Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones are 30 percent off, their lowest price yet

Previous price cuts on Sony’s WH-1000XM5 over-ear, noise-canceling headphones took off $50 or so, but this new one at Amazon is a whopping $121 off. Whether you’re keeping track or not, this is the biggest price cut to date. Today’s deal is on the silver (more like off-white) color scheme only, which may be a disappointment if you prefer black. However, you’d be smart to try to get a price match from a different retailer, which may help you get the color you want, and get it from a store where you might have some holiday gift cards to spend. We have a whole article with all of the price-matching details.

At $279, you won’t find a set of headphones that are better than the XM5 at drowning distractions with superb noise cancellation. While the new design sets them apart from Sony’s previous models, their enhanced sound and voice call quality are bigger reasons to consider these. Pricier headphones might get you better build materials (the XM5 are clad in almost nothing but plastic), but they probably won’t get you a better overall value. Read our review.

The Bose SoundLink Flex is our favorite Bluetooth speaker, thanks to its small size, slick design, and big sound. Just a couple of weeks ago, I noted in a deal roundup that it was $20 off in new condition, costing $129 at several retailers. This deal is still happening, but if you want to save even more, check out Bose’s refurbished site, where you can snag one for just $99 ($50 off the total cost).

While it’s a refurbished unit, Bose backs them with a one-year warranty and a 90-day risk-free trial period, though it may have “minor, nearly imperceptible blemishes.” If you or the recipient of this gift won’t mind, this is a smart way to save on 2022’s best Bluetooth speaker.

Newegg is offering a slew of excellent price cuts on digital PC games redeemable on Steam. Notably, the selection is choice; these are some of the best games of this year and last year. Whether you need more games on PC or you’re loading up your Steam Deck handheld with titles, this seems like a great opportunity. These prices beat Valve’s offering during its Steam Winter Sale. Here are a few of my favorites:

A couple more deals for you

• If you want some discreet USB-C storage for your laptop, tablet, Steam Deck, or another device, Samsung’s 128GB Fit Plus flash drive is just $14.99 at Amazon. It usually hovers at $20 or slightly less, so while this isn’t a sharp price cut, it’s a nice deal. I particularly like how small this thing is; it should barely jut out from your gadget, perhaps even less than a wireless receiver you might use for a mouse.
• The Ikea Symfonisk Bookshelf speaker that pairs nicely with Sonos speakers is still $20 off, costing $99.99 in black or white. One thing to note, which wasn’t applicable on December 22nd when I last wrote about this deal, is that Ikea may limit delivery of small orders within your ZIP code. So, you may need to go pick it up in person at one of its stores.