'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?
ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.
When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.
ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.
'Tis the season for gift shopping, but that doesn't need to mean excessive spending. If you're already in the holiday spirit and ready to listen to some holiday music without being judged by those around you, there's no need to wait to save big on Apple's AirPods.
These days, active noise-canceling earbuds like AirPods are a necessity as much as an accessory. Between their iconic look and unparalleled sound quality, they're bound to be at the top of your wishlist. (You may also consider AirPods Pro alternatives like Samsung's Galaxy Buds Pro.) While Apple's AirPods models are usually pricey, retailers are usually swayed by the holiday spirit and gift you a little discount. We've scoured the net to find the deals still available so you don't have to.
Also: iPads and more: The best Apple holiday deals 2022
The last time this page received an update, these were the latest AirPods deals worth checking out:
Below are the best holiday AirPods deals we could find. Farther down the page, you'll find amazing deals separated out by big box retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.
Apple's first Pro generation of true wireless earbuds are already a classic. With active noise cancellation (ANC) and comfortable silicone tips, you can customize them to better fit your ears and lock in wherever and whenever. And they work seamlessly with other Apple products, such as Mac computers and iPhones.
With an almost identical construction as the first AirPods Pro, these 2nd generation AirPods Pro build on the impressive quality and ANC capabilities. Although they look similar, there is up to 2x more Active Noise Cancellation and personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. Additionally, you can adjust the volume of your AirPods Pro with just a swipe on the side of the earbud.
Apple's third generation of its original true-wireless earbuds are in high demand. These Geek Squad-certified refurbished buds come with spatial audio and dynamic head tracking, and you get 6 hours of listening with just one charge. Plus, you also get four months free of Apple Music.
Not only do the AirPods Max seem to be a streetwear statement this fall, but they're equipped with the hot ANC feature. With a built-in microphone, you can still make hands-free calls even though these are headphones, not earbuds. The AirPods Max also have up to 20 hours of battery, so you can take them from work to working out and anywhere in between with a single charge.
Our latest finds for AirPods deals on Amazon are linked right at the top of this article, but don't forget about Apple's solid-quality brand Beats. Here are some pretty sweet Beats deals on Amazon you should take advantage of while you can.
Walmart still has a pretty sweet deal going for the AirPods Max.
Here are some other AirPods and Apple Beats deals happening right now at Best Buy.
We went looking for these deals as if we were shopping for ourselves. By using discount codes and extensions and looking through retailers' websites, we picked these as the best holiday deals we could find for products we would all enjoy.
Black Friday follows the Thursday of Thanksgiving. This year, it was on Friday, Nov. 25.
ZDNET scoured holiday sales to find the best deals this year:
Our experts split out the best deals by retailer, brand, and category, which you can see below.
Here are some of the cheapest deals we found:
Finally, if you'd like to see the Cyber Monday deals from our live blog: