Best Headphones for 2024

A great pair of headphones can completely change your relationship with music, bringing out the details in a song that you might never have heard before. Wireless headphones go further than that, too, often employing noise-cancellation tech to cut out the noisy world around you. After testing over two dozen different pairs, I chose the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones as my pick for the best wireless headphones overall.

I tested more than 30 of the most popular wireless headphones—ranging in price from $60 to $700. The ultimate goal was to find the best wireless headphones for a variety of purposes, taking into account sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort, added features and more.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are incredible, but they’re perhaps not necessarily for everyone. Some people might be looking for earbuds instead, in which case the Nothing Ear earbuds are the way to go—while those deep in Apple’s ecosystem might prefer the AirPods Max. I awarded other winners, too, for categories like the best TV headphones, the best headphones for audiophiles and the best headphones under $100. Without further ado, here are the best wireless headphones you can buy right now.

Best for:

 

• Those that prioritize a highly comfortable fit
• Enjoying excellent audio quality
• Getting incredibly effective noise cancellation

 

Skip if:

 

• You want ultra-customizable audio

 

For most people, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are the best wireless headphones available. As a complete package, these only barely edged out the Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones, the AirPods Max and the new Sonos Ace headphones—but they ultimately clinched the title thanks to their super-comfortable fit, plus the fact that they offer the best active noise cancellation (ANC) in the industry.

They sound excellent, too. They weren’t the single best-sounding pair of headphones I tested, but I found they offered a slightly more natural sound than the Sony WH-1000XM5. They offer deep, impressive bass, a mostly flat midrange and excellent detail in the high end for a pair of headphones in this price range. I also found that audiophile-focused headphones like the Focal Bathys headphones sounded better, as did the AirPods Max. And I wish that Bose put a little more effort into the equalization (EQ) in the app, which is only three-band and poorly labeled. But the audio is excellent right out of the box.

The noise-cancellation technology here is more effective than any other pair of headphones. It’s not the quietest implementation of noise cancellation—there’s some hiss in the background when it’s turned on, unlike headphones like the Sonos Ace, for example. However, it cuts out more noise than any other pair I tested, and when you’re actually listening to audio, you can’t really hear the hiss anyway.

Along with the excellent audio quality, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones were the most comfortable pair I tested. They’re not as light as the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, but the padding and weight distribution on the top of the head feel more effective. That’s while also offering a higher-quality build with premium materials and a design that folds up for better portability than much of the competition.

Perhaps the main downside to these headphones is the battery life, which is a little short. At 24 hours with ANC turned on, the headphones won’t last as long as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the Sonos Ace headphones—and won’t even get close to the 60-hour Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Headphones. However, 24 hours still isn’t terrible, and it’s a little better than the 20-hour battery on offer from the AirPods Max.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones support Bluetooth multipoint for up to two device connections, and they work with a relatively well-designed app, though again, I wish that app offered a better EQ. For those who want the best complete package, with great audio, a comfortable fit and best-in-class noise cancellation, you currently can’t do better than these.

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Best for:

 

• Enjoying stunning audio quality in a pair of earbuds, not headphones
• A highly comfortable fit
• Using a well-designed, intuitive app

 

Skip if:

 

• You want head-tracked spatial audio
• You want a super-long battery life

 

The Nothing Ear was a surprise pick for me, not because I doubted that they would be high-quality, but because I wasn’t quite sure that they could compete with earbuds twice the price. That’s right—these aren’t just the best earbuds for the price, these are the best wireless earbuds out there right now, period.

It all starts with the design. Sure, design isn’t as important as sound quality, for example, but it sure doesn’t hurt that they look super cool. They have a stem design like the Apple AirPods Pro (Second Gen), and they have easy-to-use squeeze controls. I prefer squeeze controls to buttons or touch surfaces—and I really dislike that controlling many earbuds means having to push them into your ears. Squeeze controls avoid that.

The shape of these earbuds also contributes to their comfortable fit. These are among the most comfortable earbuds I tested, and I was able to wear them for hours without issue. Not too many hours though—the earbuds have a continuous battery life of just over five hours with ANC, which is on the low end. Most people don’t use their earbuds for five hours straight, but if you do, these might not be for you. (The case gives up to 24 hours of playback with ANC.)

They sound excellent, too, and easily compete with the best-sounding earbuds out there. They’re not the single best-sounding pair of earbuds on the market, a title that probably goes the Denon PerL Pros. But they do sound almost as good, and the app has an advanced EQ that allows you to tweak the audio to your preferences. The app in general is well-designed and easy to use, and packed with helpful features.

