Technologies
Best AirPods Deals: See the Biggest Discounts on Latest AirPods and Beats Earbuds
Looking for deals on AirPods in 2023? Here are all of the best prices around.
For the typical Apple user, AirPods deliver an unbeatable audio experience. They 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 if you’re hoping 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 sweet deals on Apple-owned Beat earbuds. We’ll continue to update this page 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 | $169 | $140 |
| AirPods Pro (1st Gen) | $249 | $195 | $129 |
| AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) | $249 | $230 | $198 |
| AirPods Max | $549 | $480 | $389 |
Best AirPods deals
Apple
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. They have been selling for as low as $200 at Verizon but are up to $230 right now, which is still the best deal around — and you don’t have to be an existing Verizon customer to get in on this deal. You’ll pay $235 right now at Amazon but can frequently find them there for $200, too.
Sarah Tew/CNET
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 $195 at B&H, which saves you $54 compared to the original list price and the current price of the new second-gen AirPods Pro at Apple. While a clear step down from the new AirPods Pro 2, this discount may be worth snagging for bargain hunters.
Apple
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 AirPod Pros cost $169. 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 but none are on offer at the moment. In fact, they’re out of stock at Amazon right now. If you order from Apple, at least you’ll get free engraving.
Apple/CNET
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.
Amazon
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 select colors right now at Amazon.
David Carnoy/CNET
Technically, the Beats Fit Pro aren’t AirPods, but they’re 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. They’re a good deal right now at $40 off. That’s only $10 more than the all-time low price.
David Carnoy/CNET
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. You can save $30 on them at Amazon and Best Buy right now.
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 a couple of 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.
Except for the baseline AirPods 2, all the AirPods listed above (plus the two aforementioned 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.
More Apple deals
Technologies
Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for March 26, #549
Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle No. 549 for Thursday, March 26.
Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
How good are you at unscrambling letters to make a new word out of an old one? Today’s Connections: Sports Edition requires you to do just that — for the purple category, naturally. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.
Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.
Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta
Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Touch ’em all!
Green group hint: It’s outta here!
Blue group hint: Working one’s way up to the majors.
Purple group hint: Unscramble these words.
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: Slang for home run.
Green group: MLB home run leaders in 2025.
Blue group: Minor league baseball leagues.
Purple group: Anagrams of MLB teams.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is slang for home run. The four answers are dinger, homer, jack and round-tripper.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is MLB home run leaders in 2025. The four answers are Judge, Ohtani, Raleigh and Schwarber.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is minor league baseball leagues. The four answers are Carolina, International, Pacific Coast and Texas.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is anagrams of MLB teams. The four answers are Bucs (Cubs), parties (Pirates), spread (Padres) and stem (Mets).
Toughest Connections: Sports Edition categories
The Connections: Sports Edition puzzle can be tough, but it really depends on which sports you know the most about. My husband aces anything having to do with Formula 1, my best friend is a hockey buff, and I can answer any question about Minnesota teams.
That said, it’s hard to pick the toughest Connections categories, but here are some I found exceptionally mind-blowing.
#1: Serie A Clubs. Answers: Atalanta, Juventus, Lazio, Roma.
#2: WNBA MVPs. Answers: Catchings, Delle Donne, Fowles and Stewart.
#3: Premier League team nicknames. Answers: Bees, Cherries, Foxes and Hammers.
#4: Homophones of NBA player names. Answers: Barns, Connect, Heart and Hero.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for March 26 #753
Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for March 26, No. 753.
Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Today’s NYT Strands puzzle should appeal to musicians of all kinds. Some of the answers are difficult to unscramble, so if you need hints and answers, read on.
I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: I blew it!
If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: I’m in the band.
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
- NORM, CARL, MODE, MODES, LUTE, COME, COME, BEND, NITE, TINE, HARM
Answers for today’s Strands puzzle
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
- OBOE, FLUTE, CLARINET, RECORDER, HARMONICA
Today’s Strands spangram
Today’s Strands spangram is WINDINSTRUMENT. To find it, start with the W that is at the bottom of the far-left vertical row, and wind up and across.
Toughest Strands puzzles
Here are some of the Strands topics I’ve found to be the toughest.
#1: Dated slang. Maybe you didn’t even use this lingo when it was cool. Toughest word: PHAT.
#2: Thar she blows! I guess marine biologists might ace this one. Toughest word: BALEEN or RIGHT.
#3: Off the hook. Again, it helps to know a lot about sea creatures. Sorry, Charlie. Toughest word: BIGEYE or SKIPJACK.
Technologies
Ring Finally Goes Wire-Free for Its Latest 4K Video Doorbells
The launch of battery-powered versions of the company’s powerful AI doorbells has been highly anticipated.
Security company Ring on Wednesday announced a significant expansion of its video doorbell line, notably battery-powered versions of both its 4K and 2K models, priced from $80.
Both Amazon’s Ring and Google Nest debuted high-resolution video doorbells with new AI features in the fall of 2025. But they were wired only, and in my tests, I kept thinking, «I sure wish there were battery models available.»
Wireless video doorbells are far better for most front doors than models that require connecting to your existing doorbell wiring, which is often poorly positioned for a security camera. Mine, for example, is located on a wall beside my door that’s useless for any kind of video views, no matter how you angle a lens.
«Enhancing image quality in battery-powered doorbells means customers can enjoy reliable performance with the flexibility to install devices in a way that suits their space, whether renting or living in homes without existing wiring,» a Ring spokesperson said.
At first, I wondered whether the higher 4K resolutions and more advanced AI features would use too much power to support batteries. If so, Ring is the first to fix that issue with this suite of doorbells, including these models available for preorder right now:
- Ring Battery Doorbell Pro — $250: This model offers up to 4K resolution and 10x zoom, and Ring says it features a redesigned internal architecture to support battery power.
- Ring Battery Doorbell Plus (2nd-gen) — $180: This model includes a quick-release battery pack along with 2K video.
- Ring Battery Doorbell (2nd-gen) — $100: This video doorbell includes 2K video, a 6x zoom and what Ring calls a «streamlined, rechargeable design,» which means you take the entire video doorbell to charge it, not just the battery — a design I greatly prefer, since Ring’s battery packs can get fiddly.
There’s also a new version of a Ring wired doorbell with 2K resolution, starting at $80. It wouldn’t be Ring without a plethora of doorbell devices to confuse newcomers, which is why I have a guide specifically for Ring video doorbells that will need some updating once I finish testing these new models.
Resolution plus an intelligence upgrade
Ring’s ordinary subscriptions of the Ring Protect plan give you cloud video storage and intelligent alerts for people, packages and vehicles, which are important but not really advanced AI. But spring for the $20-per-month Ring AI Pro cam, and this new generation of cameras opens up other capabilities.
Ring’s AI features include AI video descriptions, so if you get an alert, you can also get a summary of what the doorbell saw, including people and activities. A similar feature lets you search your video history with specific terms, such as «bike,» «truck» and so on. You also get the beta version of Ring’s Familiar Faces feature, which can ID logged faces of people who approach.
If these AI features make you uneasy and you’d rather protect your privacy, the best option is to avoid a subscription altogether or choose a lower-tier plan that gives you cloud storage without AI.
I also have a guide on how to turn off Ring’s detection and data-sharing features that might make you nervous, so you can keep what you like while ditching what you don’t.
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