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Apple AirPods are, unsurprisingly, one of the most popular wireless earbuds around, and for good reason. They're compact, they're stylish, they fit well, and they sound great. They're also easy to find on sale, as long as you know where to look. We've compiled the best Apple deals available right now for both the AirPods and the AirPods Pro.
If you're in the market for a pair of wireless earbuds and you're willing to shop outside of the Apple ecosystem, check out our recommendations for the best wireless earbuds of 2023.
The Best Apple AirPods Pro Deal
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Active Noise Cancelling Truly Wireless Earbuds 20% off $249.00$199.99
Amazon currently has the best price on the net for $199.99 and you don't need to be a Verizon subscriber to take advantage of this deal.
The Apple AirPods Pro is one of the best sounding true wireless earbuds you'll find, especially at this price point. "True wireless" earbuds have no wires whatsoever, even to each other. That means they're less likely to pull out, they weigh less (wires add to the weight), and they can be used singly if necessary. In addition to the excellent sound quality, the AirPods Pro is the only AirPods earbuds with active noise cancelling technology.
This is the 2nd generation model that came out in September of 2022. It has been almost three years since the first gen Apple AirPods Pro was released, so there are plenty of upgrades under the hood, even if the new AirPods Pro looks cosmetically identical. The biggest upgrade is the new Apple H2 chip, which promises better audio quality and improved active noise cancellation. There's also a new feature called "Adaptive Transparency Mode". This mode actually amplifies the ambient sound so that you can hear your surroundings better. In-ear earbuds traditionally have very good noise suppression even without active noise cancellation enabled, so this is a great way for people to listen in on the outside world without having to remove the earbuds.
Are the AirPods Pro worth it over the AirPods?
Short answer, absolutely, especially given the current price points. Here's why:
The AirPods Pro feature active (and passive) noise isolation
The AirPods Pro has a key feature that the AirPods do not have, and that is active noise cancellation. Being able to drown out the background noise while listening to your music is an absolute game changer. Those of you who have already experienced it will probably agree, and those of you who haven't will be in for an eye opening experience.
The AirPods Pro feature a better fit
This one's another obvious win for the AirPods Pro. The AirPods Pro have replaceable silicone ear tips that can be swapped out for different sizes depending on your ear. They also fit snugly in your ear to help create the proper seal for the noise cancellation to work optimally. The AirPods, on the other hand, have no adjustable eartips at all. They rest on the outer rim of your ear and don't stay in place as well as the AirPods Pro.
The AirPods Pro features better sound quality
There are a couple of reasons why, but the biggest reason is, again, the inclusion of adjustable ear tips. Because the AirPods Pro fit snugly in your ear, there's much less sound leakage. That means you'll hear bigger and more nuanced sound compared to a pair of unsealed earbuds that are resting on the outer rim of your ear. The 2nd gen AirPods Pro also features the new H2 chip compared to the H1 chip found on the standard AirPods, which Apple claims offers better audio performance.
The Best AirPods (3rd Gen) Deal
Lighting Charging CaseApple AirPods (3nd Gen) $169.00
Apple's new third-generation AirPods has some nifty upgrades like spatial audio, which can make music and other recordings sound like it's coming from directions all around you. Another new feature is adaptive EQ, which changes the sound output based on the unique shape of your ear. On a quality-of-life level, perhaps the biggest improvement is the battery life. These earbuds offer six hours of use on a single charge. And since the case also has a (bigger) battery in it, if you store your AirPods between uses, you'll get four additional charges, for a total listening time of 30 hours. That's pretty impressive. Here's a nifty tip to check your Apple AirPod battery on any device, even an Android phone.
It also supports quick charging, giving you an hour's worth of use with just a five-minute charge. You can pay $10 more to get the case with wireless charging capability. It works with wireless-Qi chargers, including, of course, Apple's MagSafe charger.
The Cheapest AirPods Deal
Lightning Charging CaseApple AirPods (2nd Gen) 38% off $159.00$99.00
If you're looking to pinch some pennies but still want to board the AirPods bandwagon, check out this deal on the 2nd generation Apple AirPods. It's currently $50 cheaper than the 3rd generation model. Whether or not the spatial audio and improved battery life are worth the price premium is your call, but rest assured that for $99 you're still getting genuine AirPods earbuds that sounds almost every bit as good as the current generation. You'll also feel a lot less remorseful accidently losing one of these little earbuds.
The Apple AirPods Max is probably be the nicest pair of headphones you'd ever wear. It's undeniably engineered to the highest standards, pumps out audiophile quality sound, boasts impressive active noise cancellation, feels comfortable to wear even during long listening marathons, and looks like a veritable work of art. Unfortunately, the Apple AirPods Max will also run you a pretty penny with an MSRP of $549. That isn't the kind of money most people would be willing to throw around for a pair of headphones. Fortunately, there are a couple of ways to score a legitimate pair of these headphones at a much lower price point.
The Best AirPods Max Deal
Apple AirPods Max 13% off $549.00$479.99
Unlike the other earbud style AirPods on this list, the AirPods Max has the distinct pleasure of being the only over-ear headphone in the lineup. This is also Apple's flagship headphone, coming in with a steep retail price of $549. Right now, Amazon has the best price of $479.99, a savings of about $70.
The Apple AirPods Max certainly wears like a $600 headphone with gorgeous anodized aluminum earcups and a tough stainless steel handband upholstered in comfy memory foam and plushy fabrics. It's undeniably engineered to the highest standards, pumps out audiophile quality sound, boasts impressive active noise cancellation, and feels comfortable to wear even during long listening marathon. The earcups are big enough to house 40mm drivers, each powered by the Apple H1 chip. You get all of the latest features like spatial audio and active noise cancellation with Adaptive Transparency Mode. If you're willing to eschew the versatility of true wireless earbuds, the AirPods Max certainly won't disappoint.
