Mistakes to avoid when shopping for Black Friday headphone deals in 2023

When will Black Friday headphone deals in the UK be live in 2023?

Black Friday 2023 is on November 24th this year. It originally started in the United States but has spread basically worldwide. Black Friday always falls on the last Friday of November each year. 

However, that's only the official start date. You can expect to see deals starting earlier too, and that includes Black Friday headphone deals in the UK too.

What Black Friday headphone deals can we expect in 2023?

We expect Black Friday deals to be similar to last year, as every year it doesn't change too much from time to time. However, to make your comparison easier, we've rounded up some worthy mentions below (but it'll never match to Back Market's savings 😉). All prices were checked on 26/10/2023:

• John Lewis:

  • Apple AirPods Max: save £50 on selected colours, which would be valued at £499 instead

  • Bowers & Wilkins noise-cancelling headphones: save £30, which would be valued at £249 instead

• Argos:

  • JLab Jbuddies Kids headphones: 2 for £20, otherwise £14.99 each

  • Turtle Beach: save between £10 and £20 on selected models

• Bose: 17% off on the Bose QuietComfort SE headphones - was £239.95, now sold at £199.95

• Amazon: 33% off on the Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones - was £350, now sold at £236.55

Although Black Friday deals have started surfacing now, it's worthwhile noting that with Back Market you can get the similar "new-ish" headphones refurbished at much cheaper prices (between 30% - 50% off the cost of new)

1. Know the difference between wireless headphones vs true wireless earbuds

Wireless headphones are headphones that are wireless. You probably pieced that one together. 😅 They connect to each other by a head strap, and they connect to the audio source via Bluetooth. Working via Bluetooth is why they are considered wireless.

The reason earbuds are sometimes called true wireless is that they're truly wireless. They don't need to connect to each other by wires, and they also connect to the audio source via Bluetooth. 

It should be mentioned that earbuds and headphones are not the same things. What makes them headphones is that they go over your head. Earbuds, as you can probably guess, go into your ears. You might also see earbuds referred to as earphones or in-ear monitors depending on if they go into your ears or if they sit on your conchas (external part of ear).

A few popular wireless headphones are the Sennheiser Momentum 4, Bose QuietComfort 35 II, and the Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones. Popular wireless earbuds include the Apple AirPods, Galaxy Buds and Sony WF-1000XM4. 

In any case, wired headphones and wireless headphones are typically preferable to earbuds. The only downside is that you can't slip headphones into your pocket for easy everyday carry. However, they generally have better sound quality at similar price points than earbuds, they're less harmful to your hearing, and they're more comfortable for many people.

2. Don't buy directly from Apple and Bose and other manufacturers

If you decide you need new headphones, you might be inclined to just buy them straight on the manufacturer's website or at their store. After all, you know you'll be getting good service and the exact product you want. 

While that might be true, it's also true that you're not going to be saving a lot of money. 😬 Usually, the retailers will push their brand-new stock at the same price. They sometimes even raise their prices beforehand to then lower them in November, only making it seem like a good deal. 

Another common practice is only offering the best deals inside bundles. It makes sense for them since they're essentially clearing out products in bulk. But if you don't need a new phone and new headphones, you're not really saving money, you're instead being upsold! 

So if you're really looking to save big on headphones for Black Friday in the UK, we think you shouldn't just look at the offers you find in stores and on manufacturer's websites. Consider small businesses, online marketplaces and other retailers and resellers.

3. Consider the slightly older headphone models

Similar to the last point, we think it's also worth stating that you shouldn't just buy the latest and "greatest" models. If you buy directly from manufacturers, they'll obviously only want to sell you their newest and most expensive models. However, the models from last year are equally just as good!

Consider the new Apple AirPods Pro that just got updated in 2022. They're very similar to the original version, with the main difference being the case now has a speaker and slightly better battery life. Is that worth upgrading to or spending more money on? 🥱

You might think you need the features that the new headphones offer -- and maybe in some cases you do. But most times, we think we’re just being convinced by expensive marketing.

If you don't want to pay for the advertising, you should consider buying used headphones. . . or better yet, refurbished. 😉

4. Don't wait for Black Friday to buy wireless headphones

More than anything, the biggest mistake you can make when looking for Black Friday wireless headphone deals is only looking for Black Friday headphone deals. 

Even the best Black Friday deals last year didn't offer anything more than a little 10% discount (if that). In fact, you can look up buying guides for 2022 deals, and you'll find all sales are still at the same price a year later!

Our advice? Don't wait around for the "best deals." It is fun to shop during the busiest shopping season of the year. But it's not exactly a great plan if you're looking to really save money. 

If you're looking for where the best headphones deals in the UK will really be, you can find them right here on Back Market. We'll have everything from Apple to Sony to Bose headphones for Black Friday.

Back Market sells professionally refurbished wireless headphones so you can be 100% sure you'll get a 100% functional item. We also include a 12-month warranty and 30-day returns to make your purchase even more secure. With wireless headphones at 30-50% off compared to new prices, we think it's the best way to get a great deal on Black Friday -- and on every other day that ends in "Y" year-round. 😁

References

• John Lewis: https://www.johnlewis.com/browse/black-friday/electrical-offers/headphone-offers/_/N-7osp

• Argos: https://www.argos.co.uk/browse/technology/headphones-and-earphones/c:30128/

• Bose: https://www.bose.co.uk/en_gb/special_offers.html

• Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-WH-1000XM4-Cancelling-Wireless-Headphones-Black/dp/B08C7KG5LP