The 7 Best Wireless Bluetooth Headphones - March 2019
Reviews

Tired of tangled cords while listening to music? Wireless headphones offer a cable-free listening experience and typically connect to your devices via Bluetooth. They’re convenient for any situation, especially during workouts.

So far, we've reviewed 283 headphones and below are our recommendations for the best wireless headphones to buy in March 2019. See also our recommendations for the best wireless over-ear headphones, the best wireless earbuds, and the best true wireless earbuds.

1. Best Wireless Headphones: Bose QuietComfort 35 II

   

   Bose QuietComfort 35 II

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com
   Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

   Test Benches:

   • 1.2: Winter 2018
   • 1.1: Summer 2017
   • 1.0: Winter 2017
   • 0.9: Winter 2016

   See changelog and how ratings work

   7.4

   Mixed Usage

   What it is: This is the combination of the different use cases to evaluate how versatile the headphones are. Therefore an everyday headphone should be well-rounded enough to adapt to most situations and environments without significant losses in sound quality, design ergonomics or isolation.

   Score components:

   • 25% Critical Listening
   • 25% Office
   • 25% Commute/Travel
   • 10% Sports/Fitness
   • 9% Gaming
   • 6% TV

   Score distribution:

   7.9

   Critical Listening

   What it is: The level of audio fidelity a headphone can reproduce. Therefore a balanced and true representation of bass, mids, treble, soundstage and imaging, as well as a comfortable listening experience, is essential for critical listening.

   Score components:

   • 80% Sound
   • 10% Build Quality
   • 7% Comfort
   • 3% Breathability

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   7.7

   Commute/Travel

   What it is: How well the headphones handle the loud environments involved in commuting or traveling. Therefore your listening experience should be comfortable, hassle-free and as isolated from noise as possible.

   Score components:

   • 24% Noise Isolation
   • 14% Sound
   • 11% Portability
   • 10% Comfort
   • 9% Build Quality
   • 9% Battery
   • 6% Wireless Range
   • 4% Controls
   • 4% Breathability
   • 4% Leakage
   • 3% Microphone
   • 1% Multi-Device Pairing
   • 1% NFC

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   7.1

   Sports/Fitness

   What it is: How well-adapted the headphones are, to use while doing sports or strenuous exercise. Therefore the headphones should not be too cumbersome and deliver a stable and comfortable listening experience.

   Score components:

   • 24% Stability
   • 23% Portability
   • 11% Sound
   • 10% Breathability
   • 8% Comfort
   • 6% Wireless Range
   • 5% Controls
   • 5% Battery
   • 4% Noise Isolation
   • 4% Leakage

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   7.8

   Office

   What it is: How well the headphones can deliver a comfortable and isolated listening experience in an office-like environment. They should not leak much and should block the noise of a busy office.

   Score components:

   • 24% Comfort
   • 21% Sound
   • 16% Noise Isolation
   • 8% Leakage
   • 7% Battery
   • 7% Wireless Range
   • 5% Breathability
   • 4% Build Quality
   • 4% Microphone
   • 2% Controls
   • <1% Multi-Device Pairing
   • <1% USB
   • <1% PC Compatible
   • <1% Latency
   • <1% Analog
   • <1% Line In
   • <1% USB Input
   • <1% PC Compatible
   • <1% Power Supply
   • <1% Dock Charging

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   6.0

   TV

   Score components:

   • 22% Sound
   • 17% Comfort
   • 15% Default Latency
   • 10% Wireless Range
   • 5% Breathability
   • 5% Build Quality
   • 4% Optical Input
   • 3% Battery
   • 3% Analog
   • 3% Leakage
   • 2% Noise Isolation
   • 2% RCA Input
   • 2% Multi-Device Pairing
   • 2% Line In
   • 2% Line Out
   • 2% Power Supply
   • 1% Dock Charging

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   5.6

   Gaming

   Score components:

   • 20% Sound
   • 20% Default Latency
   • 15% Comfort
   • 12% Microphone
   • 5% Breathability
   • 5% Battery
   • 5% Base/Dock
   • 3% Build Quality
   • 3% Wireless Range
   • 3% Microphone Control
   • 2% Channel Mixing
   • 2% Wired
   • 2% Volume Control
   • 2% App Support
   • 1% Bluetooth

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations
   Type : Over-ear
   Enclosure : Closed-Back
   Wireless : Yes
   Noise-Cancelling : Yes
   Mic : Yes
   Transducer : Dynamic

   The best wireless headphones we've tested are the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. They're super comfortable and easy-to-use Bluetooth headphones with one of the best noise cancellation feature on the market. They also have a well-balanced sound and a good battery life, which makes them versatile enough for most environments and uses.

