When I spoke to him a few days later, I was surprised to hear that he'd bought the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. In fact, he'd bought one pair for himself and another for his son. I asked him why.

Beats and Apple each released flagship earbuds in 2025 with one standout feature: in-ear heart rate monitoring. Since Apple owns both companies, both earbuds offer native compatibility with iOS devices and provide iOS users with Apple-exclusive features.

The AirPods 4 are a great pick if you're looking for a reliable pair of earbuds, especially if you use the iOS ecosystem.

The Pixel Buds are great, but being the default doesn't make them the best.

The WF-1000xM5 have held the title of best overall wireless earbuds for two years straight, while the latest QC Ultra Earbuds take the best noise-canceling earbuds crown from their predecessor. One would think that Bose’s hardware and software advancements seal the deal.

Say what you will about Beats fans, but at least they know what they like. These headsets and earbuds are instantly recognizable for their slick styling and bass forward sound profile. If that sounds like your speed,

If you have an iPhone and want the best headphones around, your best bet is to go with the Apple AirPods Max. Today is your day!