Best AirPods deals in December 2024
The best prices and deals on AirPods and where to find them.
Apple AirPods are currently the best way of getting sound out of your iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro. The best Apple AirPods deals make use of the excellent tech of newer devices, with the budget of smaller ones. With fantastic Find My support, active noise canceling, fast-pairing, and more, they are the best way of getting Apple audio.
Since launching almost a decade ago, AirPods have continued to evolve, with the AirPods Pro containing interchangeable buds and the AirPods Max being over-ear headphones. They have continued to grow to offer something for anyone, regardless of how they listen to music. However, being Apple products, you have to put a chunk of change upfront to get their excellent features.
If you want the latest and great in-ear audio device, you can pick up the AirPods Pro 2 with USBC charging case for just $189 at Best Buy, $60 below retail. With added functionality for Apple Vision Pro spatial audio, these are an excellent choice. If the AirPods Pro 2 aren't your kind of thing, there are plenty more deals out there too.
Lots of retailers with great AirPods deals to choose from
Best AirPods Sales
Best AirPods 2 & 3 deals
AirPods 2 | $159 $89 at Amazon
The AirPods 2 have been on the market for a while now, but their position as 'lowest-priced AirPods' still makes them a popular option among many. They're small, easy to pair and they sound pretty good too. They lack support for some of Apple's newer features like Spatial Audio or noise-canceling, but they're still a great option for people who want a little bit of Apple in their ears on the train.
Price check: $119 at B&H Photo | $129 at Best Buy
AirPods 2 | $129 $119 at B&H Photo
While the reduction may not be as good, stock is often more reliable. Sometimes B&H Photo reduces them during sales events, and sometimes there are surprise deals throughout the year.
Price check: $89 at Amazon | $129 at Best Buy
AirPods 3 | $179 $159 at Amazon
The AirPods 3 are a contentious pair of AirPods that come at too high a price point — thankfully, however, this deal makes them a whole lot more affordable. We have seen these come in lower before, but $20 off is still a reasonable saving.
Price check: $159 at B&H Photo | $169 at Best Buy
AirPods 3 | $169 $159 at B&H Photo
These are in stock, and at $10 off — a rarity for the AirPods 3. You can choose between the MagSafe charging option or the Lightning charging case here, but you'll pay slightly more for the former.
Price check: $159 at Amazon | $169 at Best Buy
Best AirPods Pro deals
AirPods Pro 2 | $259 $189 at Amazon
Airpods Pro 2 comes with a whole host of upgrades over the previous model, including better noise canceling, improved transparency modes, and a new case with a lanyard strap. This deal is the lowest price we've ever seen on the AirPods Pro 2, so it's well worth picking up.
Price check: $224 at B&H Photo | $249 at Best Buy
AirPods Pro 2| $249 $224.99 at B&H Photo
This isn't the newest model of the AirPods Pro 2, still coming with the lighting charger, but they're a solid little pair of noise-canceling earphones. Plus, this comes with the MagSafe charging case, so you're getting a good deal here regardless.
Price check: $189 at Amazon | $249 at Best Buy
Best AirPods Max deals
AirPods Max | $525 at Amazon
The AirPods Max are some of our favorite AirPods, but they're not cheap. Unfortunately, this deal over Amazon doesn't make them much more affordable — you're better off waiting for the lowest price of $429 to return on these ones.
Price check: $525 at B&H Photo | $529 at Best Buy
AirPods price history
AirPods prices are known to fluctuate a lot, and keeping track of the previous price or even what kind of price to wait for can be tricky. Here are the best prices of the past AirPods have been, but be aware they may not go that low again.
Model | MSRP | Current Price | Lowest Price |
---|---|---|---|
AirPods 2 | $129 | $89 | $79 |
AirPods 3 | $179 | $139 | $149 |
AirPods Pro 2 | $249 | $189 | $189 |
AirPods Max | $549 | $529 | $429 |
AirPods cases and accessories
There isn't really such a thing as 'cheap' AirPods. Even once you've bought a pair of discounted AirPods, you'll have likely spent at least $100. As with any high-value purchase, it's worth getting a case to protect your new expensive gadget. AirPods are no different, with a wide range of products available that can protect your latest purchase. Here are some well-priced cases we've found on AirPods cases and accessories.
CaseSack Consolidation travel case for AirPods 2 | $12.99 at Amazon
Some of us don't want to stick a case to the outside of the AirPods charging case. Instead, we prefer to have a little packet to take a cable and charging brick along for longer journeys. The CaseSack is just that ticket — compact, hard-wearing, small enough to fit in a bag, but big enough to fit extras in as well. If you're looking for other cases for your AirPods 2, we have the best AirPods cases list you can peruse.
