Black Friday falls on 27 November 2026. In most of Europe the discounts start with “Black Week” on 20 November and run through Cyber Monday on 30 November. Headphones and earbuds are among the most heavily discounted products every year – but they’re also full of fake “-50%” labels calculated from list prices nobody pays.
This is a buying guide, not a live deals page yet: which headphones and earbuds are worth watching, what they cost now (October 2026), what they or their predecessors dropped to on Black Friday 2025, and how to tell a real deal from a fake one. From 20 November we will update this page with the real deals.
Our picks at a glance
- Best overallSony WH-1000XM6
- Best for comfort & ANCBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd gen)
- Best for iPhoneApple AirPods Pro 3
- Best overallSony WF-1000XM6
- Best noise cancellingBose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen)
- Best previous-gen dealSony WH-1000XM5
- Best overall under €100Sony WH-CH720N
- Best budgetSony WF-C510
Prices are approximate and change often. Ad
The Black Friday 2026 dates
- Black Week: 20–27 November 2026 – when most European retailers start cutting prices.
- Black Friday: Friday 27 November 2026.
- Cyber Monday: 30 November 2026 – often your last chance at the same prices.
Some headphones have already been cheaper in 2026 than they were on Black Friday 2025 – during Amazon’s Prime Day in June and the Prime deal days in October. That’s why the most useful benchmark is the lowest price seen this year, not the size of the percentage on the label.
Price benchmarks: what’s a good price?
| Model | List price | Lowest seen in 2026 | Black Friday 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony WH-1000XM6 | €449 | ~€315 (Mar 2026); €333–349 at MediaMarkt (Aug 2026) | €369 at Amazon.de |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd gen) | €449.95 | €318 at MediaMarkt with membership (Jun 2026) | ~€342 at Coolblue |
| Apple AirPods Pro 3 | €249 | €177.64 at Amazon.de (Jun 2026) | No direct discount at Apple; ~€190–227 via retailer coupons |
| Sony WF-1000XM6 | €299 | €234.99 at MediaMarkt (18 Oct 2026) | Not yet released (WF-1000XM5: €189) |
| Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) | €299.95 | €241–265 (Coolblue/MediaMarkt) | €241 at Coolblue |
| Sony WF-C510 | €59.99 | €34.99 at MediaMarkt | €34.99 at MediaMarkt |
Black Friday 2025 prices come from PC Games Hardware (Sony XM6), hifi.de (Bose, Sony XM5, WF-1000XM5, WF-C510) and mydealz (AirPods Pro 3); 2026 prices from hifi.de, TV Movie, MediaMarkt and our existing product research. Prices change daily, so treat these as yardsticks.
The headphones worth watching
Sony WH-1000XM6 — the best all-rounder
SoundGuys’ “best for most” pick combines strong noise cancelling, good sound and Sony’s polished app. Last Black Friday it went for €369 at Amazon.de – but it has already been cheaper during 2026, at around €315. A good Black Friday price: around €320 or less.
Sony WH-1000XM6
SoundGuys' 'best for most' pick: strong noise cancelling, good sound and a mature app.
- Bluetooth
- 5.3, multipoint
- Codecs
- LDAC, AAC, SBC
- Battery
- ~30 h (ANC on)
- Weight
- 254 g
Pros
- Strong ANC (SoundGuys 8.7/10)
- Good sound with LDAC support
- Polished companion app
Cons
- Treble spike around 10 kHz
- Shallow earcups for some heads
Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) — the comfort pick
What Hi-Fi’s best noise-cancelling headphones are lighter than the Sony and fold for travel. Bose’s own discounts tend to arrive in Black Week; last year Coolblue had them at about €342 shortly after launch. Good price: around €320 or less.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd gen)
What Hi-Fi's best noise-cancelling headphones: top-tier ANC in a light, foldable, very comfortable design.
- Bluetooth
- 5.4
- Codecs
- aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC
- Battery
- ~30 h
- Weight
- 250 g
- Wired
- USB-C lossless audio
Pros
- Top-class noise cancelling
- Excellent comfort
- Folds for travel
Cons
- Not the best-sounding in its class
- Basic app
Sony WH-1000XM5 — the previous-generation bargain
When a new model arrives, the old one gets the biggest cuts. The XM5 dropped to €229 at Amazon.de on Black Friday 2025. It doesn’t fold flat and its noise cancelling is a step behind the XM6, but at around €230 it’s one of the best-value premium headphones you can buy – if stock lasts.
Sony WH-1000XM5
The XM6's predecessor still has excellent noise cancelling and long battery life, and it tends to get the deepest Black Friday cuts.
- Battery
- Up to 30 h (ANC on)
- Codecs
- LDAC, AAC, SBC
- Weight
- ~250 g
- Multipoint
- Yes
Pros
- Still excellent ANC
- Big discounts on sale days
- Comfortable and light
Cons
- Doesn't fold flat like the XM6
- Superseded by the XM6
Apple AirPods Pro 3 — for iPhone owners
Apple itself rarely discounts, but retailers do. The AirPods Pro 3 hit €177.64 at Amazon.de during Prime Day in June 2026 – a much lower price than most Black Friday 2025 offers. Good price: under €200; excellent: under €180.
Apple AirPods Pro 3
What Hi-Fi's AirPods pick and a 9.0 at hifi.de: spacious, dynamic sound, natural ANC and IP57 water resistance.
