Apple’s Vision Pro headset, unveiled at WWDC earlier this month, is only the first step on the company’s journey into the mixed-reality market, and it clearly isn’t perfect. It’s understood that Cupertino’s design team recommended that the project be pushed back until the available technology caught up with the sort of product they wanted to make, but CEO Tim Cook overruled them and insisted on announcing something this year. Real artists ship, after all.

One of Vision Pro’s obvious physical limitations at this stage of evolution is its relatively high weight, which some early testers have suggested is likely to make it uncomfortable when worn for long sessions. But Apple is aware of this issue, and working to solve it. Indeed, when my colleague Roman was able to spend an hour going hands-on with the device, he was equipped with an additional strap over the top of the headset, which appears to have at least partially mitigated the weight problem over that admittedly quite short period.

“In my demo,” he writes, “the headset had a Velcro strap that goes across the top of your head–this strap is not shown in Apple’s product photos or videos. I think that after the measurements were taken of my head, Apple determined that I would benefit from this top strap.

“After about an hour, my demo was done and I took off the headset. I didn’t have any fatigue in my neck or feel any tenderness where the headset and straps hugged my head. I felt like I could’ve gone on longer with the session, and I would’ve if Apple let me.”

One can readily imagine that Apple’s design team, already irritated at being pushed into announcing earlier than they wanted, would have been extremely keen to make sure the additional strap was kept out of publicity materials as much as possible; it doesn’t sound very minimalist. But for most customers, comfort will be at least as important as aesthetics, and it makes sense for Apple to explore ways to address the headset’s weight issue, especially if movie watching will be one of the main selling points.

Less pleasingly, however, it’s emerged that the company currently plans to sell that top strap as an optional extra rather than bundling it in the box. That’s according to knowledgeable leaker-analyst Mark Gurman, writing in the latest instalment of his Power On newsletter.

“With more people testing the headset, its shortcomings are coming under greater scrutiny,” Gurman writes. “Many users are finding that the metal-framed device feels too heavy after a couple hours of continuous use. To address the weight issue, Apple has developed a second strap that goes over a wearer’s head. But the company is considering selling that strap as an extra accessory rather than including it in the box.”

Sounds like the strap that Roman used in his testing, doesn’t it? But it’s astonishing that the company would view this as an upsell add-on rather than something worth including in the box as standard.

For one thing, Roman suspects that he was pushed into using the extra strap because of his less-than-petite head (he reports a hat size between 7 ½ and 7 ¾). If that’s correct, that would make the accessory analogous to the larger-size Apple Watch bands for those with chunkier wrists, for which Apple does not charge extra.

For another, when a product costs $3,499, you need some serious brass neck to not include the accessory that stops it being uncomfortable. But then again, the $6,999 Mac Pro doesn’t include wheels, so perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised.

Apple Inc

Apple’s Vision Pro headset, unveiled at WWDC earlier this month, is only the first step on the company’s journey into the mixed-reality market, and it clearly isn’t perfect. It’s understood that Cupertino’s design team recommended that the project be pushed back until the available technology caught up with the sort of product they wanted to make, but CEO Tim Cook overruled them and insisted on announcing something this year. Real artists ship, after all.

One of Vision Pro’s obvious physical limitations at this stage of evolution is its relatively high weight, which some early testers have suggested is likely to make it uncomfortable when worn for long sessions. But Apple is aware of this issue, and working to solve it. Indeed, when my colleague Roman was able to spend an hour going hands-on with the device, he was equipped with an additional strap over the top of the headset, which appears to have at least partially mitigated the weight problem over that admittedly quite short period.

“In my demo,” he writes, “the headset had a Velcro strap that goes across the top of your head–this strap is not shown in Apple’s product photos or videos. I think that after the measurements were taken of my head, Apple determined that I would benefit from this top strap.

“After about an hour, my demo was done and I took off the headset. I didn’t have any fatigue in my neck or feel any tenderness where the headset and straps hugged my head. I felt like I could’ve gone on longer with the session, and I would’ve if Apple let me.”

One can readily imagine that Apple’s design team, already irritated at being pushed into announcing earlier than they wanted, would have been extremely keen to make sure the additional strap was kept out of publicity materials as much as possible; it doesn’t sound very minimalist. But for most customers, I suspect, comfort will be at least as important as aesthetics, and it makes sense for Apple to explore ways to address the headset’s weight issue.

Less pleasingly, however, it’s emerged that the company currently plans to sell that top strap as an optional extra rather than bundling it in the box. That’s according to knowledgeable leaker-analyst Mark Gurman, writing in the latest instalment of his Power On newsletter.

