Apple AirPods Max Headphones
$489 $549
Apple AirPods with Charging Case
$109 $159If you love all things Apple, then you’ll adore Apple’s own headphones: The AirPods range, which began with true wireless AirPods earbuds and has recently expanded to include over-ear AirPods Max headphones. All of these products are easy to use and to pair with your Apple devices.
AirPods can be pricey, however, so if you want to save some money when buying a pair you can look below for the best cheap AirPods deals. We’ve found the best offers on AirPods of all kinds, including the regular AirPods with Charging Case true wireless earbuds, the newer-generation AirPods 2 with Wireless Charging Case, or the top-of-the-line AirPods Pro.
Apple AirPods: Are they worth the money?
Apple AirPods are to iPhone owners what fine wine is to gourmet cheese — a match made in heaven. So it should come as no surprise that they’re the most popular true wireless earbuds, introducing users to the wonderful world of simple, wire-free listening the second they pop them in their ears.
Related
There really isn’t a whole lot to the AirPods, and that’s what makes them so fantastic. Just pop one in each ear and you’re ready to roll. Need to adjust the volume, send a test, place a call, create a calendar event, or find an answer to a question on Google? Just ask Siri and she’ll take care of it.
Should you buy AirPods now or wait until Black Friday?
It’s a known fact that Black Friday deals bring steep discounts on AirPods. With a little more than a month to go until the annual shopping bonanza, we’d recommend holding out for the slew of Black Friday AirPods deals we’re going to see.
Apple AirPods vs. Apple AirPods 2: What’s the difference?
You don’t even need to double-tap a Pod to launch Siri on the AirPods 2. Thanks to the inclusion of Apple’s latest H1 chipset (versus the W1 on the original AirPods), they’re always listening for the famous “Hey, Siri!” phrase, just like the iPhone. This makes for a more seamless user experience.
But that isn’t the main reason you’re going to want to opt for the newer AirPods 2 with Wireless Charging Case. This would be the improved battery life, with the AirPods 2 delivering 50% more talk time than the standard, first-generation AirPods. Both last for around five hours of music playback.
The bundled Charging Case stores enough charge for an extra day’s worth of use, with the AirPods 2 shipping with a Wireless Charging Case that supports … well … wireless charging. This means you can simply slap them on a Qi charging pad and they will juice up — no Lightning cable needed.
Apple AirPods vs. Apple AirPods 2: Which do I need?
So, which do you need? Well, if you can live without wireless charging, don’t mind having to tap a Pod to fire up Siri, and can live with the two-hour talk time, then look no further than the primal AirPods. You can snap up a pair for an absolute bargain. For everyone else, it’s the AirPods 2. Or is it?
Wait! What about the AirPods Pro?
Naturally, the AirPods Pro sit at the head of the table, with a more smaller, more compact design; noise-cancellation; sweat-resistance; and interchangeable eartips, which makes them a better choice for fitness fanatics. They also sound better than both the AirPods and AirPods 2.
Or perhaps the AirPods Max?
If you want the AirPods experience but you prefer an over-ear headphone to an earbud, then Apple has you covered with the AirPods Max. If you want some peace and quiet then these offer exceptional noise-cancelling ability, and as you’d expect from an Apple product the build quality is excellent. There’s great sound quality on these as well, even if they don’t come cheap, so if you’re looking for a notch above regular AirPods in terms of sound as well as a more comfortable over-ear design, these are the AirPods for you.
When will AirPods 3 release?
We were expecting an AirPods 3 announcement at Apple’s California Streaming event in September, but no such luck. The company announced a new iPad and a new Apple Watch, but didn’t mention the next model of AirPods. Of course, they’re inevitable. Some rumors place the release date as early as October 2021, while some think Apple will wait until after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. We’ll be sure to find the best deals on Apple AirPods 3 once they’re announced.
How much are AirPods?
Here’s a breakdown of every AirPods model and its retail price:
- AirPods with Charging Case — $159
- AirPods with Wireless Charging Case — $199
- AirPods Pro — $249
- AirPods Max — $549
Keep in mind that new deals come out every day. It’s almost a guarantee that you’ll find some sort of discount on every model of AirPods if you shop around. Or just look at our deals list above — we did all the work for you!
Digital Trends may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.
Editors' Recommendations
- The best TV brands of 2021
- The best Intel processors for 2021
- Surface Pro 8 vs. the new Surface Pro X: Which 2-in-1 is right for you?
- Surface Pro 8 vs. iPad Pro: Which powerful tablet is best?
- Best ways to use Amazon Echo Show in the kitchen
