Bluetooth headphones are a great way to listen to your favorite music without a cord, whether your phone doesn’t have an audio jack or you just like having more freedom. There are a few downsides to wireless headphones compared to wired headphones, such as the need to keep an eye on the battery level and the possibility of lip-syncing problems when watching videos. However, the fact that you don’t have to worry about tangled cords when you’re in a hurry in the morning makes wireless headphones worth it for many people.
We’ve tried out more than 700 different sets of headphones, and here are our suggestions for the best wireless headphones to buy. Check out our suggestions for the best true wireless earbuds, the best budget wireless headphones, and the best wireless earbuds.
1. The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless
We’ve tried a lot of wireless headphones, and the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless are the best ones we’ve found. Even though they are the older version of the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless, these high-end over-ear headphones have a better active noise canceling (ANC) system than their successor. They can block out the low rumble of bus engines and the chatter in the office. They also have a pretty bass-heavy sound profile that gives mixes more thump, rumble, and boom and last for over 37 hours with the ANC on. If you like a sound that is more neutral, you will find their sound to be muddy and cluttered. You can fine-tune their sound with the help of their companion app, which has a graphic EQ and presets. They also work with Sony’s 360 Reality Audio, which can make the sound feel more real. To use this feature, you need to subscribe to a service like Tidal that offers compatible audio files.
People often compare these over-ear headphones to the high-end ANC Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless headphones. Even though the Sony headphones block out noise better, the Bose headphones are still a good choice if you want a more comfortable fit. They’re lighter and don’t hold your head as tight. But this is probably because they are made of more plastic, which some users may find cheap for the price.
2. Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
Consider the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless if you want something a little less expensive than our top pick that still has a lot of the same high-end design and features. They are just as strong and durable as the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless, and they can be used nonstop for more than 62 hours. If you forget to charge them, you don’t have to worry about battery life. But one of the trade-offs is that their ANC isn’t as good as the Sony’s, and they don’t block out nearly as much noise, like the rumble of a bus engine, as the Sony does. Still, their performance is good overall.
These comfortable over-ear headphones have a bass-heavy sound that you can tweak to your liking with the graphic EQ and presets in the app that goes with them. They also support aptX and aptX HD codecs so you can stream audio in higher quality, and you can connect them to your PC and smartphone at the same time. Their mic works fine, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble being heard and understood. Try the Sony WH-H910N/h.ear on 3 Wireless instead if you want headphones with a better microphone. Their built-in microphone makes sure that speech sounds clear and full. Their ANC and overall performance are also better, but they have a shorter battery life and can only be paired with one device at a time.
3. A wireless Anker Soundcore Space Q45
At a price point in the middle, the Anker Soundcore Life Q45 Wireless are well made and comfortable, but the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless sound more neutral. They have a loud, v-shaped sound that gives the mix a lot of boomy bass and bright treble. They work well for rock and pop, but jazz and folk fans may find that the lead instruments and vocals sound hazy and lack detail. But you can fix it with the graphic EQ and presets in the companion app, which let you customize the sound to your liking.
Even though these headphones are more affordable, they do a great job of blocking out noise. They have an active noise cancellation (ANC) system that is almost as good as the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless and can easily block out noise from bus engines and talking coworkers. Their battery doesn’t work as well as the batteries in the two models before it, but it still lasts for almost 28 hours straight, which is enough to get you through a few workdays without having to charge it. They also let you connect more than one device at once, which is great if you want to use your smartphone and PC at the same time.
4. A wireless Anker Soundcore Life Q30
The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless works well and costs less than $100. The ANC system on these comfortable over-ear headphones is adjustable, so you can choose the setting that works best for the noise around you. Using the “Transport” mode, they can block out a lot of noise, like the rumble of a bus engine, which makes them great for your daily commute. When the ANC is on or off, however, there is a clear difference in the sound quality. When the ANC is off, your audio sounds a little hollow and thin. When the ANC is on, the sound is fuller.
Right out of the box, they have a very exciting sound that fans of pop and rock will like because they have more thump, rumble, and boom. They don’t sound as neutral or balanced as the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless, so vocals and lead instruments sound more muffled and cluttered than their replacement. If you want to change how they sound, you can use their companion app, which has an EQ and presets. They can also connect to more than one device, and with a playback time of over 44 hours, they can be used for long days on the go. But they leak sound at high volumes, and even in a moderately noisy place like an office, people might be able to hear parts of what you’re saying.
5. A wireless Anker Soundcore Life Q20
Check out the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless if you want the best deal. Seeing three picks from Anker in a row may have given you whiplash by now, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that Anker is the leader in the lower-end over-ear market. Even though these are a lot simpler than the ones that came after them on this list, you should still check them out if you’re willing to give up some features for a lower price. The way they are made shows how cheap they are; the hinges are made of cheap plastic and feel hollow. They could break over time.
The ANC in these comfortable over-ear headphones helps them block out a lot of outside noise. You can’t change the volume to fit your environment like you can with the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, and they don’t do a good job of blocking out the sound of a plane engine. But they are a good choice if you want to cut down on office noises like office chatter and humming computer fans. They can be used for over 32 hours straight, and if the battery dies, you can plug them in and use them that way. Their v-shaped sound profile works well for pop and rock styles that need more bass and brightness. But they don’t have any ways to change their sound if you want something more neutral.
Conclusion
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best Bluetooth headphones to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn’t worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our Bluetooth-compatible headphone reviews. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.
