Yahoo News The 13 Best Wireless Headphones of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
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The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II nabbed the top spots on our list
People / Kristin Kempa
There’s nothing like a good set of wireless headphones, whether you’re rocking out to tunes, catching up on your favorite podcast, or even sharing tips and strategies on your favorite multiplayer game. But there are so many options — how does one choose?
For expert insight on what to know when shopping for wireless headphones, we asked Dominic Fallacaro, a Grammy-winning producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist who (along with American composer Bill Sherman) received a 2023 Tony nomination for Best Orchestrations for & Juliet. Suffice it to say, he’s got some advice on audio.
First thing's first: Fallacaro says you need to ask yourself what you are planning on using wireless headphones for, which can then help you decide whether you need earbuds or over-ear headphones. Aside from great sound quality, Fallacaro looks for headphones that offer a little bit of everything. He enjoys earbuds that offer “the flexibility that I can sweat in them, take a phone call, and hear the world around me a little bit and kind of stay present," he tells PEOPLE. But when he’s traveling, he prefers over-ear headphones. "I'm looking for noise cancellation because I want to be able to kind of tune out a flight or a travel situation,” he says.
To help you make your decision, our PEOPLE Tested team tried dozens of both types of wireless headphones. We listened to music and podcasts, watched TV and movies, hopped on work and phone calls, zoned out during flights and commutes, and even advanced a few levels in our favorite games. We evaluated each on sound quality, audio connection, noise cancelation (where applicable), comfort level, and ease of pairing with multiple devices, and more.
Keep reading to learn more about the best wireless headphones that PEOPLE tested.
Best Over-Ear: Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless
Pros
Noise cancelation on this abilities are exceptional — it even cancels out noisy outdoor lawn work
Phone calls are crystal clear in our testing
Super lightweight and comfortable, thanks to extra padding
Cons
There wasn’t anything we disliked about these headphones
The sound quality of these headphones is exceptional. There’s no distortion at any volume, and though we used them mainly to listen to music, we were impressed with phone calls, too. Conversations came through clearly on both ends. In fact, there wasn’t much of a difference between phone calls and music usage, so these are an excellent choice if you plan to put your headphones to work for multiple listening experiences.
We found them to be super lightweight and quite comfortable, thanks to extra padding at the top and in the ears. If you tend to wear your headphones for hours doing anything from sitting to working out, you’ll find these will stay put without any problem. As we used these more and more, we found that the battery life was even better than projected.
Sound quality is important, but really it's the noise cancellation that puts these over the top for us. We were blown away when we realized that we could block out even a noisy lawn crew working outside while we were on a call. Plus, the price is very reasonable for the quality, even when they're full price.
Price at time of publish: $79.99 (orig. $129.99)
Type: Over-ear | Connection: Wireless | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery Life: Up to 40 hours without Active Noise Canceling enabled
Related: The 11 Best Wired Headphones of 2023
Best Earbuds: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
Pros
We noticed great sound quality and excellent noise canceling abilities
Bose app is intuitive with features that enhance the listening experience, like custom noise cancelling modes
Customizable fit with three different tip sizes and stability bands
Cons
Earbuds felt a bit heavier than other models we tested
Battery life isn't as long as others we tested
The sound quality of these earbuds is crisp and powerful, no matter what you’re listening to or where you’re listening. Noise canceling was effective even on crowded New York City streets, and we found phone calls were clear on both sides.
If you’ve never felt quite comfortable wearing even the best earbuds or felt that they were going to slip out, know that you can customize your fit with these. They come with three different tip sizes and stability bands, so you’ve got plenty of options to make these work for your ears.
We liked that they already had a good charge upon opening so we could test them out right away. It takes two hours to fully charge, but we noticed that if you pop them back into the holder for a few minutes, it does give you a decent power boost. We found it easy to connect these earbuds to our phones and laptops, even TV. In fact, the connection was almost immediate — a QR code takes you to the app download, which walks you through setup.
