We're barely halfway through November, and I've found a headphones deal I think is genuinely excellent, and probably worth grabbing instead of waiting until Black Friday. You can get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones for $299 (was $429) at Amazon right now, which is the joint-lowest price I've ever seen them – and it's on their coolest colors!
• Shop Amazon's full early Black Friday deals
Note that these aren't the newer Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen that launched just a little while ago – these are the previous model, originally from 2024. But I recently re-tested this model against their successor – and against the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Sonos Ace and more – and I actually rate them as the #1 noise-cancelling headphones to buy right now… because you can find them at this price in the Black Friday deals.
Today's best Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Black Friday deal
I just went through a process of testing 20 pairs of noise-cancelling headphones, at various budget levels, in a series of tests: a hair dryer, a microwave, road traffic, and in a café. I ranked them and scored them in each test, and here are the results of the high-end competition for these Bose headphones:
Model | Total score | Hair dryer | Microwave | Traffic | Café |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) | 19.5 | 4.5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones | 19.5 | 4.5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Sony WH-1000XM6 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
Sonos Ace | 18.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5 |
Bose QuietComfort Headphones | 18 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
AirPods Max | 17.5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4.5 |
Sony WH-1000XM5 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
As you can see, I don't think anything did better than them overall for noise cancellation – and they cost at least $100 less than the (excellent!) Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen or the Sony WH-1000XM6.
I wrote TechRadar's original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review when they launched, and all the praise I lavished on them then still holds: the sound is dynamic, expansive, and fun; they're supremely comfortable and light; the folding design is useful and they feel premium; and they cut down outside sound like you wouldn't believe.
Only the 24-hour battery life is a bit of a let-down, but I think the vast majority of us can live with this, no problem. When it comes to elite noise cancellation and beautiful sound for a great value (if, admittedly, still expensive) price, this is how I'd spend my own money right now.
Shop more of today's best Black Friday sales
- Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
- Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $119
- Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
- Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
- Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
- Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
- Lowe's: up to 30% off appliances, holiday decor & tools
- Samsung: up to $2,000 off appliances, TVs & phones
- Target: 40% off Christmas decor, clothing & furniture
- Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
- Wayfair: 54% off Christmas, furniture & decor
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