Sony’s excellent WH-1000XM4 headphones are on sale for a new low price today

Today’s Dealmaster is headlined by an early Black Friday deal on Sony’s WH-1000XM4. The wireless noise-canceling headphones are currently on sale for $278 at various retailers, which matches the price we’ve seen advertised for upcoming Black Friday sales events and ties the lowest outright discount we’ve seen. (An Amazon Prime Day deal last month dropped the headphones down to $298 with a $25 Amazon gift card.) Normally, they retail for $350.

We recently recommended the XM4 in our home-office setup guide, deeming it the best pair of noise-canceling headphones on the market. Like its predecessor—another Ars favorite—the XM4 provides an excellent blend of comfort, convenient features, customizable sound quality, and, above all else, active noise cancellation that’s just about best-in-class. Now, though, it offers the ability to connect to multiple devices simultaneously as long as both devices use the AAC codec, which shouldn’t be an issue the vast majority of the time. The new XM4 also has a motion sensor that automatically detects when you’ve taken off the headphones and pauses playback accordingly, and it has a nifty “speak to chat” feature that can do the same when it detects you talking to somebody else. We’ve found the touch controls on the side of the earcups to be less hyper-sensitive than before, too.

Beyond that, the headphones still get a little over 20 hours of battery life per charge, which is solid, and charge over a USB-C port. They still have minimal issues in the way of Bluetooth connectivity and offer a useful “ambient sound” mode that lets you listen to music while better hearing outside noises. The mic quality still isn’t ideal, but it’s fine, and while the mildly bass-forward sound isn’t as detailed as you could get from a good wired pair, it’s still full, fun, and customizable thanks to the nifty EQ tool in Sony’s companion app. While we’d like the XM4 to offer the ability to tone down its noise-canceling strength à la Bose’s Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, the overall package here is excellent.

If you’re not interested in a new pair of headphones, though, we also have deals on Ars-approved board games and the latest Apple Watch devices, plus an early Black Friday sale at Best Buy for those who have a (free) My Best Buy account. You can check out our full deals roundup below.

Note: Ars Technica may earn compensation for sales from links on this post through affiliate programs.

Top 10 deals of the day

• Sony WH-1000XM4 Bluetooth noise-canceling headphones for $278 at Amazon, B&H, BuyDig, and Adorama (normally $350).
• Gloomhaven board game for $85 at Amazon (normally $110).
• Apple Watch Series 6 (40mm) smartwatch for $349.99 at Amazon (normally $385).
• Apple Watch SE (40mm) smartwatch for $229.99 at Amazon (normally $270).
• Apple iPad (128GB, 8th gen) 10.2-inch tablet for $359.99 at Amazon and Best Buy (clip $40 coupon, My Best Buy members only—normally $429).
• Acer Chromebook Spin 713 2-in-1 laptop—Intel Core i5-10210U, 13.5-inch 2256×1504, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD for $549.99 at Best Buy (normally $630).
• EarFun Free true wireless earphones for $29.99 at Amazon (clip 10% coupon and use code: EFFREEBC—normally $45).
• Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla (PS4, PS5, Xbox) for $49.94 at Amazon (normally $60).
• My Best Buy members only: SanDisk microSD Card for Nintendo Switch (128GB)—UHS-I, U3 for $19.99 at Best Buy (normally $28).
• 55-inch LG BX (2020 model) 4K HDR OLED TV for $1,296.99 at Amazon, B&H, and Best Buy (normally $1,500).

Laptop and desktop PC deals

• Lenovo ThinkPad T490 laptop—Intel Core i5-8265U, 14-inch 1080p, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD for $749 at Lenovo (use code: THINKNOV11—normally $1,050).
• My Best Buy members only: Lenovo Yoga C740 2-in-1 laptop—Intel Core i5-10210U, 14-inch 1080p, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD for $549.99 at Best Buy (normally $800).
• Acer Chromebook Spin 713 2-in-1 laptop—Intel Core i5-10210U, 13.5-inch 2256×1504, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD for $549.99 at Best Buy (normally $630).
• Asus ROG Zephyrus M15 gaming laptop—Intel Core i7-10750H, 15.6-inch 1080p 240Hz, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q for $1,249.99 at Best Buy (normally $1,580).
• My Best Buy members only: 32-inch Dell S3220DGF curved gaming monitor—2560×1440, VA, 165Hz, FreeSync for $329.99 at Best Buy (normally $450).
• Samsung 970 EVO Plus (1TB) NVMe internal SSD for $129.99 at B&H (normally $180).
• Samsung 970 EVO Plus (500GB) NVMe internal SSD for $79.99 at Amazon and B&H (normally $95).
• Samsung 860 EVO (500GB) 2.5-inch SATA internal SSD for $53.99 at Amazon (normally $72).
• Samsung 860 EVO (1TB) 2.5-inch SATA internal SSD for $99.99 at Amazon, Samsung, and Adorama (normally $130).
• WD Blue SN550 (500GB) NVMe internal SSD for $53.99 at Amazon (normally $60).
• WD Blue SN550 (1TB) NVMe internal SSD for $94.99 at Amazon (normally $105).
• My Best Buy members only: WD Easystore (14TB) external desktop HDD for $189.99 at Best Buy (normally $310).
• SanDisk Extreme (1TB) portable external SSD for $139.99 at Amazon (normally $165).
• SanDisk Extreme (2TB) portable external SSD for $229.99 at Amazon (normally $290).

Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla to be one of the better entries in the long-running series.” data-height=”810″ data-width=”1440″ href=”https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/asscreeval-eivor-02-1440×810.jpg”>

Video game deals

• Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla (PS4, PS5, Xbox) for $49.94 at Amazon (normally $60).
• Yakuza: Like a Dragon – Day Ichi Edition (PS4, Xbox) for $49.94 at Amazon (free PS5 upgrade in March—normally $60).
• My Best Buy members only: Watch Dogs: Legion (PS4, PS5, Xbox) for $29.99 at Best Buy (normally $60).
• My Best Buy members only: Persona 5 Royal (PS4) for $19.99 at Best Buy (normally $50).
• My Best Buy members only: Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (Switch) for $14.99 at Best Buy (normally $25).
• My Best Buy members only: Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions (PS4, Switch) for $29.99 at Best Buy (normally $50).
• My Best Buy members only: Maneater (PS4, Xbox) for $12.99 at Best Buy (free next-gen upgrade—normally $30).
• Super Mario Odyssey (Switch) for $44.99 at Amazon (normally $50).
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch) for $49.94 at Amazon and Best Buy (normally $60).
• Pokemon Sword / Pokemon Shield (Switch) for $39.99 at Amazon (normally $55).
• Paper Mario: The Origami King (Switch, used) for $34.99 at GameFly (normally $60).
• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 (PS4, used) for $24.99 at GameFly (normally $40).
• Doom Eternal (Xbox, used) for $12.99 at GameFly (also on Xbox Game Pass—normally $45).
• Abzû (Switch, digital) for $1.99 at Nintendo eShop (normally $20).
• Preorder: Cyberpunk 2077 (PS4, Xbox) for $49.94 at Amazon (includes free next-gen upgrade—normally $60).

Gloomhaven is a massive game for the most hardcore of board game players, but it’s also a hell of a lot of fun—and it doesn’t go on sale very often.” data-height=”1512″ data-width=”2016″ href=”https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Gloomhaven27.jpg”>

Gaming deals

• Gloomhaven board game for $85 at Amazon (normally $110).
• Kingdomino board game for $12.79 at Amazon (normally $19).
• Photosynthesis board game for $23.75 at Amazon (normally $34).
• Logitech G305 Lightspeed wireless gaming mouse for $39.99 at Amazon and Best Buy (normally $50).
• Logitech G203 Lightsync wired gaming mouse for $14.99 at Amazon and Best Buy (normally $35).
• My Best Buy members only: Logitech G502 SE Hero wired gaming mouse for $34.99 at Best Buy (normally $60).
• Nintendo Switch Pro Controller for $59 at Amazon and Walmart (normally $69).
• Nintendo Switch Joy-Con (L/R, various colors) controllers for Nintendo Switch for $69 at Amazon (normally $80).

TV and home entertainment deals

• 55-inch LG BX (2020 model) 4K HDR OLED TV for $1,296.99 at Amazon, B&H, and Best Buy (normally $1,500).
• 65-inch LG BX (2020 model) 4K HDR OLED TV for $1,796.99 at Amazon, B&H, and Best Buy (normally $2,100).
• 65-inch LG CX (2020 model) 4K HDR OLED TV for $1,896.99 at Amazon (normally $2,350).
• 65-inch Sony A8H (2020 model) 4K HDR OLED Android TV for $1,798 at Amazon and Best Buy (normally $2,400).

