Early Black Friday headphone deals — 23 sales I’d get now from Apple, Sony, Sennheiser and more
My top recommendations on the best headphone deals for every budget
November is well underway now, and that means the Black Friday deals are rolling in. There are some great savings to be had on headphones already, with lowest prices on the most desirable headphones around.
I've been tracking the prices of the best headphones and earbuds throughout 2024 (and even before then), so I have a solid idea of what kind of savings you should be looking at. Why should you trust me? I've spent thousands of hours testing audio gear to help you find the best devices for you. If you want a new pair of headphones, I'm your gal.
Sony has joined the deals party, with up to 40% off its headphones at Amazon. After discount, prices start from $89. That's an impressive sale, and one we can't see sticking around for long. There's also an incredible 51% off the Beats Studio Pro at Amazon, for another lowest price ever. Want something even cheaper? There's $50 off the Beats Studio Buds at Amazon for a sub-$100 deal.
There are loads more deals besides just those of course: Let's get started.
Best Black Friday headphone deals 2024
Quick Links
- Soundcore P20i: was $39 now $19 @ Amazon
- Beats Flex Wireless earbuds: was $69 now $47 @ Amazon
- Marshall Major IV: was $149 now $89 @ Amazon
- Beats Studio Buds: was $149 now $99 @ Amazon
- Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2: was $199 now $106 @ Amazon
- Sony Linkbuds S: was $199 now $128 @ Walmart
- Beats Solo 4: was $199 now $129 @ Best Buy
- Google Pixel Buds Pro: was $199 now $154 @ Amazon
- AirPods 4 w/ ANC: was $179 now $168 @ Amazon
- Beats Studio Pro: was $349 now $169 @ Amazon
- Sennheiser Accentum: was $199 now $179 @ Best Buy
- AirPods Pro 2: was $249 now $189 @ Amazon
- Sony WF-1000XM5: was $299 now $221 @ Walmart
- Bowers & Wilkins Pi5 S2: was $299 now $228 @ Amazon
- Sennheiser Momentum 4: was $399 now $244 @ Amazon
- Sony WH-1000XM5: was $399 now $298 @ Walmart
- AirPods Max (lightning): was $549 now $459 @ Amazon
Headphones
Marshall Major IV: was $149 now $89 @ Amazon
This pair of Marshall cans are on-ear, which means they sit on top of your ear rather than around it like the other headphones on the list. They sound nice and bassy, and their massive 80-hour battery life is more than enough you get you through a work week. This deal brings them under $100, making them a great pre-Black Friday buy.
Beats Solo 4: was $199 now $129 @ Best Buy
The Beats Solo 4 might not feature noise canceling, but they make up for it by sounding pretty good. They're comfortable as well thanks to Beats new foam, and they fold up super smajll so that they can fit into any bag. There's also loads of battery life — 50 hours, to be exact.
Beats Studio Pro: was $349 now $169 @ Amazon
The Beats Studio Pro are a great pair of headphones at this mega deal price. They are pretty comfortable, and their noise canceling is better than anything else underneath $200. A massive $170 discount brings them down to their lowest-ever price.
Sennheiser Accentum: was $199 now $179 @ Best Buy
These are our pick for the best value in our best noise-canceling headphones guide, and there’s good reason. They sound excellent, block loads of noise, and do it all for less than $200. This deal might not chop a massive amount of the price, but they should be on your radar for Black Friday as it comes up.
Sennheiser Momentum 4: was $399 now $299 @ Amazon
I absolutely loved my time with the Momentum 4. I found them extremely comfortable thanks to the expansive earpads, which are larger than most of the competition. They sounded great during my testing as well. Battery life is an exemplary 60 hours with ANC turned on for some of the longest-lasting headphones around. This is a massive $109 off for the biggest saving on the list.
Sony WH-1000XM5: was $399 now $298 @ Walmart
The XM5 need no introduction. They are Sony’s top-of-the-line noise-canceling headphones, and they’ve earned every accolade that’s come their way. They top our best wireless headphones list with incredible sound quality, and some of the best noise canceling around. They’re light and comfortable too, making for the perfect pair of all-rounder headphones.
