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It's hard to imagine a person who wouldn't benefit from a good pair of headphones. In fact, you pretty much need a pair nowadays, whether you use them for work or just throughout your daily life, as many of us do.
No matter how you use them or what you listen to, one thing's for sure: You're going to end up wearing them for long periods of time, at least at some point. And if you don't have comfortable headphones, your poor little ears are going to suffer. If you haven't experienced headphone soreness and ear fatigue, just know that we don't recommend it.
SEE ALSO: Sony just announced its bass-heavy ULT Wear headphones: Our reviewSo, to help you take care of your ears and save you any shopping-related stress, we set out to find the most comfortable headphones. We tested dozens of options, from noise-cancelling headphones for flying to budget options, and we narrowed our top picks down to three contenders.
In-ear, on-ear, or over-ear?If you're looking for comfort above all, over-ear headphones are always the way to go. They just wear better than earbuds) or on-ear pairs. On-ear headphones press more harshly on your ears, which gets uncomfortable quickly. In-ear buds are generally more comfortable than on-ear headphones, but can still begin to hurt after just a few hours depending on the model (they are jammed inside your ears, after all).
Although over-ear headphones are bulkier and less portable, it's worth the trade-off for comfort's sake. Plus, over-ear headphones can be safer for your ears compared to earbuds because the sound isn't being funneled directly into your ear canal. They also provide extra noise cancellation.
How much should you spend on comfortable headphones?The good news is that comfortable headphones aren't locked to a specific budget range. You can find a super cozy pair at premium prices just as easily as you can find them at the budget end of the spectrum. The extra features you're looking for are what really determine how much you need to spend.
Want unrivaled active noise cancellation or the best sound quality in the business? Then be prepared to spend a minimum of around $200, all the way up to $500. If comfort is literally the only thing you care about and the extra bells and whistles are just nice-to-haves, you can expect to spend anywhere from $50 to $100. Go any cheaper, and you're probably not going to get a lot of value for your money. No shade toward your favorite pair of gas station headphones, but they probably aren't the best option for all-day wear.
If $400 is out of your reach, then look for these headphones on sale during events like Prime Day and Black Friday. The latest Prime Day event, Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days, takes place Oct. 8 and 9, and we expect both Bose QuietComfort and Anker Soundcore headphones to go on sale.
SEE ALSO: See all the October Prime Day deals on headphones and speakers What are the most comfortable headphones?After extensive testing, we selected the three most comfortable headphones we've ever reviewed. Read on to find out which pairs emerged as the top contenders, including picks for those who want top-tier noise cancellation.
SAVE OVER $19: As of Oct. 7, the Apple AirTag (four-pack) is on sale for $79.98 at Amazon. That's a saving of 19% on list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag (4-Pack) $79.98 at AmazonJust when it seems like Apple has thought of everything, the tech giant drops another ingenious smart device to make your life easier. If you’ve never seen the Apple AirTag before, it’s a handy device that will prevent you from ever losing your valuables again. You can slip one in your wallet or other items, such as a travel bag, and you’ll always be able to find them through the Find My app.
There’s never been a better time to add the Apple AirTag to your tech set-up. An Apple AirTag four-pack is currently on sale for $79.98 at Amazon ahead of Prime Day. That’s 19% off the list price — an overall saving of more than $19.
SEE ALSO: AirTag deals are starting out strong ahead of October Prime DayThe Apple AirTag works through either the Find My app or Precision Finding, which uses UltraWideband technology. You can also ask Siri to find your stuff, or get the AirTag to ping via its built-in speaker. If you’re part of a bigger household, an AirTag can be shared with up to five people — handy for shared household items.
Don’t miss your chance to find the Apple AirTag at this low price ahead of Prime Day.
Kamala Harris has appeared on the Call Her Daddy podcast for an interview with host Alex Cooper.
