After our tech team rigorously tested more than 25 pairs, we chose the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) as the best wireless headphones. As Forbes Vetted’s consumer tech editor—and a classically trained musician—I know it takes more than just a long battery life and decent audio to separate good wireless headphones from the very best. The Bose feel comfortable enough to wear for hours and feature rich audio that’s easy to adjust. There are other great models, too: The Soundcore Space Ones are ideal for casual listeners, while our premium pick, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2s, nail all frequencies right out of the box.
Intuitively Designed, With A New Touch Control Feature
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are the best pair of wireless headphones on the market. The latest model features a lovely gold chrome finish on the hinge that show fingerprint marks, but they easily wipe off. The ear cups are plush, and I can wear them for hours at a time without any aches. One of the newest features is a shortcut button. While you control the volume by swiping the touch controls on the right ear cup, touch and hold the center of the touch control area to trigger your shortcut. Choose between hearing the battery level, changing the immersive audio modes, accessing your voice assistant or connecting to Spotify—all of which I found very useful.
Unparalleled Audio Quality, With Minimal EQ Adjustments
True audiophiles may find that the Bose app leaves something to be desired—during testing, I found that the EQ adjustments remain minimal. You can tune your bass, mids and trebles up to six points in either direction. It’s intentional; Bose has a unique approach to audio that’s consistent across all its audio products. While they sound good out of the box, I ultimately reduced the bass frequency two points and increased the trebles by two points to create a more balanced profile.
A New Cinema Mode Helps Immerse You In Movies
Also new to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) is a Cinema Mode. It’s somehow different from the Still and Motion immersion modes offered. While it’s more suited for watching movies, it’s still good for listening in a more immersive mode without the audio quality degradation that the Still and Motion immersion modes suffer from. Granted, that’s not as bad as the original Ultra headphones model, but it does degrade to noticeable level.
Unparalleled ANC
But what separates these from the pack is the blend of excellent audio quality and its ANC. I already crowned Bose as the best for ANC in the first-gen model, and this new model takes it a step further with a new technology called “ActiveSense.” ActiveSense uses AI to register the ambient noise around you and reduce any unexpected noise spikes. That way, you can enjoy your music in near silence as you navigate noisy areas. To test this new feature, I took these headphones on multiple subway rides and ran a decibel tracker to monitor any unexpected noise spikes. I found that decibel spikes seemed nonexistent and my rides were whisper-quiet.
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Quality Audio That Punches Well Above Its Price
The value pick goes to the Anker Soundcore Space One wireless headphones. While the materials are on the less sturdy side, they’re very comfortable with large, plush ear cups that I wore for hours with and without glasses. Most important, they offer excellent sound quality for the $100 price tag. The bass feels strong without feeling overpowering, and it balances out the mids and trebles really well. I also attribute this to a slew of EQ presets, but these really aren’t needed. Soundcore hits the nail on the head with its default Soundcore Signature option. You can adjust for various listening experiences, from podcasts to hip hop, rap and more; if you want to swap EQs, they all sound lovely.
Cheap Materials Are This Pair’s Biggest Downfall
Admittedly, the headphones, the plastic and the pleather feel simply cheaper and subpar in comparison to most of the others on this list with higher-quality materials. Many of my picks also allow you to seamlessly swap ear cups, but the Space Ones don’t to have this feature. But despite the downfalls, I found these headphones hard to beat given the $100 price tag.
One Year Later: Still Superb Despite Some Minor Flaws
After over a year of testing, the Anker Soundcore Space Ones held up well, including the materials. They still look brand new despite using them frequently for trekking around New York City. The ANC could be stronger, but it’s still enough that they mute a good chunk of outside noise when I’m reading at home or walking around the city.
Best Balance Of Audio Quality, ANC And More
After testing the best wireless earbuds for several months, I found that there’s no clear-cut winner; simply put, you can’t find a one-size-fits-all pair of earbuds. But if you’re looking for one that gets very close—with excellent audio quality, decent noise cancellation, battery life and more—the Status Pro X Wireless Earbuds should be your go-to pick.
