As Insider Reviews' senior tech editor, I cover many headphones and earbuds throughout the year, and some of my team's top-rated models are still on sale for Prime Day. Amazon's four-day event is entering its final stretch, but there's still time to grab these discounts before midnight. The best Prime Day headphone deals include some of the lowest prices ever on flagship cans from Sony, Sonos, and Apple.
Right now, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are discounted to $248, which is an all-time low. The XM5s are our pick for the best headphones overall, and they're some of the most versatile headphones around. Meanwhile, Apple's popular AirPods Pro 2 are also at a record-low price. You can snag them right now for $149. Check out more Apple savings in our Prime Day AirPods deals and Prime Day Apple deals roundups.
Prime Day ends tonight, so I recommend grabbing any headphone deals you like before they're gone. If you're looking for other products, head over to our complete Prime Day deals hub with all of our carefully curated recommendations.
The best Prime Day headphone and earbud deals
The WH-1000XM5 are one of Sony’s top over-ear headphones. They boast excellent noise-canceling performance along with great audio quality and a truckload of convenient features.
- Solid noise canceling
- Loads of features
- Great audio quality
- Lightweight design
- Relatively large case
- Can’t fold up for travel
- A little flimsy
The AirPods Pro 2 are a big upgrade from their predecessors, with improved noise cancellation and battery life. They also support new aural health features to assess your hearing and function as hearing aids. This model comes with a USB-C charging case and added dust resistance.
- Best sounding Apple earbuds
- Loaded with Apple-friendly features
- Excellent noise canceling
- Adaptive audio adjusts to environment
- Still limited for Android devices
- Nearly identical physical design as original AirPods Pro
- Lack of custom EQ controls
The Sonos Ace are the comfiest headphones we've reviewed. They also offer great noise-canceling and audio quality that rival top models from the competition.
- Incredibly comfortable
- Fantastic noise canceling
- Detailed sound signature is great for music, movies, and games
- Stylish design with good battery life
- Can't group with other Sonos speakers
- A bit pricey compared to some similar competing headphones
- TV Swap feature is cool but it only works with Sonos soundbars
Sony's WH-1000XM4 headphones offer an excellent balance between sound quality, noise-cancelling performance, and price. They're an older model but still deliver fantastic value, especially when they're on sale.
The Beats Solo 4 headphones are a reliable on-ear option, and the 50-hour battery life is an especially notable feature.
These headphones are an excellent fit for all-around use, with great noise cancellation, plush comfort, all-day battery life, and more. However, Bose's step-up QC Ultra model does offer even better noise-canceling performance.
Apple's latest generation of AirPods features a new design to optimize comfort for wearers of every kind. It's powered by the H2 chip and uses a smaller case than ever.
Anker’s Soundcore Life Q30 headphones offer noise-canceling performance that’s much better than it should be for the money, alongside solid sound quality and massive battery life.
The AeroFit 2 earbuds are the most full-featured and versatile running earbuds we've tested in this price range. They're an excellent fit for gyms and outdoor runs.
Sony’s WF-1000XM5 earbuds deliver excellent sound quality and noise canceling in a sleek, comfy design that’s tough to beat.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 are excellent fitness earbuds with secure ear hooks, great sound quality, and built-in heart rate monitoring. They also deliver solid noise-canceling and use the same H2 chip found on the latest AirPods.
Anker’s Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds offer tons of handy features and great noise canceling performance that’s shockingly good for the money.
JLab’s Go Air Pop are the most affordable wireless earbuds that are actually still worth buying.
The Nothing Ear headphones ooze style with one of the most unique earbud designs on the market. This new 2024 model offers improved sound, ANC, and battery life compared to the previous Nothing Ear (2) earbuds.
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 offer solid noise-canceling performance and incredible battery life, but their sterling sonic skills are the real prize
The Technics EAH-AZ80 aren’t cheap, but they reward your investment with good features and sterling sound to match their flashy style.
The QuietComfort Earbuds are Bose's midrange in-ear headphones. They deliver excellent noise cancellation for the money, but performance is a slight step down compared to the brand's pricier QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.
The Beats Fit Pro are the perfect double agents, bringing all the best Apple-friendly features alongside handy Android extras for a great experience across devices, whether you listen at home, at the gym, or on the trail.
The Linkbuds Fit are good earbuds for various workouts, but we found their design to be especially good for bike riding since they don't stick out and mess with helmet straps.
The WH-1000XM6 are Sony's latest flagship over-ear headphones. Compared to older models, they deliver an improved design and upgraded noise cancellation, making them some of the most impressive wireless headphones we've tested.
FAQs
Are Prime Day headphone deals good?
Yes, Amazon's Prime Day sale is offering some of the best headphone deals of the year. Though it's likely we'll see similar discounts on Black Friday, that's months away. If you're aiming to buy a new pair of headphones now, I recommend grabbing one of these deals while they remain active.
What are the top headphones to buy on Prime Day?
Highly-rated headphones from brands like Sony, Apple, Sonos, Sennheiser, and Soundcore are all on sale right now for Prime Day. Some of my favorite models include the Sony WH-1000XM5, Sonos Ace, and AirPods Pro 2. My team has tested many of these headphones, and you can learn more about their performance in our collection of buying guides:
- The best over-ear headphones
- The best budget headphones
- The best earbuds
- The best Apple AirPods
- The best workout headphones
- The best running headphones
Are over-ear headphones better than earbuds?
Over-ear headphones and earbuds can both offer excellent performance and features, but they each have pros and cons.
Over-ear headphones use headbands with large ear cups. This design has the potential to deliver the best sound quality because it can accommodate larger and more advanced audio drivers. Over-ear headphones can also create a good seal around your ear, which can enable great sound isolation and enhance active noise-cancelling performance. On the downside, over-ear headphones are large and bulky, which makes them less suited for certain activities, like workouts.
Meanwhile, earbuds use separate left and right buds that rest inside or just outside your ear canal. High-end earbuds can still deliver excellent audio performance, but they can't quite match the quality offered by premium over-ear headphones. That said, earbuds are a lot more portable, which makes them convenient for travel and active uses, like runs and exercising.
Shopping for more discounts? Check out our roundup of all of the best Prime Day deals, or browse Amazon's website for the full selection.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
