The best wireless headphones offer great sound quality and a comfortable fit, along with features like reliable battery life and noise cancellation to block out unwanted sounds around you. They are a great alternative to traditional wired earbuds and often prove to be much more affordable in every way. The best options on the market are for everyone, but it’s helpful to check out our headphone buying guide to find out which details interest you most.
With so many different options available, searching for the best wireless headphones can seem daunting. We’ve gone through dozens of examples so you can jump right to the pair that’s right for you. If cables aren’t an issue, there are plenty of wired headphone options that also include cables.
The best package: Jabra Elite 85h
Always a big hit in the world of wireless headphones, the Jabra Elite 85h offers everything you need from a pair of high-end cans. The Jabra Elite 85h offers fantastic sound quality on the inside, delivering a rich soundscape with vibrant tones and excellent clarity. Plus, there are plenty of features to keep everyone happy. This includes excellent active noise cancellation (ANC) that has minimal impact on sound quality by blocking out unwanted ambient noise.
Such an effective ANC will not negatively affect battery life as around 36 hours on a single charge will surely please most users. A 15-minute quick charge gives you five hours of playback and you can always switch to wired mode with the included audio cable.
Other useful features include compatibility with the voice assistant of your choice for quick access to messages or reminders. The headphones are also designed to withstand some knocks and bumps, but don’t expect the Jabra Elite 85h to stay clean for long. I am rather the magnet of dust. Also, if you have a larger head, you may find them less comfortable than the alternatives. However, the Jabra Elite 85h has it all and is sure to please most users.
Runner-Up, Best Overall: Sony WH-1000XM4
The Sony WH-1000XM4 looks as expensive as it comes. Everything about them is of high quality, always with slightly rounded ear cushions so that they fit more naturally on the head. They are incredibly comfortable no matter the shape of your head.
Not only do they look and feel great – the headphones deliver rich, rich sound quality and produce a frequency response that is above the theoretical hearing range of an average person. The headphones adjust the noise cancellation depending on whether you’re wearing the goggles and are also specially designed to produce great sound at flying height. All this results in a phenomenal listening experience, as you would expect for this price.
The Sony Wh-1000XM4 falters with limited codec options, doing away with apt X support over its predecessors. It’s not a big deal for everyone, but it’s something to keep in mind, just as the touch controls on the headphones aren’t as comfortable to use as you might expect.
However, for many users these are relatively minor issues. Rich sound quality, great ANC and little touches like a proximity sensor that knows when you’ve removed your headphones and voice assistant support mean you’ll be quickly impressed with these premium headphones at an overall high price.
Ideal for long sessions: the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 wireless Bluetooth headphones II
Bose has a good reputation for sound quality and noise cancellation, and the same goes for the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 (Series II). These headphones may look a little dated, but they make up for it with great features. These include three levels of acoustic noise cancellation that block out ambient noise by sending an opposing signal to cancel it. These functions are controlled with a button on the roof or the Bose Connect app.
Listening to your favorite music sounds great thanks to the optimized volume equalizer. However, the battery life only lasts 20 hours on a single charge, which isn’t as great as it once was. But it has a quick charge feature that adds 2.5 hours of battery life after 15 minutes of charging. Other features include support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice assistant.
The Bose Quiet Comfort 35 (Series II) can even withstand one or two falls. This is thanks to the corrosion-resistant stainless steel and the comfortable Alcatraz headband, the same material used in high-end cars and boats.
Best Design: Marshall Mid ANC
If a nice pair of headphones is for you, Marshall Mid ANC is sure to please you. They offer reliable sound quality and good ANC, but their real strength lies in their design. Utilizing premium textured vegan leather, anodized metal hinges and brass finishes, these headphones have a fantastic look, typical of the Marshall brand.
What they struggle a bit with is having a single multi-function button – a retro joystick-style button – which looks nice but is a bit clunky to use effectively. While the Marshall Mid ANCs offer apt X Bluetooth connectivity, they don’t have the wow factor in playback compared to other headphones in this price range. With that style, however, it is a wireless headphone that manages to stand out from the crowd.
Best Noise Cancellation: Sennheiser Momentum 3
The Sennheiser Momentum 3 supports more advanced Bluetooth audio codecs than you’ll find in many competing models. This includes apt X, low latency apt X, and advanced audio coding (AAC). The headphones also have a fairly wide frequency of 6Hz to 22kHz, which is more generous than the commonly used 20Hz to 20kHz. This also provides satisfying, powerful bass lines and better sounding highs. Plus, reliable noise cancellation means you can focus solely on your music rather than what’s going on around you, although a continuous listening mode means you can always beware of outside noises.
Battery life is pretty poor at around 17 hours, but it’s worth it if you need features that aren’t available anywhere else. Additionally, a companion app is available that makes it easy to check ANC settings and adjust the equalizer to your liking. The integration of voice assistants and a proximity sensor complete the package well.
Best reference: Audio-Technical ATH-M50xBT
The Audio-Technical ATH-M50xBT is the Bluetooth version of the M50x monitor headphones commonly used by audio professionals and will appeal to those who want a studio-quality listening experience at home. They offer a remarkable frequency response from 15Hz to 28,000Hz and are equipped with 45mm drivers for a powerful experience. There is also support for Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity along with advanced audio codecs including aptX and advanced audio coding.
The Audio-Technical ATH-M50xBT falls short of their fit. They just aren’t as comfortable, with some users reporting problems after prolonged use, such as feeling the earpads aren’t closing their ears completely or feeling their ears are overheating. The headphones also don’t offer noise cancellation, which seems like a big omission for wireless headphones at this price point. In addition, it takes seven hours to charge the device.
Best in-ear: Jabra Elite 65t
An in-ear solution rather than over-ear headphones, the Jabra Elite 65t offer a lot for their relatively low price. The sound quality is great and with Bluetooth 5.0 support, your connection won’t drop anytime soon. They are also sturdy and can withstand. The sweat and dust resistant design makes these earbuds ideal for training, and thanks to a transparent microphone, you can even use them to answer calls.
Where things aren’t that hot for the Jabra Elite 65t is the unusual fit. It takes some practice to place the earbuds securely in the ear, and they may not be comfortable for every ear. Additionally, there is no ANC, although you can adjust the amount of ambient noise allowed at any time.