Looking for the best headphones you can buy today? You’ve come to the right place.
Finding the best headphones to suit your style and listening habits can be difficult – especially when there are so many different models to choose from. The best headphones include everything from true wireless earbuds that cut the cord completely to immersive noise-cancelling headphones that block out the world – and everything in between. What all the best headphones of 2021 have in common, is that they deliver on comfort, great-looking design, top audio fidelity, and a range of fantastic features, including built-in voice assistants and wireless connectivity. A great pair of headphones is essential for anyone who loves podcasts, listens to loads of audiobooks or music lovers who prioritize top sound quality over anything else. The good news is, there’s plenty of choice. You can find headphones to suit you whether you’re looking for audiophile sound quality or budget-friendly earbuds for working out. And there’s more choice on the way soon. Rumors of the AirPods Pro 2, and the AirPods 3 have been gaining traction for months now – and we’re hearing more information on the first Sonos headphones, too. With many options to choose from, making the right buying decision can be tricky. That’s why it’s our mission to hook you up with the best headphones for your needs (and your budget). There’s a new overall winner, too – the Sony WH-1000XM4 have usurped the XM3s to take the top spot as our best headphones for 2021 overall, thanks to continued great sound, plus a host of cool new features including audio upscaling, adaptive noise cancellation, and Speak to Chat. We encourage you to look at all of the headphones listed here on TechRadar. But if you’re in a hurry and just want to find the best headphones your money can buy right now, then check out the top picks from every category below. [Update: Our Apple AirPods Max review is live. If you don’t have time to read a full review right now, however, it’ll suffice to say that they’re among the best-sounding headphones we’ve ever tested, easy to use, and their noise cancellation is great. However, their high price, limitations for Android users, and lack of 3.5mm audio port means we’d only recommend them to iOS users with a lot of money to spare – and no interest in Hi-Res Audio.] The Sony WH-1000XM4 deliver excellent noise-cancellation and surprising sound quality all in a lightweight, comfortable design. While they don’t look significantly different from their predecessors, the Sony WH-1000XM3, a number of new features including multipoint pairing, DSEE Extreme upscaling, conversational awareness and auto-play/pause using a built-in sensor all help the WH-1000XM4 claim the title of best headphones in 2021. By every possible metric, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is a wonderful pair of wireless noise-cancelling headphones. They deliver exactly what they promise and then some thanks to their exceptional noise cancellation and cutting-edge codec support. On top of the adjustments listed above, the Sony WH-1000XM4 support Sony’s 360 Reality Audio format that enables spatial audio on stereo headphones plus the LDAC codec that can send a bitrate of up to 990 kbps. The unfortunate bit there, though, is that it no longer supports aptX or aptX HD, so your Hi-Res Audio support mileage may vary. Despite being usurped by the XM4s, the Sony WH-1000XM3s are still well worth considering – and they’re likely to be discounted now that the newer model is out. Read more: Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones review After spending a few weeks with both the 1MORE Triple Driver in-ear headphones, we were blown away by the great value for money they represent – that’s why they’re the best headphones for those who like wired earbuds. For $100 / £100 (about AU$168), it’s hard to think of a better-sounding and more well-built pair of earphones than the 1MORE Triple Drivers. (That said, if you want just that little extra refinement and luxury materials, the 1MORE Quad Drivers are still a bargain at twice the price.) There’s very little we can fault the Triple Drivers for. Sure, the inbuilt remote feels a little cheap, but that’s more than made up for by the lush sound quality offered by these luxe-looking earbud. For the price, it’s impossible to do better than 1MORE’s Triple Driver in-ear headphones. Read more: 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphone review If you have a tendency to lose or break headphones, but you still value sound quality, it’s hard to think of a better value pair of earbuds than the RHA S500u. These in-ear headphones have no business sounding so good for $40 / £30 / AU$52, sporting a balanced soundstage with a slight mid-bass bump to power you through your workouts and make your music sound great. Bass is slightly emphasized but not egregiously and features good impact while maintaining good control – and highs, while sibilant at times, makes music sound more exciting. In short, these are the best headphones you can buy if you’re on a strict budget. Read more: RHA S500u review If you’re looking for wireless headphones with active noise cancellation and you’re not put off by the $399 / £349 / AU$600 price tag, the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 are well worth considering. The title of best wireless headphones still goes to the Sony WH-1000XM3 of course, but there’s not much in it. With sophisticated noise cancellation, much-improved sound quality, and a honed aesthetic, the PX7 could give any of the headphones on this list a run for their money. Plus, they’re packing aptX Adaptive for improved stability and latency between the headphones and your device, as well as high-quality (24-bit) streaming aptX HD brought to the table.
