October Prime Day headphones deals are starting to trickle in, but with Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale still about two weeks away, most of the headphones deals I want to see remain unrealized.
I'm not exactly shocked — all but one of the headphones and earbuds on this list were released in the past couple of months (with two still in their preorder phases). Though some have seen some small early discounts, I hope brands take advantage of October Prime Day to ring in the first significant markdowns.
As a professional headphones tester, I've watched prices rise on flagship models rise over the past couple of years. I've also had the experience of testing plenty of mid-range and budget models firsthand, so I've seen the gap between cheaper and more expensive models become more narrow. With that in mind, I chose models with a mix of price points — not just the most expensive — that I could see presenting the best value deals. Whether you're looking for open earbuds, noise-cancelling headphones, or sleep earbuds, these are the five headphones and earbuds (in no particular order) I want to see on sale for Prime Big Deal Days.
Bose QuietComfort headphones (2nd gen)
The latest generation of Bose QuietComfort headphones are some of the best headphones I've tested in recent memory, earning a Mashable Choice Award. With the addition of Immersive Audio, these headphones are even more similar in functionality to the $449 second generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, for nearly $100 less. The comfort, noise cancellation, and sound quality are nearly on par with the more expensive headphones, while I find the profile of the ear cups and overall look to be more in line with my personal taste. If they go on sale for $329 or even $299, down from their $359 list price, they'd easily be a top pick deal of October Prime Day — especially because a price drop would mark their first sale. On sale, they'd also be a much better competitor to Sony's new mid-range headphones. Speaking of...
Sony WH-1000XM4C
The Sony 1000XM4C headphones are still only available through preorder, with an official launch going live on Sept. 26. At $299.99, they're already a good deal cheaper than the $459 Sony XM6 headphones, but with many of the same benefits, including a comfortable wear time, the Sony companion app, robust sound quality, and solid active noise cancellation. While they won't quite reach the same standards as Sony's flagship headphones, they're a great option for anyone looking for a similar but significantly cheaper choice. Even a small markdown could mean an even bigger price discrepancy between the two, making them an even better value.
Bose Ultra Open earbuds (2nd gen)
Another preorder phase pick: the Bose Ultra Open (2nd gen) earbuds. Bose doesn't always mark down their entire product line for shopping holidays, so with the official launch date of Oct. 1 coming just five days before October Prime Day, I'm not holding my breath. That said, I am trying to manifest, especially as the first-generation open earbuds from the brand helped kick off the open earbuds craze, thanks to their bold design and impressive sound, which offers some of the best quality you can find on open earbuds.
Apple AirPods 5
In the past, the $129 Apple AirPods have dropped down to $99 for shopping holidays. If the trend holds this time around, it'd be the first time noise-cancelling earbuds from Apple reach a sub-$100 price point, so obviously I'm hoping to see the entry-level AirPods 5 go on sale. While already a solid value at full price, a sale price could make the AirPods 5 a must-get for many (and significantly more accessible than the AirPods Pro 3).
Soundcore Sleep A30 Special
The best sleep earbuds on the market are Soundcore's Sleep A30 Special. Being the only real option for noise-cancelling sleep earbuds, they already are a pretty solid value — especially as Soundcore lowered the price from $229.99 from the OG Sleep A30s to Sleep A30 Specials. However, they've dipped in price as low as $168.99, making them even more palatable, especially considering their specific use case. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for at least a return to this sale price, if not an even more impressive drop.
