Here are the best AirPods deals you can get right now
If you know where to look, you can often score discounts on Apple’s ever-expanding AirPods lineup. Both the newer AirPods Max and AirPods 4 (with and without ANC) now consistently receive discounts, as do the second-gen AirPods Pro with USB-C. Events like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday often bring the steepest discounts, though you can still find great deals throughout the year.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best deals currently available on each model, including both iterations of the AirPods 4, the second- and third-gen AirPods Pro, and the AirPods Max.
The best AirPods 4 deals
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
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At the end of last year, Apple introduced the AirPods 4, a pair of wireless earbuds available in two variations: a $129 standard model and a $179 noise-canceling model. Both versions represent significant upgrades over the third-gen AirPods, with a more comfortable design and improved audio performance. They’re also better for taking calls thanks to Apple’s Voice Isolation feature, which focuses the mics on your voice so you can be heard more clearly in noisy environments.
The $179 AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation offer a surprisingly effective noise-canceling mode, a helpful transparency mode, and several other Pro-level features. The latest AirPods Pro do a better job of tuning out noise, but the AirPods 4 with ANC still do a good job of reducing sound. They also feature other perks formerly reserved for Apple’s top-of-the-line earbuds, including wireless charging and a case with a built-in speaker that allows you to easily track it down via Apple’s Find My app.
Given they’ve been out for nearly a year, we consistently see discounts on both versions of the AirPods 4. Right now, for instance, the standard AirPods 4 are on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Staples for $117 ($12 off), which is $28 shy of their all-time low. The AirPods 4 with ANC, meanwhile, are currently available at Amazon and Walmart for $118.99 ($60 off), which matches their most recent Prime Day low.
Read our full AirPods 4 review.
The best AirPods Pro 3 deals
AirPods Pro 3
The third-gen AirPods Pro add a new built-in heart rate sensor and live translation feature. They also improve upon their predecessor with enhanced noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and a fifth swappable ear tip.
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At its recent “Awe Dropping” event, Apple introduced the AirPods Pro 3. In addition to improved ANC and sound, the third-gen earbuds include a built-in heart rate sensor that syncs with the iPhone Fitness app, allowing you to track your pulse and calories burned across more than 50 workout types. They’re also more comfortable and secure than their predecessor, thanks to a redesigned, angled fit and five ear tip sizes — including a new XXS option. Additionally, they carry a more robust IP57 rating and support Apple’s new live translation feature, which, in our testing, generally conveys the gist well but still can’t beat a human interpreter.
Given just how recently they launched, we have yet to encounter a sizable deal on the AirPods Pro 3 outside of a small $10 launch discount. That said, you can still pick them up at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart for their full retail price of around $249.
Read our full AirPods Pro 3 review.
The best AirPods Pro (second-gen) deals
Apple AirPods Pro (second-gen) with USB-C charging case
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If you’re looking to save, the second-gen AirPods Pro with USB-C remain a solid option and are still widely available despite no longer being part of Apple’s official lineup. Although they lack the heart rate sensor found on the newer AirPods Pro 3 — as well as the live translation feature and smaller XXS ear tips — they still deliver terrific noise cancellation and sound quality. They also include swipe-based controls, a USB-C charging case, and an IP54 rating for water and dust resistance. They even supports lossless audio when used with Apple’s Vision Pro headset and double as a pair of FDA-approved hearing aids.
Unlike Apple’s newest earbuds, the second-gen Pro are available at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for around $197 ($50 off), which is a far cry from their all-time low of $149 but still $50 cheaper than the AirPods Pro 3.
Read our AirPods Pro with USB-C impressions.
The best AirPods Max deals
Apple AirPods Max
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The AirPods Max aren’t the iconic in-ears that have become synonymous with the AirPods name. They’re large and luxurious, comprised of aluminum, steel, and mesh fabric that remains comfortable during extended listening sessions. They also sport excellent noise cancellation, Apple’s spatial audio feature, and expansive, balanced sound, even if they lag behind some of their peers when it comes to bass response and features. They’re not the best noise-canceling headphones for most people — blame the sticker price — but it’s hard to find a better pair of Bluetooth headphones if you’re an iPhone user.
