Whether for music-listening, devouring podcasts, conference calls, or simply drowning out background noise in your home office, a pair of headphones is a must-have. While many phones throw in a pair of wired earbuds, a good set of Bluetooth wireless headphones is a better choice. The convenience of wire-free listening makes cordless earphones easier to use with an array of devices, particularly with many device manufacturers such as Apple nixing the headphone jack. Check out the best wireless headphones for all uses and budgets in 2021!
What to Look for in a Pair of Bluetooth Headphones
When you’re selecting a pair of wireless headphones, you’ll need to think about several different factors. First, there’s price. Bluetooth headphones range from cheap sub-$20 budget picks to several hundred dollar options. That’s arguably the biggest limiting factor. Next up, think about style. You can find traditional over-the-ear or on-the-ear headphones, in-ear buds, or truly-wireless earphones. In addition to Bluetooth wireless communication, some wireless headsets feature a headphone jack for wired and wire-free connectivity. If you work out in your headphones, water-resistance, water-proofing, or dust-resistance are essential so that you don’t sweat your electronics getting drenched in perspiration. Runners may require a set of headphones with hear-through or at least a loose seal on the ear for hearing traffic noises. On the flip side, noise cancellation is a must-have for loud environments such as airplanes, coffee shops, or even a home office in a shared living space. For calling, a built-in mic is a necessity.
Wireless headphone buying considerations:
- Price
- Style: Over-the-ear, on-ear, in-ear, truly wireless
- Bluetooth only or Bluetooth and a 3.5mm headphone jack
- In-line audio controls
- Water-resistance/waterproofing
- Hear-through
- Onboard mic
- Noise cancellation
Best Bluetooth Headphones Overall – Sony WH-1000XM4
If you want the best all-around Bluetooth headphones on the market, look no further than the Sony WH-1000XM4. These noise-canceling cans boast superb audio quality, unrivaled noise cancellation, and top-notch comfort. Its lengthy 30-hour battery life lets you go for a long time between charges, while quick-charging capabilities get you up to 5 hours of playback time from just 10 minutes of juicing up. You’ll find hands-free calling and crystal-clear quality from the five onboard microphones. A foldable design makes for portability. Touch controls are easy to use. Unfortunately, the WH-1000XM4 ANC Bluetooth headphones don’t come cheap. You might also consider the slightly less expensive Sony WH1000XM3 or the Sennheiser Consumer Audio PXC 550-II. Still, audiophile-caliber performance justifies the price of the Sony WH-1000XM4.
Pros:
- Active noise cancellation (ANC)
- 30-hour battery life
- Quick-charging: 10 minutes of charge provides 5 hours of playback
- Hands-free calling with 5 onboard mics
- Touch controls
- Foldable design
Cons:
- Expensive
- Not waterproof/water-resistant
Best Cheap Bluetooth Earphones – Tribit XFree Tune
At the under $50 price point, most headphones are pretty lackluster. But you can find some solid budget wireless headphones like the Tribit XFree Tune. Delivering great bang for your buck, the XFree Tune offer fantastic sound quality at a fraction of the price you’ll shell out for many mid-range and high-end headphones. Despite their low price tag, the Tribit XFree Tune maintain good clarity and shockingly robust bass response. Sadly, there’s no noise-canceling technology onboard. If you need noise-canceling headphones, the Cowin E7 Pro balance a modest price tag with active noise cancellation, although sound quality isn’t as strong as the XFree Tune. With awesome performance that won’t break the bank, the Tribit XFree Tune are the best cheap Bluetooth earphones on the market.
Pros:
- Bluetooth 4.1 and headphone jack
- Dual 40mm drivers
- Passive noise reduction
- 40-hour battery life
- Over-the-ear design
- Foldable
- Built-in microphone
- Excellent bass performance
- Cheap
Cons:
- No ANC
Best Noise Cancelling In-ear Headphones – 1More Dual Driver ANC Pro
Often, noise cancellation is associated with large, bulky over- or on-ear headphones. Yet, you can find ANC earbuds. The 1More Dual Driver ANC Pro are the best noise-canceling in-ear headphones available. In our testing, we found the 1More Dual Driver ANC Pro earbuds capable of handling any genre of music well. The neckband-style wireless earphones remained light and comfortable. Bass performance is incredible. While the in-ear style wouldn’t seem conducive to noise cancellation, a set of four microphones reduces noises by up to 35dB. Call quality is wonderful, and an IPX5 water resistance rating means you don’t have to worry about a bit of rain or sweat. Admittedly, noise cancellation isn’t on par with larger over-the-ear or on-ear cans, though that’s to be expected. And bass response is somewhat lacking without ANC enabled. If you want fantastic audio quality and excellent noise reduction in a slim package, the 1More Dual Driver ANC Pro are a best bet.
