Many, if not everyone, need a pair of wireless headphones. In this day and age, they’re not just for music, but also for all the other content and communication. After all, they are a natural extension to all our mobile devices, smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Thankfully, there are plenty of different styles to choose from. Deciding which pair is right for you depends on how you plan to use them, and how much you want to spend. Let’s help you find the best headphones for every budget.
Best budget headphones
You don’t have to break the bank to get a reliable pair of headphones. Many features and performance metrics have been trickling down to more budget-friendly models. There are many options under $100. Here are two that stand out for different reasons:
Skullcandy Hesh headphones
Want a healthy dose of bass every time you listen to your favourite tunes? These over-ear Bluetooth headphones feature a sound signature that leans toward the rumbling boom a bass-heavy pair should have. With active noise cancellation (ANC) on board, plus up to 22 hours of battery life, you can immerse in your favourite content all-day long. They also fold up so it’s easy travel with, though they don’t come with a case.
Sony WF-C510 earbuds
If you’re having trouble finding comfort in a pair of earbuds, the Sony WF-C510 might do the trick. You won’t get ANC here, though a better fit will give you decent noise isolation. The earbuds sound surprisingly good for their price, with a customizable five-band equalizer in the app to enhance their audio performance.
They also support multipoint pairing, Google Fast Pair, and Swift Pair (for Windows PCs) for seamless connectivity with multiple devices. Battery life can reach up to 11 hours with power-saving settings. But, it drops to around 6-7 hours with features like DSEE and Ambient Sound enabled.
Best mid-range headphones
Balancing performance and affordability, mid-range headphones are an excellent option for discerning listeners. These type of headphones try to find a middle ground between improving upon more affordable pairs, without offering everything that premium ones do. While that means making a few compromises, the range of options is more extensive. So, you get more choices in what you want to prioritize. Here are some pairs that stand out among many.
Soundcore Space One
Anker’s Soundcore brand is all about value—and the Space One delivers that in more ways than one. These headphones have a solid sound signature that gives you a nice balance out of the box. And, you can also tune it yourself by going through the equalizer in the Soundcore app. Whether you want more bass, more treble, or something ideal for podcasts, you’ll find it there.
ANC helps drown out some of the background noise you’re likely to encounter, and while not the best in its class, it does the job just fine. With up to 40 hours of playback with ANC on, the battery won’t be dying on you very quickly.
Sennheiser Accentum Plus
These headphones offer several upgrades over the regular Accentum model. It offers hi-res audio and personalized sound through Sennheiser’s Smart Control app. They’re not particularly flashy, but they do make up for that with a comfortable fit, balanced sound, excellent clarity, and a noticeable bass response. ANC works well in most situations, while Transparency mode does the same when you want to hear ambient noise. The excellent battery life lasts up to 50 hours on a full charge.
Jabra Elite 8 Active
The Jabra Elite 8 Active are one of the most durable pairs of wireless earbuds you’ll come across. With their IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, they’re perfect for workouts or even swimming in the pool. Designed for comfort and familiarity, they have solid ANC to block out background noise, as well as an effective HearThrough mode to hear the sounds around you.
General sound quality is balanced with custom EQ options for varied musical preferences, while multipoint support lets you stay connected with two devices simultaneously. With battery life lasting up to eight hours, they’ll get through a commute or workout with ease.
Samsung Galaxy Buds3
If earbuds with a one-size-fits-all approach suit your taste and comfort preference, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 are an interesting option. They feature a slim, lightweight design that can fit comfortably inside your ear. Another advantage is how they integrate with other devices. They can work with Samsung TVs, switch between phones and tablets, and utilize Samsung’s real-time translator feature on compatible devices.
If you want the best of the best, that’s where premium headphones and earbuds come in. These are the cream of the crop, with the best designs and features to offer the most effective combination of fit, comfort, audio quality, and noise cancellation or isolation. There are several really good pairs within this category. Here are some you should check out.
Sony WH-1000XM5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are made for those who take the full gamut of features and performance seriously. These headphones has some of the best ANC you’ll find in any pair of headphones. Sound quality is superb and even better when you use the equalizer in the Sony Sound Connect app.
