Apple’s AirPods wireless headphones offer an iconic look, exceptional comfort and superior sound quality. However, they come at a premium, so it’s important to shop around… or find a bunch of tech experts to do it for you. That’s where we come in.
In this article, we round up the best AirPods discounts and bundle deals to help you save money. We’ve got the best prices for October 2021 3rd generation AirPods, September 2022 new 2nd generation AirPods Pro, and 2020 premium AirPods Max headphones. We also received. deals on some older models, like early 2019 second-generation AirPods, where supplies are still available.
Here are quick links to the best deals. You’ll find more detailed tips and price comparisons for each model later.
USA
Great Britain
The best AirPods deals
Apple sells two sets of basic AirPods: the latest 3rd generation model, introduced in 2021 (MSRP $179 in the US and RRP £189 in the UK), and the 2nd generation model from 2019 ($129/ £139). Best Buy is worth a look for some valuable savings in the US, while UK customers can save a bit of money across the range.
AirPods (3rd Generation, 2021) Deals
Apple finally updated the wildly popular AirPods in October 2021 after more than two and a half years of waiting. The new models have a more Pro-like design and a MagSafe-compatible charging case; they also have improved battery life and water resistance, as well as support for Spatial Audio. Get all the information you need in our AirPods 3 review.
You can buy directly from Apple, but you’ll find the best prices in the automated chart below. For specific advice, read our guide on where to buy AirPods 3. There are two 3rd generation AirPods. if you want the MagSafe charging option, it costs a bit more.
AirPods (3rd Gen, 2021, Lightning; MSRP $169/£179)
$169.00
$169.00
$169.00
$169.99
AirPods (3rd Gen, 2021, Magsafe; MSRP $179/£189)
AirPods (2nd Generation, 2019) Deals
Note that this version of AirPods comes with a Lightning charging case that needs to be plugged into an outlet, unlike the MagSafe wireless charging case. (You can, however, purchase a wireless charging case separately.)
Check the automated chart below for any trades that have appeared since this article was last updated.
AirPods (2nd gen, 2019; MSRP $129/£139)
$99.00
$129.00
$129.99
$139.99
The best AirPods Pro deals
AirPods Pro was released in 2019, but the new version was released in September 2022. There are some great deals on older models. The comparison charts below collect the lowest prices for AirPods Pro 1st and 2nd generation, so you can be sure you won’t miss out on any great deals.
AirPods Pro (2nd Gen 2022) Deals
Apple released the second-generation AirPods Pro alongside the iPhone on September 14, 2022.
AirPods Pro (2nd gen, 2022; MSRP $249/£249)
$234.95
$249.00
$249.00
249 dollars
$249.99
AirPods Pro (1st Gen, 2019) Deals
You can still find the original AirPods Pro at a discount. Be sure to consider whether they are refurbished before you decide it’s a good discount. But stocks are starting to shrink. If you don’t see a price comparison chart below, it means there aren’t any deals in your area at all.
AirPods Pro (1st gen, 2019; $249/£239)
$219.99
$229.99
The best AirPods Max deals
AirPods Max are currently available to buy direct from Apple for $549/£549.
Find the latest prices in our automated spreadsheet below. For some time now, we’ve seen third-party retailers fall behind Apple by a significant margin.
AirPods Max (MSRP $549/£549)
To learn more about your options here, read Where to buy AirPods Max.
How to get a good deal on AirPods
Good AirPods deals are rare and don’t last long. If you see one (and you’re sure the provider is legit – look it up on TrustPilot if you haven’t bought from them before), grab it.
- The AirPods Max have a suggested retail price of $549 / £549.
- It costs $249 / £239 for the AirPods Pro.
- 2021 For AirPods with Lightning, it costs $169 / £179. With MagSafe it costs $179 / £189.
- For the early 2019 AirPods, it costs $129 / £119.
You should never pay more than these prices.
