Updated July 30: Need a personal audio solution that delivers rich, clear sound, deep bass, and modern noise cancellation to block out the world? It’s time to go headphone shopping. We’ve been monitoring all the top retailers for the deepest discounts on headphones and earbuds, and found sweet deals from top brands like Apple, JBL, and Sony.
When testing headphones (whether on-ear or in-ear) with our squad of experts, we take into account important aspects like fit, features, connectivity, sound quality, and style. Our testing regimen uses the same pieces of music every time to objectively compare frequency response and volume. We carefully evaluate every pair both in the lab and in real-world situations so we can make informed recommendations for our readers. Here are the deepest discounts we found this month.
What to Keep in Mind When Buying Earbuds
Like with any other hardware purchase, there are things to consider when buying wireless earbuds: Your budget, the brand, its compatibility with your other devices, and, of course, extra features. Ask yourself what’s important to you. Do you need a wireless charger to extend battery life? Would active noise cancelling and/or ambient noise help you stay focused? Are you a high-bitrate audiophile, or do you mainly listen to talk-focused podcasts? Keep these factors at the front of your mind while you browse these deals.
Best Earbud Deals
The most affordable in Apple’s in-ear headphone line has a nice 23% price drop at Amazon right now. In our review, we gave the AirPods 4 an “Excellent” rating, with tremendous audio quality, including impressive sub-bass response — a rare thing from open-ear headphones. They’re IP54 rated for water and dust resistance, and the USB-C charging case is compact and durable. The biggest difference between this model and the rest of the line is the lack of active noise cancellation, which is a cool feature but not absolutely necessary, especially when your budget is tight. For the price, you won’t find a better set of headphones for your iOS device.
One of the biggest cash discounts we have this month is a full $120 price drop on the Sennheiser Accentum earbuds, which we rated “Excellent” in our review. We considered these in-ear headphones a bargain at their retail price, with impressively rich and well-rounded sound, a robust companion app with adjustable EQ, and the ability to customize touch and gesture controls. Noise cancellation tested well, with best results against lower tones, and connectivity is strong, with Bluetooth 5.3 using the AAC, AptX, LC3, and SBC codecs, as well as multipoint pairing with two devices simultaneously. Battery life is also good, with 8 hours per charge and 20 hours of stored charge in the case.
If you need a pair of earbuds that can keep up with your rigorous exercise routine, we’re ready to pump you up with a big discount on JBL’s Endurance Peak 3s. We gave this model an Editors’ Choice award in our review, with raves for the completely waterproof design, ultra-secure fit, and powerful bass response that keep you in the groove throughout even the most epic cardio. The over-ear hooks help hold them in place without discomfort, and three pairs of silicone eartips let you customize the fit to your canal. The dynamic drivers pump out rich, balanced sound, and battery life tested at 10 hours per charge, with the case holding four full charges.
Better Sound Than AirPods Pro, but There’s More to Consider | All Things Mobile
More Wireless Earbud Deals That Sound Great
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
What to Keep in Mind When Buying Headphones
Headphones aren’t a one-size-fits-all type of purchase — there are so many other factors that go into choosing the perfect pair, including fit, features, and perhaps most importantly, sound quality. That’s where the PC Labs come in.
Over-ear options have significantly longer run times and are generally more comfortable for extended use than in-ear headphones, though the latter have the advantage of a rechargeable case. We also like to see headphones that have an app for tuning the EQ to your preference and making adjustments based on what you’re listening to.
If you listen mostly to music, headphones with a bass boost are nice to have. Active noise canceling is extra important in loud environments like a shared workspace, a public transit commute, or an airplane trip; a “transparency mode” is crucial for those who need to let the sounds of the outside world in for a brief conversation. On-ear headphones are also an easy way to tell others that you want to be left in peace with your music.
Recommended by Our Editors
Best Headphone Deals
Apple’s high-end headphones very rarely get significant discounts, so we wanted to pop this $120 Best Buy price drop on the AirPods Max to the top of the list. All five colors are priced the same, so you can coordinate with your outfit. In our 2020 review, we lauded the gorgeous audio performance with robust bass and clear, smooth highs, along with mega-comfortable fit and luxurious materials. Even though there’s a newer model on the market, the original AirPods Max remain a top choice for over-ear headphones. We were also impressed by its spatial audio and adaptive EQ, although we wish Apple would introduce additional user-adjustable equalizer settings.
Sony is one of the most trusted names in consumer audio, essentially innovating the portable format with the Walkman, and it continues to produce high-quality gear at reasonable prices. Amazon has the solid WH-CH720N over-ear headphones on sale for a whopping 51% off retail right now, and if you’re hunting for a versatile pair with good sound quality and battery life, give them a look. This is the lightest pair of noise-cancelling over-ears that Sony has ever produced, weighing in at just 6.7 ounces, so they feel great to wear all day. While we haven’t taken them into the lab yet, we did review their predecessors, the WH-CH710N headphones, and were impressed by their well-rounded sound and above-average active noise cancellation.
