I used to work at Apple's Genius Bar, and I'm begging you to buy the right AirPods this Black Friday so my ex-colleagues don't have to clean the gunk from your ear

Date:
Fri, 28 Nov 2025 17:23:51 +0000

Description:
Make sure to buy the right AirPods this Black Friday. Trust me, I used to
work at Apple's Genius Bar.

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AirPods Black Friday deals are a staple of this time of year, and this year's AirPods Pro 2 offer ranks among the best Black Friday deals of the whole shopping event. There are discounts on other models too, but the AirPods Pro
2 at Amazon for $139.99 (was $239) is a clear stand-out, saving you nearly $100 on Apple's best earbuds.

But anyone can look at prices and tell you something's a good discount. You need the inside scoop. Before I was a full-time journalist, I worked at Apple's Genius Bar.

Over the years, I spent many days saving AirPods of all shapes and sizes from ear wax clog purgatory, and now I'm happy to share my knowledge to help you avoid gross, clogged-up speaker grills, sound issues, and the embarrassment
of asking a stranger to correct your personal hygiene. Today's best AirPods deals in the US Amazon : AirPods Max for $399 Best Buy : AirPods Pro 2 for $169 Target : Usually matches low prices Walmart : AirPods Pro 2 for $154

This is the cheapest that these buds have ever been. They sound excellent,
the noise cancellation is top tier, Dolby Atmos spatial audio is amazing for movies, and they even have an unloseable case, thanks to tech that literally points you to where it's hiding (and a speaker to help, too). The best bit about AirPods Pro 2, is that the silicone tips prevent the disgusting ear wax build-up that has haunted my nightmares for the last decade. I'd always recommend these over regular AirPods, as they are less likely to clog up, and so are less likely to suffer audio issues. View Deal

I suspect Apple's AirPods 4 will be a hot item at this year's Black Friday sale, and you can already grab a first-time discount at Amazon. The AirPods 4 feature a new design for all-day comfort, and pack Apple's H2 chip, which supports Personalized Spatial Audio and voice isolation. You're also getting
a redesigned case with 30 hours of battery life and support for USB-C for wireless charging. These are the version without active noise cancellation (and some other extra features). I would opt for AirPods Pro instead, but as long as you clean these regularly, you should be alright. View Deal

If you want Apple's open-ear fit (without the in-ear tip) but with active noise cancellation to make it easier to hear your music, these are the buds for you. They also have spatial audio, Find My in the case (including a speaker), and wireless charging. They sound very fun, too, with a full sound. This is the first discount we've seen on them, basically. We'd suggest most people should pay the little extra for the AirPods Pro, but if you don't like that kind of in-ear fit, these will work nicely. View Deal Today's best AirPods deals in the UK Amazon : AirPods Pro 2 for 179 Argos : Low prices click & collect Currys : AirPods 3rd Gen for 99 John Lewis : AirPods Pro 2 with 3 months Apple Music

This is a return to the lowest price we've ever seen AirPods Pro 2 for in the UK. These are the best-selling earbuds on the planet, thanks to their superb sound quality, top-tier noise cancellation, excellent spatial audio, auto-switching between different Apple devices, gesture control, and more.

Also at: Amazon for 169 View Deal

These are very new, so any discount on them is good though I'm hoping we'll see another 10 dropped from the price later in Black Friday. The AirPods 4 feature a new design for all-day comfort, and pack Apple's H2 chip, which supports Personalized Spatial Audio and voice isolation. You're also getting
a redesigned case with 30 hours of battery life and supports USB-C for wireless charging. This version doesn't include noise cancellation, wireless charging, or the Find My speaker in the case. View Deal

If you want Apple's open-ear design that doesn't go right into your ear canals, but you still want active noise cancellation to make it easier to
hear your music, these are the buds for you. They also have spatial audio, Find My in the case (including a speaker), and wireless charging. They sound very fun, too, with a full sound. View Deal

When I reminisce about my time working at the Apple Store, there are plenty
of fond memories. From fixing iPhones and restoring precious photos to saving someone's iPad from the edge of oblivion, I've seen it all, and I've fixed most of the issues I faced. Looking back, no product gives me more angst and stress than Apple's little white earbuds.

You may think I'm overreacting, but quite honestly, you wouldn't believe the things I've seen stuck in AirPods speaker grills, from dried ear wax (understandable) to bits from someone's dinner the week before (no idea). That's why I recommend AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Max to you the products least likely to leave you needing to make this fateful visit. I've lived it all, I survived to tell this tale and point you in the right direction.

If you're thinking about one of the Black Friday AirPods deals, then I beg
you not only to buy the right pair but also to keep in mind that any earbuds should get a good clean regularly. Here's how to clean your AirPods .

Looking for more Black Friday deals? Check out our Black Friday earbuds
deals or our Black Friday headphones deals . More of today's Black Friday sales, US Amazon: TVs, smart home & air fryers from $12.99 Apple: AirPods, iPads, MacBooks from $89.99 Best Buy: $1,000 off 4K TVs, laptops & headphones B&H: $600 off Nikon, GoPro, Canon & Sony Dell: best-selling Inspiron & XPS laptops from $279.99 Dreamcloud: mattress deals from $349 + free shipping Holiday: decor, lights, Christmas trees & PJs from $10.99 Home Depot: 40% off tools, appliances & furniture Lowe's: holiday decor, appliances & tools from $17.31 Saatva: up to $600 off luxury mattresses Samsung: $2,500+ off TVs, phones, watches & appliances Target: save on furniture, Christmas decor, tech & clothing Walmart: cheap TVs, robot vacs, AirPods & appliances Wayfair: 70% off furniture, decor & Christmas More of today's Black Friday sales, UK Amazon: up to 58% off Kindle and Echo AO : savings on games consoles and appliances Argos: up to 50% off toys, Lego, TVs and gifts Boots : up to 60% off Dyson, Oral-B and Philips Carphone Warehouse : iPhone from 19.99p/m Currys: deals on TVs, appliances, laptops Dell: laptops, desktops, monitors from 299 Dunelm : deals on homewares and appliances Dyson : up to 150 off
Ebay : up to 50% off refurbished tech EE Store: 40 off the PlayStation5 Pro Emma : up to 50% off mattresses Jessops : up to 900 off cameras and drones John Lewis: up to 300 off appliances and TVs LG: 1,000 or more off TVs and appliances Ninja : up to 70 off air fryers Samsung : up to 600 off TVs,
phones and tablets Shark : up to 100 off vacuums Toolstation : discounts on tools and smart home Very: up to 30% off phones, appliances & clothing



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/earbuds-airpods/i-used-to-work-at-apples-geniu s-bar-and-im-begging-you-to-buy-the-right-airpods-this-black-friday-so-my-ex-c olleagues-dont-have-to-clean-the-gunk-from-your-ear


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