Best AirPods Deals: Save on Apple and Beats Audio Accessories - CNET
10 months ago
63
ARTICLE AD
Apple has long held some of the top spots in our collections of the best earbuds and best over-ear headphones. They don't often hold a reputation for affordability, or do they?
While it's true that the holiday deals have been and gone, there are still some hefty discounts to be had if you know where to look. Below, we've rounded up current bargains, along with the original prices and all-time lowest prices we've seen for comparison. We'll update this page as deals come and go, so check back often for the best AirPods prices at any given time.
Apple AirPods pricing 2023
ModelApple Store priceBest price right nowBest all-time price
AirPods 2
$129
$99
$79
AirPods 3
$169
$150
$140
AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
$249
$225
$199
AirPods Max
$549
$429
$389
Best AirPods deals
</p>","credits":"Apple/CNET","imageData":{"id":"5b2e3442-9f8c-4b2f-845c-3a70a1248acd","title":"AirPods Pro 2 USB-C","filename":"airpods-pro-usbc.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/hub/2023/10/19/5b2e3442-9f8c-4b2f-845c-3a70a1248acd/airpods-pro-usbc.jpg","caption":"<p></p>","size":419533,"width":1600,"height":900,"dateCreated":{"date":"2023-10-19 16:47:17","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2023-10-19 16:47:27","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image/jpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Apple/CNET","alt":"AirPods Pro 2 USB-C","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"5b2e3442-9f8c-4b2f-845c-3a70a1248acd","imageAltText":"AirPods Pro 2 USB-C","imageCaption":"<p></p>","imageCredit":"Apple/CNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"airpods-pro-usbc.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2023/10/19","imageWidth":1600,"imageHeight":900,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" overridecaption="<p></p>" overridecredit="Apple/CNET" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" position="1" showdetails="true" superlative="Save $60" tocheadlineitem="[object Object]" totalfilteritems="0" usepricing="false">
Apple/CNET
The AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C charging case are almost identical to the AirPods Pro 2 that come with a Lightning case, except for one key feature. Those who buy a Vision Pro headset will benefit from lossless audio when connecting these earbuds, though that's probably an edge case. It's still worth knowing, however, especially if Apple adds the same feature to future iPhones and other hardware as well. You can save around $60 compared to the Apple store price right now, but we often see them on sale for even less.
</p>","credits":"Apple","imageData":{"id":"a7830ef0-c27f-41c1-83de-3428440f21ce","title":"airpods-pro-2","filename":"airpods-pro-2.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/hub/2023/03/08/a7830ef0-c27f-41c1-83de-3428440f21ce/airpods-pro-2.jpg","caption":"<p></p>","size":2326093,"width":1600,"height":900,"dateCreated":{"date":"2023-03-08 10:10:05","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2023-03-08 10:10:21","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image/jpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Apple/CNET","alt":"Apple AirPods Pro 2","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"a7830ef0-c27f-41c1-83de-3428440f21ce","imageAltText":"AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with charging case","imageCaption":"<p></p>","imageCredit":"Apple","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"airpods-pro-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2023/03/08","imageWidth":1600,"imageHeight":900,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" linktext="Read our AirPods Pro 2 review" linkurl="https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/airpods-pro-2-hands-on-crisper-sound-better-noise-canceling/" overridecaption="<p></p>" overridecredit="Apple" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" position="2" showdetails="true" superlative="Save $24" tocheadlineitem="[object Object]" totalfilteritems="0" usepricing="false">
Apple
Other than some minor upgrades and a different charging port, the original AirPods Pro 2 with the Lightning charging port is identical to the new USB-C version. They're equipped with Apple's advanced H2 processor and boast seriously impressive noise-canceling capabilities.
