The best headphones of 2024

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The best headphones all deliver clear audio and a comfortable fit. Our tech experts have listened to hours of music across dozens of headphones to select the top over-ear and in-ear models for every kind of listener.

For buyers who want a high-end pair of over-ear headphones, we recommend the Sony WH-1000XM5. They're the most versatile Bluetooth headphones we've tested, and they deliver excellent sound quality and active noise-canceling (ANC). Sony also makes our favorite wireless earbuds, the WF-1000XM5, which have a more compact, in-ear design. But if you're on a tight budget, we recommend the over-ear Soundcore Life Q30. For under $80, they offer impressive performance for the money.

Our picks for the best headphones also include top models from Bose, Apple, and JLab. We've ensured that all budgets are accounted for, with prices ranging from less than $25 to as much as $350 if you want flagship performance.

Our top picks for the best headphones

Best over-ear: Sony WH-1000XM5 - See at Amazon

Best noise-canceling: Bose QuietComfort Ultra - See at Amazon

Best earbuds: Sony WF-1000XM5 - See at Amazon

Best on a budget: Soundcore Life Q30 - See at Amazon

Best cheap in-ear buds: JLab Go Air Pop - See at Amazon

Best AirPods: AirPods Pro 2 - See at Amazon

Best over-ear

The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the best over-ear headphones we've reviewed. They offer excellent audio performance, extensive features, and great noise-canceling. Though some competitors can edge out the XM5 in specific categories, none can rival the overall package. All things considered, these are the most versatile and well-rounded Bluetooth headphones you can get.

First and foremost, the XM5 headphones sound great. They offer spacious and balanced audio that brings tiny details to life in music across all genres. We did find the bass response to be just a tad too aggressive using the default settings, but you can adjust this to your liking via a multi-band EQ in the Sony Headphones Connect app.

The XM5 headphones are also comfortable to wear with a sleek, understated design and padded earcups. Like many competing models, you can control playback and volume on the earcups themselves. Sony's interface relies on swipes and taps, and we found this method responsive. On the downside, the XM5 can't fold up for compact storage. The previous XM4 headphones could do this, so it's a bit disappointing that Sony's latest design forgoes this function.

When it comes to noise cancellation, there's little to complain about. Though Bose's QuietComfort Ultra have a slight edge, the XM5 headphones do a remarkable job of blocking annoying background sounds so you can focus purely on your music. While traveling, they can greatly reduce engine drones without introducing white noise, making them a perfect companion for commutes and plane rides.

Call quality is also great, and the headphones are packed with features, including Bluetooth multipoint to switch between connected devices quickly. We also love how intuitive Sony's app is, with a design that makes it simple to adjust various settings to match your needs and preferences.

The WH-1000XM5 are a bit pricey, but considering the sheer breadth of features on offer and the general quality they deliver, we think their cost is fair. But if you want similar headphones for less, we recommend Sony's previous-generation model, the WH-1000XM4. Their sound and noise-canceling performance isn't quite on the same level as that of the XM5, but they're often sold for at least $50 less.

Read our Sony WH-1000XM5 review.

Best noise-canceling

The QuietComfort Ultra are Bose's top headphones, and they deliver the most impressive noise-canceling performance we've tested. If your primary aim is to dial down the volume of pesky distractions no matter where you go, the QC Ultra are the best headphones for the job.

Though other brands can get close, we've yet to try any competing models that can block out such a wide range of frequencies as well as the QC Ultra can. The headphones greatly reduce low-frequency distractions like engines, fans, and construction, but what's even more notable is how well the QC Ultra are able to silence higher-frequency noises, like voices and keystrokes. These kinds of sounds are difficult for noise-canceling headphones to block, but the QC Ultra handle them incredibly well. We also love the headphones' natural-sounding transparency mode, which you can activate to let in outside noise when you want to hear your surroundings.

Bose has also improved its sound quality with the QC Ultra, offering a solid bump in performance compared to the brand's older models. After reducing the bass setting down a couple of steps via the Bose Music app's three-band EQ, we were pleased with the headphones' depth, clarity, and balance. However, we found that instrumentals could sound too sharp in certain songs. The headphones also support Bose's spatial audio mode, which uses head tracking to reposition sounds to mimic the effect of turning your head in a room with actual speakers. This is an interesting mode to play around with, but it often creates an echoey quality, so we prefer standard stereo playback.

Playback can be controlled via physical buttons on the earcups, while volume is adjusted by sliding up and down. But unlike some noise-canceling headphones, there's no dedicated button for toggling directly between ANC and transparency modes, which we find a minor inconvenience.

