1. Quick links
2. AirPods 4 deals
3. AirPods Pro 2 deals
4. AirPods Max deals
5. Beats deals
6. FAQs
7. LIVE: Latest updates
Looking for a new pair of AirPods? I'm tracking the prices on Apple's earbuds and headphones, which are having their usually lofty prices reduced in the Black Friday sales. I've got three Black Friday's under belt now, so I know how much you should be paying for AirPods, and when.
My favorite AirPods deal at the moment is the AirPods Pro 2 for just $153 at Amazon — that's their lowest price ever. You'll also find the AirPods Max for $399 at Amazon at the moment, which is the lowest price ever. We're hoping the AirPods 4 see larger discounts over the sale, because at the moment they're nothing to write home about.
I'll be tracking the best deals live, so that you know all the best prices as they happen. If you're after a different pair of cans, then make sure you check out my Best Black Friday headphone deals live blog, where you'll find deals on loads more in-ears and over-ears.
Quick links
- AirPods 4: was $129 now $119 @ Amazon
- AirPods 4 with ANC: was $179 now $168 @ Amazon
- AirPods Pro 2: was $249 now $154 @ Walmart
- AirPods Pro 2: was $249 now $153 @ Amazon [LOWEST PRICE EVER!]
- AirPods Max: was $549 now $399 @ Amazon
About the author
AirPods 4 deals
AirPods Pro 2 deals
AirPods Max deals
Beats deals
FAQs
Which AirPods are best for me?
Working out which AirPods model you should buy comes down to more than just how much they cost. Of course, you'll want to check out the best AirPods to get the full low down on Apple's headphones and earbuds, but I'll go through the three main AirPods that you can buy right now.
AirPods 4
The AirPods 4 are the latest AirPods to join the fray, and they are for those looking to save some money. They are the core of the AirPods experience, with the magic connection, excellent interoperability with Apple devices and the clean, gloss-white aesthetic. They lack silicon ear tips for a more open fit, so if you don't like the way that most earbuds feel in your ear, you might like the less invasive feel of the AirPods 4. They have some premium features as well, such as Spatial Audio for Dolby Atmos when you go and listen to Apple Music. Sound is fine, with more bass than you'd expect and clear highs. Some might not like the emphasis on the top end. The biggest problem is the battery life — they'll only last you 5 hours on a charge. You do get 30 hours out of the charging case though. They cost $129, and recieved a 4 and a half in our AirPods 4 review.
AirPods 4 with ANC
These are mostly the same as the standard AirPods 4, although they come with some extra features. These are for those that don't want to spend the extra on the AirPods Pro 2, but also want the extra added bonus of active noise cancelling and other more premium features. In addition to all the other features of the AirPods 4, you also get the aforementioned ANC and a wireless charging case. I found the ANC to be surprisingly effective, especially considering how they fit. They have a $50 price premium over the AirPods 4.
AirPods Pro 2
These are the top-of-the-line earbuds that Apple builds, and they come with some great features for a price that's now not too unreasonable. This set of AirPods is for people who want the best wireless earbuds for Apple devices, thanks to their excellent interoperability between Apple devices. Unlike the AirPods 4, they have silicon ear tips for a better seal within the ear which improves the ANC. As a result, the ANC is amongst the very best. I've found it brilliant for blocking out the noise of busy office blocks, buses and train travel. The sound is good as well, with a neutral signature. Battery life is better than the AirPods 4, with 6 hours from the buds themselves. They cost $249, and they earned a 4 and a half stars in our AirPods Pro 2 review.
AirPods Max
There are currently two different versions of AirPods Max that you can buy, the USB-C version and the Lightning version. The only differences between the two models are the charging port and the color options.
