth earbuds with Android and other non-Apple devices, so you can listen to music and take calls. You'll lose some Apple-only features though, such as Siri, automatic ear detection and Find My, so for the full experience pair them with an iPhone, iPad or Mac.

• How long does the battery last on AirPods 4?

You get up to 5 hours of listening time on a single charge or up to 4 hours with Active Noise Cancellation enabled. The charging case extends this to up to 30 hours total and a quick 5 minutes in the case gives you around 1 hour of listening time.

• What is the difference between AirPods 4 and AirPods 3?

AirPods 4 bring several upgrades over AirPods 3, including the faster H2 chip, Bluetooth 5.3 and a new acoustic architecture for richer sound. They add Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, Voice Isolation for clearer calls and an IP54 dust, sweat and water resistance rating, plus a smaller USB-C charging case.

• Are AirPods 4 comfortable to wear all day?

Yes, AirPods 4 use an open-ear design with no silicone tips, which many people find more comfortable for long listening sessions than in-ear models. The redesigned shape is refined for all-day comfort and stays lightweight at just 4.3g each, so they sit comfortably for hours of use.

Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation FAQs

• Do the AirPods 4 block out all background noise?

No, but they reduce it effectively. They cut low-frequency sounds like engine hum and traffic, making them ideal for the office or daily commute. For stronger noise cancellation on flights, the AirPods Pro 2 are a better choice thanks to their in-ear seal.

• How long does the battery last on AirPods 4 with ANC?

You get up to 4 hours of listening time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation on or 5 hours with it off. The wireless charging case extends this to up to 20 hours with Active Noise Cancellation on or 30 hours with it off. A 5-minute charge gives you around 1 hour of listening time.

• What's the difference between the AirPods 4 versus the AirPods Pro 2?

The main difference is the fit. The AirPods 4 have an open-ear design with no silicone tips, while the AirPods Pro 2 come with 4 sizes of silicone ear tips that create a seal for up to 2x stronger noise cancellation. The AirPods 4 are more comfortable for long sessions and more affordable too.

• Can the AirPods 4 with ANC be used with Android phones?

Yes, they work with Android phones and other Bluetooth devices, but you'll miss out on Apple features like Personalised Spatial Audio and Conversation Awareness. For the full experience, including automatic switching between your Apple devices, use them with your Apple devices. Basic playback and calls work fine over Bluetooth 5.3.

• How do you charge the AirPods 4 with ANC?

You can charge the case with a USB-C cable, a Qi-certified wireless charger or an Apple Watch charger. It's the smallest wireless charging case in the industry with this capability, so it's compact and easy to top up. The case also has a built-in speaker for Find My to help you track it down.

Apple EarPods with USB-C FAQs

• Will Apple EarPods with USB-C work with an iPhone?

Yes. They work with any iPhone, iPad or Mac that has a USB-C port, including iPhone 15 and newer models. Plug them straight in and audio plays instantly with no pairing or set-up needed, with full volume and playback controls on models running iOS 17, iPadOS 16.4 or macOS Monterey 12.6 and later.

• Do Apple EarPods with USB-C support lossless audio?

Yes. Thanks to a built-in DAC (digital-to-analogue converter), they support lossless audio playback through Apple Music at up to 24-bit/192kHz. You get the highest quality sound from Apple Music without needing a separate adapter.

• How do Apple EarPods with USB-C compare to the Lightning version?

Both versions use the same Apple drivers and built-in DAC (digital-to-analogue converter), so sound quality is identical. The only real difference is the connector, so choose USB-C for iPhone 15 and newer or Lightning for iPhone 14 and earlier. Pick the pair that matches your phone's port and you'll get the same clear, balanced Apple sound.

• Do Apple EarPods with USB-C have a microphone for calls?

Yes. They have a built-in microphone and an inline remote with volume controls, so you can take calls and control playback hands-free. Call quality is clear and reliable and reviewers find it better than AirPods for important conversations.

• Do Apple EarPods with USB-C block out background noise?

No. Their open-ear design sits outside the ear canal rather than sealing it, so you can hear what's going on around you. This is handy for staying aware of your surroundings on walks or in the office, though it means bass is lighter and you'll notice more ambient sound than with sealed earbuds.