Best Amazon Black Friday Headphone Deals
CR's picks for headphones deals from Beats, Bose, Sony, and more
Headphones are sure to be a hot seller this holiday season, and we've seen some incredible Black Friday deals already. There are great discounts at a number of retailers, but some of the best bargains just went live at Amazon on Thanksgiving morning.
Standouts include the Apple Powerbeats Pro, on sale for $50 off, and the Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II, seeling for $279, or $80 less than typical retail.
Of course, Amazon isn't the only seller offering great Black Friday headphones deals. We're seeing some of the same prices at other retailers, too. As always, it's in your interest to do some comparison shopping before you click buy. Check out our roundup of the best Black Friday headphones deals from every retailer. You can also take a look at CR's ratings for more details on the headphones listed below, and tons of other models that have gone through Consumer Reports audio labs.
In general, there are also some basic guidelines worth following to make sure you're buying smart. For more, check out CR's Black Friday shopping tips.
Here are our top picks from Amazon's Black Friday headphones deals.
In-Ear Headphones
1MORE Quad Driver Wired Earphones
The deal: $120 at Amazon
CR’s test results: 1MORE Quad Driver
The 1MORE Quad Driver is an exceptional deal even at the typical price of $170. These are some of the best-sounding headphones in Consumer Reports ratings, in-ear, over-ear, or otherwise. You can pay hundreds more for headphones and earbuds that sound worse. But this discount makes the earphones a really compelling option. They come with accessories such as a carrying case and a variety of ear tips to help you find the right fit.
Apple Powerbeats Pro True Wireless Earphones
The deal: $200 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Staples
CR’s test results: Apple Powerbeats Pro
The Pros are the latest in the popular Powerbeats line of earphones, and they’re the first to ditch the cable connecting the two earpieces for a true wireless design. Their audio quality is just so-so; according to our tests, the bass is unnaturally loud, distorting the true sound of music. Still, Beats are popular, and these earphones could make for a great gift. They typically sell for $250.
Jabra Elite 65t True Wireless Earphones
The deal: $99-$109 at Amazon, Best Buy
CR’s test results: Jabra Elite 65t
Want outstanding true wireless earphones (think no cords or cables) that don’t cost a fortune? This deal makes the Jabra Elite 65t a fantastic option. They sound great and come with a number of appealing features. Usually they sell for about $170, but you can pick them up for around $100 at Amazon and Best Buy.
Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones
The deal: $100 at Amazon, Target
CR’s test results: Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones
These aren’t noise-canceling headphones, unlike some of Bose’s more popular models. That doesn't mean they aren't solid headphones, though, and in our tests they stand out for sound quality. This is about $30 dollars off what you usually have to pay for them.
Samsung Galaxy Buds True Wireless Earphones
The deal: $116-$119 at Amazon, Best Buy
CR’s test results: Samsung Galaxy Buds
The Samsung Galaxy Buds are true wireless earphones, the same style popularized by the AirPods without a cord connecting to earpieces. Despite what you might hear from Apple fans, our testers say the Buds sound quality blows the AirPods out of the water. In fact, they’re one of our top-rated headphones of any style. This isn’t a hefty discount, and you can pick them for about $10 more any day of the year, but it might be worth pulling the trigger if you’ve been thinking about a new pair. It will be on sale at Best Buy, but you can get a similar discount at Amazon right now.
Over-Ear and On-Ear Headphones
Beats by Dre Studio3 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones
The deal: $199-$279 at Amazon, Best Buy, Target
CR’s test results: Beats by Dre Studio3
The Beats by Dre Studio3 deliver above average sound and superb noise-canceling. But at their usual price of $300, they typically don’t make our lists of top picks because there are cheaper models that perform just as well or better. For around $200, though, the Studio3 is definitely worth the cost of entry. The best deal we've seen is at Best Buy, but they're on sale at Amazon and Target as well.
Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones
The deal: $269-$279 at Amazon, Costco, and Best Buy
CR’s test results: QuietComfort 35 Series II
Bose launched an upgraded model this year, the Bose 700, knocking the QuietComfort 35 Series II from its flagship status. The newer headphones have appealing improvements and new features, but the QuietComfort 35 Series II gets the same fantastic ratings for sound and noise-canceling in our tests. That means you’ve got a great opportunity here to score a deal. We’ve seen these headphones at this price a few times lately, but they usually sell for $350.
Jabra Elite 85h Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones
The deal: $250 at Amazon
CR’s test results: Jabra Elite 85h
The 85h delivers fantastic noise-cancellation and dependable sound, and it's available for about $50 off the usual price at Amazon. Features include a detachable audio cable for wired connections, a monitor mode to let in outside sound, a quick-charge function, and an option that Jabra says will automatically adjust the level of noise cancellation based on your environment. Keep in mind there are a few noise-canceling models we like better that can be found for less, but these sleek looking, feature-rich headphones may still be an appealing option for many shoppers.
Jabra Move Style Edition Wireless Headphones
The deal: $60 at Amazon
CR’s test results: Jabra Move Style Edition
At its normal price, this model is already one of our top picks for headphones under $100, and right now you can get it for $40 off. The Jabra Move Style Edition is an on-ear Bluetooth model with a sleek appearance and better-than-average sound. It comes with convenient features such as controls for call, playback, and volume, and the option to forgo Bluetooth and use the detachable audio cable included with your purchase.
Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones
The deal: $278-$279 at Amazon
CR’s test results: Sony WH-1000XM3
For years, Bose was essentially the only game in town for top- quality noise-canceling, but Sony has been hot on their tail. This is one of the most popular models on the market, and while we still think Bose’s flagship model sounds better, the Sony delivers great sound and noise-blocking performance. This is a good price; they usually sell for about $350.