Snag these noise-cancelling earbuds at a record-low price and see what the fuss is all about. (Getty)(Julija Matuka via Getty Images)
Listen up, historians: Cyber Monday 2024 marks the lowest price on record for Apple's AirPods Pro 2 earbuds. OK, it's a tie with Black Friday, but still — you can't argue with a $95 discount, courtesy of Amazon's Black Friday Sale. In other words, the AirPods Pro are now down to $154. Given a list price of $249 and an "almost always on sale" price of around $190, that's an amazing deal. And it puts Apple in the usual position of being the "budget" brand: Competing Bose and Sony earbuds typically sell for around $300!
Think of these as an upgrade to how you experience everyday life. Imagine tuning out the world with personalized spatial audio while your earbuds know exactly how your ears are shaped. Struggling to hear conversations? With a clinical-grade Hearing Aid feature, this device amplifies voices for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. At this price, that's a serious bargain.
Of course, since it's only the biggest shopping week of the year, there are plenty more deals where this (admittedly stellar) sale came from. Be sure to check out the best Black Friday deals on headphones as well as our favorite Black Friday deals from across the web.
There's a reason for the hype surrounding the latest iteration of these top-rated earbuds — many reasons, in fact. For starters, they offer rich, crisp sound and superior noise cancellation, allowing you to enjoy music, podcasts, audiobooks and more without outside commotion getting in the way. This model lets you control the volume simply by swiping the stem, and you'll receive four pairs of silicone tips in different sizes for customized comfort.
Our tech editor, Rick Broida, named these "best wireless earbuds overall," saying, "What you get here is even better ANC, a bump in battery life, extra-small ear tips for users with smaller ears and an adaptive-audio mode that adjusts noise-cancellation and transparency modes based on the sounds around you. Meanwhile, Apple's charging case now has a speaker (for use with Find My) and a USB-C port in place of Lightning (the better to match with the USB-C iPhone 15)."
Check out his roundup of the best wireless earbuds for a full review.
We don't need to tell you that it's waaay past time to get rid of your cable TV subscription, do we? This will give you instant access to more than 1.5 million movies and TV shows, all for less than the cost of a couple of movie tickets.
Pilot and aviation enthusiast Duke Armitage is a fan of noise-cancelling earbuds for travel, and this popular pick by Beats happens to be $50 off. "Few things are more irritating than listening to loud conversations or baby screams on a flight," he says. "This doesn't have to break the bank, as you can find a quality pair for $50 to $100."
These come with three tip sizes to ensure a snug fit. Other travel-friendly features? Transparency mode lets you switch off noise-cancelling to hear in-flight announcements or order a ginger ale, and you'll get hours of listening time before they need to be charged. Choose from black, white or red — whatever suits your jet-setting style.
Ready for some Apple picking? Yes, we realize it's not fall, but you'll want to pluck this bad boy from the ol' Amazon tree and add it to your cart because it's currently down to its all-time lowest price — and this is the most recent version! As the unofficial Goldilocks of tech (less bulky than a laptop but larger than a smartphone), this tablet keeps you connected on the go or at home, and you can use it for everything from reading books to taking notes to watching videos.
Broida named this the "best overall tablet," owing to its "under-the-hood improvements, including a faster processor, more RAM (4GB instead of 3GB), Bluetooth 5.0 (up from 4.2) and a USB-C charging port."
Check out his roundup of the best tablets of 2024 for a full review.
AirPods Pro are some of the most sought-after earbuds on the market, and this sale makes them a lot more attainable. While these beloved 'buds sometimes dip below $180, this is the lowest they've ever dropped. (If Pros are still too rich for your blood, check out our comprehensive review of AirPods Pro alternatives under $100 — there's something for everyone.)
For one thing, they're customizable. Big ears? Small ears? No problem. While previous AirPods subscribed to a one-size-fits-all approach, Apple redesigned these with silicone tips for a comfy fit. Now they'll feel better in your ears and are less likely to slip out. These state-of-the-art Pros also provide a special ear-tip fit test so you can find which size is best for you and your ear shape. (If you want to know more about how these compare with the previous generation, read our full review.)
Unlike previous versions of the iconic buds, the Pros feature active noise cancellation to block out nearly all ambient sound and background chatter. AirPods Pro are also a revelation in the battery life department — you'll get six hours, compared with about half that for the previous model. You can drop them in their included wireless charging case to juice them up for an additional 24 hours.
These earbuds sync wirelessly with just about any Apple device, including iPhone, iPad, MacBook and iMac. But their utility extends beyond the Appleverse: They'll also pair perfectly well with Android smartphones or tablets, as well as Windows laptops and desktops.
These AirPods Pro have more than 9,4 00 five-star fans, and with over 10,000 pairs bought in the past month, it's safe to say Apple has a hit on its hands.
If there's one reason to pick up a pair of AirPods Pro, it's the sound, shoppers say. "They've exceeded my expectations in every way," one fan raved. "The sound quality is exceptional, with a rich, balanced audio profile that makes listening to music and podcasts a joy. The noise cancellation feature is also significantly improved, effectively blocking out background noise even in busy environments."
"Wow, these things are next level!" said a second shopper. "The Bluetooth connection is seamless as always, and the active noise cancellation is ridiculously good — like, the world just melts away when you put them in. Perfect for noisy commutes or when you just want some peace and quiet. One feature that surprised me is the new hearing aid feature. If you need a little boost for conversations or specific sounds, it really helps. And when you don't want to be fully isolated, the transparency mode is super clear — lets you hear what's happening around you without having to take the earbuds out."
Another customer said, "I bought these mainly for the noise cancellation feature. It works great and much better compared to Beats. It's on par with Bose noise cancellation."
As for how they feel, one shopper had this to say: "They fit securely and comfortably in my ears, and I can wear them for hours without discomfort."
The biggest complaint about the Pros? Battery life. Even though it's longer than previous generations, fans want more: "Battery life is sufficient, though it wouldn't hurt if it could last an extra hour or so for longer flights."
Some people do find it difficult for the buds to stay in their ears. "I just wish they didn't always feel like they were going to fall out. Apple, I don't even care if you add a piece that goes around the outside of my ear. Just make them stay in."
If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
