October Prime Day brings headphones and speakers deals from Sony, Bose, more
It’s a good time to pick up a pair of AirPods Max.
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Credit: Marshall / Anker / Apple / Mashable
UPDATE: Oct. 8, 2024, 6:35 p.m. EDT This post has been updated with the latest headphone and earbud deals worth checking out, based on our reporters historical pricing knowledge.
Best headphone and speaker deals
Best Bluetooth speaker deal
Prime Big Deal Days is officially here. While Amazon usually showcases its own products and services during the October Prime Day event, plenty of other brands join in on the fun too.
We’re tracking deals on headphones and speakers, which historically drop to some of their lowest prices during Prime Day. Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard here — it’s literally been my job for the past couple of years to pay specific attention to headphones pricing. I’ve also been testing out the best headphones for the past year for Mashable. (Shopping Reporter Sam Mangino has also been testing headphones for Mashable for several months).
As a Prime Day and Black Friday veteran, I can say with confidence that sometimes Amazon does have “deal prices” on items that actually aren’t all that great, whether it be because the markdown isn’t that impressive, or because those items actually dip down or regularly sit at those prices through most of the year. The headphones, earbuds, and speaker deals you’ll find below do not fall into either of those categories.
In fact, most of these prices below are the lowest we’ve seen all year. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, for instance, dropped to $100 off for the first time ever during this Prime Day event (they dropped $70 in July). The AirPods Pro hit a record low of $68.99, and some other favorites of ours, like the Sony WH-1000XM5s returned to their all-time low prices. After covering headphone deals for the past couple of years, I can say that when anyone on Mashable’s team adds a headphone deal to this list, it’s actually worth checking out.
With that, here are our favorite headphones, earbuds, and speaker deals from this October Prime Day sale. Want even more Prime Day content? Follow along with our live blog.
Best noise-cancelling headphones deal
Why we like itCheck out our full review of the Apple AirPods Max.
I’m going to level with you — I’m kind of an AirPods Max hater, but mostly because I think they’re way too expensive for what they’re offering, especially in comparison to other over-ear noise cancelling headphones on the market. With that said, they do have a unique look, come in more colors than most other headphones, and offer a sound quality and active noise cancellation that’s been praised by many. Now that these headphones are down to one of their lowest prices ever at $394.95 (saving you 28%), they’re much easier to recommend.
Just be aware that these are the Lightning port model. The USB-C model is on sale too, but beyond the charging port and new colorways, they are the exact same headphones, and they’re going for $499.99. It’s their first big markdown, but it’s not one I can recommend over these AirPods Max. If you really want USB-C charging, I recommend trying out the Bose QC Ultra headphones or the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones. — Bethany Allard, Lead Shopping Reporter
More headphone dealsSoundcore by Anker Life Q20 Headphones — $39.90 $59.99 (save $20.09)
Marshall Major IV Headphones — $79.99 $149.99 (save $70)
Sony WH-CH720N Headphones — $88 $149.99 (save $61.99)
Beats Solo 4 — $99.99 $199.95 (save $99.96)
Sennheiser Accentum Headphones — $109.95 $149.95 (save $40)
Beats Fit Pro — $149.99 $199.95 (save $49.96)
Beats Studio 3 Headphones — $159 $349.95 (save $190.95)
Beats Studio Pro — $169.99 $349.99 (save $180)
Beats Studio Pro x Kim Kardashian — $189.99 $349.95 (save $159.96)
Sony WH-1000XM4 — $198 $348 (save $150)
Bose QuietComfort headphones — $199.99 $349 (save $149.01)
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Headphones — $219.95 $379.95 (save $160)
Sony WH-1000XM5 — $298 $399.99 (save $101.99)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra — $329 $429 (save $100)
Best earbuds deals
Why we like itCheck out our full review of the 2021 Amazon Echo Buds.
