Sony’s WH-1000XM5 dropping to $198 is the clearest signal in this round of Prime Day headphone deals: older premium audio gear can beat newer hardware on value when the discount gets deep enough. That matters most for buyers who already know their use case, noise cancellation, Apple integration, workouts, bass, or budget earbuds.
The strongest picks come from The Verge’s Prime Day audio roundup, according to The Verge, and the pattern is obvious. Amazon sets the Prime Day calendar, but Best Buy and Walmart can also be relevant, especially when retailer-specific pricing moves quickly.
Prime Day headphone deals favor buyers who can spot the real audio bargains
Prime Day floods shoppers with earbuds and headphones. The useful question isn’t “what has the biggest discount?” It’s “what would still be worth buying without the sale?”
That filter narrows the field fast. The Verge’s list breaks into five practical lanes:
- Premium ANC: Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds.
- Budget earbuds: EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus and low-cost alternatives such as Nothing CMF Buds 2A.
- Bass-heavy headphones: Sony Ult Wear, for shoppers who want a punchier sound profile.
- Apple audio: AirPods models across the Max, Pro, and standard lines, with current prices worth verifying by retailer.
- Workout picks: Beats and Shokz options, where fit style matters as much as sound.
The best Prime Day headphone deals are not always limited to Amazon. If a deal involves Apple audio or fitness headphones, it is worth checking competing retailers before buying.
Sony WH-1000XM5 at $198 becomes the standout noise-canceling headphone deal
Sony WH-1000XM5 are the cleanest buy in the roundup: $198 at Amazon, described by The Verge as half of retail and the lowest price its audio expert has seen for the model.
“I’d go so far to say this is the best headphones deal of Prime Day.”
That’s the kind of claim that matters because the XM5 are not Sony’s newest XM-series headphones. The value case rests on what still holds up: comfort, excellent sound, and noise-canceling performance that competes with newer releases.
For buyers, the trade is simple. If you want the newest model, this isn’t it. If you want premium ANC headphones under $200, the XM5 become the benchmark every other deal has to beat.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds at $129 keep ANC shoppers away from flagship prices
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds sit in a different lane: earbuds for buyers who want strong ANC without jumping to current flagship pricing.
The Verge notes that Bose has long been tied to noise cancellation, even as Sony, Apple, and budget-focused Soundcore have narrowed the performance gap. During Prime Day, the QuietComfort Earbuds are listed at $129.
That price matters because Bose’s newer Ultra earbuds gen 2 are cited at $249. The QuietComfort Earbuds are not the newest Bose ANC earbuds, but they still offer what this buyer wants: strong noise cancellation at a much lower sale price.
EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus and CMF Buds 2A push budget earbuds below the usual compromise line
Budget earbuds are where discount math can get messy. Cheap does not automatically mean good. Here, the better lens is function per dollar.
EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus are listed at $71.23, with Verge readers able to use code EFAP4PFB for an additional 5 percent off, bringing the price to $67.66. The Verge also flags them in connection with a Vergecast episode about call quality, which gives the deal a more practical angle than “decent earbuds for cheap.”
Nothing CMF Buds 2A are another budget option to check if you want to keep spending especially low. Because low-cost earbud listings can shift quickly by color, seller, and stock, the safer move is to verify the live price and feature list before treating them as an automatic buy.
| Model | Prime Day price | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus | $71.23, or $67.66 with code | Budget earbuds with a call-quality angle |
| Nothing CMF Buds 2A | Check current listing | Ultra-low-cost earbuds if the live price and features fit your needs |
Sony Ult Wear is a bass-focused option for shoppers who want punch
Sony Ult Wear are aimed at listeners who want a more energetic, bass-forward headphone rather than a neutral studio-style profile.
The practical takeaway is not that every buyer should choose them. It is that bass-first shoppers should evaluate them differently from the XM5. The XM5 deal is about premium ANC value; the Ult Wear appeal is more about whether the tuning matches what you actually like to hear.
Before buying, verify the live price, color availability, and feature details at the retailer. If the discount is strong and you want a punchier Sony headphone, they may be worth comparing against more balanced ANC options.
AirPods Max 2 and AirPods Pro 3 discounts make Apple audio easier to justify
Apple audio deals are different from most headphone deals because the value is not only about sound. For many buyers, the appeal is how easily AirPods fit into an existing iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch setup.
That makes AirPods Max 2 and AirPods Pro 3 worth watching during Prime Day, but the specific retailer math should be checked live. Apple headphone prices can vary across Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy, and the best-looking markdown is not always the best purchase once shipping, return windows, and color availability are factored in.
The main buying question is simple: do you need Apple-specific convenience enough to pay more than you would for a comparable Sony, Bose, or budget-focused alternative? If yes, a real Prime Day discount can make the decision easier. If not, the broader headphone market has stronger value plays.
AirPods 4 with ANC gives Apple buyers a cheaper route to noise cancellation
AirPods 4 with ANC are the middle path for Apple buyers who want noise cancellation without moving straight to the higher-end Pro line.
That is the role they play in the lineup: more affordable than Apple’s premium earbuds, but still more capable than basic open-style earbuds. The important caveat is that shoppers should confirm the current sale price and compare it against the non-ANC model before buying.
For Apple users, this is the cleaner budget move only if the ANC version is discounted enough to justify the step up. If the gap is small, paying extra may make sense. If the gap widens, the cheaper model could be the better casual-use pick.
Powerbeats Fit, Powerbeats Pro 2, and Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 compete for workout ears
Workout audio splits by fit preference. Do you want sealed earbuds, ear hooks, or open-ear awareness?
That question matters more than chasing the lowest listed price. Powerbeats Fit style earbuds make sense for buyers who want a secure in-ear fit. Powerbeats Pro 2 appeal to shoppers who prefer ear hooks. Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 fit the open-ear lane, which can be useful when awareness of your surroundings matters.
Because fitness headphones depend heavily on comfort, stability, and training environment, verify current pricing and retailer details before buying.
- Gym: consider secure in-ear options if isolation and stability matter.
- Running: ear hooks may be useful if you dislike adjusting earbuds mid-workout.
- Outdoor training: open-ear designs may make more sense when awareness is important.
- Commuting workouts: pick based on whether you want ANC or open-ear awareness.
Best Buy and Walmart turn Prime Day headphone shopping into a broader price fight
Prime Day is branded around Amazon, but these audio deals show why shoppers shouldn’t stop there.
Competing retailers can match, beat, or briefly undercut Amazon on specific headphone and earbud models. That is especially true for Apple audio and workout-focused headphones, where color availability and inventory can change fast.
Before buying, compare final price, color availability, shipping speed, and return windows. The product may be the same. The buying experience may not be.
The bigger picture
Deep discounts across premium ANC, Apple audio, budget earbuds, bass-heavy headphones, and fitness earbuds point to one practical signal: shoppers have more credible options than one flagship pair at full price.
Older premium models are the sharpest example. The Sony WH-1000XM5 are not the newest XM headphones, but at $198, they become harder to dismiss than many newer alternatives.
The forward-looking watch item is deal quality, not deal volume. If you know your use case, this is a strong Prime Day audio sale. If you’re shopping by discount percentage alone, the noise will get expensive fast.
Key Takeaways
- Deep Prime Day discounts can make older premium headphones a better value than newer models.
- Sony’s WH-1000XM5 at $198 stands out as the clearest noise-canceling headphone deal in the roundup.
- Checking Best Buy and Walmart alongside Amazon can help shoppers avoid missing better retailer-specific prices.
Originally published on XOOMAR. For more news and analysis, visit XOOMAR.