Toward the end of last year, Apple replaced the first-gen Max with a new model that features support for USB-C charging and a few new color options. As of this writing, they’re on sale at Amazon and Walmart in select colors starting at $449.97 (about $100 off), which isn’t nearly as low as the $399 asking price we saw during Prime Day.
Read our original AirPods Max review.
Update, October 15th: Updated to reflect current pricing / availability and the fact that the AirPods Pro 3 have launched.
Google’s AI video generator is getting better editing and more audio
Google is making videos created with the AI filmmaking tool Flow even more realistic — and harder to identify as AI-generated at first glance. The company announced Wednesday that users can add in and change the shadows and lighting of their AI videos. The expanded editing features in Flow are tied to the Veo 3.1 update, also announced on Wednesday, which Google says does a better job of making a video based on the images submitted as a prompt.
Flow users will also be able to generate videos with audio using several of the tool’s new features. Users can make a video with audio based on three reference images that the company calls “Ingredients to Video.” Another feature, called “Frames to Video,” creates a video that bridges a starting image with an ending image, with accompanying audio. The “Scene Extension” feature lets you take the final second of a clip and add on additional generated video up to a minute in length, also with generated audio.
Veo 3.1 costs the same as Veo 3, is available as part of a “paid preview” through Gemini API to developers, and is enabled in the Gemini app.
According to Google, Flow users will soon be able to remove “anything” from a video — the tool will restructure the background and scene to make “it look as though the object was never there.”
The best iPad deals you can get right now
While the best iPad deals usually land during major sale events like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day, many great iPad deals are available outside of those times. The day-to-day discounts come and go like changing winds, so there’s often some amount to be saved, particularly on Apple’s most affordable iPad, the iPad Mini, and the latest iPad Air. As for the iPad Pro, Apple just introduced a new model with an M5 chip, which is available to preorder ahead of its October 22nd launch. If you don’t need the latest tech, however, now may be a good time to save on the M4 Pro as inventory dwindles.
All that being said, it’s difficult to know where exactly you can find the most notable iPad deals unless you’re scouring the major retailers on a daily basis. But that’s often what our deal hunters at The Verge are doing, so let us help you out. Below, we’ve listed the best deals you can get on each iPad model that is available, from the 11th-gen base iPad to the more powerful models with M3 and M4 chips.
The best iPad (2025) deals
Apple iPad (11th-gen)
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Apple’s 11th-gen iPad landed on the scene in March. The newest base model tablet is a fairly iterative update of the prior model, but with 128GB of base storage (as opposed to 64GB) and the A16 Bionic chip, which is nearly 30 percent faster than the A14 chip used in the 10th-gen iPad. However, the newer chip doesn’t support the various Apple Intelligence features introduced in iPadOS 18.1 and subsequent updates. For that, you’ll want to opt for a more recent iPad Air, iPad Mini, or iPad Pro model.
Pricing-wise, the latest iPad starts at $349 with Wi-Fi and 128GB of storage. You can also upgrade to 256GB or 512GB of storage for an additional $100 or $200, respectively, or purchase an LTE model starting at $499. We saw a pretty significant price drop to $279 during Amazon’s latest Prime Day event, though you can still find the entry-level model on sale at Amazon starting at $319 ($30 off). Alternatively, you can purchase the 256GB model at Amazon starting at $399 ($50 off), or the 512GB variant at Amazon and Walmart starting at $602 ($47 off).
The best iPad Mini (2024) deals
iPad Mini (2024)
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The seventh-gen iPad Mini is similar in several ways to the previous model, but comes with some big internal upgrades. It includes faster Wi-Fi and USB-C speeds, support for the Apple Pencil Pro, and a newer A17 Pro processor with 8GB of RAM to support Apple Intelligence. Otherwise, it boasts nearly identical specs and features as the last-gen model, meaning it has an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display and options for 5G. It may not be worth upgrading if you already own a sixth-gen Mini, but newcomers to the category will appreciate the upgrades.
The 2024 iPad Mini starts at $499 with 128GB of storage, which was the price for the previous generation’s 64GB model. Electing for 256GB of storage brings the price up to $599, and the cellular models start at $649. These are some big numbers for a small iPad, so the larger iPad Air might be worth considering if you prefer your dollar to go further with more screen real estate. But if you want an Apple tablet in the smallest possible form factor, this is where the action is.