SEE ALSO: Tortured no longer: Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris after presidential debateOver the course of their 40-minute conversation Cooper and the vice president and Democratic presidential nominee discussed abortion, how women's safety can be improved in the U.S., and Donald Trump's recent attempts to win over female voters by saying he'll be their "protector".
"So he who, when he was president, hand selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would undo protections of Roe v. Wade, and they did just as he intended, and there are now 20 states with Trump abortion bans, including bans that make no exception for rape or incest, which we discussed, which means you're telling a survivor of a crime of a violation to their body that they don't have a right to make a decision about what happens to their body next, which is immoral. So this is the same guy that is now saying that? This is the same guy who said that women should be punished for having abortions? This is the same guy that uses the kind of language that he does to describe women?" says Harris in response to Trump's comments, before talking about the horrible realities faced by women living in states where abortion is banned.
"Here's the thing: You don't have to abandon your faith or your deeply held beliefs to agree the government shouldn't be telling her what to do."
SAVE $150: As of Oct. 7, the Apple AirPod Max are on sale for $399 at Amazon. That's a saving of 27% on list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPod Max $399.00 at AmazonIf you’re an Apple user and you’re in the market for a new pair of high-quality headphones, there really is only one choice — the Apple AirPod Max. With Apple’s fantastic synchronicity across devices, they pair brilliantly with your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. If you’re not an Apple user, the Apple AirPod Max are still an excellent choice — one of the best options for sound and tech no matter what phone brand you're repping.
The only drawback is the price, but you can pick up a pair on sale at Amazon for $399 — a 27% discount from the regular list price. That’s an impressive overall saving of $150. The deal applies to a selection of colorways, though not the entire range.
SEE ALSO: 8 best noise-cancelling headphones to buy on Prime DayThe incredible Apple AirPod Max sound comes via the immensely powerful M1 chip. Features include active noise cancelling and transparency mode — which allows in certain ambient sounds — plus, personalized spatial audio that adapts to the shape of your ear.
The Apple AirPod Max are also comfortable and stylish — among the best looking headphones out there. Don’t miss this generous deal.
SAVE OVER $50: As of Oct. 7, the PlayStation 5 (Slim) is on sale for $449 at Amazon. That's a saving of 10% on list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Sony PlayStation 5 (Slim) $449.00 at AmazonThe Prime Big Deal Days event is not here just yet, but that doesn't mean you can't secure a big discount. And by shopping before the event properly drops, you can avoid all that panic that comes with these major shopping events.
The good news is that you can still secure best-ever prices before the thousands of deals drop over Prime Big Deal Days. And that very much includes the most sought-after products, like the PlayStation 5 (Slim). You can shop the PlayStation 5 (Slim) for $449 on Amazon ahead of Prime Day, saving over $50 on list price. This console has never been cheaper on Amazon, so this could be your best chance to finally bag this popular console.
SEE ALSO: I've tested over 20 robot vacuums — here are the top 5 to shop on Prime DayThe deal includes a DualSense Wireless Controller, along with everything you need to start gaming right away. Gamers can experience lightning fast loading with an ultra-high speed SSD, deeper immersion with support for haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and 3D Audio. And of course, access to an all-new generation of incredible PlayStation games.
Save over $50 on the PlayStation 5 (Slim) before Prime Day.
SAVE $120: As of Oct. 7, the Apple iPad 9th Generation is on sale for $199.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 39% on list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad 9th Generation $199.99 at AmazonOK, so you want a new tablet. While you can find a wide range of tablets from various tech brands — and at a range of prices — let’s be honest about the best model on the market. When it comes to visuals, slick features, and overall style, the Apple iPad just can’t be beaten.
The great news is that you can pick up an Apple iPad for a bargain price. As of Oct. 7, the Apple iPad 9th Generation is on sale for $199.99 at Amazon. That's a massive saving of 39% on list price — a total discount of over $129. However, this deal is exclusive to the 64GB, WiFi-only version.
