The best AirPods Black Friday deals still live: Save up to $150 on AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Max and more

Apple's excellent over-ear headphones are down at a new lowest price this Black Friday. If you head on over to Amazon right now, you'll find a $150 discount, bringing them down to $399. That's a great saving on the headphones of choice of Tom's Guide's Global Editor in Chief, Mark Spoonauer.

You get a stunning pair of headphones with the AirPods Max (if you ignore the woeful travel case). They're comfortable, the sound is excellent, and they look unlike anything else you'll find.

AirPods Max: was $549 now $399 @ Amazon

The biggest deal of the Black Friday sales is found on Apple's finest in-ears — the AirPods Pro 2. Thanks to a great $100 saving, you can currently pick up a pair for just $153. That's the fresh lowest price, and makes them cheaper than even the newer (and inferior) AirPods 4.

I love the AirPods Pro 2 — they're incredibly comfortable, they sound excellent, and they feature some great ANC to block out the outside world. This deal makes them the cheapest they've ever been for a great Black Friday deal.

AirPods Pro 2: was $249 now $153 @ Amazon

You might be wondering which AirPods you should spend your money on this Black Friday — the AirPods Pro 2, or the AirPods 4 with ANC. I've gone more into depth with my AirPods Pro and AirPods 4 Black Friday explainer, but it's actually really simple.

Unless you really want the looser fit of the AirPods 4, the AirPods Pro 2 present a much better value than their cousins. There's even an $11 price difference, getting you more AirPod for less. It is, as they say, a no brainer. Although I do hope you have a brain.

Here's a good example of a deal that you probably shouldn't buy. Not because the AirPods 4 are bad, far from it. They're a very solid pair of earbuds. No, it's because you can currently buy their much better and usually more expensive cousins, the AirPods Pro 2, for a much better price at the moment thanks to a massive discount.

The AirPods 4 are currently only $15 off in the Black Friday sale. While that gives them a new lowest price, you should choose AirPods Pro 2 and their $153 lowest ever price.

AirPods Pro 2: was $249 now $153 @ Amazon
AirPods 4 with ANC: was $179 now $164 @ Amazon

If you want the AirPods experience but don't want to pay the AirPods prices, then the Beats Studio Buds are a great option. They have some of the same internals as AirPods, and they sound better than the base model AirPods 4. They also contain ANC for a bargain price, and their small, slim case slips into any pocket or bag.

This deal brings them down to a new lowest price, with a solid $70 saving. This is a new lowest price for the buds in fact, and makes them cheaper than any model of AirPods you can buy at the moment.

Beats Studio Buds: was $149 now $79 @ Amazon

The AirPods Max have great ANC — but its nothing compared to the noise canceling built into the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones. I've never experienced anything like it — you put them on, press the button, and the outside world just... disappears. They're comfortable as well thanks to their light weight and plush earcups.

It would be nice if they lasted longer than 24 hours, but it's still plenty to get you through the day. At the moment, you can pick up the Diamond and Lunar Blue color options for just $299.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones: was $429 now $299 @ Amazon

One of the best features of the AirPods line is that you can connect them to your Apple TV 4K box and listen to the TV audio through your headphones. It does only work with your Apple TV though, and you can't listen to any of your other TV audio with them. The Sonos Ace have an AirPods beating trick up their sleeve — if you have a compatible sound bar, you can switch the TV audio over to your headphones. No matter what you watching or playing.

At the moment, you can save $100 on the Sonos Ace for a great Black Friday deal. That makes them $349, less than the AirPods Max.

Sonos Ace: was $449 now $349 @ Amazon

Sometimes, you don't need the noise-blocking qualities of ANC. You just want your headphones and your music — and the Apple-made Beats Solo 4 are a great way of getting just that. Thanks to their simpler internals they're much lighter than the alternatives, and their lack of ANC means the battery life lasts a great deal longer than the Studio Pro.

This $100 discount brings them down to the lowest price ever, for a great Black Friday deal and a solid AirPods alternative.

Beats Solo 4: was $199 now $99 @ Amazon

The Beats Solo buds are the budget addition to Apple's Beats line, and they have a particular feature that makes them well worth consideration over the other AirPods. The Solo Buds last for 18 hours on a charge in the buds themselves for some of the best-staying power around.

