The AirPods I Wish I Owned Are $155 Right Now

The latest AirPods Pro are a big step up from the first-generation buds. The third (and newest) generation comes with OTA updates that the AirPods Pro 2 ($199) also get to enjoy—but right now, the third generation in like-new condition are cheaper right now. If you want the latest Apple has to offer, you can get the AirPods Pro 3 with ANC for $154.99 (originally $249.99 for a new pair), the lowest price since their September release, according to price-tracking tools.

The AirPods Pro 3 improve on already great premium earbuds with new features (like a heart rate sensor) without increasing the list price. You’ll get Personalized Spatial Audio (so you can hear sounds seemingly coming from different directions as you move your head) and the ability to use head gestures to tell Siri “yes” or “no” (this also works for answering or denying calls). Apple added a live translation feature to both the second- and third-generation AirPods Pro when iOS 26 rolled out last year. You’ll also get features like Conversation Awareness, which lowers your music volume when your AirPods detect that you’re talking to someone; Transparency Mode, which lets you better hear your surroundings while your earbuds are in; and Adaptive Audio, which combines ANC and Transparency mode to adjust ANC levels based on the noise around you.

Since the AirPods Pro 3 have silicone tips that fit inside the ear canal—unlike the AirPods 4, which sit more loosely in the outer ear without creating a seal—the ANC is much better since it naturally blocks out noise with a tight seal. But the ANC technology itself has also improved, as has the sound quality, thanks to the new H3 chip, as PCMag detailed in its “exemplary” review. You can expect about eight hours of juice, depending on your usage, and another 24 hours from the charging case.