We wouldn’t dare joke around when it comes to headphones, because there’s a lot riding on your ears. We only want to recommend the absolute best hardware at the absolute best price. When testing headphones (whether they be on-ear or in-ear) with our team of experts, we consider important aspects like fit, features, connectivity, sound quality, and even style. We carefully and systematically evaluate each pair both in the lab and in real-world scenarios so we can make informed recommendations for all kinds of listener.
What to Keep in Mind When Buying Earbuds
Like with any other hardware purchase, there are several things to consider when buying wireless earbuds: Your budget, the brand, and its compatibility with your other devices, and, of course, the 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 front of mind while you browse the month’s best audio deals.
Best Earbud Deals
Best AirPods
Apple AirPods 4
$114.95
at Amazon
$129.00
Save $14.05
The most affordable in Apple’s in-ear headphone line has a nice 11% 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.
Apple AirPods Pro 3
$199.00
at Amazon
$249.00
Save $50.00
Two AirPods deals in one month? It’s more likely than you think! We feel that the AirPods Pro 3 are the absolute best earbuds on the market for iPhone users, giving them an Editors’ Choice award in our review. They stand above the pack thanks to superb sound quality, some of the best active noise cancellation you can get in an earbud, full waterproofing, and ultra-long battery life with a handy USB-C charging case. They’re also invaluable when paired with your phone’s Apple Intelligence features for futuristic stuff like real-time audio translation. Get them for $50 off while you can.
Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus
$59.00
at Amazon
$79.00
Save $20.00
We ranked the Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus the best noise-cancelling headphones under $100 and gave them an Editors’ Choice award in our review, noting that they delivered excellent audio quality with wide frequency response, support for the high-resolution LDAC Bluetooth codec, and both Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair. They also have a really unique design that catches the eye, if you want to make a fashion statement. Three sets of eartips let you find the perfect fit. A 25% discount makes them an even better value.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
$169.99
at Best Buy
$229.00
Save $59.01
Looking for an excellent pair of earbuds that play nice with Pixel phones and tablets? We gave an “Excellent” rating to the Pixel Buds Pro in our review, with praise not only for their solid audio quality and active noise cancellation, but also access to Gemini Live features for AI assistance. The Pro 2 earbuds are some of the smallest we’ve ever tested, at a 27% size reduction from the previous model. They come with four different sizes of silicone eartips as well. Battery life is solid, with 8 hours of listening with ANC enabled on a single charge.
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.
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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 work space, 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. And on that note, on-ear headphones are an easy way to tell others that you want to be left in peace with your music.
Recommended by Our Editors
Best Headphone Deals
Best AirPods Max Alternative
3.5
Good
What Our Ratings Mean
- 5.0 – Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 – Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 – Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 – Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 – Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 – Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 – Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 – Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 – Dismal: Don’t even think about buying this product
Read Our
Editorial Mission Statement
and
Testing Methodologies.
Beats Studio Pro Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones (Black)
$179.95
at Amazon
$349.99
Save $170.04
Beats is an Apple-owned company, so connectivity and functionality with iOS devices and a premium build quality are a given. Comfortable, with punchy bass and bright highs, these headphones support spatial audio with head tracking to personalize Dolby Atmos audio. The Beats Studio Pro ships with a 3.5mm aux cable for wired listening as well as a USB-C cable, which supports hi-res audio playback, all of which comes in a cloth zip-up case. Our expert reviewer noted that the Beat Studio Pro’s noise cancellation performance is just average and that the EQ isn’t adjustable, so keep that in mind if those are deal breakers for your purposes. These will serve Apple users well as a more affordable alternative to the AirPods Max, especially when on sale for 29% less.
Best Midrange Over-Ear
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones
$399.00
at Amazon
$449.00
Save $50.00
Bose has traditionally been one of the most tech-forward brands in the consumer audio space, and we were quite impressed by the QuietComfort Ultra over-ear headphones in our review, with contributor Christian de Looper saying “the company did a great job tuning the audio, which is deep and rich, while making small but meaningful tweaks to the design,” including a metal frame, multiple new colorways, and high-quality construction. The active noise cancellation is robust and capable, and they fit well. Battery life is also good, rated at 30 hours, and you can charge and listen at the same time with a USB-C connection. Amazon has a $50 discount.
Best Over-Ear Budget
Anker Soundcore Q20i Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
$44.99
at Amazon
$69.99
Save $25.00
These Anker Soundcore Q20i over-ear headphones ring in at just $40, and they’re available in black, blue, and white. Their sleek looks aside, they offer 40 hours of battery life, dual connections to two devices simultaneously, and a customizable EQ via the companion app. Those who don’t want to spend a lot of money on headphones, but don’t want to sacrifice comfort or sound quality, should give these a look. The 20,000+ user reviews on Amazon with an overall rating of 4.6 speak volumes about how much users enjoy the sound quality and comfortable fit, and you can enjoy a 36% discount right now.
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.
Read Full Bio
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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