If you’ve been putting off improving your listening to music or podcasts, Cyber Monday has some of the lowest headphone prices of the season, with price cuts up to 50% on top brands like Apple, Beats, Sony, Bose, Sennheiser, JBL, and Samsung.
The best deals are clustering around high-end noise-cancelers and true wireless options, and midrange models are sinking to all-time lows in multiple places.
Why headphone prices are dropping on Cyber Monday
Electronics traditionally take the steepest discount on Cyber Monday, and headphones are among the best of the bunch. After analyzing data, Adobe Analytics has shared that audio is a doorbuster category with average discounts in the mid-20s to low-30s and peak “flash” deals at 40–50% on specific SKUs. Salesforce Shopping Index data indicates that ancillary items such as headphones often exceed big-ticket items on conversion, driving retailers to incorporate aggressive price-slashing strategies in the battle for cart share.
There is also a cyclical dynamic at work. Flagship models like Sony’s WH-1000XM5, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, and Apple’s AirPods Max prompt cascading price moves on midrange lines such as Sony’s WH-CH720N and Beats Studio Pro. As Circana audio tracking has shown, when a brand refreshes a hero device, the previous-gen models quickly sink in price to clear out inventory—precisely the dynamic surfacing now.
The best Cyber Monday headphone deals from Apple, Beats, Sony and more
Apple ecosystem benefits are among the best things to pick up this week. AirPods Pro, meanwhile, remain a no-brainer for iPhone users with their one-tap pairing and support for Find My and spatial audio, while AirPods Max see a rare, meaningful discount that brings premium build quality, high-end ANC, and painless device switching to a slightly more approachable level. If you like the look of more open buds, the latest standard AirPods are now equipped with great microphones and better-than-average battery life (especially if you catch them on sale) for their price.
Beats is leaning into value. Studio Pro over-ears are falling to well below half price at some sellers, offering strong ANC, USB-C lossless when wired, and marathon battery life. On the lighter side for everyday carry, Solo 4 focuses on comfort (check), fast pairing on both iOS and Android (check), as well as a 50-hour runtime spec that mints them a commuting staple when they drop below their regular street price.
Sony’s offerings are a perennial Cyber Monday staple. The WH-1000XM5 still leads the noise-canceling pack with adaptive processing and LDAC for Android phones. Budget hunters may be willing to splurge on impulse for the WH-CH720N and WH-CH520, with both offering multipoint Bluetooth, decent tuning, and day-spanning stamina (perfect for students or hybrid workers).
Bose punches back with class-leading quiet on the QuietComfort Ultra, along with spatialized audio modes that spread out the soundstage for movies and games. These tend to be travelers’ preference due to their reliable cabin-hum attenuation and comfortable clamp force. If you’re more of a deal-first customer, the previous-gen QuietComfort models are getting big discounts and still bring that signature Bose balance (as well as value for your call-clarity dollar).
Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 tends to be one of the more dramatic price moves of the day, pairing 60-hour battery claims with a neutral and detailed sound profile that’s often associated with audiophile favorites. At the same time, JBL Tour and Tune families have a habit of undercutting the competition on price while keeping customizable EQ and delivering shocking punch, and Anker’s Soundcore Space One and Q-series continue to punch above their weight in noise-cancellation-to-dollar value.
As for earbuds, the Android standouts are Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Google’s Pixel Buds Pro. Look for adaptive ANC, strong beamforming mics, and platform niceties like Fast Pair, Find My Device integration, and easy-to-use multipoint toggles (something that’s increasingly more important than driver size).
How to choose the perfect pair of headphones fast
Start with your ecosystem. In day-to-day use, iPhone owners will have the most friction-free experience with AirPods or Beats (immediate pairing, audio handoff, Find My). Android users should value LDAC or aptX Adaptive for higher-quality Bluetooth (where available), as well as Google Fast Pair and multipoint. Cross-platform shoppers: Keep an eye out for AAC and LDAC support, as well as stable multipoint and an app with a granular EQ.
Match ANC to your listening situation. Business travelers and open-office employees will want to shoot for the highest level of ANC-enabled cans (Sony 1000X, Bose QC Ultra, Sennheiser Momentum 4). Commute and study on the cheap with midrange ANC that tames chatter and transit sound — without breaking the bank. If you value situational awareness, give preference to transparency modes that sound natural, not tinny.
Check battery and comfort. Over-ears should get 30–60 hours per charge; earbuds, at least 6–8 hours with a couple of recharges in the case. And be on the lookout for low clamping force, swiveling yokes, and several ear tip sizes. Call quality is a consideration, too: models that use multiple-mic arrays and offer significant noise reduction can make you more intelligible on windy sidewalks or in noisy cafes than bare-bones sets.
How to check whether a Cyber Monday deal is real
Be cautious putting too much weight on list price alone. Consult price-history sites like Camelcamelcamel or Keepa to verify the day’s number is a real low and not just a recycled “was” price. Cross-compare among at least two major outlets; when a price is truly low, it usually falls like clockwork across Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart within hours.
Read the small print: Make sure it’s new inventory you’re being asked to buy rather than something refurbished, unless that is the plan; check that there are full manufacturer warranties included and account for return windows, which many stores stretch out during the holiday season.
A few sellers might surreptitiously slip in some gift card credit or throw in a case and charger — those are extras you can take to the bank, even if the headline price is about the same.
What sells out first during the Cyber Monday headphone rush
That’s because flagship colors — particularly black and midnight editions — are usually the first to disappear, followed by limited-edition finishes. Entry-level over-ears in the under-$50 pocket and name-brand ANC earbuds at the $70 to $120 tier turn frequently as well. If you spot a verified historical low on a model that fits your platform and needs, hesitation is how you miss it; restocks come along but the steepest cuts are typically time-gated or quantity-based.
Bottom line: Cyber Monday’s lineup of headphones is remarkably deep this year, in categories from Apple and Beats to Sony, Bose, Sennheiser, JBL, Samsung, and Soundcore. Nail down the features you want (ANC quality, codec support, multipoint, battery life, comfort), check prices, and grab the configuration you’re interested in before the 50% off sales start to vanish.