Wireless audio has officially taken over, and we here at Android Police are big fans of our Bluetooth overlords. Seriously though, everything from speakers to the internet connection that runs through our homes is wire-free, and one of the most popular consumer tech categories to get the wireless treatment is headphones (withwireless earbudsbeing a close second).
Produced by top brands like Bose, Sony, Beats, and Sennheiser, wireless headphones use Bluetooth to connect to your go-to phone, tablet, laptop, or TV. Say goodbye to annoying cables and hello to quick and easy playback and controls from whatever host device you’re connected to. Other great wireless headphone features include active noise-canceling, spatial audio, and downloadable companion apps with additional settings and customizations.
There are hundreds of wireless headphones to choose from, though, and as you can guess, some models are definitely better than others. That’s why we’ve put together this roundup of the best wireless headphones to help you make your nextover-ear audio investmenta “sound” one (pun intended).
Sony WH-1000XM5
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Sennheiser HD 250BT
Master & Dynamic MH40 Wireless (V2)
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Sennheiser Accentum Plus Bluetooth Headphones
Sony Ult Wear Headphones
Marshall Major V
Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Premium ANC and sound
If there’s a best-in-class when it comes to active noise cancellation, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones win. They also sound great with a neutral sound that works for just about everything. Although they can get a little hot after long listening sessions, the comfort is pretty good overall. Also, you have just about all the features you could ask for with these headphones.
The reigning champ of active noise cancellation is in no hurry to relinquish the crown. Sony’s most recent over-ear headphones, theWH-1000XM5, bring back that top-of-the-line ANC that many have tried to match — and failed. The headphones also offer fantastic sound quality that isn’t too exaggerated, so you can enjoy your favorite concerto or 98 Degrees track the way it was meant to be heard. However, while we found the mids and highs to be remarkably clear and crisp, they don’t deliver the bass-heavy listening that some folks prefer — at least not right out of the box — so you may have to play with the EQ settings a bit.
While the new XM5s aren’t as portable as their predecessors since they lack the inward-folding earcups, that’s a small price to pay for the great sound quality, and we found them to be a generally comfortable fit, thanks to the pleather padding and lightweight construction. Depending on your head, you may have to fiddle with them a bit, but it’s not hard to get a pleasant fit.
Sony WH-1000XM5 review: The ANC headphones to beat
Class-leading ANC, now in a prettier package
Excellent call quality, voice assistant compatibility, and speedy Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity are other features that make these headphones special. But, one other area where they excel is their long battery life, namely 30 hours with ANC on and 40 without. The only drawback here is that they can get a little hot around the ears after long listening sessions, but they are fairly comfortable otherwise.
The pair that can do it all
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are the company’s latest flagship over-ears, replacing the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. They sport a familiar folding design and feature Bose’s new Immersive Audio tech that enables spatial stereo audio on any device. These headphones also support Fast Pair for easy pairing on Android.
TheBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphonescould be the new favorites around here if it weren’t for their hefty price tag. However, Bose’s latest premium headphones are worth the investment if you’re willing to pay the asking price. The headphones are true to their name, offering both quiet and comfort. Plus, as one might expect from Bose, the ANC is the best of any headphones on this list, easily quieting obnoxious and loud environmental sounds.
These headphones build on previous Bose models by making everything more plush, for a more comfortable fit. However, we found they they could use a little more padding on the headband for those with smaller heads. The overall sound quality is rich and crisp with ample low-end, which isn’t overwhelming. In short, it’s the kind of well-balanced sound that Bose is known for.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review: Paying for near perfection
Don’t just block out the world; refill it with rich stereo sound
Bose also has another trick up its sleeve called Immersive Audio, a spatial audio mode that makes media sound like it’s coming from in front of you rather than right in your ears, regardless of what device the headphones are paired to. It’s fun, and the best part of it is that it works regardless of whether the content you’re listening to has been mastered for spatial audio. In reviewing the QuietComfort Ultras, it became obvious that Bose’s secret sauce here was that it doesn’t try to do too much with the audio, preferring instead to just settle for an expansive stereo sound stage.
Great sound on a budget
Though the Sennheiser HD 250BT are a bit on the pedestrian side visually, they do the one thing that’s most important: sound really good. Of course, with their lower price, it’s no surprise that the comfort is decent but not great or that the feature set is very limited.
Sennheiser headphones are usually pricey, and the HD 250BTs are one of the most affordable options in the company’s lineup. These wireless headphones connect through Bluetooth 5.0 and have a reasonable 25-hour battery life. The 32-millimeter drivers are a bit small but don’t affect the sound quality, and the AAC and AptX codec compatibility ensures that they sound great on Apple or Android devices. For affordable, no-frills headphones, the HD 250BTs still work with Sennheiser’s Smart Control app to customize the sound to your individual taste.
