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Best AirPods Max deals: New and refurbished for $382

The AirPods Max are Apple’s high-end headphone offering, and while they don’t often turn up among the best Apple deals, they do see a pretty good discount from time to time. Right now both new and refurbished models are seeing a discount and they’re worth considering if you aren’t finding anything you like among today’s best headphone deals. There are also some other AirPods deals out there to shop, but if you like the Apple headphone lineup and want the best over-ear headphone solution, read onward for the best AirPods Max deals to shop right now. And if you’re looking for something comparable to the AirPods Max take a look at the current Bose headphone deals, Sony headphone deals, and Beats headphone deals for some savings there.

Apple AirPods Max — $499, was $549

The Apple AirPods Max on a surface, viewed from the side.
Riley Young / Digital Trends

The AirPods Max are Apple’s first attempt at a set of over-the-ear headphones. They got a lot of things right. We love these headphones, even when compared against some audiophile options that prioritize sound quality. The AirPods Max have awesome noise cancelling. Everything Apple learned with the earbud-style AirPods works even better with the cup style of the AirPods Max. Along with great ANC comes a great transparency mode. With a twist of the Max’s massive knob, you’ll go from complete silence to feeling like you’re not wearing headphones at all. The audio on phone calls is great as well, and they pair better with the iPhone than any non-Apple headphones could ever hope to.

Refurbished Apple AirPods Max — $382, was $499

The Apple AirPods Max.
Riley Young / Digital Trends

Amazon also has refurbished AirPods Max headphones for quite a big discount. Those who are a bit wary of buying used tech can rest assured that they won’t be able to tell the difference. Under Amazon’s Renewed program, everything inside the headphones has been professionally cleaned, fixed and tested to the point of functioning just like new. The Amazon Renewed Guarantee also promises a free replacement or refund within 90 days of of getting the headphones, which makes this among best AirPods deals in town on a refurbished model for the AirPods Max.

Should you buy the AirPods Max?

Apple AirPods Max are incredible headphones. We won’t hesitate to recommend them. But there are two important factors to consider when you’re deciding if they’re right for you: Do you want over the ear headphones? And would you prefer a different brand?

When comparing AirPods vs. AirPods Max, the differences are pretty clear. One goes in you ears and one goes over them. You’ll have to consider the comfort of the traditional in-ear AirPods against the Pro’s silicon nub and the Max’s over-ear design. Our review does note that the AirPods Max are quite heavy and can get uncomfortable after long listening sessions. They’re also inherently less portable do to their size. AirPods Max is going to have better ANC and sound quality in general, since Apple had more space to pack in some better tech.

You should also consider some other headphone brands. If you have an iPhone, none of the other options will connect quite as well, but there are other factors to consider. For instance, some of these brands have a long history of fantastic headphones. When comparing the AirPods Max vs. Sony WH-1000XM4 or 5, Sony retains its crown. The XM5s are the best headphones on the market, in our opinion. While their price point is the same, they don’t have that Apple feel, with the sleek design and the large buttons.

In the end it will come down to which style of headphone you prefer more, and whether or not you absolutely need to stick with Apple.

Noah McGraw
Noah is a Portland-based writer and editor focusing on digital commerce. In his spare time he enjoys riding and fixing old…
Best back to school AirPods deals: 3rd Gen, Pro and Max
Woman wearing Apple Airpods Max.

With the back-to-school period finally upon us, now is the perfect time to snag yourself some Apple deals on AirPods. While they can get quite pricey, especially if you go for some of the higher-end options, Apple does make some of the best earbuds on the market, so you do pay for that premium. Luckily, the deals below do help lessen that blow, and there are some options, such as the older AirPods 2, that give you the Apple earbuds experience without costing an arm and a leg. Either way, be sure to check our roundup of the best Apple AirPods deals below.
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Along with Amazon and Best Buy, Walmart is one of the biggest retailers out there, and if you're looking to pick up something from small appliances to groceries, you'll likely find it at Walmart. In fact, it often has some of the best phone deals, tablet deals, and headphone deals, which is why we often draw from Walmart for some of our favorite deals. Given that Walmart has such a huge selection of products and ongoing deals, it can be a lot for someone to trudge through, which is why we've gone out and collected some of our favorite Walmart deals to make your life a little bit easier.

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Bose is one of the top consumer audio brands on the market and it’s often a great brand to shop if you’re looking for some savings. On a pretty regular basis you'll find something from Bose among the best headphone deals, best Bluetooth speaker deals, best soundbar deals, and best subwoofer deals, and to get those organized for your shopping convenience we’ve tracked down all of the best Bose deals right here. Reading onward you’ll find Bose headphones, earbuds, Bluetooth speakers, and more discounted Bose products. Be sure to pounce on any of these Bose deals if you see something you like, and if you need something to pair them with don't miss the current TV deals, phone deals, tablet deals, and laptop deals.
Bose QuietComfort II wireless earbuds — $179, was $279

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are often recognized as some of the best wireless earbuds on the market. They have great noise-cancellation capability, which makes getting your work done at the office a less distracting endeavor, and which makes taking in movies on your laptop or home theater a more immersive experience. They also have a feature known as Aware Mode, which allows you to hear both your music and your surroundings at the same time. This makes them a safe option for daily commuters, fitness nuts, and bicyclists as well. Along lasting battery and easy phone call controls round out the top features of the QuietComfort II wireless earbuds.

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