“With more people testing the headset, its shortcomings are coming under greater scrutiny,” Gurman writes. “Many users are finding that the metal-framed device feels too heavy after a couple hours of continuous use. To address the weight issue, Apple has developed a second strap that goes over a wearer’s head. But the company is considering selling that strap as an extra accessory rather than including it in the box.”

Sounds like the strap that Roman used in his testing, doesn’t it? But it’s astonishing that the company would view this as an upsell add-on rather than something worth including in the box as standard.

For one thing, Roman suspects that he was pushed into using the extra strap because of his less-than-petite head (he reports a hat size between 7 ½ and 7 ¾). If that’s correct, that would make the accessory analogous to the larger-size Apple Watch bands for those with chunkier wrists, for which Apple does not charge extra.

For another, when a product costs $3,499, you need some serious brass neck to not include the accessory that stops it being uncomfortable. But then again, the $6,999 Mac Pro doesn’t include wheels, so perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised.

Apple Inc

Apple’s AirPods wireless headphones offer an iconic look, exceptional convenience, and strong audio quality. They come with a premium price tag, however, so it’s important to shop around for a good deal… or find a bunch of tech experts who’ll do this for you. That’s where we come in.

In this article, we round up the best AirPods discounts and bundle deals to help you save money. We’ve got the best prices on the 3rd-gen AirPods that were released in October 2021, the new 2nd-gen AirPods Pro that launched in September 2022, and the premium AirPods Max over-ear headphones from 2020. We’ve also got bargain deals on some older models, such as the early-2019 second-gen AirPods, where stock is still available.

Here are quick links to the best deals; you’ll find more detailed advice and price comparisons for each model further down.

U.S.

• Amazon, AirPods (2nd gen): $99 ($30 off)
• Amazon, AirPods Pro (2nd gen): $234.95 ($14.05 off)
• Amazon, AirPods Max: $479.99 ($69.01 off)

U.K.

• Amazon, AirPods (3rd gen, Lightning): £169 (£10 off)
• Amazon, AirPods (3rd gen, Lightning): £179 (£10 off)
• Amazon, AirPods (2nd gen, wired case): £129 (£10 off)
• Amazon, AirPods Pro (2nd gen): £239 (£10 off)
• Costco, AirPods Max: £489.99 (£59.01 off)

Best AirPods deals

Apple sells two sets of basic AirPods: the latest 3rd-gen model introduced in 2021 (MSRP $179 in the U.S., and RRP £189 in the U.K.), and the 2nd-gen model from 2019 ($129/£139). Best Buy is worth a look for some worthwhile savings in the U.S., while U.K. customers can save a little money across the range.

AirPods (3rd gen, 2021) deals

Apple finally updated the ultra-popular AirPods in October 2021, after a wait of more than two and a half years. The new models feature a more Pro-like design and a MagSafe-compatible charging case; they also have improved battery life and water resistance, and support for Spatial Audio. Get all the info you need in our AirPods 3 review.

You can buy direct from Apple, but you’ll find the best prices elsewhere in the automated table below. For specific advice, read our guide on where to buy the AirPods 3. There are two 3rd gen AirPods available–if you want the MagSafe charging option it costs slightly more.

AirPods (3rd gen, 2021, Lightning; MSRP $169/£179)

AirPods (3rd gen, 2021, Magsafe; MSRP $179/£189)

AirPods (2nd gen, 2019) deals

Note that this version of the AirPods comes with an Lightning charging case that needs to be plugged in, as opposed to the wireless MagSafe charging case. (You can buy a wireless charging case separately, however.)

Check the automated table below for any deals that have popped up since we last updated this article.

AirPods (2nd gen, 2019; MSRP $129/£139)

Best AirPods Pro deals

The AirPods Pro came out in 2019, but a new version was released in September 2022. There are some great deals to be had on the older models. The comparison tables below gather the lowest prices on the AirPods Pro 1st and 2nd gen, so you can be sure not to miss out on any appealing deals.

AirPods Pro (2nd gen, 2022) deals

Apple launched the second-generation AirPods Pro alongside the iPhone 14 in September 2022.

AirPods Pro (2nd gen, 2022; MSRP $249/£249)

AirPods Pro (1st gen, 2019) deals

You may still find the original AirPods Pro on sale at a discount–make sure you factor in if they are refurbished before you decide it’s a good discount. But stock is starting to run short. If you don’t see a price-comparison table below, that means there are no deals at all in your region.

AirPods Pro (1st gen, 2019; was $249/£239)

Best AirPods Max deals

Right now, the AirPods Max are available to buy directly from Apple for $549/£549.

Find the latest prices in our automated table embedded below. For some time now, we’ve been seeing third-party retailers undercut Apple by a significant margin.

AirPods Max (MSRP $549/£549)

For an in-depth look at your options here, read Where to buy AirPods Max.

