Wireless headphones have become the first choice for many people, and it’s easy to understand why. They give you the freedom to move around without tangled cables, and modern Bluetooth connections are more reliable than ever. Plus, many wireless headphones offer better quality sound than you’d expect, with impressive features like adaptive ANC (active noise cancellation) that blocks out distractions.
Many wireless headphones now also offer better battery life, giving you uninterrupted playback whether you’re traveling, working out, or just listening to your favorite songs.
Of course, some wireless headphones stand out from the rest, which is why Engadget has tested and reviewed the most popular options to help you find the perfect pair.
Our picks are based on a mix of sound quality, ANC performance, comfort, and useful extra features like companion apps for customization. Whether you want premium sound or a budget-friendly option, there’s a pair of wireless headphones for everyone.
How to choose the best wireless headphones for you
When it comes to buying a good pair of wireless headphones, the first thing you need to decide is how you plan to wear them. Do you prefer on-ear or over-ear headphones? For the purpose of our buyer’s guide, we focus on the over-ear style because that’s what most noise-cancelling headphones are these days.
Sure, you can find on-ear models with ANC, but over-ear designs are more effective at blocking out sound.
Speaking of noise cancellation, you should decide early on whether you even want it. If you often blare beats in noisy environments, you’ll need to not only make sure it’s there, but also make sure it’s good, preferably with adaptive ANC. If you’re planning on using your new headphones in quieter spaces, you can save some money by skipping ANC.
The next area to consider is features. We recommend getting the most for your money, but when you’re shopping, you should decide which things are essential and which you can live without. And don’t take basics like automatic pausing and Bluetooth multipoint connectivity for granted, as not all companies include them.
We also recommend reading reviews to find out how well a company’s more advanced features work. This will help you decide if they’re something you’re (possibly) willing to pay more money for. Keep an eye out for better battery life estimates to avoid disappointment, as some manufacturers promise more hours than real-world testing shows. And don’t be easily swayed by promises about call quality without being able to verify them.
Sound can be subjective, so we recommend trying before you buy if possible. We understand that’s not easy in a time when we’re doing most of our shopping online. But trying out a set of headphones and listening to them for a few minutes could save you from an expensive case of buyer’s remorse.
We also recommend looking into things like Spatial Audio, Dolby Atmos, 360 Reality Audio, and other immersive formats. Not all headphones support these, so if you like things like this, you should make sure the Perspective pair does.
If you plan on using your headphones for media other than music, checking latency is also essential – some delay can affect playback for things like movies or games, even though most true wireless headphones now offer minimal lag.
How we test over-ear headphones
Our primary way of testing wireless headphones is to wear them as much as possible. We like to do this over a period of one to two weeks, but sometimes restrictions don’t allow that.
During this time, we listen to a mix of music and podcasts, as well as use the earbuds for both voice and video calls. Since headphones can have a battery life of 30 hours or more, we drain the battery by playing looping music and setting the volume to a comfortable level (usually around 75 percent).
Because of the long-term battery life estimates, we typically leave the headphones on and off several times during the review. This simulates real-world use and saves us from constantly monitoring the process for more than 24 hours.
To evaluate the best Bluetooth headphones, we focus on high-quality audio by listening to different genres and paying close attention to the sound of each genre.
We also test at both low and high volumes to check for consistency in tuning. To assess phone call quality, we’ll record audio samples with the headphones’ microphones as well as have third parties call us.