Best Headphones We’ve Tested

I’ve been testing all kinds of headphones for over 10 years — from over-ear headphones to noise-canceling earbuds to workout-friendly headphones to earbuds with open designs. But this best list represents the best of the best from all of our best headphones and earbuds lists at CNET. I’ve personally tested or reviewed every pick on this list. Recent standouts include the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), the AirPods Pro 3 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen).

What are the best headphones overall?

With so many different great headphones, it’s hard to declare one model better than all the others. That said, the new Sony WH-1000XM6 received a CNET Editors’ Choice award in May of 2025 and sits at the top of this list, making it our current pick for best overall wireless noise-canceling headphone. While we have a few wired headphones on this list, if sound quality is your biggest priority and you’re OK with a strictly corded headphone, check out more standout wired options our list of best wired headphones for audiophiles. Our top wired picks include the Sony MDR-M1 and the Sennheiser HD 505.

Best headphones of 2025

Factors to consider when choosing headphones

Budget and performance

Before anything else, you’ll want to figure out how much you’re willing to spend on new headphones. A quick tip — consider the price-to-performance ratio rather than just the lowest price. Entry level models ($30-$80) typically offer decent sound but fewer premium features. Mid-range options ($80-$150) balance sound quality with features like basic ANC, a better build and water- and dust- resistance (IP ratings) for portable models. Premium headphones ($150-$300+) deliver superior sound engineering, advanced noise cancellation, extended battery life for wireless models and other specialized features like planar magnetic drivers or high-resolution audio support. Determine which features matter most for your specific use cases — commuting, exercise, professional calls, audiophile listening or gaming — and invest accordingly rather than paying for features you may not use.

Noise cancellation

Active noise cancellation technology uses microphones and special processors to generate anti-noise that neutralizes any ambient sound. Adaptive ANC automatically adjusts to your environment, while adjustable systems let you control noise cancellation levels manually. Some premium models offer specialized noise cancellation for different environments (airplanes, traffic noise, ambient chatter). Over-ear headphones typically provide the best ANC performance due to larger drivers and sealed ear cups, while on-ear models offer less isolation than their on- and in-ear counterparts. If you know you’ll be listening in busier environments, look for headphones with ANC. Do keep in mind that active noise cancellation can limit both battery life and sound quality, so if you’re hoping to salvage those, look for headphones that advertise a natural-sounding transparency mode that allows ambient sound in without digital artifacts.

Battery life

If you’re eyeing some wireless headphones and expect to be using them for long stretches of time, be sure to consider the battery life. True wireless earbuds typically offer 5-12 hours on a single change, while over-ear wireless headphones can provide 20-60+ hours. Both models’ battery life depends largely on feature usage, with ANC reducing battery life by about 20-30%. If you’re crunched for time, look for fast-charging capabilities that offer at least 1 hour of playback from 5-10 minutes of charging. Also consider battery degradation — like any battery-powered device, expect maximum battery capacity to drop up to 80% from its original specifications after several charge cycles. Make sure the typical length of your listening sessions is in line with the battery life of the model you choose. 

General features

Today’s headphones are often jam-packed with features that can make a huge difference in your listening habits. If you want the best sound possible, advanced codec support impacts audio quality substantially. Look for AAC compatibility for Apple devices, or aptX Adaptive or LDAC for Android. Many headphones offer on-model controls for those looking for easy ways to switch songs, adjust volume or answer calls. Control interfaces vary from touch-sensitive panels to physical buttons, rotary dials and voice commands. Microphone arrays with beamforming technology and AI noise suppression dramatically improve call quality, with over-ear models often featuring detachable boom mics for gaming. Companion apps offer customizable EQ settings, firmware updates and additional features like spatial audio or gaming modes to keep your headphones’ features in one spot. Consider how you plan to use your headphones and choose the features best suited to your needs.

Durability

You want headphones that hold up well over time, so look for models that I note have sturdy build quality. Construction materials can impact longevity — premium models use reinforced plastics, aluminum or even carbon fiber components to keep them safe from scratches and dents. For portable models, consider foldable designs with reinforced hinges and quality carrying cases. Water resistance is especially relevant for earbuds and sports-oriented headphones, with ratings from IPX4 (splash-resistant) to IP68 (fully dust- and waterproof). Over-ear headphones should have durable headband padding, sturdy adjustment mechanisms and hinges and replaceable ear pads for long-term comfort. If you’re looking for a pair with wired connectivity, be sure to look for detachable cables with reinforced connectors. Also consider your portability needs: frequent travel or long commutes calls for compact, folding designs, while larger, less portable models can work for home or otherwise stationary use.

