The best headphones are exactly what they sound like. Of all the over-ear and compact earbuds you could buy, these will give you the most for your money — though that doesn’t mean they need to be cheap. While we have included a few of our favorite cost-cutters, sometimes the best headphones have the most features, the most effectiveness active noise cancellation or the most exquisite and comfortable design.
Finding the best headphones for you depends on all kinds of factors, your budget, which features you need and your preferences – like earbuds or over-ears? This guide will help you find the top headphones for you whether you’re looking for the best quality sound, the top affordable cans on the market or the most minimal earbuds.
We’ve selected the best headphones you can buy today, from true wireless earbuds that cut the cord completely, through to super immersive, noise-cancelling headphones that can block out all ambient sounds, allowing you to focus on your work, music, or podcasts.
We believe a good pair of headphones is a must-have for anyone who loves their music – and that’s true whether you’re listening on your smartphone, your laptop, or one of the best MP3 players.
Although they might look different, the top-performing headphones in this list all have some key things in common: comfortable designs, class-leading audio performance, and a range of fantastic extra features, such as built-in voice assistants and wireless connectivity. So whether you’re looking for audiophile sound quality or budget-friendly earbuds that can handle a sweaty workout session, we’ve got you covered.
1. Sony WH-1000XM4
If you’re really set on owning the absolute best headphones that money can buy, we advise spending your Christmas cash on the WH-1000XM4. Not only are Sony’s flagship headphones the top noise-cancelling model at the moment, but they outperform every competitor in numerous categories, including sound and special features. The company’s loud and dynamic soundstage delivers plenty of boom and detail to give songs full-bodied presence. Listeners can also play around with the Sony Headphones Connect app to personalize audio by selecting from several well-engineered presets or by manually adjusting the EQ to their liking.
The WH-1000XM4’s active noise cancellation is right up there with the Bose 700’s, and the touch controls and battery life (30 hours with ANC on) are superior. Not much has changed in terms of design, though the premium craftsmanship certainly gives these cans a luxe look that match their high price.
2. 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphone
After testing the 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones for a few weeks, we were blown away by their fantastic value for money. That’s why we consider them to be the best headphones for those who like wired earbuds.
For $100 / £100 (about AU$168), it’s hard to find a better-sounding and more well-built pair of earphones than the 1MORE Triple Drivers. Although, if you do want a little extra refinement and luxury materials, the 1MORE Quad Drivers are still a bargain at twice the price.
At this price with such excellent build and design, it’s hard to fault the Triple Drivers. Sure, the inbuilt remote feels a little cheap, but that’s more than made up for by the lush sound quality offered by these luxe-looking earbuds that are unmatched in value and sound. For the price, it’s impossible to do better than 1MORE’s Triple Driver in-ear headphones.
3. SoundMAGIC E11BT
The SoundMagic E11BTs are an extremely capable pair of wireless in-ear earphones, and given their low price, it really is difficult to fault them. The audio quality on offer here is fantastic and they look very elegant, too.
They’re comfortable to wear thanks to ergonomically designed eartips and they’re attached to a flat neckband that won’t irritate you while running or working out. thanks to an IPX4 rating, they should withstand sweaty sessions, too, making them a solid option for an spare pair of workout buds.
4. Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Wireless Headphones
If we thought the premium noise-cancelling headphones market couldn’t get any more intense, with Sony, Sennheiser and Bose all battling tooth and nail to be number one, yet another contender has arrived in the shape of the Bowers & Wilkins PX7s.
Two years after its first effort, the five-star PXs, B&W has launched a new pair of flagship noise-cancellers. The company hopes that the combination of its proprietary driver technology and Qualcomm’s new aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec will see the PX7s repeat the success of their predecessors, and help them take the fight to the best wireless headphones on the market right now.
5. Plantronics BackBeat Go 810
For years, the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 were among our favorite wireless headphones because of their excellent sound, build quality and features. Unfortunately, they were also kind of expensive.
Now, for a lot less ($150 / £140 / AU$240), Plantronics offers the brilliant Plantronics BackBeat Go 810. These over-ear headphones use less premium materials but during our testing we found the sound nearly identical to its more expensive predecessor – and these headphones sport an equally chic design.
With that in mind, the BackBeat Go 810 are the best headphones for those that want wireless connectivity without the high price tag.
6. Sony WF-1000XM4 Wireless Earbuds
Sony is a big name in audio tech and with the Sony WF-1000XM4, the company has combined performance, ergonomics, and build quality more effectively than ever before in a noise-cancelling true wireless package.
During our testing, we found that compared to their predecessors, the Sony WF-1000XM3, the newer wireless earbuds offer enough quality-of-life features to make them worth upgrading to, even if they are more expensive.
While other true wireless earbuds surpass the Sony WF-1000XM4 in particular areas – in terms of noise cancellation, for example – no other model comes close to offering such excellent quality across the board. That’s why the Sony WF-1000XM4 are hands-down the best true wireless earbuds you can buy today.
7. Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0
When we first reviewed the original Lypertek PurePlay Z3 true wireless earbuds (then known as the Lypertek Tevi), we were blown away. The Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0 true wireless earbuds are their successors. They’re very similar to the originals, with a few key improvements, and yet still come in at the same affordable price point of $99 / £99.
This gets you everything we loved about the original PurePlay Z3, including detailed balanced sound, a whopping 80 hours total battery life from its petite USB-C charging case, and a comfortably fitting bud with physical buttons. But on top, the Z3 2.0 earbuds add wireless charging, a powerful new LDX Audio mode, improved app functionality and a hear through ambient mode.
Our own issue is that app connectivity is patchy at best, and the ambient hear through mode is pretty much useless in comparison to the competition from the likes of Sony’s noise cancelling WF-1000XM4.
Yet, with the price still so low, and nothing to detract from the quality standard the originals set out, with a few notable improvements, they remain must-have earbuds, more than a match for headphones two or three times the price.
