Apple’s AirPods Pro are on sale for $199 today – Ars Technica

Today’s Dealmaster is headlined by the best price we’ve seen to date for Apple’s AirPods Pro, which are currently down to $199 at Amazon and Staples. While we’ve seen the noise-cancelling true wireless earphones hit this price briefly earlier this year, today’s deal is still $50 off Apple’s MSRP, about $35 off their typical street price online, and the first time we’ve seen them fall below $200 on Amazon.

We recently recommended the AirPods Pro in our guide to the best home office gear. In short, if you’re looking for a pair of totally wireless earphones and specifically want active noise cancellation, they’re still hard to beat a year after they launched. They have a largely neutral sound profile that represents a sizable upgrade over the base AirPods, even if they’re a bit light on bass. They’re remarkably simple to pair with other iOS devices, and they have few connection hiccups once they’re hooked up. Their noise-cancelling quality is a step below top-notch over-ear headphones like Sony’s WH-1000XM4, but it’s still more than strong enough for most people’s needs. An accompanying “transparency” mode is excellent at blending in outside noise with your music when you need it. Apple is now adding new features like automatic device switching and spatial audio support, too. And though we prefer the physical playback controls of a Jabra Elite 75t or Beats Powerbeats Pro, the AirPods Pro’s touch sensors are easier to use than those of the standard AirPods.

The AirPods Pro have their share of issues: their five-ish hours of battery life is mediocre, they don’t let you adjust volume from the earphones themselves, and they lose much of their intuitiveness when connected to an Android or Windows device. It’s also worth noting that Apple is holding a special event today, and while we don’t expect to see new AirPods Pro in the immediate future, upgraded base AirPods are expected to arrive early next year. Still, if you want a pair of noise-cancelling wireless earphones today, the AirPods Pro remain a good buy at this deal price.

If you don’t need a new pair of headphones, though, we also have deals on USB-C hubs, SSDs, the PlayStation-exclusive Ghost of Tsushima, and more. Have a look at our full roundup below.

Note: Ars Technica may earn compensation for sales from links on this post through affiliate programs.

Top 10 deals of the day

• Apple AirPods Pro true wireless noise-cancelling earphones for $199 at Amazon and Staples (normally $235).
• Ghost of Tsushima (PS4, used) for $39.99 at GameFly (normally $60).
• Aukey CB-C71 8-in-1 USB-C hub – 92W USB-C PD, 2x USB 3.0, USB 2.0, microSD, SD, HDMI (4K@30Hz), Ethernet for $29.63 at Amazon (clip 10% coupon and use code: ESDZE29P – normally $38).
• Crucial MX500 (1TB) 3D NAND SATA III internal SSD for $98.99 at Amazon (normally $110).
• Lenovo ThinkPad T490 laptop – 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-8265U, 14-inch 1080p, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD for $749 at Lenovo (use code: THINKDEAL – normally $1,050).
• TP-Link Kasa HS200 smart Wi-Fi light switch for $14.27 at Amazon (clip $2 coupon – normally $18).
• Amazon Fire TV Recast (500GB) over-the-air DVR for $149.99 at Amazon (normally $230).
• Wingspan board game for $47.95 at Amazon (normally $60).
• 27-inch Dell S2721QS monitor – 3840×2160, 60Hz, IPS for $339.99 at Dell (normally $450).
• Chernobyl (complete series) for $9.99 at Amazon and Apple iTunes (normally $20).

Laptop and desktop PC deals

• Apple MacBook Pro (2020) laptop – 1.4GHz Intel Core i5-8257U, 13.3-inch 2560×1600, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD for $1,599.99 at Amazon (discount seen at checkout – normally $1,700).
• Apple MacBook Air (2020) laptop – 1.1GHz Intel Core i5-1030NG7, 13.3-inch 2560×1600, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD for $1,199.99 at Amazon (normally $1,300).
• Lenovo ThinkPad T490 laptop – 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-8265U, 14-inch 1080p, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD for $749 at Lenovo (use code: THINKDEAL – normally $1,050).
• Dell G5 15 gaming laptop – Intel Core i7-10750H, 15.6-inch 1080p 144Hz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q for $1,252.63 at Dell (use code: SAVE17 – normally $1,550).
• 27-inch Dell S2721QS monitor – 3840×2160, 60Hz, IPS for $339.99 at Dell (normally $450).
• Crucial MX500 (500GB) 3D NAND SATA III internal SSD for $59.99 at Amazon (normally $67).
• Crucial MX500 (1TB) 3D NAND SATA III internal SSD for $98.99 at Amazon (normally $110).