Gorgeous Audio Quality
Earbuds land in one of three sound camps. There’s warm, which is the most popular option for its smoothness and clarity on the ears; neutral, which blends warmth and clarity; and analytical, which focuses on song details. The Pro X lean more analytical, but are still warm enough to keep audio smooth and balanced. It’s that balance that wowed me, so much that I kept pausing just to focus on my music. It’s also the pair that I keep reaching for because it sounds so gorgeous. It offers multiple presets, including Signature, Audiophile, Knowles, Podcast and Vocal, but I can also create a customized profile, though that’s not necessary. Most listeners should be happy with the Audiophile EQ.
ANC Could Be Stronger
While the audio quality feels immersive, the ANC is weak. It does a decent job of reducing the subway screeches so I can enjoy my music, but it’s not as robust as my best noise-canceling wireless earbuds pick, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2). And, while the ANC could be better, the earbuds make up for it in other areas. The app is direct and intuitive to make quick adjustments. Battery life also lasts a bit under eight hours. While some users reported the earbuds stop charging in the case due to grime buildup, I didn’t experience this issue.
Pairs With Your Sonos Soundbar
The Sonos Ace headphones are quick to connect if you already have the Sonos app installed. Plan for another minute to pair it with your Arc Ultra soundbar, which helps cement it as our pick for Sonos fans: They can seamlessly connect to the latest Sonos soundbars. Build quality is sturdy and functional, though “a little less luxe than comparably priced competitors,” according to our tester. As a plus, the swappable ear cups feel comfortable to wear for hours without your ears feeling warm or sore.
Richly Balanced, With Decent ANC
The Sonos Ace headphones produce rich, balanced audio. Our tester noted that over the course of several months, the audio quality favored clarity and quality over punch. They’re on par with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) in terms of audio quality, but ANC is where Bose pulls ahead. The ANC on the Sonos Ace headphones is good, and it’s easy to toggle between ANC and awareness modes. In everyday environments, they’re fine, while in noisier situations like traveling in an airplane or hanging out in a bustling cafe, they’re “just a shade below excellent,” one of our testers notes. Another tester shared that when comparing the Ace’s ANC with the Apple AirPods Max, the latter has more powerful ANC, but just barely.
Ability To Stream Audio From Your Arc Soundbar
If you’re already a Sonos fan and have a Sonos Arc soundbar, the Ace headphones pair seamlessly so you can watch TV and have the audio from your Arc soundbar stream through your Ace headphones. For parents, partners or anyone with a roommate, this is a game changer. One of our testers said they could enjoy favorite shows without disrupting nap time. But outside the Sonos integrations, other software features fall short.
One Year Later: No Complaints
After over a year of use, the Sonos Aces experienced “negligible wear and tear,” according to our tester. While there have been a few updates, which is typical for any pair of headphones, the pairing is still seamless, and the main draw is still the high-fidelity audio quality and the ability to pair to the Sonos Arc soundbar for when our tester’s toddler is sleeping.
Plush Ear Cups And A More Forceful Clamp
For those who want a truly lovely audio quality without spending four figures, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones are an ideal match. I was a bit apprehensive about the headband after an early ache around my jaw and ears while wearing them. After two listening sessions, that uncomfortable sensation went away. Its clamp is more forceful than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, but that didn’t cause me issues; your mileage may vary. Just keep in mind that they don’t fold inward at the hinge for a compact travel set, though the leather-and-aluminum build should resist scratches and scrapes.
Audio Quality Is Stellar Right Out Of The Box
Out of the box, the audio quality impressed me. Twenty One Pilots’ “City Walls” sounds fresh, and I felt smack-dab in the moment, which is something only a few pairs of headphones I’ve tested can emulate. I made minor tweaks on the app, which I found less intuitive than others. The home page lists only the ANC options; it doesn’t list the advanced EQs, which you have to dive into the settings to locate. I’d prefer this be listed on the home page beside the ANC settings, not under an entirely different window. They do offer a five-band EQ, which I found useful. ANC is also surprisingly good; I found this pair rivaled the ANC of my pair of Bose headphones. It didn’t quite reach those impressive ANC levels, but it’s powerful enough to suit most needs.
