It's not hard to see why the Apple AirPods are the most popular headphones of all time. Generally speaking, they deliver a great user experience for the money and highly competitive sound quality. Of course, they also work seamlessly with your iPhone which helps, given the number of Apple smartphones and Apple fans on the market.
The good news, if you're on the hunt for a new pair of AirPods, is that there are some great deals to be found, especially around certain times of the year. And What Hi-Fi? is here to help you choose the right pair from Apple's headphone range and get the best deal while we're at it.
Top of Apple’s AirPods range at the time of writing are the AirPods Max over-ear, wireless noise-cancelling headphones, followed by the latest AirPods Pro 2 noise-cancelling wireless earbuds, and the standard AirPods 3 wireless earbuds. You can still find big discounts on the older AirPods 2 although it's hard to find any good offers on the AirPods Pro, which Apple has discontinued.
If you're a dedicated iPhone user, the AirPods are probably the best wireless earbuds for you. They connect seamlessly with your iOS device, bring Siri to life in your ears, offer excellent hands-free calls from your iPhone, and give you greater immersion with music and films thanks to spatial audio support. They also sound fantastic, especially with the five-star flagship models.
Read on for the lowest AirPods prices and rest assured we're keeping this page updated with all the best deals whenever we see a price drop.
Best AirPods deals
AirPods Pro 2 deals
AirPods Pro 2
Apple's flagship AirPods Pro 2 earbuds earned the brand its first five-star review for the in-ear models. Thanks to the powerful new H2 chip, the noise-cancelling is improved two-fold, sound quality is now on par with the class leaders, and there are plenty of additional user-friendly features.
Battery life has increased to six hours in the earbuds, with 24 extra hours with the charging case, which now has a built-in speaker to emit tones. A fourth XS ear tip is included for an even better fit, and a new "Adaptive" Transparency Mode damps down loud and sudden harsh noises to great effect.
But it's the excellent sound quality that's king here. Weighty, detailed, open and with plenty of dynamic subtlety – these really are accomplished performers. For iOS users, they're the only wireless earbuds you'll ever need.
AirPods Pro deals
AirPods Pro
The 2nd-gen Pro model is better in every way, but Apple's original top ANC buds are still a great option if you can find them at a heavily discounted price. Unfortunately, Apple has now discontinued this model and deals are actually getting harder to find.
The Pro's noise-cancelling tech with Transparency mode that actively allows sound in from the outside world works a treat, while the supplied silicone ear tips (you get three sizes) ensure a better fit than the standard AirPods. Battery life is a claimed five hours for the earphones, with another 19 hours added by the charging case.
Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking is on board and pairing with your iPhone or iPad is simply seamless. If you're an iOS user, the AirPods Pro might be one to consider if the price is right. Otherwise, we'd go straight for the newer model.
AirPods 3 deals
AirPods 3
Apple's latest AirPods advance closer to the Pro model, with a smart redesign (shorter stems) and full support for spatial audio thanks to added head tracking capabilities. Battery life is stronger than the older AirPods 2 (now 30 hours vs 24 hours) while the sound is balanced, clear and detailed.
The AirPods 3 might lack active noise-cancelling (you'll need to splash out on the AirPods Pro models, above) but they're a great all-round package with plenty to offer Apple device owners.
AirPods 2 deals
AirPods 2
Apple might have launched the newer AirPods 3, but the AirPods 2 remain a great everyday pair of hassle-free true wireless earbuds. They offer a good combination of performance, reliability and convenience.
We also regularly see the price of this model drop down to under £100 - so keep your eyes peeled for a deal, especially around Prime Day and Black Friday.
AirPods Max deals
AirPods Max
In 2020, Apple finally delivered its first over-ear, noise-cancelling, wireless headphones: the AirPods Max. They're large, rather heavy and expensive... and very good indeed, nabbing a five-star review and a 2021 What Hi-Fi? Award. Their exceptional build quality is as premium as the price, and they offer superb sound and noise-cancelling.
Their authenticity, detail, crispness and spaciousness elevate their audio quality enough to be considered alongside proper hi-fi products in this class. They work best with iOS devices, naturally, with cinematic spatial audio and Siri voice control amongst the many Apple-only features.
The good news is that we're now seeing decent deals and discounts on the AirPods Max, so keep an eye on the prices below.
MORE:
Should you buy Apple AirPods? Are they worth it?
Best AirPods: Apple's wireless headphones ranked and rated
AirPods 3 vs AirPods Pro (1st Gen): what's the difference? Which is better?
AirPods 3 vs AirPods 2: what's the difference? Should you upgrade?
AirPods Pro 2 (2022) vs AirPods Pro: what are the differences?
