Best AirPods Black Friday deals 2026: Our picks for Pro, standard AirPods and Max
Macworld ·
Macworld Best Black Friday AirPods deals so far: U.S. AirPods Pro 3 : $199 ($50 off, MSRP $249) – but we’ve previously seen $169 Best Black Friday AirPods deals so far: U.K. AirPods Pro 3 : £200 (£19 off, RRP £219) – we recommend waiting for a better price PRICES CHECKED NOVEMBER 9, 2026 – Deals change quickly, so we will update this page throughout November Black Friday is a great time to buy AirPods, with retailers competing to offer discounts across Apple’s earbuds and over-ear headphones. Previous sales have brought substantial savings on established models, clearance bargains on older generations, and even discounts on newly released AirPods. But the biggest percentage saving doesn’t necessarily mean the best buy: an older pair needs to be sufficiently cheaper than its replacement to justify missing out on newer features. Last Black Friday, standard AirPods 4 briefly dropped to $69 in the U.S., while the noise-canceling version fell to $99 – an $80 saving. Even the then-new AirPods Pro 3 received a discount of around $30, while older AirPods Pro 2 reached approximately $139 before selling out. AirPods Max were available for around $400, roughly $150 below their regular price. U.K. savings were more modest, with AirPods 4 at £99 and AirPods Pro 2 at £169, although stock frequently ran out. This year, we’d watch AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2 for meaningful discounts, while remaining AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 stock could bring some of the biggest clearance savings. The recently released AirPods 5 may see smaller reductions, making it especially important to compare their price with discounted Pro models. Below, we explain which AirPods to choose and how the offers compare with previous discounts. For savings on Macs, iPads, Apple Watch and more, see our best Apple Black Friday deals . Which AirPods should you buy this Black Friday? AirPods Pro 3 – Our best overall choice Apple AirPods Pro 3 are especially worth considering if you want strong noise cancellation, a secure in-ear fit, or Apple’s hearing-health features. Their foam-infused ear tips help improve the fit, while an in-ear heart-rate sensor adds another reason to choose them over standard AirPods. Battery life is rated at up to eight hours with noise cancellation enabled. For most buyers looking for noise-isolating earbuds, these would be our first choice. Older AirPods Pro 2 are worth considering only when the clearance saving is substantial. U.S. Black Friday price: Amazon has already slashed $50 off the AirPods Pro 3 , but we expect the price to go lower. Hopefully by Black Friday they will hit their all-time-low of $169. U.K. Black Friday price: In the U.K. there’s £19 off the AirPods Pro 3 , but we recommend holding out for a better deal. AirPods 5 – Best for buyers who prefer earbuds without silicone tips Apple AirPods 5 offer a lower-cost entry point and an open-ear design for people who don’t like silicone-tipped earbuds. They include Active Noise Cancellation as standard, alongside Transparency mode and Adaptive Audio. Check which charging case you’re buying. The Wireless Charging Case package adds wireless charging, longer battery life, a Find My speaker, and volume adjustment by swiping the stems. It’s our preferred package when the price difference is small. U.S. Black Friday price: We’ve not seen a discount yet on the AirPods 5. U.K. Black Friday price: No savings yet on the AirPods 5. AirPods Max 2 – Best for over-ear listening Apple AirPods Max 2 are the option to consider if you specifically want over-ear headphones. The March 2026 update introduced Apple’s H2 chip and improved noise cancellation, while retaining the premium design and a choice of colors. We find them difficult to recommend at full price, so the size of the discount matters. Compare any offer with previous sale prices rather than judging it solely against Apple’s asking price. U.S. Black Friday price: Amazon has the AirPods Max 2 for $449.99 , that’s $99 off. They could still go lower though. U.K. Black Friday price: The AirPods Max 2 aren’t currently discounted on the U.K. Amazon store, but hopefully we will see some good savings towards the end of the month. Other AirPods – Buy only at a worthwhile clearance price Apple AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 can still be worth considering, but compare them with the discounted prices of their replacements. A large reduction from an older model’s launch price can disguise a small saving over a newer, more capable pair. Check the exact generation, charging case, condition, and seller before buying. For more help choosing, read our AirPods buying guide . U.S. Black Friday price: We aren’t yet seeing any savings we’d recommend. U.K. Black Friday price: You can get the AirPods 4 with ANC for £109 at Amazon – that’s only £10 less than AirPods 5, so we’d recommend waiting for that price to go