If you hate wires but love music, you have a lot of wireless headphones to choose from. We’ve tested more than 300 over the past few years, so we can help you decide on the best set for your needs. Although no single pair of headphones works for everyone, there is a perfect Bluetooth headphone set for you. The trick is figuring out what design works best for your listening needs and lifestyle.
Who this is for: This headphone type is for people who want to ditch wires but prefer the sound quality of over-ear designs. Many such pairs can work wired as well as wirelessly, and they typically have longer battery lives than their earbud counterparts. They’re great for people who want versatile headphones for both home and office use, but they’re not as portable as earbuds.
Why we like it: With a mildly forward bass plus clear, clean highs that don’t pierce, the Sony H.ear On WH-H900N sounds better than headphones that retail for hundreds more. A battery life of 28-plus hours, a comfortable fit, quality active noise cancelling, and super-clear phone calls make this pair suitable for office use, as well. Although the ANC isn’t the absolute best available (check out our guide to the best active noise-cancelling headphones for that), it’s still well above average.
Battery life: 28 hours
Warranty: one year
Inputs: Micro-USB, stereo mini jack
Note: Jabra has announced a new addition to the Elite line. The Elite 75t will have the same controls, microphone array, hear-through mode, 2 year warranty, and IP55 dust/water resistance as our current pick, the 65t—but will be 20 percent smaller, have a longer battery life (7.5 hours in a single charge, up to 28 hours with the charging case), an improved USBC charging case, and be Google, Siri, and Alexa compatible.
Who this is for: Bluetooth earbuds are lightweight, portable, and unobtrusive. They’re great for commuters who need something they can pop in a bag and who don’t want to deal with tangled wires.
Why we like it:The Jabra Elite 65t is the first set of true wireless earbuds that we actually love enough to make our overall earbuds pick. They sound great, they’re comfortable, and they’re easy to use, offering both volume and track controls as well as the ability to trigger your digital assistant. The four-microphone array works well to keep your voice sounding crystal clear over phone calls. Although the Elite 65t earbuds block out most outside noise, they also have a transparency mode so you can choose to hear your surroundings. If you want to read our thoughts on other true wireless earbuds, check out our best true wireless headphones guide. Or if the standard Bluetooth earbud style is more your speed, you can read more about those models in our best Bluetooth earbuds guide.
Battery life: up to five hours, plus two additional full charges with charging case
Who this is for: If you run outside frequently (as opposed to on a treadmill), you need headphones that not only stay in place comfortably, are sweat resistant, and are easy to use, but also allow you to hear your surroundings so you can stay safe from cars and other hazards.
Why we like it:Plantronics’s BackBeat Fit line of earbuds have been our favorite running headphones for two years now. They’re comfortable and easy to use while you’re moving, and they’re resistant to sweat, rain, and dust. The Plantronics’s BackBeat Fit offers great sound quality, better than what we've heard from just about any other unsealed headphones we’ve ever tested. The earbuds feel lightweight and stable—you can just pop them onto your head and go. A hook over the ear and a small wing just inside the outer ear keep each earbud in place. The Plantronics’s BackBeat Fit has a claimed battery life of seven hours. If you run out of juice and are in a hurry, the pair’s quick-charge feature will give you one hour of use after only a 15-minute charge.
Battery life: seven hours
Protected against: water, sweat, dust; IP57
Warranty: one year
Who this is for: If you lose your headphones frequently, want a backup pair for your bag, or have to stick to a budget, an inexpensive pair of earbuds could be all you need.
Why we like it: The lightweight Wireless Bluetooth Earphones V5 earbuds coil up to be portable in a pocket, and they sound better than a lot of the other earbuds in this price range. The controls are easy to find by feel, and the cables aren’t so long that they get tangled (or so short that they inhibit movement).
Who this is for: This style of earbud is for people who are going to work up a sweat but want to keep their spending to a minimum.
Why we like it: If you’re a casual gym-goer, the Earphones V5.0 Wireless Headphones is the best budget option. These were the only sub-$37 sport earbuds we tested that fit comfortably and sounded pretty good while still being able to endure workout conditions. The silicone wings and tips keep the earbuds stable in your ears, and the IPX4 rating means the headphones won’t short out when faced with a little sweat. The eight-plus hours of battery life will last you through more than a week of hour-long workouts before you have to recharge, and magnets in the earbuds allow you to clip them around your neck when you aren’t listening. Additionally, Earbuds 5.0 two-year warranty protects you against manufacturing defects.
Battery life: Eight hours Protected against: Splash of water (IPX4)
Who this is for: If you run outside frequently (as opposed to on a treadmill), you need headphones that not only stay in place comfortably, are sweat resistant, and are easy to use, but also allow you to hear your surroundings so you can stay safe from cars and other hazards.
Why we like it: Plantronics’s BackBeat Fit line of earbuds have been our favorite running headphones for two years now. They’re comfortable and easy to use while you’re moving, and they’re resistant to sweat, rain, and dust. The Plantronics’s BackBeat Fit offers great sound quality, better than what we've heard from just about any other unsealed headphones we’ve ever tested. The earbuds feel lightweight and stable—you can just pop them onto your head and go. A hook over the ear and a small wing just inside the outer ear keep each earbud in place. The Plantronics’s BackBeat Fit has a claimed battery life of seven hours. If you run out of juice and are in a hurry, the pair’s quick-charge feature will give you one hour of use after only a 15-minute charge.
Battery life: seven hours
Protected against: water, sweat, dust; IP57
Warranty: one year
Who this is for: This style of earbud is for people who are going to work up a sweat but want to keep their spending to a minimum.
Why we like it: If you’re a casual gym-goer, the Earphones V5.0 Wireless Headphones is the best budget option. These were the only sub-$37 sport earbuds we tested that fit comfortably and sounded pretty good while still being able to endure workout conditions. The silicone wings and tips keep the earbuds stable in your ears, and the IPX4 rating means the headphones won’t short out when faced with a little sweat. The eight-plus hours of battery life will last you through more than a week of hour-long workouts before you have to recharge, and magnets in the earbuds allow you to clip them around your neck when you aren’t listening. Additionally, Earbuds 5.0 two-year warranty protects you against manufacturing defects.
Battery life: Eight hours
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