Walmart keeps AirPods Max 2 at $399 after Amazon sells out
The Verge reports Apple’s flagship headphones remain $150 off at Walmart during Prime Day, with Amazon’s matching deal sold out.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
Apple’s AirPods Max 2 are selling for $399 at Walmart during Prime Day after Amazon sold out of the same discount, The Verge reported. The sale cuts $150 from the headphones’ listed $549 price, making Walmart the remaining retailer named by The Verge with that price.
The deal may not last long, according to The Verge, because Amazon’s offer has ended in a sellout and Walmart has already run out of one of the five available colors. The report did not specify which color was unavailable.
The AirPods Max 2 are Apple’s latest over-ear headphones, and The Verge described them as a sequel that keeps the original model’s overall look while improving sound and internal components. The publication said Apple’s noise cancellation now competes with top options from Sony and Bose.
What buyers get at the sale price
According to The Verge, the AirPods Max 2 include Apple’s H2 chip, which supports newer software features such as live translation. The headphones also offer adaptive audio and conversation awareness, the publication reported.
The Verge said the headphones deliver high-quality audio without bass that overwhelms the mix, while still making low tones audible. It also pointed to the model’s styling and color choices as part of its appeal.
The $399 price is lower than other prices shown in The Verge’s retail listings for the same product. The publication listed the AirPods Max 2 at $479 at Best Buy and $549 at Amazon and Target in its product card, while separately reporting that Amazon’s Prime Day deal had sold out.
Tradeoffs remain
The discount does not remove the main drawbacks cited by The Verge. Even at $399, the AirPods Max 2 remain costly compared with rival headphones, some of which are also discounted during Prime Day, according to the publication.
The Verge also flagged the AirPods Max 2’s weight and clamping force as possible comfort issues. It said the heavier build can lead to fatigue for some users.
Other complaints listed by The Verge include the absence of a proper power button and a case design that does not fully protect the headphones. The publication described the included case as unusual compared with conventional headphone cases.
The Verge noted that earlier AirPods Max models, including Lightning and USB-C versions, have received strong discounts at times. It said those discounts were not consistently as low as the current Walmart price for the AirPods Max 2.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.