My pro tip: Take advantage of Black Friday deals on Sony headphones
Whether you’re looking for an AirPods alternative, budget cans under $50, or a wireless headphones with a wider sound range than the best Bose headphones, Sony has you covered on all fronts.
And with Black Friday just around the corner, you can get almost all of these headphones for even cheaper than usual. In the weeks leading up to the shopping event, the flagship XM6s received a small $20 discount, the mid-range WH-CH720 headphones are on sale for under $100, the CH-520 headphones are all the way back down to $38, and the noise-cancelling WF-C710N are just $79. We’re also watching the XM4 and XM5 models very closely. In other words, the sale prices are starting off strong.
So which should you buy? I spent the past several months testing and re-testing all of Sony’s most popular headphones and earbuds (and the better part of a decade reviewing headphones) to help you decide.
Now, let’s check out the best Sony headphones of 2025.
How to choose the best Sony headphones
Sony headphones and earbuds juggle several priorities, including ANC, battery life, hi-res sound, and multipoint pairing. However, you may need to compromise on some of these features if you’re not willing to spend $300 or more, the minimum price for flagship headphones in 2025.
If you want audio you can tailor to your liking, look for headphones carrying Sony’s adaptive sound features: 360 Reality Audio, DSEE, and Find My Equalizer. Travelers and road warriors need a model with ANC powerful enough to eliminate sounds across the entire frequency spectrum, not just airplane engines. Those who live active lifestyles or exercise regularly can find buds with a transparency mode that keeps them aware of their surroundings. Lengthy playtimes and wireless perks (e.g., Bluetooth multipoint, mobile app) have their benefits as well. And while Sony doesn’t specialize in sports earbuds like Beats (and increasingly Apple as well), the Sony LinkBuds Fit let you stay in the Sony ecosystem while you work out.
As in all shopping decisions, it all comes down to preference and budget.
Recent changes to this guide
Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable
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Sony WH-CH520 on-ear headphones: We added these headphones in September 2025 after re-reviewing them and having a positive experience. We’ve named them our new “Budget pick.”
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Sony WH-CH720N noise-cancelling headphones: Previously our “Budget pick,” we named them the “Best Sony headphones under $100” in our most recent update.