We found the Bose app to be quite intuitive and the features offered only enhanced the listening experience. Use it to change sound settings, create your own custom noise cancellation modes, choose commands, and create voice prompts. We love how easy it is to adjust with the touch control to play or pause music, skip tracks, and adjust the volume. We were impressed that you could even control how much of your own voice you want to hear when you're on a call.
Price at time of publish: $199. (orig. $279)
Type: Earbuds | Connection: Bluetooth, Bluetooth 5.3 | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery Life: Up to 6 hours
Best Budget, Over-Ear: 1More SonoFlow
Pros
Crystal clean connection while on calls
Despite plenty of padding for comfort, they remain lightweight
Intuitive settings and easy to connect to Bluetooth
Cons
We found that the noise canceling function doesn’t wipe out all noise
We tested these headphones on everything from music to podcasts to phone calls. We found the audio connection was well-maintained even if we went into other rooms, and it was especially good on calls — the connection was crystal clear. The noise cancellation didn’t wipe out the noise completely, but it did a great job of muffling ambient noises when you’re trying to concentrate. In fact, you wouldn’t know that you were listening to anything on a budget-friendly device.
In terms of comfort, the fit is quite nice. It stayed in place the entire time with no adjustments needed, except for one time on the treadmill. The padding is nice and plush around the ears. If you have a lot of piercings, you'll be happy to know that these won't hurt or pinch. Despite all the extra padding, they are quite lightweight.
We like that they came with a slight charge and charged fully in just a few hours. We found the power cord to be small yet long enough that it doesn’t make you feel tethered. Connecting to devices was easy as soon as you turned them on: Bluetooth options pop up and for a seamless connection. We found the settings intuitive without needing to consult the manual or download an app.
We were impressed with how long the battery lasted. We used it for hours at a time for several days a week and they were still only at battery low by the end of the week. They're great on their own, but especially if you're looking for a spare set for your work or gym bag, you can’t go wrong with these.
Price at time of publish: $74.99 (orig. $99.99)
Type: Over-ear | Connection: Bluetooth; wired connection support | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery Life: Up to 70 hours without ANC
Best Budget, In-Ear: Anker Soundcore Space A40
Pros
Sound quality is excellent, with no noise distortion and clear audio calls
Comfortable, customizable fit, thanks to the included range of different sized ear tips
Includes a range of ear tip sizes to achieve a more secure fit
Cons
The charging cord is short, which can be inconvenient if traveling or wanting to use while charging
We tested out these in-ear headphones while listening to music, watching videos, and more. Charging them was super quick, even though we noticed the charging cord was a bit short — but you won't have it on there for very long so you won't feel tethered. It takes just two hours to get a full charge and only 10 minutes with the wireless charger for a four-hour boost of time. After a week of daily use, they were still fully charged, and the case itself still had some juice, too.
Pairing was easy: As soon as we took them out of the case, we found they were able to connect to multiple devices at the same time with no apps required. But there is the Soundcore app that offers a deeper dive into the functionality of these earbuds. The controls are on the flat side of the earbuds and they are easy to control — just press and hold to change the level.
There was no sound distortion, even at lower volumes, and phone calls came through clearly. We liked it because the audio connection remained strong even if we left the phone two rooms away. Noise cancellation is a great feature and we made good use of it. We put it on fully when concentrating at work and let sound pass through only when we needed to be aware of our surroundings. We liked that there were three levels to choose from — transparency, normal, and noise canceling — and you could even further adapt noise canceling to suit your needs.
We love the fit, too, thanks to a range of different-sized ear tips, including ones that are perfect for small ears. We found them to be the most comfortable earbuds among the most comfortable earbuds we've ever tried. They fit snugly, but without pressure, even after wearing them for a long time.
