AirPods Getting a Cool New Feature That Sony Earbuds Already Have
With a firmware upgrade, the AirPods Pro 2 are getting a new 'conversation awareness' mode along with an adaptive audio mode that mixes noise canceling with transparency.
A new AirPods mode mixes active noise canceling and transparency.
At WWDC 2023, Apple may not have announced any new AirPods models but it did reveal that the AirPods will be getting some new features this fall with the release of iOS 17, iPadOS 17 and TVOS 17. These include an adaptive audio mode that mixes noise canceling with transparency and a "conversation awareness" mode that automatically lowers the volume of what you're listening to as soon as you start talking.
When you engage adaptive audio, your AirPods will muffle out unwanted loud outside noise like a leaf blower, while also filtering in sounds you should hear such as a car horn. When activated, if you encounter someone while you're listening to audio and want to have a conversation, you can just start talking and the volume of your audio is automatically lowered and your AirPods enter transparency mode. After you stop talking, the volume of whatever you were listening to returns to its previous level.
If that sounds familiar, it's because conversation awareness is very similar to a feature found on Sony earbuds and headphones called Speak-to-Chat mode.
Apple also noted that it's improved noise reduction during calls and the AirPods' auto-switching feature, making it faster and more reliable. That feature allows you to hear the audio coming from whatever Apple device you're using at the moment, then quickly switch over to another Apple device (on your iCloud account) and hear its audio on your AirPods. It's essentially advanced multipoint Bluetooth pairing -- but just for Apple devices.
It's unclear what AirPods will get the new adaptive audio and conversation awareness modes. We presume only AirPods with active noise canceling like the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Max will be able to get adaptive audio, while the AirPods 3rd Generation won't (but the AirPods 3 could get the conversation awareness feature). We also don't know yet whether the new feature will be available for legacy models like the original AirPods Pro. But we'll updated this story as soon as we get more details.
If you're willing to take a pass on Apple's offer of free engraving and instead buy from Amazon, Best Buy or another retailer, you can usually find discounts on AirPods. There are a couple of deals slashing the price on the latest AirPods models happening now. For example, the latest, second-gen AirPods Pro are discounted by $49 at Amazon and other retailers -- that's the biggest discount we've seen yet for them. And the current AirPods 3 are $20 off and only $9 away from their lowest price ever.
For the average Apple user, AirPods deliver an audio experience that is unrivaled by competitors. AirPods sound great and are designed to seamlessly integrate with your iPhone, iPad, MacBook and other Apple devices, and also enable you to use other advanced features like Spatial Audio and hands-free Siri. While you won't see any AirPods deals directly from Apple, that doesn't mean you have to pay full price to get your hands on a pair.
Here are the best AirPods deals available right now, along with the best prices to date for comparison. And if you scroll to the end, you'll also see a couple of deals on Apple-owned Beats earbuds. We'll keep this page updated as deals come and go, so be sure to check back often for the best AirPods prices at any given time.
Apple AirPods pricing 2023
| Model | Apple Store price | Best price right now | Best all-time price |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirPods 2 | $129 | $99 | $79 |
| AirPods 3 | $169 | $149 | $140 |
| AirPods Pro (1st Gen) | $249 | $199 | $129 |
| AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) | $249 | $200 | $198 |
| AirPods Max | $549 | $480 | $389 |
Best AirPods deals
The second-gen AirPods Pro are Apple's most advanced pair of earbuds to date, equipped with its brand-new H2 processor and boasting seriously improved noise-canceling capabilities. The 2022 AirPods Pro maintain the $249 retail price of the now previous-gen AirPods Pro from 2019. You can save close to $50 on them at a few retailers right now which is just a couple of bucks shy of their best-ever price.
Read our AirPods Pro 2 review.
Unlike the AirPods Pro, these third-generation AirPods have an open-air design, so they don't have active noise cancellation, but they still offer some serious improvements over the AirPods 2. The adaptive EQ attunes music to your ear shape, and the battery life has been bumped up to 30 hours total. They also have an IPX4 water resistance rating. With the Lightning charging case, the third-gen AirPods cost $169 at Apple. For an extra $10, you can get the MagSafe Charging case that can be used with wireless chargers. Slight discounts have been available off and on at various retailers and right now you can get the AirPods 3 for $149 at Amazon and Walmart and a buck more than that at Best Buy.
