Our cheap headphone deals roundup will not only get you a great price on your next pair of cans but give you plenty of options no matter what type you're looking for. Not only are we expert deals hunters here at TechRadar, but we've also reviewed all the best headphones from Apple, Beats, Jabra, Sennheiser, Sony, and many more, so you can be sure you're getting top advice here.
We cover all the best headphones released, including over-ear headphones, noise-canceling headphones, and wireless headphones , so there's plenty on offer. Even still, readers often ask us whether they should spend a little extra for a branded pair of headphones or go for a set of no-name buds you often find at department stores. The answer is - you tend to get what you pay for.
Those $5 / £5 buds can look pretty tempting, but there's often a false economy at play with cheap tech. With poor audio and chintzy build quality, you'll often find yourself going through multiple pairs in fairly short order. Subsequently, we always recommend going for one of the more known brands if your wallet will allow it.
Luckily, you'll find some pretty low-cost headphone deals here, so you won't have to break the bank to find a pair that should last. Prices start at around $20 / £20 on our list this week, and what's more, most of these headphones have been impartially reviewed by us, so you know what you're getting here.
It’s with that in mind that we've narrowed down a list of headphones that not only sound good and feel good but are priced appropriately for all you cost-conscious audiophiles out there.
The best headphone deals and sales
Don't discount the Apple AirPods ; while they may indeed be a pricier option, recent sales have driven prices down to an almost bargain price point, so much in fact, you can often pick them up for as low as $109 / £110.
There’s a lot about the AirPods that we like. They sound great, their battery life and charging speeds run laps around the competition, and it’s hard to overstate just how seamless the pairing process is. If the prices go down even further, as we expect later this year, they could just be a great value pickup - especially for those with an iOS device.
The Sony WH-CH510 is our top pick for the best budget over-ear headphones, offering industry-leading digital noise cancellation technology. Whether you're traveling, walking, or in a busy office, these headphones will adapt to the sounds around you and block out background noise accordingly. The Bluetooth headphones also include Touch Sensor controls so you can easily skip tracks, control volume, answer phone calls, and more. The Sony WH-CH510 provide up to 35 hours of battery life, with quick charging if you need a fast recharge.
No longer is true-wireless tech a feature reserved for the most premium of buds, thanks to the JLab Go Air - a pair of totally wireless earbuds available for the almost unbelievable price of just $29 / £29.
Sure, these are definitely on the more "budget" end of things, and subsequently, you shouldn't expect world-beating audio, amazing build quality, or premium features like active noise cancellation, but for $30 - you're definitely getting a pair of functional buds here.
Available in white, khaki green, black, and navy blue, the JLab Go Air True Wireless Earbuds feature an IPX5 sweatproof rating, 5 hours of battery life, and three different equalizer settings, which you can use to cater to your tracks of choice. Overall, that's not bad in our books and definitely worth considering if you want to get your hands on a pair of truly wireless buds without spending the $99 that the (admittedly much better) Lypertek Tevi go for these days.
If you're looking for a cheap, no-nonsense set of wired headphones for your work desk or home use, check out the Tascam TH-02. These fully over-ear closed-back headphones aim to provide a detailed, studio-ready audio experience, but most importantly, retail for just $20 / £20 at Amazon currently.
Tascam is a trusted brand that has been around for many years, and the TH-02 is a good choice over the many nameless and unbranded headphones that tend to sit at this price point. You're getting some powerful drivers here, as well as a fairly robust (albeit slightly dated) plastic design that should last for a good time.
Of course, you probably won't want to be seen out with these giant old-school headphones, but for home use and sitting at the office desk, these headphones will give you plenty of quality and isolation for the price.
When it comes to headphones, the general consensus is that you very much get what you pay for. But with AKG's K92, what you're getting is so much more. These headphones offer a level of sound quality that far outstrips their budget price tag. That being said, these are some of the largest cans you might ever find, and therefore might not be the best choice for anyone out there who has a petite noggin. Specs-wise, however, it's all good. The K92's professional 40mm drivers offer an extended 16 - 20,000Hz frequency response with a 113 dB SPL/V sensitivity level. It has a cable length of about 9 feet (3 meters) and weighs around 200 grams.
