How do I tell which AirPods generation a listing is?

Look for the generation or model identifier rather than the range name. Several generations stay on sale at once and the external design barely changes, so photographs will not tell you.

Is Apple refurbished worth considering?

Yes — full warranty and properly graded. On a product retailers discount this often it is not always cheapest, but it belongs in the comparison.

Are cheap AirPods on marketplaces real?

This is one of the most counterfeited consumer products there is. Check who the seller is, and treat a very large discount from an unknown seller as a reason to verify rather than to hurry.

Cheapest place to buy AirPods in the UK

The photographs are no help at all. The generation is everything.

Updated 26 September 2026 · 1 min read

Generations look identical and are priced very differently

Several generations remain on sale simultaneously, the external design changes little between them, and listings frequently lead with the range name rather than the generation. It is genuinely easy to buy an older pair at a small discount while the current one sits elsewhere for less.

The case is part of the product

Charging case differences between generations — the connector, whether it charges wirelessly, whether it has a speaker — are real differences that do not show in a photograph and do change the price.

Apple refurbished is a genuine option

Apple runs its own refurbished store with a full warranty. On a product this frequently discounted by retailers it is not always the cheapest route, but it belongs in the comparison rather than being ignored.

Before you buy

Identify the generation, not the range name.
Confirm which charging case is included.
Check Apple refurbished alongside the retailers.
On marketplaces, check the seller — this is a heavily counterfeited product.
Compare at the moment of buying; retailer discounting here is frequent.