Price at time of publish: $54 (orig. $99.99)
Type: Earbud | Connection: Bluetooth 5.2 | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery Life: Up to 10 hours; up to 50 with charging case
Best for Exercise: Beats By Dr. Dre Powerbeats Pro
Pros
Stay put during activity, even while jumping rope
Customizable fit, thanks to the different-sized ear tips and comfortable ear-hooks
We found them to have crystal clear sounds quality for everything from music to video games to calls
Cons
There is noise isolation, but no noise-canceling ability
Slightly less comfortable and secure when wearing glasses
We tested these everywhere — at the gym, at home, on a commute, in the office, and everywhere in between. It’s super easy to connect to your iPhone — there's no app needed, thanks to it having an Apple chip. It’s quick and easy to charge these up. If you don’t need a full charge, put them in the holder for a few minutes and get about 90 minutes of power.
The fit of these is everything. We loved how they stayed on while jumping rope and walking, so this bode well for your sweat sessions at the gym. We did notice they were a little loose when you wear glasses. We liked that it came with different ear tips, though aside from finding the right fit with those, we found it was the ear-hooks that made the difference. They are only a bit uncomfortable if you’re wearing glasses, but otherwise, they feel good.
The sound quality is great — we didn’t notice any distortion at different volumes. We listened to everything from music to video games and found that the quality was outstanding for all no muddiness, just clear sound. The audio connection was pretty strong even getting away from the paired device. There is no noise cancellation option (just noise isolation), but the phone call quality is great.
Price at time of publish: $149.99 (orig. $249.95)
Type: In-ear | Connection: Bluetooth | Noise Cancellation: No | Battery Life: Up to 9 hours; 24+ with charging case
Related: The 9 Best Fitness Trackers, Tested and Reviewed
Best for Exercise, Less Expensive: Jabra Elite 7 Active in-Ear Bluetooth Earbuds
Pros
Offers a customizable fit that stays in place during activity (we used different sizes on each ear)
Great audio connection in that we were able to step away from the device without it disconnecting or becoming muffled
So lightweight that we almost forgot we were wearing them
Cons
Pairing with a second device was a bit tricky for us when testing
We’ve tried these out in a variety of places — everywhere from the office to the subway to a noisy café to a crowded gym — and we found the sound to be consistent in every spot.
You don’t need the app to use the headphones, but we found it helped to increase the functionality. It also happens to be one of the most well-designed apps we’ve had the pleasure of downloading. We love that you can personalize and further customize the sound through active noise canceling. We found everything to be quite responsive and the controls to be fairly intuitive, although the app is helpful when choosing the controls for the right and left earbuds.
It's quick to charge up and super easy to pair devices; as soon as you pop an earbud in, there's a prompt to open up your Bluetooth settings and connect. There is no instruction manual, but there are brief instructions right on the packaging. (We did have to look up online how to go into Bluetooth pairing mode for a second device, but it was a simple fix.) We liked that they come with small, medium, and large tips that are easy to switch out. We chose different sizes for each ear and found our perfect fit. For in-ear headphones, they're very lightweight almost to the point where you forget you have them in.
There is no spatial recognition, but the noise cancellation does muffle background noise well. The sound was clear at high volume without much distortion. We listened to mainly music and some podcasts and the sound was rich and clear with no adjustments to the equalizer. The audio connection is also quite good — we were able to step away from our device without disconnecting. We found out the noise cancellation was excellent even on a crowded subway. The sound quality on phone calls was good after some minor adjustments. The battery life is excellent, too — we've only had to charge it once over the course of a couple weeks.
Price at time of publish: $79.99 (orig. $179.99)
Type: In-ear | Connection: Wireless, Bluetooth 5.2 | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery Life: Up to 8 hours; 30 hours with charging case
Most Comfortable: Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
Pros
Sony app makes for seamless pairing — with the ability to connect to two different devices simultaneously
Designed to relieve pressure on the ears and head, even when wearing all day
Features an equalizer to adjust the bass, mid, and treble tones
Cons
Spatial ambient recognition can be a bit too sensitive — especially if you like to hum or sing along
Protective case is a bit snug for the size of the headphones
If you get a headache just thinking about over-ear headphones, you'll be pleasantly surprised by this set from Sony. They are designed to relieve pressure on the ears and head, even when wearing them for hours at a time. We loved the cushiony soft earpieces, and the fit is super comfortable (even a bit loose, but they managed to stay put just fine). We wore these everywhere, from long commutes to long days at work, even to long-haul flights. We found the touch controls to be intuitive — no worries about remembering different commands to adjust your settings.