No Fancy Extras—But A Fancy Price Tag
There aren’t a ton of extras with the PX8 S2s. They don’t offer fancy background modes like the Sony WH-1000XM6s, and they don’t offer any special Cinema listening modes like Bose. That’s not a knock against them. Bowers & Wilkins focused on improving audio quality with the latest model, and they nailed their objective, at a higher cost. They’re $50 more than their predecessors, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8s, and cost around $800 when not on sale. That’s significantly more than the Bose QuietComfort Ultras that are my top pick for the category. Still, if you’re seeking the best wireless headphones with audio quality as your top priority, and a price range under $1,000—these are the pair I recommend.
Incredible ANC, Just Plan To Tune Your Sound
The Sony ULT Wear w ireless headphones perfectly balance price and audio quality with stellar ANC. Our tester notes that the ANC on this pair of headphones is “by far the best noise-canceling headphones” she’s ever used, adding that if she’s blasting her music she can’t hear any outside noises. If you need to hear what’s around you, it’s easy to enable other modes to hear ambient sounds. However, be prepared for the audio to not be very impressive straight out of the box and plan to spend a few minutes tuning to your personal preferences. The good news is that Sony offers a robust equalizer so you can fine-tune your audio to your desired balance or use one of the Sony presets.
A 30-Hour Battery Life Plus Power-Saving Features
Our tester also appreciated that for glasses wearers, the Sonys don’t pinch ears. The adjustable strap at the top is also great for adjustments, and while they’re not completely scratch-proof, they’re darn close. Battery life is also impressive: Our tester used them daily for two weeks and only had to charge them once. When battery life hits 5%, the headphones notify you so you can get to a charger. There’s also an automatic pause feature that registers when you remove the headphones. If you don’t turn them on after a certain amount of time, it shuts them off to save battery life.
Spotty Connectivity To Certain Devices
Our tester reports that while connecting to her iPhone 15 Pro was easy, connecting to a laptop took a little extra work. Once connected, though, the pair swapped between the phone and laptop with ease. She does note that every so often, the headphones would disconnect and require a quick software “repair.” It was never the end of the world, and it didn’t happen enough that it detracted from the whole experience.
Immersive Listening With Strong ANC
For Apple users, the Apple AirPods Max 2 may have a massive $500-plus price tag, but they offer a seamless experience within the Apple walled garden. The new model looks exactly like its predecessor, with a lovely metallic design. I’m obsessed with the lavender colorway, which looks gorgeous and so far has yet to show a scratch despite multiple accidental drops. They’re heavier than I prefer, but the mesh headband and swappable plush fabric ear cups balance the weight nicely; I have yet to experience any ear aches. Keep in mind that you have to insert them into the case to turn them off—otherwise, they remain in a low-power state which drains some battery life.
Good Out-Of-The-Box Audio Quality
Audio quality on the headphones is excellent. Apple stakes its reputation on that its headphones sound good straight out of the box, and these headphones live up to the hype. ANC also impressed me. When my husband came into my office to vacuum, all I could hear was a faint hum. A quick tap on the top right ear cup button toggles between ANC and Transparency.
Seamless Multi-Point Connectivity
The multi-point connectivity for iPhone and Mac users is also the best on the market. If you’re listening on your iPhone, you can turn on your MacBook and it seamlessly swaps to listening on your preferred device of choice. The same goes for when you shut your MacBook and want to listen on your iPhone: The headphones register that you want to listen on your mobile device and shift the playback to your phone. If you prefer wireless earbuds, I found the AirPods Pro 3 to be a great pair for Apple fans, offering the same seamless connectivity.
Designed To Stay Firmly In Place
Whether you’re running or lifting, you want headphones that aren’t going to move off your head. The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 do just that. The Electric Orange pair I tested have a much lighter footprint than its original iteration; they also feel exceedingly comfortable on. You get five ear tips to help you keep the headphones securely tucked into your ears. The secure-fit ear hooks also help keep them firmly in place. The design makes them appealing for fitness enthusiasts, because no matter how much I ran, jumped and walked, they stayed firmly in my ears.
