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The $89 AirPods aren't worth it — get these instead
I love a deal. Truly, deeply, in my soul, I love saving money. So I bought a pair of AirPods during Black Friday 2020 because they were $99. I thought my life would change — spoiler alert: It did not. They were uncomfortable, terrible at noise cancellation, and kept falling out. Today they're $89 at Walmart — but, I'm begging you, don't buy them. Instead, spend the extra $65 dollars on the AirPods Pro 2: They look identical, but they present a world of difference.
For a hair under $154, the AirPods Pro 2 are at the lowest price I've ever seen, on both Amazon and Walmart. While that $89 price point may look a lot more attractive for a pair of AirPods, there's a huge difference between these two sets.
Cheap AirPods are enticing, but at the end of the day, the AirPods Pro 2 are worth the splurge. They're more powerful, fit better, and double as hearing aids.
AirPods vs AirPods Pro 2: What's the difference?
Though they look similar, there are huge 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 about where the similarities end.
The AirPods Pro 2 are much more powerful — and more expensive. They feature significantly more technology than the standard pair, with the ability to double as hearing aids, provide active noise cancellation, and conversational awareness. They also fit better and, frankly, just sound way better.
In September 2024, the FDA approved the AirPods Pro 2 to be used as hearing aids, a huge development for these powerful little buds. You can download a hearing test from the app store to customize your AirPods to your hearing needs. So while the AirPods Pro 2 are $65 more expensive today, they can save you from having to buy an entirely new set of hearing aids.
The bottom line: Get the AirPods Pro 2
Having used both pairs of AirPods for work calls, listening to music, and watching TV, I can definitively say the cheaper AirPods are just not worth the price. If you want a budget pair of wireless headphones, opt for the Baseus Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds, which are less than $20 today. Our tech editor Rick Broida said this pair of headphones provided a surprisingly balanced sound and amazing battery life for their price.
Cheap AirPods are enticing, but at the end of the day, the AirPods Pro 2 are worth the splurge. They're more powerful, fit better, and double as hearing aids.
Other great Black Friday Apple deals
There are always Black Friday Apple deals around this time of year, including marked down MacBooks and discounted iPhones. Here are some of the best Apple deals we've found so far.
If you're looking for any shopping advice, drop us a line at shopping.editors@aol.com and our Shopping Editors will be in touch!
