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Headphones Reviews
Start with our picks for the best headphones below. These are the ones we recommend based on our testing and in-depth headphones reviews.
The Anker Soundbuds Curve are affordable, budget wireless sports headphones, with a good enough performance for every day casual use. We often recommend them for their stable ear-hook design, decent sound quality, and above-average battery life that make them a good choice for sports, listening to music and most use cases. They won't be the ideal headphones for more critical listeners or for gaming, but they're easily one of the better wireless headsets you can get at this price.
The Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 are a great successor to the popular BackBeat Pro. They have a better sound that still packs a powerful bass, an excellent wireless range and battery life, as well as a sturdy, comfortable design. They're a bit bulky but they're a versatile headset we recommend for everyday casual use.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7 is a sturdy, well-made and versatile pair of gaming headphones that you can also use wired with most devices. We often recommend them for their multiple connection options, comfortable fit and well-balanced sound that you can customize with the SteelSeries Engine software. They will work with both the XBox One and PS4 if you use them wired, plug into the controllers, but only have wireless support for the PS4. They can also be a bit tight for some since the frame of the headband is not adjustable.
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By Type
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Earbuds/In Ear
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Best Earbuds
Bose QuietControl 30
The Bose QuietControl 30 are above-average wireless earbuds for most uses cases, that deliver a satisfying sound quality. They're decently portable and offer more control over their noise cancellation than other Bose headphones we've tested so far. However, the noise canceling is not as strong, and although they're stable enough to exercise with the around-the-neck design won't be for everyone. See our review
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Best Mid-Range
Samsung Gear IconX
The Samsung Gear IconX 2018 are versatile, truly wireless headphones that are great for sports. They're super portable and stable enough for running and working out. They have a decent sound quality and block enough noise to be suitable for most environments. They also barely leak, so they're a great choice for the office and commuting. Unfortunately, they have too much latency for watching movies and gaming. See our review
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Best Budget
Samsung U Flex
The Samsung U Flex are decent wireless in-ears for most use cases. They sound decently well-balanced if a bit sharp on some tracks, and have an around-the-neck design that's a bit bulkier than most but flexible enough to fit into some pockets. They have a decent battery life and an excellent wireless range but struggle to isolate in loud, noisy environments. They're also fairly limited in customization options if they're not paired with a Samsung device which is a bit disappointing. See our review
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On Ear
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Best Headphones
Beats Solo3 Wireless
The Beats Solo 3 Wireless are decent mixed usage headphones, with a surprisingly balanced sound for critical listening. They're almost identical to the Solo2 Wireless but have a better range and battery life thanks to the W1 chip. They're above-average comfortable but a bit tight on the head which makes them stable enough for sports but not ideal for long listening sessions. Unfortunately, they also have fairly weak noise isolation, so they won't be the ideal headphones to use in noisy environments. See our review
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Best Mid-Range
Bose SoundLink On-Ear
The Bose SoundLink On-Ear are decent wireless on-ear headphones. They're comfortable and deliver a stable listening experience. Their sound quality is above-average, and they have an efficient control scheme. Sadly, they don't block much noise and leak quite a bit. They won't be ideal for traveling and may disturb people around you at higher volumes. See our review
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Best Budget
Skullcandy Grind
The Skullcandy Grind are versatile and comfortable on-ear headphones. They have an above-average sound, they're lightweight and surprisingly comfortable for an on-ear model. However, they're not as portable as some of the other on-ears we've tested, and they do not block a lot of noise so they won't be the ideal headphones for loud environments. See our review
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Over Ear
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Best Headphones
Sennheiser HD 800 S
The Sennheiser HD 800 S are excellent sounding headphones for critical listening. They're comfortable and have a sturdy, durable build quality but like most open back critical listening models, they're not very versatile. They're not designed for outdoors or to use casually, but plugged into an amp, they deliver an exceptional listening experience. See our review
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Best Mid-Range
SteelSeries Arctis 7
The SteelSeries Arctis 7 are a great gaming headset, with a versatile design, a good sound, and an excellent mic. They also have a long-lasting battery life, and a standard audio jack so that you can use them passively like casual headphones. Unfortunately, they're a bit bulky, and the headband frame is not adjustable so they may be a little tight for some listeners. They also won't be ideal to use in loud environments because they don't block a lot of noise. See our review
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Best Budget
Logitech G433