AirPods Max (lightning): was $549 now $459 @ Amazon
Apple’s AirPods Max were once the most expensive over-ears you could buy, although they’ve since been overtaken by even more luxury models. They’re still a stunning pair of headphones, mind you. Milled out of aluminum and stainless steel, they’re a sight to behold. They sound epic, and the noise canceling is still some of the best around. These are the Lightning port version so you don’t get the new color options or the USB-C port, but they’re otherwise identical to the latest generation.
Earbuds
Soundcore P20i: was $39 now $19 @ Amazon
This is one of the cheapest ways to get a pair of wireless in-ears into your pocket. They're a great deal, and Soundcore makes some of the best budget buds around. $24 is almost like thievery at this point.
Beats Flex Wireless earbuds: was $69 now $47 @ Amazon
These aren't strictly completely wireless. There is a cable that connects the two buds together, housing the battery and audiaio gubbins. They're light and comfortable as a result though, and perfect for exercise. This is a solid $22 saving.
JBL Tune Flex: was $99 now $49 @ Best Buy
The cheapest buds on the list are still no slouch. They feature ANC, great sound, and 32 hours of total battery life for a flagship-beating performance. All that for just $50 is a great deal. Even if you don't need a new pair right this second, these would work nicely as a spare pair in case your main buds get lost or damaged.
JVC In-Ear True Wireless earbuds: was $69 now $59 @ Best Buy
These little buds are a comfy option from JVC, and they feature Bluetooth 5.3 and noise canceling. There are touch controls on board as well — all for under $100.
Beats Studio Buds: was $149 now $99 @ Amazon
The Studio Buds have now been dethroned by the Studio Buds+, but the older version is still a solid buy. Great sound, solid noise canceling and a very comfortable fit make this deal a must-grab in the run-up to Black Friday.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2: was $199 now $106 @ Amazon
Samsung’s answer to the AirPods Pro 2 happen to be a really good pair of earbuds, now at a bargain price. The noise canceling is excellent, and there are some extra goodies like Fast Pair for Galaxy owners. There are buds with better battery life out there (these only get you five hours), but this price makes them a must-buy.
Google Pixel Buds Pro: was $199 now $174 @ Amazon
There is a new version of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 now, but the older model still holds up. We particularly like the fit and comfort of the buds, as well as their slickly designed case. They also recently received an AI update, which gave them more features like their replacements.
Sony Linkbuds S: was $199 now $128 @ Walmart
Sony’s great-sounding little earbuds are an absolute steal at this deal price, even if it's not the lowest we’ve ever seen. The noise canceling is excellent for that price, and after a recent update, you can even use your Android phone to track them if they get lost. I like the way they sound as well.
Jabra Elite 8 Active: was $199 now $149 @ Best Buy
Enjoy uninterrupted audio with the Jabra Elite 8 Active, which offers eight hours of battery life plus an additional 24 hours from the wireless charging case. Use the Active Noise Cancellation to block out distractions, or stay aware of your surroundings with the convenient HearThrough feature.
AirPods 4 w/ ANC: was $179 now $168 @ Amazon
These AirPods 4 have all the same great features as the base AirPods 4, except they also include Active Noise Cancellation. They also feature Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, and Voice Isolation. It's a modest price cut, but it's the first time we've seen them on sale.
AirPods Pro 2: was $249 now $189 @ Amazon
What more can be said about the AirPods Pro 2 that hasn’t already been discussed? They’re some of the best-sounding wireless earbuds around, and their noise-canceling is up there with the best in class. I adore my AirPods Pro 2, and use them every day. We have seen them slightly cheaper before, but this is still a decent sale price in the run-up to Black Friday.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: was $249 now $209 @ Amazon
Samsung's newest buds now feature a decent discount, bringing them down to their lowest price ever. While they have some Galaxy-exclusive features, they're still a solid option for Android users. The AI features are great too, for a stronger Bixby and a much smarter pair of buds.
Sony WF-1000XM5: was $299 now $221 @ Walmart
The flagship noise-canceling earbuds from Sony remain a top pick for the best wireless earbuds. They are supremely comfortable, and their noise canceling is only bettered by the Bose alternatives. Battery life is also excellent, giving you 8 hours of listening on a single charge of the buds. This is actually the bud's lowest price ever, so it’s well worth buying them before they run out of stock.
