If you want to invest in a pair of above-average handphones that deliver a good and reliable listening experience, you have a lot of options at your disposal. The headphones in this list are versatile, well-built and deliver a good sound quality. They typically provide additional features like wireless Bluetooth and active noise cancelling.

So far, we've tested 146 headphones under $200 and below are our recommendations for the best ones you can buy today.  

• Best Over-Ear Headphones under $200: Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2

  

  Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2

  SEE PRICE

  Amazon.com
  Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

  ✕

  Test Benches: test

  • 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% Home Theater

  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
  • 10% Build Quality
  • 10% 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
  • 3% Build Quality
  • 3% Microphone
  • 1% Controls
  • 1% Multi-Device Pairing
  • 0% USB
  • 0% PC Compatible
  • 0% Latency
  • 0% Analog
  • 0% Line In
  • 0% USB Input
  • 0% PC Compatible
  • 0% Power Supply
  • 0% Dock Charging

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  6.2

  Home Theater

  ✕

  Score components:

  • 23% Sound
  • 17% Comfort
  • 15% Default Latency
  • 10% Wireless Range
  • 5% Build Quality
  • 5% Breathability
  • 4% Optical Input
  • 4% Battery
  • 3% Analog
  • 3% Leakage
  • 3% Noise Isolation
  • 2% RCA Input
  • 2% Multi-Device Pairing
  • 2% Line In
  • 2% Line Out
  • 2% Power Supply
  • 2% Dock Charging

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  5.9

  Gaming

  ✕

  Score components:

  • 21% Sound
  • 21% Default Latency
  • 15% Comfort
  • 12% Microphone
  • 5% Breathability
  • 5% Battery
  • 5% Base/Dock
  • 3% Build Quality
  • 3% Wireless Range
  • 3% Microphone Control
  • 3% Channel Mixing
  • 3% 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 over ear headphones you can get under $200 are the Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2. They're a well-built and versatile, wireless over-ear with noise cancellation, a great bass-rich sound quality and excellent battery life and wireless range. They're also decently comfortable and have a tactile and efficient control scheme.

  Unfortunately, they do not have the customization options of some of the other wireless headphones we've tested in their price range, like the Sennheiser HD 4.50. Their noise cancellation feature is also not as strong so they won't be the best option for very noisy conditions. 

  Overall, the Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2 are the best and most versatile over-ears you can get below $200.

  See our review

• Alternative for critical listening: AKG K702

  

  AKG K702

  SEE PRICE

  Amazon.com

  Type : Over-ear

  Enclosure : Open-Back

  Wireless : No

  Noise-Cancelling : No

  Mic : No

  Transducer : Dynamic

  If sound quality is the most important attribute in your headphone selection, then go for the AKG K702 instead of the Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2. The AKGs are wired open-back headphones that will not be as practical for every day casual use like the Plantronics. They also do not have the powerful bass range of the Backbeat Pro 2, which some fans of bass-heavy music will prefer. On the upside, the K702 sound more balanced and open than the Plantronics. They're also more comfortable and deliver a better soundstage. Overall, if you want a good critical listening headphone under $200, then the AKG K702 are a great choice.

  See our review

  Alternative for Gaming and Home Theater: SteelSeries Arctis 7

  

  SteelSeries Arctis 7

  SEE PRICE

  Amazon.com

  Type : Over-ear

  Enclosure : Closed-Back

  Wireless : Yes

  Noise-Cancelling : No

  Mic : Yes

  Transducer : Dynamic

  If you want a great headset for more indoor uses like watching movies and gaming, then the Steelseries Arctis 7 are the best option below 200$.  They won't be as practical to use on the go as the Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2 since they will not work wirelessly with your phone and they do not isolate well enough for commute or travel. They also do not sound as balanced or as spacious as the AKG K702. However, for gaming and mostly indoor use, they're one of the best headphones we've tested. They have incredibly low latency, they're sturdy and well-built and they're comfortable to wear for hours. They also have multiple ports and connection options, so they will work with your phone when wired and wirelessly with your PS4, PC, and even your TV once you get the right set up with their USB dongle.

  See our review

• Best On-Ear Headphones under $200: Bose SoundLink On-Ear

  

  Bose SoundLink On-Ear

  SEE PRICE

  Amazon.com
  Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

  ✕

  Test Benches: test

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

  See changelog and how ratings work

  7.0

  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% Home Theater

  Score distribution:

  7.5

  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
  • 10% Build Quality
  • 10% 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

  7.1

  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
  • 3% Build Quality
  • 3% Microphone
  • 1% Controls
  • 1% Multi-Device Pairing
  • 0% USB
  • 0% PC Compatible
  • 0% Latency
  • 0% Analog
  • 0% Line In
  • 0% USB Input
  • 0% PC Compatible
  • 0% Power Supply
  • 0% Dock Charging

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  6.2

  Home Theater

  ✕

  Score components:

  • 23% Sound
  • 17% Comfort
  • 15% Default Latency
  • 10% Wireless Range
  • 5% Build Quality
  • 5% Breathability
  • 4% Optical Input
  • 4% Battery
  • 3% Analog
  • 3% Leakage
  • 3% Noise Isolation
  • 2% RCA Input
  • 2% Multi-Device Pairing
  • 2% Line In
  • 2% Line Out
  • 2% Power Supply
  • 2% Dock Charging

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  5.9

  Gaming

  ✕

  Score components:

  • 21% Sound
  • 21% Default Latency
  • 15% Comfort
  • 12% Microphone
  • 5% Breathability
  • 5% Battery
  • 5% Base/Dock
  • 3% Build Quality
  • 3% Wireless Range
  • 3% Microphone Control
  • 3% Channel Mixing
  • 3% Wired
  • 2% Volume Control
  • 2% App Support
  • 1% Bluetooth

  Score distribution:

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

  If you find the over-ear recommendations a little too bulky and do not like the fit of in-ears then get the Bose SoundLink On-Ear. They won't be the best under noisy conditions since they do not isolate as well as the noise canceling Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2. They also won't be the best option for gaming or critical listening like the other over-ear picks. 

  On the upside, they are considerably more portable. They're also incredibly comfortable for an on-ear design and they have a better sound quality than the Bowers & Wilkins P5 Wireless and the Beats Solo 3, which are a lot more expensive. 

  Overall, the Bose SoundLink deliver a good wireless experience that's easy to recommend especially for an on-ear. They're also one of the best sounding and most comfortable on-ears we've tested, which makes them a great choice under $200.

  See our review

• Best In-Ear / Earbuds Headphones under $200: Samsung Gear IconX

  

  Samsung Gear IconX

  SEE PRICE

  Amazon.com
  Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

  ✕

  Test Benches: test

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

  See changelog and how ratings work

  7.1

  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% Home Theater

  Score distribution:

  7.3

  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

  7.5

  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
  • 10% Build Quality
  • 10% Battery
  • 6% Wireless Range
  • 4% Controls
  • 4% Breathability
  • 4% Leakage
  • 3% Microphone
  • 1% Multi-Device Pairing
  • 1% NFC

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  8.2

  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

  7.3

  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
  • 3% Build Quality
  • 3% Microphone
  • 1% Controls
  • 1% Multi-Device Pairing
  • 0% USB
  • 0% PC Compatible
  • 0% Latency
  • 0% Analog
  • 0% Line In
  • 0% USB Input
  • 0% PC Compatible
  • 0% Power Supply
  • 0% Dock Charging

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  5.5

  Home Theater

  ✕

  Score components:

  • 23% Sound
  • 17% Comfort
  • 15% Default Latency
  • 10% Wireless Range
  • 5% Build Quality
  • 5% Breathability
  • 4% Optical Input
  • 4% Battery
  • 3% Analog
  • 3% Leakage
  • 3% Noise Isolation
  • 2% RCA Input
  • 2% Multi-Device Pairing
  • 2% Line In
  • 2% Line Out
  • 2% Power Supply
  • 2% Dock Charging

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  4.9

  Gaming

  ✕

  Score components:

  • 21% Sound
  • 21% Default Latency
  • 15% Comfort
  • 12% Microphone
  • 5% Breathability
  • 5% Battery
  • 5% Base/Dock
  • 3% Build Quality
  • 3% Wireless Range
  • 3% Microphone Control
  • 3% Channel Mixing
  • 3% Wired
  • 2% Volume Control
  • 2% App Support
  • 1% Bluetooth

  Score distribution:

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

  If you want to make the switch to a truly wireless headphone, then the best option under $200 are the Samsung Gear Icon X. They won't have the range and battery life of the over-ears and on-ears on this list. They're also Bluetooth-only headphones that do not have a lot of connection options so they won't be the best headphones to use with all your devices.

  On the upside, they're one of the best priced and most feature-packed truly wireless designs we've tested so far. They have a compact and premium build quality that puts them on par with headphones like the Apple AirPods and the Jabra Elite 65t. They also sound decently balanced and you can EQ their sound profile thanks to the latest firmware update. They isolate well enough for noisy environments and they're stable enough to be a great option for sports.

  They won't be the most optimized headphones for iOS users but overall, they are practical for most use cases and portable enough to fit in most pockets so you can have them on you at all times.

  See our review

• Alternative for iOS users: Beats BeatsX

  

  Beats BeatsX

  SEE PRICE

  Amazon.com

  Type : In-ear

  Enclosure : Closed-Back

  Wireless : Yes

  Noise-Cancelling : No

  Mic : Yes

  Transducer : Dynamic

  If you have an iOS device, then we recommend the Beats X instead of the Samsung Gear Icon X. They won't be as compact as the Gear IconX, although they are flexible enough to fit into most pockets. They're also not as customizable even on iOS since they do not have a dedicated companion app. On the upside, they're stable enough for casual and sports use. They're sufficiently portable and isolate well enough against ambient noise to be a good option for commute and travel. They have a good battery life with great quick charge, so you don't have to worry much if you forgot to charge them overnight. They also have one of the best wireless ranges for a pair of wireless in-ears. Overall they're a good and versatile wireless in-ear for most use cases.

  See our review