Improved Audio But Lacks EQ Customization
Designed to balance fitness goals with audio, I’m pleasantly surprised by the audio quality, though make sure you use the ear tip test found in the app to check for a good fit. ANC could be stronger, but I’m mostly pleased with how well these stayed put during workouts. My absolute biggest gripe is that these headphones do not come with any kind of EQ customizations, only an Adaptive EQ.
Introduces Heart Rate Tracking
One interesting thing to note: It’s the first pair of headphones to include a heart-tracking monitor, but it only works with certain apps like Peloton, Nike Run Club, Ladder and Open. It also seamlessly syncs with the iPhone ecosystem and the iPhone Health app; if you’re an Android user, download the Beats app. This iOS versus Android issue also comes into play with the heart monitor. You need to manually start it and stop it on Android, while for iPhone users it automatically registers and you can track it in real time.
One Year Later: Still Good—But I Ignore One Feature
After over one year of testing, the Powerbeats Pro 2 headphones are still my top pick for working out. They stay firmly in my ears and the audio quality is solid. I found that most times I ignore the heart rate tracking feature, but it’s still a nice extra to have if you’re a fitness enthusiast and want to monitor that during your exercise routines. I also found they’re really easy to clean with a cloth or baby wipe.
Premium Materials Built For Hours Of Comfort
Typically, I rely on separate headphones to consume music versus gaming. Gaming headsets prioritize audio quality for such gaming sounds as footsteps and spatial audio, which makes gameplay more exciting. But the latest SteelSeries headset, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite, is a true hybrid pair of headphones that manages to seamlessly blend both worlds for a truly lovely listening experience no matter what I’m doing. SteelSeries opted for a blend of leather and metal finishes in its design. The blend feels sturdy, and it’s also incredibly sleek; I’m a huge fan of the sage color. In comparison to other wireless headphones I’ve tested, the ear cups feel much plusher, and my ears are truly grateful for the extra cushioning. I’ve worn them for hours on end in total comfort.
Excellent ANC And Customizability For Gamers And Audiophiles
The extra cushioning also enhances noise cancellation, while the software provides a dedicated ANC mode. The ANC is good for most needs, and it’s only half of what impressed me with this pair of headphones. They offer complete customizability. Use a webpage, the app, the downloadable SteelSeries Sonar software, the included hub or the headphones themselves to make on-the-fly EQ adjustments. For gamers, there’s also the ability to choose from more than 200 game EQ presets to enhance your gameplay, though this falls flat for audiophiles. The included hub, while designed with gaming in mind, can help connect multiple devices, from a PC to PlayStation, XBox and more, which is an impressive feature SteelSeries calls “OmniPlay.” It can’t connect wirelessly to all—expect to use the included USB-C and headphone jack located in the back of the hub to connect to every single console. But it’s still an impressive feat.
Fully Customizable EQs, With Spatial Audio
SteelSeries has always been impressive with its customizable software, but for a hybrid blend, it takes it a step further. The audio quality on this pair of headphones is on par with Bose. Frequencies sound absolutely lovely, and SteelSeries Sonar software makes it easy to adjust in the event you’re shifting from listening to music to gaming, though you can do both simultaneously if you prefer thanks to the included software. The headphones offer a battery life of 30 hours with ANC, and you can charge via a USB-C port under one ear cup plate or a swappable battery under the other. The swappable battery is impressive, because it means you don’t need to wait for it to recharge; it takes only about 30 seconds to get another 30 hours of playback.
Other Wireless Headphones We Tested
My tech team and I tested more than 25 pairs of headphones. These pairs didn’t make the final cut, but we detail below why some pairs might still be worthy of your consideration.
Others We Tested That Are Worth Considering
- Best Runner-Up: Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Forbes Vetted score: 4/5): My former top pick, the Bose QuietComfort Ultras have robust audio quality, and the battery lasts for up to 24 hours with ANC on. While the newer model outshines this older pair thanks to the built-in ActiveSense AI technology, it’s still a good choice if you’re looking for something a little more affordable.
