Apple’s AirPods wireless headphones offer an iconic look, unique convenience and strong sound quality. However, they come with a premium price tag, so it’s important to shop around for a good deal … or find a bunch of tech experts that will do this for you. This is where we come in.
In this article we end the best AirPods discounts and offers that help you save money. We have the best prices on the 4 Gen-AirPods, 2. Gen-AirPods Pro with USB-C, and Premium AirPods Max Over-Ear headphones that Apple has updated to use USB-C rather than Lightning.
Below you will find links to the best available deals right now. You will find more detailed advice and price comparisons for each model below.
There is an Amazon sale from March 25, where we may be able to see some discounts, in fact there are already some early spring offers. See: Amazon Spring Sale UK and Amazon Spring Sale OS
US
Uk
We do not tend to see huge AirPods discounts in the UK, but there are some small savings to have here and there.
If it doesn’t have to be Apple AirPods look at the best earplugs we’ve gone through, which include the best deals on these models. We also have a round-up of the best wired headphones, and a comparison of over-ear headphones reads our comparison of AirPods Max vs other over-ear headphones.
Recent and impending changes in the AirPods series
Before you buy, notice the following:
AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC was introduced in September 2024. AirPods 4 starts at $ 129/£ 129 with the ANC model that cost $ 179/£ 179. With this in mind, don’t buy AirPods 3 or AirPods 2 if they’re not significantly cheaper than $ 129/£ 129.
The AirPods Max With lightning was interrupted in favor of AirPods Max with USB-C. In this case, if you see the older models for sale, they are worth buying with a good discount.
The AirPods Pro is often for sale as they are likely to be updated in 2025. They are still a bargain and have recently been given the opportunity to work as hearing aids thanks to a software update.
You can check the automated price comparison tables below to see if any retailers have fallen their prices since we last updated this article.
How much does AirPods cost?
Some changes were announced at Apple’s event in September 2024, so make sure you are up to date with the latest prices:
- AirPods Max (2024): $ 549 / £ 499 (Price dropped from £ 549 to £ 499 in September 2023)
- AirPods Pro with USB-C (2. Gen, 2023): $ 249 / £ 229
- AirPods 4: $ 129 / £ 129
- AirPods 4 (with ANC): $ 179 / £ 179
Completed:
- 3. Gen-AirPods with Lightning (2021): Was $ 169 / £ 169
- 3. Gen-AirPods with Magsafe (2021): Was $ 179 / £ 179
- 2.- hen AirPods (2019): Was $ 129 / £ 129
You never have to pay more than the prices above: We have seen unscrupulous retailers demand that MSRP/RRP be higher and prepare ‘savings’ based on it.
Remember to consider delivery and postage fees when assessing appointments; We include it on our price list, but most retailers do not add it until you are at the checkout. And be careful offers that seem too good to be true but turns out to have no stock. We see this a lot.
Good AirPods offers are rare and tend not to last long. If you see one (and you’re sure the supplier is legitimate: Look up it on Trustpilot, if you haven’t bought from there) take it.
Best new AirPods -Offer
Apple sells two sets of basic (non-pro) AirPods, both introduced at the Glowtime event in the 2024: 4th-Gen model with active noise cancellation and 4. The gene model without. Best Buy is worth looking for some valuable savings in the US, while British customers can save some money across the range.
You can buy the 4. Gen-AirPods directly from Apple, but you will find the best prices elsewhere in the automated tables below.
AirPods (4. Gen, 2024, with ANC) Offers
These replace AirPods (3rd generation) and have a redesigned, smaller USB-C case that works with wireless charging and has now found my functionality with a built-in speaker to locate the device. They have active noise cancellation that was previously only found on AirPods Pro and Max, and Sport Apple’s H2 chip, which was introduced in 2022 AirPods Pro and improves the sound quality.
MSRP: $ 179/£ 179
AirPods (4. Gen, 2024, Without ANC) Offer
While ANC AirPods 4 replace the 3rd Gen AirPods, these replace these 2. Gen-AirPods. They have most of the features of the higher priced model with the most important exception of active noise cancellation, transparency mode and adaptive sound.
MSRP: $ 129/£ 129
Best AirPod’s Pro Tender
The 2nd re-version of Airpod’s Pro was released in September 2022. Instead of introducing the third generation in 2023, Apple Finely-tuned them instead of supporting USB-C for charging (including charging via iPhone 15), which the lightning models have now been interrupted, but will be available from other retailers for a while; Make sure you get the exact model you want.
AirPods Pro (2. Gen, 2023, USB-C) Agreements
This is the 2023 version with USB-C charging. You can also use an iPhone 15 to charge the case.
MSRP: $249 / £ 229
Best AirPods Max offerings
AirPods Max, Apple’s wireless over-ear headphones can be purchased directly from Apple to $ 549 / £ 499 (They were £ 549 in the UK before September 2023, when Apple fell the price to £ 499).
Best AirPods Max (2024, USB-C) appointments
AirPods Max has not been exactly updated in 2024, in addition to a new set of colors and USB-C instead of lightning. These are still effectively the same as the 2020 models. It may still be possible to buy old models in the original colors for some time, so we have included the best prices for the older model in the ceased section of this article.
