Best Wireless Headphones (2025): Tested Over Many Hours | WIRED

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The Best Wireless Headphones

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The Best From Bose

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Best for iPhones

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Best Earbuds for iPhones

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Whether you're listening to the lastest episode of WIRED’s Uncanny Valley podcast, jumping on a transatlantic flight, or hitting the trail with Taylor Swift on repeat, the best wireless headphones can make your day. The only problem is that there are so many to choose from, with more arriving almost daily. My colleague Ryan Waniata and I are constantly testing new models—these are the best wireless headphones we've found.

Be sure to check out all our audio buying guides, like the Best Wireless Earbuds, Best Workout Headphones, Best Noise-Canceling Headphones, and Best Open Earbuds.

Updated May 2025: We've added the Sony WH-1000XM6, Focal Bathys MG, and JBL Tour One M3 headphones.

What to Know

If you're new to wireless headphones or need a refresher, here are some helpful pointers to know before you buy.

Noise canceling is a technology that employs exterior microphones and digital processing to take in the sounds around you and flip their frequency polarity, essentially canceling them at rapid speeds to create an impression of silence.

Transparency mode, aka "hear-through" or “ambient” sound mode, is the opposite of noise canceling, using your headphones' exterior microphones to bring in the sound around you. This can keep you aware of your surroundings, especially helpful when working out, walking in high-traffic areas, or just having a quick conversation.

Bluetooth is the wireless format used by all portable wireless headphones to connect to and play sound from devices like a phone, computer, or tablet.

Bluetooth multipoint connection allows Bluetooth headphones to connect to more than one source device (like a phone or computer) at a time. This helpful feature lets you seamlessly switch between your connected devices to do things like take phone or video calls or watch a video on your computer between Spotify sessions on your phone.

Find My is an Apple feature that lets you track down devices like your AirPods from the web. Many non-Apple wireless headphones also have some form of Find My feature, though it's usually reserved for earbuds due to their small size.

IP ratings are used to certify electronics are dust and water-resistant. Generally, the higher the IP rating a device has, the better the dust and water resistance. You can learn more in our IP-ratings explainer.

EQ stands for equalization, which in the case of wireless headphones, uses digital processing to adjust parameters like bass, midrange, and treble. EQ presets are most common, but multi-band EQs are better for those who want advanced control over each sound register.

Charging cases are included with virtually all fully wireless earbuds, letting you set the buds in the case for recharging on the go. Most charging cases offer two or more charges, and to recharge the case itself, you can usually use a USB-C cable or a wireless charger.

Sony

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Sony

Sony's latest flagship headphones just launched, and they're already on top of our our list (9/10, WIRED Recommends). The WH-1000XM6 have seven times the processing power of Sony's previous XM5 model (9/10, WIRED Recommends), which allows them to have the best noise-reduction on Earth. Couple that with 30 hours of battery life, multipoint Bluetooth pairing, and a brand-new set of dynamic drivers with bold and joyous tuning, and these are the best wireless headphones we've ever tested overall.

The latest model features a new, smaller case and folding earcups, which makes them even better for travel, and the replaceable faux leather earpads are very comfortable, thanks to a liberal use of memory foam.

Bose

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Bose

In the ongoing race for noise-canceling supremacy, Bose again took pole position with the powerful yet elegant QuietComfort Ultra (9/10, WIRED Recommends) two years ago. These headphones provide astonishing noise canceling that beats all rivals except the latest Sony model above, able to dissolve everything from footsteps and lawnmowers to rushing traffic and even high-frequency annoyances. They supplement these skills with lush sound quality, a posh and supremely comfy design, and Bose’s spatial audio digital signal processing aimed to create a deeper sense of immersion from stereo audio. You’ll pay a premium for the ride, but those looking for the ultimate in headphone tranquility won’t regret going all in. —Ryan Waniata

If you need something more affordable, check out our detailed Best Noise-Canceling Headphones guide for more options.

Apple

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Apple

They're still some of the most expensive wireless headphones on the market, but Apple's AirPods Max (8/10, WIRED Recommends) will reward you with fantastic sound. They have rich bass, a massive soundstage, and excellent noise cancellation. My favorite part? The large Apple Watch–like knob atop the right ear cup, which lets you easily adjust the volume. Apple users will love how well they integrate with iOS devices, and especially how well they handle video. When watching via certain apps (Max, for example), they can track your head to simulate full object-based surround sound.

Apple

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Apple

The latest AirPods Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) come with USB-C and a revamped audio architecture but otherwise retain everything we loved about the previous generation for iPhone owners. With six hours of juice and a case with a speaker to help use Apple's Find My feature, they have touch controls for volume. Noise canceling and call quality are among the top of the market, while their natural-sounding transparency mode adapts to your environment to help keep your ears safe when you're out walking in the street. Plus, a new IP54 rating means they're resistant to dust and water for workouts. If you own an iPhone, these buds should be at the top of your list.

