If you’re willing to skip out on Apple’s offer of free engraving and instead buy from Amazon, Best Buy or another retailer, you can usually find discounts on AirPods. There are a couple of deals slashing the price on the latest AirPods models happening now. For example, the latest, second-gen AirPods Pro are discounted by $25 right now at Verizon — though we’ve previously seen larger discounts on that model. And the current AirPods 3 are only $10 away from their lowest price ever.

For the average Apple user, AirPods deliver an audio experience that is unrivaled by competitors. AirPods sound great and are designed to seamlessly integrate with your iPhone, iPad, MacBook and other Apple devices, and also enable you to use other advanced features like Spatial Audio and hands-free Siri. While you won’t see any AirPods deals directly from Apple, that doesn’t mean you have to pay full price to get your hands on a pair. 

Here are the best AirPods deals available right now, along with the best prices to date for comparison. And if you scroll to the end, you’ll also see a couple sweet deals on Apple-owned Beat earbuds. We’ll keep this page updated as deals come and go, so be sure to check back often for the best AirPods prices at any given time. 

Apple AirPods pricing 2023

Model Apple Store price Best price right now Best all-time price
AirPods 2 $129 $99 $79
AirPods 3 $169 $150 $140
AirPods Pro (1st Gen) $249 $199 $129
AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) $249 $225 $198
AirPods Max $549 $480 $389

Best AirPods deals

Apple AirPods Pro 2

Apple

Battery Life Rated up to 6 hoursNoise Canceling Yes (ANC)Multipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless earbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)

The second-gen AirPods Pro are Apple’s most advanced pair of earbuds to date, equipped with its brand-new H2 processor and boasting seriously improved noise-canceling capabilities. The 2022 AirPods Pro maintain the $249 retail price of the now previous-gen AirPods Pro from 2019. You can save $25 on them at Verizon or save $15 at Amazon, but we have seen lower prices before, so if you are not in a hurry, you may want to wait to buy them when a better deal rolls around.

Read our AirPods Pro 2 review.

Apple Airpods Generation 3

Apple

Battery Life Rated up to 6 hoursNoise Canceling NoMultipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless earbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)

Unlike the AirPods Pro, these third-generation AirPods have an open-air design, so they don’t have active noise cancellation, but they still offer some serious improvements over the AirPods 2. The adaptive EQ attunes music to your ear shape, and the battery life has been bumped up to 30 hours total. They also have an IPX4 water resistance rating. With the Lightning charging case, the third-gen AirPods cost $169 at Apple. For an extra $10, you can get the MagSafe Charging case that can be used with wireless chargers. Slight discounts have been available off and on at various retailers and right now you can get the AirPods 3 for $150 at Best Buy.

Read our AirPods 3 review.

Apple AirPods 2

Apple/CNET

Battery Life Rated up to 5 hoursNoise Canceling NoMultipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless earbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)

While the AirPods 2 are the least advanced model on the market these days, they still boast some impressive specs and are a great choice for those on a tighter budget. They’re equipped with the same H1 chip as the AirPods 3, so they have the same fast connectivity, and they support hands-free Siri access. They’re available for $99 currently, which is $30 less than Apple sells them for these days (and $60 less than their original price, if you are curious about Amazon’s math).

Read our AirPods 2 review.

A grey pair of AirPods Max headphones against a blue background.

Amazon

Battery Life Rated up to 20 hoursNoise Canceling Yes (ANC)Multipoint NoHeadphone Type Over-ear wireless headphonesWater-Resistant No IP rating

Apple’s first full-size headphones are chock-full of high-end features like noise cancellation, spatial audio and easy integration with Apple devices. Yes, paying about the same as you would for a PS5 may sound excessive, but here’s the thing: They’re actually kinda worth it, so long as you don’t feel burned by their lack of support for full lossless audio. You can save almost $70 on the AirPods Max in select colors right now at Amazon and Best Buy.

Read our AirPods Max review.

Three different colored pairs of Beats Studio Buds earbuds.

David Carnoy/CNET

Battery Life Rated up to 8 hoursNoise Canceling Yes (ANC)Multipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless earbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)

No, they’re not AirPods, but the Beats Studio Buds offer active noise canceling and make a great affordable alternative to the pricier AirPods Pro. They look a lot like the rumored stemless AirPods that people were talking about but that never materialized — as AirPods, anyway. Geared toward both iOS and Android users, they’re missing a few key features on the Apple side of things (there’s no H1 or W1 chip), but they’re small, lightweight earbuds that are comfortable to wear and offer good sound. They fit most ears securely, including mine — I run with them without a problem — but others may find a better fit with the Beats Fit Pro and their integrated wing tips. You can save $50 on them at Amazon in select colors — that’s only $10 less than the biggest discount we’ve seen.

Read our Beats Studio Buds review.

You’re receiving price alerts for Beats Studio Buds: $100

A pair of Apple AirPods and their charging case

Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple’s original AirPods Pro have been discontinued, so they’re gradually getting a little harder to find. You can no longer buy them from Apple directly, but you can grab a pair for $199 at B&H. It doesn’t make sense to buy the 1st-gen AirPod Pro when the 2nd-gen Pro is basically the same price, but they make a nice fallback option if the discounts dry up for the newer model.

Read our AirPods Pro review.

Beats Fit Pro

Beats/CNET

Battery Life Rated up to 6 hoursNoise Canceling Yes (ANC)Multipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless earbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)

Technically, the Beats Fit Pro aren’t AirPods, but they’re built on the same tech platform as the AirPods Pro. Unlike Beats’ earlier and less expensive Studio Buds, the Beats Fit Pro include Apple’s H1 chip and have most of the features of the AirPods Pro, including active noise canceling, spatial audio and Adaptive EQ. I’d venture to call them the sports AirPods you’ve always wanted. And for some people, they might just be better than the AirPods Pro. They are selling at $160 at Amazon.

Read our Beats Fit Pro review.

Which AirPods are right for you?

Apple’s wireless audio lineup now includes five models of AirPods, and choosing the right set will depend on the features you care about and the price you are willing to pay. The second-gen AirPods from 2019 are the least expensive option, while the current, third-gen AirPods boast better sound quality with spatial audio. Meanwhile, the AirPods Pro 2, which have active noise cancellation and transparency modes, are Apple’s most advanced earbuds to date and the first to feature Apple’s new H2 chip. The plush AirPods Max, by far the priciest of the bunch, are Apple’s over-ear headphones and come packed with high-end features though no H2 chip. 

Along with Apple-branded AirPods, there are a couple of Beats-branded earbuds worth considering that also incorporate Apple-made tech for a similarly smooth experience. These include the Beats Fit Pro, which use Apple’s H1 chip for fast, reliable connections and a sporty design for jamming out to tunes at the gym, or while running or otherwise exercising and being active. The Beats Studio Buds lack the H1 chip and the AirPod stem, but they are lightweight, comfortable and affordable. 

Except for the baseline AirPods 2, all the AirPods listed above (plus the two aforementioned Beats models) are compatible with Apple’s spatial audio features. However, none of them will deliver the maximum quality of Apple’s lossless audio format, which is too rich for the current Bluetooth wireless standard to handle. 

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Watch this: AirPods Pro 2 Review: Hard to Beat for Apple Users

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