Beats Fit Pro: was $199 now $159 @ Amazon
If you need a pair of headphones that are perfect for working out, then you need look no further. The Beats Fit Pro and their specially designed fit wings will stay in place no matter how much you move around, so you don't have to worry about losing a bud while you're on a run or at the gym. Decent sound quality and noise canceling sweeten the deal.
Price check: $159 @ Best Buy
Bowers & Wilkins Pi5 S2: was $299 now $228 @ Amazon
How about something more luxurious? The Bowers & Wilkins Pi5 S2 are a seriously lovely pair of earbuds, made from premium materials and filled with some impressive specs. This deal is a nice 25% off, too. It's not the lowest price we've seen, but it's a healthy discount nonetheless.
Price check: $299 @ Best Buy
Best Black Friday headphone deals — what to look for in 2024
There are always plenty of headphone and earbud deals to be found throughout the year, but Black Friday and Cyber Monday are usually going to feature the very best. It’s not just about the price you pay for a pair of headphones, mind you — there are a few things that you should be thinking about before you drop your dollars.
1. Design
Before you go about buying anything, you need a clear image of what kind of headphones you want. Do you want big comfortable over-ears, or in-ear buds that seal you away from the outside world? The latter will be more portable, but they not have the sonic chops of a pair of overears. Larger headphones tend to cost more than their much smaller in-ear cousins, on the other hand, so you have to consider that as well. What do you need them for? My Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones a phenomenal when traveling, but going to the gym or taking them out on a walk is a great deal more difficult. Meanwhile, my AirPods Pro 2 are incredible when I exercise, but their shorter battery make them less suited to long journeys on trains.
2. Sound quality
You should also work out how important the way that your headphones sound is to you. I, for example, put sound quality above almost everything when it comes to my headphones. That means I might not get noise canceling that’s as effective as other options, or I’ll get fewer features, but my ears will love the sound that comes from my headphones. If sound isn’t as important to you, there may have been fewer concessions elsewhere, so you might get the best noise canceling ever. Weigh up the pros and cons of the headphones you’re looking at to work out whether you’re willing to make the compromises that they might offer.
3. Battery life
This is an important one for a lot of people. There are some excellent options with incredible battery life at the moment, like the Sennheiser Momentum 4 or the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100. Those both last for at least 60 hours on a charge. The Marshall Monitor III last even longer, with 70 hours of staying power. These massive battery options can come with compromises in ANC and features, however, so work out what you’re willing to overlook to get better battery life. Having said that, you should absolutely keep an eye on those Marshalls over Black Friday if you want battery life. They make surprisingly few concessions for their epic battery life, and with some luck, they’ll be reduced this year.
4. Accessories (what comes in the box?)
As much as I like the AirPods Max, I still find it difficult to overcome their very useless carrying case. They are the perfect example of how you should take into consideration what you need to come with your headphones to make them worthy of purchase. In my case, it’s a decent hard case, and all the cables that I need. Those are becoming harder and harder to find now, so make sure you check everything before buying your headphones of choice.
5. The price!
‘How much do you want to spend on a pair of headphones’ might seem like an obvious question to ask, but it's an important one nonetheless. Work out how much you want to spend, and then see what you can get for your money. You may have to go without some of the features that you want, but then you make sure that you’re not spending too much. It’s important to have a budget planned out over Black Friday anyway so that you don’t have to eat nothing but noodles for the rest of the year.
Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Tammy and her generous collection of headphones have found a new home — Tom's Guide! After a two-and-a-half-year stint as iMore's resident audiophile, Tammy's reviews and buying guide expertise have more focus than ever on Tom's Guide, helping buyers find the audio gear that works best for them. Tammy has worked with some of the most desirable audio brands on the planet in her time writing about headphones, speakers, and more, bringing a consumer focussed approach to critique and buying advice. Away from her desk, you'll probably find her in the countryside writing (extremely bad) poetry, or putting her screenwriting Masters to good use creating screenplays that'll never see the light of day.
- Alyse StanleyNews Editor