The 6 Best Earbuds & Bluetooth Headsets For Phone Calls - Spring 2023 Reviews

The best Bluetooth headset for phone calls we've tested is the Bose 700 Headphones Wireless. These over-ears have an integrated mic on their ear cup, ensuring your voice sounds clear and natural. The mic can separate your voice from moderate background sounds if you're talking in a noisy environment. Thanks to their ANC system, they do an exceptional job blocking sound like ambient chatter, which is handy if you work in a noisy office. If you need to take calls throughout the day, their battery lasts over 20 hours continuously, and their auto-off timer can help conserve battery life if you forget to turn them off.

You can pair them with your PC and smartphone simultaneously, and their companion app offers a graphic EQ if you want to adjust their slightly warm sound profile to suit your tastes. That said, if you're looking for headphones optimized for Microsoft Teams or Unified Communication (UC) software, it's worth checking out the Jabra Evolve2 85 Wireless. Thanks to their dedicated controls for each software, they're well-suited for call centers and remote work. However, they're expensive, and they've been back-ordered from the manufacturer for quite a while now. However, you can still find them from smaller retailers in either variant.

You can check out our recording to hear what speech sounds like through the Bose 700. Or, if you want to hear how it handles background noise, you can listen to our recordings taken in quiet and loud environments.

The best upper mid-range Bluetooth headphones for phone calls are the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless. They're hybrid headphones designed for casual and gaming use, which sets them apart from other headphones on this list. However, don't let their gamer-centric features deter you: their integrated mic offers decent overall performance, so people hear you clearly. They also have an ANC system. While they don't block out as much overall sound as the Bose 700 Headphones Wireless and feel a little less premium, they can still reduce a great amount of background noise. They also last longer than the Bose and have over 34 hours of continuous playback time to last through long days at the office.

These over-ears have a fairly versatile sound profile. Although voices can sound a bit harsh, you can fine-tune their sound using their companion software to finetune their sound to your liking. They come with a wireless USB dongle to stay connected to your PC and smartphone simultaneously. While they have a comfortable fit, you can still get more comfortable. Consider the Jabra Elite 85h Wireless if you care about comfort. The Jabra headphones have a lighter, more comfortable fit and are well-padded, which helps reduce fatigue over time. They also have a similar overall mic performance to the Razer, but their ANC system doesn't block out as much sound.

You can check out our recording to hear what speech sounds like through the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless. Or, if you want to hear how it handles background noise, you can listen to our recordings taken in quiet and loud environments.

If you're looking for a less expensive option, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are the best wireless headphones for making calls that we've tested. Their integrated mic doesn't perform as well as the Razer Barracuda Pro, so recorded speech sounds thinner and less natural. However, it does a better job of separating your voice from ambient sound, making you less likely to be drowned out by loud noise like traffic on a busy street. Their ANC feature also blocks out more noise, particularly bass-range noise like rumbling engines, so you can hear calls even in loud environments.

They have a V-shaped sound profile that isn't ideal for vocal-centric audio since elements like voices can sound harsh and lacking in detail. You can customize it with a graphic EQ and presets in the companion app. The headphones are comfortable for most people and have onboard controls for answering calls and muting or unmuting the mic. While they don't support USB audio like the Razer, they support multi-device pairing, so you can answer your phone and attend an online meeting on your computer without re-pairing.

You can check out our recording to hear what speech sounds like through the Anker Soundcore Space Q45. Or, if you want to hear how it handles background noise, you can listen to our recordings taken in quiet and loud environments.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless are the best headphones for calls in the budget range we've tested. These headphones are a good alternative to the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless if you want to save money since they have a similarly comfortable fit and a good overall mic performance. Their mic makes your voice sound brighter than the Q45, which can help make you easier to understand. It doesn't separate your voice from ambient sound as effectively, so these headphones aren't as well-suited for making calls from loud places, but moderate background noise at the office isn't an issue.

Their ANC feature isn't the best at reducing bass-range noise like rumbling engines but does a good job blocking out higher-pitched sounds like background conversations. Like the Q45, they have a bass-heavy sound profile that delivers intense thump and rumble. Still, their very well-balanced mid-range ensures that voices are clear and present. They have a long continuous battery life of around 32 hours, so you don't need to recharge them daily. Unfortunately, they don't have an auto-off timer to save power when not in use and don't support multi-device pairing.

You can check out our recording to hear what speech sounds like through the Anker Soundcore Life Q20. Or, if you want to hear how it handles background noise, you can listen to our recordings taken in quiet and loud environments.

Using stereo headphones while driving can be dangerous. If you need to take calls while on the road, you may want to consider a mono headset as it only covers one ear, so you hear what's happening around you. Enter the BlueParrott B450-XT Bluetooth Headset. Its boom mic sits close to your mouth, ensuring your voice sounds clear and natural. It also supports multi-device pairing, meaning you can simultaneously connect to your personal and work phones. It also lasts over 24 hours continuously, but if you aren't on a call, it goes into standby mode to conserve battery life. Its plasticky design can pressure the top of your ear, making it uncomfortable over time.

If build quality is a priority or you prefer an in-ear fit, consider the Plantronics Voyager 5200 Bluetooth Headset instead. This headset has a sturdy plastic frame and three different tip sizes to help you get the best fit. It also has a flexible ear hook design that doesn't put too much pressure on your ear. However, the BlueParrott headset's mic offers a significantly better recording quality, and its continuous battery life is longer.

You can check out our recording to hear what speech sounds like through the BlueParrott B450-XT. Or, if you want to hear how it handles background noise, you can listen to our recordings taken in quiet and loud environments.

If you prefer an in-ear fit, the best earbuds for phone calls with a wireless design we've tested are the Sony WI-1000XM2 Wireless. Unlike truly wireless earbuds, these earbuds are connected with a neckband, which allows you to wear them around your neck when you aren't using them. It makes them less compact and portable than most earbuds, but if you don't mind that, it's helpful for phone calls because it allows their in-line mic to sit closer to your mouth than integrated mics in the earbuds would. The mic makes your voice sound clear and bright and does a good job of separating it from moderate background noise. However, your voice can still be drowned out by loud noise like a train going by.

The neckband is flexible and feels light. While the earbuds aren't the most comfortable, there are several differently-sized ear tips, including some memory foam options. These earbuds also have an ANC feature that does a good job of blocking out a wide range of noise. Their well-balanced sound profile reproduces voices clearly and accurately, and you can customize it with a graphic EQ and presets in the companion app. Like most earbuds, they have a shorter continuous battery life than the over-ear options on this list but still provide almost nine hours of continuous use.

You can check out our recording to hear what speech sounds like through the Sony WI-1000XM2. Or, if you want to hear how it handles background noise, you can listen to our recordings taken in quiet and loud environments. If you'd prefer truly wireless earbuds with no neckband, check out our best earbuds with a mic article for more recommendations!