Right now, the 128GB base model with Wi-Fi is modestly discounted at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo, dropping it to $489 ($10 off). We’ve seen this model drop to as low as $379 in the past, so if you’re working with a tighter budget, you may want to hold off for a more significant discount. That said, if you need additional storage, you can pick up the 256GB variant at Amazon and Walmart in select colors for $574.30 (about $25 off), or the 512GB model at Walmart starting at $762.28 (about $37 off).
The best iPad Air (2025) deals
11-inch iPad Air M3
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13-inch iPad Air M3
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The 2025 iPad Air is little more than a spec bump over the previous model, with a few technical upgrades that should allow it to last longer into the future than either the entry-level iPad or the last-gen Air. It features an M3 chip with support for Apple Intelligence, plus compatibility with Apple’s latest Magic Keyboard that has a larger trackpad and an extra row of function keys. In short, the Air is a credible laptop replacement.
The 11-inch model starts at $599 and the 13-inch variant $799 — the same price as prior models — but it’s common to see discounts from third-party retailers. Right now, for instance, the 11-inch Air is on sale at Amazon in its base configuration with Wi-Fi and 128GB of storage for $537 (about $62 off). You can also grab the 256GB model at Walmart starting at $642.25 (about $57 off), or the step-up 512GB model at Amazon and Walmart starting at $808.26 (about $91 off). We often see the iPad Air discounted as much as $150 off, though, so it may be worth checking back later for a larger discount.
The larger 13-inch model, meanwhile, is on sale at Amazon and Walmart with 128GB of storage starting at around $735 (about $64 off). You can also pick up the 256GB model at Amazon and Walmart starting at $829.56 (around $73 off), or the 512GB variant at Amazon starting at $999 ($50 off).
The best iPad Pro (2024) deals
11-inch iPad Pro (2024)
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13-inch iPad Pro (2024)
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The 2024 iPad Pro is a far more impressive upgrade than the latest iPad Air. The 11- and 13-inch models still start at $999 and $1,299, respectively, and they were the first Apple devices to feature the company’s M4 chip, which brought moderate performance gains and introduced dedicated hardware for on-device Apple Intelligence processing. The last-gen Pro models can claim other firsts, too, such as being the first iPad models with OLED displays and the lightest Pros available, which is still true of both sizes. They also feature repositioned front-facing cameras that sit along the horizontal edge (also found in the 11th-gen iPad), which prevent you from looking as though you’re staring off into space on a video call.
As for deals, the base 11-inch iPad Pro with 256GB of storage is currently on sale at B&H Photo and Walmart starting at around $899 (about $100 off), while the model with Wi-Fi and 512GB of storage is on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and B&H Photo for around $1,098 (about $100 off). The sleek and super-thin 13-inch model, meanwhile, is on sale in its 256GB base configuration at Amazon for $1,187.99 ($112 off) or in its 512GB configuration at Amazon for $1,349.99 ($150 off). B&H Photo also has the 1TB model for $1,699 ($200 off) if you’re looking for more storage to hold your apps, photos, and videos.
While there are some enticing deals on the iPad Pro with the M4 chip, it’s worth noting that the current model is more than a year old. That means if you want the latest tech, you may want to consider springing for the iPad Pro with an M5 chip. Of course, since the upgraded model is brand new, we’re not expecting any notable deals anytime soon. However, that could change once Black Friday and Cyber Monday roll around in November.
Update, October 15th: Updated to reflect current pricing / availability and note that Apple has introduced a new version of the iPad Pro with an M5 chip.
The MLB app’s best feature is a 30-second delay
When my household quit cable four years ago and I lost access to Seattle Mariners games on TV, I started streaming the radio broadcast on the Google Home speaker in my kitchen. Honestly? Baseball on the radio rules. You get to walk around and do stuff to the pleasant background sounds of the crowd. Sometimes you hear the crack of Cal Raleigh's bat hammering the ball into the stands one or 60 times. There's just one problem: spoilers.
