The 6 Best On-Ear Wireless Headphones - Fall 2021 Reviews

The JBL Live 460NC Wireless are the best wireless on-ear headphones that we've tested. These headphones have a decently comfortable fit and last over 29 hours continuously. They also have an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life when you're not using them, and you can even use them passively with their included TRS audio cable.

Right out-of-the-box, they have a neutral sound profile with a touch of extra thump and rumble suitable for a variety of audio content like pop, rock, or audiobooks. They're compatible with the JBL Headphones app, which offers a parametric EQ and presets so that you can adjust their sound to your liking. They also have an active noise cancelling (ANC) system that does a decent overall job of blocking out noise around you, although it struggles more with bass-heavy sounds like the rumble of bus engines.

Unfortunately, their mic has a sub-par noise handling performance, and your voice may get drowned out if you're talking in a moderately noisy environment. Some users may also find that their clamping force is a bit uncomfortable, especially if you're wearing them for long periods. That said, these well-built headphones offer a customizable sound experience with long-lasting battery life.

The Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless are the best noise cancelling on-ear wireless headphones that we've tested. These sleek and high-end on-ears have an adjustable active noise cancelling (ANC) system. They can block out a decent amount of bass-range noise like the rumble of bus engines and are even better at cutting down office chatter.

These headphones have an excellent build quality that feels high-grade and premium. Out of the box, their bass-heavy sound profile adds intense thump, rumble, and boom to your mixes, which should please fans of EDM and hip-hop. They also have over 37 hours of continuous playback time and have a standby mode to help conserve battery life when you're not using them. You can pair them with up to two devices at a time too, which is nice if you want to stay connected to your laptop and smartphone at the time.

Although they have a companion app, it doesn't offer sound customization features like an EQ or presets, so you can't tweak their sound to your liking. They're also prone to inconsistencies in treble delivery, so you may need to adjust their fit and positioning on your head to get a more consistent sound. That said, these headphones offer a solid build and can isolate you from a great amount of ambient noise.

The best on-ear wireless headphones for running that we've tested are the JBL Live 400BT Wireless. These Bluetooth on-ears are lightweight and clamp your head fairly tightly, so they shouldn't fall off your head or move around too much if you wear them while you're out on a run. They do a mediocre job of filtering out background noise, which could be helpful if you're run outdoors and want to stay aware of your surroundings.

They have a fairly well-balanced default sound profile that should suit most kinds of audio content, though their companion app features a parametric EQ that lets you fine-tune their audio reproduction in-depth if you're the type that prefers a little more thump and rumble in your music. They can also pair with two devices simultaneously, so you can stream music from your phone while remaining connected to your computer. They also supply more than 30 hours of runtime on a single charge, though battery life can vary with your usage habits, and offer full audio and mic compatibility on a wired connection thanks to their included 1/8" TRRS cable with an in-line mic.

Unfortunately, some users with larger heads may find their on-ear fit to be too tight. The plastic prominently used in their construction also feels rather cheap, and the headphones don't come with a carrying case or a pouch, which makes transporting them when not in use a little tricky. Still, their broad feature set and long battery life help make them some of the best wireless headphones under $100 that we've tested.

The best budget on-ear wireless headphones that we've tested are the JBL Tune 510BT Wireless. These affordable headphones have over 38 hours of continuous battery life, so you don't need to recharge them every day. You can also pair them with up to two devices at once, like your computer and smartphone.

They have a fairly comfortable and lightweight fit that allows for some airflow around your ears. Their physical control scheme is also easy to use, and although they're limited in scope, you have all the essential commands like playing or pausing audio, track skipping, and answering or ending calls. Their slightly v-shaped sound profile is especially well-suited for genres like pop and rock as they deliver extra thump, rumble, and boom to mixes while brightening vocals and lead instruments.

Unfortunately, they have a passable build quality that feels cheap. They also barely block out background noise, like the low rumble of bus engines or background chatter, which could be annoying if you commute to work. However, if you're looking for more wallet-friendly on-ears, these simple headphones offer a somewhat versatile performance that should please most users.