The Nothing Ear earbuds have noise cancellation, and it’s quite good, though not as good as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, Bose’s earbuds option. And they don’t have super-advanced features like head-tracked spatial audio.

But the short battery life and lack of spatial audio are perhaps the only downside to these earbuds—and as a complete package, they’re excellent. Between the stunning audio, super-comfortable fit and range of additional features, the Nothing Ear earbuds are the best earbuds right now, and at only $149.

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Best for:

 

• Watching TV with the automatic connection to the Sonos Arc
• A premium finish with a stunning design and strong build
• Excellent included accessories

 

Skip if:

 

• You have mostly Apple products
• You want a customizable sound

 

Those looking for a pair of headphones to use with their TV might want to consider the Sonos Ace headphones.

Now, there are some caveats to this. The Sonos Ace headphones are particularly great for those who have a Sonos Arc soundbar, and they will eventually work better with other Sonos soundbars, too—however, even without a Sonos soundbar, they still pair with a TV thanks to Bluetooth technology. And, they sound great with any TV, with one catch. If you have an Apple TV 4K, though, these aren’t the best pick—the AirPods Max are. That’s because the AirPods Max will connect automatically to your Apple TV and will support spatial audio with head-tracking.

But if you don’t have an Apple TV, the Sonos Ace headphones are the best choice. Even when connected to your system through a basic Bluetooth connection (and not to a Sonos Arc), the headphones support head-tracking, so you can get an approximation of a surround experience that actually sounds quite good. If you have the Sonos Arc, you can simply hold down a button on the headphones to activate “TV Audio Swap” and immediately connect to your soundbar. It works seamlessly and expands on the connectivity even beyond the Bluetooth multipoint support already built into the headphones, supporting up to two devices.

There are other advantages to the headphones, too. While they don’t sound quite as good as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, they still sound excellent. They have solid noise-cancellation tech built into them, and while it’s not quite as effective as the Bose headphones, it is quieter, with less hiss. I wish the Sonos app was a little better though—the EQ built into it is extremely basic, and some settings are missing, like the ability to tweak when spatial audio is activated.

These headphones also offered among the best designs and build qualities of any headphones I tested, with impressively premium materials and an instantly classic look. Plus, they come with a super-sleek and slim carry case and both a USB-C cable and a USB-C to 3.5mm cable for wired listening. They’re expensive headphones, to be sure, but if you want headphones you can use in your living room, the Sonos Ace headphones are a great choice, especially if you have a Sonos soundbar.

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Best for:

 

• Fine-grained audio customization
• Excellent audio response overall
• Getting a very long battery life

 

Skip if:

 

• You want the most comfortable fit

 

We live in a world where the best wireless headphones are typically at least $350, meaning a pair that goes for $200 can be considered “midrange.” If you want cheaper headphones, read on for my pick for the best budget headphones that cost under $100. But if you’re looking for the best midrange wireless headphones that cost under $200, the JBL Live 770NC headphones could be the ones for you.

To be clear—these headphones don’t sound as good as any of the top-tier options I tested, nor are they quite as comfortable. They’re not uncomfortable, but the weight distribution on the top of the head could be better, and they have a tighter clamp around the ears. Additionally, they don’t come with a hard case—just a soft bag that won’t protect them from more intense bumps and drops.

But they sound very good, especially for headphones in this price range. They have very well-tuned mids and solid bass response. The highs are detailed and crisp, making for an exciting audio experience. Even better? The app offers the single best EQ of any headphone app I’ve ever tested. It’s basically infinitely adjustable—allowing you to sculpt an EQ as detailed as you want. The app in general feels intuitive, and the headphones support all kinds of other features, including the ability to tweak noise-cancellation settings and spatial sound modes.

The headphones also have a stellar battery life, better than almost any of the higher-end options I looked at. The battery life clocks in at 50 hours with noise cancellation on, which is more than double the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. These headphones aren’t perfect, but they’re as close as you can get for under $200.

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Best for:

 

• Top-notch waterproofing and sweat proofing
• A comfortable fit
• Strong build and sleek design

 

Skip if:

 

• You want sports buds on a budget

 

If you’re looking for wireless earbuds you can use predominantly for sports and working out, the Jabra Elite 8 Active earbuds are my top pick. These are especially great if you sweat a lot or are dedicated enough to continue working out outdoors in the rain, thanks to the fact that they have an IP68 water-resistance rating, which means they can withstand more than most other wireless earbuds.

