Lots of Prime Day Apple deals for the October event mean we’re seeing some great discounts on almost all AirPods. Prime Big Deal Days 2023 is the latest extravaganza, and it’s getting closer to the holiday shopping season, so you can score some nice, sweet discounts. This also means now is a good time to buy a new pair of AirPods, with the price of the older AirPods (2nd generation) being cut down to $89, the AirPods (3rd generation) at $150, and The latest Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) at $189. They’re all worth your time and money, but how do you know if they’re a good fit for your specific needs? Before you dive into the Prime Day deals going on right now, here’s a quick explanation of what you need to know about the differences.
Apple AirPods (2nd generation) – $89, was $129:
Apple AirPods (3rd generation) – $150, was $169:
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) – $189, was $249:
How does it matter?
Although all three AirPods may look similar, there are actually some key differences between them. The Apple AirPods (2nd generation) are now considered fairly basic AirPods – earbuds. This particular modification on sale comes with a Lightning charging case instead of wireless. Beyond that, they’re just basic earphones, albeit stylish ones, that take seconds to pair with all your Apple devices, as well as offer in-ear detection and Siri support. You get five hours of listening time on a single charge and over 24 hours via the charging case.
Apple AirPods (3rd generation) offer up to six hours of battery life on a single charge, and up to more than 30 hours via the charging case. Again, the issue is Lightning rather than wireless. You also get personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking so it feels like the sound is placed around you based on the shape of your ears. There are also force sensor controls to help you change music or answer calls.
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) are still better and very different. They look similar, but they have a wireless charging case which may be more convenient. They also have active noise cancellation to rival the best noise-canceling earbuds, while you get a rich audio experience on top of personalized spatial audio. A dedicated transparency mode allows you to hear what you want to hear, as if someone is talking to you. You get up to six hours of battery life on a single charge, while the charging case gives you a total of 30 hours.
Which one should you buy?
Buying AirPods may be as simple as buying the best wireless earbuds, and that’s it, but you wouldn’t want to spend more than necessary, right?
AirPods (2nd generation) are perfect for those who want to keep costs down but still want the convenience that comes with earbuds that pair instantly with their Apple device. You get reasonable battery life and the convenience of being able to automatically switch between different Apple devices. Right now, you can buy them for $89, down from $140, so they’re pretty affordable.
However, if you can, it’s worth spending a little more on the Apple AirPods (3rd generation). They lack ANC but for the price these are very good earbuds. Personalized Spatial Audio sounds great and elevates the sound quality more than your average earbuds at this price. You also get the benefit of water and sweat resistance, so they’re good for active people like gym goers or regular runners. Priced at $150 instead of $169, you get great sound quality for a lower price here.
If you can afford it, you’ll love the freedom of the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation). The sound quality is exceptional and is greatly enhanced by active noise cancellation which blocks out surrounding noises such as vehicles. It’s also useful to be able to rely on transparency mode when you need to talk to someone. These are earbuds for regular travelers or people who want to get lost in great music or podcasts, no matter how much noise is around them. This is also likely to help with the desire to run and get away from the world. Marked down from $249 to $189, it’s a great time to buy more premium earbuds than you might normally buy.
Apple AirPods (2nd generation) – $89, was $129:
Apple AirPods (3rd generation) – $150, was $169:
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) – $189, was $249
