The $89 AirPods aren’t worth it – get these instead

November 29, 2024

I love a deal. Truly, deep in my heart, I love saving money. So I bought a pair of AirPods on Black Friday 2020 because they were $99. I thought my life would change – spoiler alert: it didn’t. They were uncomfortable, had poor noise cancellation, and kept falling out. Today they’re $89 at Walmart – but I implore you: don’t buy them. Instead, spend the extra $65 for the AirPods Pro 2: They look identical but offer a massive difference.

At just under $154, the AirPods Pro 2 are available at the lowest price I’ve ever seen on both Amazon and Walmart. While the $89 price tag for a pair of AirPods may seem much more attractive, there’s a big difference between these two sets.

Apple

Cheap AirPods are tempting, but at the end of the day, the AirPods Pro 2 are worth the money. They are more powerful, fit better and double as hearing aids.

$154 at Amazon

AirPods vs. AirPods Pro 2: What’s the difference?

Although they look similar, there are big differences between the standard AirPods and the AirPods Pro 2. Both are wireless headphones that fit in your ears and come with a wireless charging case, but that’s where the similarities end.

The AirPods Pro 2 are significantly more powerful – and more expensive. They have significantly more technology than the standard pair and can function as a hearing aid, offer active noise cancellation and conversation detection. They also fit better and, frankly, easier sound much better.

In September 2024, the FDA approved the use of the AirPods Pro 2 as hearing aids, a huge development for these powerful little headphones. You can download a hearing test from the App Store to tailor your AirPods to your hearing needs. Even though the AirPods Pro 2 are $65 more expensive today, they can save you from buying a whole new set of hearing aids.

The bottom line: Get the AirPods Pro 2

After using both pairs of AirPods for business calls, listening to music, and watching TV, I can definitely say that the cheaper AirPods just aren’t worth the price. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly pair of wireless headphones, go with the Baseus Active Noise Canceling Wireless Earbuds, which cost less than $20 today. Our tech editor Rick Broida said these headphones offer surprisingly balanced sound and amazing battery life for their price.

Apple

Cheap AirPods are tempting, but at the end of the day, the AirPods Pro 2 are worth the money. They are more powerful, fit better and double as hearing aids.

$154 at Amazon

More great Black Friday Apple deals

There are always Black Friday deals from Apple this time of year, including discounted MacBooks and discounted iPhones. Here are some of the best Apple deals we’ve found so far.