To be clear, those who don’t specifically need earbuds with a high level of water resistance could get by with all kinds of different earbuds—as long as they fit well. I personally use the AirPods Pro (Second Gen) both in daily life and to work out, since they fit well and work well with my Apple Watch Ultra 2. But those looking specifically for workout earbuds that are a little more durable than the average pair will want to check out the Jabra Elite 8 Active earbuds.

You might notice that the Elite 8 Active earbuds don’t have any kind of ear hooks or wings to better fit in your ears. That’s one of the main reasons they were almost beat out by the Beats Fit Pro in this category. Ultimately, however, I found that they still fit well enough not to fall out during heavy movement, including while running. Your mileage may vary, and if you regularly find that earbuds fall out of your ears, it may be worth going for the Beats Fit Pro instead. And it’s worth experimenting with the different ear tips that come in the box to find your ideal fit.

On top of the snug fit and the water resistance, the Jabra Elite 8 Active earbuds offer solid audio quality, with excellent high-end response and decent noise cancellation, though it’s not as good as some of the more expensive options. They’re also built from premium materials and support wireless charging. The battery life is good, too—they support up to eight hours of continuous listening, and the charging case supplies an additional 24 hours, bringing the total battery life to 32 hours (with ANC). This all adds up to make these the best workout earbuds available right now.

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Best for:

 

• Prioritizing audio quality above all else
• Getting a sleek and unique design
• A top-tier build quality

 

Skip if:

 

• You’re on any kind of budget

 

If you’re an audiophile who wants a pair of wireless headphones that prioritize audio over all else, the Focal Bathys headphones have got you covered. These headphones are expensive, and their noise cancellation isn’t as good as the competition, but they sound absolutely stunning.

That’s to be expected from Focal, which is a longtime audio company known for high-end products. The headphones offer a deep and rich bass response, natural-sounding mids and tons of detail in the high end—something that I think really defines audiophile headphones. The app also offers a five-band EQ that audiophiles can use to tune the headphones to be slightly closer to what they’re looking for; however, that EQ perhaps isn’t as detailed as I wanted.

As you might expect from audiophile headphones, these have some features that are tailored to higher-resolution audio. Notably, the headphones have a specific USB-DAC mode that allows users to reach 24-bit/192kHz audio through a wired connection. That means you can stream Bluetooth-quality audio on the go, and much higher-resolution audio when you can listen through a wired connection.

These are audiophile headphones—so pretty much everything apart from audio comes second. The headphones are comfortable, but not as comfortable as my other picks. They have good noise cancellation—but it’s not as good as Bose or Sony. They have solid features, like Bluetooth multipoint—but they’re not as feature-rich as the Bose or Sony. For most audiophiles, that won’t be a huge deal; audio quality is more important than anything else.

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Best for:

 

• Watching TV shows and movies using spatial audio
• Automatic pairing and switching between Apple devices

 

Skip if:

 

• You use non-Apple devices

 

The Apple AirPods Max are excellent headphones, and while they’re expensive, if you’re willing to pay for them and are deep within Apple’s ecosystem, they’re a great choice.

My wife and I use predominantly Apple devices, so the AirPods Max are the headphones I reach for on a daily basis. The reason is simple: They connect automatically to every device I use, which is far more than the two-connection Bluetooth multipoint tech would support. I use them with an iPhone and Mac Studio every day. At least a few times per week, I also use them with an Apple TV 4K. Occasionally, I use them with a MacBook Pro—and when my 4-month-old was in her first few weeks, I used them with a second Apple TV 4K in the bedroom many times. I really appreciated not having to go through connection settings, even if it was my first time using them with a particular device—if the device was logged in to my iCloud account, it would connect seamlessly.

The AirPods Max also sound excellent, offering very spacious-sounding audio, with deep bass and stunning clarity in the high end. Apple won’t let you tweak that sound with an EQ, however I didn’t feel the need to quite as much as with some other headphones. The noise cancellation on the AirPods Max is also excellent—not as impressive as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, but very close. And the transparency mode is natural-sounding and clear, unlike many competitors.

The headphones are very well-built and stunningly designed. The majority of the outside of the headphones is built with stainless steel, which helps contribute to their sleek, timeless and unique look. However, it also makes them very heavy. They do a good job at distributing weight relatively evenly on the top of your head, and I wear them for hours without too much issue—however, you can feel that added weight from time to time.

