The Best Wireless Headphones, Tested And Reviewed
To find the best wireless headphones, I tested more than 30 of the most popular wireless headphones—ranging in price from $60 to $700. After taking into account sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort, added features and more, I chose the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones as my pick for the best wireless headphones overall.
The best wireless earbuds include models from Bose, Apple, Sonos and others.
While the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are incredible, they’re not necessarily for everyone. Some people might be looking for earbuds instead, in which case the Nothing Ear earbuds are the way to go—while those deep in Apple’s ecosystem might prefer the AirPods Max. I awarded other winners, too, for categories like the best TV headphones, the best headphones for audiophiles and the best headphones under $100. Without further ado, here are the best wireless headphones you can buy now. And for more audio recommendations, check out our tested guide to the best wireless earbuds.
Best for:
- Those that prioritize a highly comfortable fit
- Enjoying excellent audio quality
- Getting incredibly effective noise cancellation
Skip if:
- You want ultra-customizable audio
For most people, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are the best wireless headphones available. As a complete package, these only barely edged out the Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones, the AirPods Max and the new Sonos Ace headphones—but they ultimately clinched the title thanks to their super-comfortable fit, plus the fact that they offer the best active noise cancellation (ANC) in the industry.
They sound excellent, too. They weren’t the single best-sounding pair of headphones I tested, but I found they offered a slightly more natural sound than the Sony WH-1000XM5. They offer deep, impressive bass, a mostly flat midrange and excellent detail in the high end for a pair of headphones in this price range. I also found that audiophile-focused headphones like the Focal Bathys headphones sounded better, as did the AirPods Max. And I wish that Bose put a little more effort into the equalization (EQ) in the app, which is only three-band and poorly labeled. But the audio is excellent right out of the box.
Black Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones look sleek and provide excellent active noise cancelation.
The noise-cancellation technology here is more effective than any other pair of headphones. It’s not the quietest implementation of noise cancellation—there’s some hiss in the background when it’s turned on, unlike headphones like the Sonos Ace, for example. However, it cuts out more noise than any other pair I tested, and when you’re actually listening to audio, you can’t really hear the hiss anyway.
Along with the excellent audio quality, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones were the most comfortable pair I tested. They’re not as light as the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, but the padding and weight distribution on the top of the head feel more effective. That’s while also offering a higher-quality build with premium materials and a design that folds up for better portability than much of the competition.
When not in use, pack the headphones in the included padded carrying case.
Perhaps the main downside to these headphones is the battery life, which is a little short. At 24 hours with ANC turned on, the headphones won’t last as long as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the Sonos Ace headphones—and won’t even get close to the 60-hour Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Headphones. However, 24 hours still isn’t terrible, and it’s a little better than the 20-hour battery on offer from the AirPods Max.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones support Bluetooth multipoint for up to two device connections, and they work with a relatively well-designed app, though again, I wish that app offered a better EQ. For those who want the best complete package, with great audio, a comfortable fit and best-in-class noise cancellation, you currently can’t do better than these.
Best for:
- Enjoying stunning audio quality in a pair of earbuds, not headphones
- A highly comfortable fit
- Using a well-designed, intuitive app
Skip if:
- You want head-tracked spatial audio
- You want a super-long battery life
The Nothing Ear was a surprise pick for me, not because I doubted that they would be high-quality, but because I wasn’t quite sure that they could compete with earbuds twice the price. That’s right—these aren’t just the best earbuds for the price, these are the best wireless earbuds out there right now, period.
It all starts with the design. Sure, design isn’t as important as sound quality, for example, but it sure doesn’t hurt that they look super cool. They have a stem design like the Apple AirPods Pro (Second Gen), and they have easy-to-use squeeze controls. I prefer squeeze controls to buttons or touch surfaces—and I really dislike that controlling many earbuds means having to push them into your ears. Squeeze controls avoid that.
The shape of these earbuds also contributes to their comfortable fit. These are among the most comfortable earbuds I tested, and I was able to wear them for hours without issue. Not too many hours though—the earbuds have a continuous battery life of just over five hours with ANC, which is on the low end. Most people don’t use their earbuds for five hours straight, but if you do, these might not be for you. (The case gives up to 24 hours of playback with ANC.)
Note the transparent design of the Nothing Ear earbuds.
They sound excellent, too, and easily compete with the best-sounding earbuds out there. They’re not the single best-sounding pair of earbuds on the market, a title that probably goes the Denon PerL Pros. But they do sound almost as good, and the app has an advanced EQ that allows you to tweak the audio to your preferences. The app in general is well-designed and easy to use, and packed with helpful features.
The Nothing Ear earbuds have noise cancellation, and it’s quite good, though not as good as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, Bose’s earbuds option. And they don’t have super-advanced features like head-tracked spatial audio.
But the short battery life and lack of spatial audio are perhaps the only downside to these earbuds—and as a complete package, they’re excellent. Between the stunning audio, super-comfortable fit and range of additional features, the Nothing Ear earbuds are the best earbuds right now, and at only $149.