Sony made some design changes to these over-ear headphones compared to the previous (and still excellent) WH-1000XM4. Leather ear cushions ensure a comfortable fit and its over-the-ear coverage allows for great passive noise isolation.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones
For outstanding ANC—possibly the best in the business—consider the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones. ANC is simply incredible, providing serenity in noisy environments like airplanes and subways. Plus, their new drivers help deliver vibrant, dynamic sound for balanced tuning that you can tweak further on the Bose Music app, though it doesn’t let you create custom EQ presets.
A newer Immersive Audio feature (spatial audio by another name) varies in its effectiveness depending on the content. The headphones also feature multipoint connectivity, allowing simultaneous pairing with two devices.
Sony WF-1000XM5
The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds are 25% smaller and 20% lighter than the previous Sony WF-1000XM4, making them a better fit for smaller ears. You’re more likely to find a good fit through the variety of foam ear tips in the box and the fit test via the Sound Connect app.
Despite slimming the earbuds down, Sony manages to deliver advanced ANC, enhanced ambient sound and voice pickup. Not to mention, it has features like adaptive sound control, EQ adjustments, and spatial audio. While the sound profile is more neutral, with less emphasis on bass, you can always ramp that up with the EQ.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds build on the design of the previous QuietComfort Earbuds II. These earbuds offer improved comfort and stability, making them less likely to fall out. They feature a customizable fit through Bose’s app and incorporate CustomTune software to optimize noise-cancellation and sound quality. While they retain the same drivers, they now support Snapdragon Sound, hi-res audio, and lower latency to make them more reliable for media playback. ANC blocks out most background noise effectively, though Aware mode isn’t quite as effective as Sony’s WF-1000XM5.
More headphones to consider
You can always expand your choices to suit your needs and taste. From over-ear to in-ear and open-ear headphones, here are some other options to explore.
Over-ear headphones
- Apple AirPods Max: These high-end over-ear headphones work best with Apple devices. They offer excellent noise-cancellation and features exclusive to Apple devices.
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 and Sennheiser HD 800 S: If you like Sennheiser’s sound clarity, consider the Momentum 4 wireless headphones as the company’s flagship choice. Also consider the Sennheiser HD 800 S for one of the best audiophile experiences your ears will ever encounter.
- Sonos Ace: These headphones are worth a look if you’re in the market for a dual-use situation, especially if you already own a Sonos soundbar. The Ace not only lets you listen to music via Bluetooth, but also connect with the soundbar to listen privately in your own home theatre. Read my review of the Sonos Ace.
- Beats Studio3: These sleek, stylish headphones work just fine with either iOS or Android devices, though sound quality may not match the other options listed here.
In-ear headphones
- Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro: Give these earbuds a try, especially if you prefer a fit that includes different ear tips instead of the more open design of the Galaxy Buds3.
- Technics EAHAZ80EK: Consider these earbuds from Technics for superb sound, good comfort, and solid battery life. the Technics EAHAZ80EK are sure to impress every time.
Open-ear headphones
- Bose Ultra Open: If you’d rather not stick anything in your ear canal at all, these open-ear headphones from Bose are an intriguing option.
- Shokz OpenFit Air: Check out these open-ear headphones from Shokz. They’re designed for people with an active lifestyle, as it comes with an ear hook for stability.
Find the right headphones at Best Buy
Choosing the best headphones has a lot to do with personal style and comfort; there is a pair of headphones out there that works best for you. For an active lifetstyle, the open-ear headphones and many in-ear ones are great for working out outdoor or at the gym, thanks to their lighter weight and smaller size. On the other hand, many over-ear headphones are great for home and office use. Your budget, whatever it may be, doesn’t have to limit your ability to find a pair of wireless headphones that are right for you.
Since there is a lot to consider, given how personal your preferences can be, you can learn about different headphone designs and features by checking out Best Buy Blog’s Headphones Buying Guide or Wireless Earbuds Buying Guide. Plus, know the distinction between noise-cancelling and noise-isolating headphones.
