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Take My Headphone-finder Quiz And Cut The Fuss This Black Friday

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OK, so you've read our reviews: you know the headphones and earbuds we recommend. But how does that work for you — or indeed the person you're looking to buy for while the deals are dropping this Black Friday?

I've got you. I'm TechRadar's audio editor, and I've been doing this since 2019. I've just compiled a recommender in the form of a simple quiz that you can take (or casually ask them to take) to find out what I'd recommend.

Now, before you write in, you should be given options at various price points upon completion of the quiz (which literally takes 30 seconds), but just in case that doesn't happen, I'm listing every single product I picked within this headphone recommender, so you can read up on those too and add them to your list.

If you click through to the 'view details' tab, you'll even get a little bullet-point guide on each model before you shop the deals, too.

Take the quiz — find your next buds or cans

All of the headphones and earbuds explained

OK so you've got your top pick — or top picks. Now what?

Now, you read up on the specific model you've been recommended or the close contenders that, depending on your answers, I haven't recommended specifically for you (but do recommend, in this headphone-finder quiz).

Lastly, check out any deals already live, by clicking on the product. We got this, friend!

Technics
EAH-AZ100 Wireless Earbuds

Apple Airpods 5 With Active Noise Cancellation and Wireless Charging Case | Wireless Earbuds, Wireless Charging Case, Personalized Spatial Audio, Live Translation, H2 Chip

Apple
AirPods Gen 5 with Wireless Charging

Shokz Openfit Pro Open-Ear Earbuds With Noise Reduction, Dolby Atmos, Black | Superior Sound With Richer Details; Secure Fit; Ai Call Clarity; Up to 50h Playtime; Bluetooth 6.1; Ip55; Gym/office/cafe Use

Shokz
OpenFit Pro

Read our fully star-rated Shokz Openfit Pro review

Jlab Jbuds Mini Anc True Wireless Earbuds With Apple Find My, Vivid Pink

JLab
JBuds Mini ANC

soundpeats h3 earbuds

Soundpeats
H3

Read our full Soundpeats H3 review

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 Bluetooth Earbuds, Lavender | 40hr Battery, Anc, Lossless High Res Audio, 3d Dolby Atmos, User-Replaceable Battery, Clear Calls & Touch Controls

Sennheiser
Momentum True Wireless 5

Bose Quietcomfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) - Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds With Mic, Immersive Audio, Usb-C Charging, Up to 6 Hours Battery, Ipx4 Rating, Midnight Violet - Limited Edition Color

Bose
QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

Apple Airpods Max 2 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones – Orange | Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Personalized Spatial Audio, Live Translation, Bluetooth Headphones for Iphone

Apple
AirPods Max 2

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones in 'Warm Stone' on white background

Bowers & Wilkins
Px8 S2

Sony Wh-1000xm6 the Best Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones, Black | Hd Nc Processor Qn3, 12 Microphones, Adaptive Nc Optimizer, Mastered by Engineers, Studio-Quality, Up to 30 Hrs of Battery

Sony
WH-1000XM6

Read our in-depth Sony WH-1000XM6 review

Pros

  • Class-leading noise cancellation
  • Excellent audio performance
  • Super lightweight and comfortable
  • Highly intuitive touch controls
  • They're foldable again

Cons

  • Price increase over previous model
  • Battery life is nothing special
  • Still not waterproof
  • Some may find them to be a tad bulky

Nothing Headphone (a) Over Ear Wireless Active Noise Cancelling Headphones in pink on white background

Nothing
Headphone (a)

Cmf by Nothing Headphone Pro Active Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones Bluetooth 5.4 Over the Ear Headset, 50h Anc Playtime, Bass&treble Slider, Custom Eq&spatial Audio, Hi-Res Ldac, Light Green

CMF
Headphone Pro

Read my comprehensive CMF Headphone Pro review

Oneodio Focus A6 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones, 75h Playtime, Ldac Hi-Res Lossless Audio, Bluetooth 6.0, Dual Mic Enc Call, Support Wired Anc Via Usb-C, Wireless Over Ear Headphones

OneOdio
Focus A6

Read our full OneOdio Focus A6 review

Technics Eah-A1000 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones | Premium Sound Quality

Technics
EAH-A1000

Read my in-depth Technics EAH-A1000 review

Sonos Ace Ultra in 'sand' on white background

Sonos
Ace Ultra

Read our fully star-rated Sonos Ace Ultra review

Apple Airpods Pro 3 Wireless Earbuds With Active Noise Cancellation | Live Translation, Heart Rate Sensing, Hearing Aid Feature, Bluetooth Headphones, Spatial Audio, Usb-C Charging

Apple
Airpods Pro 3

Read my in-depth AirPods Pro 3 review

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 - Wireless Noise Cancelling Workout Earbuds With Secure- Fit Earhooks, Up to 45-Hour Battery With Charging Case, Sweat & Water Resistant, Heart Rate Monitoring - Hyper Purple

Beats
Powerbeats Pro 2

Read my comprehensive Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review

Huawei Freearc Open-Ear Earbuds, Secure Fit and Comfort, Ip57 Water Resistance, Dynamic Bass, 28 Hours Playtime, Sports Earphones, Headset for Running Workout Driving, Ios & Android, Bluetooth, Green

Huawei
FreeArc

Read our comprehensive Huawei Freearc review

So, what did you get? Feel free to drop me a comment. I'm TechRadar's Audio Editor, and I'm all ears…

Again, any of the headphones or earbuds above come with our recommendation, based on our thorough review process — I just want to help you narrow it down ahead of the busy sales extravaganza (and of course, the gift-giving season).