The best Black Friday AirPods deals 2024: big savings on all Apple headphones

Apple AirPods Max, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 3 in a row on desk with records
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Desperate to grab a pair of Apple AirPods but don't want to pay full price? You're not alone. You won't see massive savings on Apple earbuds throughout the year, but the one time we normally see big price drops is during the annual Black Friday sales event.

We've now spotted the lowest-ever deals on the flagship AirPods Pro 2 and the premium AirPods Max (Lightning version), as well as slashed prices on older pairs of standard AirPods.

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 and check out the live widgets.

Best AirPods deals

AirPods Pro 2 was $249now $160 at Walmart (save $89)
Five stars

AirPods Pro 2 was $249 now $160 at Walmart (save $89)
Apple’s latest flagship ANC buds are our five-star favourites. With impressive ANC, a hugely enjoyable sound that’s powerful, dynamic and subtle, along with personalised spatial audio and new Apple-centric features, the AirPods Pro (2nd gen) are the best AirPods you can buy – and now even more tempting with this huge discount.

Price check: $170 @ BestBuy

Apple AirPods 2was $129now $89 at Walmart (save $40)

Apple AirPods 2 was $129 now $89 at Walmart (save $40)
The standard 2nd-gen AirPods are two generations old now and are superseded by the new AirPods 4, but this is the lowest price we've seen these classic AirPods at. This model has the original longer stem design and foregoes any new Apple spatial audio or ANC features. These are the cheapest AirPods you can get, while stocks last.

Apple AirPods Max (Lightning) was $549now $399 at Target (save $150)
Five stars

Apple AirPods Max (Lightning) was $549 now $399 at Target (save $150)
Apple’s very first over-ear models were a five-star hit: superb-sounding, noise-cancelling wireless cans with a stylish and premium design. The original AirPods Max with the Lightning connector have been dropping in price significantly, especially since the announcement of the newer 2024 USB-C model with different finishes - which is available at full price for now.

This $399 price is on the space gray, silver and sky blue finishes. Deal ends on Saturday 23 Nov.

Deal also available at Best Buy

AirPods 4 deals

Apple AirPods 4

A close-up of the AirPods 4 in their open case

(Image credit: Future)

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 2 

AirPods Pro 2 held in the hand

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 kept it the same price in the US. 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 $69, 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 2 (2022) vs AirPods Pro: what are the differences?

AirPods 3 vs AirPods 2: what's the difference? Should you upgrade?

AirPods Max 2: release date rumours, potential price, features and spec leaks

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