Top 10 Amazon Prime Day Headphone Deals

The AirPods Pro 3 are Apple’s top-of-the-line earbuds, and they’re jam-packed with features. The newest functions include live translation for overseas travel and a workout mode that allows you to leave your Apple Watch at home while you’re out on a run or ride. The buds still offer a clinical-grade hearing test and the option of turning your Pro 3s into an over-the-counter hearing aid. They also sound good and offer a better fit and noise-canceling tech than last year’s Pro 2s. The Pro 3s don’t go on sale very often, so this is an opportunity to get Apple’s latest tech at an enticing price.

No, the Beats Studio Buds + don’t carry the Apple name, but they’re close relatives. Apple owns Beats by Dre, and you can buy these true wireless earbuds at the Apple Store. Like AirPods, they’re sleek and stylish, and work seamlessly with an iPhone or another Apple device. So if you don’t want or need the hearing-test or hearing-aid features of the AirPods Pro, the Studio Buds + offer satisfying sound and impressive noise-canceling performance at a lower price.

If you want the low-profile fit of earbuds, but don’t like the way they plug up your ears, the Bose Ultra Opens represent a unique alternative. They hook on your ear, just above the lobe, a bit like a cuff-style earring. Our testers say they sound surprisingly good, too, once you get the placement just right. And, with nothing in your ears, it’s easy to hear the things around you with a clarity that the transparency mode of most earbuds can’t match.

Even though they’re a previous generation model, these sleek true wireless earbuds are still a great buy, especially at this very nice price. They boast that near-magical sound quality that takes you inside the recording studio, so you feel like you’re standing right next to your favorite musician. The noise-cancelling performance is also top-notch, and the ambient mode, which pipes in outside noise for, say, walking or running in traffic, is very effective. The XM5s have been replaced by Sony’s new WF1000XM6, which sound just a bit better—albeit for quite a bit more money—and some of our testers are less satisfied with the new fit.

The wireless Soundcore Space A40 earbuds showcase solid sound quality, as well as admirable noise reduction in our labs. And in our member surveys, the Soundcore brand receives favorable predicted reliability and owner satisfaction ratings. But what truly sets these buds apart is the below-$50 price, which makes them giftable and, if you’re inclined to misplace things, even abandonable without tears.

There’s a lot to like about this over-the-ear, noise-canceling headphone. It sits second in Bose’s lineup but performs a lot like the top-of-the-line QuietComfort Ultra. The model provides sound quality that’s pleasant if not quite up to the very best headphones in this category, but the noise cancellation, as is typical of Bose, is truly superb. Since Bose devices don’t routinely receive big discounts, this deal is well worth a look.

If you’re in the market for a premium noise-canceling headphone that feels a little, well, unique, there’s a lot to like about this Dyson OnTrac model. Yes, it’s made by the vacuum cleaner company, but Dyson dismisses the doubters with over-the-ear phones with superb sound. Like many Dyson products, this one sports elegant, upscale styling and a festive use of color. Better yet, the headphones are now back down to the best price we’ve seen.

If you’re looking for high-value noise-canceling headphones, the Sennheiser Accentum Plus represents a very solid option. The model typically retails for around $180 these days, and it’s currently down to the best price we’ve seen. Our testers find these headphones to be amiable companions, with robust bass, neutral midrange, and that sense of lively openness that makes really good headphones fun to listen to. They’re also comfy, both pleasantly light in weight and snug in fit in a way that works for most of our testers, though those with large heads and/or prominent ears may want to buy from a retailer with a friendly return policy.

While there’s nothing revolutionary about the design of Sonos’s first headphone, this elegant noise-canceling model is well-executed. The sleek, minimalist profile feels nice in your hands and actually looks flattering when sitting on your head. And, sonically, the Ace offers smooth, comforting sound and solid bass. If you’re a Sonos fan, this is a good opportunity to get the Ace at a discount.

In the words of the Philosopher-King/Bombastic Rock God Meatloaf, two out of three ain’t bad. A great pair of headphones does three things: 1) fit well, 2) deliver effective noise-canceling, and 3) sound terrific. This Soundcore model hits the mark on the first two line items. Sound-wise? It’s not terrible, but it’s not great either. The bass is a little bloated, the midrange not as clear as you’d like it, while the high frequencies have a sizzle that’s okay on your breakfast bacon, but not ideal on your favorite music. But at this price, you can overlook those shortcomings, especially if you’re gifting the headphones to a friend or relative who’s less than picky, or using them for podcasts or a little easy listening.