The best Black Friday AirPods deals 2024: get the cheapest prices on Apple headphones

AirPods Pro 2 on a chair outside
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

If you're an iPhone user looking for the best wireless earbuds or headphones, Apple's AirPods are the logical choice. We're now seeing big price drops on current models thanks to Black Friday 2024 deals, including on the flagship AirPods Pro 2 and the newly launched AirPods 4 with ANC.

But which deal gives you the lowest price, and which model is best for you? Below you'll find the best deal prices on every current AirPods model, including the premium AirPods Max over-ear headphones, and we'll also help you choose the right pair for you with our expert advice on each model.

For the best Black Friday AirPods deals live now, just scroll down.

Best AirPods deals

Apple AirPods Pro 2 was £229now £179 at EE (save £50)
Five stars

Apple AirPods Pro 2 was £229 now £179 at EE (save £50)
The AirPods Pro 2 are Apple's best in-ear AirPods ever and the first to earn five stars from us. Clever adaptive ANC, wonderfully detailed, dynamic, powerful sound and constantly added features make these wireless earbuds one of the best around. This is the joint-lowest deal we've seen them at – but will they drop lower next week?

Apple AirPods 4 with ANC: was £179 now £169 at Amazon (save £10)
New deal!

Apple AirPods 4 with ANC: was £179 now £169 at Amazon (save £10)
The newest AirPods 4 with ANC offer effective sound blocking in an 'open' standard design (no tips) and brings plenty of flagship iOS features, along with a detailed, neutral and agile sound that's closer to the excellent Pro 2.. Now with its first £10 drop.

Deal also available at John Lewis

If you prefer the standard AirPods 4 (without ANC or extra features), these are also available for £10 off: was £129 now £119 at Amazon and John Lewis.

AirPods 3 was £149 now £99 at John Lewis (save £50)
Lowest price!

AirPods 3 was £149 now £99 at John Lewis (save £50)
The older AirPods 3 with Lightning connector is now at the lowest price we've seen yet – the drop is certainly thanks to the new AirPods 4 models succeeding as standard 'Pods this year. The AirPods 3 are comfortable, lightweight buds, feature spatial audio support, no ANC, but a clean, neutral sound. Now the cheapest AirPods you can currently buy.

AirPods Max was £499now £429 at John Lewis (save £70)
Five stars

AirPods Max was £499 now £429 at John Lewis (save £70)
The hype around the Apple AirPods Max is justified – these luxurious wireless noise-cancelling over-ears are wonderful to use, boast spatial audio support and stake their claim as some of the best-sounding wireless headphones we have heard. You'll find the newer USB-C-sporting model with new finishes for £499, but the older Lightning-equipped version is on sale for a lower £429 deal price.

Deal also available at Currys

AirPods 4 deals

Apple AirPods 4 with ANC

Apple AirPods 4 with ANC wireless earbuds

The AirPods 4 come in two distinct flavours: with ANC and without. (Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

The Apple AirPods 4 are the newest 'standard' AirPods. The fourth-gen AirPods opt for an 'open' design, sporting no eartips and a refined design that we found fit easily to the contours of our ears. At just 4.3g each, they're also feather-light, although be warned there are still many who don't quite get along with the fit.

The AirPods 4 come in two variants: one with active noise-cancelling and one without, both now sporting the H2 chip. The standard, non-ANC model will set you back $129 / £129, while the AirPods 4 with ANC retail at $179 / £179. The ANC AirPods 4, aside from noise cancelling, come equipped with a slightly different charging case that supports wireless charging and has a small built-in speaker which can play a noise to help you find it. Both models features USB-C charging.

We didn't think an open design would work that well with active noise cancelling, but the result is seriously impressive. The AirPods 4 with ANC target low-level noises specifically, so the rumble of traffic, engine hums and such are cancelled out effectively. While some noise still comes through, it does a great job of keeping droning noises away so you can hear your music clearly – while still being aware of your surroundings. Pro 2 features such as adaptive audio, conversation mode and personalised volume are included in the ANC model.

Both versions of the AirPods 4 are equipped with personalised spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, as well as clear voice call capabilities and hands-free gesture controls for responding to Siri. Battery life hasn't changed much since the last iteration, sitting at 30 hours in total with the charging case, a figure which lags a little behind the competition; the Cambridge Audio M100, for instance, offer a whopping 52 hours in total with ANC switched on.

Sonically, the AirPods 4 with ANC have a similar balance to the flagship Pro 2, serving up the clarity, detail and balance that made those exceptional buds such a pleasure to listen to. Voices are particularly impressive, with the updated drivers offering a nimble and clean sound that is nice to hear; although it doesn't quite have the heft or dynamic subtlety of the flagship Pro 2 flagship model. The AirPods 4 with ANC (and the standard models without) are decent earbuds for iOS fans however, and their mix of price and features will certainly appeal.

