Want a new pair of headphones? A couple of years ago we might have told you to work out whether you wanted Bluetooth or wired headphones on Black Friday.
In 2019 you need to pick a kind of wireless headphone, given many manufacturers don’t even make the wired kind anymore. First up we have true wireless headphones. These are, like Apple AirPods, earphones that don’t have a cable between the earpieces.
They used to be tough to recommend to many: expensive, rubbish battery life, patchy Bluetooth. The best true wireless earphones today fix that. Hurrah.
UPDATE: Black Friday is officially here! We've added a ton of deals to our list so be sure to keep an eye here and on our best Black Friday deals page for the best bargains the internet has to offer!
Full-size wireless headphones are our favourite type. These are the most comfortable, and all the best “flagship” headphones of the moment are full-size. You’ll find some of these below.
Then there are on-ear headphones and more traditional wireless earphones. These may be a little less trendy than the rest, but will likely provide some of this year’s best headphone buys during Black Friday 2019.
And here are some of the pairs of headphones you need to look our for in the weeks coming up to Black Friday itself on November 29.
Read more about the top pairs in our best wireless headphones test
35% off
Jabra Elite Active 65t True Wireless Bluetooth Sports Earbuds - Copper Blue
£109.99
Built for custom comfort, even while running or working out, these Bluetooth buds boast 5 hours of battery on a single charge and 15 hours with the accompanying charging case. They also have Alexa integration
Buy now on Amazon
save 49%
Turtle Beach Stealth 300 Amplified Gaming Headset for Xbox One
£34.99
If you're in the market for a pair of top notch headphones but are on a bit of a budget, these Turtle Beach Stealth 300 Amplified Gaming Headset for Xbox One might be for you. Now with an impressive 49% off their regular price, snap this offer up while you can.
Buy now on Amazon
24% off
Jabra Elite 65t True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds - Titanium Black
£96.99
Designed for ultimate comfort, these buds come with 3 ear gels to choose from. They also boast true wireless and have an auto pause feature when you remove one bud. You get 5 hours of battery on a single charge and 15 hours when you put them in their charging case. With 24% off these are a must-have if you need a new pair of high-end buds for under £100.
Buy now on Amazon
34% off
RHA Trueconnect True Wireless Earbuds - Carbon Black
£99.00
These sweatproof and water-resistant buds from RHA are great for fitness and have 23% off. You'll get a great 5 hours of playback from a single charge and 20 hours with the charging case, which also boasts fast charge giving you 2.5 hours of playback in just 15 minutes.
Buy now on Amazon
30% off
Jabra Elite Sport In-Ear True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds - Black
£139.99
Built for sport, these fantastic-sounding buds have a built-in heart rate and activity monitor and they've had a huge 30% reduction for Black Friday. They bring you 4.5 hours of battery and up to 13.5 hours total with the portable charging case.
Buy now on Amazon
22% off
JBL TUNE 600BTNC Over Ear Active Noise-Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones – White
£69.99
There's 22% off these great noise-cancelling over ear headphones from JBL. These are perfect for travelling, commuting or working with zero distractions and have a good battery life with 12 hours of playback.
Buy now on Amazon
23% off
Jabra Elite 85h Bluetooth Over Ear Headphones - Navy Blue
£199.00
The smart noise cancellation tech in these over-ears from Jabra makes listening to music while travelling or commuting or working a truly immersive experience. Now with more than 20% off there's never been a better time to treat your ears.
Buy now at Amazon
22% off
Sony Wi-XB400 Extra Bass Wireless In-Ear Headphones - Black
£41.25
If you're after a simple and practical pair of wireless headphones you can't go wrong with these from Sony that have 22% off for Black Friday. They have 15 hours of battery life and an in-line remote and microphone for hands-free calling.
Buy now at Amazon
save 44%
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Wireless PS4 Gaming Headset
£49.99
This green and white stealth 600 wireless headset is set to become the ultimate gaming companion - particularly when there's an impressive 44% off its regular price. With savings like that, there's no reason to resist.
Buy now on Amazon
save 55%
Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 Gaming Headset PS4 & PC
£99.99
With an eye-watering 55% saving off its regular price, this Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 Gaming Headset is a great piece of kit. With a saving of £110, this is a deal worth snapping up.
