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.
Here, we’ve rounded up 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
These AirPods are Apple’s second generation of true wireless earbuds. Though they’re from 2019, they remain a reliable pair of buds with solid sound quality.
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 Walmart, which is just $11 shy of their all-time low.
Read our AirPods (second-gen) review.
The best AirPods (third-gen) deals
$169
Apple’s third-gen AirPods sport an updated design and sound significantly better than their predecessors. They also support newer features, including head-tracking spatial audio.
Similar 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.
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 Cancellation 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.
Right now, Costco members can buy the third-gen AirPods with a MagSafe charging case for $139.99 ($40 off); you can also grab them at Amazon with a Lightning charging case for $129.99 (about $39 off), which is $10 more than their best price to date. However, given the AirPods 4 are a notable upgrade and are on sale starting at $119, we’d recommend picking them over the third-gen model unless the latter dip further in price.
Read our AirPods (third-gen) review.
The best AirPods 4 deals
Apple’s AirPods 4 improve on previous models with better sound, clearer voice calls, and an even more comfortable design. For $50 extra, you can purchase a model with active noise cancellation and wireless charging.
The 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.
During Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event last month, 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 latest AirPods Pro do a better job of tuning out noise, but Apple’s newest 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.
Although they’ve been out less than a month, we’ve already started seeing slight discounts on both versions of the AirPods 4. Right now, for instance, Amazon is offering the standard AirPods 4 for $119 ($10 off) and the AirPods 4 with ANC for $168.99 ($11 off).
Read our AirPods 4 review.
The best AirPods Pro (second-gen) deals
The 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.
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 now 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, Walmart, and Best Buy for as low as $179 ($70 off).
Read our AirPods Pro with USB-C impressions.
The best AirPods Max deals
Apple’s AirPods Max feature exemplary build quality, sound phenomenal, and keep up with the best at noise cancellation.
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.
At the beginning of September, Apple replaced the first-gen Max with a new model that features support for USB-C charging and a few new color options. They’re already on sale at Amazon starting at $528 ($21 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 B&H Photo starting at $459 ($90 off), which is about $64 shy of their all-time low price.
