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Black Friday headphones deals live blog: save on AirPods, Bose, Sony XM4 earbuds and more
Our pick of the best Black Friday headphone deals

The Black Friday deals are live and include plenty of big savings on headphones, from wireless earbuds to noise-cancelling over-ears.
We've seen offers on the most popular pairs on the planet and super-cheap alternatives, not to mention multiple discounts on five-star and What Hi-Fi? Award-winning models – some of which are reaching their lowest-ever prices.
To save you from spending hours scouring the sales, we're doing the job for you, picking out the best Black Friday deals on the best headphones. There should be something for everyone on here, no matter your preference and budget...
Best Black Friday headphone deals
- Bose Noise Cancelling 700 headphones £250 at Amazon (save £100) (opens in new tab)
- Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones £219 at Amazon (save £111) (opens in new tab)
- Sony WH-1000XM5 £296 at Sevenoaks (save £83)
- AKG Y500 Wireless headphones £65 at Amazon (save £64) (opens in new tab)
- Apple AirPods 2 (2019) earbuds £115 at John Lewis (save £40) (opens in new tab)
- Sony WF-C500 earbuds £49 at Amazon (save £41) (opens in new tab)
- Grado SR80x wired headphones £99 at Amazon
- Bose QuietComfort Earbuds £134 at Amazon (save £116) (opens in new tab)
- Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds £159 at Amazon (save £91) (opens in new tab)
- Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 £179 at Amazon (save £40) (opens in new tab)
- Sony WH-CH710N headphones £69 at John Lewis (save £61)
Sony WF-C500 earbuds was £90 now £49 at Amazon (save £41) (opens in new tab)
If you want straight-up good-sounding wireless earbuds without fancier features like active noise cancellation, and your budget is under £100, look no further. We have just awarded these Sonys a What Hi-Fi? Best Buy Award as our favourite budget wireless earbuds. They already represented the pinnacle of great value, and that was before their Black Friday price drop.
Now just £49 at Amazon, John Lewis (opens in new tab), Box (opens in new tab) and Argos (opens in new tab) – and in some colourful finishes in addition to black and white, too – the WF-C500 prove just how far true wireless earbud technology has come, and how accessible they are today too.
Bose QuietComfort SE was £239.95 now £189.95 at Amazon (save £50)
Who says you need to spend big bucks to get a pair of Bose wireless noise-cancelling over-ear headphones? While the most premium Bose 700 and Bose QuietComfort 45 are still around £250 even with Black Friday discounts, there is a more affordable option that can get you Bose sound and features for under £200: the Bose QuietComfort SE for £190 at John Lewis (opens in new tab), Amazon (opens in new tab) and Currys (opens in new tab).
If you're sitting there thinking "these look familiar", that's because they look almost identical to the QuietComfort 45 (and the QC35 II that came before them). They share many of their QC45's features too. In fact, Bose claims the SE have the same class-leading specs as their siblings, including brilliant noise cancellation.
While we haven't tested the QC SE, the main difference that we can spot is that the SE come with a soft fabric travel case instead of the sturdier hard shell case of the QC45. They also appear to feature always-on ANC, meaning you can only switch between the noise cancelling being on, or on "aware mode" (Bose's transparency mode).
Bose QuietComfort SE £239.95 £189.95 at Amazon (save £50) (opens in new tab)
These cut-price QuietComforts look sleek and stylish, adopting the QC45 stylish exterior in an all-black colourway. You'll find all of the best QC45 features here including brilliant active noise cancelling and a claimed 24-hour battery life. Also available at John Lewis (opens in new tab) and Currys (opens in new tab).
Sony WH-1000XM5 was £379 now £296 at Sevenoaks (save £83) (opens in new tab)
Sony headphones are all the rage this (and every) Black Friday, and right on cue we've spotted a massive saving on the best wireless headphones around, the Sony WH-1000XM5.
The Sony XM5 headphones are now available for £299. This is the lowest-ever price on the new XM5 headphones, having originally launched at £379 – so that's a saving of more than £80.
We did see this low price during the Amazon Prime Early Access Sale but we certainly haven't seen the price tag go any lower. So if you want to take the plunge on these class-leading wireless, noise-cancelling headphones, now looks like a great time to buy.
