Apple’s best AirPods are super on sale for Black Friday

As far as Black Friday deals go, this is the best I’ve seen so far. Apple’s excellent AirPods (4th generation) are on sale for $70 right now, down from their regular price of $130.

The version of the wireless earbuds with active noise cancelling are also discounted (they’re on sale for $110, down from $179), but the AirPods 4’s ANC isn’t that great because the earbuds don’t feature an in-ear design, so you aren’t missing much by buying the cheaper earbuds. In fact, I barely notice ANC when I turn it on with the AirPods 4 with ANC — it’s there, but it also isn’t at the same time.

Both the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC feature IP54 sweat and water-resistance, making them the perfect workout companion. They also offer solid battery life, hitting five hours with ANC and four hours with it turned off. With the USB-C charging case, you can get a total of 30 hours. Both wireless earbuds feature Apple’s H2 chip, Siri integration, Find My support, and personalized spatial audio, giving you an all-around solid audio package.

• Battery Life

  Up to 5 hours (30 hours with case)

  Charging Case Included?

  Yes

  Brand

  Apple

  Bluetooth

  5.3

  Price

  $129

  The 4th gen AirPods might not feature support for Active Noise Cancelation, but they still pack a punch. The new H2 chip and improved acoustic architecture improve sound quality compared to the previous generation, and the USB-C charging case is highly convenient.

• 

  Battery Life

  Up to 5 hours (30 hours with case)

  Charging Case Included?

  Yes

  Brand

  Apple

  Bluetooth

  5.3

  Price

  $179

  Improving on the 4th gen AirPods, the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancelation support features like Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness. Its case has also been upgraded, with wireless charging and a built-in speaker for Find My functions.

The AirPods 4’s best feature is how comfortable they are

In-ear wireless earbuds have never been my preference

While I really like Apple’s AirPods Pro 3rd generation, I’ve never been a big fan of in-ear wireless earbuds. They’re just not comfortable to wear all day, even with the new more secure foam tips. With the AirPods 4, that’s not an issue. I can comfortably keep the wireless earbuds for hours at a time.

That said, they do have a notable drawback. If you plan to use the earbuds while exercising or moving around a lot, it’s likely you’ll find the AirPods 4 will fall out of your ears frequently. They don’t feature an in-ear design and are more comfortable because of that, but that also means they don’t sit as securely in your ears.

That said, if you’re looking for a new pair of wireless earbuds, this is the best deal I’ve seen in months.