   The QC35 II are a slightly better option overall than the Sony WH-1000XM3 and the Bowers and Wilkins PX, mostly thanks to their more comfortable over-ear fit and easier to use design. They also have a slightly better-balanced default sound that packs a lot of bass without overpowering instruments and vocals.

   Overall, they are the best Bluetooth headphones we've reviewed. The Sony WH-1000XM3 have a lot more customization options and the B&W PX are better built and look a lot more premium than the Bose for around the same price. However, the better sound quality and comfort level of the QC35 II make them the slightly better choice overall. If you prefer a more portable option, but are still looking for great isolation, check out the earbud-style Bose QuietControl 30.

   See our review

2. More Customizable Alternative: Sony WH-1000XM3

   

   Sony WH-1000XM3

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com

   Type : Over-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : Yes

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you prefer having control over the sound of your headphones but still want great isolation from ambient noise, get the Sony WH-1000XM3. They're not quite as comfortable as the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, but they have a great companion app that lets you customize your listening experience. You get access to great EQ, pre-sets, and room effects, as well as more in-depth ANC controls, including an optimizer to calibrate the noise cancellation to your environment and an auto-off timer that you can set yourself to save battery.

   Though some may prefer the bass-heavy sound of Sony WH-1000XM3, it also makes them sound slightly darker overall. They may sound a little boomy to some, but you can always EQ their sound profile to better match what you're listening to. Overall, the XM3 are one of the best Bluetooth headsets we've tested and are a solid alternative to the QC35 II.

   See our review

3. More Versatile Alternative For Gaming: SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless

   

   SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com

   Type : Over-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you want a headset that can do it all, get the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. It doesn’t have an active noise cancelling feature like the Bose QuietComfort 35 II or the Sony WH-1000XM3, but it’s one of the most versatile headsets we’ve reviewed so far. It has not only an awesome low-latency wireless transmitter with tons of connectivity options for gaming and home theatre use, but also supports Bluetooth.

   The Arctis Pro Wireless are very good headphones for most uses and are particularly great for gaming, watching TV or movies, and critical listening. The Arctis Pro Wireless sound impressive. The wireless transmitter of Pro Wireless doubles as a battery charging station and they come with two swappable batteries. They have very little latency when used with their wireless transmitter, and although they lag a bit more over Bluetooth, they still perform better than most wireless headphones. Unfortunately, the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless don’t have adjustable microphone control, like the wireless Astro A50 or the wired Arctis Pro Wireless GameDAC. These headsets don’t support Bluetooth, though, and are less versatile.

   See our review

4. Best Mid-Range Wireless Headphones: Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2

   

   Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com
   Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

   Test Benches:

   • 1.2: Winter 2018
   • 1.1: Summer 2017
   • 1.0: Winter 2017
   • 0.9: Winter 2016

   See changelog and how ratings work

   7.3

   Mixed Usage

   What it is: This is the combination of the different use cases to evaluate how versatile the headphones are. Therefore an everyday headphone should be well-rounded enough to adapt to most situations and environments without significant losses in sound quality, design ergonomics or isolation.

   Score components:

   • 25% Critical Listening
   • 25% Office
   • 25% Commute/Travel
   • 10% Sports/Fitness
   • 9% Gaming
   • 6% TV

   Score distribution:

   7.7

   Critical Listening

   What it is: The level of audio fidelity a headphone can reproduce. Therefore a balanced and true representation of bass, mids, treble, soundstage and imaging, as well as a comfortable listening experience, is essential for critical listening.

   Score components:

   • 80% Sound
   • 10% Build Quality
   • 7% Comfort
   • 3% Breathability

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   7.4

   Commute/Travel

   What it is: How well the headphones handle the loud environments involved in commuting or traveling. Therefore your listening experience should be comfortable, hassle-free and as isolated from noise as possible.

   Score components:

   • 24% Noise Isolation
   • 14% Sound
   • 11% Portability
   • 10% Comfort
   • 9% Build Quality
   • 9% Battery
   • 6% Wireless Range
   • 4% Controls
   • 4% Breathability
   • 4% Leakage
   • 3% Microphone
   • 1% Multi-Device Pairing
   • 1% NFC

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   7.1

   Sports/Fitness

   What it is: How well-adapted the headphones are, to use while doing sports or strenuous exercise. Therefore the headphones should not be too cumbersome and deliver a stable and comfortable listening experience.

