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Headphones

From traveling to commuting to bedtime, the many different ways people use headphones has created a strong market for a variety of headphone products. In such an overwhelming market, we’ve got everything you need to help decide which headphone brand and style is best for you with top headphone guides including best headphones, best earbuds, best noise-cancelling headphones for flying, and more. Explore headphone reviews and deals from popular brands like Bose, Beats, and Sony, and keep up with all the latest headphone news and releases.

Table of Contents

sony xm5 and xm6 headphones held in hand
The 13 best headphones of 2026: We tested the top contenders from Sony, Apple, Bose, and Beats
sony xm6 earbuds in case with red light shining on them
The best wireless earbuds we've ever tested (and continue to love)
open earbuds from anker soundcore, shokz, nothing, and bose on oak tabletop
The 7 best open earbuds stay put, sound great, and keep us aware of the world
back view of woman with dark hair wearing Bose over-ear headphones
The 10 best noise-cancelling headphones we use, love, and recommend
pink beats headphones hanging on red bag strap
The Beats 360 are eye-catching and impressively customizable, but does the listening experience match up?
lofi girl headphones on checkered tables
The Lofi Girl headphones are actually real now — here's how to preorder them
Mashable 101

Meet Our Experts

Mashable Image
Bethany Allard
Lead Shopping Reporter

Bethany Allard is a Los Angeles-based shopping reporter at Mashable covering beauty tech, dating, sex and relationships, and headphones. That basically means she puts her hair through a lot, scrolls through a lot of dating apps, and rotates through a lot of different headphones. In addition to testing out and rounding up the best products, she also covers deals for Mashable, paying an especially obsessive amount of attention to Apple deals and prices. That knowledge comes in handy when she's covering shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, which she's now done for three years at Mashable.

portrait of a woman wearing glasses
Samantha Mangino
Lead Shopping Reporter

Samantha Mangino, is an e-reader expert. She's tested all the Kindle and Kobo e-readers, diving into the buzziest models. Her love of reading extends beyond the e-reader beat, covering books and authors, too. In the tech space, she covers tablets, smart rings, and headphones.

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Miller Kern
Deputy Shopping Editor

Based in New York City, Miller Kern is the Deputy Editor of Shopping and Reviews at Mashable, where she writes and edits reviews, roundups, deals, and news stories about tech products, including headphones, skincare devices, laptops, sex toys, e-readers, robot vacuums, and more. She's been covering all things shopping and tech, including shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, for Mashable since 2019. Miller can tell you which products are actually worth your money. She also explores trends in the shopping sphere, such as dupes and viral TikTok moments.

Headphones

Beats Solo 4
Beats Solo 4 headphones are under $130 at Amazon — save $70 before Black Friday
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are back on sale: Save $50 on Apple's ultimate workout earbuds
Apple AirPods Pro 3 are under $200 at Amazon — save $50 before Black Friday
Skip the $300 Bose price tag: Anker’s foldable Space One Pro headphones are under $140
Sony's new XM4C headphones are some of the best I've tested this year — they're down to a new record low
jlab jbuds lux anc Skip the $350 cans: Our favorite budget headphones are just under $70 at Amazon
Sony WH-CH730N headphones Amazon just knocked over $50 off Sony's budget-friendly WH-CH730N headphones
Sony LinkBuds Open Truly Wireless Earbuds White (Open Box) Turn up your playlist without tuning out the world thanks to these $90 Sony earbuds
Apple AirPods 4 Apple's brand-new AirPods 4 with ANC are sitting at under $100 — and no, they aren't refurbished
JBL Xtreme 5 Portable Waterproof Speaker (Open Box) This JBL Bluetooth speaker brings the party wherever you go, and now it’s $80 off

Best Products

four pairs of earbuds on a table We tested dozens of earbuds: These 8 are the best for noise-cancelling
Nothing (Ear 3A) wireless earbuds in charging case The 10 best cheap wireless earbuds, tested by audio experts
bowers and wilkins px8 s2 headphones on their side The 5 most comfortable headphones we've ever tested
green bose quietcomfort 2 headphones held by person in airport I test headphones for a living: These are the ones I'd actually take with me on a plane
bose open earbuds with charging case on sidewalk We tested every pair of Bose headphones and earbuds. We found 5 we love, and 1 to buy on sale.
three pairs of headphones around airpods max on tile outside I've tested dozens of earbuds. I like these 3 AirPods alternatives.
Earbuds on a blue background Go back to basics with the best wired earbuds of 2026
A person holding a pair of Beats Fit Pro against a lawn We tested the 9 best headphones and earbuds for working out
pairs of headphones piled up on each other The 9 best budget headphones we've tested under $100
Sony XM5 earbuds on record player, sony xm5 headphones on red mat I tested the best Sony headphones and earbuds for ANC, sound, and cool factor: See my top 7 picks

