Black Friday AirPods deals 2024: Some of the best deals are now online

Black Friday is just two days away and if you’re thinking about buying a new pair of AirPods for yourself or the Apple user in your life, this is a great time to purchase. But don’t buy without checking out the deals on these earbuds and headphones first.

AirPods are a great gift for the iPhone owner in your life who isn’t invested in the tech themselves. There are several models to choose from, from the budget AirPods 3 to the luxury AirPods Max. Whatever you choose, now is a great time to buy a pair.

Also: The best Black Friday deals: live updates

We’ve seen significant discounts on popular AirPods models, like the AirPods Max, which just got $150 off, and the AirPods Pro, which is currently $95 off. Whether you’re the type of person who knows exactly what you’re going to buy for everyone you love this holiday, or you want to shop around and let inspiration (and deals) come to you naturally, you can get ahead of the game Save yourself the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping by checking out the first offers now. ZDNET has reviewed every pair of AirPods on this list and our bargain experts will help you find the best purchase or gift option for you.

Our favorite AirPods deals for early Black Friday

AirPods Pro 2: $154 (Save $95 on Amazon): These are our favorite AirPods from the entire lineup—and with this $95 discount (the lowest price we’ve seen to date), they’re very affordable. The AirPods Pro 2 are Apple noise-cancelling headphones. Plus, they just got a new feature that turns them into hearing aids.
AirPods 4: $120 (Save $10 at Amazon): This isn’t the best deal on the new AirPods that Apple released earlier this fall, but it’s still $10 off the original price. Wait until Black Friday for a potentially bigger deal.
AirPods 3: $120 (Save $50 on Amazon): This AirPods model isn’t as new as the AirPods 4 that came out this year. These came out in 2021, so they are a bit old. You’ll find spatial audio, 30 hours of battery life, and adaptive EQ in the earbuds, but look elsewhere for noise cancellation.
AirPods Max: $400 (Save $150 at Amazon): Apple has released a newer AirPods Max model and added a USB-C charging port to the over-ear headphones, making select older-generation colors cheaper right now, like the Sky blue AirPods Max are $150 off the original price. The price of the previous AirPods Max model is lower than ever.
AirPods (second generation): $89 (Save $40 at Walmart): These AirPods are the simplest on the market. If you prefer a no-frills listening experience, this Walmart deal isn’t bad.

Current Price: $155
Original price: $250

The AirPods Pro 2 are our favorite AirPods from Apple for good reason – three reasons, actually. They fit most ear sizes, are great for all-day wear, and have the best noise cancellation in Apple’s earbud lineup. These headphones give you six hours of battery life, enough to get you through a workout or two or most of the day at the office. In addition, Apple recently added a hearing aid feature to the AirPods Pro 2, turning these earbuds into helpful hearing aids – a groundbreaking development that also offers the hearing impaired an affordable sound amplifier. Pretty cool, right?

Current Price: $169
Original price: $179

This discount is small at just $10 – but discounts on brand new Apple products are rare. These are the latest Apple AirPods, equipped with an H2 chip (the same chip in the AirPods Pro 2), active noise cancellation and spatial audio. Considering how new the earbuds are, it makes sense that the discount isn’t huge. The closer we get to Black Friday, the more impressive the price reduction will be.

Current price: $400
Original price: $549

Apple released an updated AirPods Max in September with a USB-C port, replacing the brand’s signature Lighting port. The new lineup includes more colors, this new port, and not much else. What this means for you, however, is that you can buy the older version of the AirPods Max with many of the same features as the new headphones, but at a cheaper price. The older model AirPods Max, for example, is $150 cheaper, the lowest price we’ve seen to date. Not bad at all.