   Score components:

   • 24% Stability
   • 23% Portability
   • 11% Sound
   • 10% Breathability
   • 8% Comfort
   • 6% Wireless Range
   • 5% Controls
   • 5% Battery
   • 4% Noise Isolation
   • 4% Leakage

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   7.5

   Office

   What it is: How well the headphones can deliver a comfortable and isolated listening experience in an office-like environment. They should not leak much and should block the noise of a busy office.

   Score components:

   • 24% Comfort
   • 21% Sound
   • 16% Noise Isolation
   • 8% Leakage
   • 7% Battery
   • 7% Wireless Range
   • 5% Breathability
   • 4% Build Quality
   • 4% Microphone
   • 2% Controls
   • <1% Multi-Device Pairing
   • <1% USB
   • <1% PC Compatible
   • <1% Latency
   • <1% Analog
   • <1% Line In
   • <1% USB Input
   • <1% PC Compatible
   • <1% Power Supply
   • <1% Dock Charging

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   6.2

   TV

   Score components:

   • 22% Sound
   • 17% Comfort
   • 15% Default Latency
   • 10% Wireless Range
   • 5% Breathability
   • 5% Build Quality
   • 4% Optical Input
   • 3% Battery
   • 3% Analog
   • 3% Leakage
   • 2% Noise Isolation
   • 2% RCA Input
   • 2% Multi-Device Pairing
   • 2% Line In
   • 2% Line Out
   • 2% Power Supply
   • 1% Dock Charging

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   5.9

   Gaming

   Score components:

   • 20% Sound
   • 20% Default Latency
   • 15% Comfort
   • 12% Microphone
   • 5% Breathability
   • 5% Battery
   • 5% Base/Dock
   • 3% Build Quality
   • 3% Wireless Range
   • 3% Microphone Control
   • 2% Channel Mixing
   • 2% Wired
   • 2% Volume Control
   • 2% App Support
   • 1% Bluetooth

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations
   Type : Over-ear
   Enclosure : Closed-Back
   Wireless : Yes
   Noise-Cancelling : Yes
   Mic : Yes
   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you like wireless noise-canceling headphones like the Bose QuietComfort 35 II and the Sony WH-1000XM3, but find them a bit too expensive, then get the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 instead. They're not as comfortable and have weaker noise canceling than the Bose and do not have the customization options of the Sony WH-1000XM3, but they are one of the more versatile and well-rounded over-ears that we've tested and offer a great value for your money.

   They have an exciting sound that will please fans of bass, a sturdy, comfortable, and ergonomic design that's easy to use, and a great wireless range and battery life that's suitable for most uses. They're also decent enough to watch movies and game with if you have the right Bluetooth dongle that supports aptX Low-Latency.

   Unfortunately, they are a little bulky and cumbersome to carry around. Also, since they have no EQ, you cannot really adjust their bass if it's too much for you. However, if you're looking for a good, mid-range wireless over-ear, then you can't do much better than the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2.

   See our review

5. More Portable Alternative With Onboard Storage: Samsung Gear IconX

   

   Samsung Gear IconX

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com

   Type : In-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Truly Wireless

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you need a more portable design that can fit into your pockets, then get the Samsung Gear IconX. They don't have the excellent wireless range or long lasting battery life of the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2, but they have 4GB of onboard storage, so you do not need to have your phone on you to listen to music. They also have a built-in coach to keep track of your progress via the Samsung Gear/Health app which makes them a great option for sports. They sound decent and have a good passively isolating in-ear design that's suitable for sports and commuting.

   Unfortunately, the Samsung Gear IconX are not very sweat resistant. Our test model would often get clogged and lose a lot of its volume output. Although they could be cleaned, this isn’t ideal for athletes or even more casual fitness enthusiasts.

   See our review

6. Best Budget Wireless Headphones: Anker SoundBuds Curve

   

   Anker SoundBuds Curve

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com
   Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

   Test Benches:

   • 1.2: Winter 2018
   • 1.1: Summer 2017
   • 1.0: Winter 2017
   • 0.9: Winter 2016

   See changelog and how ratings work

   6.8

   Mixed Usage

   What it is: This is the combination of the different use cases to evaluate how versatile the headphones are. Therefore an everyday headphone should be well-rounded enough to adapt to most situations and environments without significant losses in sound quality, design ergonomics or isolation.

   Score components:

   • 25% Critical Listening
   • 25% Office
   • 25% Commute/Travel
   • 10% Sports/Fitness
   • 9% Gaming
   • 6% TV

   Score distribution:

   6.9

   Critical Listening

   What it is: The level of audio fidelity a headphone can reproduce. Therefore a balanced and true representation of bass, mids, treble, soundstage and imaging, as well as a comfortable listening experience, is essential for critical listening.

