Oh the behind-the-scenes drama that I’ve been living to find the perfect wireless headphones in 2022!

I’ve been a huge fan of Apple AirPods from day one, starting with the first generation. After I left those in my pocket for the wash cycle, I upgraded to the second generation and bought a couple of those over the years.

I use these almost every day, and I found that little by little the battery life shortens until I only get about 43 minutes of a 45-minute podcast before they go out. Last year the audio quality was also slipping away (so my sister says). So I’ve been hunting for a new pair since last summer.

Searching for the Perfect Headphones

Although I’m an Apple Fan Girl, I wanted to truly find the best, best, best headphones. I have spent more than a year Googling reviews, browsing showcases and putting items in and out of my Amazon cart. But I finally found the headphones that make this nerdy heart sing.

Check out all my trials and errors (I may get a commission if you buy something).

Want more gadget recommendations?
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If It Ain’t Broke: Apple AirPods Second Generation

I love the AirPods Second Generation! They stay in my ears (mostly), fit super well and let you tap twice to pause/start a podcast, call or whatever. Super easy, super affordable, and they just work. I actually bought these as a backup when I bought what ended up being the best pair ever. I just didn’t want to have to keep searching.

Ouch and Ugh: Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Earbuds

I was at the checkout counter at an airport gadget store with my Apple AirPods Third Generation headphones, and a fellow nerd approached. He said, “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t recommend the Bose QuietComforts to you.” He and I geeked out on specs as he detailed his own extensive research on headphones and said that the Bose were absolutely, 100% the best.

Who am I to argue with a super-duper nerd? I bought them. And oh my gosh…

I hated them so much.

First, they didn’t fit. They actually hurt my ears as soon as I put them in. But I figured I might be able to get used to them.

Then I called my sister, and she was shocked at how horrible they sounded on her end. She said, “Why are you calling from a festival?” when I was in a mostly empty area of the airport.

The gate agent said I had enough time to run back to the store (if I literally ran), so 20 minutes after the purchase, I had a refund.

I don’t know why I had such a negative experience with them. They are truly well reviewed. Maybe I had a faulty set? Beats me, but I wasn’t going to keep them. Ouch and ugh.

Logical Choice (But No): Apple AirPods Third Generation

Since I loved the Apple AirPods Second Generation so much, the logical choice was the Apple AirPods Third Generation, right? I bought a pair and assumed that they’d be just as wonderful.

Ummm. Nope. The part that sticks in your ear is bigger, and the dang things totally wouldn’t stay in, plus they hurt my ears. When I called my sister to do a test between my old Second Generation and the Third, she said the two-year-old Second Gen were clearer and better.

And the worst thing about the Third Generation was that one of my favorite Second Gen features was gone — the ability to tap twice to pause a podcast or answer/end a call. Instead I had to press a little spot on the sticky-downy part. Every time I tried, the dang thing would fall out again.

Almost Rans: Sony WF-1000XM4 and Anker Life P3

These two gadgets both spent time in my cart. The awkwardly named Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds are on the top of most of the “best of” lists for wireless headphones. I almost bought them three times, but the price was steep (I blocked out the fact that I spent more than $300 on the Bose QuietComforts).

I also almost purchased the Soundcore Anker Life P3 headphones. Again, they have wonderful reviews, and the price is less than $100. I’m not a sound connoisseur, so I figured I could try a cheaper pair.

The Winner! Apple AirPods Pro

I know. I know. It’s probably no surprise to y’all that I went back to Apple. But I really didn’t plan on it.

I resisted buying Apple AirPods Pro for so long because a.) they were wicked expensive and b.) I didn’t think I was one of those people who needed noise cancellation and c.) I feared that noise-canceling headphones would cancel too much noise, and I’d miss plane announcements and the like. But after a year of searching, I needed to stop messing around and Googling and just buy something.

I felt it was a sign when the price dropped from $250 to $199, so I made the purchase (and bought the Second Gen just in case these again didn’t work).

Oh. My. Gosh. These rock! I like them so much that I’ve taken to wearing them around the house even when I’m not listening to podcasts.

Apple AirPods Pro Best Features

• Noise Canceling
  When the noise-canceling feature kicked in the first time, I took them out of my ears immediately because I thought my air conditioning just conked out. There’s a kind of peaceful whoosh as they seal the canal and work their magic. I worried that they would cancel out too much noise and make me kind of oblivious to the world, but that’s not the case. I can hear conversations and announcements and the like when they’re in full noise-canceling status.
• Moderate Noise Canceling
  When I am concerned that I might miss something, I can long press on the AirPods to switch to a moderate noise-canceling level. But I like the full-on version. It’s so peaceful.
• Fit
  After trying so many devices, I’ve come to realize I have weird ears (especially my left one — what’s up with that?). It’s tough to get a perfect fit in my ear canal. But the AirPods Pro have the best fit.
• All Kinds of Other Stuff
  As I mentioned before, I’m not particularly discerning when it comes to audio experiences, especially since I lost quite a bit of the hearing in my left ear a couple of years ago (big drama). So I haven’t used a quarter of the special features that this device has. And since I’m an Apple user, it is even better.

Apple AirPods Pro Minor Annoyances

• The Tap-Tap Is Gone
  It seems that Apple has eliminated the tap-tap gesture that stopped/started calls and audio. You have to press the right spot to do that on the AirPods Pro. But where the AirPods Third Gen’s right spot was stupidly hard to find and press (and made them fall out of my ears), the AirPods Pro location and sensitivity work just fine. I miss the tap-tap terribly, but pressing the spot is easy enough.
• Battery Life
  Although Apple says the AirPods Pro have almost the same battery life of the AirPods Second Gen, I feel like the battery always needs charging. Luckily they charge very quickly, and it’s not too big of a deal. But I hate it when I’m almost through the end of a podcast then have to pop them out for a quick charge.