Over the years, we've reviewed hundreds of headphones and, after factoring in several aspects like comfort, audio quality, battery life, and noise canceling, we've concluded that Sony's WH-1000XM3 are simply the best wireless headphones you can buy — despite their hefty price tag.
If the Sony WH-1000xM3 isn't right for you, either because you're looking for a set of earbuds or something a little more affordable, don't fret. We've rounded up nine of the best wireless headphones money can buy, at a variety of price points and styles for multiple use cases to make sure you can take beautiful music along no matter where you go.
The best wireless headphones at a glance
The Best Wireless Headphones: Sony WH-1000XM3
Why you should buy them: Top-tier sound, excellent comfort, and (of course) impressive noise canceling make Sony's WH-1000xM3 the headphones to beat.
Who they're for: Those who are looking for total sonic isolation and wireless convenience, but don't want to give up high-fidelity sound to get it.
Why we picked the Sony WH-1000XM3:
Sony makes some absolutely incredible wireless noise-canceling headphones. In fact, in the last iteration of this article, Sony's WH-1000XM2 earned the top spot (and a 5/5 rating in our official review), thanks to an unbeatable blend of comfort, control, and audio quality — not to mention the fact that they isolate sound as well as any cans we've used. They weren't just our favorite noise-canceling headphones — they were our favorite headphones — period.
This time around, we've decided to elevate another pair of Sony phones to the apex of our list — the WH-1000XM3, which actually improve upon their predecessors in many small ways. Underneath ultra-soft leatherette earcups, the WH-1000xM3 pack in dual 40mm dynamic drivers that bring both movies and music to life with stunning, warm detail. The headphones offer excellent instrumental separation, with powerful bass response matched by precise performance in the mid and upper registers.
The Sony Headphones Connect app allows for lots of personalization and fine-tuning, letting you adjust ambient sound reduction and optimize audio based on atmospheric pressure (an awesome feature for frequent flyers). Sony's DSEE HX processing engine also automatically upscales compressed audio from sources like YouTube to ensure the best possible listening experience. They also offer plenty of other cool features, including the ability to pause when you pull off an earpad, which is great for ordering a drink on a long flight, and as for battery life? Their 30 hours is among the best in the business.
Simply put, there are no better headphones with noise cancellation (wireless or otherwise) on the market right now.
Read our full Sony WH-1000XM3 review
Best budget wireless headphones: Shure SE112 Wireless
Why you should buy them: You want a simple pair of in-ear headphones that are both streamlined and more affordable than other models of similar quality.
Who's it for: The discerning shopper looking for a pair of quality in-ears.
Why we picked the Shure SE112 Wireless:
In an age where earbuds have largely replaced over-ear and on-ear headphones as the average commuter's listening device of choice, it's scarily easy to find some really bad in-ear headphones. Scores of models line store shelves and cost anywhere from $10 to $20. Unfortunately, as with most material things in life, you get what you pay for. The reality is that while their price might not immediately read as "budget," in the world of high-quality in-ears, the Shure SE112 Wireless are a steal.
When we reviewed the SE112's wired version, we were pleased to find them to be an affordable pair of in-ears with high-performance quality — this is Shure after all, and the company has been a top name in audio for decades for a reason. We were also impressed with several other aspects of the Shure SE112, including the excellent passive sound isolation and great design and construction.
The wireless model, naturally, adds the benefit of unfettered connection via Bluetooth to the already stellar sound and build quality. But there's more. The wired version of the Shure SE112 lacked an inline mic for phone calls, but this has been rectified with the SE112 Wireless. An inline mic and remote sit on the right-hand side, making them even more of an upgrade over their wired predecessors. Their 8 hours of battery life isn't a ton, but it's enough for a full day of listening, and that's good enough at this price.
While you could buy wireless in-ears for less, these are the best budget in-ears you should buy.
Read our full Shure SE112 review.
The best wireless headphone for running: Jabra Elite 65t
Why you should buy them: Solid sound, good battery life, and sweatproof performance.
Who they're for: People who want comfortable wireless autonomy, great usability, and sweatproof performance.
Why we picked the Jabra Elite Active 65t:
Jabra's Elite Active 65t may resemble tiny versions of the Bluetooth headsets that once helped define the brand, but don't be fooled by the design throwback; they are easily some of our favorite true wireless headphones right now. With five hours of battery life per charge, an IP56-waterproof rating, and a myriad of useful app-based features, the 65t are can get you through even the longest and sweatiest of workouts.
