The best headphones will treat your ears and satisfy your desire for sound. We’ve tested all of the best wireless headphones, from high-end cans to great earbuds for working out. We’ve gathered our favourites right here to make it easier for you to choose the perfect set for your fortunate lugs.
Our keen-eared crew runs each pair of headphones through a series of tests in order to determine which are the best. Reggae or rave, at home or on the street: we evaluate each set’s aural prowess in a variety of practical listening situations. Therefore, if they are listed in our list below, you can be sure that they merit it.
What are the best headphones?
- Best headphones overall: Sony WH-1000XM5
With a comfortable fit, superb sound and top-class noise cancelling, these are the best over-ear wireless headphones you can buy. - Best in-ear headphones: Sony WF-1000XM4
Endlessly engaging and ergonomically excellent, Sony takes the true wireless crown with these outstanding earbuds. - Best headphones for fitness: Beats Fit Pro
Competitive battery, punchy sound and a lock-tight fit put the Beats Fit Pro at the front of the fitness pack.
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When buying a new pair of headphones, it can be helpful to think about where you want to wear them. If you’re going to use them on a run, for example, you should probably gravitate towards earbuds.
All the headphones good enough to make our list offer outstanding features, effective and flexible active noise cancelation, as well as great styling and high comfort.
Our pick of the best headphones you can buy
1. Sony WH-1000XM5
Our preferred set of wireless noise-canceling headphones are the Sony WH-1000XM4. The WH-1000XM5 makes all the necessary improvements to the formula. Our testing revealed that the new 30mm carbon fibre composite drivers produced sound with greater clarity and exquisite precision.
2. Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2
The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 are a skilled pair of wireless headphones that succeed the excellent PX7. By design, the physical layout is familiar and hasn’t altered much. They still include a row of physically challenging controls on the right ear cup and are still solidly constructed with high-quality materials. The 3.5mm headphone port has vanished.
3. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
These Sennheiser headphones have somewhat generic design, but their sound is anything but forgettable. Eight microphones are used for noise cancellation while 42mm full-range dynamic drivers produce a loud, detailed, and pleasurable listening experience. Although you don’t experience complete quiet, background noise is greatly diminished when the ANC is turned up.
4. Sony WF-1000XM4
Sony produces our favourite set of true wireless earbuds in addition to the best on-ear wireless headphones. The improved WF-1000XM4 is a worthy successor to the popular WF-1000XM3 and still offers excellent value. It offers a powerful and detailed listening experience. In testing, we discovered them to be accurate and entertaining thanks to a balanced sound signature.
5. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
Bose’s Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, while not the most recent headphones on this list, continue to set the standard if call quality and ANC are important to you. Their muting capabilities are astounding when turned up to 11, as you might expect from the inventor of noise-cancelling headphones. Six mics support ANC, and two extra mics improve vocal pickup for outstanding call clarity.
6. Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen)
The second-generation AirPods Pro are a compelling improvement to Apple’s superb wireless headphones, offering a quantum jump in features and sound quality. The second generation of what are already the smartest earphones for Apple customers uses an H2 chip to improve ANC performance. The background noise is so well-blocked by this that we found ourselves employing the enhanced Transparency mode more frequently.
7. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
The second generation QuietComfort Earbuds improve upon the best features of the already five-star wireless earphones. With interchangeable tips and stability bands that guarantee a secure fit, the QCE II are smaller and lighter and easier on the ear and eye. Each compact stem has a touch screen that can be customised and is sensitive.
8. Beats Fit Pro
The Beats Fit Pro are the top workout headphones available because they combine the intelligence of AirPods with a sporty exterior. A secure and comfortable fit is made possible by a flexible wingtip arrangement and lasts the duration of a workout. Although there is no off button, wear-detect sensors prevent PB playlists from straying from you. Although the battery life won’t break any records, six hours is sufficient.
9. Apple AirPods Max
The AirPods Max have all the distinguishing features of Apple design, including anodized aluminium earcups, a stainless steel headband, and a woven mesh canopy. The downside is that they are substantially heavier than plastic competitors, which can lead to temple pinching after protracted workouts. However, their performance capabilities are comparable to the high-end build.
10. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
Sennheiser’s third-generation Momentum True Wireless earbuds solidify their spot among the best wireless headphones with a few smart modifications. While the dimensions have been significantly reduced, the build quality is just as sturdy as before, making them appear and feel less hefty.