Want a pair of extremely solid, Bluetooth headphones that also pack in excellent active noise cancellation for under $100? Check out the JBL Tune 750BTNC.
While the JBL Tune 750BTNC have an official listing price of $129 / £120, we often see them go for as little as $99 / £89, which makes them one of the best headphone deals around right now. For that price, you're getting a ton of excellent features for the money, including active noise cancellation, great audio, and a pretty damn sturdy pair of headphones for the price. The only downside we've found with these headphones is the lack of the latest Bluetooth support. These are on a slightly older version so don't quite have the wireless range of the newest premium headphones. There's also no waterproofing on these JBL's either, but otherwise, they get a hearty recommendation for us.
The Lypertek Tevi firmly get our nod for the best true wireless earbuds you can buy under $100, and even better news for headphone deals hunters is that they are often discounted to just $89 / £89.
For that price, what's on offer here is pretty unbeatable. Not only have they got a great, balanced sound, but the excellent battery life, USB-C charging, and waterproofing just make for an overall awesome value package here.
While their asking price is firmly on the higher end, especially when compared to the cheaper options on our list, these headphones look, feel and sound like a much more premium set in themselves. Subsequently, if you're happy to spend that little extra that week, you definitely won't be disappointed with these great mid-range earbuds from Lypertek.
One for the audiophiles among you, the 1MORE Triple Driver offers quite simply some of the best audio quality available for under $100, and even better news, they also happen to go on sale frequently for as little as $70 / £80 right now.
For that price, you're getting a pair of specially tuned, audio engineer-approved earbuds that have a pretty novel set of (as the name suggests) proprietary drivers to blast out all your favorite tunes in perfect clarity. Subsequently, you can expect great performance from these, and the built and fit isn't too shabby either.
Remember though, these are fully wired earphones and therefore are subject to tangles, snagging, and general noises unless careful. If you'd prefer wireless, then definitely check out the other great recommendations on our list.
The Amazon Echo Buds were released in 2019 with an affordable starting price of $129.99/£119.99. Thanks to sale events like Prime Day, we've seen the earbuds drop to as low as $99.99/£89.99. The earbuds include Active Noise Reduction technology that was developed by Bose and feature an advanced microphone that allows you hands-free access to Amazon Alexa. The Alexa-enabled earbuds allow you to skip songs, adjust the volume, ask questions, and more completely hands-free. The sweat-resistant earbuds provide up to five hours of battery life and come in three different sizes for a secure and comfortable fit.
More headphone deals
The cheapest AirPods sales and deals in May 2022
Our best AirPods deals roundup is here for one thing - to help you get your hands on the very best Apple AirPods sales available online. Whether you're looking for the latest prices on the standard AirPods, the powerful AirPods Pro, or the all-new AirPods Max, we've got you covered in this article.
While it was once rare to find AirPods sales in the US and UK, thanks to the product ranges eternal popularity and seasonal sales, it's now becoming easier and easier to find some discounted prices. However, they do sell out pretty quickly still, so we always recommend jumping on an AirPods deal if you're ready to commit.
Recently we've seen a whole range of discounts - including savings of up to $80 / £80, although these have indeed gone pretty quickly. Considering how premium Apple tech is, these AirPods deals have been pretty damn good in our books, and these once heftily priced earbuds are now much more obtainable.
If you've picked up a modern iPhone that's dumped the traditional headphone jack, the Apple AirPods rank amongst the best earphones to pair with your new phone. Although, as they're Bluetooth, you can pair them with plenty of other mobile phones and even laptops.
So, how much are AirPods, and how can you get the best AirPods deals out there? Our price comparison tool automatically brings you the best savings from all your favorite retailers so you can shop the latest prices as soon as they hit the shelves.
The best AirPods sales and deals
The Apple AirPods Pro were released in October of last year with a starting price of $249 / £249 / AU$399. Thanks to the recent release of the AirPods Max, you'll be able to find plenty of AirPods Pro deals just below.