even lower. Other headphones – Worthy AirPods alternatives Beats If AirPods aren’t in your budget, Apple also sells a line of Beats headphones and earbuds that offer many of the same features for a lower price, including the popular over-ear Solo 4 and PowerBeats Pro 2 . We’ll also track headphone deals in our round-up of the best earbuds for iPhone and best over-ear headphones if you’d like to see deals on other brands. U.S. Black Friday price: There is $100 off the Beats Studio Pro and $70 off the Solo 4 at Amazon, but we expect to see more discounts later in November. U.K. Black Friday price: There is £64 off the PowerBeats Pro 2 and £50 off the PowerBeats Fit at Amazon, but we expect to see more discounts later in November. Should you buy AirPods now or wait for a better deal? With Black Friday approaching, we’d avoid paying full price unless you need AirPods immediately. But the sales now stretch across much of November, with some deals already live, so you don’t necessarily need to wait for Black Friday itself. If an early offer is close to a model’s previous low, it can be worth taking: last year’s best deals frequently sold out, and we expect popular offers to go quickly again. Previous sale prices provide a useful benchmark. We’ve seen AirPods Pro 3 reach $169, while AirPods Max 2 fell to $399 during June Prime Day. An offer above those prices may still be worth considering. Discounts on the Pro 3 can also narrow the gap with standard AirPods, making their extra features more affordable. For AirPods 5, waiting for a discount makes sense if you aren’t in a hurry: they didn’t receive a significant reduction during October Prime Day. We favor the Wireless Charging Case package when the premium is small. With AirPods Max 2, we’d hold out for a substantial saving rather than pay full price. Compare retailers as well as generations. Amazon isn’t always cheapest: Walmart and Best Buy also compete on AirPods pricing, while Argos offered competitive U.K. deals last year. AirPods deals to avoid When shopping for AirPods, be cautious about older models priced too close to their replacements. Compare the offer with the newer model’s discounted price, rather than judging the saving against an old launch price. Check any conditions attached to offers advertising “free” AirPods, including required spending, contracts, or rebates. Check the exact version, too. AirPods 4 were sold with and without Active Noise Cancellation, while both AirPods 5 packages include ANC. The Wireless Charging Case version adds features and longer battery life, so a lower price may mean missing out on useful extras. Also check whether the listing is for a new, refurbished, or used pair. Judge the price against previous offers as well as the advertised discount. A large saving from the recommended retail price doesn’t necessarily mean a particularly good deal if retailers regularly charge less. Finally, check who is selling and dispatching your order, particularly when shopping through a marketplace. Counterfeit AirPods can be advertised at prices far below those from established retailers. Our guide explains how to tell if AirPods are fake . How we choose AirPods deals Macworld’s editors have decades of experience with Apple devices, and our recommendations draw on hands-on AirPods reviews. We consider sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort, battery life, and everyday use – not just the specifications or advertised saving. Our testing helps us explain which features are worth paying for. For example, our AirPods Pro 3 review assessed how securely the redesigned ear tips stayed in place during exercise, checked battery life against Apple’s claims, and evaluated the heart-rate sensor. Our AirPods Max 2 review weighed their excellent sound and noise cancellation against drawbacks including weight and the Smart Case. We combine those findings with current prices and previous lows to judge whether an offer represents good value. Our Best AirPods guide explains why the most expensive model isn’t necessarily the best choice for everyone: fit, listening habits, and the features you need all matter. For more offers, visit our Black Friday coverage and our roundups of the best Mac deals , iPad deals , and Apple Watch deals . Latest AirPods Deals Check below to find the best price we are seeing right now for each configuration compared to the best price we have ever seen and the full price. U.S. deals AirPods Latest Deal MSRP Lowest AirPods Pro 3 $199 Get the deal at Amazon $50 off $249 $169 AirPods 5 (with Wireless Charging Case) $149 at Amazon $149 $149 AirPods 5 $129 at Amazon $129 $129 AirPods Max 2 $449.99 Get the deal at Amazon $99 off $549 $399 U.K. deals AirPods Latest Deal RRP Lowest AirPods Pro 3 £200 Get the deal at Amazon £19 off £219 £175 AirPods 5 (with Wireless Charging Case) £139 at Amazon £139 £139 AirPods 5 £119 at Amazon £119 £119 AirPods 4 (with ANC) £109 at Amazon £10 less than AirPods 5 Discontinued £125.40 AirPods Max 2 £499 at Amazon £499 £499