The Logitech G433 are a good gaming headset, with a well-balanced sound, and a versatile design for everyday use. They have a detachable mic, a regular aux cable, as well as a USB/headset dongle for PCs. They're a lot more practical to use outdoors than other gaming headsets, and the boom mic is great for gaming and making calls. They're comfortable and decently well built but are not the most portable since they don't fold. They also do not block a lot of noise. See our review
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Earbuds/In Ear
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By Feature
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Active Noise Cancelling
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Best Headphones
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are great headphones for commuting and traveling with a few improvements over the previous model. The redesign does not change much but adds a bit more functionality and a dedicated button for Google Assistant and to switch between noise canceling modes which is a welcomed addition. They're still super comfortable headphones with a very good sound quality and a versatile, easy-to-use design but unfortunately, they're also a bit leaky a bit at higher volumes. See our review
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Best Mid-Range
Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2
The Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 are good mixed usage wireless headphones and a much-improved design over the original BackBeat Pro. They're sturdy, comfortable headphones with an easy-to-use control scheme and an exciting sound quality. They're also packed with active features that make them suitable for most use cases, but unfortunately, they don't block as much ambient noise as some of the other noise-canceling headphones we've reviewed recently. See our review
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Best Budget
Cowin E7
The Cowin E7 are budget noise-canceling headphones with a great wireless range but mediocre sound quality. They're decent for most use cases but tend to sound a little dark and muffled. On the upside, they have a moderately comfortable design, a long battery life, and block a decent amount of noise for commuting. Unfortunately, their budget price shows in their build quality which feels a bit cheap at times. See our review
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Wireless Bluetooth
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Best Headphones
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are great headphones for commuting and traveling with a few improvements over the previous model. The redesign does not change much but adds a bit more functionality and a dedicated button for Google Assistant and to switch between noise canceling modes which is a welcomed addition. They're still super comfortable headphones with a very good sound quality and a versatile, easy-to-use design but unfortunately, they're also a bit leaky a bit at higher volumes. See our review
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Best Mid-Range
Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2
The Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 are good mixed usage wireless headphones and a much-improved design over the original BackBeat Pro. They're sturdy, comfortable headphones with an easy-to-use control scheme and an exciting sound quality. They're also packed with active features that make them suitable for most use cases, but unfortunately, they don't block as much ambient noise as some of the other noise-canceling headphones we've reviewed recently. See our review
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Best Budget
Samsung U Flex
The Samsung U Flex are decent wireless in-ears for most use cases. They sound decently well-balanced if a bit sharp on some tracks, and have an around-the-neck design that's a bit bulkier than most but flexible enough to fit into some pockets. They have a decent battery life and an excellent wireless range but struggle to isolate in loud, noisy environments. They're also fairly limited in customization options if they're not paired with a Samsung device which is a bit disappointing. See our review
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Active Noise Cancelling
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By Price
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Under $25
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Best Over-Ear
Koss UR-20
The Koss UR-20 are below-average headphones that perform poorly in most of our test categories. They are moderately comfortable but have a weak, unexciting sound and leak quite a bit. People around you will hear your audio at high volumes, and they only provide passive isolation from ambient noise. See our review
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Best On-Ear
AmazonBasics Lightweight On Ear
The AmazonBasics Lightweight On-Ear are a decent low-budget pair of headphones with a satisfying sound quality. Unfortunately, they're not the most versatile. They struggle in loud environments, and their build quality feels a little cheap and susceptible to wear and tear. They're also a bit uncomfortable. See our review
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Best Earbuds
Anker SoundBuds Curve
The Anker SoundBuds Curve are good sports headphones, with a long battery life and a decent sound. They're comfortable with a stable ear-hook design for exercising and working out. They're compact enough to fit into your pockets, and they're decently well built, although the audio cable is a little thinner than comparable wireless in-ears. Unfortunately, they do not block that much noise so they may not be the best headphones for loud, noisy environments and their sound may be a bit too bass-heavy for some. See our review
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$26 to $50
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Best Over-Ear
Logitech G430
