If you missed out on the steep AirPods discounts we saw during Black Friday, now is your chance. Right now, the second-gen AirPods Pro with USB-C are on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy starting at $169 ($81 off), which is just $16 shy of their all-time low. Meanwhile, the AirPods 4 have dropped to a record low of $99.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy, with the noise-canceling variant going for around $148.99 ($31 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy.
If you want the best sound and active noise cancellation you can get in a pair of Apple earbuds, you’ll likely want to pick up the second-gen AirPods Pro. The in-ears offer a few features you won’t find in their cheaper siblings, including intuitive swipe-based controls, more robust water resistance, and multiple silicone ear tips for a customizable fit. Thanks to a recent iOS 18 update, they also now double as FDA-approved hearing aids.
That being said, both the entry-level AirPods 4 and the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are excellent earbuds in their own right. They both deliver exceptionally clear voice call quality and produce the same high-quality sound, which benefits from a thicker layer of bass than Apple’s previous models despite their open design. The main difference is that the step-up AirPods 4 offer several Pro-like features, including ANC and a wireless charging case that features a built-in speaker and support for tracking via Apple’s Find My app.
