Best Time to Buy AirPods: What the Dated Prices Show
For the AirPods Pro 3 and Max 2, the lowest prices we found in 2026 came at Prime Day and in early October, not on Black Friday. Here are the dated prices for each model, the sources, and a four-step check before you buy.
What is the lowest price for AirPods today?
We search stores, coupons, cashback and open-box offers, and show only prices with a date on the page.
Dated prices for each AirPods model
| Model | List | Reported prices | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirPods Pro 3 | $249 | $220 on Nov 28, 2025 (Black Friday) $169 to $179 around June Prime Day 2026 $179 on Oct 6, 2026 $199 on Oct 15, 2026 | The 2026 prices beat last year's Black Friday price |
| AirPods Max 2 | $549 | $150 off most colors around June Prime Day ($399) $449 on Jul 27, 2026 $429 on Oct 5, 2026 | The lowest reported price was in June |
| AirPods 4 with ANC | $179 | $119.99 on Oct 5, 2025 $119.99 on Mar 11, 2026 | The same price in two different months |
| AirPods 4 (standard) | Not stated in our source | $89.99 on Oct 5, 2025 | Before Prime Big Deal Days, not on Black Friday |
Sources: 9to5Toys (November 28, 2025), 9to5Toys (October 6, 2026), 9to5Toys (October 15, 2026), 9to5Toys (October 5, 2026), 9to5Toys (July 27, 2026), Macworld (March 17, 2026), Slickdeals (March 11, 2026) and AppleInsider (October 5, 2025). Every sale price here has expired. They are reference points, not live prices.
What the prices suggest
- Black Friday wasn't the low for the Pro 3. 9to5Toys (November 28, 2025) called $220 an all-time low in November 2025. Later reports of $169 to $179 were lower.
- Prime Day in June was the low for the Max 2. 9to5Toys (July 27, 2026) said the lowest price it tracked was around Prime Day, when most colors dropped $150. The $429 on October 5 was within $30 of that, per 9to5Toys (October 5, 2026).
- Prices bounce. The Pro 3 went from $179 on October 6 to $199 on October 15, per 9to5Toys (October 15, 2026).
- Black Friday 2026 is November 27. We can't say what AirPods will cost then, and one year of examples isn't a pattern. A UK study found most Black Friday deals matched or were beaten at other times, which we cover in Is Black Friday the cheapest time to buy?
A four-step check before you buy
- Pick the exact model. The Pro 3, Max 2, AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC are priced very differently.
- Compare today's price with the table above. Within about $20 of the lowest reported price is close to the best we have seen.
- Check the seller. Amazon or Apple is safest.
- If it isn't close, set an alert, and keep your receipt in case the price falls after you buy. See the price adjustment rules.
Which model, briefly
- AirPods Pro 3 ($249 list): the flagship earbuds. See its price page.
- AirPods Max 2 ($549 list): Macworld (March 17, 2026) said it adds an H2 chip, USB-C and noise cancellation rated 1.5 times better than the original, with the same size, weight and battery life. See its price page.
- AirPods 4 ($129 list) and AirPods 4 with ANC ($179 list): the cheaper earbuds. See their price page.
We haven't tested any of them. Read independent reviews for sound and comfort, then compare the price.
Common mistakes
- Assuming an old deal is still live. Every sale price above has expired.
- Comparing different models. $120 for AirPods 4 with ANC is a different deal from $179 for the Pro 3.
- Waiting for one date. The lowest prices came in different months for different models.
- Ignoring the seller and color. Some sales apply to certain colors only.
The price moved $20 in nine days. Don't guess
The Pro 3 was $179 on October 6 and $199 on October 15, per 9to5Toys. That is the kind of move a daily watch catches and a quick look misses. The free check shows the best dated price we find today. Pro adds the other stores, coupons with expiry dates and cashback, the total price on every offer, and a daily watch on up to 20 products. We can't promise any store will beat another.
Free check
- The best dated price we found, and where it came from
- What we rejected, and why
- A link to the price history
Pro · $14/month
- The other stores, prices and links we hold back
- Coupon codes with their expiry dates
- Cashback rates, open-box and refurbished offers
- Shipping and total price on every offer
- A daily watch on up to 20 products
The first check is free with no sign-up. Pro has a 3-day money-back guarantee, and you can cancel in one click. We show only prices with a date on the page, and we can't promise any store will beat another.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to buy AirPods?
The dated prices we found say it varies by model. The lowest reported Pro 3 and Max 2 prices were around June Prime Day, and the Pro 3 was $220 on Black Friday 2025. Check the live price against the table above.
How much are the AirPods Pro 3?
Apple lists them at $249. 9to5Toys reported $179 at Amazon on October 6, 2026 and $199 on October 15.
How much are the AirPods Max 2?
Macworld listed $549. 9to5Toys reported $429 at Amazon on October 5, 2026, and said the lowest was around June Prime Day at $150 off.
Will AirPods be cheaper on Black Friday 2026?
We can't say. Black Friday is November 27, 2026. The Pro 3 was $220 on Black Friday 2025, and lower prices have been reported since.
Are the AirPods 4 on sale?
We found $119.99 for AirPods 4 with ANC on March 11, 2026 and $89.99 for the standard model on October 5, 2025. We found no report for October 2026.
What if the price drops after I buy?
Some stores refund the difference within a window. Amazon has no standard adjustment. See our price adjustment guide.
Check the AirPods price before you pay
Compare today's price with the dated ones above and see if another store is lower.
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How this page was made. Written by the Zroppix team with AI assistance (Claude, from Anthropic). Prices and facts can change after a page is written, so check the retailer’s own page before you buy. This page has no affiliate links. We make Zroppix and sell Zroppix Pro, a paid plan.