The Best Wireless Headphones for Perfect Sound in Every Situation

The Sony WH-1000XM5 earns both our best wireless over-ear style and best wireless noise canceling accolades for their ease of use, excellent sound quality, comfort, and battery life. I use these for everything ranging from listening to music, watching shows and movies, participating in zoom calls, and blocking out noise on airplanes (and other public transit) and in hotel rooms with little to no insulation, as well as drowning out the occasional noisy neighbor. They’re even comfortable enough to sleep with in a side position, as long as you position your pillow just right. Plus, they sense when you’re talking and pause whatever else you’re playing automatically.

These over-the-ear headphones from HP have an insanely long battery life of 300 hours. We have no idea what kind of magic produces something that is 10 times that of the competition, but we’re not sure we care. They have a detachable wireless, noise canceling mic that allows you to easily tell whether or not you’re muted via an LED indicator. The Ngenuity software provides all sorts of customizable options and the Spatial audio means you can experience virtual 3D sound stage immersion—all with a fairly reasonable price tag.

With secure fit wingtips so they won’t pop out of your ears at inopportune moments and pressure relieving vents, these Beats Fit earbuds are comfortable enough to wear all day no matter what you’re doing. One of the reasons (besides having great sound quality and noise canceling abilities) they earn our best earbuds rating is that they work out of the box with both iOS and Android devices (with an app that lets you customize all the controls as well as perform a fit test for proper bass levels). They’re even, and perhaps more importantly, available in a range of colors, including coral pink, purple, and neon yellow, so you aren’t tethered to Apple white. 

For under $100, the 1More Sono Flow headphones offer great battery life and respectable sound quality and noise canceling ability. They’re not quite as full-bodied as premium models but, if you’re on a budget, these still have enough clarity and bass definition to keep your tunes sounding good. They also don’t cancel out noise as effectively as others but, again, for a budget model, they do muffle ambient sound adequately.

Made with an EarGel design that molds to the shape of your ears, as well as the company’s ShakeGrip technology, the Jabra Elite 7 Active earbuds remain where you put them while running, jogging, walking, cycling, or lifting, without the need for ear wings. I’ve searched for a long time for a pair of earbuds that won’t pop out of my ears while running and these are, by far, the most reliable and secure I’ve found.

The noise cancellation feature engages with the tap of a button and has five levels of hear-through technology, so you can be aware of your surroundings when you’re outside. The IP57 rating means they’re resistant to both dust and water, while the four microphones have a mesh wind protection, so you can even carry on a conversation while pounding the pavement or sprinting through the halls of your office building.

Insignia RF wireless headphones come complete with a wireless transmitter and docking station that charges the headphones when not in use. They operate using an RF radio frequency transmission (as opposed to Bluetooth), which means there’s less chance of your audio and video being out of sync (which can be both disconcerting and annoying). They’re light and comfortable with great sound quality, at a very reasonable price. The biggest downside is that you can’t add additional headphones to the system. 

For a pair of budget-friendly headphones, these cans from Audio-Technica offer an impressive 60-hour battery life and more than adequate sound quality. They’ve long been the headphone of choice for amateur DJs and content creators who don’t have tons of extra cash lying around to fund their careers. They also feature a low latency mode, which makes sure your audio and video playback are in sync. All in all, a great value pair of headphones. 

For the absolute best in sound quality, Focal Bathys are hard to beat. They feature incredibly comfortable leather earpads and fancy, French, proprietary aluminum-magnesium dome drivers (which is just a complicated way of saying that they deliver exceptionally clear, high-resolution sound). There are three different noise canceling modes: Silent, soft, and transparent, as well as eight microphones. They also possess their own ambient backlight if you’re so inclined (which can be switched off) and they can be operated via voice control. 

With their digital signal processing and advanced microphone array, these Bose headphones are especially well suited to cutting out background noise and focusing on a voice, which is what makes them the best wireless headphone with a mic, as well as our top choice for phone calls. They feature 11 customizable levels of noise cancellation because sometimes you do need (or want) to hear some of what’s going on around you. Bose is known for products that produce unparalleled sound quality, including speakers, headphones, and soundbars, and these are no exception. Shopping tip: For even more details, see our in-depth review of the Bose 700 headphones.

The wired version of these headphones can be found in music and film studios all over the world, since they produce balanced, rich sound in a durable, reliable package. Well, now you can take these beloved headphones out of the studio for a stroll around the city or through a park (sometimes a walk in nature is just the break you need). As well as premium sound, they also come with an iconic coiled studio cable so you can (stylishly) plug in when you get back.

The 11mm speaker drivers in these little earbuds mean they put out a big, full sound. As an Android user and a person who spends a good deal of time with headphones or earbuds attached to their ears, these are my go-to earbuds. Their battery life is much longer than many other earbud models (as someone who has work days that are usually at least 10 hours long, this is important). The noise canceling is also great; they easily drown out the sounds of coworkers discussing what they plan to order for lunch or their latest relationship ups or downs and allow me to listen to my podcasts in peace. Plus, they come in cute colors like coral, lemongrass, and fog.

Like all things Apple, the AirPods Max feature excellent technology wrapped in a clean, minimalist design. These headphones produce a rich, bass-filled soundstage experience and, as you’d expect, seamlessly work with all your iOS devices. They also have what Apple calls “dynamic head tracking,” which means they’re able to make you feel as if you’re in a theater with surround sound. They’re available in pink, green, and sky blue, as well as the traditional Apple space gray and silver.

These sturdy and comfortable wireless headphones from Belkin have a volume cap of 85 decibels, to protect kids’ ears while they learn and play. There’s a built-in microphone for distance learning and they’re compatible with programs like Zoom, Schoology, and Seesaw. As well as being available in black, blue, pink, and white, they come with a sheet of stickers so young users can customize them. At $35.00, they’re an exceptional value.