How Do I Get AirPods for the Lowest Price? Black Friday 2026 Guide
To get AirPods for the lowest price in the US in 2026, know Apple's list price (AirPods 5 from $129, AirPods Pro 3 $249, AirPods Max 2 $549 at the time of writing), compare Best Buy, Walmart and Target during Black Friday (November 27, 2026), consider Apple Certified Refurbished, and start on ShopBack US before you pay.
Published: 8 October 2026 · Last updated: 8 October 2026 · Author: Mirabelle Chew, Shopping Editor, ShopBack US
To get AirPods for the lowest price in the US in 2026, start from Apple's list price (AirPods 5 at $129, AirPods Pro 3 at $249, AirPods Max 2 at $549, according to Apple at the time of writing), then compare Best Buy, Walmart and Target during the Black Friday period. Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27. Apple itself usually gives a gift card instead of a price cut, so the deepest outright AirPods discounts tend to show up at the big US retailers.
ShopBack US is a free cashback site and app. You tap through to a store like Best Buy, Walmart or Target from ShopBack, buy your AirPods as normal, and part of what you spend comes back to you as cash. Start on ShopBack, then shop at the store as usual. You can join ShopBack US free here.
How do I get AirPods for the lowest price?
The lowest price on AirPods usually comes from combining four things: the right model, the right week, the right store and the ShopBack step before you pay. Here is the order that works:
- Pick the model first. Decide between AirPods 5, AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2 before you shop, so you compare like for like.
- Write down Apple's list price. That is your benchmark. Any "deal" is measured against it.
- Time it. The Black Friday period (November 27 to Cyber Monday, November 30, in 2026) is usually when Best Buy, Walmart and Target cut AirPods prices the most.
- Compare the exact model at three stores. Check Best Buy, Walmart and Target on the same day, including shipping.
- Start on ShopBack. Open the winning store's page on ShopBack US, tap through and pay in the same session.
- Consider refurbished. If new prices do not drop far enough, Apple Certified Refurbished is another route (see below).
Apple AirPods prices at the time of writing
According to Apple's US online store at the time of writing, the AirPods range starts at $129 and tops out at $549.
| Model | Apple list price | What you get (per Apple) |
|---|---|---|
| AirPods 5 | $129 | Active Noise Cancellation, up to 4 hours listening on one charge with ANC, USB-C charging case |
| AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case | $149 | Same earbuds with volume swipe, up to 5 hours with ANC, wireless charging case with speaker for Find My |
| AirPods Pro 3 | $249 | Apple's strongest in-ear noise cancellation, heart rate sensing during workouts, hearing health features, up to 8 hours with ANC |
| AirPods Max 2 | $549 | Over-ear design, up to 20 hours with ANC |
Apple also offers free engraving on AirPods bought from Apple. If you want engraving, that is one reason to buy direct; if you only want the lowest price, compare retailers first. Apple is on ShopBack US, so the same step applies if you buy from Apple's own store.
Apple Black Friday deals: what does Apple itself usually offer?
Apple usually does not cut prices on Black Friday; it runs a Shopping Event that gives an Apple Gift Card with eligible purchases instead. In 2025, the event ran for four days, from Friday, November 28 to Monday, December 1, in the US, with gift cards of up to $250 on some products, according to coverage by MacRumors and Macworld at the time.
What that means for AirPods:
- A gift card is money you can only spend at Apple, so it helps only if you were going to buy more from Apple.
- An outright price cut at a retailer lowers what you pay today, on any card.
- Apple announces its event terms and eligible products each year, so check Apple's site in late November 2026 for the current list.
If you plan to buy direct from Apple during its event, open Apple on ShopBack US first and read the terms there before you pay.
Apple Black Friday deals 2026: when to buy AirPods
Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27, and Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30; Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26. Those dates follow from Thanksgiving being the fourth Thursday in November.
Retailers rarely wait for the Friday. According to Best Buy's 2026 holiday preview, published September 14, 2026, its holiday savings start in October, with deals across gaming, computing and home theater, and My Best Buy Plus and Total members get access to exclusive offers through the season. Walmart and Target usually announce their own early Black Friday events in November.
A simple timing plan:
- Now to early November: note today's price on your chosen model at Best Buy, Walmart, Target and Apple.
- Early deals in November: if a price is already well below Apple's list price, buying early is reasonable, especially at Target, which matches its own lower price within 14 days.
- Thanksgiving week: compare the three stores on the day and buy when the price you want is live.
For a wider look at the sale year, see Black Friday vs Prime Day vs Cyber Monday and the US sale calendar.
