Desperate to grab a pair of Apple AirPods but don't want to pay full price? You're not alone. Massive savings on Apple headphones aren't the easiest to come by, but you can usually find a decent deal across the current range of wireless earbuds and headphones to suit your budget as we enter the early Black Friday sales period.
Whether you're searching for convenience from the take-anywhere AirPods buds, or you want the over-ear comfort and performance of the AirPods Max, many models are on the receiving end of a discount at the time of writing. It's a particularly good time to nab an older AirPods 2 – the cheaper pair on outgoing models – and the flagship AirPods Pro 2, which are still fantastic value.
There have also been a host of new AirPods announced recently thanks to Apple's September 2024 launch event, during which we saw an updated version of the AirPods Max with USB-C port, health-related upgrades coming to the AirPods Pro 2 and two sets of the new standard AirPods 4: one with ANC and one without.
The arrival of new AirPods means that discounts will surely arrive as older models are taken off the shelves. For the biggest deals, just scroll down to start saving as Black Friday approaches.
Best AirPods deals
AirPods 4 deals
Apple AirPods 4
The Apple AirPods 4 are finally here and, despite outward appearances, they're some of the most interesting wireless earbuds the tech giant has made in quite some time. Smaller and a little more refined than their predecessors, the AirPods 4 opt for an 'open' design, sporting no eartips and instead offering a single, unified design that we found fit easily to the contours of our ears. At just 4.3g each, they're also feather-light, so much so that it's easy to forget that you're wearing them at all.
The AirPods 4 come in two distinct flavours: one with active noise-cancelling and one without. 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 (USB-C, by the way) that supports wireless charging and has a small built-in speaker which can play a noise to help you find it.
We didn't think an open configuration would work that well with active noise cancelling, but the result is somewhat spectacular. If you opt for the AirPods 4 with ANC, you'll be treated to a performance that isolates you from outside sounds across the sonic spectrum, and while some noise can pass through, there's enough performance here to smooth out and soften exterior noises and help keep you immersed in your music.
The AirPods 4 are equipped with personalised spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, both of which work well enough, as well as clear voice call capabilities and hands-free gesture controls to respond to Siri. Battery life hasn't really changed, sitting at 30 hours in total with the charging case, a figure which we feel just 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 have a similar balance to the flagship Pro 2 model, serving up all of the clarity, detail and balance that made those exceptional buds such a pleasure to listen to. Vocal reproduction is particularly good, with the H2 chip offering a nimble and clean sound that doesn't quite have the heft or power, especially at the lower end, of the flagship Pro 2 standard bearers. They're a great listen, though, even if you can get something better if you go for the second-gen Pro buds.
The AirPods 4 are still relatively new to the market, so don't expect any major discounts just yet. That said, with the pre-festive sales period just kicking into gear, this could be the time when Apple introduces its first-ever drops to tempt buyers into taking the plunge.
Read our Apple AirPods 4 with ANC review
AirPods Pro 2 deals
Apple AirPods Pro 2
Apple's flagship AirPods Pro 2 earbuds earned the brand its first five-star review for the in-ear models. Thanks to the powerful H2 chip, the noise-cancelling is improved two-fold, sound quality is on par with the class leaders, and there are plenty of additional user-friendly features.
Battery life went up to a solid 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. And 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).
It's the excellent sound quality that's king here, though. Weighty, detailed, open and with plenty of dynamic subtlety, these really are accomplished performers. For iOS users, they're the only wireless earbuds you'll ever need.
Note that Apple has swapped out the old Lightning connecter charging case with a new USB-C charging case as of 2023. There's no change to the earbuds themselves or to the sound quality, but take note when buying online to make sure you pick the correct case option for you.
Read our full AirPods Pro 2nd generation review
AirPods 3 deals
Apple AirPods 3
Apple's 'standard' AirPods advanced closer to the Pro model when they launched in 2021, with a smart redesign (shorter stems) and full support for spatial audio thanks to added head-tracking capabilities. Battery life is stronger than the older AirPods 2 (30 hours vs 24 hours) while the sound is balanced, clear and detailed.
The AirPods 3 might lack active noise-cancelling (you'll need to splash out on the AirPods Pro 2 model or opt for the newer AirPods 4 with ANC), but they're a good all-round package with plenty to offer Apple device owners. Again, note that there are two options: one with a wireless charging case and the other with a Lightning connector wired case.
Be aware that a fourth generation of AirPods has arrived and will hit shelves on 20th September, so it could be worth holding off until we've had time to test and review them so that you can assess whether they're your potentially perfect pair.
Read our full AirPods 3 review
AirPods 2 deals
Apple AirPods 2
The cheaper and older AirPods 2 from 2019 remain a great everyday pair of hassle-free true wireless earbuds. They offer a good combination of performance, reliability and convenience, and are currently the cheapest AirPods that Apple makes (until the fabled AirPods Lite ever see the light of day). They connect like a dream to your Apple device too.
Right now, we are seeing these go as low as $69, so if you're seeing them any higher than that, it might be worth holding out or opting for the AirPods 3 or (even) newer AirPods 4 instead. The AirPods 2 are essentially two generations old now, lack some basic features, meaning they're quite an outdated pair and won't be around forever. If you see a good deal arrive, it might end up being a 'once it's gone, it's gone' affair.
Read our full AirPods 2 (2019) review
AirPods Max deals
Apple AirPods Max
In 2020, Apple finally delivered its first over-ear, noise-cancelling, wireless headphones: the AirPods Max. They're large, rather heavy and expensive... and sensationally good, nabbing a five-star review and a 2021 What Hi-Fi? Award. Their exceptional build quality is as premium as the price, and they offer superb sound and noise-cancelling into the bargain.
Their authenticity, detail, crispness and spaciousness elevate their audio quality enough to be considered alongside proper hi-fi products in this class. They work best with iOS devices, naturally, with cinematic spatial audio and Siri voice control amongst the many Apple-only features.
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 a host of new finishes to enjoy. Do note that whichever iteration you choose – with USB-C or Lightning charging –you'll get the same sound quality, though, so there's no fear that you're missing out on better sound if you opt for the original pair.
Five stars
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