- Battery
- 8 h (ANC), 24 h with case
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- Water
- IP57
- Extras
- Heart-rate sensor (iPhone)
Pros
- Spacious, powerful, dynamic sound
- Natural noise cancelling
- Very comfortable and easy to use
Cons
- Many features need an iPhone
- No multipoint or hi-res codecs
Sony WF-1000XM6 — the best Android earbuds
Sony’s flagship earbuds launched at €299 and were already down to €234.99 at MediaMarkt on 18 October. Their predecessor, the WF-1000XM5, fell to €189 last Black Friday – a price that’s still a great deal if you don’t need the newest model.
Sony WF-1000XM6
What Hi-Fi's best wireless earbuds overall and a 9.1 'very good' at hifi.de: natural, detailed sound with superb noise cancelling.
- Battery
- 8 h (ANC on), 24 h with case
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LDAC
- ANC
- Yes
- Strength
- Sound + ANC + calls
Pros
- Natural, musical, detailed sound
- Superb noise cancelling
- Great call quality
Cons
- Limited ear-tip options
- Bulky case
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen)
Top-class noise cancelling in an earbud. They were €241 at Coolblue on Black Friday 2025 and have hovered around €241–265 since, so anything under €240 is a real deal.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen)
What Hi-Fi's best noise-cancelling earbuds: class-leading ANC, a secure fit and excellent call clarity.
- Battery
- ≈6 h (ANC), 24 h with case
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
- Multipoint
- Yes
- Water
- IPX4
Pros
- Typically excellent noise cancelling
- Punchy, full-bodied sound
- Multipoint and Android/iOS app
Cons
- Immersive Audio mode drains battery
- Only three ear-tip sizes
- Shorter battery than rivals
Budget picks: Sony WH-CH720N and WF-C510
Not everyone needs a €300 pair. Sony’s WH-CH720N over-ears offer noise cancelling for around €59–73, and the WF-C510 earbuds were €34.99 at MediaMarkt last Black Friday. Cheap models get smaller euro discounts, so a €10–20 cut is already good. For more ideas, see our best headphones under €100 and best budget earbuds.
Sony WH-CH720N
hifi.de's top pick around €100: good noise cancelling for the price, a natural transparency mode and a very light build.
- ANC
- Yes
- Battery
- 35 h (ANC on) / 50 h (off)
- Fit
- Over-ear, very light
- Folds
- No
Pros
- Good ANC for the money
- Natural transparency mode
- Very light and comfortable
Cons
- Doesn't fold
- No carrying case
Sony WF-C510
What Hi-Fi's best battery life award and an 8.4 at hifi.de: natural, detailed sound and a light, secure fit for very little money.
- Battery
- 11 h, 22 h with case
- ANC
- No
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- Water
- IPX4
Pros
- Natural, detailed sound
- Light, comfortable fit
- Long battery life
- Very low price
Cons
- No noise cancelling
- Bass is lean
- Feels a bit cheap
How to spot a fake Black Friday headphone deal
Use the “lowest price in the last 30 days”
Under the EU’s Omnibus rules, a shop that advertises a price reduction must state the lowest price it charged in the previous 30 days. Compare the deal against that number, not against the list price. Some retailers still show the manufacturer’s list price (UVP) next to the deal – a price that’s often irrelevant for headphones that have been on sale for months.
Check the price history
Price-comparison sites such as idealo, geizhals and billiger.de show charts going back months. For headphones that matters more than for most products: models like the AirPods Pro 3 and Sony WH-1000XM6 have already been cheaper in 2026 than on Black Friday 2025. If the chart shows a lower price a few months ago, the “deal” isn’t special.
Watch out for grey imports and old stock
Very cheap listings from unknown marketplace sellers can be imports without an EU warranty or with a foreign plug. Buy from the retailer itself, or check the seller’s details. Also make sure you’re getting the generation you want – “Sony WH-1000XM” and “Bose QuietComfort Ultra” each exist in two generations.
Colour matters
Discounts often apply to one colour only. If you don’t mind white or blue, you can save another €10–20.
Which headphones make good Black Friday buys?
- Best value: the previous generation (Sony WH-1000XM5, WF-1000XM5) at clearance prices.
- Safe premium buys: Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QC Ultra (2nd gen), AirPods Pro 3 at or below their 2026 lows.
- Be careful with: unknown brands with “-70%” labels and no independent reviews.
Not sure which type you need? Our best noise-cancelling headphones, best wireless earbuds and Sony XM6 vs Bose QC Ultra comparison explain the differences.
EU buyer’s rights
Online purchases in the EU come with a 14-day right of withdrawal and a two-year legal guarantee from the seller. Many retailers extend returns for Christmas gifts bought in November – check the conditions before you order.
How we choose
We don’t run our own headphone lab. Our picks are based on reviews from SoundGuys, What Hi-Fi and RTINGS, and the price benchmarks come from German and European deal coverage (PC Games Hardware, hifi.de, mydealz, TV Movie) and retailer listings. See how we research.
FAQ
When is Black Friday 2026?
Friday 27 November 2026. Most European shops start their deals in Black Week from 20 November, and Cyber Monday follows on 30 November.
Will the Sony WH-1000XM6 be cheaper on Black Friday?
Probably, but it has already been around €315 in 2026. Anything around €320 or less is a good price.
Should I buy now or wait for Black Friday?
If you see a price at or below the 2026 lows in our table, there’s little reason to wait. Otherwise, set a price alert and decide in Black Week.
Are AirPods cheaper on Black Friday?
Apple rarely discounts its own store, but Amazon and other retailers do. The AirPods Pro 3 were €177.64 at Amazon.de in June 2026 – a useful target.
