Listen In Peace With May’s Best Headphones and Earbuds Deals

Listen closely, because this is important: we’ve had our ears to the ground and heard some big audio deals rumbling through online retailers. Case in point: the deep headphone discounts that follow this paragraph. When testing headphones (whether they be on-ear or in-ear) with our team of experts, we consider important aspects like fit, features, connectivity, sound quality, and visual panache. We carefully evaluate every pair both in the lab and in real-world situations so we can make informed recommendations for our readers.

What to Keep in Mind When Buying Earbuds

Like with any other hardware purchase, there are things to consider when buying wireless earbuds: Your budget, the brand, its compatibility with your other devices, and, of course, extra features. Ask yourself what’s important to you. Do you need a wireless charger to extend battery life? Would active noise cancelling and/or ambient noise help you stay focused? Are you a high-bitrate audiophile or do you mainly listen to talk-focused podcasts? Keep these factors front of mind while you browse April’s best audio deals.

Best Earbud Deals

The most affordable in Apple’s in-ear headphone line has a nice 23% price drop at Amazon right now. In our review, we gave the AirPods 4 an “Excellent” rating, with tremendous audio quality including impressive sub-bass response — a rare thing from open-ear headphones. They’re IP54 rated for water and dust resistance, and the USB-C charging case is compact and durable. The biggest difference between this model and the rest of the line is the lack of active noise cancellation, which is a cool feature but not absolutely necessary, especially when your budget is tight. For the price, you won’t find a better set of headphones for your iOS device.

Two AirPods deals in one month? It’s more likely than you think! We feel that the AirPods Pro 3 are the absolute best earbuds on the market for iPhone users, giving them an Editors’ Choice award in our review. They stand above the pack thanks to superb sound quality, some of the best active noise cancellation you can get in an earbud, full waterproofing, and ultra-long battery life with a handy USB-C charging case. They’re also invaluable when paired with your phone’s Apple Intelligence features for futuristic stuff like real-time audio translation. Get them for $50 off while you can.

We ranked the Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus the best noise-cancelling headphones under $100 and gave them an Editors’ Choice award in our review, noting that they delivered excellent audio quality with wide frequency response, support for the high-resolution LDAC Bluetooth codec, and both Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair. They also have a really unique design that catches the eye, if you want to make a fashion statement. Three sets of eartips let you find the perfect fit. A 25% discount makes them an even better value.

If you’re on a tight budget but still want a pair of in-ear headphones that deliver good sound and build quality, this 40% price drop on the JBL Vibe Beam earbuds is just the ticket. The IP54-rated units are good for exercise, with light water and sweat resistance, and the buds hold eight hours of use with each charge, along with 24 hours in the case for quick top-ups. Audio quality is solid, with 8mm drivers delivering nice bass and clear highs. JBL’s VoiceAware feature modulates volume when you’re using them for hands-free phone calling to balance how much of your own voice you hear. For the price, the Vibe Beam buds are hard to beat.

Better Sound Than AirPods Pro, but There’s More to Consider | All Things Mobile

What to Keep in Mind When Buying Headphones

Headphones aren’t a one-size-fits-all type of purchase — there are so many other factors that go into choosing the perfect pair, including fit, features, and perhaps most importantly, sound quality. That’s where the PC Labs come in.

Over-ear options have significantly longer run times and are generally more comfortable for extended use than in-ear headphones, though the latter have the advantage of a rechargeable case. We also like to see headphones that have an app for tuning the EQ to your preference and making adjustments based on what you’re listening to.

If you listen mostly to music, headphones with a bass boost are nice to have. Active noise canceling is extra important in loud environments like a shared work space, a public-transit commute, or an airplane trip; a “transparency mode” is crucial for those who need to let the sounds of the outside world in for a brief conversation. On-ear headphones are also an easy way to tell others that you want to be left in peace with your music.

Best Headphone Deals

We gave an Editors’ Choice award to Sony’s exceptional WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones, and in our review we praised their quality inside and out. With exceptionally comfortable fit and build quality, they’re ideal for wearing over long periods of time, and 30 hours of battery life means you don’t need to stress about charging them all the time. Under the hood, you’ll find 30mm drivers that deliver a frequency range of 4Hz to 40kHz, meaning highs are clear without feeling tinny, and bass response is warm and deep. Connectivity is a breeze, with Bluetooth 5.2 and support for the AAC, LDAC and SBC codecs. We did note that they were spendy, so a 38% discount is nice.

Beats is an Apple-owned company, so connectivity and functionality with iOS devices and a premium build quality are a given. Comfortable, with punchy bass and bright highs, these headphones support spatial audio with head tracking to personalize Dolby Atmos audio. The Beats Studio Pro ships with a 3.5mm aux cable for wired listening as well as a USB-C cable, which supports hi-res audio playback, all of which comes in a cloth zip-up case. Our expert reviewer noted that the Beat Studio Pro’s noise cancellation performance is just average and that the EQ isn’t adjustable, so keep that in mind if those are deal breakers for your purposes. These will serve Apple users well as a more affordable alternative to the AirPods Max, especially when on sale for 43% less.

Bose has traditionally been one of the most tech-forward brands in the consumer audio space, and we were quite impressed by the QuietComfort Ultra over-ear headphones in our review, with contributor Christian de Looper saying “the company did a great job tuning the audio, which is deep and rich, while making small but meaningful tweaks to the design,” including a metal frame, multiple new colorways, and high-quality construction. The active noise cancellation is robust and capable, and they fit well. Battery life is also good, rated at 30 hours, and you can charge and listen at the same time with a USB-C connection. Amazon has a $50 discount.

These Anker Soundcore Q20i over-ear headphones ring in at just $40, and they’re available in black, blue, and white. Their sleek looks aside, they offer 40 hours of battery life, dual connections to two devices simultaneously, and a customizable EQ via the companion app. Those who don’t want to spend a lot of money on headphones, but don’t want to sacrifice comfort or sound quality, should give these a look. The 20,000+ user reviews on Amazon with an overall rating of 4.6 speak volumes about how much users enjoy the sound quality and comfortable fit, and you can enjoy a 36% discount right now.

If you like bass that’s deep enough to rattle your brain, Skullcandy’s Crusher ANC 2 headphones are a top choice. In our review, we noted that the dual driver system couples a standard pair of 40mm dynamic drivers with haptic drivers that produce vibrations between 10Hz and 150Hz, akin to the bass radiators on Bluetooth speakers. That translates into some of the most potent low end we’ve seen in over-ear headphones. They fit comfortably and have good battery life, although the active noise cancellation isn’t as precise as some other units we’ve tested. Snag $90 off right now at Best Buy.

About Our Experts

K. Thor Jensen

Contributing Writer

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Experience

K. Thor Jensen is a writer and cartoonist living in the Pacific Northwest. He has contributed to dozens of prestigious outlets, including PCMag, Tested, Clickhole, and Newsweek. His second graphic novel, Cloud Stories, was released in 2017.

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Jade Chung-Lee

Merchandising Associate

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Experience

When she isn’t perusing online stores for deals, Jade enjoys playing video games (mostly JRPGs and roguelikes), sorting board game components neatly into containers, and building Gundam models. Her love of electronics has persisted through her youth and has resulted in a collection of gaming peripherals including keyboards and controllers, scale figures, and art work. Jade lives in blissful harmony with her wife, cat, and two chinchillas—as well as a host of houseplants.

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