You Can Buy Apple’s Second-Generation AirPods Pro for $170 Before Prime Day Ends.

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If you walk into an Apple Store today, you can buy a pair of AirPods Pro 3. They’re the best headphones Apple has ever made. But unless you truly need the best headphones Apple has ever made, your money could probably be better spent. The previous generation of Apple’s professional headphones, the AirPods Pro 2 , are currently $80 cheaper than the newest model on Prime Day in October on Amazon. And while that $80 will get you a number of exclusive new features, most of us simply don’t need those features. If you’re looking for a great pair of headphones, especially if you’re part of the Apple ecosystem, the second-generation AirPods Pro are arguably the best deal.

Apple may apply the “Pro” moniker to most product categories, but AirPods Pro pack a host of features that justify the name. They may not be aimed at “pros,” but they do offer features not found in other AirPods models.

Firstly, the AirPods Pro feature excellent noise cancellation, although frankly, the silicone tips fit snugly in my ears and block out quite a bit of background noise, so I almost never turn on the Noise Cancelling feature. Moreover, thanks to the snug fit, you also get Transparency mode—an option that lets in sounds around you, allowing you to be aware of your surroundings or even have a conversation without removing the earbuds.

Speaking of conversations, another great feature is Conversation Awareness: when you start talking while listening to something, your AirPods automatically adjust the volume to better hear your conversation partner’s voice. When everyone stops talking, your AirPods return to normal. That’s great. Another automatic feature is Adaptive Audio (formerly known as Adaptive Transparency), which reduces any sound above 85 dB while keeping other sounds at their normal volume. So, you can follow a conversation or even watch a TV show with your AirPods, but if an ambulance drives by, its siren will seem perfectly tolerable at 85 dB.

Like all AirPods, the Pro headphones seamlessly switch between all connected Apple devices. You can watch a video on your Mac, then take a call on your iPhone and start chatting through the AirPods. If you have an Apple TV, you can also switch to the AirPods, which I often do as I prefer them to a soundbar.

While all these features are fantastic, the most important thing for me is the sound quality: the Pro earbuds sound absolutely stunning, especially for such a compact pair. And since they block out most noise on their own, I can appreciate the quality of my music in a variety of situations. I used to have to pause my music on my old AirPods whenever a loud truck or bus passed by while I was out for a walk. That’s no longer a problem with the Pro. Plus, now that they’re FDA-cleared ,these AirPods can even be used as hearing aids . Not a bad perk for $170.

What you’re missing out on by ditching the AirPods Pro 3

Apple’s newest earbuds do offer some new features that justify the higher price. They offer twice the noise cancellation of the AirPods Pro 2, feature a built-in heart rate sensor, last two hours longer on a single charge, are slightly more water resistant, and feature a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip in the charging case.

Sure, there are some advantages, but I’d say the $80 Prime Day savings negate most of them. As an Apple Watch owner, I don’t particularly need the heart rate sensor on my earbuds, though it’s a cool feature. And while the extra battery life is great, the AirPods Pro 2 charging case actually lasts longer than the AirPods Pro 3: 30 hours of listening time versus 24.

More Prime Day deals on AirPods

If you don’t like the tight fit of the Pro, you might prefer the more traditional fit of the AirPods 4. They ‘re on sale for $119 on Prime Day , or $89 if you choose the non-noise-canceling version . There’s also a discount on the AirPods Max with USB-C, now $429, down from $549. I love my AirPods Max, but it’s hard to recommend them due to their outrageously high MSRP. Now they’re a little easier to swallow .

Looking for something different? Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy are running Prime Day sales, which are especially helpful if you don’t have an Amazon Prime subscription.

• Walmart’s Prime Day sale runs from 7:00 PM ET on October 6th through October 12th and includes discounts of up to 50%. This is an especially great deal for those with a Walmart+ subscription.

• Best Buy’s Prime Day sale runs from September 27th to October 12th and is one of the best tech sales in the world. It’s especially great for My Best Buy Plus or Total members.

• Target’s Prime Day sale runs from October 5th to 11th, with discounts up to 50%. Joining Circle is free.

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