The Logitech G430 are above-average gaming headphones with a good-enough sound for critical listening. They're comfortable and have a decent mic that filters a lot of noise. However, they're not very versatile headphones. They won't do well in loud environments, they leak a lot and they're not made for sports or commuting. See our review
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Best On-Ear
Skullcandy Grind
The Skullcandy Grind are versatile and comfortable on-ear headphones. They have an above-average sound, they're lightweight and surprisingly comfortable for an on-ear model. However, they're not as portable as some of the other on-ears we've tested, and they do not block a lot of noise so they won't be the ideal headphones for loud environments. See our review
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Best Earbuds
Samsung Level U Pro
The Samsung Level U Pro are above-average headphones for most use cases. They're decently comfortable in-ears, with a wireless around-the-neck design that makes them stable enough for sports. Unfortunately, their noise isolation is a little weak for loud environments and their build quality feels a bit fragile. See our review
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$51 to $100
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Best Over-Ear
Logitech G433
The Logitech G433 are a good gaming headset, with a well-balanced sound, and a versatile design for everyday use. They have a detachable mic, a regular aux cable, as well as a USB/headset dongle for PCs. They're a lot more practical to use outdoors than other gaming headsets, and the boom mic is great for gaming and making calls. They're comfortable and decently well built but are not the most portable since they don't fold. They also do not block a lot of noise. See our review
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Best On-Ear
Samsung Level On Wireless
The Samsung Level On Wireless are a surprisingly great set of headphones. They feel flimsy but deliver in the sound department, with accurate audio reproduction. They also do a decent job with noise isolation. Unfortunately, they don't feel as durable as the Level Over and their touch controls can be a bit frustrating to use at times. See our review
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Best Earbuds
Jaybird Freedom
The Jaybird Freedom are great sports headphones that have a more streamlined design than the X2 and X3. They're sufficiently stable for most workout routines and have a decent sound quality. They also block a lot of ambient noise passively and barely leak so you can play your music at higher volumes and not distract anyone around you. Unfortunately, the bulky charging clip is inconvenient and makes the headphones a bit unstable for running when attached. See our review
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$101 to $200
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Best Over-Ear
Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO are sturdy critical listening headphones. They deliver an excellent audio reproduction but their open-back design is not ideal for everyday casual use. They will leak a lot, even at low volumes and don't block any ambient noise. They're also a bit tight on the head. See our review
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Best On-Ear
Bose SoundLink On-Ear
The Bose SoundLink On-Ear are decent wireless on-ear headphones. They're comfortable and deliver a stable listening experience. Their sound quality is above-average, and they have an efficient control scheme. Sadly, they don't block much noise and leak quite a bit. They won't be ideal for traveling and may disturb people around you at higher volumes. See our review
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Best Earbuds
Samsung Gear IconX
The Samsung Gear IconX 2018 are versatile, truly wireless headphones that are great for sports. They're super portable and stable enough for running and working out. They have a decent sound quality and block enough noise to be suitable for most environments. They also barely leak, so they're a great choice for the office and commuting. Unfortunately, they have too much latency for watching movies and gaming. See our review
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$201 to $400
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Best Over-Ear
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are great headphones for commuting and traveling with a few improvements over the previous model. The redesign does not change much but adds a bit more functionality and a dedicated button for Google Assistant and to switch between noise canceling modes which is a welcomed addition. They're still super comfortable headphones with a very good sound quality and a versatile, easy-to-use design but unfortunately, they're also a bit leaky a bit at higher volumes. See our review
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Best On-Ear
Beats Solo3 Wireless
The Beats Solo 3 Wireless are decent mixed usage headphones, with a surprisingly balanced sound for critical listening. They're almost identical to the Solo2 Wireless but have a better range and battery life thanks to the W1 chip. They're above-average comfortable but a bit tight on the head which makes them stable enough for sports but not ideal for long listening sessions. Unfortunately, they also have fairly weak noise isolation, so they won't be the ideal headphones to use in noisy environments. See our review
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Best Earbuds
Bose QuietControl 30
The Bose QuietControl 30 are above-average wireless earbuds for most uses cases, that deliver a satisfying sound quality. They're decently portable and offer more control over their noise cancellation than other Bose headphones we've tested so far. However, the noise canceling is not as strong, and although they're stable enough to exercise with the around-the-neck design won't be for everyone. See our review