Three sets of silicone tips and a very comfortable design all but guarantee a perfect seal in your ears, serving up a comfortable fit with excellent passive noise isolation. Sound comes through clear and detailed, with punchy bass and a surprisingly nimble treble register.
Five hours of battery life per charge is more middling than it once was now that options like the Powerbeats Pro, but it's more than enough for most applications, and a charging case adds two extra charges. The company's Sound Plus app allows you to adjust equalization and pick whether or not you want to use your phone's built-in smart assistant (Siri on iOS, Google Assistant on Android) or Amazon Alexa — a nice option for those who use Alexa at home. Like Apple's AirPods, the headphones automatically play and pause music when you remove them from your ears, but go even further by piping in adjustable ambient sound — which is great for hearing announcements on the train or that angry driver behind you while you're biking to work.
The IP56 rating means you won't have to worry about damaging your headphones with liquids or moderate amounts of dust. Simply rinse them off after a particularly hard workout, and you're good to go.
Read our full Jabra Elite Active 65t review
The best wireless headphones for calls: Jabra Elite 85h
Why you should buy them: The Jabra Elite 85h are the longest-lasting wireless, noise-cancelling headphones we've tested yet
Who they're for: Those who need reliable battery life in addition to excellent performance
Why we picked the Jabra Elite 85h:
Finding a wireless pair of headphones specifically for phone calls might seem like an odd use case, but since our smartphones are just as much calling assistants as they are media streamers, having a pair that can handle audio and phone calls alike with panache makes sense. Plus, we wouldn't ever recommend someone use one of those goofy Bluetooth phone headsets for music (or for any reason at all, frankly). Instead, we humbly suggest the Jabra Elite 85h.
Visually, the Elite 85H stand out — or, more accurately, don't stand out — thanks to their streamlined and subtle design. The entire unit is encased in matte plastic, and the only distinguishing branding is a dark grey Jabra logo on the bottom of the headband. We know some folks find wearing over-ear headphones can feel strange in a world where tiny earbuds are the norm, but the Elite 85H will help you keep a low profile while listening in public. Plus, they're dust and water resistant, which should give you peace of mind when wearing them outside.
In terms of sound quality, the Elite 85h offer a sound signature that's more warm, inviting, and open then their closest competitors. The bass response is dynamic but reserved enough not to overpower, which helps you to appreciate the crisp upper frequencies. Put more simply, these are some of the best sounding noise-canceling headphones available.
While we applaud the performance and appreciate the subtle aesthetics, we gave the Elite 85h our pick for the best wireless headphones for phone calls for a specific reason: Their fantastic battery life. These cans will keep chugging along for a whopping 36 hours — and that's with the noise-canceling setting turned on. Plus, their quick-charge feature will net you five hours of battery life after being plugged in for just 15 minutes.
Read our full Elite 85h review.
The best wireless headphones for iPhone: AirPods
Why you should buy them: As long as they're synced to an iPhone, the AirPods have features few other devices can match
Who they're for: Apple faithful who want a simple fully-wireless option and easy-peasy setup.
Why we picked the Apple AirPods:
The truth is, there are much better-sounding earbuds out there that (of course) can work with iPhones, but even so, we still think the AirPods are the best iOS-specific choice thanks to how, well, Apple they are.
For better or for worse, the AirPod's have all the hallmarks of an Apple product: Sleek, compact design, simple controls, and no-fuss compatibility with other Apple products. That last point is probably the most important reason why the AirPods are our pick for the best wireless headphones to use with iPhones. Unlike other Bluetooth devices, AirPods are designed to automatically sync with your device.
The lack of any physical buttons might otherwise sound like the genesis of a pairing mode nightmare, but things couldn't be easier: Just open the case, hold the new AirPods next to your iPhone, and you're ready to rock. Once paired, they'll show up automatically on any of your iCloud-connected Apple devices.
Pairing to non-Apple devices is a bit less streamlined, but still easy. There's actually a lot the AirPods can only do when connected to an Apple device, such as customizing the intuitive double-tap touch controls with a number of options — including calling up Siri, playing/pausing audio, or skipping between tracked — from within the iOS Bluetooth settings.
