I’m not sure why, but fall seems to be the time of year when most people start asking me about headphones. Maybe it’s the dark days ahead, or how many of us have been staring at work in the pre-holiday hours. Either way, headphone makers seem to have figured it out, because some of our favorite brands have now dropped their prices. This is a good time if you are looking for new headphones or banks.
Be sure to check out our guides to the best in-ear headphones, the best wireless headphones, the best workout headphones, the best cheap headphones, and the best noise-canceling headphones to learn more.
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Offers for headphones
These are our favorite headphones for iPhone owners. Apple’s headphones (9/10, recommended by WIRED) have a very comfortable fit thanks to the soft silicone earpads, and they have better noise cancellation and bass than the first-generation AirPods Pro thanks to a better seal.
Samsung’s peanut-shaped in-ear headphones (7/10, recommended by WIRED) have one of the most unique designs we’ve seen, and yet they’re some of the most comfortable headphones I’ve used to date. They sit right in your ears, delivering amazingly good sound and great transparency when you’re on the go. I especially like them if you’re using a Samsung phone and at this price it’s a good buy.
Sennheiser makes some of the best in-ear headphones we’ve ever heard, and I was particularly impressed with their latest model, the IE 300, which have much deeper bass than you’d expect from such a small headphone. I like to use them in my home recording studio where I know I’ll get accurate sound reproduction without any mic breakthrough. Detachable cables mean you won’t have to worry about them snagging and breaking forever, which is nice for a wired headphone like this.
Photo: JLab Audio
Wireless headphones for $15? You’ll be amazed at how well these Jlabs work. That includes five hours of battery life and a good fit. They’re also sweat-resistant, so you can wear them to the gym. But they are a bit heavy on the bass and the case can attract dust and lint. However, they are only $15.
Jabra Elite 7 is great for those who take their technology seriously. If you frequently run outdoors in all weathers, these kidneys will last. They’re comfortable, have good sound quality and noise canceling technology, and you get eight hours of battery life.
Offers on-ear and gaming headphones
You probably think of Beats in-ear headphones as plasticky and creepy, but they’ve been good since Apple bought them a decade ago. This pair (8/10, recommended by WIRED) is equivalent to higher-end models from Sony and Bose, but with the added trick of working better with iOS devices thanks to Apple’s H1 chip.
If you want to spend very little on a pair of headphones, this is a good option. They look attractive, they are comfortable to wear and they provide up to 50 hours of music playback on a single charge. That’s great.
For the price, these are some of the best wireless noise-cancelling headphones you can buy. They have great battery life (40 hours) and sound pretty good for the money. They are a bit plastic, so be careful with them.
You’re not getting a crazy deal, and yet, if you’re an aspiring audiophile, you’ll probably still want to check out this sale on the iconic Sennheiser HD 650 over-ear headphones. These open-back headphones offer some of the best sound you’ll ever find. get on your virgin land for $1,000. Just be aware that sounds can leak at high volumes, so don’t wear them to the library.
