You can get great sound quality and wireless freedom in the same set of headphones. These are the best wireless headphones available on the market today.
This article was last updated by Digital Trends staff writer Nick Woodard on 9/4/2020. We’ve reviewed hundreds of headphones in our time, and after factoring in several aspects like comfort, audio quality, battery life, and noise cancellation, we’ve concluded that Sony’s WH-1000XM4 are simply the best wireless headphones you can buy. The WH-1000XM4 are so good, they currently take the top spot on not just this list, but also our picks for the best noise-canceling headphones and the best headphones, period. Despite this unprecedented high praise, if the Sony WH-1000XM4 aren’t right for you, either because you’re looking for a set of earbuds or something a little more affordable, don’t fret. We’ve rounded up some more excellent wireless headphone picks, at a variety of price points and styles for multiple uses to make sure you can take beautiful music along no matter where you go. Why you should buy them: Top-tier sound, excellent comfort, and (of course) impressive noise-canceling make Sony’s WH-1000XM4 the headphones to beat. Who they’re for: Those who are looking for total sonic isolation and wireless convenience, but don’t want to give up high-fidelity sound to get it. Why we picked the Sony WH-1000XM4: Let’s get right to it. The previous leader of this list was Sony’s WH-1000XM3, and the WH-1000XM4 have everything that made those headphones amazing, plus a bit more for the exact same price. That by itself should be all you need to know to be sold on the XM4. For the sake of thoroughness, we’ll break down these new headphones from Sony anyway. The design of the 1000XM4 remains largely the same, making for the same comfort and stability as the previous model. The battery life of these new cans is unchanged, providing 30 hours with active noise cancellation on and 38 hours without. And while Sony says its improved its software algorithms and hardware when it comes to active noise cancellation, the 1000XM4 are basically the same as theXM3 – excellent. The few significant changes that were made with the WH-1000XM4 include the introduction of Bluetooth multipoint connection, allowing them to be connected to two different devices at the same time. Essentially, you could be watching Netflix on your laptop, field a phone call on your mobile device, then effortlessly return to your streaming enjoyment. The XM4 also got a wear sensor to automatically pause content when you remove the headphones, as well as Sony’s latest music upscaling tech, DSEE Extreme. None of these changes are major, but they don’t have to be. Sony’s headphones were already the best, and this new model only cements that position. Read our full Sony WH-1000XM4 review Why you should buy them: The convenience of no wires at all, plus active noise cancellation is a unique combo we think you’ll love. Who they’re for: Anyone who wants noise cancellation but doesn’t want to tote around or wear a full-size set of headphones. Why we picked the Sony WF-1000XM3: There are now a ludicrous number of truly-wireless earbuds on the market, but at the moment, there is only one model that provides the same active noise-canceling technology found in high-end headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM3. That model is the Sony WF-1000XM3, and as the name suggests, they’re the truly-wireless earbud equivalents of Sony’s incredible best-of-the-best headphones. These earbuds manage to combine superb sound quality, awesome noise cancellation, and astonishing battery life into a single, convenient package. Sony brings all of its technical know-how to these earbuds: They feature the company’s DSEE HX sound processing, which has an uncanny ability to make almost any audio source sound deliciously Hi-Fi, and they pair it with Sony’s active noise-canceling circuitry, for whisper-quiet backgrounds on airplanes, public transit, or even noisy offices. Battery life is impressive at six hours per charge, but if you switch off noise-cancellation, that jumps to a killer eight hours. The Duracell-like charging case stores three full charges, giving you up to 32 hours of playtime — or 24 if you like your environment ultra-quiet. Sony’s app for iOS and Android gives you control over EQ, noise-cancellation levels, and other customizations. Our only gripes? There’s no ability to control volume levels without reaching for your phone or asking your voice assistant, and these earbuds don’t want to be anywhere near moisture. These small issues notwithstanding, Sony has officially taken the lead when it comes to what we can expect from truly wireless earbuds. Sennheiser’s recently released Momentum True Wireless 2 make for a serious competitor to the Sony’s, with better sound quality and comparative active noise cancellation abilities. But, the WF-1000XM3 – or an identically priced alternative like the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC300TW – can be had for $70 less, making them the better value if you’re searching for great active noise cancellation. If you’re after top-notch sound, however, Sennheiser may be worth a look. Read our in-depth review of the Sony WF-1000XM3 Why you should buy them: You want a simple pair of in-ear headphones that are both streamlined and more affordable than other models of similar quality. Who’s it for: The discerning shopper looking for a pair of quality in-ears. Why we picked the Shure SE112 Wireless: In an age where earbuds have largely replaced over-ear and on-ear headphones as the average commuter’s listening device of choice, it’s scarily easy to find some really bad in-ear headphones. Scores of models line store shelves and cost anywhere from $10 to $20. Unfortunately, as with most material things in life, you get what you pay for. The reality is that while their price might not immediately read as “budget,” in the world of high-quality in-ears, the Shure SE112 Wireless are a steal. When we reviewed the SE112’s wired version, we were pleased to find them to be an affordable pair of in-ears with high-performance quality — this is Shure after all, and the company has been a top name in audio for decades for a reason. We were also impressed with several other aspects of the Shure SE112, including the excellent passive sound isolation and great design and construction. The wireless model, naturally, adds the benefit of unfettered connection via Bluetooth to the already stellar sound and build quality. But there’s more. The wired version of the Shure SE112 lacked an inline mic for phone calls, but this has been rectified with the SE112 Wireless. An inline mic and remote sit on the right-hand side, making them even more of an upgrade over their wired predecessors. Their eight hours of battery life isn’t a ton, but it’s enough for a full day of listening, and that’s good enough at this price. While you could buy wireless in-ears for less, these are the best budget in-ears you should buy. Read our in-depth Shure SE112 Wireless review Why you should buy them: They’re durable, and have some of the best battery life you’ll find. Who they’re for: People who want the best water protection, battery life, and fit. Why we picked the JLab Epic Air Sport: There are no better workout companions than the JLab Epic Air Sport. The bulky pair of headphones isn’t winning any design awards, but you’re not in the gym looking to win beauty pageants. All their other features, however, make them perfect for sweaty sessions, and at a considerably lower price point than their closest competitors. The ear hooks are killer, helping them stay on your ears during intense bursts of jogging or perhaps a round of CrossFit. Helping the comfortability and security, JLab throws in a glutton of eartip options, including four sizes of silicon tips, foam ones for added noise reduction, and multi-layered tips for less cooperative ear canals.