It's that sort of seamless connectivity with Apple's products that makes the AirPods a no-brainer for iPhone. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for using them with other, non-Apple devices, in which case they simply become a pair of decent fully wireless buds.
Read our full AirPods review.
The best wireless headphones for Android: Samsung Galaxy Buds
Why you should buy them: The Galaxy Buds are currently among the most compelling true wireless earbuds out there.
Who they're for: Those who want the freedom of affordable truly-wireless earbuds, regardless of platform.
Why we picked the galaxy Buds:
The Galaxy Buds are more than just Samsung's Android-focused response to Apple's AirPods — they're also among the best fully-wireless earbuds around at their price point.
The Galaxy Buds feature soft silicone eartips to seal in your ears, keeping them snug and helping you better enjoy their audio performance. These little earbuds produce warm bass and low-mid response, while avoiding the sharp, tin-like quality that sometimes plagues similar products. They have a 6-hours of battery life per charge that can be stretched out with additional charges stored in their wireless charging case.
Beyond battery life and performance, the Galaxy buds come with a number of cool features that help secure their hold as the top choice for Android users. Their customizable touch controls can be set to change volume or skip tracks from within the Samsung Wear app. The app also allows you to pick between five different equalization settings, letting you tailor the sound of the headphones for your ears and musical tastes.
Perhaps the most useful feature of the app, however, is "Find my earbuds" which does exactly what it says, and will save you plenty of time in case one of these tiny devices goes AWOL — though, between their snug fit, lightweight design, and sweat-proof design, you'd have to go out of your way to get these to fall out of your ears.
As a way to listen to your favorite music in all styles on the go, the Galaxy Buds absolutely serve their purpose, and the lightweight design really accentuates the luxury of having no strings attached. Frankly, there aren't a pair of true wireless earbuds we've tested that feel so freeing.
Read our full Galaxy Buds review.
The best headphones for gaming: Astro A50 headset
Why you should buy them: The Astro A50 headset lives up to its audiophile-grade promise, and then some.
Who they're for: Gamers after the best wireless headset available.
Why we picked the Astro A50:
We take our gaming recommendations seriously around here, and we're happy to confirm that the A50 nails all the feature points you'd expect from a high-quality headset: Powerful audio performance, excellent battery life, and a great mic with clear voice capture. Plus, it's stocked with a handful of other features that complement its powerful specs, and help it stand out from its numerous competitors.
Starting with the audio quality, the Astro A50 is a wireless upgrade from A40, but with all the audiophile grade sound of its corded sibling preserved thanks to 5.8GHz wireless connectivity for low-latency sonic delivery.
The A50 makes every game we've played with this headset on our ears more engrossing and entertaining. Not only does it live up to Astro's claims of audiophile-grade sound, the A50 is also a powerful headset that pushes some seriously big sound. The only aspect of the sound quality that we didn't like was a bit too much brightness in the high-end. Theoretically, the included EQ switcher should have helped this, but we found the feature lacking. Still, even with that minor complaint, there is no doubt the A50 is one of the best-sounding wireless headsets out there.
Other features — auto shutoff, hassle-free wireless connection, and long battery life — make this headset excellent for long hours of play time, while the A50's mic will outperform whatever flimsy pack-in mic your console came with. We had a blast testing the Astro A50, and we have no reservations in saying this headset should be the go-to option for both serious gamers and audiophiles alike.
Read our Astro A50 review.
The best headphones for kids: Puro PuroQuiet
Why you should buy them: The PuroQuiet are designed to keep children's ears happy and safe.
Who they're for: Parents who want the peace of mind knowing their children's hearing is protected.
Why we picked the PuroQuiet:
When we say "best wireless headphones for kids," we aren't talking about the cutest or most colorful — though we could see a case being made for the PuroQuiet being referred to as such. Instead what we mean is the safest headphones for kids. As reviewers of audio equipment, hearing damage and loss ranks pretty high on our list of fears, so we can empathize with parents looking for the safest pair for their kids (we're actually turning down our headphones as we write these words.) In this department, the PuroQuiet can't be beat.
The PuroQuiet are noise-canceling headphones designed for kids that come with a hard volume limit to prevent your child's tiny ears from getting damaged.
