The 6 Best Headphones Under $200 - Spring 2020
Reviews

The best headphones under $200 with an over-ear design that we've tested so far are the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2. These over-ear Bluetooth headphones are comfortable thanks to their fairly lightweight design and well-padded oval-shaped ear cups. They have one of the best control schemes we've ever tested to date, with very easy-to-use physical buttons and a volume slider. They look and feel well-built and durable thanks to their mix of metal and good quality plastic, and the 'Special Edition' version that we tested even comes with a nice hard carrying case.

These headphones have a very well-balanced sound profile with a fair amount of extra low-bass that will bring some extra thump and rumble to some dubstep or rap tracks. The rest of their frequency ranges are very accurate and well-balanced, making them a great choice for a very wide range of content and genres. Their 30-hour battery life is excellent and will easily get you through a few full work days.

Unfortunately, while these headphones have an active noise canceling (ANC) feature and a dedicated companion app, neither are very good. The ANC doesn't help much, and while it reduces a small amount of engine rumble, it doesn't work nearly as well as our top picks for the best noise-canceling headphones. As for the dedicated companion app, it doesn't offer any customization options, like an EQ, so you can't change their sound profile, which is disappointing.

The best earbuds under $200 that we've tested to date are the Samsung Galaxy Buds+. These in-ears are the best truly wireless earbuds we've tested, regardless of price, and are a good improvement over the first version. They're very lightweight and comfortable, look and feel quite durable, feel very stable in the ear, and have an outstanding 13.3-hour battery, the longest we've ever tested on a pair of true wireless headphones.

Their default sound profile is incredibly well-balanced and accurate, making them a great choice for any content or genre you could think of. Their dedicated companion app also lets you pick between five additional EQ presets to better match your taste.

Unfortunately, their touch-sensitive controls can be a bit finicky and difficult to use, especially if you live in colder climates and often wear winter caps or gloves. They also don't block as much sound as some truly wireless options with ANC, like the Amazon Echo Buds Truly Wireless. Overall, they're an impressive pair of truly wireless headphones that are a good choice for your entire day, from commuting to the office, to going to the gym after work, and a battery that will last you through it all.

The best headphones under $200 with an on-ear design that we've tested so far are the Bose SoundLink On-Ear Wireless. While many people find on-ear headphones uncomfortable, these are surprisingly comfortable thanks to their very lightweight design and soft ear cup padding. They have very easy-to-use physical buttons, and look and feel well-built overall. Their slightly smaller size compared to most over-ears, soft carrying case, and 21-hour battery makes them a decent choice for taking around with you as well.

Their sound profile is very well-balanced, making them a good choice for a wide range of content and genres. Unfortunately, they aren't quite as accurately tuned as many other Bose options, and a more trained ear may notice a slight lack of detail, while some high frequencies can be slightly piercing. Overall, however, this likely won't be too noticeable to most people.

Sadly, these headphones don't have an ANC feature and their on-ear design means they block out very little background noise, so people next to you may hear your audio in quieter environments. They also don't have a dedicated companion app to make changes to their sound or controls. Overall, they're a decent pair of headphones that are among the best on-ear headphones we've tested.