Apple's AirPods Max 2 cost $449.99 at Amazon as of November 10, in Midnight and Orange, which is $99.01 under the $549 that Apple charges in its own store. They lead a small group of noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds already selling for $30 to about $100 below their makers' prices, ahead of the Amazon sale that opens on November 19.
That timing is the real question. Amazon says its Black Friday Week runs November 19 to 30, with up to 50% off select Beats headphones and speakers. Early prices do not only go down, though. Bose's own store sale ended on November 8. By November 10, the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and both QuietComfort earbuds were back at full price on Bose's site.
Noise-cancelling headphone and earbud prices before Black Friday Week
All six are sold and shipped by Amazon. Several cuts apply to one colour only, so check the colour before you check out.
| Product | Amazon price | Maker's own price | Saving vs maker | Battery (maker figure) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirPods Max 2 (Midnight, Orange) | $449.99 | $549.00 at Apple | $99.01 | Up to 20 hours with ANC |
| Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), Black | $258.99 | $359.00 at Bose | $100.01 | Up to 24 hours with full noise cancelling |
| Beats Studio Pro (Black, Deep Brown) | $199.95 | $299.99 at Apple | $100.04 | Up to 24 hours with ANC, 40 without |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), Midnight Violet | $229.01 | $299.00 at Bose | $69.99 | Up to 6 hours, wireless charging case |
| Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro, Black | $219.99 | $249.99 at Samsung | $30.00 | Up to 6 hours with ANC, 26 with the case |
| Beats Studio Buds +, Black/Gold | $99.95 | $169.99 at Apple | $70.04 | Up to 36 hours in total with the case |
Prices were checked on November 10 and can change at any time.
AirPods Max 2 at $449.99 is the over-ear pick for iPhone owners
If you use an iPhone and want headphones that cover your ears, this is the pair to look at. The AirPods Max 2 run on Apple's H2 chip and, by Apple's figures, cancel up to 1.5 times more noise than the original model. They also play Lossless Audio over USB-C.
The trade-off is battery life. Apple rates them at up to 20 hours with noise cancellation on, the shortest of the over-ear pairs here. The same Midnight listing sold for $479 in late September, and the Orange version is also $449.99.
Bose QuietComfort and Beats Studio Pro headphones: $100 off, with conditions
The Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) cost $258.99 in Black, $100.01 under the $359 Bose now asks. That is the only colour with a discount at Amazon. White, Dewdrop Mint, Eucalyptus Green and the rest are back at $359.
There is a catch for anyone who shopped the Bose sale. Until November 8, Bose itself sold this model for $199 or $219, depending on colour, so the Black pair now costs $40 more than it did on November 8. Bose rates it at up to 24 hours with full noise cancelling on.
The Beats Studio Pro cost $199.95 in Black or Deep Brown, $100.04 under Apple's $299.99. This is not their cheapest price: the Black listing was $169.95 in September. You get up to 24 hours with noise cancelling on, 40 hours with it off, and USB-C audio, so you can listen while the headphones charge.
Beats Studio Buds + under $100 lead the earbud deals
The Beats Studio Buds + in Black/Gold are $99.95, $70.04 under Apple's $169.99 and $50 below the price Amazon charged for them in October. Only this colour gets the cut: the Transparent pair is still $149.95. Beats rates them at up to 36 hours in total, nine from the earbuds and 27 from the case.
Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) follow the single-colour pattern. Midnight Violet costs $229.01, $69.99 under Bose's $299, while the Black pair is still $299 at Amazon. Expect up to six hours per charge in Quiet or Aware mode, and the case charges wirelessly.
Galaxy phone owners should look at the Galaxy Buds4 Pro at $219.99 in Black. That is $30 under Samsung's $249.99 and $25 less than in October. Their 24-bit audio only works with a Galaxy phone, so on an iPhone or another Android phone you pay for a feature you cannot use. The White pair is still $249.99.
Should you buy noise-cancelling headphones now or wait for November 19
Amazon's holiday return window takes much of the risk out of buying early. Items bought from November 1 to December 31 can go back until January 31, 2027, and Apple-brand products, AirPods Max 2 included, until January 15. If a better price shows up during Black Friday Week, you still have time to act on it.
Sony's WH-1000XM6 and Apple's AirPods Pro 3 have not joined in, and neither is cheaper than it was in early October. Amazon has named Beats among the brands getting up to 50% off in Black Friday Week. That makes the Studio Pro, now 33% below its list price, the pair with the clearest reason to wait. For the AirPods Max 2 and the Black Bose QuietComfort, the price is already about $100 under what their makers charge, and Bose has just shown that its own sales end on schedule.
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