</p>","credits":"Apple/CNET","imageData":{"id":"2405769a-af2b-4f94-ae07-a9995a715c66","title":"AirPods (3rd Generation) with Lightning Charging Case","filename":"artboard-7-4.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/hub/2023/11/11/2405769a-af2b-4f94-ae07-a9995a715c66/artboard-7-4.jpg","caption":"<p></p>","size":26445,"width":1600,"height":900,"dateCreated":{"date":"2023-11-11 20:20:23","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2023-11-11 20:20:50","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image/jpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Apple/CNET","alt":"Apple's AirPods 3 are displayed against an orange background.","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"2405769a-af2b-4f94-ae07-a9995a715c66","imageAltText":"Apple's 3rd generation AirPods","imageCaption":"<p></p>","imageCredit":"Apple/CNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"artboard-7-4.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2023/11/11","imageWidth":1600,"imageHeight":900,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" linktext="Read our AirPods 3 review" linkurl="https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/airpods-3-review-apple-upped-its-sound-game/" overridecaption="<p></p>" overridecredit="Apple/CNET" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" position="3" showdetails="true" superlative="Save $19" tocheadlineitem="[object Object]" totalfilteritems="0" usepricing="false">
Apple/CNET
Unlike the AirPods Pro 2, these third-generation AirPods have an open-air design, so they don't have active noise cancellation. They still offer some serious improvements over the AirPods 2, though. The adaptive EQ attunes music to your ear shape, and the battery life has been bumped up to a total of 30 hours. They also have an IPX4 water-resistance rating. You can pick up the Lightning case version for $150 right now at Walmart, which only saves you a scant $19 compared to the Apple store price.
</p>","credits":"Apple/CNET","imageData":{"id":"a7b425d3-3947-4927-9731-cdfda17a5151","title":"Apple AirPods Max","filename":"02-bg-3-1.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/hub/2023/05/12/a7b425d3-3947-4927-9731-cdfda17a5151/02-bg-3-1.jpg","caption":"<p></p>","size":132311,"width":1600,"height":900,"dateCreated":{"date":"2023-05-12 12:06:03","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2023-05-12 12:07:43","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image/jpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Apple/CNET","alt":"The black variant of Apple's AirPods Max are displayed against a blue background.","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"a7b425d3-3947-4927-9731-cdfda17a5151","imageAltText":"The black variant of Apple's AirPods Max are displayed against a blue background.","imageCaption":"<p></p>","imageCredit":"Apple/CNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"02-bg-3-1.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2023/05/12","imageWidth":1600,"imageHeight":900,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" linktext="Read our AirPods Max review" linkurl="https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-airpods-max-review-top-notch-sound-noise-canceling-and-a-hefty-price-tag/" overridecaption="<p></p>" overridecredit="Apple/CNET" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" position="4" showdetails="true" superlative="Save $20" tocheadlineitem="[object Object]" totalfilteritems="0" usepricing="false">
Apple/CNET
Apple's first full-size headphones are chock-full of high-end features like noise cancellation, spatial audio and easy integration with Apple devices. Yes, paying about the same as you would for a PS5 may sound excessive, but here's the thing: They're actually kinda worth it, so long as you don't feel burned by their lack of support for full lossless audio.
Battery Life Rated up to 5 hoursNoise Canceling NoMultipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless earbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX4 -- splash-proof)
While the AirPods 2 are the least advanced AirPods on the market, they still boast some impressive specs and are a great choice for those on a tighter budget. They're equipped with the same H1 chip as the AirPods 3, so they have the same fast connectivity, and they support hands-free Siri access. They're available for $99, $30 less than Apple sells them for these days.
</p>","credits":"David Carnoy/CNET","imageData":{"id":"d6b5c7c5-8e32-4105-9b1a-484efd59df79","title":"beats-studio-buds-plus-red-background","filename":"beats-studio-buds-plus-red-background.png","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/464d28e229d19a31d2cc216b3b1ec42c9571137a/2023/05/17/d6b5c7c5-8e32-4105-9b1a-484efd59df79/beats-studio-buds-plus-red-background.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg","caption":"<p></p>","size":2090960,"width":1596,"height":898,"dateCreated":{"date":"2023-05-17 03:51:53","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2023-05-17 03:52:52","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image/png","deleted":false,"credits":"David Carnoy/CNET","alt":"The Beats Studio Buds Plus have significantly improved performance","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":true,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"d6b5c7c5-8e32-4105-9b1a-484efd59df79","imageAltText":"The Beats Studio Buds Plus have significantly improved performance","imageCaption":"<p></p>","imageCredit":"David Carnoy/CNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":true,"imageFilename":"beats-studio-buds-plus-red-background.png","imageDateCreated":"2023/05/17","imageWidth":1596,"imageHeight":898,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" linktext="Read our Beats Studio Buds Plus review" linkurl="https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/beats-studio-buds-plus-review/" overridecaption="<p></p>" overridecredit="David Carnoy/CNET" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" showdetails="true" superlative="Save $20" tocheadlineitem="[object Object]" totalfilteritems="0" type="Best list" usepricing="false">
David Carnoy/CNET
Alas, for those of you who bought the original Beats Studio Buds, I'm sorry to report that these new Plus buds are significantly improved, with better sound, noise canceling and battery life. Additionally, they now deliver top-notch voice-calling performance.
