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AirPods price: Apple AirPods deals for May 2022
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AirPods price: Apple AirPods deals for May 2022

You shouldn't overpay for Apple AirPods thanks to these deals in the US

Matt Swider
May 23
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AirPods price: Apple AirPods deals for May 2022
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AirPods deals

The best Apple AirPods price in the US today reduces how much the “true wireless” earbuds cost by at least $30. For example, the popular AirPods Pro is $50 off today, May 23. You can also buy the AirPods 3 for $30 off MSRP vs what the official Apple Store charges.

As we’ve seen in the best iPad deals and best MacBook deals buying guides, two of the top stores in the United States are B&H Photo and Amazon when it comes to Apple gear. While the Walmart PS5 restock is the place to go for Sony consoles, AirPods are best sought elsewhere. And, like the iPhone deals, dialing the specs back will save you more; older AirPods means cheaper prices. You’ll save $50 on the ol’ AirPods 2.

Meanwhile, the over-the-air premium AirPods Max headphones are $50 to $70 off MSRP, depending on the color. Whatever you do, don’t overpay for any of these recommended Apple headphones.

Ethics disclosure: The Shortcut is supported by you. When you purchase through some of the links, I may earn a small affiliate commission.

AirPod Pro deals

AirPod Pro deals
  • MSRP $250

  • Cheapest AirPods Pro price: $199

  • Total savings: $50

B&H Photo: new AirPods Pro deal

Apple AirPods Pro deals are constantly in stock these days, which is good news as it’s the most popular version of the AirPods true wireless earbuds. At launch, the AirPods Pro price was $250, and they cost that much because of the fancy noise-canceling tech and Transparency Mode for Hearing Ambience inside the tiny earbuds.

But $199 for the AirPods Pro is a great deal, and the expert advice from The Shortcut is that this price won’t drop any lower from now until Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2022, which is still months away.


AirPods 3 deals

AirPod 3 deals
  • MSRP $179

  • Cheapest price: $169

  • Savings: $10

B&H Photo: new AirPods 3 deal

The AirPods 3 price drop isn’t the biggest, but that’s OK for now. The latest version of the standard Apple AirPods with a wireless charging case and shorter AirPods Pro-like stems are a top pick. Even without active noise cancellation (ANC), this AirPods deal will get you perks like Dolby Atmos Support for Immersive Audio, Spatial Audio with Dynamic Head Tracking and Adaptive EQ Adjust Music in Real-Time. Basically, most of the “magic” that Apple boasts about in its tech videos.


AirPods 2 deals – with wireless charging

AirPod 2 deals
  • Launch MSRP $199

  • Cheapest price: $139

  • Savings: $60

B&H: AirPods 2 w/ wireless charging deal

The AirPods 2nd generation price has a $60 deal attached to it, and it gives you all of the basics of Apple’s iconic wireless earbuds with a wireless charging case. It features fast pairing and voice-enabled "Hey Siri" support and the longer microphone stems.

B&H Photo still has the AirPods 2 in stock today, and that’s the version with wireless charging, and it’s out of stock right now on Amazon.

AirPods 2 deals – without wireless charging

AirPod 2 deals
  • MSRP $159

  • Cheapest price: $118.98

  • Savings: $40

Amazon: AirPods 2 w/o wireless charging

B&H: AirPods 2 w/o wireless charging

While B&H Photo has the best deals on the AirPods 2 with wireless charging, Amazon is the winner of the AirPods 2 without wireless charging by a few dollars. For about $20, you can opt for wireless charging in your AirPods or go for these that have to be charged with a Lighting cable.


AirPods Max deals

AirPod Max deals
  • MSRP: $549

  • Cheapest price: $479

  • Savings: $70

Depending on which AirPods Max color you buy, the Apple deal attached to these over-ear-headphones will save you $70 compared to what the Apple Stores charges. Most stores in the US have Silver, Sky Blue and Pink AirPods Max at $479, but the limited stock of the Black and Green versions sometimes sends them to $499 (still a great deal).

B&H Photo: AirPods Max headphones deal


Apple AirPods buying advice

I’ve tested every version of the Apple AirPods since they first launched, and the key feature is fast connectivity and that pocketable magnetic case. The AirPods Pro is a better fit for me with the silicone tips, so it may be worth the extra cash if you’ve ever worried about your prior AirPods (or any earbuds) falling out.

I recommend the AirPods Pro if you’re traveling often and need active-noise canceling (ANC) – they do a solid job of drowning out airplane noise in my product review tests. But the new AirPods 3 are almost as good if you don’t need ANC.

I’d still recommend the AirPods 2 for kids who really want the AirPods and parents who just want a decent price for Apple’s wireless earbuds because those kids will likely lose the AirPods within a year or two. My relatives bought four “fake AirPods” during a Cyber Monday sale, but that was years ago. Now the AirPods 2 are cheap enough to think about getting the real deal without the Bluetooth hassle.

Updated: May 17, 2022

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