Video game deals

• Super Mario Maker 2 (Switch) for $39.99 at Amazon (normally $60).
• Mario Tennis Aces (Switch) for $39.99 at Amazon (normally $50).
• Splatoon 2 (Switch) for $39.99 at Amazon (normally $50).
• The Wonderful 101: Remastered (Switch, PS4) for $29.99 at Amazon (normally $35).
• Persona 5 Royal (PS4) for $39.99 at Amazon and PlayStation Store (normally $45).
• Ghost of Tsushima (PS4, used) for $39.99 at GameFly (normally $60).
• The Last of Us Part II (PS4, used) for $29.99 at GameFly (normally $60).
• Final Fantasy VII Remake (PS4, used) for $29.99 at GameFly (normally $50).
• Doom Eternal (PS4, XB1, used) for $19.99 at GameFly (normally $40).
• Titanfall 2 (PC, digital) for $4.99 at Amazon (normally $15).
• Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (PS4) for $32.97 at GameStop (normally $45).
• Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Switch) for $49.94 at Amazon (normally $60).
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition (Switch) for $39.99 at Amazon (normally $48).
• Undertale (Switch, digital) for $9.99 at Nintendo eShop (normally $15).
• Catherine: Full Body (Switch) for $39.99 at Amazon (normally $50).
• 1-2 Switch (Switch, digital) for $34.99 at Amazon (normally $50).
• Ratchet and Clank (PS4, digital) for $9.99 at PlayStation Store (normally $15).
• Shadow of the Colossus (PS4, digital) for $9.99 at PlayStation Store (normally $15).
• The Last Guardian (PS4, digital) for $7.99 at PlayStation Store (normally $15).
• Pre-order: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (PS4, XB1) for $49.94 at Amazon (normally $60).
• Pre-order: Cyberpunk 2077 (PS4, XB1, PC) for $49.94 at Amazon (normally $60).

Gaming deals

• Nintendo Switch Pro Controller + Super Mario Odyssey (Switch, digital) for $99.99 at Walmart (normally $130).
• Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeed wireless gaming mouse for $44.99 at Amazon (normally $55).
• Wingspan board game for $47.95 at Amazon (normally $60).
• PowerA Protection Kit (Red Super Mario Bros. Checkerboard) case + screen protector for Nintendo Switch Lite for $14.97 at Amazon (normally $20).

TV and home entertainment deals

• 65-inch LG OLED CX (2020 model) 4K HDR OLED TV for $2,296.99 at Amazon (normally $2,500).
• Amazon Fire TV Recast (500GB) over-the-air DVR for $149.99 at Amazon (normally $230).
• Amazon Fire TV Cube 4K media streamer + smart speaker for $99.99 at Amazon (normally $120).
• Chernobyl (complete series) for $9.99 at Amazon and Apple iTunes (normally $20).

Electronics deals

• Apple AirPods Pro true wireless noise-cancelling earphones for $199 at Amazon and Staples (normally $235).
• Beats Solo Pro Bluetooth noise-cancelling on-ear headphones for $199.95 at Amazon (normally $260).
• Jabra Elite 75t true wireless earphones for $149.99 at Amazon (normally $170).
• Tribit StormBox Micro portable Bluetooth speaker for $39.99 at Amazon (clip $10 coupon – normally $50).
• TP-Link Kasa HS200 smart Wi-Fi light switch for $14.27 at Amazon (clip $2 coupon – normally $18).
• Eufy RoboVac 30 robot vacuum for $179.99 at Amazon (normally $230).

Accessories and miscellaneous deals

• Aukey CB-C71 8-in-1 USB-C hub – 92W USB-C PD, 2x USB 3.0, USB 2.0, microSD, SD, HDMI (4K@30Hz), Ethernet for $29.63 at Amazon (clip 10% coupon and use code: ESDZE29P – normally $38).
• Anker PowerExpand+ 7-in-1 USB-C hub – 85W USB-C PD, USB-C, 2x USB 3.0, microSD, SD, HDMI (4K@30Hz) for $26.99 at Amazon (clip 10% coupon – normally $38).
• Anker PowerPort PD 2 USB-C wall charger – 30W total, 18W USB-C PD, USB-A for $18.64 at Amazon (normally $22).
• Panasonic Eneloop battery charger pack + 4x rechargeable AA batteries for $15.87 at Amazon (normally $18).
• Brydge 10.5 Keyboard Bluetooth keyboard for Apple iPad Air (2019) for $64.99 at Amazon (normally $110).
• DJI Osmo Mobile 3 smartphone gimbal for $98 at Amazon and B&H (normally $118).
• Twelve South BookArc vertical desktop stand for Apple MacBooks for $50.99 at Amazon (normally $60).