In this day and age, everyone needs a pair of headphones or wireless earbuds. Not just for music, but also for all the other content and communication options they provide. 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 and earbuds
You don’t have to break the bank to get a reliable pair of headphones or earbuds. Many features and performance metrics have been trickling down to more budget-friendly models. There are many options that will cost you under $100 but here are two that stand out for different reasons.
Skullcandy Hesh ANC
Want a healthy dose of bass every time you listen to your favourite tunes? The Skullcandy Hesh ANC over-ear Bluetooth headphones will give you as much as you can handle given the sound signature leans more 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 stay in your own world whenever you like. When you want to reach out, you can take calls with a mic and access to Siri or Google Assistant. They also fold up to make them easier to travel with, though don’t come with a case.
Sony WF-C510
You don’t need to have smaller ears to enjoy the Sony WF-C510 but if you’re having trouble finding comfort in a pair of earbuds, these 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 5-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
Mid-range headphones try to find a middle ground between improving upon more affordable pairs without offering everything premium ones do. While that means making a few compromises, the range of options is more extensive, so you get more choice 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 deliver that in more ways than one. They have a solid sound signature that gives you a nice balance out of the box, though you can tune them 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, 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
The Sennheiser Accentum Plus headphones offer several upgrades over the regular Accentum model, including a 3.5mm jack for wired playback, touch-sensitive controls, support for the aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec, and a carrying case. Not to mention 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 and balanced sound with excellent clarity and a noticeable bass response. ANC works well in most situations, while Aware 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. Perfect for workouts or even swimming in the pool. Designed for comfort and familiarity, they have solid ANC is solid to block out background noise, as well as an effective HearThrough mode to hear the sounds around you. Spatial audio is alaos available with Dolby Atmos content. General sound quality is balanced with custom EQ options for varied musical preferences, while multipoint support lets you stay connected to two devices simultaneously. There’s a lot to get through in the Jabra Sound+ app, and with battery life lasting up to 8 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 in using these earbuds is how they integrate with other devices. They can work with Samsung TVs, switch between phones and tabletsa and utilize Samsung’s interpreter and translator tools (on compatible devices) to bridge the language barrier in real time. The Buds2 also feature voice detection.
Some people want the best of the best, and that’s where premium headphones and earbuds come in. These are the cream of the crop, where manufacturers present their best designs and features to offer the most effective combination of fit, comfort, audio quality, and noise cancelation or isolation. There are several really good pairs within this category, and 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. 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 with good coverage over the ears for great passive noise isolation that only helps what is some of the best ANC you’ll find in any pair of headphones. That also goes for the sound quality, which is superb to start, and even better when you use the equalizer in the Sony Sound Connect app. Spatial audio with Sony’s own 360 Reality Audio (where applicable) and excellent phone call quality make these easy to like for both work and play as well. Expect up to 30 hours of battery life you can rely on.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones
For outstanding ANC—possibly the best in the business—you can always look at the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones. New drivers help deliver vibrant, dynamic sound for balanced tuning that you can tweak further in the Bose Music app, though it doesn’t let you create custom EQ presets. A newer “Immersive Audio” feature, which is spatial audio by another name, varies in its effectiveness depending on the content. ANC is simply incredible, providing serenity in noisy environments like airplanes and subways. The headphones also feature multipoint connectivity, allowing simultaneous pairing with two devices, though call quality is more crisp with Sony’s pair. Battery life is decent, offering 24 hours with ANC on.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds build on the design of the previous QuietComfort Earbuds II, offering 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 pair. Battery life remains at six hours with ANC on, and the case provides three additional charges, though you have to pay extra for wireless charging.
Sony WF-1000XM5
The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds are 25% smaller and 20% lighter than the the previous 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 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. Call quality is fabulous on top of that. Battery life lasts up to eight hours (with ANC on), and the smaller charging case supports wireless charging.
Other options to consider
You can always expand your choices with the many other good headphones and earbuds available. The Apple AirPods Max are an example of high-end over-ear headphones that work best with Apple’s devices, offering excellent noise cancellation and features exclusive to Apple devices. If you like Sennheiser’s sound clarity, consider the Momentum 4 wireless headphones as the company’s flagship choice. Sticking with the same brand, you could try the Sennheiser HD 800 S for one of the best audiophile experiences your ears will ever encounter.
The Sonos Ace 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 let you not only listen to music via Bluetooth but also connect with the soundbar to listen privately in your own home theatre. The Beats Studio3 work just fine with either iOS or Android devices and clearly lean more to the stylish side of things, should that matter to you, though sound quality may not match the other options noted here.
As for earbuds alternatives, you could give the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro a try, especially if you prefer a fit that includes different ear tips instead of the more open design of the aforementioned Galaxy Buds3. For superb sound, good comfort, and solid battery life, the Technics EAHAZ80EK are sure to impress every time. If you’d rather not stick anything in your ear canal at all, the Bose Ultra Open are an intriguing option. Another option for open earbuds—this time with an ear hook for stability—are the Shokz OpenFit Air.
Find the right headphones for you at Best Buy
No matter the budget, there is a pair of headphones out there. Since there is a lot to consider given how personal the preferences can be, you can learn about all the differences and features by checking out the Headphones Buying Guide or Wireless Earbuds Buying Guide. Can’t decide between noise-cancelling and noise-isolating headphones? Find out what makes them distinct from each other.
A lot of it has to do with style and comfort. That’s why earbuds are great for the gym thanks to their lighter weight and smaller size, whereas 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 for you.
