Early Black Friday Headphone Deals: Wired's Tested Picks and What's Worth Buying

Wired has published an early Black Friday roundup of headphone deals, framed by its reviewer's observation that brands have mostly finished their annual product launches, which tends to push discounts onto older generations — and, in some cases, onto current models for the first time.

The roundup, compiled by a reviewer with more than four years of headphone testing experience at the outlet, covers wireless earbuds and over-ear headphones that Wired says it has tested and stands behind. It was updated on November 14 to add products from Nothing, CMF and Shokz, and to drop items from Bose, Google and Beats that were no longer discounted. Specific prices and discount percentages should be confirmed against the retailers' current listings, since promotional pricing changes frequently.

Apple AirPods Pro 3. Wired describes these as its top wireless earbuds pick, particularly for iPhone owners who want a simple setup. The reviewer credits strong sound, competitive active noise cancellation and transparency modes, and smooth pairing across Apple devices. The current discount is around 20 percent, which the reviewer notes is not the lowest price seen for this model.

Nothing Ear (3a). Positioned as one of Wired's favorite earbuds under $100, these are at what the reviewer calls their largest discount to date, roughly 30 percent. The appeal is largely design — a semi-transparent look and bold color options. The reviewer is candid that the automatic noise cancellation is not a strength, but considers that a minor issue at the reduced price.

Shokz OpenFit. These open-ear headphones, which hook over and behind the ear and leave the ear canal unobstructed, are at what the reviewer says is their lowest price yet. Wired highlights sound quality relative to other open-ear designs, long battery life and wireless charging support.

Sony WH-1000XM5. Now effectively superseded in Sony's lineup by the premium XM6 and the cheaper XM4C, the XM5 is selling at what the reviewer calls the lowest price observed for this model, in the blue colorway. Wired notes the headphones launched in 2022 and were its top over-ear pick at the time; the reviewer argues they still outperform alternatives in this price range.

Nothing Headphone (1). Wired calls these a success on both design and sound, now at their lowest price. The reviewer singles out the on-ear controls: a clickable wheel for volume and a flat rocker for track skipping. The budget Headphone (a) and premium Headphone (1) Pro are also discounted, but the reviewer considers the standard Headphone (1) the better deal.

Sony WH-CH720N. Sony has introduced the WH-CN730N as a replacement, which the reviewer ties to a 50 percent discount on the older model. Wired concedes these cannot match premium options on most specifications, but points to a light 192-gram build and 35 hours of battery life with noise cancellation enabled.

CMF Headphone Pro. CMF, Nothing's lower-cost sub-brand, has its over-ear model at what the reviewer calls the best price seen so far — $49. Wired describes them as comfortable, surprisingly capable sonically, and equipped with noise cancellation and long battery life.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen). Wired presents these as the reference point for noise cancellation against which it judges other headphones, adding that they are comfortable, premium-feeling and well-tuned.

Sony WH-1000XM6. Wired's overall top over-ear pick is matching its lowest observed price, with the reviewer citing comfort, sound quality and noise cancellation.

AirPods Max 2. Wired calls the $550 list price excessive, and notes the headphones are frequently discounted — including now, though not at the best price the reviewer has seen. The reviewer's advice is to add them to a cart and wait for further Black Friday markdowns.

What this means for buyers. The roundup's implicit guidance is that timing matters more than novelty. Outgoing models — the Sony XM5 and WH-CH720N — carry the steepest cuts, and the reviewer's judgment is that they remain capable despite being replaced. For shoppers who want current-generation hardware, the discounts are shallower and, in the AirPods Max case, expected to deepen. Wired's assessments are editorial opinions based on the outlet's own testing; readers should verify live pricing before purchase.

One caveat: the roundup is deal-driven and reflects prices at the time of its November 14 update. Neither the reviewer nor Wired guarantees availability or discount depth beyond that snapshot.