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The Sony XM5 have been some of the best noise-canceling headphones for a few years, and they’re now under $200 for Prime Day. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge I can’t think of a tech accessory I actively use more than headphones. Whether it’s for music, calls, or just to block out ambient noise so I can focus, I always have a pair close at hand. One of the best times to get some of your own with some big savings attached is during Prime Day.
There are always an overwhelming amount of deals on earbuds and headphones — and honestly, they’re not always that great. As The Verge’s audio expert, these are the ones that I think are worth their full cost, and especially so now that they’re on sale. And while Prime Day is an Amazon event, there are plenty of deals at other retailers like Best Buy and Walmart, too.
The best noise-canceling headphones and earbuds deals
- They might not be the most recent XM series headphones Sony has released, but the Sony WH-1000XM5 are still one of the best pairs you can get — especially at a sale price of $198 at Amazon. At half of the retail price, this is the lowest I’ve ever seen these headphones. I’d go so far to say this is the best headphones deal of Prime Day. The XM5 are comfortable, sound excellent, and have noise-canceling performance that still holds up to more recent releases. If you need a new pair of headphones, get these before Prime Day ends.
- Bose has been synonymous with noise cancellation for years now. While other companies — like Sony, Apple, and now the budget-minded Soundcore — have closed the gap in performance, the QuietComfort Earbuds still offer great noise-canceling performance. And they’re available during Prime Day for $129. These aren’t the newest ANC earbuds released by Bose (those are the Ultra earbuds gen 2 going for $249), but they’re a great deal for the sale price.
The best budget deals on headphones and earbuds
- EarFun earbuds are always a good value, but especially so during Prime Day. You can find the EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus (which I recently featured on a Vergecast episode about call quality) for $71.23. Verge readers can apply discount code EFAP4PFB for an additional 5 percent off to bring the price down to $67.66.
Nothing CMF Buds 2A
The CMF Buds 2A deliver decent sound and noise cancellation. They also offer useful extras like customizable EQ settings, multipoint connectivity, and IP54 water and dust resistance.
Where to Buy:
The best headphones deals for bass lovers
- Sometimes you just want some thump. They don’t offer an accurate reproduction of sound, but the Sony Ult Wear certainly do bring the bass for $148 during Prime Day. The default sound profile pushes the low and upper frequencies a bit, but when you press the Ult button, you can add two different levels of bass oomph. While the most extreme level is a bit much for me, I’m sure a true bass-head will love it. The Ult Wear are also light and comfortable to wear and have up to 30 hours of playback with ANC on, so you’ll be able to enjoy your bass all day long.
The best deals on Apple earbuds and headphones
- It took Apple nearly six years, but we finally got the AirPods Max 2 this past March, and surprisingly, they’re already on sale at Walmart for $399 — $150 off their regular price. The Max 2 are more of an upgrade over the original than a reimagining. They look exactly the same and weigh the same (which is on the heavy side for headphones), and I’m not a fan of their carrying case, which doesn’t offer as much protection as I’d like. But they sound great, have good ANC performance, support loss less at 24-bit/48kHz when using a USB-C cable, and integrate seamlessly into the Apple ecosystem. Plus they have a distinctive look, so everyone will know what’s on your head. If you’ve wanted a pair, this is probably the best time to get them.
AirPods Pro 3
The AirPods Pro 3 have a new design that improves their fit, superior noise cancellation, better bass, and fairly accurate heart rate sensors. Read our review.
Where to Buy:
- At the other end of the Apple spectrum from the AirPods Max 2 are the AirPods 4 with ANC, available at Best Buy during Prime Day for $150 (the cheaper version without ANC is available for $100, but I think paying extra for the ANC is worth it). Their noise-canceling performance is impressive, especially considering their open design, they have great sound quality, and the case supports wireless charging. If you’re a fan of Apple’s design and don’t want to spend more for the Pro 3, these are a great option.
The best for workout-friendly earbuds
- The Beats Powerbeats Fit are my go-to earbuds for working out, and they’re $160 during Prime Day. I never have to worry about them falling out of my ears, thanks to their wingtip design, they work equally well with Apple and Android devices, and they sound great.
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
The OpenRun Pro 2 are Shokz’s best bone conduction headphones yet, with better sound and more bass than their predecessor. Our reviewer Victoria Song praised their cozy fit as well as their USB-C charging (goodbye, proprietary charger!). Read our review.
Where to Buy:
- If you don’t like the wingtip design of the Powerbeats Fit and want a few more features, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are a good step up — and they’re $180 during Prime Day. The ear hooks keep them securely in place, and the Pro 2 come with heart rate monitoring. While the case is on the big side because of the ear hooks, it supports wireless charging.