That's quite the jump in price compared to the regular AirPods, but the AirPods Pro are the first AirPods to include active noise-canceling technology to keep outside distractions away from your music, which is excellent for those noisy commutes or keeping your concentration going at work. That being said, you can activate a mode that allows some outside noise to filter through, which is useful if you prefer being able to hear things like traffic when running/cycling/walking or someone calling your name in the office.
The AirPods Pro are also water and sweat resistant making them much better suited to the gym than the standard AirPods, and they come with multiple tips so you can adjust to the best fit for you. The water resistance is IPX4 level, so we're talking the odd splash and light rain rather than full-on immersion.
The Apple AirPods Pro ship with a wireless charging case as standard. There is no cheaper version with a standard charging case, unlike the regular AirPods that give buyers the option of both.
There are plenty of AirPods deals to be found for the 2019 version that come with a wireless charging case. The Apple Airpods cost a bit more with prices starting at $199 / £199 / AU$319, but wireless charging is a super convenient feature. The actual AirPods themselves are the same as the ones we mentioned above, so the case is the only difference between the two.
Just pop your AirPods into the snug charging case, close the lid, and put it on a Qi-certified wireless charging pad (sold separately) and that's it. Apple canceled the release of its own bespoke wireless charging pad, the Apple AirPower, which would have allowed for simultaneous charging of your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. But at least third-party pads are significantly cheaper than that one would have been.
So, how much are the 2019 AirPods , and how can you get the cheapest price possible? Directly below, you'll find the latest AirPods deals for the 2nd generation earbuds, which were first released in March of 2019. The Apple AirPods with Charging Case had a starting price of $159 / £159 / AU$249, but thanks to the release of newer models, we've seen the wireless earbuds drop as low as $99 / £99 / AU$99.
Compared to the older model, the visual design remains the same. But inside, you get a faster H1 processor chip, 50% more talk time, and hands-free Siri interactions. So seeing as the older models never really came down in price, the new 2019 AirPods are the best standard option to buy right now if the Pro's don't appeal. Look out for these features in the description to make sure you're getting the newest versions. This model comes with the standard charging case that provides a further 20 hours of battery life and up to three hours of talk time on a single charge.
Apple quietly released the AirPods Max in December, and they're available to buy right now if you can find them in stock. They don't come cheap though, in fact, the AirPods Max are the most expensive headphones from Apple with a starting price of $549.99 / £549. The AirPods Max not only stand out because of their price, but the Apple headphones also feature an over-ear design, which is a first from the AirPods line. Apple claims the AirPods Max bring the magic of AirPods to an over-the-ear design, which means you're getting Active Noise Cancellation, powerful H1 Chips, and an enhanced audio experience. The AirPods Max also feature a unique design with a breathable knit mesh headband and a stainless steel frame with memory foam earcups for ultimate comfort. The Apple headphones come in several sleek color choices such as space gray, silver, sky blue, green, and pink and provide up to 20 hours of battery life. While we haven't seen any AirPods Max deals yet, we're hoping to see first-time price cuts during the upcoming Amazon Prime Day event.
What about the original 2016 Apple AirPods?
These models have been discontinued and phased out at most stores now. On the rare occasions that we do spot unused stock units, they're actually the same price as the new and improved 2019 versions.
Short version: get the 2019 models instead via one of the deals in the comparison chart above. To be sure they are the new ones, look out for H1 chip and hands-free Siri functionality in the description if the title doesn't say something along the lines of '2019' or 'latest/newest version'.
How much are AirPods?
The official AirPods' price is $159 in the US and £159 in the UK and $249 in Australia. So you shouldn't pay any more. Although, we have seen some stores cheekily push the price up when stock thins out. If you're looking for the version with the wireless charging case, then prices shoot up to around $199 in the US and £199 in the UK.
Expect the usual outlets to charge closer to the MSRP and, better yet, potentially dip below it around the key shopping seasons. Fingers crossed we don't have to wait long for some proper Apple AirPod sales though!
