The best cheap headphone sales and deals for December 2023

cheap headphone deals
(Image credit: Future)

Cheap headphone deals are always ready and waiting to offer up a discount - whether you're on the hunt for the latest and greatest cups or something a little more wallet-friendly. We're rounding up all the biggest discounts on everything from Sony to Bose right here, as well as some of our favorite budget picks for extra strong value for money. 

With every new product release, older generations will shuffle further down the price scale. That's a lot of tracking to make sure you're getting the best value for your cash possible. We've gathered this roundup of the headphones we're currently watching for the biggest offers - and our price comparison software will bring you all the lowest rates every half an hour. 

We cover all the best headphones released, including over-ear headphones, noise-canceling headphones, and wireless headphones, so there's plenty on offer. 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. You can also look forward to some of the best headphones deals all year at the 2023 Black Friday deals event.

The best headphone deals and sales

Best headphone deals

AirPods 3

(Image credit: Apple)

1. Apple AirPods (3rd Generation)

Apple's latest AirPods at a discounted price

Headphone type: In-Ear | Weight: .15 oz | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Bluetooth range: 15m | Battery life: 6 hours **Battery life (charging case):** 30 hours

Frequently on sale
Battery life is exceptional
Immersive sound
Expensive

The AirPods 3 were released in 2021 and are the latest true wireless earbuds in Apple's line-up of AirPods. The earbuds feature a new design that resembles the AirPods Pro with shorter stems that include touch-capacitive force sensors for easy control. You're also getting improved sound with spatial audio, resulting in a more immersive experience, and a MagSafe charging case that provides more than 30 hours of total listening time.

The AirPods 3 launched with a  $179 / £169 / AU$279 price tag, but since its release, we've seen the headphones on sale for as low as $139/ £159. While the AirPods 3 aren't the cheapest headphones, it's still a good price for a pair of premium Apple earbuds.

cheap headphone deals

cheap headphone deals: Airpods

2. Apple AirPods (2nd Generation)

Apple's cheapest earbuds

Headphone type: In-Ear | Weight: .14 oz | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Bluetooth range: 10m | Battery life: 5 hours **Battery life (charging case):** 24 hours

Affordable for Apple earbuds
Sound is great
One-size-fits-all design
Don't lose them! 

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 $99 / £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.

cheap headphone deals

Sony WH-1000XM4

(Image credit: Sony)

3. Sony WH-1000XM4

Premium headphones frequently on sale

Headphone type: Over-Ear | Weight: 4.5 oz | Connectivity: Wireless | Battery life: 30 hours

Discounted regularly
Superb noise cancellation
30-hour battery life
Expensive

The Sony WH1000XM4 are ranked in the top spot of TechRadar's best noise-cancelling headphones list, offering industry-leading digital noise cancellation technology. Whether 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 WH1000XM4 provide up to 30 hours of battery life, with quick charging if you need a fast recharge.

The premium headphones don't come cheap, retailing for $349 / £349 / AU$549, but thanks to the release of Sony's WH1000XM5, you'll frequently find deals on the headphones, especially during holiday sales.

cheap headphone deals

Sony WH-CH510

4. Sony WH-CH510

Budget over-ear headphones

Headphone type: Over-Ear | Weight: 4.6 oz | Connectivity: Wireless | Battery life: 35 hours

Impressive sound
Smart noise cancellation
Affordable
Lacks 3.5mm jack and USB audio

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.

cheap headphone deals

cheap headphone deals: jlab go air

5. JLab Go Air True Wireless Earbuds

Bargain true-wireless earbuds

Headphone type:: In-ear | Weight:: 3.2 oz | Frequency response:: 20Hz-20kHz | Drivers: 8mm | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Wireless range: 30ft | Battery life: 5 hours

Unbelievable price
Good connectivity
IPX5 waterproof rating
Poor audio

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.

cheap headphone deals

cheap headphone deals: JBL Tune 750BTNC

(Image credit: JBL)

6. JBL Tune 750BTNC

Great headphones which are often discounted

Headphone type: : Over-ear | Weight:: 7.76 oz | Drivers:: 40mm | Connectivity:: Bluetooth | Battery life:: 22

Great value
Good audio and comfort
No waterproofing
Average battery life

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.

cheap headphone deals

cheap headphone deals: tascam TH-02

(Image credit: Tascam)

7. Tascam TH-02

The cheapest studio-quality over-ears

Headphone type:: Over-ear closed back | Weight:: 1.01 lbs | Drivers:: 50mm | Sensitivity:: 98 dB ± 3dB | Connectivity:: Wired (3.5mm)

Excellent sound for the price
Foldable
Can be a tight fit for bigger heads
Fairly dated aesthetic

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.

cheap headphone deals: AKG K92

8. AKG K92

Quality over-ears from an Industry giant

Headphone type: Over-Ear | Weight: 1.2 lb | Frequency response: 16Hz-20KHz | Drivers: 40mm | Connectivity: Wired

Great sounding
Comfortable to wear
Budget plastic construction
No detachable cable

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. 

cheap headphone deals: 1MORE Triple Driver

(Image credit: 1more)

9. 1MORE Triple Driver

Great value wired earphones that are often on sale

Headphone type: In-ear | Weight: 0.6 oz | Frequency response: 20-40kHz | Drivers: 3 proprietary | Connectivity: Wired (3.5mm)