Versus

sony and bose headphones on desk next to notebook and pencil case Sony WH-1000XM4C vs Bose QuietComfort (2nd gen): The battle of the mid-range headphones
purple sony linkbuds clip next to blue bose ultra open earbuds on wooden table next to purple and green plant Comparing the Sony LinkBuds Clip to Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: Which open earbud is for you?
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) and Sony WH-1000xM6 headphones on a colorful background Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) vs. Sony WH-1000xM6: Which headphones should you buy?
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 and the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 on a colorful background AirPods Pro 3 vs. Beats Powerbeats Pro 2: Which wireless earbuds should you buy?
bose quietcomfort ultra gen 2 and gen 1 headphones Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones: How the first and second generations compare
A photo of the Apple AirPods Pro 3 sitting on an orange table next to the Sony WF-1000XM5, both in their case Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs. Sony WF-1000xM5: Which noise-canceling earbuds are better?
airpods pro 3 and bose qc ultra earbuds on abstract background that says "vs" Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2
apple airpods pro 2 vs powerbeats pro 2 AirPods Pro 2 vs. Beats Powerbeats Pro 2: Which is better?
the sony xm5 headphones next to the sony xm6 headphones Sony WH-1000XM6 vs. Sony WH-1000XM5: Is it worth the upgrade?
sony xm6 headphones next to apple airpods max Apple AirPods Max vs. Sony XM6: Which noise-canceling headphones should you buy?

Deals

Bose earbuds, AirPods, Sony headphones, and Soundcore earbuds with teal background Early Black Friday noise-cancelling headphones deals are here: Get Sony headphones for under $90
Marshall Monitor III The Marshall Monitor III headphones have never been cheaper: How to save $80 before Black Friday
earfun air pro 4 earbuds against a purple background Our favorite budget earbuds are on sale before Black Friday — save over $20 on EarFun Air Pro 4
Bose headphones on orange backdrop Bose is holding a huge sale on refurbs: $170 off QuietComfort headphones and soundbars for under $200
soundcore by anker q20i headphones against a green background Soundcore by Anker Q20i headphones are yours for under $40 at Amazon — save over $30 right now
Shokz Open Run Pro Running in the dark? The Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones are $70 off at Amazon.
Sony WH-CH720N headphones The best budget-friendly headphones deal: Sony's WH-CH720N are under $90 at Amazon
soundcore anker space 2 headphones against a pink and purple background Soundcore's Anker Space 2 headphones have hit a new low price at Amazon — save over $20
airpods on purple and orange background Three AirPods deals worth picking up before Black Friday, plus one to wait on
three pairs of earbuds on a gradient background 11 headphones and earbuds deals you can pick up ahead of Black Friday sales

News

collage of earbuds on green and blue background I found over 15 earbuds deals worth shopping ahead of Black Friday: Nothing earbuds lead the way
pink crusher 1080anc headphones on soundboard Bose goes more budget-friendly and acquires Skullcandy following a years-long partnership
PlayStation Pulse Wireless Headset Sony just announced the new PlayStation Pulse and Pulse Edge wireless headsets — how to preorder
Sony WH-1000XM6 NFL headphones Sony is giving away custom team-edition XM6 headphones for free  — how to claim
Sennheiser Accentum Clip open earbuds with charging case and box on kitchen counter Sennheiser Accentum Clip open earbuds are elite. There’s just one major issue.
Sony INZONE H9 II Sony has dropped fresh colorways for its pro-grade Inzone gaming gear — where to buy
black nothing headphone (1) pro on desktop Nothing's new flagship headphones are for listening and taking to the studio
Sonos Ace Ultra headphones with sonos beam gen 2 soundbar New Sonos Ace Ultra headphones have a genius 'linking' feature I can’t live without
bose wired anc earbuds and their carrying case Bose announces ANC wired earbuds, and I got to try them early
apple airpods, black sony xm4c, and bose ultra open 2 earbuds on gradient background The 5 headphones deals we want to see on sale during October Prime Day