How to get a good deal on AirPods

Good AirPods deals are rare and tend not to last long. If you see one (and you’re sure the supplier is legit: look it up on TrustPilot if you’ve not bought from there before), grab it.

• The recommend price of the AirPods Max is $549 / £549.
• For the AirPods Pro it’s $249 / £239.
• For the 2021 AirPods with Lightning it’s $169 / £179. With MagSafe it’s $179 / £189.
• For the early-2019 AirPods it’s $129 / £119.

You should never pay more than these prices: we’ve seen unscrupulous retailers claim the MSRP/RRP is higher and work out ‘savings’ based on that.

The 2016 AirPods were removed from sale as soon as the early-2019 models came out, so never officially got a price cut from their launch price of $159/£159. But if you do plump for these much older models, you shouldn’t be paying even $100. If you can’t find a seriously good deal, go for newer ones instead.

Remember to take delivery and postage fees into account when evaluating deals; we include it in our list of prices but most retailers won’t add it until you’re at the checkout. And watch out for deals that seem too good to be true, but turn out to have no stock. We see this a lot.

Bundle deals

The best way to get a good price on AirPods may be to bundle them with a phone, although this is mainly an option in the U.K.

Three offers a variety of bundles that includes the AirPods. Visit the company’s accessories page to browse the best options for you.

EE lets you add AirPods to your plan for £16 a month spread over 11 months plus a £10 upfront fee. That’s the Lightning version, by the way. The AirPods Pro, including a MagSafe case, are £22 a month with a £5 upfront fee. In each case you’ll need to click Apple, then your choice of AirPods model.

Vodafone and O2 aren’t currently bundling the AirPods with their iPhone plans, although O2 sells the 2021 AirPods, the early-2019 AirPods and the 2022 AirPods Pro on their own.

Whichever bundle you go for, remember to check if you’re getting the AirPods Pro, the early-2019 AirPods (sometimes called the second gen or AirPods 2) or the new 2021 AirPods (third gen or AirPods 3). If you’re getting the AirPods Pro, find out if they include the new MagSafe charging case.

AirPods buying advice

Wondering if a pair of AirPods is right for you? Let’s discuss the pros and cons.

There have been five models of in-ear AirPods several of which are still on sale, there’s also the over-ear AirPods Max:

• The original 1st-gen AirPods (2016), discontinued
• The 2nd-gen AirPods (2019), $129/£139
• The 1st-gen AirPods Pro (2019), discontinued
• The 3rd-gen AirPods (2021), Lightning: $169/£179, MagSafe: $179/£189
• The 2nd-gen AirPods Pro (2022), $249/£249
• AirPods Max (2020), $549/£549

All four non-Max models are wireless, sitting in your ears and in theory staying there through snugness of fit alone. The advantages of this are clear–they allow you to go running or work out without worrying about snagging the cables–but they may fall out once you pick up the pace. Our experience, however, is that the AirPods are among the best earbuds around in this regard.

The AirPods Pro offer a snugger fit than the others because they have a choice of flexible ear tips, and are actually able to tell you whether you’ve selected the right tip or not.

Sound quality is decent but not exceptional on the original and early-2019 models; the 2021 AirPods are better, while the AirPods Pro are a step above thanks in part to their better fit and implementation of active noise cancellation. What AirPods consistently do better than non-Apple headphones is coordinate with other Apple products, thanks to the W1 chip (in the 2016 model) and H1 chip (2019 and 2021) which makes pairing with an iPhone a breeze.

Battery-wise, most non-Max AirPods will last around five hours, but that’s not the end of the story: they come with a little charging case with its own larger battery, so you can pop them back in for a quick charge. The case should offer another 24 hours (give or take) before it’ll require charging. The 2021 AirPods, however, offer more in this department, with claimed figures of six hours out of the case and 30 hours in total. We’ve got some advice on getting better AirPods battery life.

Apple’s 2019 AirPods can respond to Hey Siri commands, charge wirelessly if you opt for the Wireless Charging Case, and offer more talk time than the originals. Those features are kept in the 2021 models, with Spatial Audio and Adaptive EQ added to the mix.

The AirPods Max are over-ear headphones and essentially a completely different product to the rest of the AirPods range. They are a lot more expensive and a totally different proposition to the other AirPods. Audio quality is almost universally considered to be exceptional, but it’s debatable whether it’s exceptional enough to justify that premium price tag. And many reviewers have pointed out that the case is oddly designed, given that the one part of the headphones that it doesn’t protect–the mesh headband–is the one that’s most vulnerable to damage.

The AirPods Max are an appealing prospect, but may not be practical for most budgets.

For more detailed advice and thoughts on the best alternatives to Apple’s three cheaper AirPods models, read our guides to the Best wireless earbuds and the best wired headphones.

Apple, Home Audio