The 7 Best Wireless Bluetooth Headphones - Winter 2023 Reviews

The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless are the best wireless headphones that we've tested. Although they're the previous generation of the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless, these premium over-ears have a powerful active noise cancelling (ANC) system that outperforms their successor. They can cut down the low rumble of bus engines and block out office chatter. They also last over 37 hours continuously with the ANC on and have a pretty bass-heavy sound profile that delivers extra thump, rumble, and boom to mixes. If you prefer a more neutral sound, you'll find their sound muddy and cluttered. Luckily, their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you fine-tune their sound. They also support Sony's 360 Reality Audio, which can help create a more immersive audio experience. To access this feature, you have to subscribe to services that supply compatible audio files, like Tidal.

These over-ears are often compared to the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, which are high-end ANC headphones. While the Sony headphones have the edge for noise isolation, the Bose are still a solid choice if you're looking for a more comfortable fit. They're lighter and clamp a bit less tightly on your head. However, this is most likely due to their more plasticky design, which some users may find a little cheap for their price point.

If you're okay sacrificing a little bit of performance for a more reasonable price, check out the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless. These upper mid-range headphones are still premium quality but are somewhat more affordable than our top pick, the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. These headphones are just as comfortable and well-built as the Sony and even have a longer, continuous battery life of nearly 63 hours. Out of the box, these over-ears have a bass-heavy sound profile, with lots of thump and rumble that will please fans of EDM and hip-hop. The rest of the range is very neutral, ensuring a detailed and clear mix that will benefit most genres, making these an extremely versatile pair of headphones. While you get less overall bass than the Sony, you can fine-tune the sound to your liking in the companion app's graphic EQ and presets.

They also have great controls, with touch-sensitive ear cup pads that register commands via gestures and taps. However, it's easy to accidentally input a command when adjusting the headphones or fixing your hair. Their ANC performance is good but struggles to block out noise in the low-bass range, meaning you may be bothered by passing subway trains or loud plane engines during travel. If you're looking for better ANC at the same price point, check out the Sony WH-H910N/h.ear on 3 Wireless. Their sound isn't as bass-heavy, and the rest of the range isn't as neutral, meaning you're taking a hit in overall sound quality. They also have a worse continuous battery life, at 40 hours compared to the Sennheiser's 62.

At the mid-range price point, the Anker Soundcore Life Q45 Wireless are well built and comfortable but have a less neutral sound profile than the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless. They have a very excited, v-shaped sound profile that gives plenty of boomy bass and bright treble to the mix. They're well-suited for rock and pop, but fans of jazz or folk may find the lead instruments and vocals sounding veiled and lacking detail. It can be fixed, however, with the companion app's graphic EQ and presets, which let you personalize the sound to your liking.

Despite their more reasonable price, these headphones have outstanding noise cancellation performance. They have an active noise cancellation (ANC) system that's nearly as good as that of the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless and can easily block out the noise from bus engines and chatty coworkers. Their battery doesn't perform as well as the two previous models, but it still lasts nearly 28 hours continuously, which will get you through a few workdays without needing to recharge. They also support multi-device pairing, which is great if you want to stay connected to your smartphone and PC simultaneously.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless deliver great performance at a budget price. These comfortable over-ears have an adjustable ANC system, allowing you to select the setting that best suits the noise around you. Using their 'Transport' mode, they can block out an outstanding amount of sound like the rumble of bus engines, making them well-suited for your daily commute. However, there's a noticeable difference in sound quality depending on if the ANC is on or off. When turned off, your audio is somewhat hollow and thin compared to the fuller sound you hear with the ANC on.

Out of the box, they have a very excited sound profile that fans of pop and rock can enjoy, thanks to extra thump, rumble, and boom. They don't sound as neutral or balanced as the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless, so vocals and lead instruments sound more muddy and cluttered than their successor. Luckily, their companion app offers an EQ and presets if you want to adjust their sound. They also support multi-device pairing, and their continuous playback time of over 44 hours will last through long days on the move. However, they leak audio at high volumes, and even if you're in a moderately noisy environment like an office, people might hear parts of your audio.

For the most economical option, check out the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless. By now, you may have whiplash from seeing three picks from Anker in a row, but it's hard to ignore Anker's domination of the lower-end over-ear market. These are no exception, and although they're a lot simpler in design than their successors on this list, they're still worth checking out if you're willing to sacrifice extra features for a lower price point. Their build reflects their affordability; their plasticky hinges feel hollow and could be prone to damage over time.

These comfortable over-ears have a good noise isolation performance, thanks to their ANC. You can't adjust its level to suit your environment like the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, and they fall short when it comes to blocking out plane engine rumbles. However, they're a solid choice for reducing office-type noise like office chit-chat and humming computer fans. They last over 32 hours continuously, and you can use them wired if you run out of battery life. Their v-shaped sound profile is well-suited for genres like pop and rock that benefit from extra bass and brightness. However, they don't have any sound customization features to help you adjust their sound if you prefer something more neutral.

If you plan to use your headphones to listen to music and want the best-sounding Bluetooth headphones, look at the HiFiMan ANANDA-BT Wireless. Unlike the rest of the headphones listed here, they have an open-back design, which helps create a spacious, open, and natural passive soundstage to immerse you in your audio. Their planar magnetic drivers also stand out amongst other Bluetooth headphones. This design is more common in wired audiophile headphones and helps improve their bass accuracy and representation of the stereo image. As a result, they have a well-balanced sound suitable for different audio content.

Although they lack a bit of low-bass, this is typical for open-back headphones. Luckily, a touch of extra high-bass helps add a bit of warmth to their sound without mudding your mixes. Unlike other picks on this list, they also support aptX and aptX HD codecs, which help improve sound quality and reduce latency. Unfortunately, their 11.2-hour continuous battery life isn't very impressive for their price point.

The best Bluetooth headphones for calls we've tested are the Bose 700 Headphones Wireless. Even though low audio and mic quality are a result of the limitations of Bluetooth technology, these premium over-ears stand out from other options and offer the best mic performance on the list. Their mic does a good job of recording your voice clearly, even in moderately noisy environments. They have a dedicated button for muting and unmuting the mic, which can be handy if you take a lot of calls, and they last over 20 hours continuously.

They have a slightly bass-rich sound profile that keeps vocals clear and accurate in your audio, so voices over the phone are easy to understand. Their app also features a graphic EQ that you can use to customize their sound to suit you. Even though their ANC feature doesn't perform as well as the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless', it does an excellent job of blocking out background noise, so you can hear the person you're speaking with even if you're calling from a busy office. They also have a very comfortable fit and great build quality.