If you know where to look, there are often huge discounts available on Apple's ever-popular AirPods. Since Apple launched the third-generation AirPods in late 2021, we've seen the starting price of the base second-generation model slowly drop to around $100. And now that the second-generation AirPods Pro have been on the market for a year, we're also seeing their price drop more frequently. We're even seeing great deals on the newer, updated AirPods Pro with USB-C.
Here, we've selected the best deals currently available on each model, including the base AirPods, AirPods Pro, third-generation AirPods, and AirPods Max.
Best AirPods (2nd generation) deals
These AirPods are the second generation of Apple's true wireless earbuds and the cheapest model in the AirPods line.
In 2021, Apple reduced the list price of the second-generation AirPods, now the base model, from $159 to $129. It now only sells the model with a wired charging case, which charges via a standard Lightning cable. Despite their age, we found that the easy-to-use second-generation AirPods still offer excellent wireless performance and reliable battery life, making them a great option if you can live without a wireless charging case.
For Black Friday, Apple's most affordable pair of headphones fell to an all-time low of $69 ($60 off) at Walmart and other retailers. At the moment, however, the second generation headphones are only on sale at Amazon and Walmart with a Lightning charging case for $99 ($30 off), up $30. Meanwhile, the model with wireless charging case is for sale at Adorama for $119.99 ($30 off).
Read our AirPods (2nd generation) review.
Best AirPods (3rd generation) deals
Apple's latest entry-level headphones are waterproof, have better battery life than the 2019 model, and come with a charging case that supports only Lightning or MagSafe.
Similar in appearance to their sleeker sibling, the AirPods Pro, the latest entry-level AirPods feature a new charging case and shorter stems. They are also waterproof, unlike the 2019 model, and have better battery life.
With support for the company's MagSafe technology and a starting price of $179, Apple's third-generation AirPods are often considered the middle child in Apple's current AirPods lineup. The shorter stems also create a more subtle design, while the improved sound and features like sweat and water resistance, support for spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, and improved battery life make them a nice upgrade over to the latest generation model.
Last year, Apple quietly introduced a new, slightly cheaper option for the third-generation AirPods that comes with a Lightning-only charging case, which is currently available at Amazon and Photo B&H for $164 ($5 off): $25 more than during Black Friday. Fortunately, you can also purchase the wireless earbuds with a MagSafe charging case at Photo B&H and costco (if you're a member) for $169.95, which is only $6 more and a better deal overall.
Read our AirPods (3rd generation) review.
Best AirPods Pro deals
The second-generation AirPods Pro improve on Apple's original pair with much better noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and built-in volume controls. The latest update also comes with a USB-C charging case, unlike Lightning.
Apple announced the second-generation AirPods Pro during its “Far Out” event last year, a pair of headphones that feature similar construction to the first-generation model but offer better noise cancellation. They also feature swipe-based controls, come with Apple's new H2 chip, and feature an extra-small pair of interchangeable silicone ear tips for smaller ears.
During this year's “Wonderlust” event, Apple also announced an updated version of the AirPods Pro with a USB-C charging case. The headphones also feature an improved IP54 rating for water and sweat resistance, as well as support for lossless audio when used with Apple's upcoming Vision Pro headphones.
Right now, you can buy the updated AirPods Pro for $189.99 ($60 off) at Walmart, which matches the all-time low we first saw during Black Friday. They are also currently in stock at Amazon, Photo B&Hand other retailers, however, in most cases, you'll have to pay $237.99 ($11 off) or its full retail price of $249.
Read our hands-on impressions of the AirPods Pro with USB-C.
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The best AirPods Max deals
Apple's AirPods Max feature exemplary build quality, phenomenal sound, and are up there with the best in noise cancellation.
The AirPods Max are not the iconic in-ear headphones that have become synonymous with the AirPods name. They're large and luxurious, composed of aluminum, steel, and mesh fabric that are comfortable for long listening sessions. They also feature excellent noise cancellation, Apple's Spatial Audio feature, and wide, balanced sound, even if they lag behind some of their peers when it comes to bass response. They're not the best noise-cancelling headphones for most people, but it's hard to find a pair of Bluetooth headphones that sound better and have more intuitive controls.
Although Woot and other retailers have discounted the AirPods Max to as low as $409 in the past, prices have since increased across the board. That said, you can still buy the AirPods Max for $479.99 at both Amazon and Best Buy.