Pros:
- USB-C charging
- 4 active noise-canceling mics for up to 35dB noise reduction
- Neckband style
- In-ear earbuds
- Hi-res sound with LDAC and AAC
- Quick charging: 10-minutes of charging yields 3-hours of battery life
- 20-hour total battery life
- IPX5 water/sweat resistance rating
- Excellent bass performance
- Doubles as a DAC
Cons:
- Bass response is somewhat lacking with ANC off
Best Budget True Wireless Earbuds – Tribit Flybuds
Truly-wireless earbuds are all the rage. While many clock in at high prices, the Tribit Flybuds 3 sport a good overall feature set paired with an affordable price tag. The Flybuds 3 rock an IPX8 waterproof rating for protection against liquid immersion. Sound quality is stunning, and there’s a five-hour battery life. The included charging case provides up to 100 hours of charging and even doubles as a portable power 2600mAh power bank. Unique earfins allow for a secure fit, so the Flybuds 3 are perfect for working out. The five-hour battery life should be fine, particularly because of the included charging case, but it’s under the industry standard. Still, the Tribit Flybuds 3 punch well above their weight class and are the best budget true wireless earbuds on the planet.
Pros:
- Bluetooth 5.0
- USB-C charging
- 5-hour battery life
- 100-hour battery life for the included charging case
- Charging case doubles as a 2600mAh power bank
- Excellent bass response
- Earfins for a secure fit
- IPX8 waterproofing
Cons:
- Only 5-hour battery life
- No noise cancellation
Best Truly Wireless Earbuds – Jabra Active 75T
The Jabra Active 75T are the best truly wireless earbuds for most people As the Active in its name suggests, the Jabra 75T are engineered for additional durability. An IP57 water-resistance rating offers full waterproofing. A HeatThrough mode allows for ambient noise passthrough so the Active 75T are great workout companions. You’ll find USB-C charging and a lengthy 7.5-hour battery life. The onboard microphone provides crisp, clean call audio, and sound quality is top-notch besting popular models such as the AirPods Pro. Specifically, bass repsonse remains tight and the overall soundstage is clear.
Although the included case does charge the Active 75T, you won’t find wireless charging capabilities, a feature standard on many premium true wireless earphones such as the AirPods and Samsung Galaxy Buds. What’s more, the Active 75T forego noise-canceling capabilities. Of course, since the Jabra Active in-ear buds are geared towards athletes, the ability to actually hear outside noises is a bonus particularly for running outside. If you don’t need the rugged built quality, the Jabra Elite 75T non-active boast nearly the same feature set minus the IP57 rating.
Pros:
- IP57 water-resistance for full waterproofing
- Excellent sound quality
- Great bass response
- 7.5-hour battery life
- Charging case included
- HeatThrough mode for letting ambient noises through
- USB-C charging
- Comfortable
Cons:
- Lack wireless charging
- No ANC
Best Budget Noise Canceling Headphones – Tribit QuietPlus 72
A good set of noise-canceling cans doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Tribit’s QuietPlus 72, despite their low price tag, boast a premium fit and finish with absolutely astonishing audio quality to boot. Performance is stellar at the high and low ends alike buoyed upon its 40mm dynamic drivers. Noise cancellation works like a champ, particularly for the price, and premium amenities make the QuietPlus 72 a fantastic bargain. You’ll find a foldable design, USB-C charging, and a 3.5mm jack for tethered listening. While ANC is a highly-touted feature, the QuietPlus may be used with passive noise cancellation instead of active. Unfortunately, ANC doesn’t work quite as well as on high-end active noise-canceling earphones, although the price differential makes it tough to compare. Edging out even many mid-range ANC over-the-ear cans, the Tribit QuietPlus 72 are the best budget noise-canceling headphones for your money.
Pros:
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Dual 40mm dynamic drivers
- ANC
- 3.5mm jack for wired listening
- USB-C charging
- Lots of accessories including a case, 3.5mm AUX cable, and USB-C charging cable
- Foldable design
- Comfortable
- CVC 8.0 noise-canceling mic for crystal clear call quality
Cons:
- ANC performance isn’t as good as high-end noise-canceling cans
Best Bluetooth Wireless ANC Headphones – Bose 700
Bose is a name synonymous with audiophile-caliber sound quality, and the Bose 700 prove why. Onboard, you’ll find best-in-class active noise cancellation. Bluetooth wireless sound is rich and lifelike with crisp highs and deep lows. A wired mode lets you keep jamming even if the battery is dead. A physical button works as a hotkey for Google Assistant, though it may be utilized for other purposes as well, and there’s Amazon Alexa smart voice assistant compatibility too. Its price, however, is pretty steep. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II tout nearly the same capabilities, although the Bose 700 trounce the QC35 II on sound quality and ANC performance. Still, the Bose 700 are the best Bluetooth ANC headphones on the planet, and if you can shell out the cash, your ears are in for a treat.
