However, there’s a very good reason to wait a few days if you’re reading this in early October: Amazon’s October Prime Day sale takes place on October 6 and 7, and AirPods regularly receive substantial discounts during major sales events.
In this guide, we’ll explain when the best time to buy each AirPods model is, whether you should buy now or wait, which older AirPods are worth considering at clearance prices, and the times of year when you’re most likely to find a bargain.
When to buy AirPods: at a glance
| When | Airpods 5 | Airpods Pro 3 | AirPods Max 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | Buy during Prime Day | Buy during Prime Day | WaBuy during Prime Day |
| November 2026 | Shop during the Black Friday sales | Shop during the Black Friday sales | Shop during the Black Friday sales |
| December 2026 | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Early 2027 | Buy | Buy | Buy |
The best AirPods deals right now
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What is the worst time to buy AirPods?
The worst time to buy AirPods is usually right before a big sale or right before Apple replaces the model you’re considering.
This is particularly relevant right now. Amazon’s October Prime Day sale takes place on October 6 and 7, so paying full price for AirPods just a few days before the sale wouldn’t make much sense unless you need them right away.
When is the best time to buy AirPods?
Big sales events are usually the best time to buy AirPods. Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday are worth watching because Apple headphones and earbuds often receive deep discounts at retailers.
The savings can be substantial. The AirPods Pro 3 previously dropped from their MSRP of $249 to $169, while the AirPods Max 2 were already available for $399 instead of $549.
That doesn’t mean you should never shop between sales. If the AirPods you want are already near their all-time low, there’s little reason to wait simply because another sales event will eventually arrive.
Should you buy AirPods now or wait?
For most people, yes, but wait for Prime Day if you can
Foundry
For most people, October 2026 is a good time to buy AirPods, but if you can, wait until the Prime Day sales on October 6-7.
Apple has recently updated the standard AirPods and AirPods Max ranges, while the AirPods Pro 3 are only around a year old. That eliminates much of the risk that comes with purchasing immediately before a product upgrade.
Therefore, the most important question is not whether a new generation is about to arrive, but whether the current model can be obtained at a good price.
Read our AirPods Buying Guide to understand how different AirPods compare and find out which one is best for you.
| Model | Our advice |
|---|---|
| Airpods 5 | Buy, but wait for Prime Day if possible |
| Airpods Pro 3 | Buy, especially when it’s discounted |
| AirPods Max 2 | Buy only if you specifically want Apple’s over-ear headphones; look for a substantial discount |
| Airpods 4 | Clearance purchase only |
| AirPods Pro 2 | Consider only at a significant discount. |
Should you buy AirPods 5 now or wait?
Shop, but wait for a Prime Day discount if you can.
The AirPods 5 only arrived in September 2026, so there’s little reason to wait for another generation. They’re also much easier to recommend than the AirPods 4 they replace because active noise cancellation is now standard.
The AirPods 5 start at $129 with a USB-C charging case. Apple also sells a $149 version with a wireless charging case, which adds wireless charging, a speaker for Find My, volume adjustment by sliding the stems, and slightly longer battery life.
The new generation also brings improved sound and more powerful noise cancellation. Apple says AirPods 5 eliminate up to 50 percent more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC.
We think the $149 wireless charging case version is the best option for most buyers because it costs just $20 more and adds several useful features.
Our recommendation: Buy AirPods 5 if you prefer an open-ear design. If you’re not in a hurry, wait until Prime Day on October 6-7 to see if any of the versions are discounted.
Should you buy AirPods Pro 3 now or wait?
Buy, especially if you find them well below $249.
The AirPods Pro 3 launched in September 2025 and remain Apple’s most capable earbuds. They improve AirPods Pro 2 with a more comfortable and secure fit, stronger noise cancellation, improved battery life, and a heart rate sensor.
They also have a significant battery life advantage over the AirPods 5, lasting up to eight hours with ANC enabled compared to four to five hours for the two-pack AirPods 5. The AirPods Pro 3 also support Apple’s hearing test, earbuds, and hearing protection features.
Its $249 price is much higher than the $129/$149 AirPods 5, but discounts can dramatically narrow that gap. The AirPods Pro 3 have previously dropped as low as $169, making sales events particularly attractive times to purchase.
Our recommendation: Buy this if you want the highest noise isolation, longest battery life, a secure in-ear fit, or Apple’s health and hearing features. At full price, compare carefully with the AirPods 5; With a substantial discount, the AirPods Pro 3 become much more attractive.
Should you buy AirPods Max 2 now or wait?
Buy if you specifically want AirPods Max, but look for a discount rather than paying $549.
The AirPods Max 2 are relatively new, so waiting for an imminent replacement is not the main concern. The biggest issue is value.
The second-generation model adds the H2 chip and features including adaptive audio, conversation recognition, voice isolation, and live translation. The sound quality, active noise cancellation, and transparency mode are still excellent.
However, our review found that Apple failed to resolve several long-standing complaints, including the weight of the headphones, the Smart Case, and the inability to turn them off manually.
That is why the price is especially important. The AirPods Max 2 are $549, but the updated Prime Day roundup already recorded a $399 deal, $150 below the MSRP.
Our recommendation: Don’t wait because Apple is not expected to update the AirPods Max anytime soon. Instead, expect a good discount unless you especially want them right away.
Should you buy AirPods 4?
Only with a significant discount on clearance.
The AirPods 5 have replaced the AirPods 4 and now include active noise cancellation as standard, with the same $129 MSRP previously charged for the AirPods 4 without ANC.
That makes older AirPods 4 difficult to recommend unless retailers significantly reduce their prices. The standard model dropped to $99 during Prime Day, but now that the AirPods 5 are $129, we’d like to see an even lower clearance price before picking up the previous generation.
Our recommendation: Buy the ANC-equipped version only if the price is exceptionally low.
Should you buy AirPods Pro 2?
Only with a significant discount.
The AirPods Pro 2 are still capable headphones, but the AirPods Pro 3 improve fit, battery life, and noise cancellation and add heart rate detection.
The above model may still make sense if retailers clear their stock at a low enough price. But the closer its price gets to a pair of discounted AirPods Pro 3, the less attractive it becomes.
Our recommendation: Consider the AirPods Pro 2 only if they are substantially cheaper than the AirPods Pro 3 and you don’t need the heart rate feature of the newer model.
Should you buy older or refurbished AirPods?
Screenshot
Foundry
Older AirPods may make sense when retailers are clearing stock, but compare the price to the model that replaced them instead of focusing on the percentage off the original MSRP.
You should also be careful when purchasing an older generation simply because it appears to be heavily discounted. The savings percentage can be misleading if the replacement model offers much more for a similar price. The AirPods 5, for example, start at the same $129 price originally charged for the non-ANC AirPods 4, but now include active noise cancellation as standard.
You should be especially careful when purchasing AirPods from unknown marketplaces or sellers. Counterfeit AirPods can look a lot like authentic products, and unusually low prices (especially on second-hand markets) can be a warning sign.
If you’re considering an older model, check the exact generation, charging case, and condition, and make sure the seller is reputable.
When does Apple launch new AirPods?
Unlike the iPhone, AirPods don’t follow a simple annual update schedule.
The AirPods Pro 3 launched in September 2025, the AirPods Max 2 followed in 2026, and Apple introduced the AirPods 5 in September 2026.
Because the three main AirPods families were updated relatively recently, the current lineup doesn’t present the obvious “wait because a replacement is imminent” problem that sometimes occurs with Apple products.
