When the first pair of wireless Apple AirPods hit the market in 2016, the audio landscape was irrevocably changed for the better. Offering supreme innovation, effortless movement and incredible sound quality, they were the first truly wireless earbuds available commercially which were also equipped with highly unique features.
Naturally, over the years, improvements have been made to the original design – with the second and third generations of the original AirPods seeing significant improvements before the release of the first generation of noise-cancelling AirPods Pro, and the over-ear wonders that are the AirPods Max.
Each and every pair of AirPods to hit the market is worth their salt for various reasons. Despite the ever-increasing price of the iconic Apple buds, Black Friday is finally here which means you’ll be able to snag discounts on all the different variations and generations which have been released in the last eight years.
There are currently discounts on countless different generations of AirPods. We’ve curated a selection of the best below.
Why you can trust ES Best’s Black Friday coverage
We’ve been banging on about the annual sales extravaganza that is Black Friday for years now, allowing our dedicated readers to get ahead of the festive shopping season while bagging brilliant bargains. Every year, we put our expert shopping brains together to bring you fantastic deals on products that we’ve reviewed in the past.
We’re selective in our offering here at ES Best, which means we’ll only alert you to the best possible offers on truly coveted items. From our individual deal round-ups to the Live Blog that we run all weekend long, you won’t miss any of those eye-watering bargains with us by your side.
Top deals on AirPods
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Apple AirPods (3rd generation) with Lightning Charging Case
The third generation of Apple AirPods was released in 2021, and these buds have a more ergonomic fit than their predecessors. Like the generation before them, they’re powered by an H1 chip. However, these brilliant buds also come with features like spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, adaptive EQ, up to six hours of listening time, IPX4 sweat and water resistance, and so much more.
Was: £149
Buy now £117.43, Amazon
Apple AirPods (3rd generation) (Renewed)
This set of renewed third generation AirPods comes with all those coveted features, just with a handy MagSafe charging case instead of a Lightning one.
Was: £139
Buy now £89.99, Amazon
Apple AirPods Max - Green (Renewed)
Featuring a larger over-ear design with superior sound quality, ANC, and spatial audio, the AirPods Max are so much more than a fashion statement. Snag a renewed pair of lovely green earmuffs at a bargain price this Black Friday.
Was: £499
Buy now £399.00, Amazon
Deals on other wireless earbuds
Sony WF-C510 Truly Wireless Earbuds
Sony has forged a name for itself in the audio sphere, offering reliable sound quality and excellent noise cancellation in a lightweight package.
New to the Japanese conglomerate’s collection of cans, the WF-C510 true wireless earbuds encapsulate this. Not much bigger than a thumbnail, they may be small, but they certainly are mighty. The case alone is half the size of my Powerbeats Pro, stashing more easily into the pocket of my running leggings.
There is always the fear of loss with tech of this compact nature, but the ergonomically designed rounded buds remarkably lock in place, feeling comfortable and customisable with three tip sizes. The only issue is the IPX4 rating, which will see you through your workout but is not down-pour-proof.
The buds have 11 hours of battery life that extends to an additional 11 hours with the case — but plug them in for just five minutes and you have an hour of uninterrupted listening. Sound quality is where the WF-C510s excel. The buds punch far above their weight considering the price tag. Bass, treble and more are adjustable via the accompanying app, while DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) upgrades the audio of any playlist. For an immersive audio experience, the 360 Reality Audio feels like you are in a concert. They are made from recycled plastic, are free from plastic packaging and come in four chic colourways with a matte finish.
Was: £54.99
Buy now £44.99, Amazon
Sony WF-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Offering eight hours of playback, with another 16 provided by the charging case, the Sony WF-1000XM5 are the brand’s most advanced wireless earbuds to date, excelling in both noise cancelling and sound quality. The latter, in particular, deserves credit with Sony’s new Dynamic Driver X offering a rich aural experience.
For urban living, these earbuds are choc full of handy features, including bone conduction sensors and precise voice pickup technology so that, no matter the chaos externally to the earbuds, you can hear your call crystal clear. For the forgetful among us, three minutes of charge yielding an hour of playback comes most welcome.