While the AirPods 2 are the least advanced model on the market these days, they still boast some impressive specs and are a great choice for those on a tighter budget. They're equipped with the same H1 chip as the AirPods 3, so they have the same fast connectivity, and they support hands-free Siri access. They're available for $99 currently, which is $30 less than Apple sells them for these days.
Read our AirPods 2 review.
Apple's first full-size headphones are chock-full of high-end features like noise cancellation, spatial audio and easy integration with Apple devices. Yes, paying about the same as you would for a PS5 may sound excessive, but here's the thing: They're actually kinda worth it, so long as you don't feel burned by their lack of support for full lossless audio. You can save almost $70 on the AirPods Max in all colors right now at Amazon and Best Buy, with select colors on sale at Walmart.
Read our AirPods Max review.
Apple's original AirPods Pro have been discontinued, so they're gradually getting a little harder to find. You can no longer buy them from Apple directly, but you can grab a pair for $199 at B&H. It doesn't make sense to buy the 1st-gen AirPod Pro when the 2nd-gen Pro is basically the same price, but they make a nice fallback option if the discounts dry up for the newer model.
Read our AirPods Pro review.
No, they're not AirPods, but the Beats Studio Buds offer active noise canceling and make a great affordable alternative to the pricier AirPods Pro. They look a lot like the rumored stemless AirPods that people were talking about but that never materialized -- as AirPods, anyway. Geared toward both iOS and Android users, they're missing a few key features on the Apple side of things (there's no H1 or W1 chip), but they're small, lightweight earbuds that are comfortable to wear and offer good sound. They fit most ears securely, including mine -- I run with them without a problem -- but others may find a better fit with the Beats Fit Pro and their integrated wing tips. The biggest discount we can find right now is $30 off at Amazon in white.
Read our Beats Studio Buds review.
The Beats Fit Pro are built on the same tech platform as the AirPods Pro. Unlike Beats' earlier and less expensive Studio Buds, the Beats Fit Pro include Apple's H1 chip and have most of the features of the AirPods Pro, including active noise canceling, spatial audio and Adaptive EQ. I'd venture to call them the sports AirPods you've always wanted. And for some people, they might just be better than the AirPods Pro. That being said, they are back to their $200 list price most places now, though you can nab a set with a free $25 Amazon gift card, which is almost as good as $25 off.
The new Beats Studio Buds Plus look basically the same as the previous Studio Buds on the outside -- save for the super-cool translucent option -- but have been redesigned on the inside with almost all new components for all-around improved performance. Being so new, we're yet to see any discounts on their $170 retail price.
Which AirPods are right for you?
Apple's wireless audio lineup now includes five models of AirPods, and choosing the right set will depend on the features you care about and the price you are willing to pay. The second-gen AirPods from 2019 are the least expensive option, while the current, third-gen AirPods boast better sound quality with spatial audio. Meanwhile, the AirPods Pro 2, which have active noise cancellation and transparency modes, are Apple's most advanced earbuds to date and the first to feature Apple's new H2 chip. The plush AirPods Max, by far the priciest of the bunch, are Apple's over-ear headphones and come packed with high-end features though no H2 chip.
Along with Apple-branded AirPods, there are some Beats-branded earbuds worth considering that also incorporate Apple-made tech for a similarly smooth experience. These include the Beats Fit Pro, which use Apple's H1 chip for fast, reliable connections and a sporty design for jamming out to tunes at the gym, or while running or otherwise exercising and being active. The Beats Studio Buds lack the H1 chip and the AirPod stem, but they are lightweight, comfortable and affordable. Similarly, the updated Beats Studio Buds Plus don't have a H1 chip but do have one-tap pairing with Apple (and Android) devices plus Find My support.
Except for the baseline AirPods 2, all the AirPods listed above (plus the Beats models) are compatible with Apple's spatial audio features. However, none of them will deliver the maximum quality of Apple's lossless audio format, which is too rich for the current Bluetooth wireless standard to handle.