Buying new headphones isn’t a one-size (or sound) fits-all purchase. When testing headphones (be they on-ear and in-ear) with our team of experts at PC Labs and in real-world settings, we consider important aspects like fit, features, connectivity, sound quality, and even style. The last thing we want anyone to do is spend their hard-earned money on a set of headphones that don’t live up to their expectations. Even more so, we want to save you money on that purchase, and these deals below do just that!
What To Keep In Mind When Buying Earbuds
Like with any other electronic device purchase, there are a number of 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 in order to extend battery life? Would active noise cancelling and/or ambient noise help you stay focused? Are you an audiophile or do you mainly listen to podcasts? Keep these in mind while you browse the selection of sales below…
Best Earbud Deals
Best in-ear noise cancellation
Our audio expert, Tim Gideon, called the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds “the best in-ear noise cancellation money can buy” and gave it our prestigious Editors’ Choice award. They improve upon the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, another E.C. award winner we’ve reviewed, adding support for spatial audio, and AptX Adaptive codex for high quality streaming, and more for better sound quality and user experience. You can set your own custom audio settings or use the programmed presets, tailoring the earbuds to your own unique tastes. Those who are in the market for stellar audio quality and noise cancellation in order to boost their focus should look no further than these on-sale earbuds. This $50 discount is another enticing reason to buy.
Lightweight and comfortable, the second-generation Apple AirPods Pro includes four ear tips to customize your fit. They pair easily with all of your existing Apple devices, including the Apple TV, and allow up to 6 hours of listening time—33% more than the previous generation. The upgrade to an H2 chip adds additional options when utilizing the Active Noise Cancellation, which will be handy to those who find themselves in crowded or loud environments and want to block out outside noises to boost focus. They were named PCMag’s Editor’s Choice in our review, thanks to exceptional noise cancellation, excellent sound quality—and the addition of a USB-C port to the MagSafe charging case.
Best For Those With Samsung Phones
This one’s for the Android users. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro received an “Excellent” rating from our expert for excellent audio quality, comfortable fit, and above-average noise cancellation. Amazing sound and a comfortable fit make these a great choice for commuters who want to block out the usual travel noises, and the charging case gives you an extra 20 hours of battery life should you need to recharge. You can also use gestures to switch tracks, and play or pause audio so you don’t have to fish your phone out of your pocket or bag. Those with a Samsung phone will get the most value out of these earbuds, as they feature high-resolution playback and some AI-centric features via the Wear App that you can’t get on non-Samsung Android devices.
These highly-rated noise-cancelling earbuds offer strong audio performance without breaking the bank. Our reviewer praised the Anker Soundcore Space A40 for its battery life and quality of ANC for the price range, ultimately awarding them the Editors’ Choice award. With a water-resistant build, comfortable, customizable fit, and Soundcore app features, these earbuds will be your go-to for exercising, listening to music or podcasts, or just plain canceling out noises so you can focus. Prime members can save an additional $15.
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 headphone, though the latter has 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 noisy situations 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
Our expert reviewed the previous iteration of the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e, the similarly-named Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2, and rated it highly for its comfort and exceptional sound. The S2e improves upon this already great formula with even better sound quality and updated Bluetooth connectivity for an even better user experience. That being said, this $120 discount is a great reason to mull over these premium over-ear headphones and elevate your listening for less. They’re available in a number of colors, but the forest green is currently the most affordable.
Best WH-1000XM4 Alternative
Our expert praised the Momentum 4 for its excellent performance and effective noise cancellation, though found the in-app EQ to be a bit underwhelming. If you can look past that small fault (thanks in part to the sale price), Sennheiser is a brand known for its sound quality so you know you’re in good hands. A crystal clear mic and comfortable, lightweight build make the Momentum 4 all the more enticing for those looking to work long hours while wearing them.
Best Airpods Max Alternative
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 ship 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 noise cancellation performance is just average and that the EQ isn’t adjustable, so keep that in mind but today’s 43% price cut should help with that.
These Anker Soundcore Q20i over-ear headphones ring in at just $50 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 — especially at 43% off the retail price. The 20,000+ user reviews on Amazon with an overall rating of 4.6 speaks volumes on how much users enjoy the sound quality and comfortable fit.
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.
Why Do My Headphones/Earbuds Keep Breaking?
There are a few best practices for headphone care, including regular cleaning, heeding IP ratings, using a 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, comfortability, design, features, and, of course, sound quality. The same music, which is very 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. 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 details. Those who put audio quality above all else will appreciate the improved experience.
Does Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) Actually Work?
You’ve probably seen that term more often in recent years. Active Noise Cancelling utilizes your headphone’s built-in mics to capture environmental sounds 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.
What Is a Good Cheap Headphone Brand?
Your best bets for affordable earphone brands are Tribit, JVC, and JLab. Our experts favorably reviewed the Tribit FlyBuds 3, the JVC HA-A9T earbuds, and the JLab JBuds Mini.
Is $400 a lot for Headphones?
Many audiophile-quality headphones cost more than $1,000. Though not everyone can afford $400, this is where many of today’s best overall consumer headphones are priced. Prime examples include the Bose QuietComfort Ultra ($429) and Sony WH-1000XM5 ($399).
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, and some come with more bells and whistles 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.
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About Jade Chung-Lee
Merchandising Associate
