Best cheap headphones deals 2021: wireless, noise-cancelling and more

Shure Aonic 50 ANC wireless £380 £207 at Amazon (save £173) Given this is new ground for Shure, the Aonic 50 are a solid first attempt at a pair of wireless noise-canceling headphones. They aren't quite as engaging as the Sony and Sennheiser class leaders, but they do offer outstanding levels of detail, a clear and clean delivery and solid bass – and are now cheaper. Four stars

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 £350 £210 at Amazon (save £140)
A breakaway from the famous Bose QuietComfort range, the 2019-released 700 are more of a premium series with a concentration on noise-cancelling, which is best in class. Comfort and aesthetics are spot-on too and, sonically, they decent. Four stars

Beats X wireless earbuds £110 £40 at Zavvi (save £70)
Bluetooth earphones don’t get much easier to use than this for iPhone owners. They're comfortable and good-looking, too, and have an energetic sound that's much more competitive at this heavily reduced price.

AKG Y500 Wireless £129 £74.95 at Amazon (save £54)
Juggling good sound quality, clever features, durable build quality and attractive design in equal measure is no mean feat, but AKG pulls it off while making it look easy. A great pair of wireless on-ears, even at their original price. Five stars, What Hi-Fi? Award winner

Sony WH-CH710N £130 £77.90 at Amazon (save £52)
Can't afford the premium Sony WH-1000XM4? We haven't tested the WH-CH710N, but they promise an upgrade over their predecessors, which we liked for their detailed, musical performance and great battery life.

Sony WH-1000XM3 £330 £219 at John Lewis (save £111)
These superb Sonys may now have a successor in the form of the new WH-1000XM4, but these are still excellent buys – especially for their much cheaper price, which is the lowest we've seen.
Five stars, What Hi-Fi? Award winner

Bose QC 35 II £330 £189 at John Lewis (save £141)
Prefer Bose? The Sonys XM3 and XM4 above may sound a little superior, but if you're happy to sacrifice that last little bit of sonic ability in the name of added comfort and a cheaper price, these wireless noise-cancelling Boses are serious contenders. Four stars

Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless £349 £233 at Amazon (save £119) These superb-sounding wireless noise-cancelling headphones only serve to further enhance Sennheiser’s momentum in the headphone market. They're excellent all-rounders, and we've never seen them discounted by this much before. Five stars

Earfun Air £60 £40 at Amazon (save £20)
The cheapest true wireless earbuds we can heartily recommend, these five-star Earfuns do the basics right – and are now £20 off their RRP if you click the coupon code box at Amazon.

Sony WF-XB700 £129 £59 at John Lewis (save £70)
Sony’s cheapest true wireless earbuds are reliable options for sporty types, pairing water resistance with an 18-hour battery life and decent audio quality. Four stars

Beats Powerbeats Pro £220 £149 at Amazon (save £71)
We're fans of the sporty Powerbeats Pros for a number of reasons. Build quality is excellent, as is their fit and list of useful features. These true wireless earbuds come into their own for exercise, so this new low price shouldn't be sniffed at.

Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+ £120 £99.95 at Amazon (save £20) Our favourite budget true wireless earbuds deliver the most detailed sound performance we’ve heard at this price point, combined with a 45-hour battery and decent app features. No noise-cancelling, however. Five stars, What Hi-Fi? Award winner

Apple AirPods 2 (2019) £159 £108 at Amazon (save £51)
Technically and sonically better than before, the second-generation AirPods offer unbeatable usability and decent sound quality for Apple users – and are now cheaper than ever. Four stars

JBL Reflect Flow £130 £60 at Amazon (save £70)
In our five-star review, we praised these sporty wireless earbuds' detail, musicality and strong bass depth. They also deliver a solid fit and long battery life, perfect for those evening runs. Expect up to 10 hours per charge, with an extra 20 from the case. Five stars