Which AirPods Do I Have? Find Your Exact Model

The fastest way to identify your AirPods: open Settings on an iPhone, go to Bluetooth, tap the info button next to your AirPods, and read the model name shown there. If you do not have the AirPods paired to an iPhone, the model number is printed on the underside of each earbud (or behind the ear cushion on AirPods Max), starting with the letter "A", and you can enter that number at Apple's own coverage-check tool to confirm the exact model. Once you know which model you have, the tips, features and case that go with it are all determined by that one answer.

Why this is harder than it should be

Apple has shipped several generations of AirPods, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, several of which look nearly identical from across a room. "AirPods" is not a specific enough answer when you are trying to buy replacement tips, check whether a feature applies to your pair, or decide whether to upgrade. You need the generation, and ideally the exact model number, before any of those questions can be answered. It is the same reason How to Choose Wireless Earbuds Without Trusting Anyone's Score puts "know what you already own" ahead of comparing anything new.

Method 1: Check via Bluetooth settings (fastest if paired to an iPhone)

1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Go to Bluetooth.
3. Find your AirPods in the device list.
4. Tap the info (i) button next to the name.
5. The model name is shown on that screen.

This is the quickest route if your AirPods are already paired to an Apple device, because it reads the model directly from the hardware rather than relying on you to find and read a tiny printed number.

Method 2: Read the model number off the hardware itself

Every AirPods model carries a physical model number, and it is the most reliable identifier because it cannot be confused by a case that looks similar to another generation.

• AirPods and AirPods Pro: the model number is printed on the underside of each earbud, and separately on the inside of the charging case lid. It starts with the letter "A" followed by a string of numbers.
• AirPods Max: the model number is printed behind the left ear cushion, which needs to be removed to see it.
• Charging case serial number: printed under the lid, a 12-character mix of letters and numbers, which is a different number from the model number but equally useful for a coverage check.

Method 3: Use Apple's own coverage-check tool

Once you have either the model number or the serial number, enter it at Apple's own coverage-check page (checkcoverage.apple.com). This tells you the exact model and confirms your AirPods against Apple's own records, which is the most authoritative single source for identifying a specific unit rather than a general model family.

Method 4: Visual identification, when you cannot check settings or find a number

If you just need a rough answer right now and cannot check Settings or find the printed number:

• No ear tip at all, sits in the outer ear → a non-Pro AirPods model (AirPods, AirPods 2, AirPods 3 or AirPods 4).
• Has a removable silicone ear tip → an AirPods Pro model (AirPods Pro or AirPods Pro 2, or AirPods Pro 3).
• Large over-ear cups with a headband → AirPods Max.

This narrows the family but does not tell you the exact generation inside that family, since, for example, both AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 share the tip-based design. For the exact generation, use Method 1, 2 or 3 above.

What model number tells you: fit, features and what's compatible

Knowing your exact model matters for three practical reasons, not just curiosity:

Which tips fit. Sealed models (the Pro line) use replaceable silicone tips sized specifically for that generation's stem and housing shape. A tip made for one generation of AirPods Pro is not guaranteed to fit securely on a different generation, even though they look similar in photos.

Which features you actually get. Features like Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, or a specific noise-cancellation depth were introduced at specific generations, not retrofitted to older hardware through a software update. If you are trying to find a feature you read about online and it is not appearing on your pair, the most common reason is that your specific generation does not include it, not that it is hidden in a menu somewhere.

Whether it is worth keeping. Once you know your exact model, you can compare it honestly against a newer option instead of guessing based on the family name alone. If you are weighing whether to move from an open-fit non-Pro model to a sealed one, AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 3: Open Fit or Sealed covers the one physical difference that actually decides that choice. And if a spec sheet number on a replacement or upgrade pair looks unfamiliar, What the Numbers on a Headphone Box Actually Tell You explains what each figure actually means.

A quick reference for what to look for

What you see	Likely family	What to check next
No ear tip, sits loosely in outer ear	Non-Pro AirPods generation	Model number on stem or case, to pin the exact generation
Removable silicone ear tip	AirPods Pro generation	Model number, since tip sizing and features differ by generation
Full over-ear cups on a headband	AirPods Max	Model number behind the ear cushion
Case has USB-C port	Almost certainly a more recent generation	Confirm with Settings > Bluetooth > info, since generation still needs confirming
Case has Lightning port	An earlier generation	Confirm with the printed model number, as Lightning-case generations vary

Treat the case's charging port as a rough clue, not a confirmation. It narrows things but the only fully reliable check is the model number itself or the Settings info screen.

FAQ

Does the model number tell me the generation, or do I need both?
The model number is the most precise identifier and effectively tells you the generation, since Apple assigns a distinct model number to each generation. The Settings > Bluetooth info screen gives you the generation name directly without needing to decode the model number yourself.

My AirPods case looks identical to a friend's newer one. How do I know if mine is older?
Cases can look very similar across generations, especially within the Pro line. The model number printed inside the case lid or on the earbuds themselves is the only reliable way to tell them apart visually; do not assume from case shape alone.

I lost the box. Can I still find out what I have?
Yes. The model number is printed on the hardware itself (the earbuds and the inside of the case lid), not only on the box, so losing the packaging does not lose your ability to identify the model.

Do third-party ear tips work across AirPods Pro generations?
Not reliably. Tip sizing and the stem shape they attach to can differ between generations, even within the Pro line, so a tip bought for one generation is not guaranteed to seal properly on another. Check the tip's stated compatibility for your exact model before buying.

I don't have an iPhone. Can I still identify my AirPods?
Yes. The printed model number on the earbuds and case works regardless of what phone you use, and Apple's coverage-check tool at checkcoverage.apple.com accepts that number or the case's serial number from any browser.