The 6 best headphones of 2025

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The best headphones vary in size and price, but they all deliver great sound quality and a comfortable fit. Our tech experts have been covering audio products for over a decade, and we've used that extensive experience to inform our testing process. After listening to hours of music across dozens of models, we've selected the top over-ear and in-ear headphones for every kind of listener.

For people 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 reviewed. They aced all of our tests, offering excellent audio performance and powerful active noise cancellation (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. They offer incredible value for under $80.

The best headphones also include top models from Bose, Apple, and JLab. We've ensured that all budgets are accounted for in our selection, with prices ranging from under $25 to over $400 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 on a budget: Soundcore Life Q30 - See at Amazon

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

Best AirPods: AirPods Pro 2 - See at Amazon

Best cheap in-ear buds: JLab Go Air Pop - 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 edge out the XM5 in specific categories, none can rival the overall package they deliver. 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. Bass response is 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 older XM4 headphones could do this, so it's a bit disappointing that Sony's latest design cut this function.

When it comes to noise cancellation, there's little to complain about. Though Bose's QuietComfort Ultra headphones have a slight edge, the XM5 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 also 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 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. 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 also offers improved sound quality with the QC Ultra, providing a solid bump in performance compared to the brand's older models. After lowering the bass setting 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 listening.

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 recommend 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 on a budget

The Soundcore Life Q30 are proof that budget headphones can still offer excellent performance without sacrificing key features. For under $100, this over-ear 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.

Visit our guide to all the best budget 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 the XM5 earbuds are 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 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, a hearing protection mode that can reduce the volume of loud environments, 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 earbud recommendations that are 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.

Best cheap in-ear buds

When it comes to budget-friendly earbuds, the JLab Go Air Pop are in a class all their own. Some 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 gifts.

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. Our review methodology is informed by years of experience testing audio devices, which has helped us home in on what matters most when it comes to overall value and performance.

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.

What to look for in top headphones

When shopping for the best headphones, we recommend focusing on a few key factors to help narrow down the right fit for your needs.

Price range: Depending on their performance level and features, the best headphones start at around $25 and can cost over $500. Less expensive headphones are still fine for casual listening, but they're typically built from cheaper materials, offer less dynamic sound, and lack advanced features like ANC. Pricier models have higher-end designs and include extra bells and whistles, as well as better-quality audio drivers to deliver the best audio performance.

Design: Most headphones sold today use either an earbud-style or over-ear-style design. Earbuds feature separate left and right buds that are either connected via a wire or pair wirelessly with Bluetooth. This design is great for portability, especially for active use like running and workouts. Over-ear headphones feature large earcups and a headband. Though less portable, top over-ear headphones offer better sound quality than other types of headphones.

Connectivity: Headphones are available with wired or wireless connectivity. Most wired headphones use a standard 3.5mm audio cable, and this type of connection enables the best audio quality with uncompressed sound. For this reason, many audiophiles still prefer wired-only models. Meanwhile, wireless headphones use a Bluetooth connection to pair with a phone or other audio source without any cables. Bluetooth is convenient, and the latest version of the technology offers good sound performance. However, the signal is still compressed to some degree, and wireless headphones require batteries that need to be recharged. Many Bluetooth headphones also support a wired connection, so you have the option to use a cable.

Noise cancellation: Many midrange and high-end wireless headphones support active noise cancellation. ANC uses microphones and processing to block out ambient sounds, which is desirable for people who want to listen to music in a loud environment. You can get decent ANC on headphones in the $80 range, but top models will set you back at least $300. It's rare to find ANC support on wired-only headphones, so you'll need to get wireless ones if you want noise canceling.

Headphones FAQs

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

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

What is spatial audio?

Spatial audio, as it refers to headphones, is a feature designed to create a 3D surround sound effect.

Some songs available through services like Amazon Music and Apple Music are natively mixed using spatial audio formats, like Dolby Atmos, which can then be played back on any pair of headphones.

Some headphones also feature their own spatial audio modes, which can simulate 3D audio with any music source. Many of these modes use head-tracking, which repositions sounds to match your head movements, mimicing what it would be like to listen to music in a room with physical speakers.

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.

What is Bluetooth?

All of the best headphones we recommend in this guide support Bluetooth, a wireless technology that transmits audio from a compatible source device, like a phone, to a pair of wireless headphones without any physical cables between them. Most consumer Bluetooth devices support a maximum wireless connection of 33 feet.

Bluetooth audio signals are technically compressed, which means that some sound detail is lost compared to a wired connection that can support lossless audio. However, current Bluetooth implementations and codecs do a great job of minimizing this loss in quality. So, while a wired connection does technically offer better performance, in many cases, the differences are subtle.