Read our Apple AirPods 4 with ANC review

AirPods Pro 2 deals

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

AirPods Pro 2 on a chair outside

The AirPods Pro 2 are by far the best wireless earbuds Apple has made to date. (Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Apple's flagship AirPods Pro 2 earbuds earned the brand its first five-star review for the in-ear models. Thanks to the powerful new H2 chip, the noise-cancelling is improved two-fold, sound quality is now on par with the class leaders, and there are plenty of additional user-friendly features.

Battery life has increased to six hours in the earbuds, with 24 extra hours with the charging case, which now has a built-in speaker to emit tones. A fourth XS ear tip is included for an even better fit, and a new "Adaptive" Transparency Mode damps down loud and sudden harsh noises to great effect. Thanks to the recent iOS 17 software update, you also get nifty new features like Adaptive Audio (which dynamically adjusts the ANC according to our surroundings) and Conversation Mode (which pauses music when it recognises that you're speaking).

But it's the excellent sound quality that's king here. Weighty, detailed, open and with plenty of dynamic subtlety, these really are accomplished performers. Voices in particular sound natural, there's more power than before, and overall it's an airy sound that is easy to listen to for hours. For iOS users, they might be the only wireless earbuds you'll ever need.

Do note that in 2023, Apple swapped out the old Lightning connecter charging case with a new USB-C charging case and a new £229 price in the UK. There's no change to the earbuds or the sound quality, but take note when buying online to make sure you pick the correct case option.

Read our full AirPods Pro (2nd generation) review

AirPods 3 deals

Apple AirPods 3

Wireless in-ear headphones: Apple AirPods 3

A step in the right direction for Apple. (Image credit: Apple)

Apple's third-gen AirPods advanced closer to the Pro model, with a smart redesign with shorter stems and support for spatial audio thanks to added head-tracking capabilities. Battery life is stronger than the older AirPods 2 (30 hours over 24 hours) while the sound is balanced, clear and detailed.

The AirPods 3 might lack active noise-cancelling (you'll need to spend more for the AirPods Pro 2 or the new AirPods 4 with ANC) but they're a decent all-round package with plenty to offer for Apple device owners. Again, note that there are two case options: one with a wireless charging case and the other with a Lightning connector wired case.

The launch of the new AirPods 4 means that the AirPods 3 are on their way out – which means you are likely to find decent deals as retailers start to shift remaining stock. The AirPods 4 do bring considerable updates – across features and sound – to the standard AirPods, so it's worth considering an upgrade, or looking out for cheaper deals on the old AirPods 3.

Read our full AirPods 3 review

AirPods 2 deals

Apple AirPods 2

Apple AirPods 2019

Small, smart and increasingly affordable, the second-gen AirPods are often discounted. (Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Apple might have launched the AirPods 3 in 2021 before following them up with the newly unveiled AirPods 4, but the cheaper and much older, long-stemmed AirPods 2 from 2019 are a solid everyday pair of hassle-free wireless earbuds. They offer a solid combination of performance, reliability and convenience, and while they don't have extra fancy feature or even on-bud controls, they have generally been the cheapest AirPods that Apple makes.

We regularly see the price of this model drop down to under £100, but since the advent of the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC models, stock of the AirPods 2 have plummeted.

Read our full AirPods 2 (2019) review

AirPods Max deals

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max

Superb over-ear headphones, whether you're an Apple fan or not. (Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

In 2020, Apple finally delivered its first over-ear, noise-cancelling, wireless headphones: the AirPods Max, and while we found them to be large, rather heavy and very expensive, we also thought they were some of the finest headphones of any type produced by Apple. With a five-star review and a 2021 What Hi-Fi? Award to their name, the Max offer exceptional build quality, superb noise-cancelling and, most importantly, some of Apple's best-ever sound.

Their authenticity, detail, crispness and spaciousness elevate their audio quality enough to be considered alongside genuine hi-fi products at this price point. They work best with iOS devices, naturally, with cinematic spatial audio and Siri voice control amongst the many Apple-only features. If you're an Android user, you might want to consider worthy rivals such as the Focal Bathys, the Sony WH-10000XM5 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones.

While the discounts on Apple's over-ears were never usually major, that has really started to change as the Max have aged and, more importantly, a new 2024 update – a sort of Max 1.5 – arrived with USB-C charging and some new finishes. Do note that whichever you choose – with USB-C or Lightning charging – you'll get the same audio quality, though, so there's no fear that you're missing out on better sound if you opt for the original pair.

Read our full
AirPods Max review

MORE:

AirPods 4: everything you need to know about price, design and new features

Best AirPods: Apple's wireless headphones ranked and rated

AirPods Pro 3: release date rumours, price predictions, and 5 features we want

Apple AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: what are the differences?

Apple AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: what's new?

Kashfia Kabir
Hi-Fi and Audio Editor

Kashfia is the Hi-Fi and Audio Editor of What Hi-Fi? and first joined the brand over 10 years ago. During her time in the consumer tech industry, she has reviewed hundreds of products (including speakers, amplifiers, turntables and headphones), been to countless trade shows across the world and fallen in love with hi-fi kit much bigger than her. In her spare time, Kash can be found tending to an ever-growing houseplant collection and shooing her cat Jolene away from spinning records.

With contributions from