Best Buy's Black Friday Headphone Deals
CR's picks for deals on headphones from Apple, Beats, Bose, Sony, and more
We’re seeing a ton of great Black Friday deals on headphones this holiday season, but there’s a particularly high concentration of them at Best Buy this year. If you’re in the market for a new pair of earbuds or some over-the-ear cans, the electronics retailer is worth checking out.
We combed through Best Buy’s 100-plus-page circular ad and found a wide variety of deals, from unusual discounts on top-selling models to bargains on cheaper products. Some standouts include a major price cut on the Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II, which has long been one of CR’s top noise-canceling picks, and the Jabra Elite 65t, a well-rated true wireless pair you can pick up for about $70 off the usual price.
Some of the deals are available now, and others will be rolled out in the days ahead, but most kick off online on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 28) and in stores starting at 5 p.m. local time. Stores in some states may be closed for the holiday, so be sure to check the retailer’s website for details.
Apple Powerbeats Pro True Wireless Earphones
The deal: $200 at Best Buy, 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. They’re on sale at Best Buy, but you can also get them at Staples for the same price.
Go to Consumer Reports’ 2019 Holiday Gift Guide for updates on deals, expert product reviews, insider shopping tips, and much more.
JLab Audio JBuds Air True Wireless Earphones
The deal: $30 at Best Buy
CR’s test results: JLab Audio JBuds Air
Great headphones don’t have to cost much. These true wireless earphones don’t look as sleek as some competitors, and their controls are a bit harder to use. But they deliver high-quality sound, especially for the price. They’re a great deal at their normal $50 price, but this Black Friday deal makes them a no-brainer.
JBL Live 650BTNC Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones
The deal: $99 at Best Buy
CR’s test results: JBL Live 650BTNC
This model has gotten a fair amount of attention recently, and for good reason. They don’t match the best noise-canceling headphones in our ratings, but they still get high marks from our testers, which is impressive considering how much cheaper they are than most competitors. Most often you’ll have to pay $200 for this pair, making this deal an incredible value.
Samsung Galaxy Buds True Wireless Earphones
The deal: $118 to $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. They’ll be on sale at Best Buy, but you can get a similar discount at Amazon right now.
Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones
The deal: $279 at Best Buy
CR’s test results: Sony WH-1000XM3
For years, Bose was essentially the only game in town for top-quality noise cancellation, but Sony has been hot on its 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.
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