Summary List Placement
Apple’s AirPods are among your best options for wireless earbuds. They automatically pair with your Apple devices the moment you open the case nearby, and you can use your Apple devices to help you pinpoint a misplaced AirPod.
Though the holidays are the best time to get a new pair of AirPods, you can often find a pair for considerably lower than MSRP year-round. We’ve listed the best deals available now, February 2021.
You can also check out the best headphone deals and the best daily deals happening now for discounts on more than just AirPods.
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Comparing AirPods models
| AirPods | AirPods Pro | AirPods Max | |
| Our review | Best on a budget | Best overall | Best for audiophiles |
| Typical price | $129-$160 | $220 | $550 |
| Features | Quick pairing, “Hey Siri,” automatic switching, charging case | Same as AirPods, plus active noise cancellation, spatial audio, water resistance, and multiple ear tips | Same as AirPods Pro, plus over-ear design, better active noise cancellation, improved audio with adaptive EQ, digital crown for media playback |
The best AirPods deals happening now
AirPods with Charging Case (medium, Preferred: Micro Center)AirPods with Wireless Charging Case (medium, Preferred: Amazon)Airpods Max (medium)
AirPods with regular charging case deals
AirPods with Charging Case (medium, Preferred: Micro Center)
The original and standard AirPods with Charging Case are the base and cheapest AirPods you can buy. You get the regular AirPods wireless earbuds and a charging case that charges via a Lightning cable, the same cable you use to charge your iPhone.
The AirPods have a five-hour battery life, and the case stores 24 hours of battery charge. A quick 15-minute charge in the case gives them an extra three hours of listening time. These are not sweat- or water-resistant — you’ll have to check out the AirPods Pro below if that’s important to you. You can read the full AirPods review here.
Contrary to what MSRP would like you to think, AirPods typically only sell for $129 across online retailers — a good $30 less than listed. During Black Friday and Cyber Monday we saw them fall as low as $99, but that kind of promotion is rare. Below are the best deals available right now.
AirPods with Wireless Charging Case deals
AirPods with Wireless Charging Case (medium, Preferred: Amazon)
The AirPods with Wireless Charging Case are identical to the 2nd-gen AirPods with Charging Case, except the charging case can be charged wirelessly as well as via a Lightning cable. That means you can charge the wireless charging case on a wireless charging pad that uses the Qi wireless charging standard. Thankfully, that means you can charge the AirPods’ wireless charging case on pretty much any wireless charging pad, including the pad you already use for your iPhone, if you already use one. You can read the full AirPods with Wireless Charging Case review here.
Though they’re listed for more, the typical price for the Wireless Charging Case AirPods is considerably lower than suggested, as is the trend with Apple gear. Typical price is more commonly $160 across online retailers. During Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we saw them fall as low as $140; it’s unlikely they’ll drop that low again outside of short-lived discounts from one or two retailers. Below, we’ve listed the best deals available now.
AirPods Pro deals
AirPods Pro (Refurbished) (medium, Preferred: Best Buy)AirPods Pro (small)
The AirPods Pro are Apple’s highest-end AirPods, and they’re also our pick for the best wireless earbuds for Apple fans. They have a shorter stem than the original AirPods design, and they have an in-ear design that fits more securely in more ears using tips of three different sizes — if you’ve ever had difficulty keeping Apple’s earbuds in your ear, these are the solution. The wireless charging case is also wider than the non-pro charging cases.
Despite their smaller size, they come with active noise cancellation, and they sound a little better than the regular non-pro AirPods. Battery life with noise cancellation enabled isn’t as long as the regular AirPods, but it’s still pretty good (4.5 hours versus 5 hours). If the AirPods Pro run out of battery, a quick 15-minute charge in the case gives you an extra three hours of listening time. The AirPods Pro come with a wireless charging case that holds a 24-hour total charge for the AirPods.
The AirPods Pro are also sweat and water-resistant, whereas the regular non-pro AirPods are not. You can read the full AirPods Pro review here.
A pair is listed for $249, but typical price more commonly hovers around $220 across online retailers like Walmart and Costco. We’ve seen them drop lower during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but if you need a pair now, don’t settle for paying any more than $220. Below, we’ve listed the best deals available now.
AirPods Max deals
Airpods Max (medium)
If you’re an Apple aficionado looking for the best audio you can find, the AirPods Max are for you. Audio from the AirPods Max is crisp, clear, and open; their noise-cancellation is powerful. They’re surely pricier than other headphones with similar performance from Sony and Bose, but the AirPods Max are a huge listening upgrade from the AirPods and AirPods Pro for iOS users. You can read our full review of the AirPods Max here.
Since they were only announced just over a month ago, not many deals have surfaced for these headphones. The typical price is still the full $549, and we have yet to see any price drops across online retailers. Right now, buying a pair is difficult, as they’re largely out of stock, or backordered.
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