Find the latest prices in our automated table embedded below.
MSRP: $ 549/£ 499
Ceased AirPods offering
One way to pick up a really good deal can be to buy ceased airpods, which are often the first to be reduced.
AirPods (3. Gen, 2021, Magsafe) Deals
Apple updated the Ultra-Popular AirPods in October 2021, after a wait of more than two and a half years. They were eventually interrupted in September 2024. Get all the information you need in our AirPods 3 review.
MSRP was: $ 179 / £ 179 (ceased)
AirPods (3. Gen, 2021, Lightning) Deals
There was also a cheaper version of AirPods 3rd generation with a case to be charged via lightning, rather than wireless.
MSRP was: $ 169 / £ 169 (ceased)
AirPods (2. Gen, 2019) Offers
This older version of AirPods was sold by Apple until September 2024 and can still be found with other retailers. Note that this version of AirPods comes with a lightning charging case to be connected, as opposed to the wireless Magsafe charging case.
Check the automated table below for the latest offers.
MSRP was: $ 129 / £ 129 (ceased)
AirPods Pro (2. Gen, 2022, Lightning) Deals
This is the older version with a lightning gate to charge the case. You can still find them for sale.
MSRP was $ 249 / £ 249 (ceased)
AirPods Max (2020, Lightning) Deals
This is the older version of the original AirPods Max came in different colors and contained Lightning (rather than USB-C in the newer models). You can still find them for sale.
MSRP was: $ 549/£ 499
Apple AirPods Max (2020) – Gris Sidéral
€ 509
Apple AirPods Max (2020) – Bleu Ciel
€ 509
Apple AirPods Max (2020) – Argent
€ 569
For an in -depth look at your options here, read where to buy AirPods Max.
Other ways to save: AirPods Bundle Deals
The best way to get a good price of AirPods can be to assemble them with a phone, although this is mainly an option in UK
Telephone network Three offers a number of bundles that include AirPods. Visit the company’s accessory page to browse the best options for you.
Vodafone and O2 do not currently bundle AirPods with their iPhone plans, although O2 sells 2021 AirPods, AirPods in early 2019 and 2022 AirPods Pro on their own.
Whatever bundle you are looking for, remember to check if you are getting AirPods Pro, the early 2019 AirPods (sometimes called the second gene or AirPods 2) or the new AirPods from 2021 (third gene or AirPods 3). If you get AirPods Pro, find out if they include the new Magsafe charging case.
AirPods buying advice
Do you wonder if a few AirPods are right for you? We have a guide to the best AirPods and you could read AirPods Pro vs AirPods to find out how the models are compared, but let’s quickly discuss advantages and disadvantages.
Apple has launched various AirPods versions, several of which are still for sale:
- 2016: 1.- hen AirPodsceased
- 2019: 2. Gen-AirPodsceased
- 2019: 1.- hen AirPods Proceased
- 2021: 3. Gen-AirPodsLightning and Magsafe -Variants ceased
- 2022 & 2023: 2. Gen AirPods ProLightning and USB-C variants
- 2020 & 2024: AirPods Max
All four non-MAX models are wireless, sit in the ears and remain in theory that through the density of fit alone. The benefits of this are clear – they allow you to run or work out without worrying about snagging the cables – but they can fall out when you pick up the pace. Our experience, however, is that AirPods are among the best earplugs in this regard.
AirPods Pro offers a snugger pass form than the others because they have a choice of flexible ear tips, and are actually able to tell you whether you have chosen the right tip or not.
Sound quality is decent, but not unusual on the original and early 2019 models; The 2021 3. Gen AirPods were better, while AirPods Pro is a step above thanks to their better fit and implementation of active noise cancellation. What AirPods consistently does better than non-apple headphones are coordinated with other Apple products thanks to the W1 chip (in the 2016 model) and H1-CHIP (2019 and 2021), making mating with an iPhone a breeze.
Battery, most non-Max AirPods will last about five hours, but it’s not the end of the story: They come with a small charging case with its own larger battery so you can jump them back in a quick charge. The case must offer another 24 hours (give or take) before it requires charging. However, AirPods from 2021 offers more in this department with alleged figures in six hours out of the case and 30 hours in total. We have some advice on getting better AirPods battery life.
Apple’s 2. Gen AirPods can respond to Hey Siri commands, charging wirelessly if you choose the wireless charging case and offer more talk time than the originals. These features are stored in 2021 3rd generation models, with spatial sound and adaptive EQ added to the mixture. The 4th generation of AirPods arrived in 2024 and added ANC to the mixture.
AirPods Max is over-ear headphones and essentially a completely different product than the rest of the Airpods series. They are much more expensive and a completely different suggestion than the other AirPods. Sound quality is considered almost universal to be unusual, but it is debatable whether it is unusual enough to justify the premium price tag. And many reviewers have pointed out that the case is strangely designed, considering that one part of the headphones that it does not protect – the mesh pan tape – is the one that is most vulnerable to injuries. Airpods Max is an appealing view, but may not be convenient for most budgets.
For more detailed advice and thoughts on the best alternatives to Apple’s three cheaper AirPods models, read our guides for the best wireless earplugs and the best wired headphones.