Apple’s AirPods Pro (8/10, WIRED recommended) are a rare exception in the modern electronics market. Although the quantity and quality of wireless headphones changes around you, they continue to improve. Now that they’re on sale for Black Friday at the lowest price I’ve ever seen, there’s no reason for iPhone owners to buy anything else.
Are you still searching? We have guides to the best wireless headphones and the best AirPods. The best early Black Friday deals are here too.
The best AirPods deal ever
When I first tried out the latest AirPods Pro at Apple’s launch event, it was easy to get caught up in the hype. Apple reps know how to make their products feel special, to the point that you’re almost struggle not love them. Still, it only took me a few days to fall in love with the Pro. It all started with a seemingly magical new feature: transparency mode with noise suppression.
As a recovering audio professional and current audio critic, my ears are my livelihood. So when Apple promised that the AirPods Pro’s All-Natural Sound Transparency mode could suppress loud noises, I was equal parts skeptical and fascinated. But noise suppression really works. While Apple is quick to tell you that these headphones are not certified as earplugs, I used them at concerts and even at Russell Wilson’s incredibly loud return to play against his former Seahawks at Lumen Field, and the headphones held up surprisingly well. under the violence.
Of course, that’s just one of the reasons why many love the AirPods Pro. They have great sound, noise cancellation good enough to outperform even some of the best noise-cancelling headphones, a sleek design, and airy and (in the latest version) comprehensive controls. The lack of volume control was the biggest flaw of the previous generation, and Apple made it completely convenient on the current pair.
The biggest drawback of the Pro is the battery life of just 6 hours with noise cancellation, which will decrease over time. It’s not bad, but it’s not surprising either. Even with everything they offer, that made its original $250 price tag worthy of at least some hesitation. That’s no longer the case (pun intended). (Speaking of which, it now adds multiple recharges for 24 hours of total playback.)
Other great Apple deals
As a company, Apple is not particularly known for offering discounts on its products that frequently. This Black Friday, however, we’ve found some particularly good sales. For more information, check out our roundup of the best Black Friday Apple deals.
The best MacBook for most people is on sale for more than $200 off.
Apple also recently updated its new small tablet, the iPad Mini, and it’s almost $100 off. This is the best time to purchase the smallest tablet for kids or for traveling.
The Watch Series 10 (9/10, WIRED recommended) is also on sale for nearly $70 off. Apple Watch SEwhich is our best Apple Watch for most people, is also on sale for $100 off.