PCMag rounds up early Black Friday deals on Apple, Bose, Sony and Nothing audio gear

What PCMag put together

As pcmag.com reported in a roundup updated on November 4, the Black Friday shopping season has started to push down prices on consumer electronics. The site picked out eight headphone and earbud deals from well-known brands, plus a longer list of extra discounts further down the page.

This is not AI news, and it is a shopping guide, not a product launch. But audio gear is one of the most common gifts, and the prices are specific enough to be useful. The page was last updated on a single day, so treat every figure as a snapshot, not a promise.

The earbud picks

The roundup leads with Apple's AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation, which PCMag gave an Editors' Choice award. Its reviewers praised the sound, the easy pairing with iPhones, and the noise cancelling for an earbud that does not seal the ear canal. The summary does not give a price for them.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, also an Editors' Choice winner, are 23% off at Amazon, bringing them to $229. PCMag's Christian de Looper called them "unmatched in their ability to silence your surroundings." They also support high-quality Bluetooth audio formats and have an adjustable equalizer.

On the budget side, the Nothing Ear 3a earbuds come in four colors, include four sizes of ear tips and are rated IP54 for dust and water resistance. The Marshall Motif II earbuds were praised for sound and a detailed equalizer, though PCMag says their noise cancelling trails some rivals.

A separate list adds more options:

• Apple AirPods Pro 3: $199.00, down from $249.00
• Beats Studio Buds+: $99.95, down from $169.95
• Sony WF-1000XM5: $199.99, down from $329.99
• Nothing Ear (3): $109.00, down from $149.00

Over-ear headphones at several price levels

The Bose QuietComfort second-edition headphones are at their lowest price in 90 days, according to PCMag, and cost under $200. They earned an "Excellent" rating and are among the lightest noise-cancelling headphones on the market.

Sony's WH-CH720N is 51% off at Amazon. At 6.7 ounces, it is the lightest noise-cancelling over-ear pair Sony has made. PCMag has not yet lab-tested this exact model, though it reviewed the earlier WH-CH710N and liked it.

At the low end, the Soundcore Q20i is $44.99, marked down from $69.99. It claims up to 40 hours of battery life and can be used with a wired 3.5mm cable. The Nothing Headphone (a), another Editors' Choice winner, stands out for its unusual design and physical controls, including a paddle and a clickable scroll wheel.

Other listed over-ears include the Apple AirPods Max 2 at $449.99, down from $549.00, and the Beats Studio Pro at $199.95, down from $299.99.

How to choose, and how noise cancelling works

PCMag says to start with your own needs: budget, brand, compatibility with your devices, and features. Over-ear models usually last longer between charges and are more comfortable for long sessions. Earbuds are easier to carry and come with a charging case.

Active noise cancelling, often shortened to ANC, uses small microphones to pick up outside sound such as traffic or airplane engines. The headphones then produce an opposite sound wave that cancels much of it, all within a split second. PCMag notes that quality varies a lot between models. A "transparency mode" does the reverse, letting outside sound in so you can talk without taking the headphones off.

PCMag says it tests fit, features, connectivity and sound. Reviewers play the same songs on every pair to compare bass, vocals and volume. That consistency is why the Editors' Choice labels in the list carry some weight, though they are still one outlet's opinion.

When deals tend to appear

PCMag says the biggest discounts on higher-priced gear usually come during Black Friday and Prime Day. Retailers often cut the most on products priced between $200 and $400. Smaller sales also appear around holidays such as Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day.

The page also points out that cheaper earbuds are often available from discount retailers, and it advises sticking with brands you recognize. A low price on a no-name pair is not necessarily a bargain.