Design-wise, the QC Ultra feature elegant materials and a stylish look with soft protein leather padding on the earcups and an aluminum band. They can also fold up for travel and come with a handsome zippered case. Battery life is rated for 24 hours with ANC on, which is decent but less than most competitors.

In addition to the over-ear model we're recommending here, Bose also sells an earbud version of the QuietComfort Ultra for those who want something more compact. The over-ear model performs better overall, but the QC Ultra earbuds are the best in-ear noise-canceling headphones we've tested.

Visit our guide to all the best noise-canceling headphones.

Best earbuds

Sony's WF-1000XM5 deliver everything we look for in top wireless earbuds. They're compact, offer excellent sound quality, have solid battery life, and feature powerful noise cancellation.

Earbuds are ideal for taking on the go, and the WF-1000XM5 are light and easy to carry around with their handy wireless charging case. The buds themselves are notably sleeker than their predecessors, the WF-1000XM4 earbuds, which were larger and rounder in design. Battery life is also great for earbuds of this type, with up to six hours of playback with ANC on.

Speaking of ANC, the WF-1000XM5 are noise-canceling champs. The earbuds effectively suppressed low-frequency drones and trickier high frequencies in our tests. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds can do a slightly better job in this area, but Sony is a close second and we prefer their audio performance.

Sound quality is exceptional, with crisp and deep audio that maintains detail across frequencies. High-resolution Bluetooth playback is also supported, but you'll need an Android device compatible with Sony's LDAC audio technology to unlock this feature.

The earbuds support other useful features, including speak-to-chat, multipoint pairing, and multi-band EQ adjustments that you can use to make personal sound profiles. This is accomplished in the Sony Headphones app, and we love how comprehensive it is.

Fit is subjective, especially for buds with an in-ear design, but we found the WF-1000XM5 to be comfortable and secure during our tests. The only downside to their build is that their glossy material can make them slippery when removing them from their case. But that's an admittedly nit-picky complaint. Where it counts most, the WF-1000XM5 aced every benchmark we looked at.

Visit our guide to the best wireless earbuds.

Best on a budget

The Soundcore Life Q30 are proof that wireless over-ear headphones can still deliver excellent performance on a budget without sacrificing key features. For under $100, this pair wowed us with their pleasing audio performance and solid noise-canceling capabilities.

The Life Q30 produce a clean high-end with warm mids and stable low frequencies. The sound quality isn't audiophile caliber, but the Q30 are remarkably well-equipped for their price. Noise-canceling performance is also surprisingly strong, besting several pricier models we've tested. Sony and Bose still provide a noticeable step-up in this department, but the SoundCore Q30 held their own in our tests across different noisy environments, including a cross-country flight.

Battery life is fantastic, with 40 hours of playback with noise-canceling on and an incredible 60 hours with ANC deactivated. Soundcore also has an app with handy features like an adjustable EQ and different ambient audio modes. But while comfortable, the headphones' build isn't as high-quality as more expensive options. The plastic used for the headband and earcups feels a bit cheap and gets scratched easily. We also encountered a few misfires with the right earcup's tap command, which is used to toggle between ANC and transparency modes.

However, these shortcomings are easy to forgive, considering the Soundcore Life Q30 headphones offer so much value at this price range. At a suggested list price of just $80, these are easily among the best headphones for budget shoppers.

Best cheap in-ear buds

The JLab Go Air Pop earbuds impressed us with the level of quality they offer at such a low price point. Tradeoffs are made to keep their cost down, but with a list price of under $25, the value they offer is unbeatable for the money.

When looking at any wireless earbuds priced so low, it's important to go in with the right expectations. After all, it's not reasonable to expect $25 earbuds to come close to matching the performance of $300 earbuds like the Sony WF-1000XM5. But within those qualified expectations, the JLab Go Air Pop excel. You don't get a ton of features, but the earbuds offer the essentials with reliable touch controls, good battery life, and some adjustable sound settings via a few EQ modes.

Audio performance is best described as passable. You don't get anywhere near the same level of detail or depth that pricier earbuds offer, but the JLab Go Air Pop are balanced well while avoiding the overly bright or excessively boomy quality that many cheap headphones suffer from.

Comfort is also decent but the earbuds are best used for short to medium chunks of time rather than extended listening sessions. Buyers can choose between a few different color options, which is a nice perk for style-conscious shoppers. However, it's important to remember that these are bare-bones wireless earbuds, so conveniences found on pricer options are nowhere to be found. This includes features like auto-pause, ANC, and a mobile app.