Simply put, you really don’t see earbuds with halfway decent active noise cancellation below $50, much less below $40. In my testing of budget noise-cancelling headphones, I found that the Anker Soundcore Life P3i earbuds fared well with noise-cancelling and audio quality for around $50. I opted for them instead of the Echo Buds because of the price discrepancy, but with the Echo Buds at a whopping 71% off, it’d be hard to recommend another pair of earbuds if you’re looking for the cheapest way to get the best ANC possible. You’ll deal with some quirks like Amazon wanting you to lean heavy into using Alexa, and a battery life that’s nothing to write home about, for $35 you could do a lot worse. — Bethany Allard, Lead Shopping Reporter
More earbud dealsSkullcandy EcoBuds — $24.88 $39.99 (save $15.11)
Soundcore by Anker P30i Noise-cancelling Earbuds — $27.99 $49.99 (save $22)
JBL Vibe Beam — $29.95 $49.95 (save $20)
Soundcore Anker Life Q20 — $39.90 $59.99 (save $20.09)
Soundcore by Anker P40i — $41.99 $69.99 (save $28)
Soundcore by Anker A40 Earbuds — $44.99 $79.99 (save $35)
Google Pixel Buds A-Series — $49 $99 (save $50)
JBL Tune Buds — $49.95 $99.95 (save $50)
JBL Tune Flex — $49.95 $99.95 (save $50)
Raycon Everyday Earbuds — $55.99 $79.99 (save $24)
Jabra Elite 4 — $69.99 $119.99 (save $50)
Soundcore by Anker Space One — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)
Beats Studio Buds — $79.99 $149.95 (save $69.96)
Raycon Fitness earbuds — $83.99 $119.99 (save $36)
Sony WF-C700N Earbuds — $84.49 $119.99 (save $35.50)
JBL Live 660NC — $99.95 $199.95 (save $100)
Apple AirPods 4 — $119 $129 (save $10)
Apple AirPods 3 — $129.99 $169 (save $39.01)
Beats Studio Buds + — $129.99 $169.95 (save $39.96)
Beats Powerbeats Earbuds — $149.99 $249.95 (save $99.96)
Apple AirPods Pro 2 — $168.99 $249 (save $80.01)
JBL Live Buds 3 — $169.95 $199.95 (save $30)
Sony WF-1000XM5 — $228 $299.99 (save $71.99)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds — $229 $299 (save $70)
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds — $249 $299 (save $50)
Best Bluetooth speaker deal
Why we like itMaybe your Bluetooth speaker kicked the dust this summer after one too many pool parties. If you find yourself in the market for a new one, Prime Day is an especially great time to hit add to cart.
Mashable Deals
The Marshall Emberton II speaker is perfect to bring along to any banger. It has a vintage look with the stylish gold script logo and textured front, but that doesn’t distract from its functionality. With an IP67 rating, it’s water and dust-resistant so you can even take it outside. Plus its 30 hours of battery life is insane.
Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, you can get the Marshall Emberton II speaker on sale for $99.99, saving $70 for 41% off.
More Bluetooth speaker dealsJBL Clip 5 Speaker — $59.95 $79.95 (save $20)
Marshall Willen Speaker — $69.99 $119.99 (save $50)
Ultimate Ears Boom 4 Speaker — $120.64 $149.99 (save $29.35)
JBL Xtreme 2 Speaker — $179.99 $199.99 (save $20)
Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Speaker — $197.30 $249 (save $51.70)
Marshall Kilburn II Speaker — $199.99 $299.99 (save $100)
Marshall Middleton Speaker — $249.99 $299.99 (save $50)
JBL PartyBox —$299.95 $349.95 (save $50)
Marshall Stanmore III Speaker — $329.99 $379.99 (save $50)
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Bethany Allard is a Los Angeles-based shopping reporter at Mashable covering beauty tech, dating, sex and relationships, and headphones. That basically means she puts her hair through a lot, scrolls through a lot of dating apps, and rotates through a lot of different headphones. In addition to testing out and rounding up the best products, she also covers deals for Mashable, paying an especially obsessive amount of attention to Apple deals and prices. That knowledge comes in handy when she’s covering shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, which she’s now done for three years at Mashable.
She graduated from New York University with a B.A. in Journalism and English Literature. You can follow her on X @betallard and reach her by email at [email protected]. In her free time, you’ll find her playing her Switch, hanging with her cat Mila, or cooking something new in her kitchen.
Boston-based Shopping Reporter, Samantha Mangino, covers all things tech at Mashable, rounding up the best products and deals. She’s covered commerce for three years, spending extensive time testing and reviewing all things home, including couches, steam irons, and washing machines. She thoroughly vets products and internet trends, finding out if those cozy gamer chairs are really as comfortable as TikTok claims.
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