Pros:
- Comfortable
- Dedicated Google Assistant button, Amazon Alexa compatibility
- Fantastic active noise cancellation
- Best-in-class wireless Bluetooth audio quality
- Wired listening
Cons:
- Expensive
Best Running Headphones – Aftershokz AS800
For running, you’ll want a pair of Bluetooth earphones that stay secure, sound good, and are sweat-resistant. Plus, if you’re an outdoor runner rather than a gym rat, the ability to hear traffic is a must-have. Enter the Aftershokz Aeropex AS800 wireless bone conductive headphones. Sporting an unconventional design, the Aeropex eschew on- or in-ear buds. Instead, you’ll audio is transmitted via bone conductivity leaving your ear canals completely exposed. This makes the Aeropex AS800 from Aftershokz a fantastic choice, and the best running headphones on the market. Of course, bone conductive headphones aren’t for everyone. The fit and listening take a bit of getting used to. If you prefer a more traditional headphone, the Plantronics Backbeat Fit 2100 are also great.
Pros:
- IP67 rating
- Lightweight – less than 1 oz.
- 8-hour battery life
- Sports belt included
- Bone conductive technology for an open-ear design
- Excellent sound quality
- Magnetic charging cable
Cons:
- Bone conductive headphones aren’t for everyone
- Don’t block out noise as well as traditional in-, over-, or on-ear headphones
Best Over-Ear Headphones for Working Out – Plantronics BackBeat Fit 500
Although many fitness fanatics prefer earbuds for working out, some audio aficionados might want a set of over-the-ear cans for hitting the gym. The Plantronics BackBeat Fit 500 are an over-ear pair of sport headphones. Outfitted with a sweat-resistant nano-coating of P2i, the BackBeat Fit 500 are big, beautiful, and brawny. Because of their large drivers, the BackBeat Fit 500 deliver powerful bass response without sacrificing clarity on the high-end. Ear-cup located physical buttons for music playback and volume control allow for intuitive operation. Its built-in microphone works wonderfully for crystal clear calling. While audio quality is perfectly acceptable for most users, it’s not audiophile-level. Granted, it’s not meant to be. You might also consider the slightly more expensive BackBeat 6100 or the JBL Under Armor Sport Wireless Train headphones. Balancing price and performance, the gym-faring Plantronics BackBeat Fit 500 are the best over-ear headphones for working out.
Pros:
- Dual 40mm drivers
- Bluetooth and 3.5mm cable
- Wideband mic for rich audio quality
- Connect to 2 x devices at a time
- P2i military-grade nano-coating for sweat resistance
- Memory foam ear cups
- On-ear controls
Cons:
- No USB-C charging
- Not audiophile-grade sound quality
Best Waterproof Bluetooth Headphones – JBL Endurance Dive
If you need a set of fully-waterproof earbuds, the JBL Endurance Dive are a solid choice. These IPX7-rated headphones can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water s0 they’re capable of taking a dunk in the pool. Packing 1GB of onboard storage, the JBL Endurance Dive doubles as an MP3 player for swimming. While on land, Bluetooth offers hands-free calling as well as music listening. Sound quality is adequate, though the 1GB of built-in storage space fills up quickly. If you demand waterproofing but don’t need to swim in your headphones, the IPX7-rated Jaybird VISTA are a better value. In fact, there are better IPX7 earbuds on the market, so the JBL Endurance Dive is mostly a waterproof headphone for swimmers. Yet if you want to take a dip with your tunes, the JBL Endurance Dive are the best waterproof Bluetooth headphones for you.
Pros:
- IPX7 rating – can be submerged up to 1m
- Bluetooth audio
- Onboard touch controls
- 1GB built-in storage space
- Secure fit with TwistLock and FlexSoft technology
Cons:
- Average sound quality
- Better IPX7-rated headphones available that aren’t for swimming
Best Wireless Headphones in 2021 – Final Thoughts
Overall, there are tons of Bluetooth wireless headphones available. From enormous, bass-heavy over-the-ear and on-ear cans to compact earbuds, active noise-canceling headphones and budget-priced options, you’ve got a bevy of choices. If you demand audiophile-level listening, the Bose 700 or Sony Wh-1000XM4 will massage your ears. The 1More Dual Driver ANC Pro in-ear earbuds don’t compromise on noise cancellation. Tribit offers several different good, cheap wireless headphone options. And there are loads of Bluetooth headphones for working out, from truly-wireless earbuds like the Jabra Active 75T to bone conductive Aftershokz Aeropex and even over-the-ear Plantronics BackBeat 500.
Your turn: Which wireless headphones do YOU recommend in 2021?
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