The Sony app makes for a seamless connection between devices, and you can connect it to two different devices simultaneously. The app is very easy to use and beyond easy pairing, it takes you through some of the more advanced features. We really liked that there was an equalizer to adjust the bass, mid and treble tones. You can even create a preset to save your preferences. The audio connection stayed strong, too. It was only until we actually left the house — and our paired device behind — that there was any issue.
The call quality was excellent on both ends. Noise cancellation works fine, but the spatial ambient recognition is a bit too sensitive — not good if you like to sing along with your tunes. The protective case is quite compact, so much so that you actually have to adjust the headphones to get them in. Even though we'd be using this for hours a day for weeks, the battery power was still going strong.
Price at time of publish: $248 (orig. $348)
Key Specs: Type: Over-ear | Connection: Bluetooth, Bluetooth 5.0 | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery Life: Up to 30 hours
Related: The 8 Best Ear-Cleaning Kits of 2023, According to Audiology Experts
Best for Apple Devices: Apple Airpods Pro (2nd Generation)
Pros
Sound quality and noise-canceling functionality make busy commutes and even long-haul flights a pleasure
Offers a seamless and quick connection for Apple devices
Comes with four different sizes of rubber tips to find a more custom fit for your ears
Cons
We noticed the microphone caused a slight echo on the other end of calls
Read Full Review: I've Written About Apple Tech for Years, and I'm Honestly Blown Away by the New AirPods Pro 2
The second generation of the AirPods Pros is here — and it's safe to say we love them. We used them for listening to music while working out, during busy commutes, and also for talking on the phone. We also took them on international flights and they comfortably stayed in the entire time.
We love that it comes with a MagSafe charging case so you can use it if you've got one for your phone. It says that it takes about three hours to fully charge the case, but we did try it out for just a few minutes and were able to use them for a long phone conversation.
It took just seconds to pair devices (Apple to Apple) with ease. We did glance at the instructions to see how the noise cancellation and spatial audio features worked. We liked that you can connect multiple devices and switch between the two, but you can't use your headphones with both devices at once.
We love how strong the connection is. Go ahead and roam about your space and leave your paired device behind and you'll be fine. But we were most impressed by the ANC setting. You can even test noise canceling while you adjust your fit so you can find the perfect combination — in settings, you can play a noise and it will tell you if any sound escapes. Adaptive transparency allows you to take out city sounds while keeping aware of your surroundings. The sound quality is excellent on our end, but there was a slight echo for the caller on the other end.
The fit is customizable — it comes with four different-sized rubber tips so you can figure out what works best for your ears. There's a shorter stem on these than the non-Pro, so they're perfect if you're working out — they stayed in the entire time we were active. We even tried them on long flights and kept them in the entire time without any discomfort.
Price at time of publish: $189 (orig. $249)
Type: In-ear | Connection: Bluetooth | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery Life: Up to 6 hours with noise cancelation enabled; up to 30 with charging case
Best for Gaming: HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless Gaming Headset
Pros
Intuitive setup with minimal control options and easy auto-pairing
Fits on head comfortably, even when wearing glasses
Strong battery that lasts up to 30 hours, which is great for long gaming sessions
Cons
USB dongle connects only to one device at a time
We noticed a few hiccups in the connection at first, but it got better the more we used them
Gamers are on another level when it comes to audio. They want to feel like they’re in whatever universe is on the screen, so their headphones must be top-notch. That's why we love the HyperX Cloud Alpha set. We found it pretty easy to use the USB dongle to connect with your gaming system of choice; it also auto-pairs easily. The setup is intuitive, so we were able to get to gaming right away.
The control options are easily accessible and intuitive — just two buttons for powering on and muting the mic, plus a rotary dial to adjust the volume. We did experience a few stutters and delays in the connection at first but the longer we used them the better the connection; we even left the house at one point and the connection remained. Noise isolation is pretty strong, although we did have to remove them to hear people in the immediate environment.
