- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Best
- Best Mid-Range
- Best Budget
- All Reviews
- Discussions
- Store-bought headphones; no cherry-picked units
- Retest after major updates
- Easily comparable results
- No ads; unbiased reviews
Tired of tangled cords while listening to music? Some wireless headphones connect to your devices via Bluetooth to provide a cable-free listening experience. They’re not usually the best choice for gaming or watching TV since they tend to have high latency, but having the freedom of being untethered to your audio source is great when listening to music at the office, in the bus, or on the treadmill.
So far, we've reviewed over 344 headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best Bluetooth headphones to buy in 2019. See also our recommendations for the best wireless earbuds, the best on-ear wireless headphones, and the best true wireless earbuds.
-
Best Wireless Bluetooth Headphones: Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018
Usage Ratings - Version 1.27.4Mixed Usage8.0Critical Listening7.5Commute/Travel7.1Sports/Fitness7.7Office6.0TV5.6GamingThe best Bluetooth headphones that we’ve tested so far are the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. They’re well-rounded, versatile noise cancelling headphones that are very comfortable and easy-to-use. They don’t fit too tightly and have a lightweight design with well-padded ear cups. They’re suitable for use over long periods of time and are good travel headphones.
These wireless over-ears sound great, with a balanced, neutral sound profile that lends itself well to music of virtually all genres. They pack enough thump and rumble to bring out the excitement of hip-hop and EDM while sounding clear and detailed enough to be suitable for jazz or classical. Their 20-hour battery life is great, and they also have a handy auto-off timer that you can adjust the in Bose Connect app.
These headphones used to have excellent noise isolation, bested only by the Sony WH-1000XM3, but a recent firmware update (4.5.2) has weakened their ANC performance considerably. They still cancel a good amount of noise, but not as well as they used to. If noise isolation is your top priority, you’ll want to consider the Sony, which have the best ANC we’ve tested to date and are much more customizable. That said, they’re not as ergonomic as the Bose since they’re not as comfortable, and their touch-sensitive controls don’t always work as expected.
-
More Portable, Customizable Alternative: Jaybird Tarah Pro Wireless
If you want wireless headphones that are more portable but still sound decent, get the Jaybird Tarah Pro. They’re not as comfortable as the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, but they have an earbud-like fit that’s still reasonably comfortable for in-ear headphones. They’re well-built, have good audio reproduction, and are highly customizable thanks to their compatibility with the Jaybird MySound app, which features a great parametric EQ. They have a solid 13-hour battery life, and their magnetic earbuds trigger an auto-off timer when snapped together.
These earbuds use a proprietary charging cradle that can be a bit inconvenient at times, especially if you forget it somewhere. They also don’t isolate as much noise as other in-ears we’ve tested. The noise cancelling Bose QuietControl 30 have superior noise isolation, but their neckband design is less portable, and they don’t have many customization options. Overall, the Jaybird are one of the best wireless headphones we've tested. They're versatile earbuds that deliver a satisfactory listening experience, not only for athletes but for more casual users as well.
-
Versatile Gaming Alternative: SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless
If you’re a gamer but don’t want to have to buy a second pair of Bluetooth headphones for casual use, get the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. They aren't noise cancelling like the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, but they’re still among the most versatile headphones we’ve reviewed so far. They have a low-latency wireless transmitter for gaming that doubles as a battery charging station, and they also support Bluetooth. They sound impressive and their retractable microphone is great.
Unfortunately, they don’t have adjustable microphone control like the wireless Astro A50 or the wired Arctis Pro GameDAC. These headsets don’t support Bluetooth, though, and are less versatile overall. The Pro Wireless may be a bit bulky, but they’re very good headphones overall and are particularly great for gaming, watching TV or movies, and even just listening to music at home.
-
Best Mid-Range Wireless Bluetooth Headphones: Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 Wireless 2016
Usage Ratings - Version 1.27.3Mixed Usage7.7Critical Listening7.4Commute/Travel7.1Sports/Fitness7.5Office6.2TV5.9GamingIf you’re looking for versatile noise cancelling over-ear headphones but find the more premium options too expensive, the best Bluetooth headphones in the mid-range category are the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2. They’re well-made, comfortable over-ear headphones with an ergonomic design that’s easy-to-use. They provide great value for their price and are good office headphones thanks to their decent isolation and low leakage.
These headphones have an exciting bass-rich sound that will please bass fans while still sounding balanced enough to be suitable for other genres. Their battery lasts an outstanding 30 hours and benefits from numerous power-saving features, like smart pause and an auto-off timer. They can connect to 2 devices at a time and support aptX-LL, so you can use them to watch movies or play video games if you have a compatible Bluetooth dongle. The more expensive SE version also supports NFC for easier Bluetooth pairing.
Unfortunately, they have a pretty bulky design and some people may find them a bit too rumbly low-bass. The Plantronics BackBeat Go 810 Wireless are sleeker-looking headphones with a more neutral sound profile, but they’re less comfortable and don’t feel as well-built. If you're looking for well-rounded, versatile wireless over-ears, then you can't do much better than the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2, especially at their price.
-
Truly Wireless Alternative: Jabra Elite Active 65t Truly Wireless
If you prefer the compact format of truly wireless headphones, consider the Jabra Elite Active 65t. Their battery doesn’t last as long as that of the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2, but they have a much more portable design. Even though they don’t have ANC like the Plantronics, they block even more noise passively and hardly leak at all, which makes them a good choice for commuters. They sound decent and are even customizable via the Jabra Sound+ app.