The main issue with these headphones? They have quite a short battery life, sitting at only 20 hours—which some users might even struggle to hit. Much of that has to do with the fact that you can’t turn them off unless you put them in a highly minimalistic case, so while they’ll be in a low-power mode when you’re not using them, they won’t be in a no-power mode.

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Best for:

 

• Great audio without spending a fortune
• Solid battery life
• Helpful included accessories

 

Skip if:

 

• You want high-end audio

 

You don’t have to pay much for solid headphones—the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 headphones offer solid audio quality and helpful features at only around $100 (and even less when on sale). Sure, you won’t get the same quality and features as you would with much more expensive headphones, but you might be surprised how close you can get.

The headphones have a slightly cheap build and aren’t necessarily the most comfortable, however they are still more comfortable than others I tested. And they sound pretty good, with a decent bass response, solidly tuned mids and good high-end response for headphones in their price range. You can tune the audio to your preferences, too—the app offers an eight-band EQ, which is impressive for headphones in any price range.

Speaking of the app, the headphones offer helpful features, too. They have solid noise cancellation and support Bluetooth multipoint, allowing you to connect to up to two devices simultaneously. There aren’t too many features beyond that, but those are the basic features you would expect from a great pair of wireless headphones.

Again, if you can spend more, you will get a better experience—but for those whose budget has a cap of around $100, the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 headphones really have a lot to offer.

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Other Wireless Headphones I Tested

While these winners easily stood out as the best of the best, I weeded out more than 20 other wireless headphones that didn’t end up snagging a top spot. Here are the other headphones I tested that are worthy of your consideration, plus a brief look at why they didn’t make the cut.

Sony WH-1000XM5 ($328 on Amazon): This list could have easily started with these headphones as the best overall pick. The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are excellent, and you won’t be sorry if you buy them. The main reason they didn’t take the title is the fact that they’re not quite as comfortable, don’t sound quite as neutral and don’t have ANC that’s quite as good as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. They do, however, get very close, and they have a better battery life and more features in the Sony Headphones Connect app.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless ($290 on Amazon): These headphones sound as good as or better than both the Sony and the Bose headphones, plus they have a better battery life. However, the noise-cancellation tech isn’t anywhere near as good, and they’re not as comfortable to wear over long periods of time.

JBL Tour One M2 ($300 on Amazon): These headphones sound great and have a relatively comfortable fit, though they’re not as comfortable as my top pick. Additionally, they use the excellent JBL headphones app, which offers the best EQ I’ve ever seen for consumer headphones. However, while they sound great, they don’t sound quite as good as the Bose and Sony headphones.

Bose QuietComfort Headphones ($249 on Amazon): These headphones kind of fell into no-man’s-land in terms of the categories. They have ANC that’s about on par with the top pick, but they don’t sound quite as neutral and don’t have a build quality that’s as impressive. That said, those looking for midrange headphones who can stretch to $250 instead of $200 should go for these over the JBL Live 770NC headphones featured above.

Sony ULT Wear ($178 on Amazon): I have a love/hate relationship with these headphones. They have some of the features and the comfort level that people (including me) love from Sony headphones, however I find the extra bass makes them muddy rather than powerful—especially when you press the extra bass button that they come with. That said, they do have a solid battery life and are pretty comfortable.

Sennheiser Accentum Plus ($200 on Amazon): These headphones have an excellent battery life and sound about as good as the JBL headphones that won in the best midrange category. However, they don’t have the same features, including the amazing EQ that JBL offers.

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 ($529 on Amazon): These headphones have an absolutely stunning design and incredible audio quality—and they came close to taking out the Focal Bathys as the best headphones for audiophiles. Ultimately, however, the Focal headphones edged them out by offering slightly tighter, more natural bass response.

Sony WH-CH720N ($98 on Amazon): These headphones are excellent budget options, however their list price is $150, so they couldn’t compete in the best budget category. That said, if you find them for less than $100, they are a little better than the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 headphones, thanks to the fact that they have a better, more intuitive app.

Beats Studio Pro ($250 on Amazon): The Beats Studio Pro headphones aren’t bad headphones, but they don’t quite compete for the price. They don’t sound as good as others in their price range, and they’re not as comfortable.

