The best early Black Friday headphone deals 2025: AirPods, Bose, Sony and more

Dyson OnTrac, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Apple AirPods Max on carpet
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

November is Black Friday month, and some retailers are taking that literally. Because despite the big sale not taking place until 29th November, prices are already dropping on some of the best headphones you can buy.

Whether you're shopping for the best over-ear headphones or best wireless earbuds, there's sure to be a deal for you.

Of course, there’s more to a good headphone deal than just a hefty discount. You won’t find any pairs here that our in-house team of expert reviewers hasn’t fully tested, so not only will you be getting a great deal, but you’ll also be spending your money on a top-quality, What Hi-Fi?-approved pair of headphones.

Our list often includes What Hi-Fi? Award winners, and other class-leading models from our various headphones buying guides, so don’t buy a new pair of headphones without checking this page first.

You’ll find the best deals for shoppers in the UK first, but if you’re across the pond, you can jump straight to the best US headphone deals section further down the page.

Headphones expert
About Us
Headphones expert
Becky Roberts

As the former managing editor of What Hi-Fi?, with over a decade of headphone reviewing experience, I've tested hundreds of pairs and lived with many of the best you can buy, so I know a good deal on a good pair when I see one! Trust me when I say that nothing listed below would be a poor purchase.

UK headphone deals – earbuds

Sony WF-C510was £55now£39 at Amazon (save £16)What Hi-Fi? Awards winner
Read moreRead less

Sony WF-C510 was £55 now £39 at Amazon (save £16)
The best wireless budget earbuds out there, the WF-C510 feature 22 hours of battery life, IPX4 splash resistance, Bluetooth 5.3 and an Ambient Aware mode. They set the benchmark for sound quality at this price too. A great choice if you can stretch beyond the Earfun Air (below) but don't need the noise-cancelling functionality of the pricier model-up Sony WF-C710N.
What Hi-Fi? Awards winner

Earfun Air was £60 now £28 at Amazon (save £32)Five stars
Prime members only
Read moreRead less

Earfun Air was £60 now £28 at Amazon (save £32)
The cheapest true wireless earbuds we can heartily recommend, these five-star Earfuns do the basics right. We've seen these drop to £22 before, but this is still a great opportunity to pick up the most affordable, yet decent, budget buds around at a sizeable discount.
Five stars

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds was £300 now £199 at Amazon (save £100)Five stars
Read moreRead less

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds was £300 now £199 at Amazon (save £100)
Now that the 2nd Gen buds are here, the original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have dropped in price. We're not completely sold on the Immersive Audio modes, but with excellent ANC and all-around sonic brilliance, these highly competitive buds are worth their asking price, especially with a discount. Five stars

Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 was £219now £169 at Peter Tyson (save £50) Four stars
Read moreRead less

Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 was £219 now £169 at Peter Tyson (save £50)
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 are an attractive, accomplished pair of wireless earbuds which, when let loose on the right tracks, can take you for a thrilling sonic ride. Their power and attack grant genres such as hip-hop, rock and heavy metal extra helpings of excitement, while their solid detail levels mean that you’ll still be in the picture no matter the tunes you choose. Four stars

Sony  LinkBuds Fit
Save £94
Sony LinkBuds Fit: was £179 now £85 at Amazon
Read moreRead less

This is a huge discount on the Sony LinkBuds Fit. These sporty, comfortable and robust-sounding buds might be a little heavy handed in the lower registers, but exercise fiends will still find a lot to like. This discount is only on the violet finish, but the others have some money off too.

JBL Live Pro 2 was £129 now £80 at Amazon (save £49)Five starsRead our JBL Live Pro 2 review
Read moreRead less

JBL Live Pro 2 was £129 now £80 at Amazon (save £49)
A significant step up from the flock of sub-£100 cheap wireless earbuds, allowing you to access better sound quality without having to make the jump to more premium options from the likes of Bose, Sony and Sennheiser. They’re an entertaining listen, easy to use and manage to pack in a lot of useful features, including noise-cancelling. Five stars
Read our JBL Live Pro 2 review

Technics EAH-AZ40M2 was £129 now £89 at Amazon (save £40)
Read moreRead less

Technics EAH-AZ40M2 was £129 now £89 at Amazon (save £40)
No noise cancellation, but you can still expect a detailed, robust sound, as well as solid comfort levels, on-bud controls and a clean, crisp sonic profile from the Technics EAH-AZ40M2. Excellent value if you don't need ANC and you're working with a tight budget.

