The best cheap AirPods deals and sales for June 2023

If you know where to look, there are often some great discounts available on Apple’s popular AirPods. Since Apple released the third-generation AirPods at the end of 2021, we’ve seen the starting price of the entry-level second-generation model slowly drop to around $100. And now that you can buy second-generation AirPods Pro at most retailers, we’re seeing even better discounts on the latest-generation Pro and other models.

Below, we’ve curated the best deals currently available for each model, including entry-level AirPods, AirPods Pro, third-generation AirPods, and AirPods Max.

In 2021, Apple lowered the list price of the second-generation AirPods — now the entry-level model — from $159 to $129. The model now only sells with a wired charging case, which charges via a standard Lightning cable. Despite their age, we’ve found that the handy second-generation AirPods still offer great wireless performance and reliable battery life, making them a great choice if you can live without a wireless charging case.

We’ve seen Apple’s most affordable earbuds drop as low as $79.99, but right now they’re only selling for $99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Verizon. Alternatively, if you prefer the model with the wireless charging case, it’s available at Adorama for $139.99 ($20 off).

Read our AirPods (2nd generation) review.

With support for the company’s MagSafe technology and an asking price of $179, Apple’s third-generation AirPods are often considered the middle child in the current Apple AirPods lineup. Shorter stems make for a more refined design, too, while the improved audio and features like sweat and water resistance, spatial audio support with dynamic head tracking, and improved battery life make it a nice improvement over the last-gen model.

In September, Apple quietly introduced a new, slightly cheaper option for its third-generation AirPods that only come with a Lightning charging case. They currently sell for about $10 less than the option with the MagSafe charging case at places like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, which is why we recommend buying the MagSafe-compatible model due to the exact price difference between configurations. The latter is available at B&H Photo for $179, or at Sam’s Club and Costco for about $170 if you’re a member of any of the wholesalers.

Read our AirPods (3rd generation) review.

In case you missed it, Apple announced the second generation AirPods Pro during its “Far Out” event in September, a pair of earphones that feature a similar design to the first generation model but offer better noise cancellation. They also have swipe-based controls, come with Apple’s new H2 chip, and feature a very small pair of interchangeable silicone ear tips for smaller ears.

It normally retails for $249, but right now it’s selling at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Verizon for $199.99 ($50 off), which almost matches its all-time low. If you live near the Micro Center, you can also get it for just $189.99 (US$60).

Read our AirPods Pro (2nd generation) review.

The first generation AirPods Pro are still available for purchase, sometimes much cheaper than the second generation model. They have better sound quality than the non-premium models mentioned above, as well as active noise cancellation. They also come with interchangeable silicone tips — albeit three, not four — and support Apple’s spatial sound feature, which adds an immersive surround sound effect for content identification.

At the end of 2021, Apple launched a new configuration of the first-generation AirPods Pro with a wireless charging case that supports Apple’s MagSafe technology, just like the third-generation AirPods. They used to retail for $249, but are now available for $169.99 at Walmart. This doesn’t quite match their all-time low of $129.99 or their usual selling price of around $159, which is why we suggest buying the second generation AirPods Pro while they sell out or waiting for the first generation model to drop further in price.

Read our original AirPods Pro review.

The AirPods Max are not the in-ear icons that have become synonymous with the AirPods name. It’s big and luxurious, and it’s made of aluminum, steel, and mesh fabric that stays comfortable during long listening sessions. It also boasts excellent noise cancellation, Apple’s spatial audio advantage, and an expansive and balanced sound, even if it lags behind some of its peers when it comes to bass response. They’re not the best noise-canceling headphones for most people—blame the $550 sticker price—but it’s hard to find a pair of Bluetooth headphones that sound better and feature more intuitive controls.

Although Woot and other retailers have dropped the AirPods Max as low as $409 in the past, prices have since gone up across the board. Right now, for example, the Max only receives a modest discount at Amazon, Walmart, and Costco (members only), where you can pick them up in select colors for $479.99 ($69 off). If you live near the Micro Center, you can also purchase them for $469.99 (AU$80) in a range of colors.

Read our AirPods Max review.