I use the MLB app for live scores, which is especially handy to complement an audio-only game. I don't have to wait for the announcer to get around to repeating how many outs there are; I can just glance at my …
Here’s where you can preorder the new M5 MacBook Pro and iPad Pro
Apple recently announced revised 14-inch MacBook Pro and iPad Pro models, each equipped with the new M5 processor. As expected, Apple's new M5 chip is supposedly faster than the M4, with better performance for graphically demanding applications. Apple also says the M5 is significantly better at handling AI-based tasks because its 10-core GPU has a neural accelerator embedded in each core.
In terms of pricing, the new 14-inch laptop starts at $1,599, while the base 11-inch and 13-inch tablets start at $999 and $1,299, respectively. All three devices are slated to launch on Wednesday, October 22nd, but you can preorder them starting today fro …
The iPad just got the chip it needs to be a smart home controller — again
Apple’s new M5-powered iPad Pro is the first iPad to officially support the Thread smart home protocol. It comes with Apple’s new N1 wireless networking chip, which adds Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread — the three wireless protocols the Matter smart home standard runs on.
While other iPads and Macs reportedly have Thread radios, this is the first model launching with the protocol publicly listed in the specs, and it could lay the groundwork for the iPad to be a Home hub — again.
So, what does this mean? Well, not much right away. Just as the answer to why Apple added Thread to iPhones starting with the iPhone 15 Pro wasn’t immediately clear, the company also hasn’t said why it’s on the new iPad.
The most likely scenario is that, as eventually emerged with Thread-enabled iPhones, you’ll be able to use the iPad Pro to set up a Thread smart home device in your home, even if you don’t have a Thread border router.
This makes adding a Thread device — like a smart light, lock, or plug — easier as you won’t need to go buy an extra product just to use the one you bought. (Although some functionality may be limited until you get a border router.)
Apple could be considering bringing the iPad back into the Home hub fold
The iPad wouldn’t work as a Thread border router, as they need to be mains-powered devices, but having a Thread radio in a mobile device does allow for direct control of Thread gadgets, improving reliability and speed. And, if you already have a Thread border router but the power goes out, your iPad can step in to talk to battery-powered Thread devices such as smart locks.
Apple has been using Thread in Apple Home for several years now, since the launch of the HomePod Mini in 2020. The protocol offers several benefits in the smart home, including reduced latency, lower power use, and more reliable local control. While there aren’t many Thread devices available yet, the number is growing.
The less likely — but more intriguing — possibility is that Apple could be considering bringing the iPad back into the Home hub fold.
For years, any iPad could serve as an Apple Home hub, running automations and enabling remote control away from home. But when Apple introduced its new Home Architecture in 2022 as part of its transition to Matter, the iPad was eventually deprecated as a hub. While you can still control devices and create automations on an iPad with the Home app, you now need a separate hub, such as an Apple TV or HomePod Mini, for those more advanced features.
While we’re all waiting for Apple’s long-rumored HomePod smart display to arrive, bringing back the iPad as a Home hub would be a welcome move. However, Thread-enabled Home hub capabilities would be more useful on lower-cost models or more compact ones, such as the iPad Mini — using a $1,000 M5 iPad Pro to run your smart home feels like overkill.
Another reason I’m intrigued to see the N1 arrive in the iPad Pro is that it feels like a safe bet that we’ll see it again soon in future products, such as the rumored new Apple TV and HomePod Mini 2. Alongside upgraded processors, the N1 addition could give both those devices a big boost as smart home hubs by improving speed, responsiveness, and reliability.
Amazon’s new name for the Fire TV Stick 4K only adds more confusion
Following the debut of Amazon’s $39.99 Fire TV Stick 4K Select, the company told The Verge that a name change was coming to the existing “Fire TV Stick 4K” to clarify where it sat in the lineup. Now, Amazon has introduced that new branding, relaunching the product as the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus.
Sure, the original name was confusing (is 4K better or worse than 4K Select?), but a mere name change in a lineup of four identical gadgets isn’t enough. It assumes you’re willing to do the mental gymnastics of recalling where other “Plus” products sit in their respective lineups, and what that might mean for this device’s capabilities. It doesn’t solve Amazon’s biggest problem, which is that it still sells three 4K-ready sticks within $10 of each other. Without a legible strategy, it probably shouldn’t have introduced the 4K Select in the first place.