Apple Black Friday deals in the US 2026: where the best AirPods deals usually are
The best Apple Black Friday deals in the US are usually at Best Buy, Walmart and Target, which tend to cut AirPods prices outright while Apple gives gift cards. Specific 2026 doorbusters are announced by each store closer to the date, so compare the exact model on each store's Black Friday page.
Things to check on any AirPods deal:
- Model and generation. Make sure the listing names the exact model (for example AirPods Pro 3, not an older generation) and case type.
- Seller. On marketplace sites, check the item is sold by the store itself or an authorized seller.
- Return window. Best Buy gives 15 days on most products for standard customers and 60 days for My Best Buy Plus and Total members, according to Best Buy.
- Shipping. Walmart and Target list free shipping from $35, and My Best Buy is free and includes free standard shipping, at the time of writing.
Best Buy vs Walmart Apple Black Friday deals: how do they compare in 2026?
Best Buy and Walmart can price the same AirPods model close to each other on Black Friday, so the winner is decided on the day; what differs is each store's membership, rewards and price rules. According to each store at the time of writing:
| Best Buy | Walmart | |
|---|---|---|
| Free membership | My Best Buy, with free standard shipping | Free shipping on orders of $35 or more |
| Paid membership | Plus at $29.99 a year, Total at $199.99 a year | Walmart+ at $98 a year or $12.95 a month |
| Member rewards | Plus and Total earn 1% back in Best Buy rewards on eligible purchases, or 6% back in rewards with the My Best Buy Credit Card | Walmart+ members have had early access to select deals in past events |
| Returns | 15 days for most products, 60 days for Plus and Total members | Check Walmart's return policy for electronics |
| If the price drops | Read Best Buy's Price Match Guarantee before Thanksgiving week | Walmart.com does not price match, and stores do not match special event prices such as Black Friday |
How to choose. If the price is the same, Best Buy can suit you if you are a Plus or Total member (rewards plus the longer return window), and Walmart can suit you if you already pay for Walmart+. Either way, start on ShopBack before you pay: open Best Buy or Walmart on ShopBack US and tap through. For more on Best Buy, see how to save at Best Buy.
Best Buy, Walmart and Target Apple Black Friday deals in the US: each store's own program
Each store has its own program that lowers the price or adds value on AirPods, and ShopBack is the step you take before you pay at all three.
Best Buy. My Best Buy is free. Plus ($29.99 a year) and Total ($199.99 a year) members earn 1% back in Best Buy rewards on eligible purchases, according to Best Buy's 2026 holiday preview, and get a 60-day return window on most products.
Walmart. Walmart+ costs $98 a year or $12.95 a month and covers free shipping and delivery on eligible orders. Without it, shipping is free on orders of $35 or more.
Target. Target Circle is free. The Target Circle Card takes 5% off Target purchases at checkout, in store and online, and Target's Price Match Guarantee matches its own lower price within 14 days of purchase. Clearance prices are excluded, and Target coupons cannot be combined with a price match.
Then the ShopBack step. ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order. Open the store's page on ShopBack US (Best Buy, Walmart or Target), read the terms, tap through and pay in the same session.
Are refurbished AirPods a cheaper option?
Yes, sometimes: Apple Certified Refurbished products come with a one-year warranty and full functional testing, with savings of up to 15%, according to Apple. AirPods have their own section in Apple's refurbished store, but stock changes often and not every model is always listed.
Compare a refurbished price against the best new sale price before you buy. During Black Friday, a new pair at a retailer can cost less than a refurbished pair at Apple. Outside sale weeks, refurbished can be the cheaper route to a newer model.
Students: at the time of writing, Apple's US Education Store lists AirPods 5 from $129, the same as the regular store, so for AirPods a retailer sale price is often the bigger saving.
How ShopBack lowers what you pay for AirPods
ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order: start on ShopBack, then shop at the store as usual, and part of what you spend comes back as cash.
An illustrative example: on $249 AirPods Pro 3 at an illustrative 2%, about $5 comes back as cash, so the effective price is about $244. If the same pair is on sale for less during Black Friday, the cash comes back on the lower price you actually pay. The rate is only an example; check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page, because rates change, especially in November. Walmart works differently: ShopBack pays a fixed cash amount on eligible Walmart orders, so your effective price there is what you pay at checkout minus that amount; the live amount is on Walmart's ShopBack page.
Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. Best Buy rewards and Target Circle earnings are useful, but they can only be spent at that store.