Sony WH-1000XM5 £379 £296 at Sevenoaks (save £83) (opens in new tab)
The latest and greatest Sony over-ear wireless noise-cancelling headphones have been reduced again for Black Friday, with a £53 saving that makes them even better performance-per-pound value. Five stars.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds was £249 now £134 at Amazon (save £115)
You might think Black Friday headphones deals are dominated by Bose and Sony. And you'd be partly right. To that end, we just couldn't ignore this deal on the original Bose QuietComfort Earbuds. Black Friday has seen these excellent wireless ANC buds drop to their lowest price ever. They're right up there with the best at the money, including the mighty Sony WF-1000XM4. Sound quality is superb, as is noise cancelling. They're also sweat and weather-resistant, which means they're great for exercise as well as your daily commute.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds £249 £134 at Amazon (save £115) (opens in new tab)
The fantastic five-star true wireless earbuds combine brilliant noise-cancelling tech with natural, dynamic sound. They're worthy challengers to the original AirPods Pro – especially now they've dropped to this lowest-seen price at Amazon (see our review here).
Apple AirPods Pro 2 wireless earbuds was £249 now £229 at Amazon
Fresh from a five-star What Hi-Fi? review, the AirPods Pro have dropped in price. Apple's premium wireless ANC earbuds sound better the second time around, with this generation, in our opinion, the best-sounding yet. If you're already an iPhone or iPad user, the Pro 2 will slip effortlessly into your life and they're a fine alternative to the Sony WF-1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II of this world.
Apple AirPods Pro 2 (2022) £249 £229 at Amazon (save $20) (opens in new tab)
The all-new AirPods Pro come with personalized spatial audio profiles, improved noise-cancelation, and better battery life, among other upgrades. These just released, but you can grab a pair with £20 off for Black Friday (see our review here).
Grado SR80x headphones was £130 now £99 at Amazon (save £31)
We interrupt the wireless earbuds deals to bring you news of a smart saving on the Grado SR80x on-ear, wired headphones. They're a firm What Hi-Fi? favourite and a multiple Award-winner so they come highly recommended. They look retro but perform better than anything else we've heard at the money. The Grados might leak a little, but if you're planning on listening at home with a desktop hi-fi system, then these excellent over-ears will work well as the focal point of said system, thanks to their dynamic and transparent sound.
Grado SR80x headphones was £13 (opens in new tab)0 (opens in new tab) new £99 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
If you're looking for a great pair of headphones to use with a desktop system, then these Grados fit the bill perfectly. They sound superb and you can save a decent amount of cash thanks to this Black Friday deal (see our review here).
Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones was £330 now £219 at Amazon
These Sony headphones have been discounted in the weeks building up to Black Friday, but they've just dropped to an even cheaper price and can be yours for just £219. That's a huge £110 saving on their 'tested at' price. Not bad for a five-star pair of premium over-ears. They might have been overtaken by the more expensive WH-1000XM5 in the performance department, but they're still super-competitive at this level, not to mention comfy. Oh, and did we mention their active noise-cancelling is on point too? We think this is one of the best wireless headphones deals you'll see during Black Friday 2022.
Sony WH-1000XM4: was £330 now £219 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
(opens in new tab)Sony’s last-gen premium XM4 deliver a sonic masterclass and nothing really lets that down – battery life, build, comfort and usability are all great for the money (see our review here). Five stars, What Hi-Fi? Award winner
Now that Black Friday is officially here, how about we celebrate with the top 5 best wireless headphones and earbuds under £100?
Because these days, it isn't all too difficult to find great sound without having to spend three figures. It is actually incredibly easy if you want just any old pair as you'll find thousands of wireless earbuds on Amazon that cost less than a round at a pub. But you don't want any old pair, do you? You want a great-sounding pair, which is how you've landed on one of the What Hi-Fi? live blogs. Well, we aren't going to disappoint you, because below are the 5 best Black Friday deals you'll see today.
They are all five-star pairs and some are even current What Hi-Fi? Award winners, so you can be sure you're getting quality as well as a discount.
