Bulky headphones are dead and discreet earbuds are the way forward. With a sturdy pair of headphones, you can chat on the phone, relax with music and audiobooks, or simply tune in to the bustling world around you. Also, if you want to add burpees to your exercise routine, you must disconnect from wired devices.
There are many different types of earbuds on the market today, and some are quite expensive. When you are making a substantial investment, buying the wrong currency pair can be a frustrating and costly mistake.
To help you deconstruct the headphone market, ZDNET experts have rounded up the top wireless headphones so you can start listening hands-free today.
- Adaptive transparency mode
- Personalized Spatial Sound Settings
- Four sizes
- Good battery
- Only one color option
- Expensive
Featured: Personalized Spatial Sound | Adaptive Transparency | Battery life: Six hours
The latest Apple AirPods Pro is an upgrade from the previous generation’s features. Thanks to Apple’s new H2 chip, these AirPods dramatically upgrade performance through high-bandwidth connectivity and low-distortion audio drivers with custom amplifiers. These technologies work together to ensure clearer sound across a wider range of audio frequencies.
These new AirPods feature twice as much noise cancellation with 33% longer battery life. Plus, a new feature lets you personalize spatial sound settings to create your ideal audio experience (using iOS 16).
- Active noise cancellation
- Pairing with Sound + . app
- Sweat and dustproof
- Pair two devices at the same time
Featured: Four color options | Adjustable noise cancellation | Battery life: 5.5 hours
The Jabra Elite Active 85t earbuds are suitable in both the gym and the office. Comfortable in-ear headphones deliver high-quality sound and active noise cancellation for those times when you need to shut out the world.
Battery life lasts 5.5 hours, but the charging case extends that time to 25 hours between full charges.
When it comes to durability, the Elite 85t buds are sweat-resistant, featuring an IPX4-rated design for water resistance. Plus, they come with a two-year warranty against damage from sweat and dirt, so you can keep doing everything you love with the sound of your own playlists.
- Built-in ear pressure relief
- 3D vòm Surround Sound
- 6 microphones
- AI Noise Reduction
- Dimensions can be personalized
Featured: Four color options | Three-point ergonomic shape | Battery life: Eight hours
The Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro earbuds offer crystal clear sound, great active noise cancellation, and a high-quality microphone to ensure your important calls go smoothly. The bud’s eight-hour battery life extends to 32 hours when paired with the charging case.
More importantly, you can comfortably wear them for 32 hours if needed thanks to the different sizes that provide a personal, painless fit. You can choose between four ear tips and four wing sizes to ensure your new bud stays secure and comfortable all day long.
While the battery life on the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro earbuds is phenomenal, overall, these wireless earbuds are pretty great – you can’t go wrong with this pick.
- Compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri
- Dimensions can be personalized
- Great Active Noise Cancellation
- Limited deep bass
Featured: Two color options | Battery life: Five hours | IPX4
Want to take Alexa with you everywhere? There’s no better way than with Amazon’s 2nd generation Echo Buds. These buds are everything you’d expect from Amazon – solid hardware at a reasonable price.
The Amazon Echo Buds last five hours per charge, and that extends to 15 hours with the charging case. Plus, a 15-minute charge delivers up to two hours of listening time to your favorite playlist or latest audiobook. These headphones are compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple’s Siri assistant, so you can use whichever assistant you like.
- Intuitive touch interface
- Great noise cancellation
- Comfortable
- Big box
- Call quality is not as great as music quality
Featured: Three color options | Battery life: Six hours | Noise Canceling Microphone
Bose Acoustic Noise Canceling technology delivers true silence in these quality headphones. Hidden microphones in the headset monitor the surrounding sound and emit anti-acoustic waves to cancel out outside noise.
If you decide to tune in to your surroundings, Awareness Mode lets you listen to music and your surroundings simultaneously at a lower level. Whether you want to block out the sounds of your neighbor’s construction or simply focus on your work, the Bose QuietComfort earbuds are a great choice.
AirPods Pro 2 is Apple’s latest and greatest, and tops our list of the best wireless headphones. However, depending on your budget, you may prefer another pair, or you may prioritize other features like battery life, size options, microphone quality, etc. In that case, keep reading. Check out our guide to see which one is right for you.
|
Wireless headphones |
Price |
Battery life |
|
Apple AirPods Pro 2 |
$249 |
Up to 6 hours |
|
Jabra Elite Active 85t |
$180 |
Up to 5.5 hours |
|
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro |
$170 |
Up to 8 hours |
|
Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Generation) |
$120 |
Up to 5 hours |
|
Bose QuietComfort Noise Canceling Headphones |
$199 |
Up to 6 hours |
ZDNET experts considered many factors when analyzing the best wireless headphones, including: Comfort, battery life, noise cancellation, price and design. Choosing the best wireless headphones is generally not possible. Each pair offers a different key recommendation, so you can decide which headphones best suit your lifestyle.
|
Choose these wireless headphones… |
If you want… |
|
Apple AirPods Pro 2 |
Apple’s latest AirPods and the best wireless earbuds in general |
|
Jabra Elite Active 85t |
Waterproof and sweatproof wireless headphones |
|
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro |
Wireless headphones with the longest battery life |
|
Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Generation) |
Wireless headphones with voice assistant |
|
Bose QuietComfort Noise Canceling Headphones |
The best noise-cancelling wireless headphones |
ZDNET experts have tested and extensively used each of the products on this list based on battery life and sweat/dust/waterproof claims. While everyone’s ears are different, we’ve eliminated the worst headphones to bring you the best. Plus, this list features versatile earbuds, so you can find a pair that fits your versatile lifestyle.
There are many wireless headphones on the market right now. Here are some other options to consider:
