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Best early Amazon Prime Day headphone and earbud deals – Android Police

  1. Best early Amazon Prime Day headphone and earbud deals Android Police
  2. Take advantage of Amazon’s 50% discount on the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro high-end earbuds before it’s too late PhoneArena
  3. Apple fans rush to buy AirPods scanning for $50 off in surprise deal – they’re a top-rated model… The US Sun
  4. Best early Amazon Prime Day deals on headphones: Apple AirPods, Beats, Bose, more CBS News
  5. 49% off Samsung Galaxy Buds2 noise-canceling earbuds – Father’s Day gift ideas PC Guide – For The Latest PC Hardware & Tech News
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News

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Best Black Friday headphone deals 2022 — AirPods, Sony, Bose and more

The best Black Friday headphone deals are in full swing, and our pick of the best  vans for personal listening covers everything from the best headphones with plush over-ear designs to the smallest of wireless earbuds. What they all have in common is that you can get them for less right now in our list of the best Black Friday deals. 

And we really do mean right now. Retailers like Best Buy, Amazon and Walmart are offering steep price cuts on many of our top picks. Headphone deals are among the most popular Black Friday deals in this year’s holiday season sales events, and these deals are already in high demand so makes sure you snag them before stocks dry up. 

Read on for the best deal picks on our favorite wireless headphone and earbuds designs. 

Not sure which ones are right for you? Check out our lists of the best wireless headphones, best noise-cancelling headphones and the best sport headphones. Our expert ears have experience of testing most of the models listed here, but if we haven’t reviewed it then our expertise and knowledge of the brand, as well as what makes a great deal, means you can buy with complete confidence and safe in the knowledge that that you’re getting the best performance for less.

7 great Black Friday headphone deals now

Best Black Friday headphone deals 

Black Friday wireless headphone deals

Black Friday best wireless earbuds deals

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13 best Black Friday headphone deals to shop now — $199 AirPods Pro 2, $100 off Sony, Bose and more

From noise-cancelling headphones to the newest pair of AirPods, the best Black Friday headphones deals are making it easier than ever to upgrade to the best headphones on the market. Retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart are offering steep price cuts on many of our top picks.

For example, right now you can get the Apple AirPods Pro 2 for $199 at Amazon (opens in new tab), down from $249, and its lowest price to date. Similarly, the Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds are now $178 at Amazon (opens in new tab), which is $100 off their regular price. There are also great deals on noise-canceling headphones from Bose and JBL, too. 

We’re rounding up the best Black Friday headphone deals you shop right now. Not sure which ones are right for you? Check out our lists of the best cheap wireless headphones and the best sport headphones. 

Best Black Friday headphone deals 

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Sonos acquisition fuels new headphone rumors

Sonos has acquired the Bluetooth audio startup T2 Software, Protocol reports, adding fuel to rumors that Sonos is developing its own headphones. T2 had been working on implementations of the new Bluetooth LE Audio standard and LC3 codec, which delivers better audio quality at lower bitrates for improved headphone battery life.

A recent LinkedIn post from Sonos VP of global marketing and communications Pete Pedersen suggests that a Sonos headphone launch may be imminent. He said the company was looking for a marketing agency to help it launch “a new category” of product, “targeting a new audience/consumer segment.”

A spokesperson for Sonos confirmed the acquisition to Protocol. “Occasionally, we will acquire teams, talent, and/or technology that augment our existing and future product roadmap,” the spokesperson said. T2 Software was acquired by Sonos in November 2021, Protocol reports, around three years after the startup was originally founded.

Sonos’ long-rumored debut pair of headphones could have the most to gain from a power-efficient Bluetooth codec like LC3. Headphones typically have to make difficult tradeoffs between having large enough batteries to offer good battery life, and being lightweight enough to wear for extended periods. LC3’s promise is that it can help mitigate this tradeoff with higher audio quality that requires less power.

If you want to hear the kind of benefit the LC3 Codec can provide, the Bluetooth SIG has an interactive comparison available on its website which lets you toggle between different audio encoders and bitrates. The tool shows how LC3 audio remains listenable at bitrates far lower than the usual SBC codec. And, most interestingly, it notes that the encoded audio streams were provided by “T2 Labs,” the old name of T2 Software.

Sonos historically shunned streaming over Bluetooth in favor of Wi-Fi for its home speakers, and has only embraced Bluetooth audio more recently for portable speakers like the Sonos Move and Sonos Roam. Sonos’ headphones will reportedly compete with high-end competitors from Sony and Bose while also neatly integrating with Sonos’ existing speakers.

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The best cheap noise-canceling headphone deals right now

With many people working from home than they used to, owning a good pair of noise-canceling headphones has become more appealing than ever. However, they can be expensive and difficult to shop for due to the range of available models, many of which cater to different lifestyles and priorities. Some are better suited for long-haul flights, while others are ideal for multitasking and marathon listening sessions.

That’s why we’ve curated this list of the best deals on noise-canceling headphones. Here, you’ll find sales on all kinds of on-ear and over-ear headphones, all of which are designed to eliminate outside noise but come with their own strengths and weaknesses. And if you want to do even more research before making a buying decision, we’ve put together a guide to the best noise-canceling headphones, which can help you determine which is right for you.

Highlights across the range

Model List Price Sale Price Retailers
Model List Price Sale Price Retailers
AirPods Max $549 $479 Amazon
Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 3 $399.99 $241 Adorama
Sony WH-1000XM4 $399.99 $348 (with a 20,800mAh power bank and a microfiber cloth) Adorama
Beats Studio 3 Wireless $349.99 $199.00 Amazon
Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 $249.99 $230.99 Walmart Microsoft
Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 $399 $379 Amazon Best Buy
Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II $349 $299.99 Best Buy Target
Beats Solo Pro $299.95 $129 Best Buy

Sony’s 1000XM4 are the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy.
Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Sony WH-1000XM4 deals

Sony’s WH-1000XM4 is our overall pick for the best noise-canceling headphones. They offer excellent noise-canceling, good sound and voice quality, and the ability to pair to two devices simultaneously. You can wear these for long periods of time as well, as their plush ear pads make them comfortable to wear for as long as you need. They can even last up to 30 hours on a single charge and can be charged via USB-C.

During Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we saw the $349.99 headphones drop to $248 — their lowest price to date. They remained around that price throughout the holiday season, but, unfortunately, many retailers have since ended their sales. Some retailers, however, are offering bundle deals that are still worth considering.

Right now, Adorama is bundling the WH-1000XM4 with a 20,800mAh battery pack and a microfiber cleaning cloth for $348. Mophie’s power bank typically sells for $39.95, so this bundle is valued at around $390. If you don’t care for the battery pack or prefer to shop elsewhere, however, Amazon and B&H Photo are also selling the headphones for $348. Read our review.

Sony WH-1000XM4

These over-ear headphones are some of the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy right now. They can last up to 30 hours on a single charge and provide a comfortable listening experience with plush ear pads.

The AirPods Max is a good pick for those deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem.
Photo by Becca Farsace / The Verge

Apple’s AirPods Max deals

If you’re looking for the best sound quality you can get in a pair of noise-canceling headphones, we recommend the AirPods Max. The headphones pair seamlessly with other Apple devices and sound superb, especially combined with Apple’s surround sound-like Spatial Audio feature, which allows for a more immersive experience when listening to or watching select content. They also tout the best transparency mode of all the headphones on our list while boasting incredible build quality thanks to a luxe design that takes opts for aluminum, steel, and fabric over plastic.

At $549, these headphones are expensive, but we’ve been seeing a lot of discounts lately. Right now, Amazon is selling the AirPods Max for $479, which is about $50 shy of their best price to date and their standard sale price. B&H Photo is offering the same discount but only on the silver and pink models. The green and blue versions are $489, while the space gray set is $499. Read our review.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple’s AirPods Max feature exemplary build quality, sound phenomenal, and keep up with the best at noise cancellation.

The third-generation Sennheiser Momentum Wireless headphones sound great and integrate with Tile.

Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 3 deals

If you’re a non-Apple user looking for a pair of noise-canceling headphones that sound fantastic, Sennheiser’s Momentum Wireless 3 is your best option. We found that they boast detailed, bass-rich sound, a stylish, retro-inspired design, and are extremely comfortable to wear — even when you’re donning glasses. Although their noise cancellation might not rival other models on our list, they make up for it with convenient software features like ambient passthrough and a customizable EQ. Plus, unlike many other headphones, they integrate with the location tracking device, Tile.

The headphones typically retail for $399.99, but several retailers have been selling them for $241 since Black Friday. Right now, however, only Adorama has them for $241 (and only in black). That’s nearly half their usual price, saving you $159. Read our review.

Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless

Sennheiser’s premium noise-canceling headphones offer lush comfort, rich sound with plenty of bass, and a timeless design.

Microsoft’s Surface Headphones 2 are great for multitasking.
The Verge

Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 deals

Multitaskers will appreciate Microsoft’s Surface Headphones 2 as they offer terrific, reliable multipoint Bluetooth support. You can seamlessly pair them with multiple devices, allowing you to juggle content and switch back and forth at the same time. These headphones also offer intuitive dial controls for volume and noise cancellation, with far better quality and battery life than their predecessor. While the noise canceling isn’t quite as effective as Bose’s and Sony’s, they still adequately silence outside noises so you can focus.

During Black Friday, Microsoft’s $249.99 Surface Headphones 2 dropped down to $162.49, which is almost half their typical retail price. We’re not currently seeing any similar big deals on them, but you can still a pair for $230.99 from Microsoft, Walmart, and Amazon. Note, however, the deal available from Walmart is sold and shipped by Microsoft. Read our review.

Microsoft Surface Headphones 2

Microsoft’s Surface Headphones 2 have the same intuitive dial controls as the originals for volume and noise cancellation. But the sequel offers better sound quality and battery life at a cheaper price.

Bose’s Noise Canceling Headphones 700 boast excellent voice quality.
Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 deals

If you plan to frequently use your headphones for voice calls, Bose’s Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are the best option on this list for doing so. They boast excellent voice call quality, meaning everybody on your Zoom call will be able to hear you loud and clearly, and they offer great noise cancellation with satisfactory sound. Like the QC45, the over-ears can also connect to two devices simultaneously, but they can’t be folded and only offer 20 hours of battery life, which is also less than other headphones on this list provide.

We’ve seen several discounts on the 700s over the past year or so, with the best reaching an all-time low of $299. Lately, however, we haven’t seen any sales that steep. Amazon has been selling them for $379 instead of $399 for the past six months, and Bose and Best Buy are currently selling the headphones for the same price. Read our review.

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700

The Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 are the company’s top-of-the-line noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones. In addition to excellent noise cancellation, they have up to 20 hours of battery life between charges and can connect to two devices at the same time.

Other great noise-canceling headphone deals worth checking out

The Beats Studio 3 are nearly half off and thus a good alternative if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly pair of headphones.
Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Beats Studio 3 deals

While we couldn’t recommend these to anybody outside of the Apple ecosystem, the Beats Studio 3 Wireless could be a decent alternative if you want a pair of over-ear headphones from Apple but find the AirPods Max to be too expensive. The Beats Studio 3 are comfortable to wear, fold inward for easy stowing, and feature Apple’s last-gen W1 wireless chip, which allows you to quickly connect and switch between Apple devices. Note, however, unlike those built with Apple’s newer H1 chip, the headphones lack hands-free Siri support. They also charge via a Micro USB port instead of a Lightning port or USB-C.

They’re certainly showing their age at this point — they launched 2017, after all — but they’re currently on sale starting at $199 at Amazon in select colorways. Read our review.

Beats Studio 3 Wireless

The Beats Studio 3 feature Apple’s W1 wireless chip, allowing them to quickly connect and switch between any Apple devices you may own. The wireless, over-ear headphones connect via Bluetooth and also support 3.5mm for a wired connection.

Bose’s Quiet Comfort 35 II headphones are as comfortable and lightweight as newer models.

Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II deals

If the newer QuietComfort 45 are out of your budget, their noise-canceling predecessor remain a great, affordable alternative. Like newer Bose models, the QuietComfort 35 II are both comfortable and lightweight. They also come with a number of praiseworthy features, including good sound quality and the ability to seamlessly switch between two paired devices.

While their sticker price is $349, the QC35 II are frequently on sale for far less. In fact, until just recently, we saw them for as low as $179. Right now, however, Target is only selling the headphones for around $299, about $30 less than Bose QC45 are currently selling for.

Bose’s QuietComfort 35 II

These lightweight, over-ear wireless headphones have one of the best active noise cancellation effects to silence distractions.

The now-discontinued Beats Solo Pro offer good durability and lengthy battery life.
Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Beats Solo Pro deals

When we first reviewed the Beats Solo Pro in 2019, we found the nicely designed Apple headphones offered effective noise cancellation, good durability, lengthy battery life, and a balanced sound profile. While its sticker price was $299.95, Best Buy is currently selling them in blue and red for $199.99. Note, however, these headphones have since been discontinued. As a result, Apple no longer sells them, and the retailers that do — like Best Buy — are not likely to continue stocking them in the future.

Beats Solo Pro

The Beats Solo Pro are ideal if you need a durable pair of headphones while you work out.

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Black Friday headphone deals: Wireless earbuds and over-ear headphones for your next workout

If wearing headphones while you cycle is your thing, be that indoors or out, then there is a whole host of Black Friday headphone deals out there for you. 

Whatever you’re doing in life, be that riding a bike, working out at the gym, or even working, there’s no denying that music can provide a much-needed boost, and today’s best headphones are a far cry from the wired versions we used just a few years ago. Today’s best are wireless, lightweight, fast-charging, and many come with active noise cancelling that allows you to really block out the outside world – and then let it in again whenever you want at the touch of a button. 

There are usually discounts on earbuds and headphones on offer all year round, so there’s rarely a bad time to buy headphones. However, with the arrival of the Black Friday bike deals, the competitive nature of retailers’ pricing means that you’re not only likely to find the lowest prices this weekend, but you’re also guaranteed an abundance of choice of discounted options. With that, this weekend represents a great time to treat yourself to a new pair, or perhaps get someone else their dream in-ear or over-ear headphones for Christmas.

Whether you’re someone who likes to wear a pair while you’re out and about, or someone who wants to listen to some pounding music while making the most of your recent Black Friday turbo trainer purchase, scroll down to find some of the best deals in stock right now, starting with deals in the USA and then below, deals for our UK readers. 

Top Black Friday headphone deals at a glance

USA deals

UK deals

The best Black Friday headphone deals in the US

The best Black Friday headphone deals in the UK

Whether you are more comfortable with over-ear or in-ear headphones, they can be great for helping you push through the pain barrier on those turbo sessions. While we don’t advise wearing them while cycling on the road, some people do find they really help with getting through the training kilometres.

AirPods are always top of the list thanks to their connectivity with iPhones, and the standout technology inside them. This is especially true of the AirPods Pro which have some great Black Friday offers this weekend. Do not discount offerings from Sony, JBL and other headphone brands too, if you aren’t an Apple loyalist.

Other Black Friday deals

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Leaked images of the Google Pixel 6A show a more compact device with no headphone jack

Rendered images of the Google Pixel 6A have been leaked by reliable leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer (@OnLeaks), and give us a glimpse at what the midrange device may look like, first reported by 91Mobiles.

The leaked images show the Google Pixel 6A without a headphone jack. | Image: Steve Hemmerstoffer / 91Mobiles

The rendered Pixel 6A, which belongs to the budget-friendly Pixel A-series lineup, looks almost identical to the standard Pixel 6. It seems to sport the same black camera strip on its rear that houses two cameras and a flash, along with a hole-punch selfie camera on the front. The bottom of the device appears to have a USB-C port, as well as a speaker and a microphone.

As pointed out by 9to5Google, there appears to be no fingerprint sensor on the outside of the device — this might mean the scanner is placed beneath the screen just like the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, which Google recently issued an update for in an attempt to improve the scanner’s performance issues.

A headphone jack also appears to be absent from the Pixel 6A. If the rendered images are accurate, the Pixel 6A could be the first midrange Pixel device to come without one — previously, the Pixel 5A, Pixel 4A, and Pixel 3A all had headphone jacks, as opposed to their Pixel 5, Pixel 4, and Pixel 3 counterparts.