The differences between Amazon’s 4K-ready Fire TV Sticks are small. The 4K Select includes half the RAM of the 4K Plus and the 4K Max, meaning it’ll almost certainly be slower to navigate between menus and jump into apps. I haven’t tested it out, but I don’t think there’s a good reason to buy it currently, or ever, especially during the many times that the pricier 4K models are discounted throughout the year. Right now, you can buy the superior 4K Max for $34.99 with a coupon code.
It should go without saying that there is absolutely no reason for any current or previous Fire TV Stick 4K owners to get this new one, as packaging aside, nothing else has changed.
‘New media’ is just right-wing media
Hello and welcome to a post-October Federal Holiday edition of Regulator.
Last week, I caught wind that House Speaker Mike Johnson, along with several top House Republican leaders, had held an exclusive press briefing about the government shutdown that was restricted to "new media." The contents of the meeting were published as a "scoop" by the Washington Reporter - a Congress-focused publication founded by several GOP operatives that'd been established as a Punchbowl for conservatives - which described the call as "set[ting] the record straight" and "the latest way that House Republicans are taking their messaging directly to the American …
I just reviewed the Xbox Ally, ask me anything
Hey! I'm Sean Hollister, and I've been The Verge's unofficial handheld gaming PC reviewer since 2022, when the Steam Deck and kin took over my life. (I also helped launch this website back in the day!) And I've just spent the past week reviewing the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, Microsoft's very first "Xbox" handhelds that are built and co-developed by Asus.
We're doing a neat new thing where we let paying subscribers ask us anything about the hottest new gadgets, stories, and events - and I wasn't about to let my colleague Jen have all the fun!
So I'll be hosting my own subscriber-only AMA right here, and I'll show up on launch day tomorro …
Senate Democrats want to know: was YouTube’s Trump settlement a bribe?
A group of Democratic lawmakers are asking questions about YouTube’s $24.5 million settlement with President Donald Trump.
In a letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, five Senators — Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) — asked for details about any settlement talks between those companies and the Trump administration. They’re interested in whether Google secured favorable treatment as a result of the payout, including leniency in multiple ongoing antitrust lawsuits, something they warn could constitute an illegal bribe.
The deal between Trump and YouTube settles a lawsuit Trump filed in 2021 after he was suspended from the platform. It’s raised eyebrows thanks to the weak legal rationale (courts have all but unanimously declared social media companies can ban users) and the fact that YouTube’s parent company would benefit greatly from winning Trump’s favor.
Google is entangled in multiple antitrust suits
Google recently appeared in court to determine how a judge should neutralize its monopoly in the ad tech sector — with the Department of Justice arguing for a dramatic breakup. The government could still choose to settle that case with far less drastic remedies. Google is also entangled in a search antitrust suit, where a judge proposed milder remedies than the preceding Biden administration asked for, and the Trump administration will be in charge of deciding how hard to push an appeal.
“The public deserves to know whether YouTube’s settlement will influence the Trump Justice Department’s decision regarding whether to appeal and seek the stricter remedies DOJ had originally sought against Google,” the letter says. If YouTube settled a “legally dubious lawsuit” to avoid those remedies, “the company and its executives may have run afoul of the law,” it says, citing the federal anti-bribery statute as well as California’s Unfair Competition Law.
The vast majority — $22 million — of YouTube’s payment was earmarked to support the construction of a new White House ballroom. Trump is reportedly scheduled to hold a fundraising dinner for the ballroom later today, according to CBS News.
Several of the senators previously wrote to Google and YouTube in August, before the settlement was announced, warning them against paying for favorable treatment. As noted in this latest letter, the companies responded saying they’d had “no discussion tying any potential settlement of the case to any official action or to any pending or potential future matters involving Alphabet or any of its affiliates, and there will be no such discussions.” The lawmakers are pushing to determine whether this was the truth.
YouTube isn’t the only company that has settled a spurious Trump lawsuit. The president extracted $16 million from Paramount as it sought merger approval from the government, and Xand Meta respectively paid “about $10 million” and $25 million to settle suits similar to the YouTube ones. Earlier this year, Warren said that the Meta settlement “looks like a bribe.”