Spigen Rugged Armour for AirPods Pro | $24.99 $14.99 at Amazon
Do your AirPods Pro need an extra layer of protection when you toss the little case into your handbag or backpack? Yeah, us too. Slip one of these cool Spigen cases on and you won't have to worry about a scratched-up charging case ever again. To find more case options for your AirPods Pro, there's a list we've made here of the best cases for AirPods Pro.
Voma Leather Case for AirPods Max | $14 at Amazon Out of Stock
In case you didn't know already, the case that comes in the box of the $550 AirPods Max SUCKS. It's a useless flap of microfibre lined something that does little else than put the AirPods in a low power mode. If you want a better case, you can grab Voma's leather case - a hard-wearing little number that makes the AirPods 100% more tossable into a bag. You can take a look at some other options on our best AirPods Max cases list.
Elago AW5 for AirPods 3 | $12.99 at Amazon
Sometimes, you want something a little more fun than a white pill to slip in your pocket. That's where the likes of the Elago AW5 come in - it looks like a GameBoy! Except not really a GameBoy, because it's not officially licensed by Nintendo. Whatever, it's fun! For more of the best cases for AirPods 3, check out our list.
What are the best AirPods for me?
In order to answer one question you're going to have to answer a few other questions - but don't worry, we know a fair bit about AirPods and what they're good at so you won't need to go far for the answers!
I don't want to spend too much on my new AirPods
Then you're going to want a pair of the Airpods 2. They're by far the cheapest model on offer, and give you the AirPod experience for the lowest financial outlay. Are they the best AirPods? No, but you shouldn't expect the best AirPods for the lowest price. They're small, fairly comfortable, and connected easily to your phone - for under one hundred dollars, you couldn't really ask for much more. Read our AirPods 2 review for more information.
I really hate silicon earpieces
Go for the AirPods 3 - they sound as good as the more expensive (and silicon earbud equipped) AirPods Pro, but lack the noise-canceling that brings up the price. For $149 you're getting premium sound, a compact little case, and Spatial Audio, a kind of virtual surround sound that works surprisingly well. They are more expensive than the AirPods 2, but you really get your extra $50 worth. We raved all about them in our AirPods 3 review.
I take a lot of public transport
The noise-canceling built into the AirPods Pro2 will see you right. For the extra dollar over the AirPods 3 you get Apple's top-of-the-range in-ear AirPods, and if you need to block out noise, then they're well worth the extra. While the sound profile is pretty much the same as that of the AirPods 3, you'll be able to hear more of it as the noise-canceling centers the music, eliminating unwanted extra noise. They are very new, and haven't seen many discounts yet, but we'll be sure to let you know when they get a monster price drop. Find out what we thought about them in more detail in our AirPods Pro 2 review.
Money doesn't matter to me, and I like aluminum
Splash some cash on the $550 AirPods Max. We don't need to say much here, if you're already looking to spend that much on a pair of headphones, you've probably already been coveting them. You'll be happy to know they are very good - and while maybe not $550 good, they are certainly often worth the discounted prices that Amazon has them for. in our AirPods Max review you'll find more information about the aluminum monsters.
How do I find the best AirPods deals?
The best place to look for the best AirPods sales and deals is Amazon - they frequently have the lowest prices. There may be similar deals in other retailers like B&H Photo or Walmart, but they often can't beat the prices you'll find on Amazon.
You won't find too many deals on Apple's own website - they barely reduce any of their prices, unless you're a student. What they do offer is an engraving service, where you can put a message on the AirPods charging case. If you're looking to give a pair of AirPods as a gift, it can be a really cute little gesture. Whether it's worth paying the extra over some of the deals available is a completely different question - we'd say no, but your mileage may vary.
Remember as well to shift your preferences - sometimes, you may have to go with a different color to get the AirPods that you want for the best price. While you may want the Sky Blue AirPods Max, the Space Gray may be a good few dollars cheaper. Worth bearing in mind that this only applies to the AirPods Max - the other Airpods are available in white, white, or white.
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As iMore's Senior Staff writer, Tammy uses her background in audio and Masters in screenwriting to pen engaging product reviews and informative buying guides. The resident audiophile (or audio weirdo), she's got an eye for detail and a love of top-quality sound. Apple is her bread and butter, with attention on HomeKit and Apple iPhone and Mac hardware. You won't find her far away from a keyboard even outside of working at iMore – in her spare time, she spends her free time writing feature-length and TV screenplays. Also known to enjoy driving digital cars around virtual circuits, to varying degrees of success. Just don't ask her about AirPods Max - you probably won't like her answer.
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