The Pixel 6A may also be a lot more compact than the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, measuring at just 152.2 x 71.8. x 8.7mm with a 6.2-inch display (via 91Mobiles). This is quite a bit smaller when compared to the size of a vanilla Pixel 6, which is 158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9mm with a 6.4-inch display.

There’s no word on when the Pixel 6A will be released — after all, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro only came out last month — so we’ll probably have to wait a while to see some official images of the device.



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Google ad praises headphone jacks, but Pixel 6 won’t have one

Google ads for Pixel phones have been all over the place as of late, and the latest one about the 5a with 5G’s headphone jack parodies old Jony Ive product videos, but seemingly without realizing its own product history.

“The Circle Comes Full Circle” is just over two minutes long and a clear parody and/or homage to Apple design videos narrated by Jony Ive to accompany the launch of a new product. A British person narrates, and there’s even an opportunity for them to say aluminum with that “fancy pronunciation.” 

It starts with a surprisingly long intro, complete with the Latin origin, about “circles.” 

And that delight, inspired us to reimagine the circle for the new Google Pixel 5a. Precisely 3.5 millimeters in diameter, forged a machine from the finest premium grade copper.

At one point, Google calls the headphone jack a “glorious achievement that draws from our past as it propels us into the future.” 

One important historical context is how the original Pixel and Pixel XL intro video in 2016 ridiculed the iPhone 7 for dropping the port by including a “3.5mm headphone jack satisfyingly not new” line, complete with a throat clearing/scoff. 

Of course, Google then proceeded to remove that jack from the Pixel 2 and all subsequent premium devices. To the company’s credit, they now have the A-Series of devices with 3.5mm connectors. 

That said, this ad calling the port a “glorious achievement” with future ramifications — no matter how in jest — feels slightly ridiculous without Google actually committing to the jack in all its phones. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are certainly large enough to support it.

The industry used to cite waterproofing as one reason for the lack of the audio connector, but the 5a manages while featuring IP67. Of course, the big argument is the rise of Bluetooth headphones replacing the old technology. Living a wire-free life is remarkably convenient, but wired ones always function. There are no battery concerns or questions about what features will work. Its “glory” is the open nature.

This ad was likely thought up as an easy win/way to score over Apple, with Google wanting to highlight how its lineup offers an affordable model with a 3.5mm connector. However, it does betray a lack of coherence where the advertising is just messaging and not an actual belief held by the company. Having a headphone jack on a premium phone that’s slated for a marketing blitz this fall would be truly glorious — anything less is following the trends.

At the very least, a Pixel ad for one headphone jack-touting model should not call into question decisions made for the more important product coming this fall.

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Google’s new ad goes full Jony Ive on the Pixel 5A headphone jack

Yesterday marked the release of Google’s $449 Pixel 5A with 5G, and the company has just released a two-minute video that celebrates one of the phone’s very best hardware features. No, it’s not the new IP67 dust and water resistance. It’s not the larger screen or the biggest battery in a Pixel yet.

It’s all about the headphone jack, or “the circle” as this very Jony Ive-esque spot constantly refers to it. Google is truly getting out there with its YouTube advertising, and you’ve probably never seen a video about a headphone jack quite like this. I mean, the ad uses footage of a space station docking to underline the “satisfying feeling of click” you get when plugging headphones into Google’s latest phone.

My favorite part is when it dives right into the nitty-gritty of headphone jack terminology: Google says the Pixel 5A is “designed to welcome both 1/8th-inch three-pole TRS and four-pole TRRS connections.”

Even the video’s description is on point:

Calling this perfectly-symmetrical, technological marvel, a “headphone jack” may feel like an understatement…but technically, that’s what it’s called, so… fair enough. Behold! The Headphone Jack, on the Google Pixel 5a with 5G.

The narrator declares the Pixel 5A’s headphone jack to be “a glorious achievement that draws from our past as it propels us into the future.”

But something about that line got to me. Because now, my friends, we must come tumbling back to reality, where that “future” only applies to the midrange Pixel. Google’s next flagship smartphones, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, won’t have the circle. However perfect it might be, it’s been absent on the top-tier Pixels since the Pixel 2.

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