Considering their low price, the HD 250BTs have decent construction with ample padding on the earcups for long listening sessions. The lack of padding on the headband is a bit underwhelming, but fits the minimalist style and probably won’t be an issue for most buyers. The only polarizing feature is the earcups that slide up and down the headband and don’t have much flexibility to adjust to the shape of the user’s head. It’s still a minor drawback, and most buyers won’t care because they’re still getting outstanding value.
When money is no object
Master & Dynamic’s second-generation MH40 Wireless headphones breathe new life into the elegant design with finely-tuned 40mm titanium drivers and 30-hour battery life. The lightweight aluminum construction combined with lambskin leather removable ear pads make them comfortable to wear for extended periods, and they support both aptX HD and AAC for wide compatibility.
TheMaster & Dynamic MH40might offer the worst performance-to-price ratio on this list. They’re fairly stripped down in terms of features — the lack of ANC is especially felt — yet they’re as expensive as anything else on this list. You may wonder why they’re included, then. The answer is, because what the MH40 can do, they do very well.
To start with, the sound quality is superb, with warm and balanced audio that will make you feel like you’re listening live. From progressive rock and metal to classical and jazz, we found the MH40s rendered everything we threw at them remarkably well, making them a great choice for folks with more eclectic musical tastes. The true-to-life sound signature lacks the bass-heaviness of many more popular cans, but it’s ideal for those who prize accuracy in their listening. Think of these in terms of a warmer and richer set of studio monitors.
Master & Dynamic MH40 Wireless (2023) review: Finally worth the price
The second-generation wireless headphones sound better and run longer
The style is also elegant and unique, making more of a visual statement than anything else with a classic retro-style aviator look. That design isn’t skin deep, either, as the materials and construction are next-level for a pair of headphones that you will want to buy just for the aesthetic, yet despite being less bulky than most of the competition, they deliver solid battery life, with up to 30 hours of listening on a single charge. They’re available in seven color schemes, from basic black to two-tone finishes with navy or brown accents, but keep in mind that, no matter the colorway you choose, there’s no way to opt out of the lambskin leather, so you’ll have to be comfortable with that.
For those with longer commutes
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless are a great option for anyone who doesn’t mind paying a premium for high-end wireless audio; they sound utterly great. Battery life is also phenomenal at up to 60 hours per charge with ANC on. That ANC isn’t particularly impressive, though — especially compared to similarly priced options from Bose or Sony.
TheSennheiser Momentum 4 Wirelessare a premium pair of headphones with a price tag that will match many of the flagship offerings of other companies. Finding out that the ANC is a letdown — especially compared to similarly priced options from Bose or Sony — or that the call quality could be better keeps these headphones from being perfect. But that shouldn’t necessarily dissuade you.
What these headphones do offer is Sennheiser’s marquee sound signature, which gives you a balanced and more neutral sound than most of the more bass-heavy cans, reproducing your music close to the way the artist and audio engineers intended. That’s not to say the bass is weak; we found the low-end response to be surprisingly impressive — EDM and hip hop shine through — but it’s not there at the expense of the mids and highs. This means you’ll have a hard time finding a genre of music that doesn’t sound good on them, making the Momentum 4 Wireless another great choice for those with varied musical tastes.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review: Awesome audio, average ANC
The Momentum 4’s Achilles heel could be a deal-breaker
The Momentum 4 Wireless deliver the best ANC you’ll find in any of Sennheiser’s headphones, but that’s not saying very much. They’re not even in the same league as Sony and Bose, with ANC that can be generously described as competent, but nothing to write home about.
We found that they’ll filter out the usual rumbling background noises when you’re in transit, but barely make a dent in sharper sounds that quickly peak and diminish, whether that’s a barking dog, crying baby, or just the regular cabin noise of people moving around on an airplane.
The upside is that they offer exceptional battery life — up to 60 hours on a single charge, even with ANC on — double that of most of the competition, which would make them ideal for travel if it weren’t for the middling ANC. Nevertheless, they’re a solid pick for home listening.
A solid runner-up to the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4
Sennheiser is the type of company we’d be comfortable buying blindly from. Nearly everything the brand makes is high quality, and the Accentum Plus cans are a brilliant example of Sennheiser’s audio engineering operating on all thrusters.
The Sennheiser Accentum Plus isn’t the cheapest pair of headphones you’re going to find, but they sound fantastic. For just shy of $250, the Accentum Plus supports SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX Adaptive codecs. While the latter formats are only available to those of us using Android phones or tablets (Apple still supports lossless audio formats), experiencing these sound profiles through the Accentum Plus is an experience like you’ve never heard before.
