Although the popularity of on-ear headphones has waned over the years, many people still find them to be a good compromise between the portability of in-ears and the comfort of over-ears. They have smaller ear cups that fit directly on your ears, making them generally more compact and breathable than over-ears without needing earbuds sticking inside your ear canal. However, they tend to fit tighter than over-ears, which can put an uncomfortable amount of pressure on your ears, depending on the design. Good on-ears have a fit that works for you and a sound profile that suits the type of music you listen to. The best even have Bluetooth support and active noise cancelling (ANC).
We've tested over 75 pairs of on-ear headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best headphones with an on-ear design. Check out our recommendations for the best headphones, the best over-ear headphones, and the best wireless Bluetooth headphones. You can also check out our over-ears vs on-ears article if you're currently weighing up a choice between these two popular styles.
Quick Look
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Best On-Ear Headphones
Noise Isolation - Full Range4.9Peaks/Dips8.9Continuous Battery Life48.1 hrsSports And Fitness7.3Travel6.4Office Work5.9Wireless Gaming (In Development)5.8Wired Gaming (In Development)7.2Audio Reproduction Accuracy7.6Noise Isolation4.9Microphone (In Development)5.3See all our test resultsFrequency Response Consistency8.7The Beats Solo 4 are the best on-ear headphones we've tested. They're the next generation of the Beats Solo3 2019, our previous top pick. While they maintain much of the signature aesthetic that helped put Beats on the map, including the comfortable, stable fit, some notable tweaks make them an improvement on their predecessor. The biggest change is their sound profile. Beats are renowned for manufacturing bass-forward headphones that bring out the thump and rumble in genres like EDM and hip-hop, but the Solo 4 skew in favor of a balanced, slightly bright sound that suits every kind of audio. These cans also deliver audio very consistently, so you can achieve similar audio delivery across listening sessions.
Another positive change is the increased battery life, which is now 48 hours, making them a good fit for long listening sessions. That said, there's still no ANC, and their on-ear design doesn't provide much attenuation against ambient sound, so you'll hear sounds like engine rumble and street noise in your audio. Disappointingly, the mic recording quality is a step down from the previous generation; your voice sounds thin and muffled on calls. If mic quality is important, consider the similarly priced JBL Tune 770NC instead. But the JBL have rather small ear cups that may not suit those with larger ears.
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Best Mid-Range On-Ear Headphones
Noise Isolation - Full Range6.1Peaks/Dips7.2Continuous Battery Life88.2 hrsSports And Fitness6.8Travel6.7Office Work6.3Wireless Gaming (In Development)5.5Wired Gaming (In Development)7.0Audio Reproduction Accuracy7.1Noise Isolation6.0Microphone (In Development)5.7See all our test resultsFrequency Response Consistency6.4The JBL Live 670NC are the best on-ear wireless headphones we've tested at this price. The price of these cans, as well as that of our budget pick below, can fluctuate, so you may find one pair cheaper than the other at different times, but we think the Live 670NC are the better pick overall. Unlike the Beats Solo 4, which offer a balanced sound out of the box, the JBL come with a bass-heavy sound profile that's especially well-suited for modern genres like techno and EDM. But if you prefer a less boomy low-end, you can customize their sound to your liking using the companion app's parametric EQ and presets. They also support multi-device pairing, so you can stay connected with your computer and phone simultaneously.
Unlike the Beats, the JBL have an ANC system. While it offers a noticeable improvement over the Beats, it struggles to effectively reduce bass-range noise, such as rumbling bus and plane engines. But it does better with higher-pitched sounds like ambient chatter, which is handy if you want to focus on your work at the office or in a cafe. The JBL also come with a remarkable 88-hour continuous battery. These cans will easily last you through a week or two at the office without a recharge. They're also well-built and decently comfortable, but they can't be used via a wired USB-C connection like the Beats.
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Best Budget On-Ear Headphones
Noise Isolation - Full Range3.8Peaks/Dips7.5Continuous Battery Life65.2 hrsSports And Fitness6.5Travel5.8Office Work5.8Wireless Gaming (In Development)5.8Wired Gaming (In Development)5.5Audio Reproduction Accuracy6.8Noise Isolation4.2Microphone (In Development)6.5See all our test resultsFrequency Response Consistency4.8The JBL Tune 520BT are the next-best option if you want to spend less. Like our mid-range pick, their prices tend to fluctuate, so wait for a sale if you're looking for the best deal. These budget-friendly headphones have a well-balanced, though slightly warm, sound profile out of the box. It's a sonic signature that suits a wide variety of audio, producing smooth-sounding vocals and instruments. They lack a little low-bass thump by default, but you can tweak their sound to your liking using their companion app's parametric EQ and presets. However, unlike the JBL Live 670NC, they lack noise cancelling and struggle to block ambient sound. Still, they support multi-device pairing to keep you connected to your smartphone and PC simultaneously.
