Christmas is less than a week away, but there's still time to score a pair of genuine Apple AirPods at a remarkable price and receive it before December 25. Make no mistake though, you don't have very much time left to do so. Everything from the latest AirPods Pro with the new USB Type-C charger to an extremely affordable AirPods 2nd gen is on sale right now. Unless noted, these are all brand new with full 1 year Apple warranty and eligible for AppleCare.
AirPods Pro (USB) for $199.99
Save $60 off the current model AirPods Pro. This new AirPods Pro is still called a "2nd gen" model, but with one key update. Apple has replaced the proprietary Lightning port with the more universal USB Type-C. For people who want to bring along a single charging cable for all of their mobile devices, this is a godsend. The Apple AirPods Pro is one of the best sounding "truly wireless" earbuds you'll find, especially at this price point. Aside from the more expensive and bulkier Max, the Pro is the only Airpods with active noise cancelling technology. If there are moments where noise cancellation might be a hindrance, the AirPods Pro features an "Adaptive Transparency Mode" to pick up ambient noises so you can hear your surroundings.
3rd Gen AirPods for $139.99
Save $30 off the current model AirPods. It's $50 cheaper than the AirPods Pro. You do lose the active noise cancellation and the customized ear tips, but you're still getting a pair of AirPods that works seamlessly with your iPhone, has Siri built-in, is easy to wear and holds securely, and most importantly, still sounds great. It has a lot of upgrades over the 2nd gen version, like an IPX4 rating, a MagSafe charging case, better battery life, better sensors (won't turn on abruptly in your pocket), and better controls.
2nd Gen AirPods for $99.99
If you're looking for a pair of Apple AirPods and you want to spend as little as possible, then this is the best Black Friday deal for you. The 2nd gen AirPods is $50 cheaper than the 3rd gen and $100 cheaper than the Pros. Best of all, they still work seamlessly with your iPhone. As soon as you take the AirPods out of their case and put them in your ear, they'll be instantly and automatically paired. They support quick Siri access simply by saying "Hey Siri", and you can easily pause, play, and skip songs by double tapping either earbud. The battery offers 5 hours of listening time, and the charging case gives you over 24 additional hours. The charging case is quick charge compatible so 15 minutes of charging will give you 3 hours of listening time.
Should you get the AirPods Pro or the AirPods?
In my opinion, unless you're stuck with a hard budget, the AirPods Pro is more than worth the $50 price premium over the 3rd gen AirPods. It boasts excellent noise cancellation, it sounds much better, and it offers a much more secure fit. A lot of this is simply because the AirPods Pro has customized ear tips that do a much better job of sealing your ears. Note only do they stay in place better, but they also provide better passive noise isolation, which in turn directly equates to better sound quality.
Apple AirPods Max for $479.99
Save $100 off a pair of brand new Apple AirPods Max. These are probably be the nicest pair of headphones you'd ever wear. It's undeniably engineered to the highest standards, pumps out audiophile quality sound, boasts impressive active noise cancellation, feels comfortable to wear even during long listening marathons, and looks like a veritable work of art. Unfortunately, the Apple AirPods Max will also run you a pretty penny with an MSRP of $549. That isn't the kind of money most people would be willing to throw around for a pair of headphones. A more affordable alternative is the headphones mentioned below.
Beats Studio Pro for $179.99
Beats is owned by Apple, and the Studio Pro is marketed towards people like me who want a quality over-ear wireless noise cancelling headphone but also don't want to spend $500+ on the AirPods Max. The Studio Pro offers great audio quality, better than any other Beats headphone, and very good active noise cancellation. It carries over a lot of Apple's trademark features like spatial audio with head tracking, one touch pairing, and "Find My" functionality. It also has a Transparency mode so you can listen to the environment around you without removing your headphones.