These are rather big for over-ear headphones. While we wouldn’t use them for exercise, they are comfortable for marathon gaming sessions, thanks to soft, cushiony earpieces. You can even wear glasses with no discomfort. We found the battery kept going for a long time, too (up to 30 hours, to be exact).
We thought the sound quality of multiplayer games was great. All team members were able to hear and communicate with each other clearly. Even virtual calls on the computer were fine — there is no noticeable sound distortion even at high balance volumes.
Price at time of publish: $169 (orig. $199.99)
Type: Over-ear | Connection: Wireless 2.4GHz | Noise Cancellation: Detachable noise-canceling microphone | Battery Life: Up to 30 hours
Best for Samsung Devices: Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro
Pros
Pairing is super easy through the app
You can get a full recharge in less than 30 minutes, and the battery can last up to 29 hours without ANC
Earbud fit was so comfortable, we almost forgot we had them in our ears
Cons
We found the touch controls needed a bit of practice and getting used to
External noise was muffled but never went away completely when noise cancelling was enabled
Pairing one device to another shouldn’t feel like rocket science. But it’s always easier when you’ve got one device that’s made for syncing with another. If you’ve got Samsung products, you’ll love the Galaxy Buds2.
It’s super easy to pair the headphones — it happens almost immediately when you place them in your ears. While the process is intuitive, you’ll need to install the Wear app for guidance and device management. We found that while you can’t connect to multiple devices at the same time, it’s super easy to toggle between them automatically.
Proper fit is no problem thanks to the variety of tip sizes (small, medium, and large) that come with the device. We found our perfect fit quickly and it was so good that we nearly forgot we had them in our ears. We like the compact storage case — it’s super easy to throw in a pocket or a purse. There are some touch control options, though you’ll need some time to remember how many taps are needed for each.
We found the connections to be pretty strong except when walls were involved; otherwise, we could roam about 30 feet away from our paired device without any lags or delays. We did have a bit of trouble adjusting the noise cancellation; for us, the external noise was muffled, but it never really went away completely. The ambient sound feature almost worked too well — it shut off at the slightest noise, so keep that in mind if you like to hum or sing along.
Aside from these features, the sound quality was excellent. We primarily listened to music, but the podcast we caught up on came through nice and clear, too. The battery lasted well on a single weekly charge, even though we used the headphones for two to three hours daily.
Price at time of publish: $169.99 (orig. $229.99)
Type: Earbuds | Connection: Bluetooth | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery Life: Up to 29 hours without ANC enabled
Best Investment: Apple AirPods Max
Pros
Excellent noise quality for everything from music to phone calls to podcasts
Easy to pair, especially when using Apple devices
Up to 20 hours of battery life, while taking only one hour to fully charge
Supremely comfortable and secure, despite the size
Cons
These are among the priciest ones on our list
Only fully turn off when closed inside the case
While the fit is customizable, it may take some trial and error to find the best fit
We found the Apple AirPods to have excellent sound quality no matter what we were listening to — there was no distortion regardless of the volume. We listened to everything from music to podcasts to phone calls. We love the noise cancellation feature and indeed found some quiet on crowded subways and planes. The sound quality on calls sounded crisp and clear on both ends.
We liked how easy it was to pair the devices — options pop up as soon as you turn them on, and all you have to do is follow the prompts. We liked that it can connect to multiple devices, though not simultaneously. It will ask you which device you want to which you want to pair to — you can even rename your products for easier access.
The battery life on these headphones is really great, too. It takes about an hour to fully charge the headphones and they stay charged for a long time (up to 20 hours). We like the carrying case, though we noticed that the only way to truly turn these headphones off is when they're in the case and closed. The controls were mostly intuitive, though there are some we'll have to keep practicing.
They were also supremely comfortable no matter where we wore them — on a flight, at the office, during a commute, or at the gym. The fit is customizable, though it might take some trial and error to find your perfect fit. Yes, the ear pads can get heavy over time, but they're so soft, comfortable, and secure.