The AirPods Max are Apple's over-ear headphones, and they look unlike anything else you'll see in the headphone space. These are the headphones for people who want the very best that Apple has to offer, with studio-quality sound, and the best Spatial Audio around. They have a very neutral sound signature, and they reveal bits of your music that you might never have heard before. They're plenty bassy too, with loads of low-end on offer. The Spatial Audio is what impresses me the most. I like to connect them to my Apple TV 4K, and watch my movies and TV shows in Dolby Atmos without disturbing the rest of the house. The case is unfortunately not great, and the battery life of 20 hours could be better, but they still managed to get a 4-star rating in our AirPods Max review. They cost $549.
LIVE: Latest Updates
We're kicking off our AirPods deals tracking with one of the biggest savings we've ever seen on the AirPods Pro 2 — there's currently a massive $100 saving for their new lowest price ever.
In fact, this sale price makes them even cheaper than the AirPods 4 in their ANC guise, making them a no-brainer this Black Friday.
AirPods Pro 2: was $249 now $153 @ Amazon
The AirPods Pro 2 aren't the only AirPods that have the lowest ever price at the moment — the AirPods Max have also recieved a massive discount for another lowest price ever. There's a $150 discount on Apple's over-ear headphones for a great deal this Black Friday.
You'll get stunning metal design, comfortable earcups and excellent sound quality out of your new AirPods Max — although it does have a Lightning port instead of a USB-C port.
AirPods Max: was $549 now $399 @ Amazon
Maybe you don't like the in-ear fit of the AirPods Pro 2 — in which case, you should be thinking about the AirPods 4. They don't have silicon ear tips, so they don't enter your ear quite as deeply as the more expensive Pro 2.
At the moment you'll find them with a $10 discount, bringing them down to their de facto lowest price ever.
AirPods 4: was $129 now $119 @ Amazon
There is one AirPods deal that you shouldn't go for at the moment. It's the AirPods 4 with ANC — while they're at their lowest price ever, they're still more expensive than the much better AirPods Pro 2.
It's a weird time to be an AirPods fan, that's for sure — but it does just go to show how good the deal on the AirPods Pro 2 actually is. Better ANC, better fit and superior sound. A no-brainer.
AirPods 4 with ANC: was $179 now $168 @ Amazon
The case which comes with the AirPods Max is not very good. It barely covers the most important parts of the headphones and leaves the more delicate bits open to the elements (EG: The inside of your bag). You'll want to find one of the best cases you can to keep things together.
I've browsed Amazon, and there are some great options to add a bit more protection to your AirPods Max.
TUNYINSH AirPods Max case: was $17 now $15 @ Amazon
GEVO Travel case for AirPods max: was $21 now $18 @ Amazon
If the AirPods Max aren't for you, then you might want to consider the also excellent Sony WH-1000XM5 are the next best thing. Well, some might call them better — and they're certainly cheaper. This Black Friday deal brings them down under $300 for a great deal.
You get a more comfortable pair of headphones with a much better case. I reckon they sound better too.
Sony WH-1000XM5: was $399 now $298 @ Amazon
The Beats are as close to AirPods as you can get without actually buying a pair of AirPods. They're made by Apple, and the Beats Studio Buds Plus are the firm's version of the AirPods Pro 2. There is currently a great deal price on the Studio Buds Plus, with a $40 discount.
You get solid noise canceling, great sound and a comfortable fit for the price. I love my pair — and you probably will too!
Beats Studio Buds Plus: was $169 now $129 @ Amazon
If you don't want to stretch over $100, then the Beats Studio Buds are a great option. They're coming in at $79 at the moment thanks to a $70 discount at Amazon.
They come equipped with some very solid noise canceling, and they sound pretty good too. Their case is a highlight though — it's a perfectly formed little pebble, and it fits perfectly into the pockets of my skinny jeans.
Beats Studio Buds: was $149 now $79 @ Amazon
How about another alternative to the AirPods Max — the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones have the best noise canceling around, and they've currently got a great sale in the Black Friday deals.
You can save $100 on the headphones at the moment, bringing them down to their lowest price ever. For the price you get something with better sound, better noise canceling, and an improved case over the AirPods Max.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones: was $429 now $329 @ Amazon
AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods 4: What should you get?