Beats Fit Pro was £200 now £157 at Amazon (save £43)
Read moreRead less

Beats Fit Pro was £200 now £157 at Amazon (save £43)
This pretty much equals the lowest price we've witnessed the Beats Fit Pro drop to, and we'd recommend a pair for any sportspeople who want lively-sounding, immensely likeable buds which, thanks to their clever wing-fit construction, nestle into your ears snugly and securely. Running fanatics and gym fiends should find them a very attractive proposition indeed.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 was £260 now £169 at Amazon (save £91)Five stars
Read moreRead less

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 was £260 now £169 at Amazon (save £91)
Watch out, Sony and Bose! The Momentum True Wireless 4 offer a level of sonic refinement and comfort that makes them serious contenders at this level. These noise-cancelling Momentums are great-value alternatives to the Sony XM5 with great sound, fit and features.
Five stars

UK headphone deals – over-ears

Dali IO-8 was £599now £449 (save £150) at Peter TysonFive starsRead our Dali IO-8 review
Five stars
Read moreRead less

Dali IO-8 was £599 now £449 (save £150) at Peter Tyson
Combining a great build, premium feel and excellent sound, the Dali IO-8 set the performance benchmark at this lofty price. £150 is a major drop, but stocks are running low at some retailers, so we don't know how long this deal will be around for. Five stars
Read our Dali IO-8 review

Focal Bathys
Save £250
Focal Bathys: was £699 now £449 at Peter Tyson
Read moreRead less

If you’re tempted by the Dali IO-8 (above) but worry that they may lack a certain je ne sais quoi, the five-star Bathys from French brand Focal are some of the best wireless over-ear headphones you can buy. Offering the kind of cinematic performance that’s rarely found in wireless headphones, and for a price that’s the lowest we’ve seen since last year’s Black Friday, this is a great deal on a sensational pair of cans. Five stars
Read our Focal Bathys review

Sony WH-1000XM4
Save £161
Sony WH-1000XM4: was £350 now £189 at Amazon
Read moreRead less

The Sony WH-1000XM4 have been succeeded twice since we first reviewed them, but Sony seems to be keeping them around at a heavily discounted price. That's good news is you don't have the extra £200 for the newest ones, and it's worth remembering that the XM5 are only £80 more, but they're still a good option alongside the Sennheiser Momentum 4 (below). Five stars
Read our Sony WH-1000XM4 review

Apple AirPods Max was £499 now £455 at Laptops Direct (save £45)Five starsRead our Apple AirPods Max review
Read moreRead less

Apple AirPods Max was £499 now £455 at Laptops Direct (save £45)
The hype for the Apple AirPods Max is justified, and this discount makes them a (slightly) more feasible proposition. Apple's wireless noise-cancelling over-ears are wonderful to use, boast spatial audio support and stake their claim as some of the very best-sounding wireless headphones we have heard. This discount is on the newer, updated USB-C version. Five stars
Read our Apple AirPods Max review

Sony WH-1000XM5was £379 now £249 at Amazon (save £130)Five starsRead our Sony WH-1000XM5 review
Read moreRead less

Sony WH-1000XM5 was £379 now £249 at Amazon (save £130)
With their WH-1000XM6 successors now on the scene these wireless noise-cancelling headphones are no longer Sony's latest and greatest, but it pretty much guarantees they'll be discounted until stocks run out. This isn't the cheapest we've seen for the WH-1000XM5, but it's still a great price. Five stars
Read our Sony WH-1000XM5 review

Sony WH-CH720N was £99 now £72 at Amazon (save £27)What Hi-Fi? Awards winnerRead our Sony WH-CH720N review
Read moreRead less

Sony WH-CH720N was £99 now £72 at Amazon (save £27)
For a very reasonable price, the Sony WH-CH720N are a dependably made, enthusiastic-sounding pair of headphones that, while occasionally straying into the realm of excessive bass, deliver good ANC and a strong feature set to the mid-to-low price bracket of the wireless headphone market. Most definitely a job well done. What Hi-Fi? Awards winner
Read our Sony WH-CH720N review

RØDE NTH-100 was £150 now £108 at Amazon (save £42)What Hi-Fi? Awards winnerRead our Røde NTH-100 review
Read moreRead less

RØDE NTH-100 was £150 now £108 at Amazon (save £42)
Be as critical or as casual in your listening as you like, the Røde NTH-100 will put you fully in the picture with their highly revealing sound. If you want budget closed-back over-ears, these are outstanding value even at their original price, but with this drop, they're a steal. What Hi-Fi? Awards winner
Read our Røde NTH-100 review

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless was £310now £169 at Amazon (save £141)Five starsRead our Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review
Read moreRead less

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless was £310 now £169 at Amazon (save £141)
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones earned a five-star review for their great sound and comprehensive feature set. Not to mention 60 hours of battery life! Now, you can get your hands on them for significantly less than their launch price. Five stars
Read our Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review

Sony WH-CH520 was £60 now £30 at Amazon (save £30)Five starsRead our Sony WH-CH520 review
Half price!
Read moreRead less

Sony WH-CH520 was £60 now £30 at Amazon (save £30)
One of the very best budget over-ear wireless headphones on the market, the Sony WH-CH520 offer an audio performance easily in excess of their original asking price, let alone this discounted one. If you want noise cancellation, Sony's model-up WH-CH720N are your best bet. Five stars
Read our Sony WH-CH520 review

Philips Fidelio X2HR was £180 now £120 at Amazon (save £60)
CHEAP HOME PAIR
Read moreRead less

Philips Fidelio X2HR was £180 now £120 at Amazon (save £60)
A slightly different variant to the Fidelio X2, which we have long admired: "If you’re looking for unrivalled comfort and an eye-pleasing design to boot, there’s none better," we said. This X2HR offering should be very similar in quality, and at this price is very tempting indeed.