Price at time of publish: $499 (orig. $549)
Type: Over-ear | Connection: Bluetooth | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery Life: Up to 20 hours
Best Quick-Charging: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Pros
Charge them in the case for just a few minutes and you can listen for hours
Plenty of settings and customizations you can control in the app, including bass and treble presets
Excellent sound quality on calls, even when outside on a windy day
Cons
Connecting to more than one device can be tricky
Noise cancelling capability isn't as strong as other headphones we tested, but it's better than nothing
We tried these headphones out in various settings including airports, on flights, and on work calls. The sound quality was outstanding no matter what we were doing or listening to. These come with a decent charge but we found that they fully recharged in only two hours. Need a boost? Pop them into the case for just a few minutes, and you’re good to go for at least a couple of hours.
We were neither frustrated nor blown away by the ease of connectivity. The instructions seemed straightforward at first, but we had to search the web for troubleshooting tips later on. You can connect to multiple devices, but it's not exactly intuitive. There is a Smart Control App that’s chock-full of settings and options to customize your listening experience. You could change how your voice sounds on calls. There is an equalizer you can use to make custom presets, so you'll have to create an account through Soundcheck.
Overall, we found the sound quality to be excellent on calls — even taking one outside on a windy day was no problem. There is no sound distortion. It came through clear and powerful at multiple volumes, whether we were listening to music, watching a movie on a call or listening to a podcast. We found the connection to be great even behind walls and closed doors and walls. We tested out the noise cancelation on airplanes and in front of noisy AC units — it’s not perfect, but it does eliminate a lot of outside noise.
We love the fit, too: They feel great even when wearing glasses. While they are a bit heavy, they're still comfortable and stay in place rather well.
Price at time of publish: $280.81 (orig. $379.95)
Type: Over-ear | Connection: Bluetooth 5.2 | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery Life: Up to 60 hours
Best Battery Life: Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
Pros
Super easy to pair with various devices
Feels fairly lightweight for over-ear headphones
Bose app is intuitive and guides you through set-up and all the different functions
Long battery life that lasts up to 20 hours
Cons
We had to pump up the volume to hear more bass
Although the battery lasts a long time, it does take about three hours to get fully charged
When testing out the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, we found it was easy to connect to sync to various devices almost immediately, although you do need to download the Bose app to set it up. However, it’s easy to use and gives you a full guided tour of all the functionality, so it's worth the extra step. We liked that it connected to devices simultaneously without a hitch. The Bose app also lets you alter the noise cancellation and equalizer levels. There are various buttons to control the volume, skip tracks, and adjust levels — give yourself some time to get a hang of things.
We listened to various things — music, videos, and podcasts — and everything had a clear, powerful audio quality. We found the connection to be strong even when we left the vicinity of the paired device. The sound quality was good, although we did notice it got even better at higher volumes. Noise canceling was also adequate, and we found calls to come through clearly. We found that the sound was clear and powerful on these Bose headphones without feeling blown away; in fact, you might actually have to turn up the volume to get more bass at times.
For over-ear headphones, they were pretty lightweight, which is a bonus. The fit was secure without feeling too loose or too tight. They're quite comfortable, thanks to extra padding on the top of the head and around the ears that won’t tear at your hair or irritate your skin. It takes nearly three hours to get a full charge, but once it’s powered up, it’ll stay that way for a long time (20 hours, to be exact). Even with regular use, we went weeks without having to recharge it.
Price at time of publish: $344.78
Type: Over-ear | Connection: Bluetooth | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery Life: Up to 20 hours
Related: The Best Travel Accessories to Make Your Trips a Breeze, According to an Expert
Things to Consider Before Buying Wireless Headphones
Price
Fallacaro says technology keeps improving, which means you can get a better set of headphones for a good price these days. “The worst pair now is still heads above the worst pair five years ago,” he says. We think that all of the devices on our list are pretty great, but they also range from budget-friendly to splurge-worthy. If you want to save some money and still have great sound quality, both the Anker Soundcore Space A40 and the 1More SonoFlow are excellent. But if you listen frequently and want to be transported to your own world when you do, we recommend the Apple AirPods Max, especially if you use Apple devices.
