Jeff Dunn
Amazon’s Prime-exclusive “Early Access” sales event is underway. We’ve researched and compiled a master list of all the deals that are really worth it, plucked from the thousands of discounts Amazon has released. It’s an event slightly smaller than Amazon Prime Day, but among the deals we’ve found some of our favorite headphones, as reviewed here at Ars Technica.
Below we list our top five picks, where each excels and where you can save a few bucks on features and technology.
More Prime Day 2022 Coverage
Ars Technica may earn compensation through affiliate programs for sales of links on this post.
Jeff Dunn
Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless ANC Headphones for $348 ($400)
Sony’s WH-1000XM4 is widely regarded as one of the best noise-cancelling headphones available since its launch in 2020. We’ve featured them in numerous gift guides and collections over the years for their comfort, top-notch noise cancellation, and 30+ battery life. hours, even as competitors launched new models. In fact, probably in recognition of what a solid offering they are, Sony will continue to sell them alongside the recently released updated version, the WH-1000XM5.
What they lack in catchy, memorable names they make up for in quality. The WH-1000XM5 improves moderately in almost all respects compared to its predecessor. The sound is more balanced and less bass-forward (both are fully tunable), they are slightly more comfortable and they are better for phone calls thanks to better noise cancellation and an improved microphone.
They still have over 30 hours of battery life, but now a three minute charge can get you three hours of use, as opposed to 10 minutes for five hours of use on the WH-1000XM4. Not only is this discount the best price we’ve seen on the 5, but it also matches the current price of the 4, making this deal a particularly nice grab.
Jeff Dunn
Bose QuietComfort 45 Wireless ANC Headphones for $229 ($315) (also at Best Buy, Walmart)
Bose’s QuietComfort 45 are the most comfortable noise-cancelling headphones we’ve worn. We still give the all-round performance crown to the Sonys above, but if comfort is paramount then the QC45s are worth a look. They have a more neutral sound out of the box and physical playback controls compared to Sony’s bassier signature and touch controls if that’s important to you.
Sony’s WH-1000XM4/5 is also better at canceling higher frequency sounds and chatter than the QuietComforts and has a battery life of about 10 hours (30 hours vs. 20). Bose’s QC45 balances its weight better and doesn’t cling to your head as much as the Sony pair, although none of these headphones are uncomfortable by any stretch of the imagination. The QC45 is on sale that matches the lowest price we tracked.
Jeff Dunn
Beats Fit Pro true wireless ANC earphones for $160 ($195) (also at Best Buy, Walmart)
Apple’s Beats Fit Pros are another favorite of ours. In the joint line of high-quality earphones from Apple and Beat, the Fit Pro represents the most versatile and well-rounded pair. Using the same H1 wireless chip found in the original AirPods Pro, the Beats Fit Pros are compatible with “Find My” device tracking and pair quickly and easily with iPhones. They also connect to Android devices faster than regular Bluetooth headphones, thanks to the Beats app.
IPX4 water resistance and rubber wingtips on the Fit Pro mean you can sweat and jog without worry during your workouts. Noise canceling transparency modes also help you be more aware in situations where you might want to be, such as on a trail ride. Six hours of continuous playback also surpasses the AirPods Pro’s five hours. At $160, the Beats Fit Pros match their lowest tracked price and deliver even more balance and value.
Jabra
Jabra Elite 45h wireless on-ear headphones for $70 ($100)
Jabra’s Elite 45h headphones offer some of the best value for money on the market for on-ear headphones. They lack noise cancellation, but handle the basics pretty well. The sound quality is fantastic for the price and customizable in the Jabra app, and the battery life is over 50 hours per charge. The ear cushions are also plush and plush, but don’t expect them to drown out ambient noise like Sony’s and Bose’s noise-cancelling offerings. Still, the 45h is arguably the best value of all these headphone deals for the money.
Jeff Dunn
Jabra Elite 3 true wireless earphones for $50 ($70) ($50 at best buy)
If you’re looking for a cheap, high-value wireless earphone for exercising or lounging, Jabra’s Elite 3 may be the ticket. They lack noise cancellation or nice pause-when-you-turn playback controls, but IP55 water resistance and in-app EQ tuning add good value. They’re bass-forward right out of the box and have a playback time of around seven hours per charge, making them a solid choice for cheap earbuds. Matching their ever-low price today, the Jabra Elite 3 is a particularly worthy consideration for cheap earphones.