More Headphones

Sony's new generation of the viral XM4 headphones proves why reboots can be hard to pull off
By Bethany Allard
pair of sony 1000xm4c headphones with dramatic lighting
Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones are over $90 off at Amazon — the perfect upgrade for audiophiles
By Hannah Hoolihan
sennheiser momentum 4 headphones against a blue and purple background
Pump up the jam with $70 off the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 headphones
By Brittany Vincent
Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 headphones on colorful abstract background
Razer just dropped new Pokémon gaming headsets featuring Sylveon, Charizard, and Lucario — where to buy
By Soumya Kumar
Razer Pokemon gaming headsets
Amazon has the Sony XM5 headphones on sale for under $200 — snag a pair for half off
By Lauren Allain
the sony xm5 headphones on a pink and orange background
Budget-friendly Sony headphones are under $100 at Amazon — shop Sony WH-CH720N for $88
By Lois Mackenzie
Sony WH-CH720N headphones
Rare Apple deal: Save $120 on the H2-powered AirPods Max 2 at Amazon
By Soumya Kumar
Apple AirPods Max 2
The Beats Studio Pro headphones are 50% off at Amazon right now — save over $150
By Lois Mackenzie
Beats Studio Pro
The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are still less than $200 following October Prime Day
By Bethany Allard
person wearing pink shirt and pink sony xm5 headphones in pink room
The Bose QuietComfort headphones remain at their lowest price ever after October Prime Day's end
By Bethany Allard
icy blue bose headphones surrounded by ice
Missed Prime Day? The 2nd Gen Bose QuietComfort headphones are still on sale for $319.
By Soumya Kumar
Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
Prime Day is over, but Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 are still hanging out at $179
By Soumya Kumar
airpods pro 3 against a pink and purple background
The Beats Solo 4 are still on sale after Prime Day — last chance to save $100
By Lois Mackenzie
Beats Solo 4
The October Prime Day deal on Sony XM6 headphones is still live — save over $80 with the best-ever deal
By Lois Mackenzie
Sony WH-1000XM6
The Beats Studio Buds+ are at their best-ever price after Prime Day — $80 off deal is still live
By Lois Mackenzie
Beats Studio Buds
Top 25 noise-cancelling headphone deals for October Prime Day: Time is running out to grab AirPods, Bose, Sony, and more
By Bethany Allard and Christina Buff
AirPods, EarFun Air Pro 4, JLab JLux ANC, and Beats Studio Pro against an abstract colorful background
I found 15 October Prime Day earbuds deals to shop before the sale ends: Bose, Apple, Beats, and more
By Brittany Vincent and Lauren Allain
SHOKZ OpenDots ONE Open-Earbuds, apple airpods, and bose quiet comfort earbuds on a pink, orange, and black background
The best headphones and earbuds deals on October Prime Day, including my favorite Bose headphones
By Bethany Allard and Samantha Mangino
airpods, beats studio pro, and nothing open earbuds on pink and blue background
The best AirPods deals on October Prime Day: $79 AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 on sale
By Haley Henschel and Bethany Allard
three pairs of airpods on graphic background
Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen headphones hit their lowest-ever price for Prime Day — last chance to save $80
By Soumya Kumar
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 have dropped to their best-ever price — save $70 this Prime Day
By Lois Mackenzie
Beats Power Beats Pro 2
The best headphones and earbuds deals on October Prime Day — my favorite Bose headphones are on sale
By Bethany Allard and Samantha Mangino
airpods, beats studio pro, and nothing open earbuds on pink and blue background
The top 15 October Prime Day noise-cancelling headphone deals: Save 53% on Bose QuietComfort
By Bethany Allard and Christina Buff
AirPods, EarFun Air Pro 4, JLab JLux ANC, and Beats Studio Pro against an abstract colorful background
Our favorite sleep earbuds are the cheapest they've ever been on October Prime Day
By Christina Buff
Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds laying on bed
The best headphones we found on October Prime Day for under $100
By Christina Buff
Sony headphones, Apple AirPods, and JLab headphones with colorful abstract background