Comfort
If you’ve sworn off earbuds because they hurt your ears, or hate on over-ear headphones because you think they’re too heavy, our PEOPLE Tested team wants you to know that devices have improved and continue to improve. Between earbuds that come with tips in various sizes for you to find your proper fit to light-as-air over-ear headphones, you might be pleasantly surprised to know that you’ll find a comfortable fit where you previously thought you wouldn’t. We liked the Sony WH-1000XM4 for offering customizable comfort.
Purpose
Will you be listening to music during your run? A podcast during a noisy commute? Or will you be sitting at home, watching a movie, or playing a game? There’s the ideal wireless headphone for any of these situations—and some will even allow you the flexibility to do it all. Fallacaro says to test them out when you can. “The biggest thing is to test [headphones] with what you like listening to, then you’ll find your perfect pair," he says. For the best in flexible listening experiences, we like the two that nabbed our top spots, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless.
Keep in mind that while noise cancellation is great, it’s not always good to tune out completely. If you want to be more aware of your environment, opt for a device that allows you to adjust levels to permit some background noise for safety.
How We Tested
Our PEOPLE Tested team tried out 26 wireless headphones daily during a two-week period. We gave each pair of earbuds or over-ear headsets a full charge and connected them via Bluetooth to our preferred device(s), noting how easy or challenging it was to pair. Then, our testers cued up their favorites — everything from music and podcasts to TV, movies, and games. At times, we would leave the paired device in a different room to see how it affected the sound and Bluetooth connection. We also noted how long the devices played before their batteries were drained.
For those wireless headphones with noise-canceling abilities, we toggled between this mode and pass-through sound (where applicable) and noted the performance. Our testers also tried out each headphone on a call, noting the sound quality on their end and enlisting the callers’ opinions of how their voices sounded.
After two weeks of testing, we rated each pair of wireless headphones on a 1 to 5 scale (5 being the best) against the following testing attributes: ease of use, comfort, sound quality, range, noise-cancellation, battery life, value, design, durability, and safety. The wireless headphones with the highest average ratings earned a spot on this PEOPLE Tested list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: earbuds or over-ear headphones?
Comfort level might determine this for you — some people just prefer wearing one or the other. But if you plan to listen to, well, anything through headphones, Fallacaro says it really depends on what you’re doing while you’re listening.
Should you opt for noise canceling?
Fallacaro always opts for noise-canceling headphones — usually over-ear models — especially for when he’s traveling. “That being said, I don't think it's the worst idea to ever hear the world around you,” he explains. “That's why I like transparency mode and ear pods as well that let in just a little bit of sound [for personal safety].”
Are expensive headphones worth it?
Fallacaro says they can be, depending on the features. Aside from noise canceling and sound quality, he likes devices that offer the ability to customize them to your ears for a better, more comfortable fit. And if you do purchase headphones that are a bit of an investment, know that they can last for a long time with proper care. Don’t toss them around and keep them in their protective cases when not in use. “Take care of them and you can get a surprisingly long life out of things,” Fallacaro says.
What’s the best way to keep earbuds clean?
Ear wax build-up is a hazard of having in-ear headphones, but Fallacaro shares his hack: “Q tips are your friend.” He says you can dip one in a little bit of alcohol to clean it, but that’s it. “It's better to do a little bit on a frequent basis,” he says, noting that this is better than letting it, well, build up. “You don't want to be cleaning up a waxy mess,” he says.
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Barbara Bellesi Zito is a contributing commerce writer for PEOPLE with more than 18 years of experience writing for regional and national brands, including Health.com, Martha Stewart Living, The Motley Fool, Forbes Advisor, Apartment Therapy, and Insider, specializing in lifestyle and home improvement topics. For this piece, she reviewed the insights from the PEOPLE Tested lab and spoke to audio expert Dominic Fallacaro, a Grammy award-winning producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, on what to look for when shopping for wireless headphones.
What Is PEOPLE Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
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