Headphones Gift Guide: Best Headphone Deals 2021

The best holiday gift ideas and headphone deals you should bank on right now.

Looking for a good holiday present for your loved ones? Here is a list of the best holiday headphone gifts that make a fantastic present for this celebration season.

We picked models for all needs and budgets, and we’re sure you’ll find something that suits you.

Also, check the current offers on good headphones deals to save money and buy more gifts, and have more joyful and grateful holidays.

Related articles on our site:

• Black Friday Deals
• Cyber Monday Deals
• The Best Headphones Guide

The Best Holiday Gift Guide on “Jolliest” Headphones

Here are some of the best headphones you can give as a gift for this year’s Christmas. Below are the top-rated and most popular headphone models that would make a fantastic present. You can find great options for a smaller budget too (scroll towards the bottom).

Sony WH-1000XM4

Overall sound quality is excellent. It’s tuned for the general public, and plays well with all music genres, making them a perfect all-rounder, even for a demanding music lover. You can adjust the sound to your liking with the EQ app.

First of all, their sleek premium design will catch your eye instantly. You can fold them into a more compact format and take them on your adventures.

Additionally, soft ear pads provide long-term comfort. And, easy-to-use remote buttons help you manage tracks and take phone calls (with their good-sounding microphone).

These Sony Bluetooth headphones have one of the most effective noise cancellation technologies on the market. ANC works perfectly in stopping outside noise from bugging your eardrums. Ambient sound settings can be further tweaked in the app.

Sony WH-1000XM4 review

Sony WF-1000XM4

Sound quality out of the box is brilliant, and you can further improve it with small EQ tweaks.

Songs sound full, dynamic, and detailed. Imaging could be better, but for the price, the Sony WF-1000XM4 output a truly audiophile-grade sound.

The design resembles a little truffle and is relatively bulky, so you have to be a bit more careful with how you put them in your ears. Nevertheless, they can be very comfortable, even for longer listening’s.

Features work excellent, especially the ambient sound mode, boosting surrounding noise with remarkable realism. Noise cancellation is impressive, too.

Special hybrid tips ensure excellent passive noise isolation and stability, with an IPX4 protecting them from sweat.

Sony WF-1000XM4 review

Apple AirPods Max

As their price suggests, you can expect premium audio performance. The sound is mildly U-shaped but very smooth, natural, and impactful—a joy to listen to, even if you’re an audiophile.

Build quality and looks are impressive as well, with earcups being made from a single block of aluminum. Stainless steel rods form a unique headband that does a great job distributing the weight.

Having an H1 chip, they connect lightning-fast to any Apple device. Unfortunately, they do lack some features on Android phones. The Bluetooth connection remains strong, surpassing 65 feet, even with walls in between.

Lastly, both active noise cancelling and Transparency mode work fantastically. Easily the best noise cancelling headphones on the market.

Apple AirPods Max review

Apple AirPods Pro

Pro’s perform well in all music genres, especially on more vocal-centric ones. They have a balanced sound signature with a slight boost in the upper midrange to bring out voices. With support for Dolby Atmos, they’re great for watching movies, too.

These iconic in-ears have an instantly recognizable design that not only looks attractive but provides terrific comfort.

A person who frequently commutes will love Pro’s active noise cancelling performance. It’s among the best in truly wireless headphones, eliminating all annoying sounds around you.

On the other hand, Transparency Mode provides a safety aspect, amplifying surrounding noises for better awareness.

Also, a built-in H1 chip ensures a quick pairing process and seamless transitions between all your Apple devices.

Apple AirPods Pro review

Bose QuietComfort 45

A more refined sounding Bose QC 35 II with a bit of a high-end sparkle. They’re also better than Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 in our opinion. Overall, these are great if you prefer a more balanced sound signature without exaggerated bass.

The design is slightly sleeker and more polished compared to the previous version. Comfort is similar, too, with sufficiently thick padding and lightweight construction.

Thankfully, headphones keep using physical controls, which are far more reliable, especially in colder weather.

Active noise cancellation is still top-notch, cancelling a significant amount of background noise. The ambient sound mode works equally well.

Headphones come with a companion app for minor tweaks but no customizable EQ.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2

Incredibly refined and lively sound quality, with plenty of details across the frequency response. The overall listening experience is improved by a fairly big soundstage that places instruments around your head with good imaging.

Ergonomic housings fit nicely into your ears without creating pressure points that would ruin the listening experience.

They provide great passive isolation with even better active noise cancellation. And if you want to speak to someone without taking buds off, simply use Transparency Hearing.