SEE ALSO: Apple Watch Ultra 1 vs. Ultra 2: We'll make this simpleThe Apple iPad 9th Generation is one of the best ever models, with a stunning 10.2-inch retina display and all the latest Apple smart features, such as Touch ID. It’s all powered by Apple’s A13 Bionic chip, which makes the iPad lightning fast and delivers incredible graphics performance. Not only that, the iPad is built with 12mp and 8mp cameras, front and back respectively.
As Apple users will already know, the iPad is especially good for creative tasks and syncs with the Apple Pencil for slick, high-performance graphic design work. Get yours before the deal ends.
SAVE $50: As of Oct. 7, the Oura Ring 3 is on sale for $299.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 14% on list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Oura Oura Ring Gen3 Horizon $299.00 at AmazonHealth and fitness trackers have become the norm for most people. From tracking workouts, monitoring sleep, and checking how much water we're drinking — stats and data on how we live our lives are easily accessible through a wide range of watches, heart monitors, and now even rings.
Smart rings are the latest tracking devices that allow us to monitor our health stats, and one of the biggest names in this field is the Oura Ring. A tracker that provides overall well-being and recovery stats, it allows users to access their data via an app. Similar to some of our favorite smartwatches, but hidden away in a sleek, normal-looking ring.
SEE ALSO: Get moving with the best Prime Day fitness tracker dealsIntrigued? Well, as of Oct. 7, the Oura Ring Gen3 Horizon is on sale for $299.99 at Amazon. With this deal you're saving $50, or 14% on list price. This is also the lowest price for the Oura Ring 3 at Amazon, ever. It is worth noting, however, that this deal is only available on the silver model.
The Oura Ring 3 is perfect for sleep tracking, heart monitoring, and checking activity levels. It's even smart enough to record your body temperature and heart rate variability (HRV). The only downside to note of this otherwise amazing tracker is that after a month of free access to an Oura Membership, a subscription fee of $5.99 per month is required.
Save $50 on the Oura Ring Gen3 Horizon before Prime Day.
SAVE $19.99: As of Oct. 7, the Amazon Fire TV Stick is on sale for $19.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 50% on list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick $19.99 at AmazonAmazon's October Prime Day is not here quite yet, but the deals have already started. You can find discounts already kicking off on a wide range of Amazon's products, including the beloved Fire TV Stick. The Fire TV Stick is a streaming device that plugs into your TV (or laptop) and lets you access platforms including Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, and more. It comes with a remote with Alexa built-in, helping you turn any TV into a smart TV.
As of Oct. 7, you can find the handy Fire TV Stick on sale for $19.99, a saving of 50% on list price. Not only are we treated to an early deal ahead of Prime Day, but this is the lowest price the Fire Stick has been in nine months.
SEE ALSO: Best Macbooks to buy during October Prime Day 2024The set-up for these handy remotes is so simple. Really, anyone can do it. Just pop the device into your TV's HDMI port, and that's it. You have instant access to a range of streaming platforms as well as many live channels. And trust us, Alexa voice control is much easier than manually searching for a show.
This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so act fast before you miss out. Happy streaming!
SAVE $50: As of Oct. 7, the Amazon Echo Show 5 is on sale for $66.98 at Amazon. That's a saving of 42% on list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) $66.98If you love Amazon's smart home devices then Prime Day is your best bet for a great deal. But if you're looking for a new gadget to upgrade your home, you don't need to wait for the official sales to begin — Amazon has treated us to some early deals, including a bargain on the Echo Show 5.
As of Oct. 7, the Echo Show 5 is reduced at Amazon to $66.98, giving you a saving of $50. Not to mention, this is its lowest price for six months. This is the perfect chance to get acquainted with Amazon's range of Echo products for less.
A smart assistant with a screen, the Echo Show is a great, and stylish, way to control your smart home. With built-in Alexa, and the ability to watch shows and video chat, you can't go wrong. The screen is small, coming in at 5.5 inches, making it perfect for smaller rooms where you don't want much clutter.
If you want to upgrade your smart home, don't miss out on this early Prime Day deal.