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Under $25
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By Usage
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Gaming
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Best Headphones
SteelSeries Arctis 7
The SteelSeries Arctis 7 are a great gaming headset, with a versatile design, a good sound, and an excellent mic. They also have a long-lasting battery life, and a standard audio jack so that you can use them passively like casual headphones. Unfortunately, they're a bit bulky, and the headband frame is not adjustable so they may be a little tight for some listeners. They also won't be ideal to use in loud environments because they don't block a lot of noise. See our review
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Best Budget
Logitech G430
The Logitech G430 are above-average gaming headphones with a good-enough sound for critical listening. They're comfortable and have a decent mic that filters a lot of noise. However, they're not very versatile headphones. They won't do well in loud environments, they leak a lot and they're not made for sports or commuting. See our review
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Commuting
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Best Headphones
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are great headphones for commuting and traveling with a few improvements over the previous model. The redesign does not change much but adds a bit more functionality and a dedicated button for Google Assistant and to switch between noise canceling modes which is a welcomed addition. They're still super comfortable headphones with a very good sound quality and a versatile, easy-to-use design but unfortunately, they're also a bit leaky a bit at higher volumes. See our review
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Best Mid-Range
Samsung Gear IconX
The Samsung Gear IconX 2018 are versatile, truly wireless headphones that are great for sports. They're super portable and stable enough for running and working out. They have a decent sound quality and block enough noise to be suitable for most environments. They also barely leak, so they're a great choice for the office and commuting. Unfortunately, they have too much latency for watching movies and gaming. See our review
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Best Budget
Anker SoundBuds Curve
The Anker SoundBuds Curve are good sports headphones, with a long battery life and a decent sound. They're comfortable with a stable ear-hook design for exercising and working out. They're compact enough to fit into your pockets, and they're decently well built, although the audio cable is a little thinner than comparable wireless in-ears. Unfortunately, they do not block that much noise so they may not be the best headphones for loud, noisy environments and their sound may be a bit too bass-heavy for some. See our review
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Critical Listening
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Best Headphones
Sennheiser HD 800 S
The Sennheiser HD 800 S are excellent sounding headphones for critical listening. They're comfortable and have a sturdy, durable build quality but like most open back critical listening models, they're not very versatile. They're not designed for outdoors or to use casually, but plugged into an amp, they deliver an exceptional listening experience. See our review
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Best Mid-Range
Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO are sturdy critical listening headphones. They deliver an excellent audio reproduction but their open-back design is not ideal for everyday casual use. They will leak a lot, even at low volumes and don't block any ambient noise. They're also a bit tight on the head. See our review
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Best Budget
Philips SHP9500
The Phillips SHP9500 are a great pair of budget critical listening headphones. They're incredibly comfortable and have a sturdy yet lightweight build that feels durable. They're not casual headphones that can be used outdoors, but they deliver a good, well-balanced sound, on par with much pricier open-back models. See our review
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Home Theater
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Best Headphones
SteelSeries Arctis 7
The SteelSeries Arctis 7 are a great gaming headset, with a versatile design, a good sound, and an excellent mic. They also have a long-lasting battery life, and a standard audio jack so that you can use them passively like casual headphones. Unfortunately, they're a bit bulky, and the headband frame is not adjustable so they may be a little tight for some listeners. They also won't be ideal to use in loud environments because they don't block a lot of noise. See our review
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Best Budget
Logitech G433
The Logitech G433 are a good gaming headset, with a well-balanced sound, and a versatile design for everyday use. They have a detachable mic, a regular aux cable, as well as a USB/headset dongle for PCs. They're a lot more practical to use outdoors than other gaming headsets, and the boom mic is great for gaming and making calls. They're comfortable and decently well built but are not the most portable since they don't fold. They also do not block a lot of noise. See our review
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Office
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Best Headphones
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are great headphones for commuting and traveling with a few improvements over the previous model. The redesign does not change much but adds a bit more functionality and a dedicated button for Google Assistant and to switch between noise canceling modes which is a welcomed addition. They're still super comfortable headphones with a very good sound quality and a versatile, easy-to-use design but unfortunately, they're also a bit leaky a bit at higher volumes. See our review
