Prime Day brings headphone deals from Sony, Apple, Bose and Beats
The Verge highlighted discounts on noise-canceling, budget, Apple and workout earbuds and headphones during Amazon’s sales event.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
Amazon Prime Day has put a wide range of earbuds and headphones on sale, with discounts also showing up at Best Buy and Walmart. The offers matter for shoppers looking for noise cancellation, workout earbuds or Apple audio gear without paying full price.
The Verge senior reviewer John Higgins said several deals stood out among the many audio discounts available during the event. Vox Media, The Verge’s parent company, said it may earn commissions from purchases made through its links.
Noise-canceling picks
Higgins named Sony’s WH-1000XM5 as a leading Prime Day headphone deal, citing a $198 price at Amazon. He said that price is half the retail cost and the lowest he has seen for the model.
The Verge said the WH-1000XM5 remain among the best noise-canceling headphones available despite newer Sony releases. Higgins pointed to their comfort, sound quality and active noise cancellation as reasons they still compete with newer models.
Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds were listed at $129 for Prime Day, according to The Verge. Higgins said they are not Bose’s newest active noise-canceling earbuds, but still deliver strong noise-canceling performance at the sale price.
Budget and bass-heavy options
For budget buyers, The Verge highlighted the EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus at $71.23. Higgins said Verge readers could use the code EFAP4PFB for an additional 5 percent discount, lowering the price to $67.66.
The Nothing CMF Buds 2A were listed at $20, down from $39, according to The Verge’s deal card. The site said the earbuds offer decent sound and noise cancellation, plus customizable EQ settings, multipoint connectivity and IP54 dust and water resistance.
For listeners who prefer stronger bass, Higgins pointed to the Sony Ult Wear at $148 during Prime Day. The Verge said the headphones include an Ult button with two levels of extra bass, have active noise cancellation and offer up to 30 hours of playback with ANC on.
Apple discounts
Apple’s AirPods Max 2 were listed at Walmart for $399, which The Verge described as $150 off the regular price. Higgins said they keep the same look and weight as the original model, but offer strong sound, good noise cancellation, USB-C lossless support at 24-bit/48kHz and close integration with Apple devices.
The Verge also listed AirPods Pro 3 at $180 at Amazon and Best Buy, and $199 at Walmart. The site said the earbuds have a redesigned fit, stronger noise cancellation, better bass and heart rate sensors.
AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation were available at Best Buy for $150, according to The Verge. Higgins said the $100 version without ANC costs less, but he considered the noise-canceling model worth the added cost.
Workout earbuds
For exercise, Higgins said he uses Beats Powerbeats Fit, which were listed at $160 during Prime Day. The Verge said their wingtip design helps keep them in place and that they work well with both Apple and Android devices.
The Verge also highlighted Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 at $125 at Best Buy, down from $180. Its deal card said the bone-conduction headphones improved sound and bass over their predecessor and added USB-C charging.
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 were listed at $180, according to The Verge. Higgins said they add ear hooks, heart rate monitoring and wireless charging, though their case is larger because of the hook design.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.