Grado SR325x was £330 now £247 at AV (save £83)What Hi-Fi? Awards winnerRead our Grado SR325x review
Read moreRead less

Grado SR325x was £330 now £247 at AV (save £83)
Our favourite wired headphones at this price, the majestic Grado SR325x open-backs are effortlessly musical and just so much fun to listen to. If you don't mind an open-back (leaky) design, this deal deserves to be snapped up. What Hi-Fi? Awards winner
Read our Grado SR325x review

Grado SR80x was £130 now £105 at Amazon (save £25)Five starsRead our Grado SR80x review
Read moreRead less

Grado SR80x was £130 now £105 at Amazon (save £25)
If you can't afford the Grados above but are set on an open-back design, the more affordable SR80x siblings are excellent value for money – and also former Award winners. Five stars
Read our Grado SR80x review

Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X was £249 now £199 at Amazon (save £50)Five starsRead our Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X review
Read moreRead less

Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X was £249 now £199 at Amazon (save £50)
If you’re looking for a quality pair of closed-back headphones at this price, put the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X at the top of your shopping list. Once you have a listen you’ll be glad you did. Detailed, comfortable, classy – they tick all the boxes. Five stars
Read our Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X review

Beyerdynamic T1 3rd Generation was £999 now £699 at Amazon (save £300)Five starsRead our Beyerdynamic T1 (3rd Generation) review
Read moreRead less

Beyerdynamic T1 3rd Generation was £999 now £699 at Amazon (save £300)
The latest Beyerdynamic T1 open-back over-ears are a step up in performance and compatibility from their predecessors and are among the best wired headphones at this price. Grab them at this very generous discount while you can. Five stars
Read our Beyerdynamic T1 (3rd Generation) review

US headphones deals – earbuds

Sony WF-1000XM5 was $300now $228 at Amazon (save $72)Five stars Read our Sony WF-1000XM5 review
Read moreRead less

Sony WF-1000XM5 was $300 now $228 at Amazon (save $72)
The superb Sony WF-1000XM5 are still the best wireless earbuds in this space, packing in some of the most extensive features available at the price. We can't think of a rival pair of wireless buds that can touch them, and this discount is more than welcome for bargain hunters. Five stars
Read our Sony WF-1000XM5 review

Earfun Air was $65 now $40 at Amazon (save $25)Five stars
prime exclusive
Read moreRead less

Earfun Air was $65 now $40 at Amazon (save $25)
The cheapest true wireless earbuds we can heartily recommend, these five-star Earfuns do the basics right – and are now down to just $36 if you tick the coupon box. A decent buy if you're looking for budget buds at this affordable price, though we have seen them drop to $30 before. Five stars

AirPods 4 with ANC was $179now $120 at Amazon (save $50)Four stars
BEST AIRPODS DEAL
Read moreRead less

AirPods 4 with ANC was $179 now $120 at Amazon (save $50)
Any discount on such a new pair of AirPods is welcome. The AirPods 4 with ANC cram in so many flagship features with effective sound-blocking and improved sound at this mid-range price – though the AirPods Pro 2 for $199 (below) are better performers. Four stars

AirPods 4 was $129now $90 at Amazon (save $40)
Read moreRead less

AirPods 4 was $129 now $90 at Amazon (save $40)
The new AirPods 4 are already receiving a generous discount at Amazon. They don't have noise cancellation, unlike their 'AirPods 4 with ANC' sibling (above), but they boast the latest AirPods design and supposedly improved sound over the AirPods 3, while the H2 chip brings with it personalised spatial audio and voice isolation for clearer call quality.

AirPods Pro 2 was $249now $169 at Amazon (save $80)Five stars
Read moreRead less

AirPods Pro 2 was $249 now $169 at Amazon (save $80)
Apple’s current flagship ANC buds are our five-star favourites and they don't often get big discounts. With impressive ANC, a hugely enjoyable sound that’s powerful, dynamic and subtle, along with personalised spatial audio and new Apple-centric features, the AirPods Pro (2nd gen) are easy to recommend. Five stars

Technics EAH-AZ60M2 was $228 now $160 at Amazon (save $68)
Read moreRead less

Technics EAH-AZ60M2 was $228 now $160 at Amazon (save $68)
Expect a detailed, robust sound, as well as solid comfort levels, decent active noise cancellation good on-bud controls. The spirited, likeable Technics EAH-AZ60M2 offer a solid alternative to some of the market-leading earbuds.

