Skip to main content

Quick! Apple AirPods are the cheapest they have ever been

Apple AirPods
Riley Young/Digital Trends / Digital Trends

Start reaching for your wallet because Amazon has the run-of-the-mill AirPods with Charging Case for just $129 — the cheapest we’ve seen the iconic Pods to date. But what does that translate to in terms of a cold, hard discount? These puppies are down a massive $30 from the usual $150.

The best thing about the AirPods is how simple they are. Just pop one in each ear, and the tunes will start flowing. Need to adjust the volume, send a message, place a call, create a calendar event, or find the answer to a pressing question? Double-tap a Pod to ask Siri and she’ll take care of it.

However, decide to fork out an extra $40 and you won’t need to lift a finger to communicate with Siri. That’s because the AirPods 2, which have beenreduced from $200 down to only $169, are always listening. All you need to do is mumble “Hey, Siri!” and you’re ready to roll — no tapping required.

  • Apple AirPods with Charging Case — $129 ($30 off)
  • Apple AirPods 2 with Wireless Charging Case — $169 ($30 off)

But the main reason you might want to consider the more expensive model is battery life. If you often find yourself on a call, the two-hour talk time on the standard AirPods isn’t going to cut it. You’ll want the four hours that comes with the AirPods 2. Both last for around five hours of music playback.

The other notable difference? The AirPods 2 come with a Wireless Charging Case, which can be charged … well … wirelessly. The actual capacity is the same though, with it delivering the same 24-hour reserve as the Charging Case bundled with the regular AirPods, so it probably won’t be a dealmaker.

So, which do you need? Well, as we’ve said before, if you can live without wireless charging, don’t mind having to tap a Pod to fire up Siri, and can live with the two-hour talk time, then look no further than the AirPods. You can snap up a pair for an absolute bargain. For everyone else, it’s the AirPods 2.

Or is it?

If you’re after the absolute best Apple has to offer, you will want to turn your attention to the AirPods Pro. At $250, they aren’t cheap, but they do sit at the head of the AirPods table, introducing a smaller, more compact design; noise cancellation; sweat-resistance; and interchangeable eartips.

Looking for more fantastic offers? Take a look at our Deals Hub.

Josh Levenson
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Josh served as Director of Commerce and SEO for Digital Trends Media Group, helping our Editorial teams put their quality…
This AirPod Pro 2 upgrade is going to be heard worldwide
A test mannequin is fitted with Apple AirPods Pro 2. The mannequin is used to evaluate the hearing assistance capabilities of the AirPods Pro 2.

Apple's AirPods 2 Pro hearing health features are expanding to users in Australia, Brazil, Colombia and Saudi Arabia.

The company said in a press release (via MacRumors) on Tuesday that it will allow AirPods Pro 2 users in the aforementioned countries to take a hearing test, use the clinical hearing aid feature and Loud Sound Reduction in the iOS 18.4 update. The hearing health features have already launched in Australia, and they will be available in the last three countries soon after. Nicky Chong-White, principal engineer at National Acoustic Laboratories in Australia, welcomes the expansion of the hearing health features to the region.

Read more
Apple AirPods Max finally get lossless audio and analog support
Apple AirPods Max with USB-C in Orange.

Apple is about to correct one of the most glaring omissions on its AirPods Max wireless noise-canceling headphones: Starting in April, the headphones will get a firmware update that enables lossless audio via the included USB-C cable at up to 24-bit/48kHz. As a wired connection, this also gives the headphones an ultra low-latency audio pathway, which is helpful for gaming.

And starting today, Apple is selling a $39 3.5mm-to-USB-C accessory cable that lets the newest version of the AirPods Max connect to analog audio sources like airplane jacks -- something these headphones haven't been able to do since they launched. The new cable is also compatible with the USB-C jack on the Beats Studio Pro.

Read more
Apple might arm AirPods with live translation facility this year
Simon Cohen wearing Apple AirPods 4.

Apple has lately focused on giving the AirPods more of a wellness-focused makeover than hawking them as plain wireless earbuds. Late last year, the AirPods Pro 2 landed a Loud Sound Reduction feature, alongside a hearing test system and hearing aid facility.
Now, the company is reportedly eyeing a conversational upgrade for them. According to Bloomberg, Apple plans to bring a real-time translation facility to the AirPods later this year. The focus is on removing the language barrier for in-person conversations.
The feature is said to be in active development and might be rolled out via a software update later this year, tied to the iOS 19 bundle. It’s going to be a two-way translation system where the AirPods and iPhone play an equal role.

How it works?

Read more