The Best AirPods to Buy This Prime Day Aren't the Newest Ones

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If you walk into an Apple Store today, you could buy a pair of AirPods Pro 3. They're the best earbuds Apple has ever made. But unless you really need the best earbuds Apple has ever made, you could likely put your money to better use. Apple's previous generation of pro earbuds, the AirPods Pro 2, are currently $80 cheaper than the newest model for Amazon's October Prime Day. And while that $80 will net you a number of exclusive new features, those features just aren't necessary for most of us. If you're looking for a great pair of earbuds, especially if you're in the Apple ecosystem, the second-gen AirPods Pro are arguably the better deal.

AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

$169.99 at Amazon

$249.00 Save $79.01

Get Deal

Get Deal

$169.99 at Amazon

$249.00 Save $79.01

Apple might slap its "Pro" moniker on most product categories these days, but AirPods Pro come with a lot of features to live up to the name. They may not be intended for "professionals," but you do get features that are not available on other AirPods models.

For one, the AirPods Pro come with excellent noise cancellation—although, honestly, the in-ear seal from the silicone tips blocks out enough background noise that I hardly ever turn on Noise Control. In fact, because the seal is so good, you also get Transparency Mode, an option that pumps in the sounds around you, so you can be aware of your surroundings or even have a conversation with your earbuds in.

Speaking of conversations, another excellent feature is Conversation Awareness: When you start talking while listening to something, your AirPods will automatically adjust the volume to enhance the voices of the people you're talking to. When everyone stops speaking, your AirPods will return to their normal state. It's great. Another automatic feature is "Adaptive Audio" (previously known as Adaptive Transparency), which can reduce any sound above 85 dB while maintaining other sounds at their typical volume. That way, you can follow a conversation or even watch a TV show with your AirPods in, but if an ambulance races by you, its sirens will seem to be a very tolerable 85 dB.

Like all AirPods, the Pros seamlessly switch between all your connected Apple devices. You could be watching a video on your Mac, then take a call on your iPhone and start chatting through your AirPods. If you have an Apple TV, you can also switch to your AirPods, which I frequently do, as I prefer the experience over my soundbar.

While all these features are awesome, what it really comes down to for me is sound quality: The Pros just sound great, especially for such low-profile earbuds. And because they block out so much sound on their own, I feel like I can appreciate the quality of the music I'm listening to in various situations. I used to pause my music with my old AirPods whenever a loud truck or bus would drive past me on a walk. That's not a problem with the Pros. Plus, now that it's been FDA approved, you can even be able to use these AirPods as hearing aids. Not a bad perk for $170.

What you miss by skipping the AirPods Pro 3

Apple's latest earbuds do have some new features to justify the higher price tag. They offer up to double the ANC of the AirPods Pro 2, come with a built-in heart rate sensor, provide an extra two hours of use between charges, feature slightly higher water resistance, and include a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip in the charging case.

There are undoubtedly some perks, but I'd argue that the $80 in savings for Prime Day negates most of them. As someone who owns an Apple Watch, I don't really need a heart rate sensor in my earbuds—though it is a cool feature. And while the extra battery life in between charges is great, the AirPods Pro 2's charging case is actually rated for more charges than the AirPods Pro 3's: 30 hours of listening time compared to 24.

Other great Prime Day deals on AirPods

If you don't like the tight seal of the Pros, you might prefer the more traditional fit of the AirPods 4. They're on sale for $119 for Prime Day, or $89 if you opt for the version without noise cancellation. There's also a deal on the USB-C AirPods Max, which are now $ 429, down from $ 549. I love my AirPods Max, but they're tough to recommend at their outrageously expensive MSRP. Now, they're a bit of an easier pill to swallow.

Looking for something else? Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy have Prime Day competition sales that are especially useful if you don’t have Amazon Prime.

• Walmart’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. ET through Oct. 12 and includes deals up to 50% off. It’s an especially good option if you have Walmart+.

• Best Buy’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Sept. 27 through Oct. 12, and has some of the best tech sales online. It’s an especially good option if you’re a My Best Buy “Plus” or “Total” member.

• Target’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Oct. 5 through Oct. 11, and it has deals going up to 50% off. You can become a Circle member for free.

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