Apple’s latest AirPods are already on sale for $99 before Prime Day

Amazon Prime Day kicks off tomorrow, July 8th, but you don’t have to wait until then to pick up Apple’s latest pair of AirPods at a discount. Right now, the AirPods 4 are available for around $99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, while the AirPods 4 with noise cancellation are going for around $149 ($30 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. That’s within $10 of the lowest price we’ve seen on the ANC model and matches the lowest price to date on the base pair.

Both versions of Apple’s current-gen earbuds feature shorter stems and larger buds than previous models, allowing them to accommodate a broader range of ear shapes. The open-style earbuds use a hard plastic body that doesn’t create a tight seal inside your ear, which means they sacrifice some bass response compared to gummy-tipped earbuds. Hardshell earbuds won’t create pressure in your ear, though, which can feel uncomfortable after listening to music for a few hours.

Overall, the fourth-gen AirPods sound better than previous models due to a custom amplifier and new acoustic architecture. Audio quality is somewhat subjective and largely depends on how the music was recorded, mixed, and mastered; however, former Verge staffer Chris Welch noted in his review that he was pleased with the sound of Apple’s latest pair of wireless earbuds. If you’re upgrading from an older pair, you’ll notice a difference.

The AirPods 4 run on Apple’s H2 chip, which is required for Voice Isolation, a feature that reduces background noise and amplifies the volume of your voice during calls. If you’re using an iPhone, you can say “Hey Siri” to evoke Apple’s smart assistant to place calls, hear and return messages, and play music. You can also locate the earbuds using the Find My app on Apple devices if they’re misplaced. 

The entry-level model can last up to five hours on a single charge and can be fully charged five times using the included USB-C charging case (the ANC model also offers wireless charging). Both pairs of earbuds are also IP54-rated for dust, sweat, and water resistance, ensuring you can wear them safely during workouts. Needless to say, the AirPods 4 are excellent earbuds at their current price, whether you opt for the model with active noise cancellation or not.

Three more deals worth your time

• Amazon’s latest Kindle Scribe is currently on sale at Amazon with 16GB of storage starting at $259.99 ($140 off), an all-time low. The 10.2-inch e-reader can last for weeks between charges, features a backlit display for reading in the dark, and supports Bluetooth for playing Audible audiobooks. The Scribe also doubles as a digital notebook and comes with a stylus that lets you mark up books and documents. You can create notebooks with handwritten notes, which you can then send to yourself or others via email. The Scribe’s more recent AI tools can summarize longer notebooks, too, or convert your handwriting into a more legible script or typed text.
• The Garmin Venu Sq 2 is down to an all-time low of $149.99 ($100 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Verge reviewer Victoria Song called it the best fitness watch for casual users, and a good choice if you’re moving away from a Fitbit. It features a 40mm OLED screen, a battery that can last up to 11 days, and doesn’t require a subscription unless you want AI insights. The smartwatch can track your steps, sleep, heart rate, blood oxygen level, hydration, respiratory rate, menstrual cycles, and other health metrics to help you track trends. A built-in free training program, called Garmin Coach, can even help you work up to a 5K, a 10K, or a marathon.
• You can get Samsung’s Q-Series HW-QS700F soundbar for $497.99 ($200 off) at Amazon, which is its second-best price to date. The 45.67-inch soundbar features five drivers: three are directed upward and two forward, along with a built-in 6-inch subwoofer, enabling it to produce Dolby Atmos surround sound. It comes with a 9.8-inch wireless subwoofer for even more bass, and it’s compatible with Q-Symphony, a feature that connects the HW-QS700F to speakers in a compatible Samsung TV to create a larger audio system. A built-in mic allows you to calibrate the soundbar based on the size and shape of your room, and a sensor will detect whether it’s lying flat or mounted on a wall to ensure the audio sounds correct.