For a colorful alternative that packs a boom, the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 headphones are a great deal at 38% off. In our 2023 review, PCMag expert Tim Gideon declared that they deliver “brain-rattling levels of bass,” tuned to accentuate the low end in your favorite music (or podcasts). We also appreciated their robust companion app, which gives you granular EQ tuning and the ability to customize the on-ear controls. They’re a comfortable fit as well, ultra-important in over-ear headphones. Battery life is good, with between 50 and 60 hours per charge, depending on your volume level.
More Over-Ear Headphone That Sound Great
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
What Are the Best Wireless Earbuds?
Among our experts’ top-rated picks are the Apple Airpods Pro, the Sony WF-1000XM5, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. These are the market-leading in-ear, noise-cancelling earphones.
Why Do My Headphones/Earbuds Keep Breaking?
There are a few best practices for headphone care, including regular cleaning, heeding IP ratings, using the case, and avoiding high volumes for extended periods. Treat your headphones right, and they’ll last you a long time. Earbuds need love, too, and you can find helpful tips in our article.
How Do You Test Headphones/Earbuds?
Both headphones and earbuds are evaluated on fit, comfort, design, features, and, of course, sound quality. The same selection of songs, which is familiar to our reviewers, is played to measure the punchiness of the bass and the clarity of the vocals. You can read more information here.
What Are the Best Headphones?
That depends on your usage case and your budget. We have a few categories, including the best overall, best cheap headphones, and best for exercising. The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are names that top our reviewers’ charts. These options are great at cancelling noise and more faithfully reproducing the source material. The songs we play are ones our reviewers have listened to hundreds of times across dozens of different speakers and headphones, including high-end models, so we know exactly how they should sound and exactly what is being reproduced well or poorly.
Do Expensive Headsets Make a Difference?
Generally, more expensive headphones do a better job of reproducing the source sound exactly as it was passed to them. What makes high-end headphones pricier often involves the materials, accessories, codec support, ANC circuitry, and attention paid to detail. Those who put audio quality above all else will appreciate the improved experience.
Does Active Noise Canceling (ANC) Actually Work?
You’ve probably seen the term “ANC” more often in recent years. Active Noise Canceling utilizes your headphone’s built-in mics to capture environmental sounds (people, traffic, airplane engines) and then uses the audio processing circuitry to generate the inverse wave of those sounds in real time to cancel them out. The process only takes a split second, and it can be very effective, but not every pair of headphones is the same.
What Is a Good Cheap Headphone Brand?
Tribit, JVC, and JLab are your best bets for affordable earphone brands. Our experts favorably reviewed the Tribit FlyBuds 3, the JVC HA-A9T earbuds, and the JLab JBuds Mini. Also, don’t count out Anker Soundcore, which makes one of our favorites, the Liberty 4 Pro.
Is $400 Too Much for Headphones?
Many audiophile-quality headphones cost more than $1,000. Though not everyone can afford $400, many of today’s best consumer headphones are priced at this level. Prime examples include the Bose QuietComfort Ultra ($429) and Sony WH-1000XM5 ($399). The benefit of buying headphones above $500 falls prey to the law of diminishing returns unless you’re a true audiophile.
How Do We Test Headphones?
First and foremost, when we test headphones, we start with fit. Many headphones come with additional tips or earpads so that users can choose what is most comfortable for them. We also wear them for long periods to see how they feel over time. Then, we test features and connectivity. Not all headphones are made equally; some come with more nice-to-have features than others. If there’s a wired option in addition to wireless, we test that as well. And, of course, we test the sound. We sample a variety of musical genres in order to determine strengths and weaknesses.
Do AirPods and Premium Headphones Go on Sale During Prime Day or Black Friday?
They sure do! Black Friday and Prime Day are (pardon the pun) prime times to buy AirPods and other high-priced headphones. Retailers often offer the best discounts on products priced between $200 and $400, so you have a great chance to save some green.
When do Premium Headphones Like Beats, Samsung, and Sony Go on Sale?
Retailers like Amazon and Best Buy don’t need many reasons to offer sales. As noted, Black Friday and Prime Day are your best bets for the deepest discounts, but don’t ignore holidays like Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day, all of which are target dates for sales.
Where Can I Find the Cheapest Wireless Earbuds?
Low-cost earphones are often available from discount retailers. These include Amazon and Best Buy, but others like FYE, Fry’s, Target, and Walmart are better bets. That said, it’s best to stick to products from brands you recognize.
About Our Experts
K. Thor Jensen
Contributing Writer
Experience
K. Thor Jensen is a writer and cartoonist living in the Pacific Northwest. He has contributed to dozens of prestigious outlets, including PCMag, Tested, Clickhole, and Newsweek. His second graphic novel, Cloud Stories, was released in 2017.
Jade Chung-Lee
Merchandising Associate
Experience
When she isn’t perusing online stores for deals, Jade enjoys playing video games (mostly JRPGs and roguelikes), sorting board game components neatly into containers, and building Gundam models. Her love of electronics has persisted through her youth and has resulted in a collection of gaming peripherals including keyboards and controllers, scale figures, and art work. Jade lives in blissful harmony with her wife, cat, and two chinchillas—as well as a host of houseplants.
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