   Score components:

   • 80% Sound
   • 10% Build Quality
   • 7% Comfort
   • 3% Breathability

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   7.0

   Commute/Travel

   What it is: How well the headphones handle the loud environments involved in commuting or traveling. Therefore your listening experience should be comfortable, hassle-free and as isolated from noise as possible.

   Score components:

   • 24% Noise Isolation
   • 14% Sound
   • 11% Portability
   • 10% Comfort
   • 9% Build Quality
   • 9% Battery
   • 6% Wireless Range
   • 4% Controls
   • 4% Breathability
   • 4% Leakage
   • 3% Microphone
   • 1% Multi-Device Pairing
   • 1% NFC

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   7.9

   Sports/Fitness

   What it is: How well-adapted the headphones are, to use while doing sports or strenuous exercise. Therefore the headphones should not be too cumbersome and deliver a stable and comfortable listening experience.

   Score components:

   • 24% Stability
   • 23% Portability
   • 11% Sound
   • 10% Breathability
   • 8% Comfort
   • 6% Wireless Range
   • 5% Controls
   • 5% Battery
   • 4% Noise Isolation
   • 4% Leakage

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   6.9

   Office

   What it is: How well the headphones can deliver a comfortable and isolated listening experience in an office-like environment. They should not leak much and should block the noise of a busy office.

   Score components:

   • 24% Comfort
   • 21% Sound
   • 16% Noise Isolation
   • 8% Leakage
   • 7% Battery
   • 7% Wireless Range
   • 5% Breathability
   • 4% Build Quality
   • 4% Microphone
   • 2% Controls
   • <1% Multi-Device Pairing
   • <1% USB
   • <1% PC Compatible
   • <1% Latency
   • <1% Analog
   • <1% Line In
   • <1% USB Input
   • <1% PC Compatible
   • <1% Power Supply
   • <1% Dock Charging

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   5.5

   TV

   Score components:

   • 22% Sound
   • 17% Comfort
   • 15% Default Latency
   • 10% Wireless Range
   • 5% Breathability
   • 5% Build Quality
   • 4% Optical Input
   • 3% Battery
   • 3% Analog
   • 3% Leakage
   • 2% Noise Isolation
   • 2% RCA Input
   • 2% Multi-Device Pairing
   • 2% Line In
   • 2% Line Out
   • 2% Power Supply
   • 1% Dock Charging

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations

   5.3

   Gaming

   Score components:

   • 20% Sound
   • 20% Default Latency
   • 15% Comfort
   • 12% Microphone
   • 5% Breathability
   • 5% Battery
   • 5% Base/Dock
   • 3% Build Quality
   • 3% Wireless Range
   • 3% Microphone Control
   • 2% Channel Mixing
   • 2% Wired
   • 2% Volume Control
   • 2% App Support
   • 1% Bluetooth

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations
   Type : In-ear
   Enclosure : Closed-Back
   Wireless : Yes
   Noise-Cancelling : No
   Mic : Yes
   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you like deep thumping bass and saving money, get the Anker SoundBuds Curve. These well-designed wireless in-ears have a great performance-to-price ratio and are among our best cheap earbuds. They’re more comfortable than many other in-ear headphones we’ve tested and have a great, stable fit which makes them a good choice for sports and fitness activities.

   The Anker SoundBuds Curve sound decent, especially for budget in-ear headphones. They have powerful bass and are 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 adequately balanced enough to enjoy most genres of music. They have a decent battery too; they charge in an hour and a half and provide nearly 13 hours of continuous playback.

   Like many other budget headphones, the Anker SoundBuds Curve don’t have many active features, as they don’t have any battery power saving options and don’t have a companion app. 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 the Samsung Level app. That said, the Anker SoundBuds Curve provide unbeatable value, especially if you’re a fan of bass.

   See our review

7. On-Ear Alternative: Skullcandy Grind

   

   Skullcandy Grind

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com

   Type : On-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you're not a big fan of in-ears but want an affordable pair of wireless headphones, then we recommend the Skullcandy Grind. They won't be as portable as the Anker SoundBuds Curve, and they do not fold like other on-ears to be a bit more compact to carry around in your bag. On the upside, they're surprisingly well-built for their price range, they're easy-to-use, and deliver an above-average sound that's good enough for most listeners and uses. They have a good battery life and decent wireless range, and they're easily one of the most comfortable on-ears we've tested, only beaten by the Bose SoundLink On-Ear which are much pricier.

   They don't block a lot of ambient noise, and they aren't the most stable headphones for sports and physical activity since they are not as tight on the head as most on-ears (which is a good thing for comfort, but not stability). However, they offer a great value for your money and are a difficult headphone to beat at this their price.

   See our review