In a strange turn of events, AirPods Pro are currently more affordable in Canada.

      Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

      If you haven't been living under a rock, you've likely seen the headlines regarding the new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China into the U.S. — along with the retaliatory tariffs these countries have placed on U.S. goods. It is anticipated that these tariffs will increase the prices of certain products, no matter your location. In an unexpected turn of events, however, one particularly sought-after Apple product is actually less expensive in Canada than in the U.S.: the AirPods Pro 2.

      In the U.S., Apple retails the AirPods Pro 2 for $249, while in Canada, they cost $329 CAD. A brief examination of current currency exchange rates reveals that even though the Canadian price is higher numerically, it is, in fact, the cheaper option. According to RBC Bank's currency converter, you can acquire $329 CAD for just $236 USD if you have U.S. dollars on hand, resulting in a savings of $13.

      While that isn't a huge difference, it could potentially increase over time given the current economic climate.

      As a product manufactured in China, Apple’s flagship wireless earbuds fall under the U.S. 10% tariff on imports from that country. So far, Apple has maintained its price for the noise-canceling earbuds at $249 on its website. The company might decide to increase the price later to account for the tariff, or it could choose to absorb the costs and retain the current price — time will tell.

      Canada has no plans for tariffs on Chinese imports, meaning Apple won’t face any pressure to raise prices in Canada due to tariffs. However, the Canadian dollar has been declining against the U.S. dollar for several months, and the ongoing trade conflict between the two nations could further weaken Canada’s currency.

      Should Apple be compelled to increase prices in the U.S. as a result of tariffs, coupled with a further decline in the Canadian dollar, the price disparity between Apple products in these two countries could grow larger.

      If that occurs, consider it a temporary advantage. The price for the AirPods Pro 2 in Canadian dollars reflects a 32% markup over the U.S. price. Yet, Apple’s latest devices, such as the AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation, the 2025 iPad Air, and the 2025 M4 MacBook Air, show even greater price increases in Canada, ranging from 38% on the AirPods 4 ($129 USD/$179 CAD) to 45% on the iPad Air ($549 USD/$799 CAD). Clearly, Apple is closely monitoring the currency situation and adjusting the prices of its new products accordingly.

      Simon Cohen is a contributing editor for Digital Trends' Audio/Video section, where he focuses on the latest wireless technology.

      Bose has introduced a new pair of noise-canceling wireless earbuds to its offerings, surprisingly priced at $179. Known simply as the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, they are designed for users seeking everyday earbuds that deliver excellent sound and noise cancellation. The new model will be available in three colors (black, white, and lilac) starting from September 18.

      Traditionally, Bose's QuietComfort line of noise-canceling wireless earbuds has been priced higher than similar products from Apple, Sony, and Sennheiser. This new pricing represents a significant shift for the company and is a welcome update for Bose enthusiasts.

      In official news, Apple has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its AirPods Pro 2 wireless earbuds as over-the-counter hearing aids. This transformation of the personal audio devices into legitimate hearing aids could significantly influence the burgeoning market for such products and people's willingness to use them. At the iPhone 16 launch event in September, Apple announced that several new hearing health features would be added to its flagship wireless earbuds later this fall.

      Apple's first wireless headphones, the AirPods Max, debuted amid high expectations in 2020 at a price of $549, which stirred discussions due to their cost and design. Despite their price and some unusual design choices (such as the absence of an off switch), reviewers generally praised the Max for its prominent features, including active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency mode.

      There is definitely room for improvement, though. Initially, there were hopes that the AirPods Max 2 would arrive in the fall of 2023. When that didn't happen, attention shifted to Apple’s iPhone 16 event on September 9, 2024, which introduced significant updates for the AirPods line: new AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC, as well as plans to enhance the AirPods Pro 2 with new hearing health and hearing aid functionalities. However, the announcement regarding AirPods Max was somewhat underwhelming, as their only updates included a new USB-C charging port and additional color options, leaving the flagship headphones