Buy now on Amazon
save 49%
Turtle Beach Stealth 300 Amplified Gaming Headset for Xbox One
£34.99
If you're in the market for a pair of top notch headphones but are on a bit of a budget, these Turtle Beach Stealth 300 Amplified Gaming Headset for Xbox One might be for you. Now with an impressive 49% off their regular price, snap this offer up while you can.
Buy now on Amazon
save 46%
Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 Gaming Headset Xbox One
£99.99
There's a massive 46% saving off this Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 Gaming Headset for Xbox One. A nifty piece of kit with a low price, this is a deal worth snapping up.
Buy now on Amazon
save 46%
Marshall Major III Foldable Bluetooth Headphones
£65.09
With an impressive 46% off, this pair of wireless Marshall Major III Headphones boast over 30 hours of wireless playback time. They also feature Iconic Sound - custom-tuned 40 mm drivers - alongside a single, easy-to-use control button.
Buy now on Amazon
save 9%
Marshall Mode EQ In-Ear Earphones
£63.64
Featuring the brand's unique EQ switch which allows you to customise your music, these Marshall Mode in-ear headphones have a massive 8% off for a limited-time - so snap them off!
Buy now on Amazon
save 33%
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1
£99.95
The Melomania 1 are some of the best-reviewed true wireless earphones ever. Their battery lasts ages, they sound great and they sell at the right price. And thanks to Black Friday, you get an extra £20 off. This pair won the best value gong in our group test.
Buy now at Amazon
save 36%
Marshall Monitor Bluetooth Headphones - Black
£140.00
Marshall are a big name in the speaker world - which is precisely why our eyes lit up at the sight of this 36% saving. Sleek, black and with one of the handiest control systems around, these headphones are set to fly.
Buy now on Amazon
save 36%
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9i Wireless Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones - Natural
£289.00
Bang & Olufsen are a big name in the headphone game and these Beoplay H9i's are no exception. Their chunky design incorporates Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode and a microphone - plus with 36% off, they're an absolute steal.
Buy now on Amazon
Save 44%
Sony Wh-XB900N Extra Bass Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones - Blue
£128.00
If you're looking for a bass-heavy over-ear headphone, this Sony pair has a massive 26% off. Complete with noise cancellation, built-in Alexa, up to 30 hours battery life and hands free calling, they're an absolute steal (also available at this price in black).
Buy now on Amazon
save 10%
Marshall Minor II Wireless In-Ear Headphones - Brown
£107.89
A big name in the amplifier game, Marshall have also branched out into headphones - with these Marshall Minor II wireless in-ear buds being a prime example. There's currently 10% off this brown pair (with a white design also available at the same price), so you'd be mad to miss out.
Buy now on Amazon
save 30%
Jam Live Loud TWS Earbuds - Black
£34.99
These wireless in-ear headphones from Jam Live feature Bluetooth connectivity, Up to 12 hours playtime - and for sports fans, you'll be pleased to hear they're also sweat resistant. Currently on offer with 30% off, they're a bargain waiting to be snapped up.
Buy now in Amazon
save £100
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
£229.00
OK, so most of us wouldn't have to buy these headphones at full price anyway, but £229 is one of the best deals we've seen for these advanced active noise cancellation headphones. They turn the noisiest places into temples of calm.
Buy now from Amazon
50% off
Urbanista Stockholm
£44.99
This must be one of the cheapest ways to try out true wireless earphones, currently at half price.
Buy now from Currys
save £5
JBL T460BT
£24.99
You may only save £5 here, but we're not going to argue about the value of a quality set of wireless headphones that cost under £25.
Buy now at Currys
Save £70.95
Beats Powerbeats3
£99.00
Save big on these Beats earphones, which are perfect for sport or simply wandering around town. They sound and look great.
Buy now at AmazonSony WH-1000XM3
Pre-sale price: £269.00
View now at Amazon
Sony’s top mainstream pair of over-ear headphones was usually second or third choice just a couple of years ago. But Sony smashed it with the WH-1000XM3, to use a technical term.
These headphones are ultra-comfortable, sound fantastic and were perhaps the first pair to beat Bose’s active noise cancellation. Bose has been the master of this noise-zapping technology for decades, and Sony has finally caught up.
They also have an Ambient Sound mode, which lets you hear the noise of the outside world when you need to. These headphones make long haul flights far more enjoyable. They’ll last for a trip around the world too, with 30-hour battery life.
