Best Wireless Headphones (Overview)

Wireless headphones have evolved from bulky gear to lightweight, feature-packed options for travel, work and leisure. Many modern over-ear models offer strong active noise cancelation (ANC), quick pairing and reliable battery life — making them a worthwhile upgrade if you want more freedom from wires.

How to choose

• Wear style: over-ear vs on-ear — over-ear generally performs better for ANC.
• Noise cancellation: choose adaptive ANC for noisy environments; skip ANC to save money if you mainly use them in quiet spaces.
• Features: look for automatic pausing, multipoint Bluetooth, companion app quality, low latency for video/gaming, and support for Spatial Audio/Dolby Atmos if important to you.
• Battery: check real-world battery tests (manufacturers sometimes overstate hours).
• Try before you buy when possible — comfort and sound are subjective.

How we test

We wear headphones over several days, listen to music across genres, test calls, assess battery by looping audio, and check apps and features. We compare new models to previous versions and close competitors.

Notable picks (brief)

• AirPods Max — Premium sound, spatial audio and solid ANC. High price; consider only on discount. Buy/search on Amazon: AirPods Max on Amazon
• Dyson On-Trac — Highly customizable design; average ANC; pricey.
• Sonos Ace — Strong debut with home-theater features; ANC is okay.
• Sony ULT Wear — Big bass and plenty of features; consider if you want strong low end.
• Sony WH-CH720N — Good budget option. Buy/search on Amazon: Sony WH-CH720N on Amazon
• Beats Studio Pro — Improved sound but lacks some conveniences and comfort for larger heads.
• Bose QuietComfort Ultra — Excellent ANC and comfort; Immersive Audio can be inconsistent.
• Master & Dynamic MH40 (2nd gen) — Crisp, natural sound; limited battery/feature set.
• Bowers & Wilkins Px8 — Pristine sound but pricey and less comfortable than some rivals.

Quick FAQs

How to tell quality? Check design/build, even sound tuning, clarity, soundstage and core features (auto-pause, multipoint, transparency).

Do expensive headphones sound better? Not always — some high-end models sound amazing, but good options exist at lower prices depending on your priorities.

Note: This post summarizes a roundup of the best wireless headphones and practical buying advice. For hands-on reviews and specific test results, search product pages or retailers.