Despite children's products being stereotyped as low-quality junk (rightfully so, in many cases), Puro hasn't cut corners on the PuroQuiet, which punch well above their weight when it comes to looks and build quality. The headphones feature rectangular-shaped earcups that are made out of robust metal and come in vibrant colors like electric blue or bright pink. They're blocky and colorful, as kid stuff often is, but don't look or feel "childish," if that makes sense.
They also strike a balance between comfort and design, with a plush, round headband coated in soft imitation leather. Even the adjustment section of the headband, which is also metal, feels solid and strong. Parents can feel comfortable letting their kids wear these, and the headphones are durable enough to take a beating, too.
However, the standout feature here is the PuroQuiet headphones' custom, built-in software limiter. It's designed to keep music below 85 decibels, while maintaining a balanced sound signature. This means that your budding audiophile can crank them all the way up, and you'll still never have to worry about them blasting their ears out. And thanks to 16 hours of battery life, your kids can listen for as long as they (by which we mean you) want.
Read our PuroQuiet review.
The best wireless headphones for sound quality: Master and Dynamic MW65
Why you should buy them: There are no better-sounding wireless headphones out there.
Who they're for: Staunch audiophiles who want to go wireless.
Why we picked the Master and Dynamic MW65:
There's much to love about Master and Dynamic's MW65. They look incredible, built with high-class materials and shipping with some of the most luxurious packaging we've seen for a pair of headphones. But the best thing about the MW65 is their absolutely stellar wireless sound performance. We aren't exaggerating when we say they're perhaps the best-sounding wireless headphones we've ever had the pleasure of testing.
We can't help but get almost poetic when describing how the MW65s sound. The upper register is utterly pristine, while the bass is balanced and well articulated. Their unique noise-cancellation style doesn't so much block out the world around you as it creates a sonic space in which every aspect of its mix can be observed. Nothing is getting lost in the mix, here.
What's even more impressive is that we're talking about listening in wireless mode. The MW65 can be used either wired or wirelessly, but we never felt the need to plug in for better sound delivery — an impressive turn of events made possible their aptX-imbued Bluetooth antenna. The MW65 outclass all other wireless headphones we've tested to become, as we said in our original review, the arbiters of pure, sonic joy.
Okay, okay, so now you're likely wondering why we didn't give this our top recommendation if they sound so good. Well, apart from the less-than-amazing noise cancellation, and a quirky seal with cancellation on, they're just very pricey compared to other top noise-cancellers like the Sony 1000XM3 and Bose's QC35II. But if you don't mind spending more for top-tier sound — and you're not in the air more than you're on the ground — we emphatically recommend Master and Dynamic's MW65.
Read our full Master and Dynamic MW65 review.
Research and buying tips
Are Airpods the best wireless headphones?
While this is obviously subjective, our answer is no. The latest AirPods have middling battery life, mediocre sound, and are missing features we expect to see in top wireless earbuds, including waterproofing and features like ambient awareness mode. That said, especially for iPhone users, AirPods are a simple, intuitive, no-fuss option.
Do wireless headphones work well for TV?
Generally, only with TVs that output Bluetooth audio, many of which do not. Otherwise, you'll usually need an adapter or select soundbars with Bluetooth transmission.
Can I make calls with wireless headphones?
As long as they have a built-in microphone, which the vast majority do, you can make calls with your wireless headphones.
Are any wireless headphones sweatproof?
Yes, if they have an IP rating for water or sweat resistance.
How durable are wireless headphones?
This depends heavily upon the make and model.
How long do wireless headphone batteries last?
This depends on many factors, but batteries last anywhere from 3 to 36 hours or more per charge.
Are wireless or wired headphones better?
Wired headphones will almost always offer better fidelity, longevity, and durability. For most use cases, though, wireless headphones offer significantly more convenience.
How we test
We test headphones and earbuds the way normal people live.
We run every pair of headphones through a rigorous process over the course of several days. That includes playing them in all sorts of scenarios — be it on a bus, in the listening room, or at the office — and playing back from a wide array of sources. We know most people use their headphones with a smartphone, often with lower quality MP3 resolution tracks, so we do, too.
However, we also move up to high-resolution audio files, as well as a wide variety of sources, including plugging in directly to a PC or Mac, using USB DACs (digital-to-analog converters), and employing high-quality dedicated portable players and amplifiers. Finally, we compare the headphones to some of our go-to models, both in their class and price point, as well as a level or two above to find out if they can punch above their weight.
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