Now is the best time of the year to buy headphones and earbuds, as Black Friday sales go live around the world ahead of the official date this Friday. Indeed, if you've been waiting for a pair to plummet in price, it's most likely to do so now and in the coming days, now that we are in 'Black Friday week'.
Headphones and earbuds are one of the tech categories that reliably receive huge discounts come Black Friday month, when retailers slash everything from AirPods to over-ear Boses. That is why it's now more important than ever to remind you that there's more to a good deal than a hefty saving – the headphones must be brilliant too, otherwise all you are getting is a discounted dud rather than a full-priced one.
Below, our in-house team of expert reviewers has handpicked the best headphone deals on the best pairs we have reviewed; models that we deem good value at their original price, and even greater value in the face of a discount. Here, we only highlight discounted pairs we've tried, tested and can honestly recommend, including current What Hi-Fi? Award 2024 winners, AirPods and popular pairs from Sony, Bose, Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic and many more.
In the US? Jump straight to the best US headphone deals section of this article.
- See our live Black Friday headphones deal coverage offering daily discount updates
As the 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 models you can buy, so I know a good deal on a good pair when I see one!My top 3 for Black Friday so far are:
Sony WF-C700N earbuds now £67 (save £33)
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones now £180 (Save £130)
AirPods Pro 2 earbuds now $154 (save $95)
UK headphone deals – earbuds
UK headphone deals – over-ears
US headphones deals – earbuds
US headphone deals – over-ears
Black Friday headphones FAQ
When is Black Friday?
The official Black Friday date is this Friday, 29th November. This is followed by Cyber Monday on – yes – the following Monday, which this year falls on 2nd December.
So should you wait until those days to make your Black Friday purchase? Five or so years ago, we would have said 'yes' as retailers tended to go big in-store and online during those days. In recent years, however, retailers have gone earlier and earlier with their Black Friday sales, with many launching their deals at the start of Black Friday week or, as we are seeing this year, even earlier. Some may drop extra savings on those two biggest days, but it's not a guarantee.
Our advice is this: if you see a deal price on a product you are happy with, buy it. Waiting could pay off and save you a few extra pounds/dollars – or it could see you miss out on a deal or on available stock.
Should you buy headphones on Black Friday?
While sales periods are seemingly never-ending now that two Amazon Prime Days and Boxing Day and January sales are prolific, Black Friday is still arguably the best time of the year to buy headphones (and most consumer electronics) as the majority of retailers get in on the action and we genuinely do see year-best prices during mid-to-late November. Many of our favourite pairs from Sony, Bose and Apple are currently generously discounted.
So if you want to upgrade, now is a good time to scour this year-round headphones deals page or check out our headphones buying guides for the very best pairs for every style and price point.
That said, if money is tight right now and you can't afford to splurge this soon before Christmas, another round of sales will take place in the weeks after Christmas and no doubt offer near-Black Friday prices on several popular, five-star models. You may just not have as much choice or quite as low prices.
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 the Black Friday 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 and Bose QC Ultra headphones – our general Sony vs Bose headphones or model-specific comparison articles should help:
- Premium wireless ANC headphones: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Sony WH-1000XM5
- Premium wireless ANC earbuds: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds vs Sony WF-1000XM5
- Older headphone models: Bose QC45 vs Sony WH-1000XM4
MORE:
These are the best wireless headphones and best wireless earbuds you can buy
Our pick of the best hi-fi and audio deals and best speaker deals