Amazon’s Black Friday AirPods Deals Dropped Early

Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links. Here’s how we test products and why you should trust us.Product Shot ImageWhile the Black Fridays of yore involved a sea of people rushing into a big-box store to score a new TV or gaming console at a record-low price, the biggest shopping holiday of the year looks a bit different these days. Now, the madness is largely confined to the internet, and the sales happen all month long, not in the wee hours when you’re fighting off a turkey-induced nap.Case in point: Amazon’s current slate of Apple deals let you save an impressive amount on AirPods long before you’ve even finalized your Thanksgiving plans. Every time Apple gadgets, namely AirPods, go on deep discount, they tend to sell out quickly. It’s just like those Black Friday mad dashes, just from the comfort of your own couch.SHOP AIRPOD DEALS ON AMAZONRight now, both the AirPods Pro 3 and the AirPods Max 2 are on sale, although we suspect that these deals might deepen soon. If you’re looking for the cheapest possible pair, the brand-new AirPods 5 are just $129—a great deal at full price—but we predict they’ll go on sale for the first time in the coming weeks.AirPods Pro 3 are Apple’s most advanced earbuds yet. We called them “pretty damn cool” back when they first dropped in September 2025, and more than a year later, we stand by it.Not only do they come armed with the noise cancellation Apple is famous for, but they also boast both adaptive and transparency audio features that adjust to the environment around you. Krista Jones, senior commerce director, is partial to the adaptive mode, which she says is “slightly less noise cancelling and always tunes into my surroundings to turn things up or down accordingly.”Jones said that the Live Translation feature has become particularly useful in her bilingual home. Heart Rate Sensing is also of note—it keeps you plugged into your heart rate during workouts without having to wear a fitness tracker.While a fourth generation of AirPods Pro were rumored to drop in fall 2026, there’s been no sign of them in Apple’s most recent slate of releases, so if you’re looking for the most sophisticated AirPods on the market to date, these are it. We always recommend buying them when they drop under $200, but they’ve retailed for as low as $169 during other sales, so there’s the chance this price could drop more come Black Friday.Should you prefer over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max 2 are $100 off as part of Amazon’s pre-Black Friday deals. Back when the first generation of these dropped in 2022, editor-at-large Dave Holmes called them “Apple’s best product in years.” Four years later, Apple’s second stab has only improved the superb noise cancellation and sound quality we already loved, and added in a slate of beloved features from the AirPods Pro (think Live Translation, Conversation Awareness, and Personalized Volume), without sacrificing the sleek build.Since the second generation was released in March 2026, the lowest we’ve seen them go is $398. Ahead of Black Friday, a $100 price cut is nothing to scoff at, especially in an age where our favorite tech has fallen prey to price increases. We’ll be keeping a close watch on these.And while the just-released AirPods 5 aren’t on sale yet, they’re still far and away the cheapest model you can get if budget is top of mind—even if you splurge on the version with a wireless charging case.Unlike Apple’s older generations of entry-level earbuds, these have active noise cancellation, which was previously only available in premium models. They also have Live Translation and improved dust-, sweat-, and water-resistance, making them earbuds with a premium feel—sans the price tag. We’re anticipating that these will go on sale for the first time on Amazon just in time for Black Friday.Our rule of thumb when it comes to shopping Apple tech for Black Friday? If there’s something you’ve been eyeing at a price you can stomach, it’s worth adding to your cart. When AirPods go on deep discount, they tend to sell out quickly, and then you’ll be stuck with your tired old earbuds until next year.