If you know where to look, you can often score discounts on Apple’s ever-popular AirPods. Although we’ve yet to see major deals on the new AirPods 4 and the updated AirPods Max, both the second- and third-gen AirPods can still often be found at a steep discount. The same goes for the original Max, which are nearly indistinguishable from the previous model aside from the addition of USB-C.
Keep in mind that we may see even better discounts during Amazon’s October Prime Day event, which will take place on October 8th and 9th. If you can’t wait until then, though, here are the best deals currently available on each model, including the second-gen and third-gen AirPods, both iterations of the AirPods 4, the latest AirPods Pro with USB-C, and the last-gen AirPods Max.
The best AirPods (second-gen) deals
AirPods (second-gen) with Lightning charging case $89$12931% off$89$89$12931% offThese AirPods are Apple’s second generation of true wireless earbuds. Though they’re from 2019, they remain a reliable pair of bu
ds with solid sound quality. $89 at Amazon$89 at Walmart$123 at Best Buy (for My Best Buy Plus and Total members)
Before they were discontinued alongside the AirPods 4 announcement, the second-gen AirPods were Apple’s entry-level earbuds. Despite being released in 2019, they still offer terrific wireless performance, great ease of use, and reliable battery life, making them a solid pick if you can live without a wireless charging case or some of the more advanced software features afforded by Apple’s newer H2 chip.
The second-gen AirPods originally launched with an MSRP of $159; however, Apple eventually lowered their list price to $129, and we now often see them on sale for far less. Right now, for instance, you can buy them for $89 ($49 off) at Amazon and Walmart, which is just $11 shy of their all-time low.
Read our AirPods (second-gen) review.
The best AirPods (third-gen) deals
Apple AirPods (third-gen) with Lightning charging case$130$16923% off$130$130$16923% offApple’s third-gen AirPods sport an u
pdated design and sound significantly better than their predecessors. They also support newer features, including head-tracking spatial audio.$130 at Amazon$161 at Best Buy$170 at Walmart
Apple AirPods (third-gen) with MagSafe charging case$140$17922% off$140$140$17922% offSimilar in appearance to their sleeker sibling, the AirPods Pro, the third-gen AirPods boast a new charging case and shorter stems. They’re also water resistant, unlike the 2019 model, and sport better battery life.$140 at Costco (members only)$171 at Staples$174 at BandH Photo
With support for the company’s MagSafe charger and an asking price of $179, Apple’s third-gen AirPods were once considered the middle child in the AirPods lineup. The shorter stems made for a more subtle design, too, while improved sound and features like sweat and water resistance, support for head-tracking spatial audio, and improved battery life rendered them a nice upgrade over their predecessor.
However, the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellat
ion have since replaced the third-gen AirPods in Apple’s lineup. The new earbuds run $129 and $179, respectively, with the step-up model offering a few perks once reserved for the Pro models, including ANC, a helpful transparency mode, and a case with a built-in speaker. You can also squeeze the stem to control media playback – a feature also available on the entry-level AirPods 4.
Given the AirPods 4 are a notable upgrade and currently start at $119, we’d recommend picking them over the third-gen model unless the last-gen AirPods dip further in price. Right now, you can only buy them on sale with a Lightning-only charging case at Amazon for $129.99, which is $10 shy of their all-time low. Costco members, meanwhile, can buy the MagSafe option for $10 more through October 3rd.
Read our AirPods (third-gen) review.
The best AirPods 4 deals
Apple AirPods 4$119$1298% off$119$119$1298% offApple’s AirPods 4 improve on previous models with better sound, clearer voice calls, and an even more comfortable design. Fo
r $50 extra, you can purchase a model with active noise cancellation and wireless charging.$119 at Amazon$123 at Best Buy (for My Best Buy Plus and Total members)$130 at Target
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation$179The fancier version of the new AirPods 4 offer support for active noise cancellation, a wireless charging case that can use either Qi or Apple Watch pads, and a speaker in the case that chirps to help you find them.$179 at Amazon$180 at Best Buy$180 at Target
During Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event on September 9th, the company introduced the AirPods 4, a pair of wireless earbuds available in two flavors: a $129 standard model and a noise-canceling version for $179. Both models represent significant upgrades over the second-gen AirPods, with a more comfortable design and improved audio performance. They’re also better for taking calls thanks to Apple’s Voice Isolation feature, which better isolates your voice so that you can more clearly be heard in noisy environments.
For $50 extra, you can
also buy the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, which offer noise cancellation, a helpful transparency mode, and several more Pro-like features. Admittedly, the AirPods Pro do a better job of tuning out noise, but Apple’s latest pair of wireless earbuds still do a good job of reducing sound. They also offer other perks formerly reserved for Apple’s highest-end earbuds, including wireless charging and a case with a built-in speaker that allows you to easily track it down via Apple’s Find My app.
Both versions of Apple’s new AirPods 4 recently went on sale for the first time, though, sadly, the $10 discount we previously saw on the noise-canceling model is no longer available. That being said, you can still grab the entry-level AirPods 4 on sale at Amazon for $119 ($10 off).
Read our AirPods 4 review.
The best AirPods Pro (second-gen) deals
Apple AirPods Pro (second-gen) with USB-C charging case $199$24920% off$199$199$24920% offThe second-gen AirPods Pro improve upon Apple’s original pair with much
better noise cancellation, sound quality, and onboard volume controls. The latest refresh also ships with a USB-C charging case, as opposed to Lightning. Read our review.$199 at Amazon$200 at Costco (members only)$249 at Walmart
In 2022, Apple released the second-gen AirPods Pro, which feature a similar build to the first-gen model but offer better noise cancellation, swipe-based controls, and an extra-small pair of swappable silicone ear tips for smaller ears. Apple followed them up last year with a minor refresh, one that features a USB-C charging case and an upgraded IP54 rating for water and dust resistance. The newest model also supports lossless audio when used with Apple’s new Vision Pro headset and will soon double as FDA-approved hearing aids.
Apple’s updated AirPods Pro recently dropped to a new low of $168.99 ($81 off). Right now, however, you can only purchase the USB-C model at Amazon and Costco for about $199 ($50 off). However, note that you’ll need a Costco membership to score the latter dea
l.
Read our hands-on impressions of the AirPods Pro with USB-C.
The best AirPods Max deals
Apple AirPods Max$429$54922% off$429$429$54922% offApple’s AirPods Max feature exemplary build quality, sound phenomenal, and keep up with the best at noise cancellation.$429 at Amazon (Lightning)$429 at BandH Photo (Lightning)$539 at Amazon (USB-C)
The AirPods Max aren’t the iconic in-ears that have become synonymous with the AirPods name. They’re large and luxurious, comprised of aluminum, steel, and mesh fabric that remains comfortable during extended listening sessions. They also sport excellent noise cancellation, Apple’s spatial audio feature, and expansive, balanced sound, even if they lag behind some of their peers when it comes to bass response and features. They’re not the best noise-canceling headphones for most people – blame the sticker price – but it’s hard to find a better pair of Bluetooth headphones if you’re an iPhone user.
In September, Apple replaced the first-gen Max with a new model that featu
res support for USB-C charging and a few new color options. They’re already on sale at Amazon starting at $538.99 ($11 off), though, if you’re not opposed to a Lightning port, the better deal is on the original pair. Right now, the first-gen model is on sale at Amazon and BandH Photo starting at $429 ($120 off), which is about $30 shy of their all-time low price.
Source: Tourism Africa