Another thing we were super-impressed by was the hours upon hours of battery life the Accentum Plus can dish out. You should get up to 50 hours on a full charge, and charging for just 10 minutes (via USB-C) should get you an extra 5 hours of play time. Sennheiser was also nice enough to provide a carrying case.
Sennheiser Accentum Plus review: Hard to complain
Not Sennheiser’s best, but still very good
As for active noise-canceling, we found ourselves wishing for a little more. We also thought some of the controls were a bit complicated. Still, the Sennheiser Accentum Plus is pretty remarkable, and wouldn’t be on this list if we didn’t believe you’d think the same.
Sony is bringing the lows
While more and more headphones and earbuds are arriving with bass-forward sound signatures, you’ll be hard-pressed to beat the ULT-flavored low-end that the Sony ULT Wear wireless headphones are capable of. Not only will you get big bass from these cans, but they’re also very comfortable, deliver great noise-canceling, and can last up to 40 hours on a full charge.
While the vast majority of wireless headphones and earbuds are starting to favor more bass-forward signatures out of the box, the Sony ULT Wear takes the low-end to all-new heights.
With just one tap of the ULT button, the ULT Wear headphones will deliver a solid surge in bass to any songs, podcasts, or movies you may be enjoying. And while all the extra bass may not bode well for genres like classical and acoustic singer-songwriter material, you’ll also be able to download the Sony Sound Connect app to create your own custom EQ.
In our testing of the Sony ULT Wear, we found them to be comfortable for longer wearing sessions and thought the build quality was rock-solid. They also deliver an exceptional ANC experience that blocks out the majority of low-drone sounds in your environment (e.g., planes, trains, and bus engines, construction, etc.). This ANC tech is carried over to the ULT Wear’s microphones, too, so you can expect crisp-clear phone calls with natural-sounding voices.
Sony Ult Wear Headphones review: A love letter to bass lovers
The Sony Ult Wear Headphones go heavy on the bass, but there’s more beneath the thump
Running Bluetooth 5.2 and supporting the SBC, AAC, and Sony LDAC codecs, the ULT Wear headphones also support up to 40 hours of playback on a full charge, and Sony’s quick-charge tech nets you an extra 90 minutes of playback for just three minutes of charging.
From guitar amps to headphones
Marshall has been making way more than guitar amps for a number of years now, and we’re quite partial to the Marshall Major V headphones. Even though there’s no ANC to speak of, these cans deliver remarkable sound quality and some of the best battery life we’ve ever seen from a pair of headphones, bar none.
Marshall has garnered quite a reputation over the years as a standout brand in the world of music, and we’ve been so excited to see the company bring its guitar-amp stylings to products like the Marshall Major V headphones. At first glance, you might expect these to be powerful ANC cans, but they’re actually not. Don’t let that deter you though, as the ear cups form a pretty decent seal, which helps to cut down on environmental noise.
In our listening tests, we found the Marshall Major V cans to produce high-quality low-end and crisp-clear highs. As far as sound signatures go, Marshall products tend to sound best when listening to rock tracks, and the Major V is no exception here. You’ll also be able to take advantage of a few connectivity methods, including Bluetooth and 3.5mm wired listening.
Marshall Major V review: The balanced battery champ
The rock will never stop rolling
We were also floored by the battery life these pups delivered, which makes us feel less bad about the loss of ANC. On a full charge, you can expect up to 100 playback hours.
Sonos’ first set of cans are a slam-dunk in our book!
The Sonos Ace headphones have been dropping a lot of jaws in the greater world of audio. Personally, we were blown away by the sound quality and powerful ANC these cans are capable of, and we thought the overall battery life was great, too. If only they weren’t so pricey, though that could change with time.
Wireless music has always been Sonos’ forte, so it makes sense that the renowned speaker company would end up making its own wireless headphones.
Billed as the Sonos Ace, we had the opportunity to test Sonos’ first foray into earbud audio. We expected big things, and Sonos defied our projections; the Ace headphones not only sound great, but they provide the kind of immersive audio that’s hard to capture through just a pair of cans.
Part of why the Ace’s sound quality stands out is because of its powerful ANC capabilities. We have no hesitation in saying this is some of the best noise-canceling we’ve heard from any headset, and the transparent listening is equally effective. You can also expect up to 30 hours of battery life with ANC enabled, and support for SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, and aptX Lossless audio formats.
Sonos Ace review: A first stab at premium headphones that hits the mark
Sonos gears up to rival Sony and Bose
While the price is a little high, it’s hard to deny the power, performance, and cool Sonos features you’ll get with the Sonos Ace. As for the latter, our favorite is wireless audio handoff between the Sonos Ace and the Sonos Arc soundbar.
Another win for those who Bose
While the Bose QC Headphones are one step away from being flagship tier, these ANC cans are still a great option and will prevent you from having to drop another $100 for the Ultra model. As you can guess, the ANC on the Bose QC truly cannot be topped, and these awesome over-ears deliver great sound quality and solid battery life, too.