Bose

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Bose

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are properly competitive in many ways—sound quality, battery life, comfort, and control options. But when talk turns to active noise-canceling, these buds leave most rivals in the dust. Their ability to utterly cancel external sounds of all kinds has to be heard (or, rather, not heard) to be believed. If you spend time on noisy airplanes, buses, or high-traffic areas, get a pair of QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. The world will never sound the same again. —Simon Lucas

JBL

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JBL

JBL’s latest Tour One headphones (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are the best yet, offering a brilliant mix of comfort, style, convenience, and an almost overwhelming number of features. The latest shtick is the Smart Tx transmitter, which not only acts as a handheld controller but also lets you connect to wired audio sources and transmit them to the headphones and/or any Auracast-ready device wirelessly. While Auracast streaming is still in its infancy, the Smart Tx comes in handy for connecting to gym or airplane entertainment systems.

The M3 have tons of other features, from multipoint pairing and spatial audio to available volume limiting to keep you from blasting out your eardrums. Maybe their best feature is their sterling onboard microphones, which work with JBL software to provide top-notch noise canceling and call quality that’s among the best I’ve ever tested. The headphones match those skills with a luxuriously comfy fit and clear and spacious sound for a package worthy of their high price. —Ryan Waniata

Google

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The Pixel Buds Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are a perfect AirPods Pro alternative for Android fans like me. The cute multicolored earbuds have solid noise canceling, a super comfortable fit, and an hour more playtime (seven) than the AirPods. They also switch quickly between multiple paired devices, which makes it nice for everything from work to workouts. Updated features like Conversation Detection and Bluetooth Super Wideband for better call quality improve the package. The only downside is that they don't work super well with iPhones. Too bad.

Logitech

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The Logitech G Pro X 2 adds Bluetooth to the older Pro X model (8/10, WIRED Recommends), making them now our favorite wireless gaming headphones as well as our favorite gaming headphones overall. That's great for you: These over-ear headphones use Logitech's Lightspeed wireless connection to maintain ultrafast, low-latency audio, but you can also pair via Bluetooth. They also have the option for a 3.5-mm wired connection. This makes it truly excellent with PC, consoles, and even your cell phone.

This headset comes with a 7.1 surround soundstage, Logitech software for customizing your microphone quality, and memory foam earpads that remain soft all day. Logitech-owned Blue (of Blue Yeti fame) contributed to the microphone, so you'll sound great.

Soundpeats

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Soundpeats

We awarded the Soundpeats Capsule3 Pro+ a rare 10/10 largely due to their “truly epic” audio performance. They achieve their fabulous sound with a special driver duo comprising a traditional dynamic driver and a new xMEMS speaker, combining for full-bodied bass matched by high-flying treble and mids to best everything in their price class. The buds add Sony’s LDAC high-resolution streaming (for Android), good noise canceling, and a handy app for big value at a small price. —Ryan Waniata

JLab Audio

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Target

JLab has a knack for making shockingly affordable earbuds that work surprisingly well, letting you dip your toes in the wireless waters with little risk. The Go Air Pop are the epitome of this approach, offering up to eight hours of battery (32 total with the case), responsive controls, and even basic EQ controls for a pittance. Their accessible sound won't inspire, but I'm a picky listener and I found it just fine for baseline music listening and podcasts. At this price, it's hard to find much room to complain. —Ryan Waniata

Belkin

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They come in pink! According to WIRED reviews editor Adrienne So, this is an all-important option for many an 8-year-old. The build quality is sturdy, and we like that the ear cups have decent padding. Volume is limited to the OSHA-recommended 85 decibels, so your kiddos can't accidentally damage their ears. They're rated for ages 2+, but So was able to get her head in her daughter's pair (albeit with a tight fit), so these should last growing kids for a while with proper treatment.

Check out our Best Kids Headphones guide for more picks.

Audio-Technica

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B&H Photo

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Audio Technica

These earbuds from Audio-Technica (8/10, WIRED Recommends) boast 15 hours of battery life with noise canceling enabled, which is far and away the most we've heard from a pair of wireless buds. They feature solid sound, good noise canceling, and a surprisingly ergonomic fit, given that they have a larger-than-usual size to fit those batteries.

A clever design allows you to click the headphones together using magnets when you're out and about without the case to put them in standby mode—something you might actually do with earbuds that have multiday battery life.

Focal

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The Focal Bathys MG (9/10, WIRED Recommends), with their bespoke Magnesium French drivers and comfortable leather earpads, are the best premium wireless headphones I've heard yet. They look fantastic, with light-up logos on the outside of each earcup, but they sound even better. Dryanic drivers from Focal's higher-end headphones trickle down heavily here to provide some of the clearest, most fun sound quality you can buy.

When you don't want to listen wirelessly, the Bathys have a high-quality digital-to-analog converter that will make your laptop or cell phone sound much better if you plug it in via the USB-C port. Thirty hours of battery life means they'll last for even the longest trips, plus rapid charging means you can plug them in for 15 minutes and get five quick hours. They're perfect for the stylish traveler if you can stomach the price.