These on-ears last over 65 hours continuously, which is great for long weeks on the go or at your desk. But they're not the most comfortable or sturdiest, which is to be expected at this price point. Their microphone is also only okay. If you're looking for on-ears with a better-performing microphone system, consider the Sony WH-CH520 Wireless. The Sony also offer a virtual soundstage, but they have a shorter battery life and are usually more expensive than our pick.
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Best Wired On-Ear Headphones
Sound Profile6.2Noise Isolation3.8Peaks/Dips7.6Continuous Battery LifeN/ACommute/Travel5.3Sports/Fitness5.7Office5.8Wireless Gaming4.5See all our test resultsWired Gaming6.3The best wired on-ear headphones we've tested are the Audio-Technica ATH-M60x. Wired headphones are a good option if you want the lowest latency option for watching videos or care about audio quality. These come with a detachable cable and two 1/8" to 1/4" adapters, meaning you can easily plug them into a mixer, amp, phone, or computer. But they don't have a mic or onboard controls like the Beats Solo 4. As a result, you can't use them to make phone calls or easily skip a track when you're on the go.
Their sound profile is neutral and well-balanced, making them suitable for fans of different genres and content types. While most of the bass response is very accurate, there's some overemphasis in the high-bass range, adding a touch of extra boom and warmth to mixes. Vocals and lead instruments still sound present and clear, though you can't customize their sound since they aren't compatible with a companion app. If you'd prefer a slightly cheaper pair of cans, consider the Sennheiser HD 25 instead. The Sennheiser are a little more comfortable than the Audio-Technica, but their boomy high-bass won't be to everyone's taste, and their sound can change notably between wears.
Notable Mentions
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Pioneer DJ HDJ-CUE1BT:
The Pioneer DJ HDJ-CUE1BT are wireless on-ears designed for DJing. They have a bass-heavy sound profile that's better suited to beat-matching kicks than the Beats Solo 4. However, the Beats have a more balanced sound and deliver audio much more consistently.
See our review -
Jabra Evolve2 65 Wireless:
The Jabra Evolve2 65 Wireless are call-oriented headphones optimized for United Communications (UC) or Microsoft Teams. They have a much better mic performance than the JBL Live 670NC, but a much weaker noise isolation performance.
See our review -
JBL Live 460NC Wireless:
The JBL Live 460NC Wireless have a slightly better mic than the JBL Live 670NC, making them a good alternative to our pick if you plan to make a lot of calls using your headphones. However, the 460NC Wireless don't come with a case, and they have a shorter battery life than the 670NC.
See our review -
Skullcandy Riff Wireless 2:
Unlike the the JBL Tune 520BT, the Skullcandy Riff Wireless 2 have full audio and mic compatibility via analog. You can use them wirelessly. Bass fans might like the Skullcandy's boomy sound, but it's less versatile than the JBL's balanced profile. The Skullcandy's battery life is also shorter than the JBL's.
See our review
Recent Updates
Jan 28, 2026:
The JBL Live 670NC replace the JBL Live 460NC Wireless as our mid-range pick because they have wider availability and a longer battery life. The 460NC Wireless are now a Notable Mention.
Oct 01, 2025:
We added some text clarifying that our mid-range and budget picks fluctuate in price a lot, so getting whichever you can find cheaper is a solid buying strategy. But we haven't changed our picks.
Mar 10, 2025:
To ensure we offer a range of headphones covering all price points, the JBL Tune 520BT are our new budget pick for their affordable price and balanced sound. The Sony WH-CH520 Wireless are an alternative pick for anyone prioritizing microphone quality. The Skullcandy Riff Wireless 2 are now a Notable Mention because of their useful analog connectivity.
Feb 10, 2025:
We added the JBL Tune 770NC as an alternative to the Beats Solo 4 for anyone prioritizing microphone quality. We also edited this text to align with changes made as part of Test Bench 1.8.
Jan 03, 2025:
We haven't tested any new on-ear headphones since the last update. We've verified that these picks are still up-to-date and accurate.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best on-ear Bluetooth headphones and on-ear wired headphones for most people to buy. 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 reviews for on-ear headphones. 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.