Apple's M2-powered MacBook Air is a fantastic laptop, featuring a sleek new design and greatly increased performance courtesy of the new M2 processor. Apple even recently introduced the 15-inch MacBook Air, bringing this new design and features to a larger size. This new design also comes with a new speaker system, now using a quad-speaker setup in the 13-inch model or a 6-speaker system in the 15-inch version, offering a great sound experience overall. But even if the sound from the MacBook Air speakers is great, sometimes you need a pair of headphones, whether you want a more immersive experience or you're in public and don't want to bother everyone else.
To help with that, we've rounded up some of the best headphones you can buy for the 2022 MacBook Air. There's one more thing that's important about this new model, and that's the improved headphone jack. Apple has added support for high-impedance headphones, similar to top-tier Macs like the MacBook Pro and Mac Studio. This means you can use higher-end headphones without needing an external amp. As such, we also have a couple of high-impedance headphones for the audio enthusiasts below.
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Apple AirPods Pro 2
Editor's Choice$199 $249 Save $50The AirPdos Pro 2 are arguably the best true wireless earbuds on the market, offering premium sound, top-tier audio quality, and interesting features, on top of working seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem.
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Apple AirPods Max
Official premium headphones$450 $549 Save $99The AirPods Max are Apple's most premium headphones, with a unique metal design, premium audio quality and great noise cancelation. They also come in a few colors.
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KBear KS2
Best ValueBecause wireless earbuds aren't right for everyone, the KBEAR KS2 in-ear monitors are a fantastic option on a budget. Don't let the low price fool you, these offer fantastic audio quality, and they have a nice cable and build quality. Plus, the microphone has way better quality than wireless earbuds can offer.
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Sony WH-1000XM5
Top-notch sound$328 $400 Save $72Sony has been in the audio game for years, and the latest generation of its wireless headphones is better than ever. In addition to great audio, this pair has a very sleek design that looks great anywhere. They're expensive, but they're a great choice.
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Surface Headphones 2
Intuitive controls$180 $250 Save $70The Surface Headphones 2 are a little older than others on this list, but they have a unique design with dial-based controls that are more intuitive than many competitors. They also have solid audio quality and a modern look.
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Razer Barracuda X
Multiple connection options$91 $100 Save $9They may not offer the most incredible audio quality, but the Barracuda X are a more affordable set of headphones that's still very comfortable. The best part is they work via Bluetooth or a USB-C dongle, so they support most devices but they also let you skip the hassle that can sometimes come from using Bluetooth.
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Sennheiser HD 650
Open-back headphones$339 $500 Save $161If you want to make use of the high-impedance headphone jack on the new MacBook Air, the Sennheiser HD 650 are some of the best headphones for audiophiles. With 300 Ohms of impedance, they require quite a bit of power, but they'll deliver fantastic audio with a wide sound stage thanks to the open-back design.
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Source: Sony
Sony WF-1000XM4
Premium earbudsSony's audio expertise also extends to wireless earbuds, and the WF-1000XM4 are a fantastic option, especially if you're not committed to the Apple ecosystem. They offer great audio, great battery life, and they have very good ANC, too.
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Apple AirPods 3
From Apple, but cheaper$150 $170 Save $20They may not be as fancy as the AirPods Pro, but the third-generation AirPods have a nicer design, solid audio quality, and the half-in-ear design may be more comfortable for some users. Plus, they work great with all Apple devices.
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Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Great audio, modern designIf you want something that looks a little different, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro have a more compact design than Apple's, and they look pretty sleek. They still offer great audio quality, too.
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Earfun Air Pro 2
Cheap wireless earbuds$70 $84 Save $14If you want great wireless earbuds without breaking the bank, the Earfun Air Pro 2 are a great option. They're relatively affordable, but they still offer great balanced sound and they have ANC support to help filter out background noise. They even support USB-C or wireless charging.
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Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro
Semi-open designIf you want a top-tier audio experience for a slightly cheaper price, the BeyerDynamic DT 880 Pro are another great pair of high-impedance headphones. These ones have a semi-open design, which helps deliver stronger bass while still having the benefits of open-back models, like the wider sound stage.
Best earbuds and headphones for the MacBook Air: Bottom line
Whether you have the 13-inch MacBook Air or the new 15-inch version, or even the older M1-based version, all of these are great options to get you high-quality sound. The AirPods Pro 2 are likely going to be the go-to choice for most, and for good reason. They deliver excellent audio quality and active noise cancelation in a comfortable design that has great battery life. If you want to save money, though, the Earfun Air Pro 2 are great budget wireless earbuds that still get the job done just fine. On the other hand, if you're more of a fan of big headphones, I'm personally partial to the Razer Barracuda X, which give you the ability to easily connect to any device using a dongle, Bluetooth, or a 3.5mm headphone cable.
If you're interested, you can check out the MacBook Air using the links below. This is one of the best laptops you can buy today, especially if you want something extra portable that still offers great performance.
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MacBook Air (M2)
The 2022 MacBook Air offers the M2 chip, and a redesigned chassis with MagSafe 3 support. It is powerful and can handle pretty much any kind of work, and it comes in either 13.6-inch or 15.3-inch sizes.
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Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
$750 $999 Save $249The 2020 MacBook Air comes with the original Apple M1 chipset, which is both fast and efficient. It has no active cooling, which makes it light and silent.
