Airpods Pro

If you’ve been wanting to save a few bucks on the second-generation AirPods, today’s your lucky day (particularly if you’re not a Costco member). Today, Amazon is selling Apple’s beloved true wireless earbuds with a wireless charging case for $179.99, down from the normal retail price of $199. It’s the first time we’ve seen a discount for this model at Amazon.

If you’d just like to have the new wireless charging case for your first-generation AirPods, Amazon is also selling it for $9.01 off, which represents a nice price drop down to $69.99.

It’s a deal worth paying attention to if you’ve never owned a pair of AirPods before or if you’re wanting to give them away as a gift. If you already have an older pair of AirPods, though, it’s harder to recommend. I find I don’t use the wireless charging case that often because I usually keep my phone on the charger when one is available, and the new features—including hands-free Siri and better battery life—aren’t exactly hot items for a device that costs about $200 at retail.

That’s not to say I don’t love AirPods in general: I love how they allow me to maintain situational awareness when enjoying my music on busy city streets, I love how easy it is to stuff them in my pockets, and I love the intuitive convenience of Apple’s tap gestures. If you don’t own a pair, by all means, go for it.

But if you already own a pair of AirPods, I’d suggest waiting for the unannounced “AirPods 2”—whenever those show up. The main exception would be if you’re an early adopter who owns a pair that may be struggling to maintain full battery life.

For more information, be sure to check out our full review from April. As we said at the time:

“If you already own a pair of AirPods, you probably shouldn’t upgrade to the latest model. The improvements in switching speed and latency aren’t game-changers, and the ability to use Siri hands-free, while useful, isn’t worth the cost alone. Those who make a lot of long phone calls will love how much longer the battery lasts, but everyone else will notice no real difference in longevity. If you haven’t bought AirPods yet, the improvements in this second-generation model make them a little more compelling. Still, we can’t help but anxiously await a true successor to Apple’s near-ubiquitous wireless headphones.”