The best headphone and earbud deals for Prime Day 2021

The best Prime Day deals are nearly here, meaning we’re about to be faced with lots of exciting deals on a variety of gadgets and gizmos. Among all of these savings, a lot of them are centered around headphones!

Especially in our current world of working and learning from home, the value of having a trusty pair of headphones/earbuds cannot be overstated. Whether you’re using them for listening to a virtual lecture, your fourth meeting of the day, or just some music to unwind, headphones are an absolute essential. You can find quality options at all sorts of varying price points throughout the year, but especially during Prime Day as the savings get really exciting.

Headphones are a hot ticket item during Amazon Prime Day, making it one of the best times of year if you’re in the market for some new audio gear. Here’s a look at the best deals we’ve found so far!

Today’s best Prime Day headphone deals

• Bose QuietComfort 35 II — $299 (Was $349)
• Sony WH-1000XM4 — $278 (Was $350)
• Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless — $350 (Was $400)
• Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 — $300 (Was $300)
• Powerbeats Pro — $170 (Was $250)

In addition to the deals highlighted above, we have a bunch more for you to browse below. Whether you’re in the market for powerful headphones or compact earbuds, there’s plenty to choose from.

Best Amazon Prime Day Headphone Deals

For a lot of people, over-ear headphones are the way to go. While they’re larger and more cumbersome than earbuds, they tend to deliver better comfort, more effective noise-canceling, and higher-quality sound. If you want a gadget that can immerse you in your music, podcast, or meeting in the best way possible, headphones are what you want.

Best Amazon Prime Day Earbud Deals

Over-ear headphones not really your thing? Maybe you should buy some earbuds instead. Earbuds are often a better choice if you want to wear something that’s more lightweight and easy to stow away when you’re done using them. You can still look forward to really good audio and battery life with most models, and just like headphones, there are a wide variety of price points you can look at to meet your budget.

Headphone Price Tracking

Trying to find the best time to buy headphones or earbuds to get a great deal can be a bit tricky. Certain manufacturers run sales quite frequently, others are set in their ways when discounts are offered, and there are some brands that can be rather inconsistent. Thankfully, there are a few tips you can keep in mind to make sure you get the best deal possible.

As a general rule of thumb, shopping during a big savings event is always a good idea — such as Amazon Prime Day. Prime Day typically lasts a couple of days, with last year’s taking place from midnight on Monday, October 13, and running through midnight on October 14. During these 48 hours, new sales are constantly popping up and changing. Some are available for the entire Prime Day, others are Lightning Deals that only stick around for a couple of hours, and so on.

During Prime Day, your best bet is to find a couple pairs of headphones you’re especially interested in and checking on their price throughout the entire event. You don’t have to refresh the web page every other minute, but looking at it a few times while you’re at work or school can help to make sure you don’t miss out on anything.

If you don’t feel like doing that, no worries. We’re doing all of the hard work for you and tracking the best Prime Day deals as they happen. As soon as there’s a new headphone/earbud sale you should know about, we’ll share it right here — giving you a one-stop-shop for all of the best headphone and earbud discounts throughout all of Prime Day.

Prime Day 2021 Bluetooth speaker deals I’m most excited about

With so many Bluetooth speakers on the market, it can be difficult to think of just one or two that I’m looking forward to for potential Prime Day deals. For 2021’s Prime Day offerings, there are two that stand out.

First on the list, we have the Bose SoundLink Revolve. Bose speakers are iconic for delivering some of the best audio quality out there, and the Revolve allows you to treat your ears to excellent tunes no matter where you go. The $199 retail price is a bit prohibitive during the rest of the year, but an excellent Prime Day discount would be impossible to ignore

We also have the JBL Boombox, which sees even greater savings. The Boombox is larger and more powerful than the Revolve, and that’s evident by its $400 retail price. Scoring a substantial discount on this speaker would be killer.

What were the best Prime Day 2020 deals?

Taking a look back at Prime Day 2020, there were ample headphone/earbud deals to choose from. In regards to headphones, there were savings to be had for all sorts of options. The Bose SoundLink Wireless Headphones II saw a notable $150 discount, as did Sony’s WH-1000XM4 noise-canceling headphones which had $50 taken off.

In regards to earbuds, the excellent JBL Tune 120TWS saw a heavy 60% savings while Apple’s AirPods Pro got $60 taken off its retail price. Some sales were obviously better than others, and once again for Prime Day 2021, we should have a healthy mix of savings to choose from.

Should I get headphones or earbuds?

We already talked about this a little bit above, but deciding whether you want headphones or earbuds is an important factor you should figure out sooner rather than later. If you want something that covers your entire ears, can deliver the best sound and noise-canceling possible, and you don’t mind some added weight, headphones are the way to go. On the other side of the coin, earbuds stand out for their lightweight design and easier portability. Especially if you’re spending a lot of time at home and just want a small accessory for hearing your Zoom calls and Spotify playlists, earbuds are a great choice.

What is ANC?

Active noise-canceling — often referred to as ANC — is a feature you’ll find in a lot of headphones and earbuds these days. It’s a technology that’s able to block out ambient noise around you, making it easier to focus on whatever it is you’re listening to even when there’s a lot of background sound. You’ll typically find the most effective ANC with higher-end headphone and earbud options, though the feature is available in more affordable ones, too.

Sony WH-1000XM4 vs. Bose QuietComfort 35 II

When it comes to the headphones we’re highlighting here, two of the best are the Sony WH-1000XM4 and the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. When comparing these two sets of headphones, Sony ultimately gets the edge. The WH-1000XM4 tout better battery life, noise-canceling, and more robust software features. However, it’s also the most expensive. If you’re looking to get that premium headphone experience but for less cash, you can’t go wrong with the Bose QC 35 II.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 vs. Sony WF-1000XM3

In regards to earbuds, two of the best picks are the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 and Sony WF-1000XM3. Sennheiser’s earbuds come out on top with better comfort, longer battery life, and slightly more capable speakers for audio quality. It’s as nice of an earbud experience as you can find, but that’s not to take away from the WF-1000XM3 one bit. They’re cheaper, still deliver great sound and ANC, and have better touch controls than the Momentum True Wireless 2.