Anker Soundcore Life Q30 ($56 on Amazon): These headphones aren’t bad for the price, and they really don’t sound bad. They also work with the Soundcore app, which again isn’t bad. However, they’re not as comfortable and don’t sound as good as my best budget pick.

Anker Soundcore Space One ($79 on Amazon): The Anker Soundcore Space One headphones also aren’t bad, however they don’t sound as good and aren’t as comfortable as my pick for the best budget headphones.

Anker Soundcore Space Q45 ($150 on Amazon): The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 headphones were hugely disappointing. They sound terrible, with overly highlighted mids—and that kind of overtakes the fact that they have a solid battery life and reasonably comfortable fit.

Anker Soundcore Life Q20 ($50 on Amazon): These headphones also fell through the cracks when it came to the categories. They’re decent for the price, but they don’t sound as good as my pick for the best budget headphones, and they don’t work with the Soundcore app, limiting their features.

Technics EAH-AZ80 ($298 on Amazon): These almost took the title for best wireless earbuds—and it took a few days of deliberation and consulting with experts to make the decision. Ultimately, while the Technics EAH-AZ80 earbuds sound about as good as the Nothing Ear earbuds, they aren’t as comfortable, and the accompanying app isn’t as easy to navigate—plus they don’t look as cool. They do have a better battery life, and their noise-cancellation tech is about as good. However, they’re around double the price of the Nothing Ear earbuds.

Sony WF-1000XM5 ($248 on Amazon): These earbuds were somewhat disappointing for me. They’re not bad, and they have a solid battery life and a comfortable fit. However, I really dislike their controls, feel and sound are based on their position in your ears. While they sounded good, they didn’t sound great, like some of the other options on this list. Their noise cancellation was better than the likes of the Nothing Ear and the Technics EAH-AZ80—however not as good as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) ($190 on Amazon): The Apple AirPods Pro are great earbuds, and for those who exclusively use Apple devices, the features they offer may be enough to make them more compelling than my top pick. They don’t sound quite as good, but they are highly comfortable and, as mentioned, offer a huge range of Apple-focused features.

Nothing Ear (a) ($99 on Amazon): These are my favorite earbuds under $100, however there wasn’t a category for that in this roundup. They sound way more expensive than they actually are, and they offer a solid feature set, especially for earbuds in their price range. They’re also very comfortable, and they look cool.

Jabra Elite 10 ($226 on Amazon): These are excellent earbuds, with a wonderful audio quality and a strong build. Ultimately, they lost points for not being as comfortable as my top pick for wireless earbuds, plus their noise-cancellation tech isn’t quite as good.

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How I Tested The Best Wireless Headphones

To test the listening experience for each of the headphones, I paired them with my Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and evaluated music streamed from Apple Music. In particular, I listened to music from AC/DC, Betty Who and Jay-Z, representing an array of different kinds of music with different sonic characteristics.

When listening to music, I evaluated how the bass, mids and highs sounded individually, paying close attention to high-end detail and extension in the low end that allowed bass to sound deep and thick. I also looked at any apps built to control the headphones, and how those apps allow users to tweak the audio to their preferences. Some have very advanced EQs, while others are much more basic.

I also tested the noise cancellation of headphones that offered it, in a variety of different settings, and I wore each pair of headphones for at least a few hours to gauge how comfortable they were for extended listening sessions. Comfort is sometimes overlooked, but it’s perhaps the second most important factor to consider after sound quality.

Along with sound quality, noise cancellation and comfort, I looked at design and build quality, wireless features like the number of devices a pair of headphones can connect to, app design and any additional features. I also compared the battery lives of the headphones and the charging tech that they offered.

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My Expertise

I rigorously tested over 20 popular and best-selling headphones from a variety of manufacturers, in a wide range of settings and situations. I’m a longtime audiophile, and I have a background in music production. I have a bachelor’s degree in music technology, and I consider myself to have a well-tuned ear when it comes to judging audio gear. I have over a decade of experience in the consumer tech space, and I have reviewed headphones for publications like BGR, Business Insider, Digital Trends and more. I also served as editor-in-chief of the now-stagnant HeadphoneReview.com.

During testing, I consulted with three experienced music producers, including Michael Orland, associate musical director for American Idol; Drew Ryan Scott, singer, songwriter and multi-platinum music producer; and Gabe Lopez, singer, songwriter and producer for many well-known artists. We discussed what key features they look for when choosing headphones, and these three experts provided insight on what functionality is most important to hearing music the way it was meant to be heard using wireless headphones designed for everyday use.