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AirPods gift guide: Choose the best models and accessories

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AirPods Buying Guide: Choosing the best models and accessories
Gifting AirPods for the holidays? Here's all you need to know.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

A gift that always goes down well with Apple fans, no matter the time of year, is a brand-new pair of AirPods. But it’s important to ensure you pick the right pair out of the four on offer if you really want to impress.

In our AirPods buying guide, we’ll help you choose between AirPods 2, AirPods 3, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max — and highlight some of the best cases and charging accessories to go with them.

AirPods 4 could deliver active noise cancellation

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Apple needs to take the frustration out of AirPods firmware updates
With ANC, AirPods 4 might be a significant jump up from its predecessor.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

AirPods 4 will be the first in Apple’s budget line of wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation when they launch in 2024, according to high-profile tipster. And there’ll be other improvements, too.

In addition, a new version of AirPods Max over-the-ears headphones are also supposedly on the docket for 2024.

How to get the latest AirPods Pro 2 firmware update

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How to get the latest AirPods 3 firmware update
There is a new firmware update out for AirPods Pro 2. Here’s how to get it.
Image: Cult of Mac

Apple released fresh firmware version 6A305 for AirPods Pro 2 with bug fixes on Wednesday. The update comes a few weeks after a major release brought a plethora of new features — including Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness and Personalized Volume — to Apple’s best wireless earbuds.

As always, the AirPods update process is indirect, but we can steer you through it.

Separating work and personal life with 2 MacBooks and 3 displays [Setups]

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That desktop wallpaper is distracting, to say the least.
That desktop wallpaper is distracting, to say the least.
Photo: ImCoolInMyHead@Reddit.com

A problem users face with home computer setups is how to separate work from personal use. Today’s setup brings work and personal laptops to the mix — both M1 Max MacBook Pros, coincidentally — along with three displays, including a massive OLED smart TV.

And as is often the case on social media, solid advice sounded loud and clear above the noise.

Two powerhouse MacBooks drive dual Studio Displays [Setups]

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Not everyone can say they have two late model MacBooks Pro and two Studio Displays, but the employer helped out in this case.
Not everyone can say they have two late model MacBooks Pro and two Studio Displays, but the employer helped out in this case.
Photo: Leorivero@Reddit.com

Not many folks get to flaunt two late-model, powerhouse MacBook Pro laptops along with two Studio Displays in their computer setup — but it certainly becomes more likely when an employer contributes gear. Today’s featured setup comes from an art director in just that situation.

His Apple-all-the-way setup won much praise, but some commenters on social media had fits over a backward-facing MacBook Pro — and provided a fix for the flagrant flub.

Get ready to play Wonderlust event bingo

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Basic Apple Guy's richly designed Wonderlust Apple Event Bingo card covers most likely announcements.
Basic Apple Guy's richly designed Wonderlust Apple Event Bingo card covers most likely announcements.
Photo: Basic Apple Guy
Wonderlust 2023

If Apple’s holding a major event, then it’s a good bet someone’s preparing bingo cards for it. Ahead of Tuesday’s Wonderlust event, we found a few options for you to play along while Cupertino’s rumored announcements unfold.

All AirPods might get USB-C charging in 2024

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Apple AirPods 3 Review
An AirPods 3 charging case with USB-C might be on Apple's radar.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple could release charging cases that use USB-C for lower-priced AirPods in 2024, according to an unconfirmed report. A similar case for premium AirPods Pro 2 is expected at Apple’s September event next week.

And Apple might bring USB-C to AirPods Max next year, too, as part of a general move away from Lightning.

Outstanding Beats Studio Pro headphones get $100 discount

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The new Beats Studio Pro improve greatly upon Beats Studio3, released in 2017.
The new Beats Studio Pro improve greatly upon Beats Studio3, released in 2017.
Photo: Apple

Apple subsidiary Beats unveiled its top-shelf Beats Studio Pro headphones in July, and now the cans get their first discount — and it’s a doozy.

You can take $100 off the noise-cancelling, over-ear headphones at Amazon right now.

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

How to tell if your AirPods are fake

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Real ... or fake? How to tell if AirPods are counterfeit products.
Ensure your AirPods are the real deal.
Image: Cult of Mac

Fake AirPods are a bigger problem than you might think. With so many legit-looking AirPods clones floating around, it can prove difficult to spot counterfeit earbuds.

However, you can take several steps to see if the AirPods you are contemplating buying — or that you already bought — are genuine Apple products.

Why buy a Touch ID keyboard when you can do this? [Setups]

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This user is considering a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, but alternative came up.
This user of this setup was considering a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, but an alternative came up.
Photo: Ajseps@Reddit.com

Social media is a great place to get ideas for gear to include in your computer setup — or to skip in favor of doing things another way. There are usually other ways to do things, as today’s M2 MacBook Pro user found out regarding password entry and any “need” for a keyboard with Touch ID.

And if you’re into video editing, check out the user’s cool gear — a PlusTek AI film scanner and a Loupedeck+ photo and video editing console with massive programmability.