Cyber Monday deals: AirPods at or near all-time low prices – CNET [CNET]

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Black Friday AirPods deals, and now Cyber Monday deals, have been hitting left and right, along with a few surprises. Right now, you can get AirPods 3 for $150 and the Space Gray model of the AirPods Max for $429, their lowest prices to date. And while the AirPods 2 haven’t returned to their earlier November low of $89, they’re now down to a decent $100 at Amazon. The same goes for AirPods Pro: They dipped to as low as $159, but are now hovering around $170 — if you can find them in stock.

AirPods pricing 2021

Model Apple Store price Best price right now Best all-time price
AirPods 2 $129 $100 $89
AirPods Pro 2021 $249 $170 $159
AirPods 3 $179 $150 $150
AirPods Max $549 $429 $429

Long story short, Apple now has three sets of true wireless headphones competing in the $160 to $200 range. Except for those baseline AirPods 2, all the others listed above are compatible with Apple’s new spatial audio features, but none of them will deliver the maximum quality of Apple’s upcoming lossless audio format, which is too rich for the current Bluetooth wireless standard to handle. 

We update this story frequently to reflect current pricing. 

There are a bunch of models in Apple’s AirPods lineup, so let’s break it down for you quickly so you know which ones you should be looking for deals on.

  • The AirPods Pro ($249 list, often on sale for $190 or less) are still around, but they now include that same MagSafe-compatible case (if you buy the right one). The Pro models offer full noise isolation (via ear tips) and active noise cancellation, neither of which are available in the standard AirPods models. Amazon is now selling them for $170.
  • The AirPods 3 were released in October (alongside new MacBook Pros). The $179 true-wireless headphones include a case that’s compatible with MagSafe and wireless charging, and they offer better sound quality than the older AirPods 2 (see above). For Cyber Monday, they’re back down to their all-time low price of $150 and back in stock at Amazon.
  • The second-gen AirPods (or AirPods 2) are the entry-level models in Apple’s lineup now, and we saw them drop to $89 at Walmart for Black Friday. They’re not that low again, but Amazon does have them for $100.
  • The Beats Studio Buds are a 2021 model with a closed design. They are currently discounted down to $100 plus a $10 credit with code BYZPPJADUODB. and are a good alternative to the AirPods 2 if you don’t need an open design.
  • The Beats Fit Pro were unveiled just a few days after the AirPods 3 were released. Like the AirPods Pro, the $200 Fit Pro offer an isolating design, active noise cancellation and water resistance. But they also add a stabilizing fin built into the design, making them better for active use. We’re still waiting to see if discounts pop up on these, though given how new they are — some places don’t even expect them in until January — we doubt we’ll see any sales on these this holiday season.
  • The AirPods Max, Apple’s high-end full-size headphones that were released late in 2020, are still in the line, but they’re often on sale at closer to $449, versus the official Apple Store price of $549. Now you can get select colors for $429 at Amazon, their all-time low.