Was: £259
Buy now £195.58, Amazon
Soundcore Liberty 4
Soundcore has a reputation for punching above its weight, and the Liberty 4s are no exception. Taking design cues from Apple, but adding a few extra colours, they look amazing when you take them out of the packet and continue to impress when you put them on. The battery case has a sliding top instead of the flip-up lid employed by almost everyone else, and we found this slightly wobbly and prone to feeling like it was going to fall off - but it never did.
There’s no Aptx, instead relying on ACAA 3.0, but you’d never know it, with the app full of equalisation and noise cancelling options so you can adjust the sound to your taste. They also come with the largest number of replacement tips we’ve seen - four in total - to really get that fit nailed down. Battery life is great, at about nine hours, and you get enough juice in the case for three and a bit full charges.
Was: £139.99
Buy now £96.99, Amazon
Jabra Elite 7 Pro
Remarkably comfortable, even though they may not be the best-looking earbuds on the market (they’re rarely going to be in your eye line, so how much does this matter?), the Elite 7 Pros are the best value compact and waterproof model from a brand that’s making waves in the world of earbuds. Models like the Elite 7 Active are creeping in at a much higher price, but even the older Elite 5 True still sound excellent, though are not as specced out as the newer models. Not so these - you’ll get eight hours, 30 with the help of the case, of playback before you need to retire to a wall socket.
Sound quality is clear, but defaults a bit too much to the mids and bass, making them good for louder styles of music, but can lack subtlety. And although there’s no Aptx, there is noise cancellation to lock you in with your unsubtle music, and a decent amount of personalisation from the phone app.
Since these earbuds were launched, the brand has followed up with the Jabra Elite 10, but we feel the Elite 7 Pro give real bang for their buck.
Was: £199.99
Buy now £142.38, Amazon
JLab Go Air Sport Running Headphones
In line with the success of the Go Air Pop earbuds, JLab has this product designed specifically for sport. The ear hook design and three interchangeable gel ear tips ensure they will stay in even during the most extreme of sprints.
Despite being at the budget end of the spectrum, at an affordable £19.99, they have a refined style and boast a whole host of handy features. You get everything you could want - sweat and splashproof, touch controls, and eight hours of playtime boosted to an impressive 22 hours thanks to the case. Unlike previous models, there is now digital assistant integration. Noise cancellation also isn’t as isolating as more expensive models, though it deals with background hums very well.
Was: £39.99
Buy now £19.99, Amazon
Google Pixel Buds Pro
A good pair of headphones is a daily essential; feeling totally immersed in your favourite tracks or podcast can get you through the horrors of the commute. Google's Pixel Buds Pro offer a wireless solution with active noise cancellation, clearer calls and pin-sharp audio. They’re available in pastel and neutral shades.
Was: £199
Buy now £129.00, Amazon
Beats Fit Pro
If there’s one brand that knows how to hone in on sound quality, it’s Beats by Dr. Dre. And one of the best ways to ensure sound quality is high up on the list? To ensure the fit is spot on. One of the most impressive elements about the Beats Fit Pro earphones is that they come with three ear tip options to ensure your earphones are nothing but snug. Plus, you can twist the earbud back and tuck the wing tip into your upper ear for an even cosier feel. This means you can spend less time worrying about whether your headphones are going to fall out of your ear and more time concentrating on perfecting your form. And lunge.
Was: £219.99
Buy now £139.99, Amazon
When is Black Friday 2024?
Black Friday officially begins on November 29, the day after Thanksgiving in the US. However, countless retailers begin offering eye-watering deals in the weeks leading up to the unmissable sales event.
When does Black Friday end?
Black Friday takes place over the entire Thanksgiving weekend. It’s closed out with another highly anticipated sales event known as Cyber Monday, which falls on December 2.
Why is it called Black Friday?
The pre-Christmas sales event is said to shift financial ledgers from being ‘in the red’ to being ‘in the black’ – an old-timey way of saying that retailers enjoy a profitable boost.