The JLab Go Air Pop are ideal for buyers who just want a cheap pair of reliable wireless earbuds for casual use. At such a low asking price, they also make excellent stocking stuffers.

Best AirPods

The AirPods Pro 2 (second generation) are the best headphones for people who want high-end earbuds that pair seamlessly with an Apple device, like the iPhone or Mac. They deliver improved performance over the first-gen model and offer a unique suite of aural health features.

Powered by Apple's H2 chip, the AirPods Pro 2 provide excellent sound quality. Their custom drivers give their audio a more full-bodied presence compared to the thinner sound profile we heard on the first-gen AirPods Pro. The H2 chip also helps to enable great noise-canceling performance and one of the most natural transparency modes we've heard outside of Bose's lineup.

The AirPods Pro 2's noise-canceling also benefits from the buds' in-ear design, which creates a secure seal in your ear. This contrasts with the more open fit of the cheaper AirPods 4 (fourth generation), which rest just outside your ear canal. Though some people may prefer the comfort of an open design, in-ear buds enable much better sound isolation, and since audio doesn't leak as much, sound quality is also improved.

AirPods are known for their Apple-centric features, and the Pro 2 are packed with these convenient perks. You get Siri voice control, Find My support if you misplace the buds, and seamless switching between Apple devices synced to your Apple account. Apple also now offers aural health functions with the AirPods Pro 2, including a hearing aid feature and a five-minute hearing check when you pair the buds with an iPhone.

Sadly, the AirPods Pro 2 are not ideal for Android users since there's still no native Android app, and many of their unique features require an Apple device. If you want Android-friendly earbuds similar to the AirPods Pro, visit our guide to the best AirPods alternatives.

Read our full Apple AirPods Pro (second generation) review.

Check out our guides to the best AirPods and the best AirPods Pro 2 cases.

How we test headphones

Our reviewers conducted hands-on tests with popular models from every major brand to choose the best headphones. We evaluated sound quality and key features, using reproducible methods when possible.

To evaluate audio performance, we listen to a wide range of songs across genres, streaming videos, and podcasts. We also mix up the source quality of the music we sample to determine how each pair of headphones handles lower-quality streaming, lossless streaming, spatial audio formats like Dolby Atmos, and wired playback (if supported).

To review noise-canceling capabilities, we use test sounds that simulate airplane drones and voice chatter. We also take headphones outside to evaluate real-world performance during commutes, walks, flights, workouts, and other common activities.

Our goal is to use these headphones like typical buyers would to get a sense of how they perform on a daily basis.

Headphones FAQs

What's the difference between over-ear headphones and earbuds?

Many of the best headphones sold today feature an over-ear or earbud-style design. Both have pros and cons, so deciding which one to buy depends on your specific needs and preferences.

Over-ear headphones feature a headband with padded earcups that create a seal over your ears. The best headphones with an over-ear design can produce the highest-quality audio since they can incorporate larger speaker drivers than more compact earbuds.

Meanwhile, modern earbuds are small headphones made up of separate left and right buds. Depending on the specific design of the model you choose, these buds either rest right outside your ear or get inserted directly inside your ear. In-ear buds create a seal in your ear canal, and this design can produce better audio quality and noise isolation than open-fit buds.

Though even top earbuds can't quite match the audio performance of the best headphones with an over-ear design, they're appealing thanks to their compact design. This makes them ideal for taking on the go and using during activities like workouts. For earbuds recommendations specifically geared toward active users, check out our guides to the best running headphones and the best headphones for working out.

What is noise canceling?

Active noise cancellation, often abbreviated as ANC, is an audio technology incorporated into many headphones. This tech uses built-in microphones and processing to listen to the sounds around you and then block them out by reversing their frequencies.

The best headphones with high-end noise-canceling can do an impressive job of reducing ambient distractions. However, even top models can't block out all noises, with high-frequency sounds being particularly tricky.

Many noise-canceling headphones also support a complementary feature that brands often call "transparency mode." This mode uses the same microphones to let in outside sounds so you can stay aware of your surroundings when you need to.

What are the top headphone brands?

Several brands make excellent headphones, but certain companies are better at designing models for specific budgets.

For instance, brands like Soundcore and JLab excel at entry-level models that offer impressive bang for your buck. Meanwhile, brands like Sony, Apple, Beats, and Bose, offer a great selection of mid and high-end wireless headphones with top-notch features.

Audiophiles, however, may want to focus on companies like Sennheiser, Master & Dynamic, Technics, Bang & Olufsen, HiFiMan, Focal, and Beyerdynamic. This is especially true if you want a premium pair of wired headphones for critical listening.