To help the cash track, tap through from the store's ShopBack page right before checkout, avoid opening other coupon sites or extensions in between, and read the store's terms on ShopBack for excluded items. The full checklist is in how to activate cashback before buying, and cashback vs card rewards explains how the two differ.
Other US stores that sell Apple audio
Other US electronics stores on ShopBack US include Newegg, Kohl's and Macy's, alongside Best Buy, Walmart, Target and Apple. Ranges differ by store, so check that the exact AirPods model is listed before you compare prices.
Frequently asked questions
How much do AirPods cost at Apple?
According to Apple's US online store at the time of writing, AirPods 5 cost $129, AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case cost $149, AirPods Pro 3 cost $249 and AirPods Max 2 cost $549. These list prices are the benchmark to compare any sale price against.
When is the cheapest time to buy AirPods?
The Black Friday period is usually the cheapest time to buy AirPods in the US, because Best Buy, Walmart and Target tend to run their deepest electronics pricing then. Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27, and Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30. Prices can also dip during other big retail sale events through the year.
Does Apple discount AirPods on Black Friday?
Apple itself usually does not cut prices on Black Friday. In 2025, Apple ran a four-day Shopping Event from November 28 to December 1 that gave an Apple Gift Card with eligible purchases, up to $250 on some products, instead of a price cut, according to coverage by MacRumors and Macworld. Outright price cuts on AirPods are more often found at Best Buy, Walmart and Target.
Is Best Buy or Walmart cheaper for AirPods?
Neither is always cheaper. Best Buy and Walmart can price the same AirPods model close to each other during Black Friday, so compare the exact model on both sites on the day. Best Buy's My Best Buy Plus and Total members earn 1% back in Best Buy rewards on eligible purchases, while Walmart.com does not price match. Start on ShopBack before you pay at either.
Are refurbished AirPods worth it?
Apple Certified Refurbished products, which include AirPods, come with a one-year warranty and full functional testing, with savings of up to 15% according to Apple. Stock changes often, so check the AirPods section of Apple's refurbished store and compare against new sale prices before you buy.
Do students get a discount on AirPods?
At the time of writing, Apple's US Education Store lists AirPods 5 from $129, the same as the regular store price. Education offers change by season, so check the Education Store when you buy, but for AirPods a retailer sale price is often the bigger saving.
Does Target price match AirPods?
Target's Price Match Guarantee matches a lower price on an identical item at Target.com, in a Target store or through a Target Circle deal within 14 days of purchase, according to Target. Clearance prices are excluded. Target Circle Card holders also get 5% off at Target.
How does ShopBack lower the price of AirPods?
ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order. Start on ShopBack, then shop at the store as usual. On $249 AirPods Pro 3 at an illustrative 2%, about $5 comes back as cash, so the effective price is about $244. That rate is only an example; check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page. Walmart pays a fixed cash amount on eligible orders instead, so your effective price there is what you pay at checkout minus that amount; the live amount is on Walmart's ShopBack page.
Is cashback the same as store rewards points?
No. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. Best Buy rewards and Target Circle earnings can only be spent at that store.
Which AirPods are the best value?
It depends on what you need. At Apple's list prices, AirPods 5 at $129 are the lowest cost way into the range and include Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro 3 at $249 add stronger noise cancellation, hearing health features and heart rate sensing during workouts, and AirPods Max 2 at $549 are Apple's over-ear option. Buy the model you will actually use, then chase the lowest price on that model.
Key takeaways
- Apple's list prices at the time of writing: AirPods 5 $129, AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case $149, AirPods Pro 3 $249, AirPods Max 2 $549.
- Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27; Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30.
- Apple usually gives a gift card during its Black Friday event; outright AirPods price cuts are more often at Best Buy, Walmart and Target.
- Apple Certified Refurbished includes a one-year warranty and savings of up to 15%, according to Apple.
- Start on ShopBack US, then shop at the store as usual, so cash comes back on the same AirPods order.
Ready to buy? Open Best Buy, Walmart or Target on ShopBack US before you pay.
Related reads
- How to save at Best Buy
- Black Friday vs Prime Day vs Cyber Monday
- The US sale calendar
- How to activate cashback before buying
- Cashback vs card rewards
Disclaimer
The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Prices, membership fees, return windows, price match rules and sale events are set by each retailer and by Apple and can change at any time; figures above are taken from Apple, Best Buy, Walmart and Target publications at the time of writing. Cashback rates and exclusions are shown on each store's ShopBack US page and may change during sale events. Illustrative rates in examples are not current offers. AirPods and Apple are trademarks of Apple Inc.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.
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