Beats Fit Pro was $200 now $150 at Amazon (save $50)Lowest price on pink finishFour stars
Read moreRead less

Beats Fit Pro was $200 now $150 at Amazon (save $50)
If you’re looking for an AirPods alternative for exercise, these comfortable, feature-packed, fun-sounding and sport-friendly Beats Fit Pro are easy to recommend. The innovative new wingtip design promises a more secure fit for active lifestyles, while the presence of a Beats app for Android allows non-Apple users to get more involved in the earbuds' features. Lowest price on pink finish
Four stars

Shure Aonic 3 was $249 now $219 at Amazon (save $30)What Hi-Fi? Award winners
NO.1 WIRED
Read moreRead less

Shure Aonic 3 was $249 now $219 at Amazon (save $30)
Shure has plenty of experience with wired in-ear headphones, and it shines through in the Aonic 3. They're comfy and lightweight for starters, and absolutely nail sound quality. You won't find better buds at this level – especially at this discounted price.
What Hi-Fi? Award winners

US headphone deals – over-ears

Sony WH-CH720N was $180 now $120 at Amazon (save $50)What Hi-Fi? Awards winner
Read moreRead less

Sony WH-CH720N was $180 now $120 at Amazon (save $50)
For a very reasonable price, the Sony WH-CH720N are a dependably made, enthusiastic-sounding pair of headphones that, while occasionally straying into the realm of excessive bass, deliver good ANC and a strong feature set to the mid-to-low price bracket of the wireless headphone market. Most definitely a job well done.

What Hi-Fi? Awards winner

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless was $380now $292 at Amazon (Save $98)Five stars
Read moreRead less

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless was $380 now $292 at Amazon (Save $98)
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones earned a five-star review for their great sound and comprehensive feature set. Not to mention 60 hours of battery life! Now, you can get your hands on them for significantly less than their launch price, although the biggest discounts are only on particular colours. Solid alternatives to the Sony class-leading XM5, which aren't on sale. Five stars

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 was $599now $499 at Amazon (save $100)Five stars
Read moreRead less

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 was $599 now $499 at Amazon (save $100)
The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 over-ears are a superb example of flagship cans – luxurious to behold and sublime to listen to, representing one of the best models in the premium wireless noise-cancelling market. Five stars

Apple AirPods Max was $549now $479 at PC Richards (save $80)Five stars
Read moreRead less

Apple AirPods Max was $549 now $479 at PC Richards (save $80)
Apple’s over-ear models are a five-star hit: superb-sounding, noise-cancelling wireless cans with a stylish and luxurious design. Worth it if you're after a premium pair. This is a deal for the newer USB-C model. Five stars

Headphone deals FAQ

Bose or Sony – which headphone brand has the best deals?

Between them, Bose and Sony take up a lot of our recommendations in both the wireless earbuds and wireless headphones catgeory. And because of their success and consequent popularity, it's no surprise that they both feature heavily in year-round headphones deals at Amazon and other technology retailers such as Best Buy and John Lewis.

So it's a tough call and really depends on the models and their discounts. Generally, though, Sony pairs are the go-tos at the more affordable price points as Bose doesn't compete there. And even in the mid-market and premium sectors, they typically undercut Bose alternatives come sales time.

That said, Bose tends to deliver slightly better active noise cancelling technology, so if that is your biggest priority and there isn't much in price between two pairs, you may be best siding with Bose.

If you are struggling to pick between two rival discounted models – say, the Sony WH-1000XM5 (the brand-new XM6 aren't on sale yet) and the Bose QC Ultra headphones – our general Sony vs Bose headphones or model-specific comparison articles should help:

When is the best time to buy headphones?

You'll always be able to find a good headphone deal no matter the time of year, but you'll typically see the biggest savings and best-ever prices during sales events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday (November), with Amazon Prime Days (July and October), Boxing Day and the January sales also seeing prices slashed more so than the rest of the year.

MORE:

These are the best wireless headphones and best wireless earbuds you can buy

Want the best sound? Go for a pair of the best wired headphones

How to choose the right pair of headphones

Becky Roberts
Freelance contributor

Becky is a hi-fi, AV and technology journalist, formerly the Managing Editor at What Hi-Fi? and Editor of Australian Hi-Fi and Audio Esoterica magazines. With over twelve years of journalism experience in the hi-fi industry, she has reviewed all manner of audio gear, from budget amplifiers to high-end speakers, and particularly specialises in headphones and head-fi devices.

In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.

With contributions from

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.