The 2016 AirPods were discontinued as soon as the original 2019 models came out, so there was never an official price drop from their launch price of $159/£159. But if you’re splurging on these much older models, you shouldn’t even be paying $100. If you can’t find a serious deal, go for newer ones instead.
Remember to factor in shipping and handling fees when evaluating transactions; we include it in our price list, but most retailers won’t add it until you’re at checkout. And be on the lookout for deals that sound too good to be true but turn out to be out of stock. We see this a lot.
Package deals
The best way to get a good price on AirPods may be to bundle them with a phone, although this is mostly an option in the UK.
Three offers a number of bundles that include AirPods. Visit the company’s accessories page to view the best options for you.
EE lets you add AirPods to your plan for £16 a month spread over 11 months, plus a £10 upfront fee. That’s the lightning version, by the way. AirPods Pro, including a MagSafe case, cost £22 a month with a £5 upfront payment. In each case, you need to click on Apple, then select the AirPods model.
Vodafone and O2 don’t currently bundle AirPods with their iPhone plans, though O2 is selling 2021 AirPods, early 2019 AirPods and 2022 AirPods Pro on its own.
Whichever bundle you go for, remember that you’re getting AirPods Pro, early 2019 AirPods (sometimes called second generation or AirPods 2), or the new 2021 AirPods (third generation or AirPods 3). If you’re getting AirPods Pro, find out if they include the new MagSafe charging case.
Tips for buying AirPods
Wondering if a pair of AirPods is right for you? Let’s discuss the pros and cons.
There are five in-ear AirPods models, some of which are still on sale, and there’s also the over-ear AirPods Max.
- The original 1st generation AirPods (2016), discontinued
- It 2nd generation AirPods (2019), $129/£139
- It 1st generation AirPods Pro (2019), discontinued
- It 3rd generation AirPods (2021), Lightning: $169/£179, MagSafe: $179/£189
- It 2nd generation AirPods Pro (2022), $249/£249
- AirPods Max (2020), $549/£549
All four non-Max models are wireless, sit in your ears, and theoretically stay there for convenience alone. The advantages of this are clear. they allow you to run or exercise without worrying about pinching the cables, but they can come off when you pick up the pace. However, our experience is that AirPods are among the best headphones in this regard.
AirPods Pro offer a more comfortable fit than others because they have a choice of flexible ear tips and can actually tell you if you’ve chosen the right tip or not.
Sound quality is decent, but not exceptional for the original and early 2019 models. The 2021 AirPods are better, while the AirPods Pro are a step up, thanks in part to a better fit and active noise cancellation. What AirPods consistently do better than non-Apple headphones is sync with other Apple products, thanks to the W1 chip (in the 2016 model) and H1 chip (2019 and 2021) that make it easy Pairing with iPhone.
In terms of battery, most non-Max AirPods will last around five hours, but that’s not the story. they come with a small charging case with its own larger battery, so you can plug them back in for a quick charge. The case should offer another 24 hours (give or take) before charging is required. The 2021 AirPods have more to offer in this department, however, with claimed figures of 6 hours on standby and 30 hours total. We’ve got some tips on how to get better battery life from your AirPods.
Apple’s 2019 AirPods can respond to Hey Siri commands, charge wirelessly if you opt for a wireless charging case, and offer more talk time than the originals. Those features carry over to the 2021 models, with the addition of Spatial Audio and Adaptive EQ.
AirPods Max are headphones and are essentially a completely different product from the rest of the AirPods line. They are much more expensive and are a completely different offering than other AirPods. The sound quality is almost universally considered exceptional, but it’s debatable whether it’s exceptional enough to justify that premium price. And many reviewers noted that the case is oddly designed, given that the part of the headphones it doesn’t protect, the mesh headband, is the most vulnerable to damage.
AirPods Max are an attractive prospect, but may not be practical for most budgets.
For more detailed tips and thoughts on the best alternatives to Apple’s three cheaper AirPods models, read our best wireless headphones and best wired headphones guides.