Shoppers don’t have to delay the commencement of seeing significant savings on standout headphones and earbuds. The early Prime Day promos are already starting to ramp up, and the best ones span across the gamut — from top-of-the-line noise-cancelers to workout-proof buds and even budget standouts. I’ve tested or checked out each pick below and cross-referenced pricing trends to help you find a real deal, not just a flashy discount off an inflated list price.
Hearables drive wearables now, according to market watchers like IDC, and brands are competing on features like smarter noise cancellation, clearer calls and more battery life. That competition is our gain: This year’s early deals replicate among the lowest prices for flagships and fan-favorite midrange models that we’ve seen.
Here are my 15 favorite early deals, with quick advice on who each is for. Prices can change quickly — if you find your match, don’t think twice about it; the best colorways and pick-of-the-litter models are always the first to go.
The 15 best early headphones and earbuds deals
- Beats Studio Pro — $200 (save $150): Punchy ANC over-ears with warm, mainstream tuning, USB‑C wired audio support and strong comfort for long flights or commutes. It’s an unusually low price for a current-gen Beats flagship.
- Apple AirPods Pro 2 — $199 (save $50): Apple’s H2 chip ensures best-in-class Transparency and rock-solid iOS integration. Excellent call quality, Find My support and a USB‑C case make them the obvious choice for iPhone users.
- Beats Studio Buds+ — $99 (save $71): Cross‑platform friendly with one‑touch pairing on iOS and Android, upgraded ANC over the original and a lightweight fit that’s conducive to smaller ears.
- Apple AirPods Max — $500 (save $49): The aluminum frame and headband construction are still luxe, and while it doesn’t show up when you’re listening to just bare-bones music, Spatial Audio really shines for movies. Not the most affordable option out there, but occasional discounts make them worth a look for those with an Apple-heavy desk setup.
- Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro — $190 (save $60): Beamforming mics plus strong wind reduction = excellent calls. Galaxy users can enjoy seamless device switching and codec support, with competitive ANC for the price.
- Beats Solo 4 — $130 (save $70): On-ear convenience with ample battery life and a fold for portability. A good fit for commuters who want less clamp pressure than over-ears offer, without losing anything bass-wise.
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 — $295 (save $155): One of the top battery performers in its class, and one of our favorite even-sounding tunings. If comfort and nuance matter more to you than thundering bass, this is the early deal to beat.
- Amazon Echo Buds — $25 (save $25): A great deal for casual listeners, offering reliable Alexa access and better-than-expected sound for the price. Perfect on-the-go buds for voice‑assistant users.
- Sony WH‑1000XM5 — $328 (save $71): Still one of the gold standards for ANC, plus it has multipoint Bluetooth support and the best comfort levels from Sony to date. Consistently a favorite in lab tests, like those from RTINGS, for noise blocking.
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones — $379 (save $50): Bose’s noise cancellation is still the one to beat in busy offices and on airplanes. With Immersive Audio and a natural mic profile, these are a high-end all‑rounder.
- Sony WF‑1000XM5 — $248 (save $52): These wireless buds are little, secure and crammed with nifty features like Adaptive Sound Control. Great ANC for earbuds and tuning that’s friendly to genres and cuts down the heavy EQ work.
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds — $249 (save $50): A standout for consistent fit and elite ANC in a true wireless package. This is the sweet spot for those who travel a lot and prefer earbuds to over-ears.
- Anker Soundcore Space A40 — $59 (save $20): This perennial bang-for-buck winner features adjustable ANC, a flexible EQ app and battery life as good as that of pricier sets. Excellent for students and budget-minded remote workers.
- Jabra Elite 8 Active — $149 (save $50): Tough, workout-ready buds with MIL‑STD ruggedness and great stability. Calls are clear, and Jabra’s app gives you a straightforward way to adjust sound and controls.
- Sennheiser HD 560S (wired) — $149 (save $30): These are open‑back reference headphones for home listening or mixing with a neutral signature and wide stage. A savvy purchase for anyone assembling a starter audiophile system.
How I vetted these early markdowns and verified deals
I am more interested in durable value and verified cuts than in the splashy “list vs. sale” discrepancies. That means not just monitoring historical lows with price‑watch tools, but also cross‑checking retailer listings and weighing lab data from reviewers like RTINGS and Consumer Reports against my own daily use. You’re really looking at comfort, call clarity, ANC performance in real-world settings and ecosystem features (multipoint, fast pair, wear detection) IMO.
I am also searching for future-proofing: support for Bluetooth multipoint, LE Audio/LC3 readiness where those are available and codec options like AAC on the iOS platform or aptX variants on Android. Headline specs might impress, but I award extra credit to models that maintain a reliable Bluetooth link in cluttered environments, and offer predictable battery life over weeks of use.
Quick buying tips before you go deal hunting
Match the product to your routine: over-ears for isolation and comfort at a desk; sport buds with wing tips for runs; open-back wired cans for late-night listening at home. If you’re on the phone a lot, focus in particular on models lauded for their call quality and wind reduction.
Watch for tricky strikethroughs. The Federal Trade Commission has warned retailers about deceptive reference pricing, so compare with recent averages — not just “MSRP.” That’s when you should consider third‑party testing and customer reviews across a wide range of sellers to sanity‑check the claims.
Finally, check return windows and tip sizes. For sound and ANC, fit is everything, and many earbuds come with multiple tips; use the seal test in the companion app if you have one. Get your pick while the deal lasts, though: The best colors and configs often disappear early during Prime‑week sales.