A huge bonus is an excellent mobile app with EQ, customizable controls, and other extra features. In-ear headphones sport IPX4 sweat-resistant build and a battery that lasts around 7 hours on a single charge.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 review

Beats PowerBeats Pro

If you want a clear and crisp sound with boosted bass, Beats are hard to beat. The frequency response and power levels are great, the bass is clear and great for bass-heavy tunes.

Most Beats headphones offer strong bass. The PowerBeats Pro are no exception. They are the most portable and easy to use while working out among Beats options.

The hooked design goes around your ears to stay stable. You can work out for hours and they won’t fall out.

9-hour battery life is fantastic (we got over 11 hours in our test), with another 15 in the case.

Simple controls on the buds are used to take phone calls, songs, or change volume. They’re voice control compatible, too.

Beats PowerBeats Pro review

SteelSeries Arctis 7 Wireless

Geared for the ultimate gaming experience, you get virtual surround sounds for the immersive gameplay and a nice bass boost when you want more oomph in your songs.

Their lightweight design is well-built and extremely durable. Headphones are made out of quality plastics.

Ear cups are large, well-padded, and breathable, they suit even the biggest ears. Also, a tight fit also gives good noise isolation so you don’t bother others around you.

The microphone is well made, it can retract to the left ear cup, and is clear, distortion-free most of the time.

Additionally, 24 hours of battery life makes them perfect for long gaming. And, you can use them in wired mode as well.

Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus

With the help of the aptX Bluetooth codec, the sound quality on these is excellent. Buds are tuned to have a balanced output with an almost neutral frequency response. Their detailed presentation is fantastic for all kinds of music genres.

Melomania 1 Plus now have a companion app where you can tweak things like sound and find your lost earbuds.

Buds have a bullet-shaped design that fits surprisingly well into your ears, especially when you use memory foam ear tips already included in the packaging.

Melomania 1’s come with an IPX5 rating of water resistance, giving you the option to use them during your workouts. They can play for around 9 hours on a single charge, with 36 hours more inside the charging case.

The new version is very similar to the first one. You can read the review here: Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 review

Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus

Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus balanced sound signature works nicely with everything, albeit it isn’t the most detailed performance out there.

Samsung earbuds come with shiny touch-sensitive plates. The best thing about these is their ergonomic design that sits perfectly in your ears without causing discomfort.

They come in a sleek case that, apart from USB-C, also supports wireless charging. The buds themselves hold up to 12 hours, with the case storing another 12 hours.

On top of that, earbuds have an IPX2 rating, which should keep them safe from sweat.

Note that you get the most out of them when using Samsung’s smartphone. You can customize their auto turn-off feature, change EQ presets, remap touch controls, and enable ambient mode.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus review

Anker Soundcore Life Q30

The out-of-the-box sound is a tad too bassy, which you can quickly correct in the Anker app.

After some tweaking, they can get close to neutral, which is outstanding for a budget pair like the Life Q30.

Headphones have a rather bulky construction but are comfortable, nevertheless. They should be since they’re meant for frequent commuters who need effective ANC.

Speaking of noise cancellation, the Soundcore Life Q30 are strong in this category.

They can block a large portion of ambient noise, almost like the best headphones in class, like Sony WH-1000XM4. You can toggle between 3 different ANC modes.

For quicker pairing, they also use NFC technology.

Anker Soundcore Life Q30 review

EarFun Free Pro 2

The second iteration keeps the bassy, energetic sound of the first version. Dynamics are great for the price, and if you like punchy genres, these are the way to go.

The Free Pro 2 have a sleeker, more modern design that fits nicely in your ears. Earbuds weigh only 4 grams, so you barely notice them.

The new model also improved the active noise cancellation, now blocking noticeably more ambient noise than before.

On the other hand, the overall decent battery life is now worse. You can expect 4.5 hours of playtime on a single charge, which is still enough for a long listening session.

The charging case, which holds another 24 hours, supports both USB-C fast charging and Qi wireless charging.

EarFun Free Pro 2 review

SoundPEATS Sonic

If you don’t mind deep, rumbly bass, then opting for this great pair of earbuds isn’t a bad idea.

They have a substantial boost in the sub-bass but are otherwise very balanced and smooth, completely free of sibilance. Sound is especially great for rock music.

Design-wise, earbuds are ergonomically shaped and fit comfortably in your ears. The ear tips feel okay and provide decent support during sports activities.

While the case feels cheap, the buds look nice and sturdy. They sport an IPX5 rating, making them resistant to splashes of water.

The most impressive thing is their battery life, lasting more than 14 hours on a full charge, with extra 20 hours inside the charging case.

SoundPEATS Sonic review

Skullcandy Dime

The sound coming out of these cheap true wireless earbuds is impressive. It’s slightly V-shaped but very tastefully, with excellent clarity for the price.