Hey, it's Mark Spoonauer, global editor in chief for Tom's Guide. And I'm here to help you find the best AirPods Black Friday deals.
If you're confused about whether to buy the AirPods 4 or the AirPods Pro 2, we don't blame you. The AirPods 4 are newer and some may prefer their open-ear design. Apple says that they were designed by mapping and analyzing thousands of ear shapes. You also get active noise cancellation, voice isolation during calls and Spatial Audio.
However, we prefer the AirPods Pro 2 for a few reasons. You get longer battery life at 6 hours vs 4 hours for the AirPods 4 with ANC. And the silicon tips create a better seal in your ears, which makes the noise cancellation more effective. With the AirPods Pro 2 currently costing less than the AirPods 4, this is a no-brainer to me. But a bigger price drop on the AirPods 4 could make things more interesting.
- AirPods Pro 2: was $249 now $153 @ Amazon
- AirPods 4 (with ANC): was $179 now $168 @ Amazon
Are the AirPods 4 still a little too much money for you? Check out these more budget-oriented buds — the JBL Tune Flex. They look a whole lot like the AirPods, with a more open fit, but thanks to this Black Friday deal, they're just $49. That's an absolute steal, and makes them perfect as an upgrade to your AirPods 2.
Battery life is great at 32 hours in the case, and there's even ANC like you'll find in the more expensive AirPods 4. There's even a black color option if white doesn't take your fancy.
JBL Tune Flex: was $99 now $49 @ Amazon
A new day, and a fresh reminder that the AirPods Pro 2 are currently at an unbeatable price. Thanks to a deal that's near as makes no difference a $100 discount, the AirPods Pro 2 are now just $153 at Amazon. That's their lowest price ever.
I'll talk about this deal until I'm blue in the face — and I kind of already has. But it really is just that good of a saving.
AirPods Pro 2: was $249 now $153 @ Amazon
AirPods Max for Cheap
Tis the season to pay way less than full price for the AirPods Max, which have been my go-to travel headphones for a couple of years. I really like the strong noise cancelling performance, the long battery life and easy-to-use controls. My only complaint is that the travel case is pretty bad.
Right now the AirPods Max is just $399 on Amazon, which is $150 off and very close to the lowest price ever ($394). Note that this deal is for the Lightning version. The USB-C version is on sale but only $50 off.
- AirPods Max (Lightning): was $549 now $399 @ Amazon
- AirPods Max (USB-C): was $549 now $499 @ Amazon
The Beats Studio Pro have a big saving at the moment — $200 off in fact! That makes them their lowest price ever, and brings them down to just $159. That's a truly ridiculous price for what are supposed to be Beats flagship headphones.
You get solid sound, great ANC, and a helpful travel case. Battery life is good at 40 hours as well — although they do feel a bit plasticky.
Beats Studio Pro: was $349 now $159 @ Amazon
What's the difference between the two price points of AirPods 4? Apart from the price, there are some key differences between the two models and reasons why you might want to buy them. Let's break it down quickly:
AirPods 4 (No ANC)
The AirPods 4 with no ANC are the cheapest option in the AirPods lineup. They're stripped back, but still have some great features.
- Spatial Audio
- USB-C charging
- Open fit
- 5 hours of battery
AirPods 4 (With ANC)
The AirPods 4 with ANC pack in some more premium features. Here's the breakdown:
- Spatial Audio
- ANC
- Wireless charging
- Find My support
- Open fit
- 4 hours of battery
Beats Pill (2024): was $149 now $99
To this point, Apple hasn't released an AirPods-brand portable Bluetooth speaker. While we wouldn't be shocked if a competitor to the Sonos Move 2 joins the HomePod lineup in the future, for now, the Beats Pill is the best Bluetooth speaker you can shop from Apple. It even has many of the same great conveniences of AirPods such as Find My and Siri support.
The Beats Pill is iconic for a reason, and right now, you can get it on sale for $99 at Amazon. That's $50 off the normal price in all 5 color choices.