The transparent version is getting a lot of attention (who doesn't like transparent electronics?), but the big changes are on the inside. Beats says 95% of the components are new and improved, and the buds' "acoustic architecture" has been revised. The speaker drivers remain the same, but the Studio Buds Plus are powered by a new, more powerful custom chipset and have three new microphones in each bud, which are three times larger and more sensitive than the ones found in the Beats Studio Buds. You can save $20 at Amazon, and this deal also comes with two free years of Apple Care Plus.
</p>","credits":"Beats/CNET","imageData":{"id":"c9601103-7af4-4175-9b47-a57d228fcf0f","title":"beats-fit-pro","filename":"beats-fit-pro.png","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/hub/2023/02/24/c9601103-7af4-4175-9b47-a57d228fcf0f/beats-fit-pro.png","caption":"<p></p>","size":2493981,"width":1600,"height":900,"dateCreated":{"date":"2023-02-24 16:13:12","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2023-02-24 16:13:37","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image/png","deleted":false,"credits":"Amazon","alt":"Beats Fit Pro","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"c9601103-7af4-4175-9b47-a57d228fcf0f","imageAltText":"1-beats-fit-pro-cnet-2021","imageCaption":"<p></p>","imageCredit":"Beats/CNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"beats-fit-pro.png","imageDateCreated":"2023/02/24","imageWidth":1600,"imageHeight":900,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" linktext="Read our Beats Fit Pro review" linkurl="https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/beats-fit-pro-review/" overridecaption="<p></p>" overridecredit="Beats/CNET" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" position="6" showdetails="true" superlative="Save $20" tocheadlineitem="[object Object]" totalfilteritems="0" usepricing="false">
Beats/CNET
The Beats Fit Pro are built on the same tech platform as the AirPods Pro. Unlike Beats' earlier and less expensive Studio Buds, the Beats Fit Pro includes Apple's H1 chip and has most of the features of the original AirPods Pro, including active noise canceling, spatial audio and Adaptive EQ. I'd venture to call them the sports AirPods you've always wanted. For some people, they might just be better than the AirPods Pro.
Apple's wireless audio lineup now includes five models of AirPods, and choosing the right set will depend on the features you care about and the price you are willing to pay. The second-gen AirPods from 2019 are the least expensive option, while the current, third-gen AirPods boast better sound quality with spatial audio. Meanwhile, the AirPods Pro 2, which have active noise cancellation and transparency modes, are Apple's most advanced earbuds to date and the first to feature Apple's new H2 chip. The plush AirPods Max, by far the priciest of the bunch, are Apple's over-ear headphones and come packed with high-end features, though no H2 chip.
Along with Apple-branded AirPods, there are some Beats-branded earbuds worth considering that also incorporate Apple-made tech for a similarly smooth experience. These include the Beats Fit Pro, which uses Apple's H1 chip for fast, reliable connections and a sporty design for jamming out while running or otherwise being active. The Beats Studio Buds lack the H1 chip and the AirPods' stem, but they are lightweight, comfortable and affordable. Similarly, the updated Beats Studio Buds Plus doesn't have an H1 chip but does have one-tap pairing with Apple (and Android) devices plus Find My support.
Except for the baseline AirPods 2, all the AirPods listed above (plus the Beats models) are compatible with Apple's spatial audio features. None of them will deliver the maximum quality of Apple's lossless audio format, which is too rich for the current Bluetooth wireless standard to handle.
Watch this: AirPods Pro 2 Review: Hard to Beat for Apple Users
10 months ago
63 
