It took me far too long to search for the best deals on the most acclaimed wireless active noise canceling headphones, but I fortunately wasn't too late. The greatest sonic cans from Sony, Bose, and even Sennheiser are all enjoying similarly massive price cuts across the board, and those deals even survived the final hours of Black Friday and into the approaching dawn of Cyber Monday. There's no telling when these deals could end, though, so don't take too long deciding which pair of headphones is best for you (I know which one I'd choose).
The legendary Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless ANC Headphones are $198 at Amazon in the color of your choosing. The fantastically comfy Bose QuietComfort Wireless ANC Headphones are $1 more, or $199 at Amazon, and you have even more colors from which to choose. Even my personal, beloved pair of headphones are joining the party, with the luxurious Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless ANC Headphones coming in at $229.95 at Amazon.
Peak noise cancelation with Sony? Unparalleled comfort with Bose? Beautifully clear audio with Sennheiser? Take your pick, you're saving a lot of cash no matter which way you swing.
Recent updates
Dec. 3, 2024 @ 2:40 p.m. ET — Final update now that Cyber Monday is concluded. These deals are still live at the time of this update, but some prices have changed. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra are now $50 more, and the Sennheiser Momentum 4 are now $20 more at Best Buy. It's also not clear when any of these deals will end.
🔥The hottest post-Cyber Monday deals🔥
- 💻HP EliteBook 14 (Ryzen 7 PRO) | $899 at HP (Save $2,023!)
- 🎮Xbox Series X Digital Edition (1TB) | $398 at Walmart (Save $52!)
- 🕹️Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (3-months) | $29.29 at CDKeys (Save $11!)
- 🎮Lenovo Legion Go (Z1 Extreme) | $534.44 at Amazon (Save $166!)
- 💻Surface Pro 11 w/ keyboard (X Plus) | $999.99 at Best Buy (Save $350!)
- 💽Seagate Xbox Series X|S Card (2TB) | $199.99 at Best Buy (Save $160!)
💽More Cyber Monday deals that won't quit💾
- Dell: Lowest PC prices of the year for a little longer after Cyber Monday
- HP: Aggressive "Cyber Week" deals on laptops while supplies last
- Lenovo: Still save up to 68% on laptops, desktops, and select doorbusters
- Samsung: Week-long holiday deals on laptops, TVs, phones, and more
The holy trifecta of amazing wireless ANC headphones
I could do my best impression of a history teacher and discuss at length the years-long feud between Sony and Bose, but I'll keep it succinct. For a long time, Sony and Bose have battled it out for the crown of "best wireless ANC headphones," and there has been a lot of back-and-forth. Both companies have produced some truly incredible headsets, with the former progressively improving its technology and the latter refining the traits that made it king at first.
The brand recognition for these two noise canceling goliaths is strong enough that there are thousands of people who will battle on behalf of their preferred headphones, occasionally making it difficult for us so-called "normies" to make the choice between Sony and Bose. On top of that, there are plenty of other great wireless ANC headphones carving out their own slices of the market — I myself have championed my personal favorites during past sales events.
So, what's the run down? Well, at least for the final hours remaining in Black Friday, all three of what I'd consider the best mainstream wireless ANC headphones are enjoying substantial discounts, and they're all neck-and-neck when it comes to pricing. I'll highlight your options and why you should choose (or not choose) each one, but rest assured you'll be getting an amazing pair of cans with one hell of a deal. All of these headphones will feel good, sound good, and block out all the unwanted noise in life.
First, the iconic Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless ANC Headphones are $198 at Amazon in all three colorways, a cool $151 discount. Sony's persistently confusing naming scheme aside, these headphones elevated Sony's active noice canceling prowess to a new level and upped the ante when it came to extra features and ease-of-use. They're not the most comfortable in the business and some of that extra tech can be a little finnicky, but thousands of happy customers gladly put up with those weaknesses.
Next, the legendary Bose QuietComfort Wireless ANC Headphones are $199 at Amazon in many colors, saving you $150. Bose has gently refined the QuietComfort line over many years, resulting in a mature design with unparalleled comfort and reliable performance. Bose can't claim to make the best-sounding wireless headphones you can buy, but no one would blame you for forgetting you're wearing them with how comfy they are.
It's worth mentioning that you can pay an extra $100 in either case to obtain the latest and greatest version of each respective pair of headphones. The Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless ANC Headphones are $298 at Amazon, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless ANC Headphones are $299 $349 at Amazon.
Finally, we have the headphones that won me over. While often found on sale, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless ANC Headphones can be found at an even lower price of $229.95 at Amazon, with some of the designs costing an extra $10. I won't pretend that Sennheiser thrashes the industry greats in every category, but the Momentum 4s best both Sony and Bose when it comes to pure audio quality, and come closer than anyone likely expected in both comfort and noise canceling ability. They also look the most stylish, although that may just be my personal opinion.
Why shop at Amazon?
Amazon has ascended to the height of online retailers, handling millions of purchases every year, and it's no wonder why. This monument to consumerism dominates other storefronts with a seemingly endless catalog of products in every conceivable category. However, why you should shop at Amazon comes down to reliable and fast shipping and highly competitive pricing. If you have an Amazon Prime membership, your benefits and perks rapidly expand.
When did Black Friday end?
On paper, at least, Black Friday ended the moment Midnight chimed on Nov. 29, 2024, or the Friday following the Thanksgiving holiday in the USA. However, that didn't necessarily mean all the deals up and disappeared at that time. Many persisted throughout the weekend and into Cyber Monday, even as many others ended or went out of stock. Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become more of a four-day sales event than two separate days.
When did Cyber Monday end?
While it feels that Black Friday and Cyber Monday seemingly start earlier each year, the four-days sales event tends to end its annual run on a similar note. Cyber Monday marks the tumultuous finale on Dec. 2, 2024, ending when the day does. The vast majority of deals do tend to end when Cyber Monday is over, and the deals that remain often become less aggressive, with smaller price cuts. You're not likely to get another chance at most of those deals until next Black Friday rolls around.
Are there still deals after Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
It's not as if the entire world returns to MSRP after Cyber Monday ends, but many of the best deals absolutely do end before Tuesday arrives. Some retailers and companies will continue Cyber Monday promotions throughout the week, but even then, many of those discounts won't be as steep. You can keep an eye on Windows Central's deal coverage for help finding the sales that are still worth your time, since the majority of Black Friday and Cyber Monday coverage online will now be concluded or out of stock.
