I'm a wireless earbuds snob and these are 5 Black Friday deals I would personally recommend

Wireless earbuds deals black friday
(Image credit: Future)

I've tested a lot of wireless earbuds in my day, and not all of them are created equally.

If that sounds like I'm being an earbuds snob, well... I am. The good news is that snobbery isn't all for naught — having put in the hours to listen and learn, I'm here to help curate a list of audio products that will best suit your wireless earbuds needs or the needs of someone you're shopping for.

If you're in the market for some top-notch wireless audio, I've tried most of the products on this list, and unless denoted otherwise, you really can't go wrong.

Nothing Nothing Ear a
Nothing Nothing Ear a: was $99 now $69 at Nothing Tech - USA

Like other audio products in the Nothing lineup, the Ear a wireless earbuds go big on design.

This year, that means a bright yellow color and a unique charging case design that looks like a lunchbox. Naturally, like other Nothing products, they're also transparent, so you can see the circuitry inside.

It's not all about looks either, Nothing's Ear a earbuds also sound great and have quickly become a mainstay in my wireless earbud rotation.

Features: ANC, unique color and case, transparent design

Bose Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
Bose Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: was $299 now $249 at Bose.com US

Open earbuds aren't for everyone, but they have some major perks, and Bose's Ultra Open earbuds do an excellent job of toeing the line.

If you're looking for buds for exercise that sound great but still let you hear the world around you, then you'd be hard-pressed to find a pair that sounds as good as the Ultra Open earbuds.

The unique clip-like form factor may look strange, but it's among the most comfortable open earbud designs I've used yet.

Features: 3D audio, unique clip design, long battery life

Apple Apple Airpods Pro 2
Apple Apple Airpods Pro 2: was $249 now $154 at Walmart

I've never been an AirPods guy, but there's no denying that Apple's wireless earbuds are some of the most functional and iconic on the market.

With great ANC and unparalleled functionality with your iPhone, the AirPods Pro 2 make for a solid gift to anyone in need of a wireless earbuds upgrade.

Features: ANC, magnetic charging, transparency mode, hearing test

Sony Sony LinkBuds Open
Sony Sony LinkBuds Open: was $200 now $179 at Sony

I know, I know — two open-style pairs of wireless earbuds on one list? Seems excessive.

But I've used both Bose's Ultra Open buds and Sony's donut-like LinkBuds Open and can say they're both great in different ways.

While Bose's Ultra Open earbuds provide a lot of ambient noise bleed, Sony's LinkBuds Open provide a better in-between.

If you're looking for a pair of earbuds that don't insert fully into your ear but still block some outside noise, Sony's LinkBuds Open may be the pick for you.

Features: Open design but not too much ambient noise bleed, unique donut-shaped look

Nothing Nothing Ear
Nothing Nothing Ear: was $149 now $119 at Nothing Tech - USA

If you like the design sensibilities of Nothing but want a more full-feature experience, then Nothing Ear are the way to go.

With Nothing Ear you get better ANC and access to the Nothing X app which offers an ear test that tailors the earbuds' sound to your specific hearing type.

Nothing Ear also come with ceramic drivers that, in my experience, definitely provide a more nuanced listening experience than their Ear a counterparts.

Features: Personalized audio, ceramic drivers

James Pero
Senior News Editor

James is Senior News Editor for Laptop Mag. He previously covered technology at Inverse and Input. He's written about everything from AI, to phones, and electric mobility and likes to make unlistenable rock music with GarageBand in his downtime. Outside of work, you can find him roving New York City on a never-ending quest to find the cheapest dive bar.