They also sound solid, and their case is small and light enough that you won't notice it in a pocket. Get some of the best battery life around for $49.

Beats Solo Buds: was $79 now $49 @ Amazon

The Denon PerL Pro are a great pair of AirPods Pro 2 alternatives thanks to their excellent noise canceling and stunning sound. They also have a wicked ace up their sleeve — sound personalization that maps out your ear and changes the EQ accordingly. It works incredibly well, and it means they sound great for anyone of all hearing types.

There is also currently a $150 discount on them at Amazon, making them even cheaper than the AirPods Pro 2.

Denon PerL Pro: was $299 now $149 @ Amazon

If there's nothing else you want but a pair of AirPods and you don't want to stretch for the more expensive models, then you should think about the AirPods 4 and their much lower price. They're even more affordable in the Black Friday sales — thanks to a $10 saving, they're now just $119 at Amazon.

Remember that's the non-ANC variant of the AirPods — if you're after ANC, just buy the AirPods Pro 2.

AirPods 4 no ANC: was $129 now $119 @ Amazon

We haven't mentioned any official sales at the Apple Store, and that's for a good reason: there isn't one.

Apple has decided not to get involved in slashing prices this year, leaving the field open for the AirPods Pro 2 to drop down to their lowest ever price at Amazon. But they're not totally out of the game.

If you buy eligible devices at the Apple Store between now (Black Friday) and Cyber Monday (Dec 2nd) you can get an Apple Gift Card worth up to $200.

Sure, it's not as wallet-friendly as an upfront discount, but if you spend a lot of time in the Apple ecosystem (and you likely do if you're after Black Friday AirPods deals), it could be a good option.

Here's an AirPods Max alternative that you should have a think about. The Dyson OnTrac headphones are a mad-looking pair of headphones from the vacuum cleaner maker, and they're currently $50 off in the Black Friday sale. This deal brings them down to their new lowest price.

The OnTrac wheren't wholly successful, but they are a very cool looking headphones with some cool features.

Dyson OnTrac: was $499 now $449 @ Amazon

What If I find some refurbished AirPods 2?

I'm going to be blunt here — don't. No matter how cheap they are, they simply aren't worth it anymore. There are plenty of options out there that are cheaper now, and you'll get a much better pair of earbuds for a great deal less.

Instead, you should think of buds from the likes of Beats. The Solo Buds are only $49 now, and they havean incredible amount of battery life on tap. They are a great budget oriented bud, and they connect like magic — just as an AirPod might.

Beats Solo Buds: was $79 now $49 @ Amazon

I feel like it's been long enough that we give you a reminder that the AirPods Pro 2 are at their lowest-ever price. There's a $100 discount, bringing them down to $153. That's an incredible discount on some of the best noise-canceling earbuds around.

Comfortable fit? Check. Solid sound? Check. Good battery life? Also check. This is a great deal on one of Tom's Guide's favorite pairs of earbuds.

AirPods Pro 2: was $249 now $153 @ Amazon

The AirPods Pro 2 have lots of competition out there, including some at great prices. The Liberty 4 Pro are a great alternative to the AirPods Pro 2, and they come in at a lower price. At the moment there's $30 off at Amazon, making them a whole lot more affordable than other options.

They sound good as well, and there's a little screen that tells you how much battery each bud has left. It's a fun addition to an already impressive pair of earbuds.

Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro: was $129 now $99 @ Amazon

Are AirPods worth it?

So this going to be a personal one — but I would say absolutely. I really like my AirPods Pro 2, and I also enjoy the AirPods Max. If you're into your premium earbuds and headphones, you'll find a lot to like with their strong noise canceling, comfortable fits and great sound quality.

If you're looking to spend a little less, however, there are better options. If you want to save some money, make sure you check out our Black Friday headphones deals live blog.

AirPods Max with USB-C: was $549 now $499

Apple's over-ear headphones were refreshed in September with new color options and the long-awaited transition to USB-C charging. Although the older version with lightning charging is an extra $100 off, the fact that you can get the new AirPods Max on sale for $499 is still a great score. Personally, I'd go with purple, but the new orange color is a fun pick, too.

