Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Apple AirPods (Pro), Samsung Galaxy Buds discounted ahead of Labor Day

On the hunt for some true wireless earbuds? Amazon has discounted the Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro, and the Samsung Galaxy Buds — and with pricing starting at only $118, there’s little chance of them dropping by a whole lot more when the Labor Day sales start next month.

Samsung Galaxy Buds

— $118, was $130

While the AirPods remain on top of (nearly) everyone’s list when it comes to true wireless earbuds, we think the Samsung Galaxy Buds are a much better value for your money. Not only are they cheaper than the standard AirPods but they also offer a more customizable fit, longer playtime, and sweat-resistance. The Galaxy Buds come with three sets of silicone eartips and sport fins of varying sizes. We’re pretty sure you’ll be able to find the perfect pair that would create the most secure and comfortable fit. Not only will these earbuds stay put in your ears no matter how much you move (the same cannot be said about the AirPods), they also significantly reduce the amount of ambient noise that you’ll hear. Despite not featuring active noise cancellation, you’ll still be able to enjoy your favorite tunes distraction-free even in busy places. To deliver the type of customizable sound experience that other true wireless earbuds typically don’t offer, Samsung collaborated with AKG. Using the app, you’d be able to choose different audio presets to suit your liking. While the Galaxy Bud’s sound signature certainly won’t compete with the likes of the Sennheiser Momentum and Master and Dynamic MW07, they do sound rather nice, clear, and well-balanced. Finally, the Galaxy Buds can last an hour longer than the standard AirPods, delivering a solid six hours per charge. For a pair of great-sounding true wireless earbuds that won’t hurt your wallet, get the Samsung Galaxy Buds for $118 instead of the usual $130 at Amazon.

Apple AirPods — from $135

AirPods 2 Charging Case

The second generation of the Apple AirPods comes with either the standard wired (which are cheaper) or a wireless charging case. If you don’t have a Qi wireless charging pad, we recommend skipping the latter model. Physically, the AirPods 2 resemble the original AirPods. They still look like EarPods with the wires cut off. They even sound exactly the same as their wired counterparts. What you’re really paying for is the total freedom from wires. We also noticed a few subtle improvements when we tested them. Voice-activated control using Siri wasn’t possible with the original AirPods. Now it is available, thanks to Apple’s new H1 chip, plus you’ll be able to enjoy lower gaming lag and “50% faster” connection for phone calls. Setup and controls remain ridiculously easy to do. If your iOS device’s Bluetooth is activated, it will automatically detect the AirPods once you take them out of their charging case. They also autopause the music when you remove one AirPod from your ear, and resume playing it when you put it back. Unfortunately, the AirPods still aren’t sweatproof. And while they are really comfortable and would make you forget that you’re wearing them (except when music is playing), they don’t provide a customizable fit or at least passive noise cancellation. For that you’ll have to take a look at the AirPods Pro. If you’re an avid Apple fanatic and don’t mind the lack of premium features in your true wireless earbuds, the AirPods are perfect for you. Get them with the standard wired charging case for $135 (down from $160) at Amazon and $169 (down from $199) for the model with a wireless charging case.

AirPods with Charging Case — $135, was $160:

AirPods with Wireless Charging Case — $169, was $199:

Apple AirPods Pro

— $235, was $249

For just a few dollars more than the AirPods 2, you’ll get a customizable fit, active noise-cancellation, better sound quality, and sweat-resistance with the AirPods Pro. These earbuds are extremely comfortable to wear even for a long time, thanks to three sets of soft silicone eartips. They don’t just offer a more secure and comfortable fit but also contribute to a better bass response. If you want to enjoy listening to music free of any distractions, you can turn on the AirPods Pro’s active noise canceling feature. It’s probably the best we’ve ever encountered on a pair of true wireless earbuds, and that’s really saying something considering these don’t surround your ears like over-ear headphones. The AirPods Pro sound quality is fantastic. You’ll be able to hear the most subtle of details in your music, perfectly complemented by a clear treble and rich, full-bodied bass. And with an IPX4 water-resistance rating, feel free to take these to the gym with you minus the worry. Just don’t forget to take them off once you hit the showers. The souped up AirPods are absolutely the best true wireless earbuds that you can get if you’re an iOS user.

Looking for more? Check out Deals Hub for more AirPods deals.

Editors' Recommendations

Timothy Taylor
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Timothy is a deals writer for Digital Trends that specializes in finding the best discounts on smartphones, wireless…
Save $50 on the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live true wireless earbuds
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, worn in an ear.

Samsung fans who are looking through headphone deals for discounts on wireless earbuds may want to check out Best Buy's offer for the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live. The true wireless earbuds with a unique design are down to just $100, for savings of $50 on their original price of $150. We're not sure how much time is left for you to take advantage of the bargain, but you need to assume that the clock is running out. Buy the wireless earbuds as soon as possible to get them for cheaper than usual.

Why you should buy the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live
The thing that stands out about the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live is that they don't have the stems that you can find in most of the best wireless earbuds. Instead of inserting them in your ear canal, which some find uncomfortable because of the silicon eartips, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live rest outside the canal and against the inside of your concha. It will feel weird at first, but you'll eventually get used to the feeling of wearing them. The wireless earbuds also have a touch-sensitive area for controlling playback, adjusting volume, and answering phone calls, and you can adjust the functions of the touch controls though the Galaxy Wear app on Samsung devices or the Galaxy Buds app on iOS.

Read more
Apple AirPods Max are $100 off in Amazon’s weekend flash sale
A woman wears Apple AirPods Max.

We don't often see excellent deals on Apple products, especially its higher-end stuff like the AirPods Max. That's exactly why we're so happy to see this deal from Amazon that discounts the AirPods Max down to $450 from $549, a whopping $100 discount we rarely see.

Why you should buy the Apple AirPods Max
There's a lot to say about the Apple AirPods Max, the least of which is that they have excellent audio thanks to Apple's H1 audio chip, which each cup has. Having so many chips on there means you get some fancy features, such as spatial audio and industry-leading ANC. As for audio fidelity, it's very clear, although not as punchy as something like the Sony WH-1000XM4, which isn't to say it isn't as deep; it has excellent bass, but it doesn't have the same mid-range boost as the XM4. As for the treble range, it's similarly clear and sparkly without being too tinny sounding, which makes it easier when listening to brass instruments, so it's great if you're into jazz or classical music. One thing to note is that you might get different listening experiences depending on whether ANC is on or off, but that seems to vary significantly by person.

Read more
Samsung Galaxy Buds deals: Save on Galaxy Buds 2, Galaxy Buds Live
samsung galaxy buds 2 pro review 12

If you're looking at headphone deals for wireless earbuds but you're not impressed with the offers for Apple's AirPods, you may want to check out the discounts involving the Samsung Galaxy Buds. There are several models available for Samsung's wireless earbuds, so to help you figure out what to purchase, we've gathered the top Samsung Galaxy Buds deals that are available right now. We're not sure how long these offers will remain online though, so you better hurry with your decision on which one to buy.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live -- $66, was $140

The most interesting feature of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live is its non-traditional design for wireless earbuds -- instead of sitting inside your ear canal with silicon eartips, they rest outside the canal and against the inside of your concha. They will take some getting used to, but once you do, you'll be enjoying wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation, compatibility with both Android and iOS devices, and a battery that can last up to 8 hours on a single charge and a total of up to 29 hours with their charging case, if ANC and the Bixby wake word are turned off.

Read more