- Best For Design: Nothing Headphone 1 (Forbes Vetted score: 4/5): One of my favorites I’ve tested to date, the Nothing Headphone 1s showcase a unique square shape instead of the typical sleek, rounded design. Although the ANC could be stronger (and you have to turn on the in-ear detection in the app, which is a confusing choice), the audio is quite good and the battery life impressive.
- Best For Bass Runner-Up: CMF By Nothing Pro (Forbes Vetted Score: 4/5): The CMF By Nothing Pro features some of my favorite ear cups; the rounded design is as comfortable as the Bose. The volume wheel doubles as the Play/Pause toggle, which I like. And, it’s excellent for fans of bass thanks to the Energy Slider, which adjusts bass and treble frequencies on the fly. The price is also attractive and more affordable than the current pick, the Sony ULT Wear.
- Best Plug-And-Play For Apple Users: Beats Studio Pro (Forbes Vetted score: 4/5): The audio quality feels exceptional on the Beats Studio Pro, as does the ANC: It drowned out external noise on a transcontinental flight, and our tester nearly missed the pilot’s announcements unless she kept the volume low. Ear cups are comfortable and well padded, but the headband left our tester complaining of discomfort. She reported that she “had to shift their position atop my head a few times to relieve pressure.”
- Best For Long Listening Sessions: Sony WH-1000XM5 (Forbes Vetted score: 4/5): The Sony WH-1000XM5s are a pretty sturdy pair of headphones, and after hours of continuous wear, they felt comfortable on our tester’s ears. The ANC is as strong as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, but the audio quality falls short of the competition. The app controls were a bit clunky, too.
- Best Midrange: Anker Soundcore Space One Pro (Forbes Vetted score: 4/5): The Anker Soundcore Space One Pros are simply lovely, offering a slew of features including Dolby Audio, HearID Sound and a library of EQ presets. The audio quality beat our midrange pick—except for the Dolby Audio setting, which muddies the audio. They were also edged out by the Sony ULT Wears in terms of durability—the ear cups are not replaceable, and the cream white color is prone to catching dirt marks.
- Best For Premium Build Quality: Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 (Forbes Vetted score: 4/5): Out of all my testing, the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300s landed in my top three picks, just after Bose and Sonos. If you’re going to use any EQ preset, I recommend the Dynamic and reducing the bass by just a hair; the other presets sounded way too muddled for me to truly enjoy the harp and bass on Florence + The Machine tracks. The noise canceling is a little weaker compared with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Otherwise, these headphones are stellar.
- Best For Focusing: Sony WH-1000XM6 (Forbes Vetted score: 3.5/5): The audio quality on these headphones goes toe-to-toe with the first-gen Bose QuietComfort Ultras. They also have one of my favorite features, Background mode, which makes your music sound like you’re listening to it in the middle of a coffee shop. For those who need to concentrate, it was a huge boon. (I’d recommend this for college students who need to study late into the night.) However, the ear cups need more padding, and the Bose headphones still edge out the Sonys in terms of ANC—but it’s getting much closer.
- Best Premium Runner-Up: Focal Bathys (Forbes Vetted score: 3.5/5): Our tester noted that the Focal Bathys are “extremely crisp and clear with a punchy but not overly aggressive bass,” for a balanced, rich listening experience. They feature sound personalization that acts like a hearing test by beeping sounds in your ears. If you’re not happy with the personalized results, you can adjust further. For serious audiophiles, it comes with AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive and SBC Bluetooth codecs.
- Best Affordable Hi‑Fi Option: Technics A800 (Forbes Vetted score: 3.5/5): For a $250 price tag, these Technics output a detailed sound—but not as detailed as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Still, they’re good enough for those who want a solid headset without dropping $400-plus. Ashnikko’s music gave bassy punches but at times it sounded ever-so-slightly muddled, as did Florence + The Machine’s “Free." I also felt the app’s EQ presets could have been more balanced.