On the downside, they aren’t the most comfortable in-ears we’ve tested. They have a bulky earbud design that can cause some discomfort over time, especially for those with smaller ears. Consider the Samsung Galaxy Buds for a more comfortable truly wireless alternative with longer battery life, but they are a bit harder to use due to their touch-sensitive controls that can only be customized on Android.
-
Best Budget Wireless Bluetooth Headphones: Anker SoundBuds Curve Wireless
Usage Ratings - Version 1.26.8Mixed Usage6.9Critical Listening7.0Commute/Travel7.9Sports/Fitness6.9Office5.6TV5.4GamingThe best Bluetooth headphones in the budget category are the Anker SoundBuds Curve Wireless. They’re well-designed in-ear headphones with a great performance-to-price ratio. They’re the best cheap wireless earbuds we’ve tested so far thanks to their stable yet comfortable fit, decent sound quality, and great low price.
These in-ears have powerful bass that’s well-suited for bass-heavy EDM, dubstep, or hip-hop tracks. Their deep bass may feel slightly overpowering to some, but their sound is still balanced enough to be suitable for more vocal-centric music too. They charge in an hour and a half and provide nearly 13 hours of continuous playback, which is pretty good, especially for wireless earbuds.
Like most budget headphones, they don’t have many active features. If you use a Samsung device and want more customization options, like an EQ or an auto-off timer, consider the Samsung U Flex. They’re a bit more expensive, but also provide a more premium experience with their companion app. That said, the Anker SoundBuds Curve are more comfortable, sound better out-of-the-box, and provide unbeatable value for their price.
-
On-Ear Alternative: Skullcandy Grind Wireless
If you're not a big fan of in-ears but want an affordable pair of wireless headphones, then consider the Skullcandy Grind. They’re not as portable as the Anker SoundBuds Curve, but they're surprisingly comfortable for on-ear headphones. They’re well-built, sound decent, have a good battery life, and are easy-to-use.
Though these headphones are comfortable, they don't have a very stable fit and they don’t block a lot of ambient noise. They also don’t fold up in a more compact format, so they aren’t as portable as other on-ear headphones. However, they still perform reasonably well for budget wireless headphones and are hard to beat for their price.
Notable Mentions
- Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless: Wireless headphones with outstanding noise cancellation and premium build quality. Bass-heavy sound and touch-sensitive control scheme. See our review
- Jabra Elite 85h Wireless: Comfortable over-ear headphones with a great physical control scheme and well-balanced sound, but ANC not on-par with other noise cancelling headsets. See our review
- Bowers & Wilkins PX Wireless: Decently versatile wireless headphones with great noise cancelling and excellent build quality. They would be a great alternative to the QC 35 II, but they do not sound quite as good. See our review
- B&O PLAY Beoplay H9i Wireless: Very well-built, comfortable over-ears with an exaggerated V-shaped frequency response and ordinary ANC performance. See our review
- Beats Studio 3 Wireless: A good upgrade to the Beats Studio Wireless with better overall performance. They don't perform as well as the Bose or Sony over-ears for around the same price. See our review
- Astro A50 Wireless: A well-designed and comfortable wireless gaming headset. Good for movies and videos, but can't be used outdoors without their dock like the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. See our review
- Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Wireless: A good gaming headset that is Bluetooth-compatible but doesn't perform as well as similarly-priced gaming headphones. See our review
- Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless: Good overall performance and great customizable features. Mediocre at best isolation. See our review
- Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC: Versatile wireless headset with a lot of features. Not as good as the Plantronics for around the same price. See our review
- Plantronics BackBeat Go 810 Wireless: Stylish over-ears with a great, neutral sound, but sub-par noise-isolation and are less comfortable than BackBeat Pro 2. See our review
- Marshall MID ANC Wireless: Versatile and good sounding on-ears with a great design, but mediocre noise isolation performance. See our review
- Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless: Comfortable headphones that sound good, but their on-ear design is a bit limiting. See our review
- Bose QuietControl 30/QC30 Wireless: Good noise cancelling earbuds for traveling. A worthwhile consideration for those who like the QC 35 II but prefer an earbud-style fit. See our review
- Jabra Elite 65e Wireless: A good and cheaper alternative to the Bose QC 30, but don't perform as well overall. See our review
- Samsung U Flex Wireless: Decent wireless in-ears with lots of customization options, but limited functionality for non-Samsung users. See our review
- Anker SoundCore Liberty Air Truly Wireless: Truly wireless in-ears with great audio reproduction. Not customizable and less sweatproof than Jabra Elite Active 65t, but a good alternative for casual use. See our review
- Beats Powerbeats Pro Truly Wireless : Good-sounding truly wireless headphones with great battery performance, but not customizable like the Jaybird Tarah Pro. See our review
- Samsung Galaxy Buds Truly Wireless: Comfortable truly wireless earbuds that have a nice low-profile design, but app support is limited to Android. See our review
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best Bluetooth headphones to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for wireless headphones. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.
Recommended Articles
Unlimited access to full product reviews, test measurements and scores
Product prices across the site on reviews, tables and tools
Additional votes for our
next reviews
Early Access
to our reviews and test measurements
