The best AirPods deals for September 2024

If you know where to look, you can often score discounts on Apple’s ever-popular AirPods. Although we’re not likely to see significant deals on the forthcoming AirPods 4 and updated AirPods Max ahead of their release on September 20th, Apple’s second- and third-gen AirPods can still often be found at a steep discount. The same goes for the original Max, which are nearly indistinguishable from the previous model aside from the addition of USB-C.

Here, we’ve curated the best deals currently available on each model, including both the second- and third-gen AirPods, the latest AirPods Pro with USB-C, and the last-gen AirPods Max. We’ll update this guide once the new AirPods are widely available, but in the meantime, be sure to check out our hands-on impressions of Apple’s latest earbuds.

Before they were discontinued alongside the AirPods 4 announcement, the second-gen AirPods were Apple’s entry-level earbuds. Despite being released in 2019, they still offer terrific wireless performance, great ease of use, and reliable battery life, making them a solid pick if you can live without a wireless charging case or some of the more advanced software features afforded by Apple’s newer H2 chip.

The second-gen AirPods originally launched with an MSRP of $159; however, Apple eventually lowered their list price to $129. We often see them sell for even less, though, and right now, you can buy them for around $89 ($49 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy, which is just $11 shy of their all-time low.

Read our AirPods (second-gen) review.

With support for the company’s MagSafe charger and an asking price of $179, Apple’s third-gen AirPods were once considered the middle child in Apple’s AirPods lineup. The shorter stems made for a more subtle design, too, while improved sound and features like sweat and water resistance, support for spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, and improved battery life rendered them a nice improvement over their predecessor.

However, the new AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation will soon replace the third-gen AirPods in Apple’s lineup. The new earbuds will also run $179 upon their debut but feature a few perks once reserved for the Pro models, including ANC, a helpful transparency mode, and a case with a built-in speaker. You also can squeeze the stem to control media playback — a feature also available on entry-level AirPods Pro 4.

The AirPods 4 with ANC sounds like a significant upgrade overall, and we’ll be publishing our review of both models soon enough. However, if you can’t wait until then or care little for the updates, the third-gen AirPods are still available at multiple retailers.

Right now, you can buy the third-gen AirPods with a Lightning-only charging case at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart for $149.99 ($19 off), which is $30 shy of their all-time low. The better deal is available on the MagSafe option, though, which is available to Costco members for $149.99 ($30 off) through September 12th. Nonmembers are also eligible for the discount, but they’ll have to pay a surcharge that raises the price to $157.49, which is a decent deal but still a far cry from their all-time low of $129.99.

Read our AirPods (third-gen) review.

In 2022, Apple released the second-gen AirPods Pro, which feature a similar build to the first-gen model but offer better noise cancellation, swipe-based controls, and an extra-small pair of swappable silicone ear tips for smaller ears. Apple followed them up last year with a minor refresh, one that features a USB-C charging case and an upgraded IP54 rating for water and dust resistance. The newest model also supports lossless audio when used with Apple’s new Vision Pro headset and will soon double as FDA-approved hearing aids.

Apple’s updated AirPods Pro recently dropped to a new low of $168.99 ($81 off). Right now, however, you can only purchase the USB-C model from Amazon and Costco for about $199 ($50 off). However, note that you’ll need a Costco membership to score the latter deal.

Read our hands-on impressions of the AirPods Pro with USB-C.

The AirPods Max aren’t the iconic in-ears that have become synonymous with the AirPods name. They’re large and luxurious, comprised of aluminum, steel, and mesh fabric that remains comfortable during extended listening sessions. They also sport excellent noise cancellation, Apple’s spatial audio feature, and expansive, balanced sound, even if they lag behind some of their peers when it comes to bass response and features. They’re not the best noise-canceling headphones for most people — blame the sticker price — but it’s hard to find a better pair of Bluetooth headphones if you’re an iPhone user.

On September 20th, Apple will replace the first-gen Max with a new USB-C model. Aside from USB-C support and a few new color options, they’re the exact same headphones Apple introduced in late 2020. Thankfully, if you’re not opposed to a Lightning port, you can still buy the original Max from Amazon and B&H Photo starting at $429 ($120 off), which is about $30 shy of their all-time low price.

Read our AirPods Max review.