As an alternative, there are lots of wireless earphone and headphone deals in our Beats headphone deals page and other brands are covered in our wireless headphone deals page.
Should I wait for a cheaper AirPods deal?
You might be waiting a while for seriously big discounts. Last year around Black Friday , we were seeing $20 discounts selling out in minutes, and it was one of the most popular deals we highlighted in our extensive roundups of the hottest offers. We saw similar discounts in the UK too - much better than last year's $7 discount but still no flash sales around right now.
Things have actually been better overall this year though with much better deals available in various regions. We're regularly seeing discounts of $15/£20 outside of peak seasonal discounts, so you should be able to beat the recommended asking price to be honest.
What does Apple's 'Peek Performance' event name mean?
With Apple's March event now confirmed and rumored to feature a new iPhone SE 3 , a new iPad Air , and possibly a new M1 Mac , fans are already trying to find clues in the invite that was sent out on Tuesday, March 2.
This is nothing new. For years, Apple has sent out invites that have suggested what the events may show off. Last year hinted towards ' Hyperspeed ', which turned out to be the new M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBook Pro laptops.
Going way back to 2012, when invites were sent out for the iPhone 5 event, a shadow of a number 5 was as subtle as a sledgehammer that a new iPhone was on its way.
But since the March invite was sent out, many are wondering why Apple chose the word 'Peek' instead of 'Peak' in the invite when it alluded to 'Peek performance'.
While it's extremely unlikely that it's a typo for a company like Apple, the word gives its customers an idea as to what March 8 could entail.
Is there a difference in Peak and Peek with Apple?
The Oxford Dictionary defines 'Peak' as:
Reach the highest point, either of a specified value or at a specified time.
In other words, it's the absolute highest that something could reach, either in how fast a machine can go, like an M1 chip from Apple, or how a 5G chip could reach new highs for an iPhone SE model, as that's a line that has yet to see the benefits of 5G.
But it's when you look at 'Peek' in the Dictionary that things become interesting:
To look or glance quickly or furtively, especially through a small opening or from a concealed location; peep; peer.
To me, this signals that we're going to see something else that goes beyond the rumors, and reminds me of a time back in 2006, when Steven Jobs was on stage.
We've been here before
Apple's co-founder was on stage in 2006 , showcasing games for the iPod Video, a new iPod nano line, and iTunes offering movies as well as TV shows.
But there was One More Thing, an aspect that Jobs was known to do from time to time at events. These would showcase an update to an existing product, or something completely out of the blue. This time, it was a sneak peek at the Apple TV , first called iTV.
Jobs would demo the media box in his own way that's become iconic now, communicating the benefits to everyone, but making it clear that it was a preview of what was to come.
It was rare that this happened, as Apple likes to announce products that are almost ready to go, even in 2006. But the company had stated since that event that Apple TV was a hobby, it was a testing ground.
In 2022, we're about to see another sneak peek, which makes me suspect we're going to see a new Mac, possibly a Mac Pro. This may be a product that's going to launch towards the end of the year with an Apple Silicon chip that's not quite ready for now.
Peak and peek can mean the same for Apple - it could offer a sneak peek of its highest-performing Mac, and the peak of the M1 chip, but it's simply not ready to be sold for now.
I've enjoyed using my M1 Pro MacBook Pro since October, but there's some Apple users I know of who want a Mac that's not constrained by being on a battery - they want pure power with no compromise. There are plenty of wallets ready to splurge on a Mac with Apple Silicon that's powered only by a cable, not a battery.
However, despite the references to 'peek', I don't see a augmented reality headset appearing next week, as some people are hoping for, mainly due to the fact that a new category for Apple doesn't fit a March event.
That's an idea that's been backed up by respected analyst Mark Gurman, who believes it's more to do with a sneak peek at the new hardware than anything like the new Apple Glasses .
A new category needs its own space, and for something for its developers to take in and see how it fits for their apps, which is why I believe that there's more chance of it appearing at WWDC this year.
We don't have long to wait for this, but if you're hoping to see a headset, this year's WWDC, once it's official, could be your best bet to see the Apple wearable.