Best Black Friday AirPods alternatives: Deals live now

Beats Studio Buds: $80 (Save $70 on Amazon): Want Apple ecosystem compatibility without AirPods prices? These Beats Studio Buds offer seamless Apple connectivity at a fraction of the price.
Better than Solo Buds: $50 (Save $30): These are the most basic Beats Buds (let’s say that three times fast). They don’t have noise cancellation, but they have an 18-hour battery life and are comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time.
Denon PerL Pro: $150 (Save $150 on Denon): These earbuds deliver crisp and clear sound and are currently half price.
Beats Studio Buds+: $130 (Save $40 on Amazon): The Beats Studio Buds+ are an evolution of the Studio Buds with active noise cancellation and 12 hours more listening time.
Sony WF-1000XM5: $228 (Save $72 on Amazon): These are some of the most impressive earbuds you can buy, with vibrant sound, good noise cancellation, and all those special Sony touches.
Soundcore A40 noise canceling earbuds: $59 (Save $20 on Amazon): Customers on Amazon describe these earbuds as “spectacular” with great sound at an affordable price.
Better than Solo 4: $100 (Save $100 on Amazon): With up to 50 hours of battery life and comfortable ear pads, you can listen to music for days.
Sonos Ace headphones: $350 (Save $100 on Amazon): These Sonos headphones bear a striking resemblance to Apple’s AirPods Max.

FAQs

When is Black Friday?

Black Friday takes place on November 29th this year.

When is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday is on December 2nd this year and you can find deals online on everything from home appliances to high-tech gadgets.

Are Black Friday AirPods deals really better?

I’ve seen the price of AirPods drop about $10-$20 below the usual discount price during events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Prime Day. Brands like Apple typically offer discount pricing that they take advantage of during non-holiday events. For example, I saw that the price of the AirPods Pro 2 is around the $200 price range, even though the full price is $250. On a deal event day, the price drops to around $180 or less.

How did we choose these Black Friday deals?

ZDNET only writes about offers that we believe are actually worth it for you. I know the price of each AirPods model and what is regularly discounted. So when I evaluate offers, I take all of this information into account before including a product in a summary or writing a focus on the offer.

We also looked at customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the offerings we recommend. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing – in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The aim is to provide the most accurate advice so you can shop smarter.

Where to shop for the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals?

Write your own unique description. It’s assumed you can still shop in person, but deals can be found online at most major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, etc.).

How do I know which AirPods to choose this Black Friday?

There are plenty of AirPods options available to you this Black Friday. Do you want over-ear headphones like the AirPods Max (currently on sale for $150 off) or a tried-and-true pro noise-canceling headphone like the AirPods Pro 2? These are two of our favorite AirPod models. Other models like the AirPods 3 and 4 offer different fits – both without the silicone ear tips that stabilize in the ear. The AirPods 4 are the latest model. So don’t expect big sales for the product yet. Usually brands offer their older models with the best deals. That explains why the AirPods Max with Lightning connector is $150 off, while the new AirPods Max with USB-C connector are $100 more expensive at Amazon.

Is there an Apple student discount?

Apple education is slashing the price of select Apple products like MacBooks and iPads, but it doesn’t look like you’ll be able to get discounts on AirPods.

Can you get free Apple Music with your AirPods?

When you buy a new Apple device like AirPods, you’re entitled to three free months of Apple Music, the platform’s streaming service.

What are the best deals for Black Friday 2024?

The experts at ZDNET scoured Black Friday sales to find the best discounts by category. These are the best Black Friday deals so far, sorted by category:

Black Friday TV deals
Black Friday phone deals
Black Friday laptop deals
Black Friday gaming PC deals
Black Friday deals on smartwatches and fitness trackers
Black Friday Amazon Deals
Black Friday Best Buy deals
Black Friday Walmart Deals
Black Friday Sam’s Club deals
Apple Black Friday deals
Black Friday iPad deals
Black Friday AirPods deals
Black Friday deals for Apple Watch
Black Friday Kindle deals
Black Friday streaming deals
Black Friday deals on soundbars and speakers
Robot vacuum cleaner deals on Black Friday
Black Friday Nintendo Switch deals
Black Friday PlayStation deals

And more Black Friday offers:
Black Friday deals under $25
Black Friday deals under $100
Black Friday Samsung deals
Black Friday Verizon Deals
Black Friday headphone deals
Black Friday tablet deals
Black Friday monitor deals
Black Friday gaming deals
Black Friday Security Camera Deals
Black Friday deals on storage and SSD
Black Friday mobile power station deals
Black Friday VPN deals
Black Friday Chromebook deals
Black Friday HP deals
Black Friday Dell Deals
Black Friday Roku deals
Black Friday Roborock deals