Wireless headphones are the default these days, and there are roughly 1 gazillion of them (and counting). We do our best to test them all, but not everything we test can make the big list. Here are some other good options worth trying.

Sony WH-1000XM5 for $348: Sony's XM5 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) remain a top headphone, even after being supplanted by the fancier XM6. For a fairly sizable price reduction, you'll get still-fabulous noise-canceling tech, great sound, and luxe comfort in a supremely portable package.

Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 for $280: These premium earbuds from Beyerdynamic are nondescript looking and don't have noise-canceling to compete with Sony and Bose, but they do sound fantastic. If you're looking for a great-sounding pair that won't get you judged in public, these are a great option for quiet luxury.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 Earbuds for $399: Bowers & Wilkins brings its speaker prowess into the world if high-end earbuds. The Pi8 provide a premium and stylish build, excellent sound quality, and solid noise canceling, albeit at a very high price point. Like other earbuds we've tested lately, one of the Pi8's coolest features is the ability to stream audio from wired audio sources via the charging case, which can really come in handy on long flights.

Edifier Stax Spirit S5 for $500: These high-flying headphones lack noise-canceling, but make up for it with fantastically clear sound from their advanced planar magnetic drivers that use specialized magnet tech for vividly clear delivery. If you can afford their high price, they're a fun investment that digs into the meat of your music like few headphones in their class.

Soundcore Space A40 for $59: Even though they've moved off our main list, the Space A40 are still among the best earbuds you'll find for the money. Their stylish, premium-looking design is bolstered by solid features, clear and detailed sound, and excellent noise canceling for the price.

Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 for $280: These earbuds from Jabra (7/10, WIRED Review) are too expensive when compared to options that sound (and cancel sound) better. This is Jabra's last pair of consumer earbuds, so new features are unlikely. We do like that they have a wireless transmitter case, like the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, which provides latency-free connection to non-Bluetooth sources (looking at you, airplanes).

Sonos Ace for $350-450: The Sonos Ace (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are a pricey but impressive first effort from Sonos, with fantastic noise canceling, great sound, and one of the comfiest designs (if not the comfiest) you'll find in the game. A few initial software bugs hindered their performance upon release, including trouble with the TV Swap feature that lets you pass sound from a Sonos soundbar to the Ace, but that seems to be fixed, making these an excellent choice—especially for those already invested in the Sonos way.

Beats Solo 4 for $130: We like Beats headphones these days, but this pair was just a bit lacking in features for us at its standard $200 price (7/10, WIRED Recommends). Now that they've come down, we can heartily recommend them to folks who are looking for a pair of wireless headphones that don't have noise canceling.

Technics EAH-AZ80 for $166: The AZ80 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are great earbuds. Their most noteworthy feature is conveniently pairing to three devices at once, but they finish strong with good noise-canceling tech, top-tier sound quality, and seven different ear tip options for a remarkably comfy fit.

Beats Studio Pro for $325: The Studio Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends) offer quality performance, including surprisingly clear sound, good noise canceling, and refreshingly natural transparency mode. The design feels a bit cheap, and they skip features like auto-pause, but extras like Hands-Free Siri and head tracking with spatial audio help pad their value—especially since their sale price sometimes drops to around half of the original $350 MSRP.

Sony WH-CH720N for $90: These Sony cans may have a silly name, but their sheer value makes up for it. They're not as pliable as top options and don't come with a case, but their sound quality and noise-canceling are excellent for the money. They are also built to last and have battery life that goes on and on, making them a great option for prudent shoppers.

Master & Dynamic MH40 for $399: M&D's second-gen MH40 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) pack gorgeous sound into an equally gorgeous design, with luxurious trappings like lambskin leather and metal parts in place of plastic. Their lack of advanced features, excluding even noise canceling, makes them a pricey portal to minimalism, but they've got style for days.

Audio Technica ATH-M50xBT for $199: The original ATH-M50X (9/10, WIRED Recommends) provide balanced sound and great durability, making them ubiquitous in music and film studios. But what if you want to take them with you between takes? Enter the ATH-M50XBT, which partner a wired studio connection with Bluetooth for wireless freedom. They don't offer noise canceling or other advanced features but they're great for melding art and play.

Sony Linkbuds for $158: The Linkbuds (8/10, WIRED Recommends) have a neat trick: speakers with holes in the middle that let in the world around you for environmental awareness. They're not so hot for noisy environments, making them something of a one-trick pony, but they're among the best options in the growing open-ear trend. They've also been updated in the new Linkbuds Open (7/10, WIRED Recommends), which are pricier at present but offer a few new features and a more stable fit.

JLab Jbuds Mini for $40: These micro-buds from JLab offer so-so sound, but their adorably teensy design that fits on a key ring makes them a fun accessory for those who need some cheap buds to take on the go.

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