Sony aims to please with the WH-1000XM3’s sound. It has some extra bass power without leaving your tunes muddy or muddled. These headphones sound positively spacious. They use touch controls on the cups, which may not please technophobes, but they become familiar quite quickly.
Don’t be put off if you see these headphones’ predecessors the Sony WH-1000XM2 on sale either. They are excellent. Sony improved sound quality and noise cancellation slightly in the new version, but you shouldn’t feel as if you’re missing out if you buy the older pair.
Bose QC35 Series II
Pre-sale price: £249.00
View now at Amazon
These headphones are noise cancellation royalty, an indigenous species of the first class cabin of an aeroplane. The Bose QC35 Series II are ultra-comfortable (“ultra” isn’t an understatement) and they let you talk to Amazon’s Alexa assistant directly, as long as your phone is paired, of course.
Active noise cancellation effectiveness is superb too. The Bose QC35 Series II turn the most stressful offices and pram-filled cafes into an oasis of calm.
These headphones also have no-nonsense button controls, perfect if you don’t like the mostly gesture-based controls of the Sony pair above. The Sonys just clinch the win for sound quality, with slightly crisper treble and better-textured mids, but the Bose QC35 Series II still sound fantastic.
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1
Pre-sale price: £99.95
View now at Amazon
The Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 are the true wireless earphones we recommend to most people. They are fairly affordable, have radically better battery life than almost every other set in this class and they sound great.
These are the full package. But let’s look a little deeper.
Most true wireless earphones last around four hours between charges. The Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 last up to nine hours, and you can recharge them four times in their carry case before needing the charge cable.
They also shrug off the usual sound quality per pound compromise of true wireless earphones. The
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 are detailed, clear and powerful.
Sure, they aren’t the last word in style, but will attract fewer unwanted looks than a pair of AirPods.
Sony WF-1000XM3
Pre-sale price: £219.00
View now at Amazon
The Sony WF-1000XM3 are more proof of exactly how much Sony is killing it in the headphone world. These are the true wireless cousins of the WH-1000XM3. OK, so Sony has aced everything but memorable naming.
These earphones cost a little more than the Melomania 1 from Cambridge Audio, but you do get more in the bargain. The Sony WF-1000XM3 sound even better and have active noise cancellation. ANC is a godsend if you have to commute to work on public transport.
They are comfortable too, and last 6-8 hours depending on whether you use active noise cancellation or not. The bad news? There’s just one little issue. There’s no volume control on the Sony WF-1000XM3 earpieces.
SoundMagic E11BT
Pre-sale price: £79.99
View now at Amazon
The SoundMagic E11 series offers some of the best affordable headphones in the world right now. There’s the wired SoundMagic E11 and E11C if you want to go old-school and keep the cable, and the wireless E11BT if you need something more advanced.
And the SoundMagic E11BT really are advanced in at least one important respect. These are some of the longest-lasting wireless earphones in the world, with up to 60 hours battery life. In our experience they are closer to 40 hours, but that’s still five times longer than some earphones that look similar.
We are big fans of the E11 sound too. It’s warm and lush, but has detail, balance and clarity you don’t often hear at the price.
Jaybird Tarah Pro
Pre-sale price: £59.00
View now at Amazon
Jaybird is an Amazon Black Friday favourite. We remember some of its pairs popping-up in deals over the last two years. This year, we’re hoping for the Jaybird Tarah Pro, a top ranked earphone in our dedicated earphones test.
They are sporty wireless earphones, but are just as happy being worn around the house. The sport angle pops up in their superb water resistance. An IPx7 rating means you can give them a rinse if a run too many leaves them a little grotty.
Battery life doesn’t match the rival SoundMagics at 14 hours, but they do have fast charging, for two hours’ use are just five minutes plugged in.
JBL Tune 600BTNC
Pre-sale price: £44.99
View now at Amazon
Here are some no-nonsense
feature-packed headphones that are affordable even before Black Friday.
We’re hoping for an even better price on the day.
The JBL
Tune 600BTNC are on-ear wireless headphones with just about every
feature you could reasonably ask for. They last 12 hours between
charges, have solid Bluetooth reliability and active noise cancellation.
They look smart and sound decent, and fold up should you
want to shove them in your rucksack. This is the very picture of what a
sub-£100 Bluetooth headphone should look like.
