My mom says these Sony headphones (down to $38) are the best gift I've given her
Have you ever had to shop for someone who's a little ... particular? I love my mom, but she can be a bit like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally; she wants things the way she wants them. That's why, when I was tasked with buying her a gift for our family's Secret Santa exchange last year, I spent a lot of time considering what to get. She prefers practical gifts, but I didn't want to buy anything too boring. Just as I was about to cheat and text my dad to ask what she would want, I remembered hearing her say how uncomfortable earbuds were for her to wear. Well, wireless headphones it was! I compared different models and opted for an affordable yet highly rated pair of Sony Wireless Headphones. Spoiler alert: She loves them, and they're down to an insane $38 at Amazon as we speak.
At nearly 40% off, these headphones are within a few bucks of their lowest price ever. That said, even their full price of $60 is a steal when you consider that a similar pair of Beats retails for nearly $200. Plus, Sony is a longtime respected name in electronics, so you're not taking a gamble on an unknown brand.
Now, my mom is no audiophile, so comfort and affordability were my main focuses when deciding which headphones to buy. The Sonys are super lightweight and have an adjustable, cushioned headband, as well as soft padded ear cups for long-term wear without pain. I also wanted to ensure my 63-year-old mom would have no trouble pairing them to her devices, so user-friendliness was a factor as well. I'm happy to report they checked all of these boxes, as she says, "They are comfortable and easy to hook up to via Bluetooth." (They can actually be paired with two devices at a time.)
Something else she appreciates? "The battery stays charged for a pretty long time" — up to 50 hours, according to the brand. And while these headphones don't have a true noise-canceling feature, she says the sound quality more than meets her standards, and there are different presets she can choose from to suit whatever type of music she's listening to. Need to take a call? The built-in microphone makes doing so a hands-free task.
One note: "Like all headphones, they hurt my ears if I wear them too long," she says. That said, she thinks they're the most comfortable pair she's ever tried overall.
My mom isn't alone — nearly 13,000 Amazon customers say these headphones are worthy of a perfect five-star rating.
"[I] can't stand the feel of earbuds, so these are great," shared a kindred spirit of my mom's. "They are lightweight and comfy to wear. Great sound quality as well. I wear them working out, traveling and I have even used [them] ... to block out annoying snoring."
"I've had these headphones for about six months now and the battery life [is] incredible," raved another satisfied shopper. "I will charge it for an hour on Sunday and they will last the rest of the week."
"I am not tech-savvy, and these headphones are so easy to use," said a third. "They are comfortable and can fold down pretty flat, so I can take them to work in my laptop case. Highly recommend!"
"I would not say they're noise-canceling," wrote a mostly satisfied buyer, "but they do have good insulation from outside noise. ... Battery life is impressively long, they charge quickly and the sound quality is great."
"Good sound, easy to use," echoed a final fan, noting, "My only complaint is the buttons in the earpiece are very small. It would be nice to have them larger for easier operation."
And to keep them protected and pristine in transit:
If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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