Electronics deals

• Apple Watch Series 6 (40mm) smartwatch for $349.99 at Amazon (normally $385).
• Apple Watch SE (40mm) smartwatch for $229.99 at Amazon (normally $270).
• Apple Watch SE (44mm) smartwatch for $259.99 at Amazon and Walmart (normally $300).
• Apple iPad (128GB, 8th gen) 10.2-inch tablet for $359.99 at Amazon and Best Buy (clip $40 coupon, My Best Buy members only—normally $429).
• My Best Buy members only: Apple iPad (32GB, 8th gen) 10.2-inch tablet for $279.99 at Amazon (normally $315).
• Fitbit Charge 4 activity tracker for $99.95 at Amazon, Fitbit, and Kohl’s (normally $145).
• My Best Buy members only: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (64GB) tablet + $30 Best Buy e-gift card for $249.99 at Best Buy (normally $310).
• Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 (40mm) fitness smartwatch for $179.99 at Amazon and Best Buy (normally $249).
• TP-Link Kasa HS200 (3-pack) smart Wi-Fi light switch for $36.99 at Amazon (normally $50).
• TP-Link Kasa HS200 smart Wi-Fi light switch for $13.99 at Amazon (normally $17).
• TP-Link Kasa HS300 smart Wi-Fi power strip—6x AC, 3x USB-A for $59.99 at Amazon (normally $72).

Headphones and audio deals

• Sony WH-1000XM4 Bluetooth noise-canceling headphones for $278 at Amazon, B&H, BuyDig, and Adorama (normally $350).
• EarFun Free true wireless earphones for $29.99 at Amazon (clip 10% coupon and use code: EFFREEBC—normally $45).
• EarFun UBoom portable Bluetooth speaker for $35.99 at Amazon (clip 10% coupon and use code: EFUBOOMDL—normally $50).
• Jaybird Vista true wireless sports earphones for $99.99 at Jaybird and Amazon (normally $165).
• Jabra Elite 45h Bluetooth on-ear headphones for $79.99 at Amazon (normally $91).
• V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless Bluetooth headphones for $199 at V-Moda (normally $320).
• Apple AirPods Pro true wireless noise-canceling earphones for $199.98 at Amazon and Walmart (normally $225).
• Beats Powerbeats Pro (Spring Yellow) true wireless sports earphones for $159.99 at Amazon and Best Buy (normally $240).

Accessories and miscellaneous deals

• Apple Smart Keyboard Folio for 12.9-inch iPad Pro (4th gen) for $119.97 at Amazon (normally $189).
• LEGO Architecture London Skyline Collection 21034 building kit for $31.99 at Amazon (normally $34).
• iRobot Roomba 981 robot vacuum for $399.99 at Amazon (normally $600).
• iRobot Roomba i6+ robot vacuum for $599.99 at Amazon (normally $800).
• Oral-B Pro 1000 electric toothbrush for $29.99 at Amazon (normally $47).
• Jackery Explorer 500 portable power station—500W AC, 518Wh/144,400mAh, 12V DC, 3x USB-A, 2x 6.5mm DC for $424.99 at Amazon and Jackery (clip $75 coupon—normally $500).
• New users only: Tidal 12-month membership for $89.99 at Best Buy (normally $120).
• Twelve South BookArc vertical laptop stand for Apple MacBooks for $43.70 at Amazon (normally $58).
• My Best Buy members only: SanDisk microSD Card for Nintendo Switch (128GB)—UHS-I, U3 for $19.99 at Best Buy (normally $28).
• Samsung EVO Select (256GB) microSDXC card—UHS-I, U3 for $29.99 at Amazon and Samsung (normally $35).
• Samsung PRO Endurance (128GB) microSDXC card—UHS-1, U1 for $19.99 at Amazon (normally $30).
• SanDisk Ultra (400GB) microSDXC card—UHS-I, U1 for $45.99 at Amazon and B&H (normally $60).
• Nekteck 60W PD Wall Charger—60W USB-C PD for $19.99 at Amazon (normally $26).
• Anker PowerExpand+ 7-in-1 USB-C hub—85W USB-C PD, USB-C, 2x USB 3.0, microSD, SD, HDMI (4K@30Hz) for $23.99 at Amazon (clip 20% coupon—normally $38).
• Anker PowerPort Cube USB power strip—3x AC, 3x USB-A for $16.14 at Amazon (clip 15% coupon—normally $20).
• Prime only: Aukey PA-B3 USB-C wall charger—65W total, 65W USB-C PD, USB-A, GaN for $24.99 at Amazon (clip $5 coupon—normally $38).
• RAVPower RP-PC058 Qi wireless charger + Quick Charge 3.0 adapter—10W Galaxy/7.5W iPhone for $13.09 at RAVPower (use code: BACK60—normally $22).