Whether your phone has nixed the audio jack or you prefer the freedom of going wireless, Bluetooth headphones are a great way to enjoy your favorite music cable-free. There are a couple of disadvantages compared to wired headphones, like needing to keep an eye on battery levels and possible lip-sync issues when watching videos, but not having to worry about tangled cords when you're running out the door on a busy morning makes wireless headphones worth it for many.
We've tested over 670 pairs of headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best wireless headphones to buy. Also, check out our recommendations for the best wireless earbuds, the best true wireless earbuds, and the best budget wireless headphones.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 are the best wireless headphones that we've tested. These sleek and premium over-ears have a great build quality and are packed full of features. Their active noise cancelling (ANC) system offers a fantastic overall performance that lands them among the best noise cancelling headphones we've tested. They can cut down the low rumble of bus and plane engines to office chatter and the high-pitched hum of AC units.
If you care about customizability, these headphones come with a companion app that offers control remapping as well as a graphic EQ and presets to help you finetune 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. Out of the box, they have a pretty bass-heavy sound profile that delivers extra thump, rumble, and boom to mixes, making them a solid choice if you listen to EDM or hip-hop.
Unfortunately, their integrated mic offers a sub-par overall performance. Your voice sounds muffled, and if you're taking a call from a noisy environment, your voice can be drowned out. These headphones offer a solid performance that makes them some of the best headphones we've tested.
If you're looking for more comfortable over-ears, check out the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless. While they don't feel as premium or well-built as the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless, they have a lightweight fit that doesn't clamp too tightly onto your head, making them a great choice for long days on the go. They also have an ANC system that does an excellent job of blocking out background noise like the low rumble of bus and plane engines. Their well-balanced sound profile is suitable for different audio content, but their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets if you want to customize their sound. They support multi-device pairing, meaning you can stay connected to your PC and smartphone at the same time. Their over 21 hours of continuous battery life should last throughout your workday, and they also have an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life when you're not using them.
Try the Sony if you're looking for better-built headphones with longer continuous battery life. However, if you value comfort during long listening sessions, go for the Bose instead.
If you prefer a lighter, more portable design than over-ears, the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds we've tested are the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless. They have an impressive ANC feature that can isolate you from a broad range of noise, including the low rumble of bus and plane engines. It's also adjustable through their companion app, so you can adjust how much ambient noise you hear.
They have a sturdy, premium build, an IPX4 rating for water resistance, and stability fins that help keep them in place during workouts. Out of the box, they have a very neutral, versatile sound profile, but if you prefer a different sound, it can also be customized with a graphic EQ and presets in the app. They provide about seven hours of continuous use, and their case supplies about two additional charges.
Unfortunately, they have a somewhat bulky design for earbuds and stick out of your ears a bit, which some may find annoying. Their control scheme isn't the best since it lacks a track skipping function, and some commands can be hard to register. Otherwise, they offer a customizable, versatile performance and are among the best noise cancelling headphones we've tested.
If you're looking for headphones that offer more functionality with Apple devices, go for the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless. While their battery's continuous playback time is shorter than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless, and they don't have any sound customization features, they have a couple of unique features only available to iOS users. Their H1 chip allows you to seamlessly pair the headphones with your Apple devices. They're also compatible with Spatial Audio, which is Apple's virtual soundstage feature. Although it's only available on iOS/iPadOS 14 or later, this feature reorients sound to follow the movement of your head, which can make for a more immersive audio experience. Overall, these buds have a great build quality and comfortable fit. They have a great noise isolation performance, thanks to their ANC, and their fairly neutral sound profile is suitable for most kinds of audio genres.
Take a look at the Bose if you like to adjust your headphones' sound to your liking or if longer continuous battery life is a priority. However, if you have a lot of Apple products and want unique features tied to this ecosystem, check out the Apple headphones instead.
The best Βluetooth headphones for working out are the Jaybird Vista 2 Truly Wireless. What sets them apart from the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless is their sports-oriented design. They're certified IP68 for dust and water resistance, meaning they can survive accidental water submersion. They also have a comfortable stability fin design that ensures that they don't move around or fall out of your ears while you're exercising.