- Best Value Runner-Up: JLab Go Lux ANC (Forbes Vetted score: 3/5): These are a great budget pick, especially if shopping for a teen or young adult (they are only $35). The audio is stunning, and they are comfortable enough that I wore them for multiple hours without any earaches. The battery life is also impressive. After long-term testing, I’ve learned they’re very durable, too. These are excellent if you want decent audio for less than $50. Just keep in mind that there’s no automatic play/pause sensor.
- Best For Comfort: Anker Soundcore Life Q35 (Forbes Vetted score: 3/5): Our tester loves these headphones for their slightly oversized ear cup with generous padding. It’s so good that when cross-testing them against the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, she preferred to wear this pair. The ANC and audio quality isn’t as good as the Space Ones, however.
Others We Tested That We Don’t Recommend
- JLab Epic Lux Lab Edition (Forbes Vetted score: 3/5): I really liked these headphones when I used them on certain settings. That said, I noticed audio quality changes as I shifted through the various EQs, as well as when I turned on the spatial audio. They felt very comfortable to wear for long periods of time but, for the price, I felt it could be better.
- Beats Solo 4 (Forbes Vetted score: 3/5): The audio quality is really impressive for the $150 price tag. Our tester notes: “It sounds like I’m in the same room as my favorite podcast hosts when I’m wearing these.” The battery life is also a massive 50 hours. However, our tester reports that they don’t seamlessly jump for a multi-point connection and offer only passive noise cancellation.
- JBL Live 770NC (Forbes Vetted score: 3/5): The JBL Live 770 NC headphones have a strong bass that give all the genres we tested across—folk, rock, pop and more—a nice depth that we really liked. However, the ANC wasn’t as strong as other contenders: “I could still hear the mumbles of people around me and the treadmill’s motor when I was working out,” notes our tester, who also observed minor creaking in the headset and pinching behind her ears when she wore glasses.
Wireless Headphones We’re Currently Testing
Because new models come out regularly, we’re constantly testing headphones. Here are the models that my tech team and I are currently putting through our rigorous methodologies:
Sennheiser Momentum 4: The Sennheiser Momentum 4 feature 42mm drivers and last up to 60 hours on a charge. The brand is designed with audiophiles in mind; we’ll find out whether they can unseat the Bowers & Wilkins.
Marshall Monitor III ANC: The Marshall Monitor III ANC headphones feature a foldable design that collapses into a smaller travel case. They also offer up to 70 hours of playback and 35mm drivers to enhance your audio. Stay tuned for my verdict on how this pair stacks up to the competition.
How We Tested The Best Wireless Headphones
While I personally tested many of our best wireless headphones picks, because there are so many options, I also enlisted fellow Forbes Vetted team members to help review some of the contenders. We paired them to our mobile phones and spent hours streaming a slew of genres from Spotify, Apple Music and more. Here are the factors we considered during testing.
Sound Quality
We paid close attention to how the bass, mids and highs performed individually, focusing on high-end clarity (like high vocals or whistle instruments) and deep, resonant low-end frequencies (like bass and percussion). Some of the songs we we used to test each pair of wireless headphones included:
- Florence + the Machine’s “King,” “Cosmic Love” and “Dog Days Are Over”
- Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade”
- Ashnikkos’ “Worms” and “Daisy”
- Fitz and the Tantrums’ “123456,” “Livin’ For The Weekend,” and “I Just Wanna Shine”
- Kendrick Lamar’s “tv off (feat. lefty gunplay,” “Not Like Us,” and “luther (with sza)”
- Barns Courtney’s “Hollow” and “You And I”
- Hayley William’s Ego Death at A Bachelorette Party album
- The entire soundtracks to seasons one and two of the Netflix show Arcane
- The true crime podcasts Morbid and Crime Junkie
This roster of songs and artists gave us a well-rounded picture of the performance and range each pair of headphones could deliver. We also deep-dived into the companion apps designed to customize audio, evaluating how advanced—or limited—their EQ settings were.
Noise Cancellation
We reviewed whether the headphones feature passive or active noise cancellation, tried out any transparency modes and tested their effectiveness in our apartments and taxis, on the New York City MTA subway system and on multiple transcontinental flights.