If you’re an audiophile on a tight budget, you’ll be more than happy with Skullcandy Dime. They’re that good.

On the flip side, the construction is mostly plastic, with both the case and the earbuds feeling quite cheap. At least the buds have an IPX4 rating, making them sweatproof.

Another minus is the battery, which only reaches 3.5 hours on a single charge, with another 8.5 hours inside the case.

However, you simply cannot beat them in value for the price (currently around $20).

Skullcandy Dime review

JBL Flip 6

The latest portable speaker from JBL receives a significant upgrade over the Flip 5, going back to a dual-driver system for fuller, more refined sound. The extra speaker also helps with sound dispersion.

The Flip 6 again uses 2 speakers, one woofer and one tweeter. That helps the Flip 6 sound both fuller and more detailed, even on louder volumes.

The latter is quite impressive, especially when you consider the size of the speaker. The sixth-generation is worth checking out if you don’t already have JBL Flip 5.

A new design resembles a tube and is very portable if you want to tuck it into a backpack. It uses USB-C for charging and has an IP67 rating.

When connecting the JBL Flip 6 to an app, you can access 3-band custom EQ, which is super handy.

When Will Holiday Deals on Headphones Become Available in 2021?

Deals on headphones are always available but usually just a few with a small discount.

To get a fantastic bargain, it’s worth waiting for the big “shopping holidays” like Black Friday and Cyber Monday and the following Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s deals.

Other holiday sales worth mentioning are Back to School days at the end of the summer and Amazon’s Prime Day.

How to Get the Best Headphones to Give for a Holiday Gift Based on a Person’s Lifestyle and Hobbies?

Not all headphones are made the same. Some are designed for a specific use or for a certain type of people. For example, headphones for kids are smaller, have safety features like the volume limiter, and usually sport bright colors.

Workout

Workout headphones are one of the most popular categories. These are the best options for active people who work out in the gym and run on a treadmill or outside.

You can choose from:

• Best workout headphones
• The best headphones for running
• Waterproof swimming headphones
• And even waterproof Bluetooth headphones for outside sports near water

Gaming

If your friends are gamers, then one of the best gaming headsets is a fantastic gift idea.

It’s part of the essential gear for any platform (PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, etc.) and can be useful for Skyping and online chat as well.

Commuters

For frequent travelers, active noise cancelling headphones are a great choice. The ANC headphones cancel out the background noise, especially airplane engine noise and traffic noise, which make them perfect for most modes of transport.

In case you’re looking for a holiday present for somebody that you know travels a lot, noise cancelation headphones are the way to go.

There are many tastes and needs and a pair of headphones to fit. Know the wishes of your loved ones and pick the right fitting present to make the holidays really special for them.

Holiday Shopping for Headphones: What to Expect from Headphone Deals?

The holiday season is a great time to do your headphone shopping because you can often find good discounts and special deals.

Now, you don’t have to buy them during the holiday season, but it’s worth checking out for any headphones that might interest you.

Companies know that people do the bulk of their shopping on holidays, especially at the end of the year and Christmas celebrations, so they put in an extra marketing effort to increase sales.

This is good news for you because you can take advantage of it.

“What kind of deals can I get,” you ask.

The special headphone deals usually don’t change hourly, and there aren’t as many available as on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but you can still find them.

Very often deals last for days but also aren’t as heavily discounted. Nonetheless, if you missed the Black Friday sales, you’ll have to wait another year for the same discounted prices.

Your second-best bet is to find a good holiday headphones deal that fits your needs.

Where to Buy Headphones for the Holiday Season

There are many bricks-and-mortar places as well as online web stores that will have holiday deals on headphones. You can buy at most stores as there aren’t any major differences between them.

Nonetheless, the easiest and most convenient way to buy gifts is still online (lots of people do it). Internet retailers usually offer free shipping or cheaper rates during holiday festivity to encourage people to buy from them.

It’s great if you like the lazy way of shopping. Sit home on your couch, browse products and the postman delivers them to your door, before Christmas if you order soon enough.

What Headphone Brands will Have the Best Deals in the 2021 Holiday Season?

Many people want to know what headphone brands will have the best deals or what headphone types will get discounted the most, but it’s impossible to know.

Companies usually keep their special deal plans a secret right before releasing them. Most probably they decide on the go depending on what kind of sales they get.

So, at the moment, no magical machine can look into the future and tell you which headphone deal you should wait for.

It’s a bit like gambling. When you find headphones that would make an excellent gift for your family and friends, it’s smart to take advantage of it. Because it most probably won’t be available again soon.