What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects them on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £150 (~$200) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £128 (~$170) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £98 (~$130) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £68 (~$90) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £38 (~$50) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
An account lock is the single biggest one — a device still signed in to an iCloud, Google or Microsoft account cannot be reset and is effectively unusable. After that, battery health and undisclosed third-party repairs.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether AirPods is worth what is being asked:
- Noticeably shortened battery life, the usual failure
- A case that no longer charges both buds
- Missing ear tips on Pro models
- Counterfeit units, which buyers actively check serials for
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Recent generations, particularly Pro models
- Battery still delivering close to rated listening time
- Charging case included and pairing cleanly
- All original ear tips on Pro models
Common faults and fakes
Outright counterfeits are rare outside accessories, where fake chargers and cables are a genuine fire risk. The commoner problem is a device described as working that has a fault the seller knows about.
Ask the seller to factory reset and remove their account BEFORE you pay, and to send a photograph of the settings screen showing it signed out. Ask for the exact model identifier and, on anything with a battery, the battery health figure.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about AirPods, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Give a tested figure in hours. Original AirPods often degrade to well under two hours, and honesty here sets an accurate price rather than losing the sale later.
Counterfeits are widespread, so photograph the serial inside the case and invite the buyer to check it. WishThrift does not verify items, so your evidence is what the buyer has to go on.
Clean them properly and say so explicitly. It is the single most reassuring sentence you can put in an AirPods listing.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Check the serial number in Settings against Apple’s coverage tool
- Charge fully and time real listening on each bud
- Confirm the case charges both sides evenly
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- Both buds and the case together, open, clean and well lit
- The serial number printed inside the case lid
- The charging contacts and the mesh grilles close up
- Any scuffing on the case hinge, which is where AirPods cases wear
Details to confirm before you commit
- Exact generation, and whether they are standard AirPods or AirPods Pro
- Whether both buds and the charging case are all included and all original
- Realistic listening time per charge from an actual test
- Whether the case supports wireless charging, and which ear tips are included for Pro models
Live AirPods listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse electronics for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Fast movers when priced sensibly, with a strong lift before Christmas. Values step down each time Apple releases a new generation, so there is little benefit in waiting.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have AirPods sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell AirPods for what to photograph and how to price, or what AirPods are worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used AirPods?
Around £26 to £98 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check AirPods before buying?
Ask the seller to factory reset and remove their account BEFORE you pay, and to send a photograph of the settings screen showing it signed out. Ask for the exact model identifier and, on anything with a battery, the battery health figure.
Is buying AirPods second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. An account lock is the single biggest one — a device still signed in to an iCloud, Google or Microsoft account cannot be reset and is effectively unusable. After that, battery health and undisclosed third-party repairs.
See also: all buying guides · AirPods value guide · selling AirPods · Electronics · condition grades.