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Best Mid-Range
Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2
The Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 are good mixed usage wireless headphones and a much-improved design over the original BackBeat Pro. They're sturdy, comfortable headphones with an easy-to-use control scheme and an exciting sound quality. They're also packed with active features that make them suitable for most use cases, but unfortunately, they don't block as much ambient noise as some of the other noise-canceling headphones we've reviewed recently. See our review
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Best Budget
Samsung U Flex
The Samsung U Flex are decent wireless in-ears for most use cases. They sound decently well-balanced if a bit sharp on some tracks, and have an around-the-neck design that's a bit bulkier than most but flexible enough to fit into some pockets. They have a decent battery life and an excellent wireless range but struggle to isolate in loud, noisy environments. They're also fairly limited in customization options if they're not paired with a Samsung device which is a bit disappointing. See our review
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Sports/Fitness
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Best Headphones
Samsung Gear IconX
The Samsung Gear IconX 2018 are versatile, truly wireless headphones that are great for sports. They're super portable and stable enough for running and working out. They have a decent sound quality and block enough noise to be suitable for most environments. They also barely leak, so they're a great choice for the office and commuting. Unfortunately, they have too much latency for watching movies and gaming. See our review
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Best Budget
Jaybird Freedom
The Jaybird Freedom are great sports headphones that have a more streamlined design than the X2 and X3. They're sufficiently stable for most workout routines and have a decent sound quality. They also block a lot of ambient noise passively and barely leak so you can play your music at higher volumes and not distract anyone around you. Unfortunately, the bulky charging clip is inconvenient and makes the headphones a bit unstable for running when attached. See our review
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Gaming
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By Enclosure
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Open Back
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Best Headphones
Sennheiser HD 800 S
The Sennheiser HD 800 S are excellent sounding headphones for critical listening. They're comfortable and have a sturdy, durable build quality but like most open back critical listening models, they're not very versatile. They're not designed for outdoors or to use casually, but plugged into an amp, they deliver an exceptional listening experience. See our review
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Best Mid-Range
Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO are sturdy critical listening headphones. They deliver an excellent audio reproduction but their open-back design is not ideal for everyday casual use. They will leak a lot, even at low volumes and don't block any ambient noise. They're also a bit tight on the head. See our review
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Best Budget
Philips SHP9500
The Phillips SHP9500 are a great pair of budget critical listening headphones. They're incredibly comfortable and have a sturdy yet lightweight build that feels durable. They're not casual headphones that can be used outdoors, but they deliver a good, well-balanced sound, on par with much pricier open-back models. See our review
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Closed Back
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Best Headphones
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are great headphones for commuting and traveling with a few improvements over the previous model. The redesign does not change much but adds a bit more functionality and a dedicated button for Google Assistant and to switch between noise canceling modes which is a welcomed addition. They're still super comfortable headphones with a very good sound quality and a versatile, easy-to-use design but unfortunately, they're also a bit leaky a bit at higher volumes. See our review
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Best Mid-Range
Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2
The Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 are good mixed usage wireless headphones and a much-improved design over the original BackBeat Pro. They're sturdy, comfortable headphones with an easy-to-use control scheme and an exciting sound quality. They're also packed with active features that make them suitable for most use cases, but unfortunately, they don't block as much ambient noise as some of the other noise-canceling headphones we've reviewed recently. See our review
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Best Budget
Skullcandy Grind
The Skullcandy Grind are versatile and comfortable on-ear headphones. They have an above-average sound, they're lightweight and surprisingly comfortable for an on-ear model. However, they're not as portable as some of the other on-ears we've tested, and they do not block a lot of noise so they won't be the ideal headphones for loud environments. See our review
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Open Back
Our testing team subjects each product in our lab to uniform measurement procedures that evaluate all aspects of its performance, no matter the type of headphones. The results are then weighed in our system to reflect the impact they will have on your experience, based in your intended usage. The list below shows the impact different tests have on our recommendation scores by usage.
