LIVE: The best Prime Day AirPods and headphones deals

AirPods 2: $40 off

Tammy here, iMore's resident audiophile and headphone expert – let's get started with the deals! I've been watching the deals all day, and so far one stands out above all the others:

The AirPods 2 are some of the best for the price in-ears you'll find, and at the moment you'll get them for a grand $40 off in this monster Prime Day deal. They're at their lowest price of $89 at the moment, which is one not to be missed at all – get in there quick, while stock still lasts!

AirPods 2 | $129 $89 at Amazon

Powerbeats Pro $100 off

So these ones are still in the Apple camp, what with Dr. Dre no longer being quite as important in their naming or development. The Apple-owned Beats Powerbeats Pro (which is a lot of beats) are currently $100 off at Amazon, making the noise-canceling exercise buds loads cheaper than the AirPods Pro 2.

They share a chip with the previous generation AirPods Pro, and their noise canceling performance is excellent – and that hook keeps them in place when you're lifting weights, cycling, and running. The water resistance keeps them safe when it rains, and they're sweat resistant too so all your exercise gunk doesn't break them.

Powerbeats Pro | $249 $149 at Amazon

What even is ANC?

You may find this phrase dotted around when you're looking for headphones – heck, you'll even read it when you go through one of our headphone reviews. Confused? No worries, I'm here to help you out – ANC is the shortened term for noise canceling.

Noise-canceling is pretty great. It blocks the noise of the outside world with clever sound algorithms that use different frequencies in the music that you're listening to (and a certain amount of added white noise). Told you it was clever. Want ANC? If you're after AirPods, then you'll be looking at the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods Max – the other models don't feature ANC.

Sony LinkBuds S $70 off

Ok, so full disclosure with these ones: When I reviewed them, I didn't think there where a good buy at full price. The sound quality wasn't quite up to scratch, and the plastics used didn't feel amazing to the touch. At this deal, price, however, the Sony LinkBuds S are a great option.

They have noise canceling on board so that they can block out some of the noise of your commute, and they are easily customized in the excellent Sony app. They are not some of Sony's best headphones, but at this price, they are a solid pair of in-ear buds if you don't want to spend the big bucks. Just don't buy them if you like metal music. Like me.

Sony LinkBuds S | $199 $129 at Amazon

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II $50 off

Bose is well known for making some of the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy, and these are its in-ear versions. The QuietComfort EarBuds II (What a mouthful) are a true wireless earbud that block out loads of noise, and look pretty funky while they're at it.

This price is not quite the lowest they've ever been, but they are a reasonably new earbud so we can't expect them to drop in price much yet – although $50 is nothing to sniff at. You can get them in a bunch of colors too – although for the full AirPods effect, you'll want to get the white ones.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II | $299 $249 at Amazon

AirPods Pro 2 $50 off

Need a monster Prime Day deal on one of Apple's most popular devices? The AirPods Pro 2 could be just what you're after. They're some of the latest earbuds from Cupertino, and they feature excellent noise canceling and stellar sound quality. They're also currently $50 off in a pretty special Prime Day deal so that you can save a bundle.

The AirPods Pro 2 have been this price before, but that doesn't stop this deal from being an absolute corker. It's unlikely to get better than this anytime soon, so now could well be one of the best times to get a great deal on some of the best AirPods.

AirPods Pro 2 | $249 $199 at Amazon

Over-ears or in-ears

Oh, you want to know which type of headphones you should get, between over-ear ones and in-ear ones?

No?

Well, I'm going to tell you anyway, because there are some very important things beyond portability to think about when you're looking at what kind of headphones to get.

Over-head headphones like the AirPods Max are going to be (for the most part) more comfortable to wear for long periods, and will also sound better. They're perhaps a little less portable, although modern carrying cases that most come with are going to protect them if you stick them in a bag – into a pocket, however, they likely will not go. A pocket dimension maybe, but not in your jeans.

Into your pocket, however, in-ear headphones like the AirPods 3 will indeed slip. They're super small, and come with small charging cases that are perfect to slip into a trouser pocket. They are less comfortable as they jam straight into your ear, and they'll not sound quite as good as over-ear options. 

If you want something for the train and you don't have a bag, then in-ears are the way to go. For those with more space who also want to listen at home, then over-ears are the way to go.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 $100 off

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 (ANOTHER mouthful, what is it with headphone manufacturers and these mad names) are Sennheiser's current top in-ear model, with a boatload of features that make them a super solid option over the AirPods Pro 2.