Sennheiser HD 250BT £60 £38 at Amazon (save £22) (opens in new tab)
We didn't think these superb budget wireless on-ears could get any cheaper – but here we are! Don't expect luxury flourishes, but they nail the basics. They sound great for the money and have Bluetooth 5.0 and aptX Low Latency support, a 25-hour battery life, plus app support that brings EQ customisation onboard.
What Hi-Fi? Award winner 2022
AKG Y500 Wireless £129 £65 at Amazon (save £64) (opens in new tab)
"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" – that's what we said of them under review. A great 50% off Black Friday deal on a five-star set of wireless AKG on-ears.
Five stars
Sony WF-C500 £90 £49 at Amazon (save £41) (opens in new tab)
Boasting impressive musicality and excellent levels of detail and insight, these comfortable, sporty earbuds are well worth even their non-discounted price. The WF-C500 feature 20 hours of battery life, IPX4 splash resistance and Bluetooth 5.0, and are available in black, white, orange and mint. No noise-cancelling, mind.
What Hi-Fi? Award winner 2022
Cambridge Melomania 1+ £120 £49.95 at Amazon (save £40) (opens in new tab)
One of our favourite pairs of budget true wireless earbuds deliver what is arguably the most detailed sound performance we’ve heard at their original price. Combine that with a 45-hour battery life and decent app features and you have yourself a winner. The caveat? No noise-cancelling. Five stars
Panasonic RZ-S500W £169 £85 at Amazon (save £84) (opens in new tab)
If noise-cancelling is a must, then so are these Panasonics, one of the very best true wireless earbuds you can buy under £100. They offer a combination of features (yes, including ANC) and sound quality that is utterly unique at this price. Five stars
Now that Black Friday is officially here, how about we celebrate with the top 5 best wireless headphones and earbuds under £100?
Because these days, it isn't all too difficult to find great sound without having to spend three figures. It is actually incredibly easy if you want just any old pair as you'll find thousands of wireless earbuds on Amazon that cost less than a round at a pub. But you don't want any old pair, do you? You want a great-sounding pair, which is how you've landed on one of the What Hi-Fi? live blogs. Well, we aren't going to disappoint you, because below are the 5 best Black Friday deals you'll see today.
They are all five-star pairs and some are even current What Hi-Fi? Award winners, so you can be sure you're getting quality as well as a discount.
Sennheiser HD 250BT £60 £38 at Amazon (save £22) (opens in new tab)
We didn't think these superb budget wireless on-ears could get any cheaper – but here we are! Don't expect luxury flourishes, but they nail the basics. They sound great for the money and have Bluetooth 5.0 and aptX Low Latency support, a 25-hour battery life, plus app support that brings EQ customisation onboard.
What Hi-Fi? Award winner 2022
AKG Y500 Wireless £129 £65 at Amazon (save £64) (opens in new tab)
"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" – that's what we said of them under review. A great 50% off Black Friday deal on a five-star set of wireless AKG on-ears.
Five stars
Sony WF-C500 £90 £49 at Amazon (save £41) (opens in new tab)
Boasting impressive musicality and excellent levels of detail and insight, these comfortable, sporty earbuds are well worth even their non-discounted price. The WF-C500 feature 20 hours of battery life, IPX4 splash resistance and Bluetooth 5.0, and are available in black, white, orange and mint. No noise-cancelling, mind.
What Hi-Fi? Award winner 2022
Cambridge Melomania 1+ £120 £49.95 at Amazon (save £40) (opens in new tab)
One of our favourite pairs of budget true wireless earbuds deliver what is arguably the most detailed sound performance we’ve heard at their original price. Combine that with a 45-hour battery life and decent app features and you have yourself a winner. The caveat? No noise-cancelling. Five stars
Panasonic RZ-S500W £169 £85 at Amazon (save £84) (opens in new tab)
If noise-cancelling is a must, then so are these Panasonics, one of the very best true wireless earbuds you can buy under £100. They offer a combination of features (yes, including ANC) and sound quality that is utterly unique at this price. Five stars
Bose QC Earbuds II was £280 now £249 at Amazon (save £31)
We love a surprise Black Friday deal and this one has caught us slightly off-guard. Fresh from receiving a What Hi-Fi? Award for 2022, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II have also just received a price drop. That's right. These premium wireless in-ears have only ben on sale for a couple of months and their price has been cut from £280 to £249 at Amazon. Not only are they super-comfortable and some of the best-sounding earbuds we've heard this year, but they are also kings of noise-cancelling, with their ANC tech arguably the best in the category at this current time. Yes, they're not cheap, but this decent saving will make your purchase taste that little bit sweeter.
