We’re at that time of year when we can *finally* take advantage of major early Black Friday deals, saving you from needing to wait until the big day itself to snag great discounts. As is often the case during this time of year, one such highlight is the Black Friday Apple deals that are already popping up. Besides discounts on MacBooks and iPads, there are some big savings on AirPods, making now the best time to treat yourself to the upgrade you’ve been waiting for or to simply buy a pair to gift.
Below, you’ll find some great deals on everyone’s favorite headphones and earphones so you can listen in style and comfort. These will work particularly well alongside any Apple Watch Black Friday deals you snap up, too, as all things Apple co-exist super well. Besides tracking down the best AirPods deals, we also have some great advice on what to consider when buying some AirPods and which AirPods might be best for your plans. Read on while we take you through everything you need to know.
Apple AirPods Pro 1st gen — $120 $133 10% off
The original AirPods Pro remains a reliable pair of earbuds that you simply can’t go wrong with. They offer ANC to cancel out surrounding irritants, while there’s a transparency mode for when you do need to take in the world. Three sizes of soft, tapered silicone tips ensure the right fit for everyone, while Adaptive EQ automatically tunes music to the shape of your ear.
Apple AirPods 3 — $120 $169 30% off
Our Apple AirPods 3 review describes these buds as “the best of both worlds” with “very good sound quality” and neat head-tracking Spatial Audio. Good for most people, they simply work well with minimal effort on your part — all at a too-good-to-pass-up price.
Apple AirPods Pro 2 — $154 $249 38% off
Described as “great buds…even better”, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 provides “very good sound quality” in conjunction with “excellent noise cancellation” and “top-notch transparency.” Is there much more you could need from earphones? We’re not convinced. These seemingly do it all and they’re super easy to charge as well.
Apple AirPods Max — $400 $549 27% off
When we reviewed the Apple AirPods Max, we called them the “most fun headphones ever”. They offer “best-in-class ANC” with an “amazing transparency mode,” so they’re perfect for losing yourself to your music or a movie. They’re also built very well, so they feel suitably premium in every way.
Apple AirPods 4 — $168 $179 6% off
The latest Apple AirPods 4 offer “surprisingly effective ANC” with “solid sound quality” and “excellent voice/call quality”. They’re ideal for the masses, whether you’re running with them or simply cleaning the house while listening to music. Adaptive audio helps a ton here, too, so you’ll never miss a pivotal beat.
How to choose AirPods on Black Friday
When it comes to buying AirPods, you can simply head to our roundup of the best wireless earbuds or headphones and buy the ones that meet your budget here. However, a better approach is to also think about how you like to wear your earphones and why. Do you prefer over-ear headphones, or do you favor in-ear buds? If it’s the former, the AirPods Max are your sole choice, otherwise standard AirPods could suffice.
If you’re looking for earphones for the gym or walking, AirPods and AirPods Pro are usually a good option, but if you want to relax at home watching a movie, invest in AirPods Max. AirPods are great overall, but you get the most features from them by connecting them to iPhones and iPads. If you’re an Android fan, they’re worth skipping, as there are other options out there that better suit these devices.
How we chose these Black Friday deals
When it comes to seeking great deals, we know what to look for. Throughout the year, we look for awesome deals, and we don’t just mean during key sales periods. Because of that, we can instantly see if there’s a genuinely good sale or if we’re talking more incremental discounts. With AirPods, even incremental discounts tend to be worth checking out, but it’s still always good to know if you’re dealing with an exciting discount or something that’s gradually becoming pretty good.
We’re also experts in headphones, earphones, and AirPods, so we know which ones to recommend and for what type of user. That way, we recommend the AirPods that we would want to own and that we would recommend to our friends and family. Older AirPods can still be included here if the discount is great enough, but we generally favor the more popular and newer models. We scour all the major retailers, so you’re always guaranteed the best prices here.