If you’ve been waiting for a sale on Apple’s flagship AirPods Max, now is the time to buy a pair. Amazon has discounted the USB-C model to $449. That’s 18% of the asking price of $549. Since I last posted this article, most of the colors have sold out, but the Starlight color is still in stock as of this update.
AirPods Max need no introduction, but it’s worth taking a moment to think about whether it makes sense to buy one in 2025. Make no mistake, the sound quality is great and they offer tight integration with other Apple devices, but the AirPods Max, manufactured last September, are over four years old if you don’t count Apple’s minor refreshes. Meanwhile, the competition got even better. In fact, AirPods Max aren’t even on Engadget’s list of the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy in 2025. Even with the current $100 discount, there are better and cheaper options like the Sony WH-1000XM5.
apple
Apple’s flagship AirPods are $100 off, making them a better value than their regular retail price of $549.
$450 on Amazon
Still, there’s something to be said for the AirPods Max, especially for those deeply invested in Apple’s ecosystem. Sony’s app makes pairing easy, but the process is far from as easy and seamless as Apple’s native integration. If you use Siri a lot, the AirPods Max are great for that, too. Keep in mind that Apple may release a proper update for AirPods Max later this year.
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Updated, January 19, 2025, 6:55 PM ET: This story has been updated to reflect that fewer colors remain in stock at a discounted price.
