Black Friday 2024 AirPods deals: Some of the best sales available now

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Best AirPods Black Friday 2024 deals: On sale now

Black Friday starts tomorrow, and if while you’re roasting a turkey, eating pumpkin pie, or watching the football game today, you’re thinking about how nice a new pair of AirPods would be, then today (not tomorrow) is days to buy them. But don’t buy without checking out the deals on these headphones and earphones first.

AirPods is a great gift for the iPhone owner in your life who doesn’t splurge on technology. There are several models to choose from, from the affordable to the luxurious AirPods 3 AirPods Max. Whichever you choose, now is a great time to buy a pair.

Also: Best Black Friday Deals: Live Updates

We’re already seeing big discounts on our favorite AirPods models, like the AirPods Max, which just got $150 off, and the AirPods Pro, which are currently $95 off. Whether you’re the type of person who knows exactly what you’re buying for your loved ones this holiday or you plan to shop around and let inspiration (or deals) come to you naturally, you You can beat the holiday shopping mall by checking out early deals now. ZDNET has reviewed every pair of AirPods on this list, and our deal-finding experts will help you cut through the hassle of finding the best option for you to buy or gift.

Our favorite Black Friday AirPods deals first

AirPods Pro 2: $154 (save $95 at Amazon): Here it is Our favorite AirPods out of the entire lineup — and they’re incredibly cheap at this $95 discount (the lowest price we’ve ever seen). AirPods Pro 2 is a pair of Apple headphones with noise cancellation. Also, they just got a new feature that turns them into hearing aid.
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 cheaper than the original price. Wait until Black Friday for a potentially more important deal.
AirPods 3: $154 (save $15 at Amazon): This AirPods model is not as new as the AirPods 4 launched earlier this year. These came out in 2021, so they’re a bit old. You’ll find spatial audio, 30-hour battery life, and adaptive EQ in the headphones, but look elsewhere for noise cancellation.
AirPods Max: $400 (save $150 at Best Buy): Apple releases a newer AirPods Max model, adding a USB-C charging port for the over-ear headphones, so select colors from the older generation are now cheaper , such as the blue AirPods Max, which is $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 most basic available. If you like a simple listening experience, this Walmart deal isn’t very good.

Current price: $154
Original price: 250$

The AirPods Pro 2 are our favorite Apple AirPods for a reason — three reasons, in fact. They fit most ear sizes, are great for all-day wear, and have the best noise cancellation among Apple’s earbuds. You’ll get six hours of battery life from these buds, enough to power you through a workout or two or almost an entire day at the office. Additionally, Apple recently updated the AirPods Pro 2 to add a hearing aid feature that turns these headphones into useful hearing aids – a game-changing development that will give people hearing impaired an affordable audio amplifier. Pretty cool, right?

Current price: $165
Original price: $179

The discount is small, just $15 off — but discounts on brand new Apple products are rare. These are the latest Apple AirPods that come with the H2 chip (the same chip in the AirPods Pro 2), active noise cancellation, and spatial audio. Given how new the headphones are, that means the price drop isn’t huge. Perhaps as we get closer to Black Friday, we’ll see more impressive sales.

Current price: $400
Original price: 550$

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

The best Black Friday AirPods alternatives: Deals available now

Beats Studio Buds: $80 (save $71 at Amazon): Want Apple ecosystem compatibility without the high AirPods price? These Beats Studio Buds offer Apple’s seamless connectivity at a fraction of the price.
Beats Solo Buds: $50 (save $30): These are the simplest Beats Buds (say that three times fast). They don’t have noise cancellation but have an 18-hour battery life and are comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time.
Denon PerL Pro: $150 (save $150 at Denon): These headphones deliver clear and crisp sound and are currently half off.
Beats Studio Buds+: $130 (save $40 at Amazon): Beats Studio Buds+ are a step up from the Studio Buds with active noise cancellation and an additional 12 hours of listening time.
Sony WF-1000XM5: $228 (save $72 at Amazon): These are some of the most impressive earbuds you can buy, with rich sound, good noise cancellation, and all the special Sony touches.
Soundcore A40 noise-canceling headphones: $45 (save $35 at Amazon): Amazon customers call these headphones “spectacular” with great sound at an affordable price.
Solo Beats 4: $100 (save $100 at Amazon): With up to 50 hours of battery life and comfortable earpads, you can listen to music with these headphones for days.
Sonos Ace Headphones: $350 (save $100 at Amazon): These Sonos headphones bear a striking resemblance to Apple’s AirPods Max.

Frequently asked questions

When is Black Friday?

Black Friday takes place on November 29 this year.

When is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday takes place on December 2 this year, and you can find deals across the web on everything from home appliances to high-tech gadgets.

Are AirPods deals really better on Black Friday?

I’ve seen the price of AirPods drop about $10 or $20 less than their usual discounted price during events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Prime Day. Brands like Apple often have discounted prices that they use during non-holiday events. For example, I saw the price of the AirPods Pro 2 at around $200, even though its full price is $250. On the day of the trading event, the price drops to around $180 or lower.

How did we choose these Black Friday deals?

ZDNET only writes about deals we think are truly worth it to you. I know the price of each AirPods model and what products they regularly have on sale. So when evaluating deals, I consider all of this information before including the product in the roundup or writing a deal spotlight.

We also looked at customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who have owned and used the deals we recommend. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to give you the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.

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

The typical mentality is that you can still shop in person but you can find deals online through most major online retailers such as: Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, etc.

How do you know which AirPods to get this Black Friday?

You have a lot of options for AirPods this Black Friday. Do you want an over-ear headphone, like the AirPods Max (currently $150 off) or a tried-and-tested professional noise-canceling headphone, like the AirPods Pro 2? Those are two of our favorite AirPods models. Other models, like the AirPods 3 and 4, offer different fits without the silicone ear tips that help stabilize your ears. AirPods 4 is the newest model, so don’t expect this product to have big sales. Usually, brands will discount their old models with the best deals. That explains why the AirPods Max with Lightning port are $150 off, while the new AirPods Max with USB-C port are $100 more expensive on Amazon.