Apple’s AirPods are hugely popular in the wireless earbud market, offering a seamless experience that only a company that controls hardware and software can offer – and that run is set to continue with Apple’s third-gen AirPods.
The first big change is the design of the wireless earbuds themselves, sporting a design not dissimilar to that of the AirPods Pro, with a short stem, a more contoured shape and accentuated black mic cut-outs. It also borrows the control system of the Pro-level buds, swapping taps for squeezes via a force sensor in the stem.
There’s also access to Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio content (complete with head tracking) thanks to Apple’s H1 chip, and you’ll find Adaptive EQ tech to dynamically tune the headphones’ audio to make sure it sounds the way it should.
That’s not to say there isn’t an improvement to sound output though; with a custom low-distortion driver and high dynamic range amplifier, Apple seems confident that the audio quality will be noticeably better for upgrading users.
However, unlike the premium buds, you won’t get swappable eartips, nor will you get access to the more advanced active noise cancellation tech, but at a cheaper price, there’s not much to complain about.
If you’re interested, here’s where you can buy the new AirPods (2021) right now – including some of the top deals for UK and US readers curated by the Tech Advisor team.
Apple AirPods pricing 2022
| Model | Apple Store price | Best price right now | Best all-time price |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirPods 2 | $129 | $100 | $89 |
| AirPods Pro 2021 | $249 | $175 | $159 |
| AirPods 3 | $179 | $150 | $140 |
| AirPods Max | $549 | $429 | $400 |
The list above is the full lineup of Apple wireless earbuds and headphones as of early 2022. Except for the baseline AirPods 2, all those listed above (including the two Beats models) are compatible with Apple's spatial audio features. However, none of them will deliver the maximum quality of Apple's lossless audio format, which is too rich for the current Bluetooth wireless standard to handle.
How much do the third-generation AirPods cost?
The AirPods 3 are either cheaper or more expensive depending on your point of view.
Let’s explain; the AirPods 3 cost £169/$179, which is £10/$20 more than the £159/$159 second-generation AirPods, which remain on sale at a discounted £119/$129. However, the new AirPods include wireless charging as standard, whereas that was limited to a more expensive £199/$199 model with the second-gun buds.
So, compared to the second-gen AirPods with wireless charging, the new AirPods are a little cheaper.
Where to buy the AirPods 3 – best deals
If you’re on the hunt for a bargain in the UK or US, we’d recommend you keep an eye on the following retailers. They regularly have deals on tech including Apple’s latest AirPods, making it easy to nab yourself a discount year-round, not just during sale seasons.
We’d recommend keeping an eye on Amazon in particular, especially in the run-up to Prime Day in July, as the AirPods are ripe for discount now they’ve been available for over half a year now.
AirPods Max (2020)
Amazon has AirPods Max for $429.00, down from $549.00. Only one color is available at this price, and the sale has been fluctuating in and out of availability all week, so if you see it at or around $429.00 be sure to make your purchase fast.
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