Apple's New AirPods Lineup Starts at $129 With AirPods 2, AirPods 3, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max

Apple today updated the AirPods lineup with the AirPods 3, which feature an AirPods Pro-like design featuring shorter stems, spatial audio support, Adaptive EQ, longer battery life, HD voice quality for FaceTime, IPX4 water resistance, a MagSafe case, and more.

airpods lineup
The new AirPods are priced starting at $179, which is $20 cheaper than the prior AirPods 2 with Wireless Charging Case, and Apple is also keeping the AirPods 2 around as a lower-cost option. Apple's full AirPods lineup now looks like this:

  • AirPods 2 - $129
  • AirPods 3 - $179
  • AirPods Pro - $249
  • AirPods Max - $549

It's worth noting that Apple has also introduced a new version of the AirPods Pro that come with a MagSafe Charging Case like the AirPods 3. The MagSafe Charging Case is able to quickly align with MagSafe charging pad options.

New AirPods Pro purchases will come with the MagSafe Charging Case, but for those wondering if you can get the case on a standalone basis, you can't. Apple does not plan to offer the MagSafe Charging Case on its own, so there will be no upgrade option. The standard AirPods Pro wireless charging case can be used with MagSafe anyway because it's a Qi-based wireless charging protocol. All that's missing is the magnetic alignment.

The AirPods 3 can be pre-ordered from Apple's website starting today, and are set to arrive to customers next week.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Buy Now)
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Top Rated Comments

iReality85 Avatar
47 months ago
Basic rundown:

AirPods Gen 1 (discontinued) - The kind everyone knows and is familiar with.

AirPods Gen 2 (still available) - Same exact style and case as Gen 1, but case has wireless charging.

AirPods Gen 3 (released today) - Same basic style and case as AirPods Pro. Has wireless charging. Has spatial audio. Better battery life than AirPods Pro. No silicone tips. No ANC / transparency.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FightTheFuture Avatar
47 months ago
Bought two pairs of AirPods Pro this past year under the price of the new AirPods 3. Keep an eye out for those sales.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KrisLord Avatar
47 months ago

whats the difference between these and the Pro?
The pros have the noise cancelling options and therefore have the silicon tips.

Personally I quite like the look of these, the price premium for noise cancellation is quite big and I found normal AirPods more pleasant to wear when walking.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
svish Avatar
47 months ago
At $129, Airpods 2 are a great buy
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gustaw94 Avatar
47 months ago

Is it better to buy the AirPod 3 over the pros? I don’t care about the noise cancellation and they are currently the same price. AirPod Pro is $179 on Amazon and AirPod 3 is also $179 on apple’s site. Not sure which ones to buy.
Depends on your ears. I suggest Airpods Pro but some people hate this silicon inside ears and prefer normal Airpods.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
szw-mapple fan Avatar
47 months ago

Is it better to buy the AirPod 3 over the pros? I don’t care about the noise cancellation and they are currently the same price. AirPod Pro is $179 on Amazon and AirPod 3 is also $179 on apple’s site. Not sure which ones to buy.
If you don't need noise cancellation (and don't care about having ear tips) it seems like the new AirPods would be better imo especially since it lasts an hour or more longer.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)