Sony’s WH-1000XM5 just hit $278 on Amazon, its lowest tracked price since launch, as Memorial Day deals go live across the audio category. Bose is also shaving $120 off its mainline QuietComfort, and Nothing’s first KEF-tuned over-ears are matching their all-time low. We’ve pulled eight picks that we’d actually spend on, across over-ears, true wireless buds, open-ear earhooks, and a kid-friendly set that doesn’t blow eardrums.
Deal prices listed below are accurate at the time of writing. Memorial Day is Monday, May 25, so most of these expire that night or shortly after.
1. Soundcore Q20i, the under-$50 ANC pick
If you’ve been holding off on noise cancelling because of the price tag, this is the deal. Soundcore’s Q20i pairs hybrid ANC with 40 mm drivers, 40 hours of playback with cancellation on, and a 5-minute fast charge that buys you another 4 hours. It’s Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint, and there’s an AUX-in for wired listening that bypasses Bluetooth compression.
Price: $39.99 (From $69.99)
Where to Buy: Amazon
It’s not going to embarrass a Sony or a Bose on raw cancellation, but for the price of a couple of takeout dinners it’s hard to fault.
Sale: $39.99 (was $69.99)
2. Bose QuietComfort Headphones, the comfort default
Bose is taking $120 off its mainline QuietComfort, which puts it at $229. It’s not the QuietComfort Ultra, but for a lot of people that’s the point. You get the same low-pressure clamp Bose is known for, adjustable ANC with Quiet and Aware modes, 24-hour battery, USB-C charging, and an audio cable in the box for wired listening on a plane. Eleven colors are in the promo, including Cypress Green and Chilled Lilac if you’re tired of black plastic.
Price: $229 (From $349)
Where to Buy: Amazon
This is the safest gift pick on the list. If someone in your life travels a lot and doesn’t already own ANC headphones, this is what to buy.
Sale: $229 (was $349, save $120)
3. Sony WH-1000XM5, the flagship at its lowest tracked price
The XM5 is now one generation behind Sony’s newest flagship, the WH-1000XM6, and that’s exactly why this deal exists. $278 is the lowest we’ve tracked since launch, and the XM5 is still the headphone most reviewers default to when they’re asked for “the best wireless ANC headphones, full stop.”
Price: $248 (From $399.99)
Where to Buy: Amazon
You’re getting 30 hours of battery with ANC on, LDAC for high-res streaming, an 8-mic array for clearer calls, and Sony’s auto NC optimizer that re-tunes cancellation based on cabin pressure and fit. Carry case folds flat. If you can live without the XM6’s updated hinge design, the price gap makes this the smarter buy.
Sale: $248 (was $399, save $121)
4. Nothing Ear (a), the value true wireless
Nothing’s buds punch a few classes up. You get a custom 11 mm driver, 45 dB hybrid ANC with an adaptive mode that reads your environment, LDAC support, and the same transparent industrial design Nothing’s known for. Battery’s rated at 5.5 hours per bud with ANC on, 9.5 hours with it off, and 24.5 hours total in the case (42.5 hours ANC off). There’s also a ChatGPT shortcut baked into the touch controls if you’re on a Nothing phone.
Price: $58.98 (From $109.99)
Where to Buy: Amazon
IP54 means they’ll survive a sweaty workout or a light drizzle. For under $80, that’s a stacked feature list.
Sale: $58.98 (was $109), Prime-exclusive deal per Amazon listing
5. Shokz OpenFit Air, the open-ear runner’s pick
Shokz’s air-conduction earhooks are aimed at runners, cyclists, and anyone who wants situational awareness while listening. The OpenFit Air weighs 8.7 g per bud, sits just outside the ear canal, and uses Shokz’s DirectPitch tuning to keep sound leakage down. You get 6 hours per charge, 28 hours with the case, multipoint, four mics for calls, and an IP54 rating.
Price: $79.95 (From $119.95)
Where to Buy: Amazon
If the AirPods 4 open-ear approach is your style but you’d rather not pay Apple tax, this is the alternative.
Sale: $79.95
6. Nothing Headphone (1), the design pick
This is Nothing’s first over-ear, and it’s tuned by British speaker maker KEF. The cassette-deck-meets-transparent-plastic aesthetic isn’t for everyone, but the spec sheet is serious: 40 mm dynamic drivers, adaptive ANC rated up to 42 dB, 80 hours of playback with ANC off (35 hours with it on), Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC, a 3.5 mm jack, USB-C audio, and IP52 dust and water resistance.
Price: $238.99 (From $299.99)
Where to Buy: Amazon
A 5-minute fast charge gets you 2.4 hours back with ANC on. At $239, it’s $60 off launch and lands right between the Bose QC and the Sony XM5 in price.
Sale: $239 (was $299, save $60)
7. Belkin SoundForm Mini, the kids pick under $25
If you’re shopping for a kid heading into summer travel, the SoundForm Mini is the one we’d point to. Volume is capped at 85 dB to protect young ears, battery is rated at 30 hours, and there’s a built-in mic for video calls or schoolwork. Bluetooth 5.0, an included case, and a 3.5 mm wired option are in the box. Belkin also includes stickers, which sounds silly until your six-year-old wants to decorate them.
Price: $31.44 (From $36.99)
Where to Buy: Amazon
Not a hi-fi pick, but at this price it’s an easy call for road trips and tablets.
Sale: $31.44
8. EarFun Clip 2, the open-ear pick with live translation
EarFun’s CES 2026 follow-up to the original Clip swaps over-ear ANC for clip-on open-ear earbuds, and it punches well above its $79.99 sticker. You get Bluetooth 6.0, LDAC, Hi-Res Audio certification, a 10.8 mm carbon-fiber driver tuned bright and lively, and EarFun’s Spatial Stage “Theater Mode” for movie watching. Battery is rated at 11 hours per bud and 40 hours total with the USB-C case (6 hours per bud with LDAC enabled), and a 10-minute fast charge buys you 2.5 hours. IP55 means they’ll shrug off sweat and a light splash.
The headline trick is real-time AI translation across 100+ languages through the EarFun Audio App, with both Real-Time and Face-to-Face modes. Tom’s Guide and SoundGuys both flagged it as a standout feature at this price, though SoundGuys notes the default tuning runs bright and benefits from a quick EQ tweak in the app. Four mics with AI ENC handle calls.
Price: $63.98 (From $99.99)
Where to Buy: Amazon
If the Shokz OpenFit Air’s earhook shape isn’t for you, the Clip 2 is the clip-on alternative at a similar price.
Sale: $63.98
How long do Memorial Day headphone deals last
Most retailers, Amazon included, run their Memorial Day pricing from the week before through the Tuesday after. Memorial Day 2026 falls on Monday, May 25, which means most of the deals above are live now and will likely expire that night or by Wednesday, May 27. Amazon-side deal pages don’t post fixed end dates, so if something on this list catches your eye, don’t wait until the long weekend to think it over.
Are Memorial Day headphone deals better than Prime Day or Black Friday
For flagship over-ears like the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort, Memorial Day pricing typically matches or beats Prime Day, since retailers are racing to clear inventory before the next-gen models (the XM6, in Sony’s case) take over shelf space. Black Friday usually pulls prices lower on budget picks like the Soundcore Q20i, but at the premium tier the gap is usually small enough that there’s no real reason to wait six months.