Beats Studio Buds: was $149 now $79 @ Amazon

Now down to their lowest price yet, the Beats Studio Buds are the way to go this holiday season with IPX4 rating and active noise cancelling. The Studio Buds are built for audiophiles, with eight hours of listening time on high quality audio performance. IPX4 means these buds are sweat resistant, but you won't be sweating with all the hefty saving you're getting on this Black Friday deal.

Beats Solo 3: was $199 now $94 @ Amazon

The Beats Solo 3 headphones might be getting older, but they're still a solid set with 40-hours of battery life. At sale for $94 knocks over $100 off the price. They feature the Apple W1 chip which means they can quickly pair with your iPhone, iPad or Mac.

They're not the greatest headphones ever but they're comfortable, compact, sturdy and full of that bass-forward sound that Beats loves.

AirPods Max deal still going (but check colors)

Black Friday is almost over but the AirPods Max still has a great discount of $399, which is $150 off. This discount is on the Lightning version but keep in mind that this low price is only available on certain colors. For example, you can get the green and sky blue colors for $399 in Lightning, but the orange USB-C model is $499, down from $549.

It looks like stock is running out, so we'd hurry on this one. No matter which model you choose, you'll get strong noise cancelling performance, immersive Spatial audio and fairly good battery life at 20 hours.

• Apple AirPods Max (Lightning): was $549 now $399 @ Amazon

Black Friday is now moving into Cyber Monday, and with have come some shifts in the deals. The AirPods Pro 2 have just become a whole dollar more expensive. Don't worry though, that still means they're pretty much at their lowest price ever. This deal looks to be sticking around for the weekend, and I'm surprised they haven't run out of stock yet.

The AirPods Pro 2 have been the deal of the sale over the last few days — and that does seem to be extending over the weekend as well.

AirPods Pro 2: was $249 now $154 @ Amazon

The AirPods Max have some solid Spatial Audio representation on board, but they've been thoroughly outclassed by the Sonos Ace which came out earlier this year. Thanks to Sonos' experience making large smart speakers and Dolby Atmos soundbars, the Spatial Audio is the best you'll hear in some wireless headphones.

This deal brings them down to their lowest price ever, thanks to a $100 discount at Amazon.

Sonos Ace: was $449 now $349 @ Amazon

If you want to get the AirPods experience without having to spend a lot, then this AirPods 4 deal is the one for you. Amazon is currently selling the wireless earbuds without active noise cancelling for just $119. Which is pretty cheap considering the cost of other AirPod models.

Of course if you do want to be able to block out the noise from the world around you, the ANC-capable AirPods 4 are discounted too. They just aren't nearly as cheap, and you'll have to pay $164 for a pair of your own. That's still a $15 saving, however.

Apple AirPods 4: was $129 now $119 @ Amazon
Apple AirPods 4 with ANC: was $179 now $164 @ Amazon

What would I buy, I hear you ask?

I will never stop recommending the AirPods Pro 2, especially now they're just $154. That's just $0.01 off their lowest ever price.

To me, getting a pair of AirPods is a no-brainer if you've got an iPhone or MacBook. When I first tried these earbuds, I didn't take much convincing. I borrowed my sister's AirPods Pro 2s and ten minutes later I'd bought myself a pair. The sound quality is immense (considering the size and Bluetooth-restrictions of wireless in-ears), the customization is incredible, and I love personalized spatial audio. I love love love my AirPods.

It's still not worth picking up the AirPods 4

We're going to say it until we're blue in the face, I can feel it, but the AirPods 4 with ANC are currently 'not it' during the Cyber Monday sales. They are currently reduced by $10, which brings them to a new lowest price. Still, the AirPods Pro 2, a much better pair of noise canceling in-ears are now just $154 — another $10 less than the AirPods 4.

That's a much better pair of earbuds, with better ANC, superior sound, and a much more comfortable fit. Battery life is better, there are more features... Do we need to go on? If you're looking for noise canceling AirPods, just go for the AirPods Pro 2.

AirPods Pro 2: was $249 now $154 @ Amazon