They look different, obviously, but they've also got a slightly different sound signature, one that relies on the low end a little more. That may be to your taste – and at the moment, you can get them for $100 off.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 | $279 $179 at Amazon

AirPods Max $100 off

The AirPods Max might not be my favourite headphones for music, but last night, while watching Top Gun Maverick on Apple TV, I found their greatest strength – watching movies. That Spatial Audio, it turns out, works really well as surround sound, and the bassy sound makes for thumping explosions and an impactful soundtrack – spectacular.

They're also a great deal cheaper at the moment, with $100 off at Amazon making them almost the cheapest they've ever been.

AirPods Max | $549 $449 at Amazon

Hello there - it's Daryl, Features Editor at iMore, and as Tammy's retired for the day, I'm here to tell you that I took advantage of the £209 steal of a deal for AirPods Pro 2 earlier today, and I'm constantly checking my emails to see if it's been dispatched yet.

Our News Editor, Stephen tells me how the noise cancellation really is better than my first-gen Pros, but I'm curious just how much of an improvement they are when I listen to another album from Blur again.

It's wild to me that it's almost been seven years since the very first AirPods debuted, and nowadays, it's a rarity to walk down a street and not see someone wearing them.

While there's been a bunch of improvements and new products in the line introduced since such as AirPods Max, our contributor, Karen, has created a Feature on whether older AirPods are still worth it in 2023.

They say that the Simpsons has predicted plenty of the world's events, such as Apple's Vision Pro. But the show also has a way of explaining how I feel when I look at buying something new.

I was watching the 'Lisa vs. Malibu Stacey' episode earlier today, and it reminded me of why I pulled the trigger on the AirPods Pro 2, not just because of its new low price.

Its new case finally has a speaker - and yes, there have been times when I've lost them and I've had to walk to the coffee house with no Spice Girls music playing. But now I can just fire up the Find My app, and a sound will ring.

But alas, it won't speed up the process to get some more BlueSky invites. Not yet anyway: bsky-social-of3zq-5jvek

It's important to remember that there are some new features coming to AirPods Pro in the coming months.

Announced at WWDC 2023, Adaptive Audio is coming to AirPods Pro 2, which is similar to a hybrid of noise canceling and transparency mode, where some sounds will be blocked out, and the important ones will stay.

It's an encouraging commitment from Apple that, as you save £40 on these, you'll also have new features to use once it launches alongside iOS 17 later this year.

We're wrapping up Day 1 of Prime Day for now, but we'd recommend keeping watch on what other deals could be coming for AirPods and other headphones from Apple.

The one alluring aspect of Prime Day is that you never know if a rare deal will appear, similar to the AirPods Pro 2 deal.

Until Day 2 all.

AirPods 3 $30 off

And we're back rolling again, and Tammy's in the pilots seat with more headphones and AirPods deals to get you saving some money. The AirPods 3 are the headphone of the moment, and you can currently save $30 on a pair at Amazon for their lowest price ever.

The AirPods 3 may not have the noise canceling of the AirPods Pro 2, or the budget friendly price of the AirPods 2, but they do have Spatial Audio and some new bud shapes to make them fit a little easier in your ears. If you want AirPods, and want something a little newer than the Airpods 2 but can't stretch to the Pros, then these are a great option.

AirPods 3 | $169 $139 at Amazon

Pixel Buds Pro $60 off

Google and Apple – two mortal enemies, vying for a slice of space in your pocket. Google's Pixel Buds Pro are that which will take the fight to the AirPods Pro 2, Apple's top-of-the-range in-ears. They might not quite reach those lofty heights, but they undercut the AirPods in price – and, now with Prime Day, they undercut them even more.

This $60 price drop takes them from $199 to $132 for their lowest price ever. They look like a pebble in their case, they're super comfy in the ear, and they look super fun in their various colors too. What more could you want?

Google Pixel Buds Pro | $199 $132 at Amazon

Sennheiser HD 660S2 $230 off

What do you get when the sound quality of your Bluetooth cans just isn't quite enough? You get some wired, over-ear headphones. I don't make the rules; I just live by them. Thankfully, this incredible Prime Day deal is here to get you a pair of some of the best over-ear open-back headphones ever for a monster saving.

The Sennheiser HD 660S2 are open back, which means they let the audio gubbins inside breathe more for whats called a wider soundstage, and that wired connection means no analog sound is lost over a Bluetooth connection. They sound incredible, feel great on the head, and they're currently $230 off In the Prime Day sales.