These buds have a well-balanced sound profile that you can adjust to your liking using their companion app's parametric EQ and presets. The app also offers features that allow you to better hear your surroundings and cut down on wind noise, both of which are great if you're running outdoors. While their 5.3-hour continuous battery life may not be enough to get you through your day without pausing to recharge them, their carrying case holds roughly two additional charges if you need it.
Unfortunately, their ANC offers a sub-par overall performance as it struggles to block out bass-heavy noise like bus engines, which can be frustrating if you exercise outdoors. Their integrated mic struggles to separate speech from moderate noise around you, so if you're taking a call from a busy gym, your voice can be drowned out. However, if you're looking for sportier headphones designed with tough workouts in mind, they're worth checking out.
The best Bluetooth headphones under $100 that we've tested are the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless. These comfortable over-ears have an adjustable ANC system so that you can select the setting that best suits the noise around you. Using their 'Transport' mode, they can block out an outstanding amount of ambient noise like the rumble of bus engines, making them well-suited for your daily commute.
They have a very excited sound profile out-of-the-box that fans of pop and rock can enjoy. They deliver intense thump, rumble, and boom while vocals and lead instruments are bright. If you want to tune them to your liking, they have a companion app that offers a graphic EQ and presets. They also support multi-device pairing, meaning you can stay connected to your PC and smartphone at the same time, and they have a continuous playback time of over 44 hours, which should last through long days on the go.
Unfortunately, they leak audio at high volumes, and even if you're in a moderately noisy environment like an office, people may be able to hear parts of your audio. Their integrated mic has sub-par noise handling, so if you're taking a call from a busy street, your voice can be completely drowned out. However, if you're looking for headphones with powerful noise cancelling, they offer versatile performance.
The best budget wireless Bluetooth headphones that we've tested are the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless. Although it's fairly uncommon to find noise cancelling headphones at this price point, these in-ears stand out from the crowd, not only for having ANC but for doing a great job of blocking out sound. When turned on, their ANC can reduce the rumbly noise from train engines and ambient chatter, making them suitable for commutes or long days at the office.
Beyond ANC, these buds are otherwise simple in design. They have an excited sound profile that adds a touch of extra thump to mixes while higher-pitched sounds like cymbals are bright. They're well-built, rated IPX6 for resistance against immersion in water, and have a stable and decently comfortable fit. Their battery lasts over eight hours continuously, and their carrying case holds two extra charges.
Unfortunately, they don't have any customization features to help you adjust their sound. Their integrated mic also struggles to separate your voice from background noise, making it difficult to understand speech if you're calling from a noisy office. However, these buds have a solid noise isolation performance worth checking out.
The best cheap wireless Bluetooth headphones we've tested are the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless. Unlike most headphones at this price point, these buds have three EQ presets built-in, which give you a bit more control over their sound. Using their flattest EQ, 'JLab Signature', results in a bass-rich sound profile with extra thump, rumble, and boom, making them well-suited for genres like EDM and hip-hop.
These buds have a good quality that the manufacturer certifies to be IPX4 for resistance against water splashes. Their battery lasts over nine hours continuously, and there are three additional charges in the case to help them last throughout your day. Although they don't have noise cancelling and struggle to passively isolate you from commuter-related noise like the rumble of bus engines, they do a better job of cutting down office chatter.
Their carrying case seems prone to damage as the charging cable is integrated into its design. If the cable gets damaged, you'll need to replace the entire case. The case's lid also seems thin, and it doesn't lock into place, so the buds can fall out if you aren't careful. Still, if you're on a tight budget, these buds have a decent performance and come in a few unique colors to suit your style.
May 03, 2022: Removed the Jabra Evolve2 85 Wireless as they're not currently available. Minor updates to the text for accuracy.
Apr 04, 2022: We've replaced the Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless with the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless as the QC35 II have been discontinued.
Mar 02, 2022: We've checked our picks for product availability and accuracy. However, there hasn't been a change in our recommendations.
Jan 27, 2022: Replaced the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless with the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless as the TOZO offer a better noise isolation performance and added the Anker to Notable Mentions. Also made the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless the 'Best Cheap Wireless Bluetooth Headphones'.
Dec 23, 2021: Checked that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock. There hasn't been a change in our recommendations.
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 Bluetooth-compatible headphone reviews. 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.