Find a great deal on headphones from Apple, Bose and Skullcandy
Headphones are must-have devices in today’s world. A good pair of headphones or earbuds helps you enjoy music wherever you go, from home to school to work and on every mode of transportation in between. With active noise cancellation and truly wireless connections, headphones and earbuds can squelch voices, other people’s media and even plane engines and envelop you in your own world of sound.
BestReviews is tracking the best Black Friday deals on headphones and earbuds. We’ve listed some of our favorite Black Friday headphone deals that are available right now, including models we’ve tested ourselves in the BestReviews Testing Lab.
Last updated on Nov. 27, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. PT.
Best full-size headphones deals
Full-sized headphones, which are worn over or on the ears, have gone wireless in the past decade, with top brands competing in noise cancellation, sound quality and premium designs.
Apple AirPods Max
18% OFF
With their bare aluminum earcups, colorful mesh headband and minimalist case, the premium Apple AirPods Max have been a hot item since their introduction. When we tested a pair ourselves, we concluded they were some of the best-sounding and best-looking headphones we’d ever encountered. You can find these now at a good price at Best Buy.
Bose Noise-Canceling Headphones 700
32% OFF
Bose’s former flagship still rides high with some of the most powerful pure noise-canceling technology out there, a Bose specialty. Based on our firsthand testing, we also liked the 700s for their crisp, full sound and plush comfort for work, commuting or plane rides.
Sennheiser Momentum 4
26% OFF
Sennheiser’s retro-styled full-size headphones had the most enjoyable sound of any of the flagship noise-canceling headphones we’ve tested, with a spacious soundstage that brought tiny details to life. They also had solid noise cancellation and gave us an amazing 60 hours and 30 minutes of battery life.
Beats Studio Pro
51% OFF
The latest generation of the Beats’ full-sized noise-canceling headphones now offers a transparency mode to go with a bright, enjoyable sound and battery life of 30 hours with ANC on during testing. Support for Apple spatial audio is an added plus while still being Android- and PC-friendly, plus you can listen over USB-C and enjoy three new EQ settings.
Other full-size headphones deals worth checking out
- The latest Beats Solo3 Wireless Noise-Canceling On-Ear Headphones come in silver, rose gold, black and red. 50% OFF
- Save now on the ionic and iconoclastic Marshall Major IV On-Ear Wireless Headphones. 33% OFF
- With 50 hours of battery life on a single charge and premium noise canceling, the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 Headphones are a favorite of the BestReviews Testing Lab. 20% OFF
- Another BestReviews Testing Lab recommendation, the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones have a lightweight design that allow comfortable all-day wear. 18% OFF
Best earbuds deals
The portability and freedom of true wireless earbuds have always been their best selling points, and now many brands are offering noise cancelation too.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
24% OFF
The Apple AirPods Pro 2nd generation improves upon the original in noise canceling and sound quality, and now come with a USB-C port for their charging case. Our tests found these in-ear buds to be surprisingly comfortable and well-fitting, and their sound quality, ANC and transparency modes are first-rate.
Bose QuietComfort II Buds
33% OFF
Bose is renowned for bringing active noise cancellation to the public, and its QuietComfort II earbuds offer some of the most effective ANC among true wireless earbuds. They have a bass-friendly sound that has found a lot of fans, and unlike some rivals, you can listen to one earbud at a time.
Sony WF-1000XM5 Noise-Canceling Earbuds
17% OFF
These Sony earbuds are acclaimed for providing the best sound quality and noise cancellation in true wireless earbuds, just like their full-sized cousins. They’re smaller than their previous generation, too, for a better fit in more ears.
Beats Studio Buds
40% OFF
The Beats Studio Buds offer a range of features for enjoyable listening: soft and comfortable ear tips, active noise canceling and sweat and water resistance (IPX4-rated). These Bluetooth earbuds also deliver up to 8 hours of listening time, and the compact charging case makes them convenient to use on the go.
Other earbuds deals worth checking out
- Apple AirPods 3 offered solid sound quality and excellent battery life in our testing. 18% OFF
- Apple AirPods 2 are still a great pair of true wireless earbuds, and they’re now available for a steal. 31% OFF
Other great headphones deals
Looking for headphones for workouts or fitness? Or classic wired studio monitors for exacting sound? We’ve got those, too.
Beats Flex Wireless Earbuds
43% OFF
The Beats Flex earbuds are some of the most popular headphones for fitness and workout enthusiasts, thanks to their magnetic design and neckband that keep them secure around your neck. They have Apple’s W1 chip for auto pairing with Apple devices and a 12-hour battery life.
JBL Endurance Race Waterproof True Wireless Earbuds
38% OFF
These true wireless earbuds from JBL offer IP67 dust and water resistance for your peace of mind. They come with JBL’s well-known bass sound and Twistlock hooks that keep them in place no matter how you’re moving.
Who has the best Black Friday headphones deals?
When it comes to tech like headphones and earbuds, Amazon and Best Buy are your best bets for the number of deals available and the depths of the discounts. An added benefit of shopping at Best Buy is that Best Buy doesn’t deduct for returns and offers same-day pickup for last-minute holiday shopping, giving you that extra peace of mind that you're electronics aren't going through the shipping and delivery process.
Walmart and other big retailers may match those deals, while some brands, such as Anker and its Soundcore subsidiary, are good for discounts as well.
What to consider when buying headphones?
When shopping for headphones, here are some things to look for.
- Sound quality: Sound quality should be your top consideration — because life’s too short to listen to tinny, painful or distorted audio, regardless if you’re a bass fan or a lover of a flat EQ.
- Comfort: Look for full-sized headphones that don’t pinch or hurt your head, especially after a couple of hours, and earbuds that fit securely in your ears without pressure or fatigue
- Wired or wireless: Wireless headphones and earbuds offer the most freedom and the latest tech, but wired headphones may cost less and boast higher signal quality.
- Battery life: Wireless headphones and earbuds depend on rechargeable batteries to connect to audio sources. They also need power if they have active noise cancellation. Six hours for earbuds and 24 hours for full-size headphones are reasonable expectations.
Why trust our recommendations?
We at BestReviews make it our job to scour websites and stores to find the best products in every category we can think of. We scrutinize brand claims, critics’ reviews and user reviews for the pros and cons of every product. When we can, we obtain products ourselves and subject them to real-world testing in our Testing Lab.
For this article, we drew from our Testing Lab’s reports on these headphones and earbuds, with results from hours-long listening sessions, noise-canceling tests in different environments and music testing across multiple genres. We’ll keep you updated as we add more deals and tested products, so keep checking with us as Black Friday 2023 approaches.
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Jmar Gambol writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.