Design And Durability
Beyond sound and noise cancellation, we examined each headphone’s design, build quality and overall durability. We considered weight—the heavier it is on your head, the less comfortable it may be to wear for long periods. In testing, we also checked the ear cups, considering their plushness and gauged how comfortable they felt to wear for hours on end.
Battery Life
To test battery life, we ran two tests. In the first test, we kept ANC off and listened to music for 30 minutes, noting the battery life before and after the 30-minute mark. The second time, we turned on ANC and listened to music for 30 minutes, noting the battery life percentage before and after. This way we could calculate how long a battery lasted on each setting and cross-check each brand’s claims. We could also get a sense of the battery life in a real-world setting for users.
How To Shop For The Best Wireless Headphones
We consulted several audio technology experts to outline the top features you should consider when picking up your next pair of wireless headphones. Here’s what to consider when you’re looking for your next pair.
Audio Quality
Sound quality should be your most important factor above all else, according to Jason Wingate, tech entrepreneur and CEO of Emerald Ocean Ltd. “Clarity, bass response and balance all come into play. Clarity ensures that you hear every detail in the audio,” he says. Wingate stresses maintaining an even distribution across frequencies so that “no single frequency overwhelms the others.”
Advanced Audio Features
Audiophiles seeking high-quality audio should look for headphones that support advanced codecs like LDAC, aptX and AAC. These algorithms help boost the overall audio quality by efficiently transmitting more data from your device to the headphones via Bluetooth.
- LDAC is Sony’s Bluetooth codec. It shines at high-resolution sounds because it can stream more data at a time than other Bluetooth codecs, producing a more immersive listening experience.
- aptX is Qualcomm’s software, which churns out high-quality sound with minimal lag. “LDAC offers high-resolution audio, while aptX improves sound quality and reduces latency,” Wingate explains. It’s great at making sure what you hear aligns as perfectly as possible with what you see on your device when watching videos or gaming.
- AAC is optimized for Apple devices, like iPhones and AirPods. It offers standard-level audio quality. Wingate says, “Audiophiles will notice the difference, but casual listeners might not.”
Noise Cancellation
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), helps block out unwanted distractions and improves call and microphone quality by suppressing background sounds as you talk. While many wireless headphones use ANC, which electronically cancels noise, others rely on passive noise cancellation which is just the physical seal of the ear cups. Some models also offer Transparency or Ambient mode that lets outside sound in and can help you be more aware of your surroundings.
Battery Life
Wireless headphone battery life ranges from 20 to 40 hours of listening time. Frequent travelers who embark on regular flights are likely to prefer a model with longer overall battery life, while commuters may prioritize fast-charging capabilities to quickly refill the battery between uses.
Comfort
Both travelers and commuters need headphones that can be worn for long periods of time. Tom Terronez, CEO of Medix Dental IT, notes: “Planes are loud and uncomfortable. Some headphones get too hot or can clamp too hard around your head.” Make sure you look for one that has plenty of reports of being comfortable to wear for long hours. The good news is that all the picks on our best wireless headphones list feel comfortable to wear for long listening sessions.
Durability
A good set of wireless headphones can withstand bumps and scrapes. To make sure it can do just that, Michael Böhringer, Beyerdynamic’s head of product marketing, recommends looking for options with metal-reinforced hinges to help ensure “it can withstand the wear and tear of being tossed in bags, dropped or subjected to sudden movements without breaking.”
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
Our editorial team consists of dedicated tech experts who live to research, test and report (and, in the case of executive editor Dave Johnson, write multiple books) on all things digital. This expertise is evidenced by our extensive library that contains the best of the best in consumer tech and electronics, including an array of audio guides.
- Author and Forbes Vetted consumer tech editor Rebecca Isaacs oversees all tech content. With over six years of experience specializing in home entertainment and audio, she leverages her classical music background to guide her reporting.
- She has written many of our audio guides, including sharing testing insights on wireless earbuds, Bluetooth speakers and more.
Our Experts
Michael Böhringer, Beyerdynamic’s head of product marketing
Tom Terronez, CEO of Medix Dental IT
Jason Wingate, tech entrepreneur and CEO of Emerald Ocean Ltd.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)