Sennheiser HD 660S2 | $599 $379 at Amazon

So after that last entry, you're likely wondering – whats better, wired or wireless? Well I personally would tell you wired, but that's because I'm a weirdo who likes to plug stuff into things and obsesses over small numbers and bitrates. But there are benefits to a wired pair.

Especially if you want to listen at home – after all, a wired connection gives you much better sound quality than something that is wireless. They're also generally cheaper than a wireless pair, although you can go a little bit bonkers and spend thousands on some really really nice ones.

Of course, convenience is king, and in this regard a wireless pair like the AirPods Max win out if you're looking for something that you can put in a bag and use anywhere without wires trailing everywhere – that, and no phone has a headphone jack anymore, so you'll be stuck with a dongle if you opt for wired.

These Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 Premium headphones will give the AirPods Max a run for their money. They're usually $899, but Amazon Prime Day brings them down to just $675, a fantastic saving on some of the best over-ear headphones money can buy. Of course they come with active noise canceling, and a fantastic carry case. One charge is good for 38 hours of play time, and they come in five premium colors. 

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95| $899 $675 at Amazon

With 38 hours of battery life, while using noise canceling, these offer unparalleled battery life, two 40mm titanium drivers, and a case that doesn't stink.

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Hello again - it's Daryl, Features Editor at iMore, popping in to say that my AirPods Pro 2 have finally arrived after taking advantage of the £209 steal of a deal yesterday, and they're glorious.

They indeed attach to my MagSafe charger on my desk, and after trying out the speaker on its case through the FindMy app, there's no chance of me losing them again.

But it's the noise cancellation that's really sold me. Playing some music on Spotify at half-volume is fantastic in its bass and loudness, and it blocks out the sound of the TV from downstairs, so I don't have Law and Order as faint background noise anymore. Halleluyah.

Sony WH-1000XM5 $70 off

Tammy's back at it again, with more epic Prime Day headphones deals!

Sony makes some incredible headphones, and at the tippiest-top of the range sit the XM5s. A silly name they may well have, but stunning noise canceling and some incredible features they come equipped with. They may be a little bass heavy for some (like me!), but the rest of the package makes them more than worth your time.

This deal on the Prime Day sale makes them the lowest price they've ever been and makes them a whole lot more affordable if you're looking for some new over-ear headphones. This deal is on all the colors as well, so you can get whichever option you like the look of.

Sony WH-1000XM5 | $399 $329 at Amazon

Where else can you find headphone deals? Great question. There are retailers everywhere vying for your attention, particularly over Prime Day with loads of different prices being dropped.

We'd look at the likes of Best Buy and Walmart to see how prices are on the headphones that you want – you never know, you might find an even better deal than at Prime Day.

Earbuds deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Amazon | Samsung | Dell
Headphone deals: Walmart | Best Buy | Amazon | Dell

AirPods Pro 2 $50 off

You know a great deal worth reiterating – the AirPods Pro 2 are currently $50 off in the Amazon Prime Day sale. That brings them down to their lowest price ever, and makes them a great deal if you're looking for a pair of in-ear noise-canceling headphones.

There's not much to say about the AirPods Pro 2 that we haven't already said before; they sound good, the noise canceling is excellent and our own Daryl Baxter has bought a pair. Nice.

AirPods Pro 2 | $249 $199 at Amazon

Beats Studio 3 $200 off

The Beats Studio 3 are rumored to be replaced soon, but this deal price is almost unmissable for the once-market leaders. They still sound good, they continue to look brilliant, and they come in absolutely loads of wicked colors.

This Prime Day deal chops off $200 from the full price, bringing them down to their lowest price ever, and makes them the headphones deal of the day in my eyes.

Beats Studio 3 | $349 $159 at Amazon

What's the difference between the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 3? Beyond their shared color scheme, quite a lot actually.

For one, the AirPods Pro 2 have noise canceling, which makes them perfect for commuters or for those that like to walk out and about and want relative silence. They also sound slightly better, and they've got a set of bud tips on the end of each but to make them more comfortable over long periods, while getting a better seal in your ear.

The AirPods 3, on the other hand, don't have the ANC or the noise canceling of the AirPods Pro 2 – but they do have a lower price.

Did you know that you can get three free months of Amazon Music Unlimited during Prime Day? Three months for free – that's a longer free trial than you'll find at Spotify or Apple Music, and for those three months, you get access to the whole library. That includes Hi-res tracks (for weirdos like me).

There's more free Prime Day stuff too, not just Amazon Music – and if you want to make use of this deal, head over to the signup page.