Bose has long been an audio brand we’re proud to stand behind for basically any product the company releases. So, it was a relative no-brainer to include the Bose QuietComfort Headphones on this list, even though we’ve already called attention to the Bose QC Ultra Headphones (our premium pick).
As for the QC standard option, these over-ears have plush padding and a lightweight fit, making them comfortable to wear for long listening sessions. On a full charge, Bose claims you’ll get about 26 hours of playback with ANC enabled, and it only takes two hours to recharge the cans from zero.
Bose QuietComfort Headphones review: Second verse, same as the first
Play it again, Bose
As far as sound quality goes, the Bose QC Headphones bring an exciting sound signature to the table, complete with a boomy and energetic low-end and a solid balance between highs and mids. you’re able to also download the Bose app to choose different EQ presets or create your own. And while the QC Headphones only support the SBC and AAC codecs, you can use the included 1/8” to 1/16” TRRS cable for wired playback on compatible devices.
When it comes to ANC, Bose never disappoints, and the QC Headphones are no exception. Say goodbye to pesky workplace convos and annoying airplane noise with Quiet mode, or let in the world around you with the Aware setting.
What to look for in wireless headphones
There’s a longer list of things to consider than you might think when considering headphones, especially if you’re looking to invest in a premium set. While the first and most obvious would seem to be audio quality, it’s actually just the tip of the iceberg. The type of sound signature is also important, along with things like comfort, battery life, and feature set, all of which will depend on how you plan on using them. Of course, you also need to consider what’s within your price range and what you’re willing to trade off to get there.
As far as sound quality goes, it’s important to know what you like, as two equally good headphones can sound radically different. Do you like bright highs or big bass? What kind of music do you most often listen to? Are you looking for a set of cans that plays nice with everything from classical to EDM and hip-hop or are you primarily a jazz aficionado? Many consumer headphones are tuned primarily for today’s rock, pop, and electronic audiences, while others are designed to deliver a balanced sound that plays nice across a wide variety of genres.
Beyond personal taste, you also need to make sure that whatever you’re considering isn’t too focused on one area, while under-delivering in another. For example, many headphones deliver the big and bold low-end that’s popular among today’s consumers, but too much bass can drown everything else out.
Comfort is almost as important, since you could be wearing these for hours at a time. No one wants something that hurts their face or head, so it’s crucial to look at things like clamping force, which indicates how tight or loose these headphones are. Too tight and they’ll give you a pressure headache. Too loose and they’ll continually slip off during use. Add to that the cushioning on the headband and earpads and the weight of the headphones, which may not seem like much when you first put them on but can lead to fatigue during long listening sessions. Look for lightweight headphones that use memory foam for a softer, pillow-like fit.
If you care about other features, like active noise cancellation, be aware that not all ANC is equal. Some companies, like Bose, Sony, and even Apple, have nailed it, while others are still hit-or-miss. However, it’s also good to temper your expectations, as the ANC on a sub-$100 set of headphones may be very good for the price, even though it can’t possibly match Sony or Bose’s premium $400. Bear in mind that all headphones offerpassive noise cancellationby design since they cover your ears, so they will block out some environmental noise.
Lastly, battery life is important, too. Most of the good options have more than enough on tap. However, if you’re not in the practice of regularly charging your devices, then you’ll want to make sure you have more than enough with whichever model you go with.
Which headphones are the best for you?
Wireless headphones and earbuds will likely be around forever, and it really pays to get to know the best of the best. Brands like Sony understand what it takes to design and deliver a pair of wire-free over-ears that look, feel, and sound fantastic. And there was zero hesitation on our part to feature the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones as our best overall pick.
If you’re looking for premium sound quality, top-shelf ANC, spatial audio support, and incredible battery life, the XM5 delivers on all fronts. Yes, they’re some of the most expensive headphones on the market right now, but the adage of “you get what you pay for” couldn’t be any more accurate with this Sony product. Oh, and the same goes for our premium pick, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones.
When it comes to active noise cancellation, most audio companies don’t even comecloseto the ANC performance offered by Bose, a shining laurel that gleams again for the flagship Ultra over-ears. These headphones are mighty comfortable, too, and feature a nice, balanced sound profile that can be customized in the Bose app.
For those looking to save a buck or two, allow us to direct your attention once more to our best value pick, the Sennheiser HD 250BT Wireless Headphones. For less than the rest, these Sennheiser cans offer an excellent blend of sound quality, comfort, and battery life. Sure, they’re not the fanciest wire-free headphones on the block, but not everyone is scrounging for bells and whistles!
The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are the best cans Sony has ever produced. Expect premium comfort, premium sound quality, and premium noise canceling.
