As a professional audio reviewer, I get my hands on a lot of earbuds. I test everything from $300 audiophile earbuds to $25 super-cheap models. But only one pair of earbuds has a permanent place on my roster.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2. Although they’ve been officially discontinued, they still perform like the premium buds they are. Right now, you can grab the AirPods Pro 2 for $139 at Walmart. This is one of the best early Black Friday deals I’ve seen thus far.
I’m wearing my AirPods Pro 2 as I type this, so you know they’re the real deal. Even though I test tons of the best earbuds and I’m always getting my hands on new audio tech, I can’t quit my AirPods Pro 2.
If that doesn’t speak for itself, I don’t know what will.
I love my AirPods Pro 2 so much that I use them instead of the new AirPods Pro 3. I have a pair of the 3 as well, but I still go for the 2 every single day. For me, the Pro 2 fit better than the Pro 3, so if you have smaller ears or narrower ear canals, you will likely be better off with the older model.
That brings me to age. Even though the AirPods Pro 2 are a couple of years old now and they’re officially discontinued, they’re still premium, market-leading earbuds. The sound quality rivals some of the best earbuds of 2025, like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds Gen 2.
As I said earlier, I have the AirPods Pro 3 and the Pro 2. For me, the sound quality difference is negligible, even when I’m listening with the best music streaming services like Qobuz. The Pro 2 have dynamic, punchy bass, and melodic, emotive treble, all layered over a nuanced yet balanced midrange. The instrument separation is near-unbeatable. 100% unbeatable at this discounted price point.
No earbuds with an $139 MSRP perform as well as the AirPods Pro 2. I’ve tested buds like the Skullcandy x Bose Method 360 ANC, which I loved considering the price point of $129, but they are nowhere near as good as the MSRP-$249 AirPods Pro 2.