Bose QC Earbuds II was £280 now £249 at Amazon (save £31) (opens in new tab)
Bose’s flagship wireless earbuds were never going to be cheap, but with a successful design and noise-cancelling that sets new benchmarks for quality, the QuietComfort Earbuds II deserve to be heard. Especially now that they've dropped to the lowest-ever price on Black Friday! (read our review here)
Cambridge Melomania 1+ was £120 now £40 at Amazon
We've spotted that one of our favourite pairs of cheap wireless earbuds just got even cheaper in the Black Friday sales. The Cambridge Melomania 1+ are no-frills in-ears with serious sonic ability (and nine hour battery life from a single charge) and when they launched would set you back £120. Now you can save £80 on their original retail price which brings them down to just £40. A perfect Christmas stocking-filler if ever we saw one.
Cambridge Melomania 1+ was £120 now £40 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
One of our favourite pairs of budget true wireless earbuds deliver a fantastically detailed sound for not a lot of money. Combine that with a 45-hour battery life and decent app features and you have yourself a winner. The caveat? No noise-cancelling (see our review here). Five stars
JBL Reflect Flow Pro was £129 now £99 at Amazon
Sporty types might want to cast their eyes over this discount on a five-star pair of wireless earbuds from JBL. The Reflect Flow Pro are a great option for the gym or the great outdoors – they're IP68-rated which means they won't let dust in and they'll survive a dunking in water too. The ruggedised design includes ear tips that keep the buds in place during tough training sessions and the lively, entertaining sound quality will keep you pushing through to the finish. Highly recommended.
JBL Reflect Flow Pro was £129 now £99 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
With 30 hours of total battery life (10 hours per charge), noise-cancelling and a build that can withstand the great outdoors, these five-star earbuds are the perfect companion for summer walks and sports (see our review here).
Sony wireless noise-cancelling over-ear headphones now only £69!
The popular Sony XM4 and newer XM5 may be on the end of excellent Black Friday deals (scroll down to see!), but they are still both over £200. If your budget doesn't stretch to that asking price – or even half of it – then may we suggest looking deeper into Sony's catalogue, because the Sony WH-CH710N are now just £69 at Amazon (opens in new tab), John Lewis (opens in new tab) and Argos (opens in new tab).
That's a £61 saving over the original RRP, and significantly lower than the £84 price tag they held earlier this week. Indeed, this is a brand-new price drop for the WH-CH710N and the lowest price we have seen them for.
We haven't reviewed this pair, but we really liked their predecessors (the WH-CH700N), which proved that Sony's talent for creating class-leading, wireless, noise-cancelling headphones not only at the premium end but also the budget one is irrefutable.
Sony WH-CH710N £130 £69 at John Lewis (save £61) (opens in new tab)
Can't afford the premium Sony WH-1000XM4 or XM5? 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.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds was £219 now £179 at Amazon
If you've been eyeing up a pair of premium wireless earbuds in this year's Black Friday sales, then you've got plenty of choices. Five-star performers like the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and Sony WF-1000XM4 both have big savings and you can now add Sennheiser to the mix with £40 off its premium option, the Momentum True Wireless 3.
These excellent wireless in-ears boast a thorough feature set, effective active noise-cancelling IPX4 water resistance and intuitive touch controls. And they're no slouch in the sound department either.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds was £219 now £179 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Building on an already winning recipe with an improved feature set, a decent step up in performance and a more compact design, the Momentum True Wireless 3 are Sennheiser’s best yet – and, most importantly, highly competitive in the increasingly crowded market, especially at this discounted Black Friday price (see our review here).
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