Form factor and design

The physical design of your headphones can have a major impact on your listening experience. Earbuds or in-ear models offer the best portability and are usually best for exercise and commuting and can provide excellent noise isolation when properly fitted. Still, their portability means they are most susceptible to loss and damage and the in-ear design may cause ear fatigue during long listening sessions. On-ear headphones sit on your ears and balance portability with sound quality – they’re more comfortable than earbuds for longer sessions while remaining relatively compact, though they may not seal as well and can create pressure points on your head and ears over time. Over-ear headphones surround your ears completely, typically delivering the best sound quality and comfort. They excel at noise cancellation and often house larger drivers for superior bass response and a larger sound stage, but they’re bulkier and less portable. 

Connection type can make a big difference, too. Wired headphones offer consistent, superior audio quality without battery concerns, lower latency for gaming and often better value at each price point, though they limit mobility and cables can wear over time. Wireless models provide freedom of movement and convenience, with many offering both connection options for flexibility. True wireless earbuds eliminate cables entirely, however have the shortest battery life and are easiest to misplace without a cable or headband connecting the buds together. Consider your primary use cases – portable convenience, home listening or professional use – to determine the best form factor and connectivity for your needs.

Fit and comfort

Proper fit is critical for sound quality and long-term comfort. For earbuds, look for models with different ear tip sizes (typically S/M/L) in different materials (silicone for durability, memory foam for comfort and isolation) to help achieve the proper fit. If you plan on running or otherwise heavy movement in your earbuds, look for wingtips — sometimes called sport fins — that lock the buds in your ears. Over-ear and on-ear headphones require different considerations: adjustable headbands, adequate padding, appropriate clamping force and ear cups that accommodate different head sizes and ear shapes. Test for comfort during extended sessions – over-ear models should distribute weight evenly without creating pressure points, while on-ear designs should balance secure fit with minimal pressure. Consider heat buildup for closed-back designs and whether you prefer velour or leather ear pad materials. 

Return policy

It’s critical to buy your headphones at a retailer that has a good return policy, in case they break or aren’t a good match for you and your listening needs. Manufacturer warranties typically range from 1-2 years, with premium brands often offering better customer service and replacement options. Research how companies handle common issues like driver failure, cable problems or charging defects for wireless models. Retailer return policies supplement manufacturer warranties — major electronics retailers typically allow 14-30 day returns, while specialized audio retailers sometimes offer more extended evaluation periods. If you’re on the quest for the perfect headphones, be sure to get a longer trial period to assess their performance.

How we test headphones

I follow CNET’s unbiased evaluation process for all of my headphones testing. In the CNET sound lab, I compare similarly styled and priced models side-by-side based on six key criteria: design, sound quality, noise-canceling performance, extra features, voice-calling and value.

Design

I first assess how comfortable the headphones fit (their ergonomics), typically testing each model for several hours across multiple days. For wireless earbuds, I test all included ear tip sizes (typically S/M/L) and evaluate their stability during movement or other physical activity. For over-ear and on-ear headphones, I examine headband padding, ear cup comfort, clamping force, heat buildup and how well they accommodate different head sizes and shapes during extended listening sessions. 

Build quality assessments include stress testing case hinges and folding mechanisms, examining material durability and verifying IPX ratings, or dust- and water-resistance through exposure to appropriate environmental conditions, though this primarily applies to earbuds and select sports-oriented over-ear models. For over-ear headphones, I also assess cable quality and detachability, headband adjustment range and retention and the durability of any active components like buttons, noise cancellation controls or touch interfaces.

Noise-canceling performance

I evaluate noise-canceling performance by wearing the headphones in the same spot indoors near a noisy HVAC unit to see how well they muffle lower frequencies (about 65dB of broadband noise). I then head out to the busy streets of New York City to use the headphones in a real-world environment, testing their performance in:

• Public transit environments, like buses, trains and subway platforms (85-90dB of variable noise)
• Busy street intersections for traffic and construction noise (45-70dB of line source noise)
• Areas with ambient chatter and voices (70-75dB of speech-dominated noise)

Each environment is tested several times. For over-ear headphones, I also evaluate passive noise isolation provided by the ear cup seal, while for earbuds I assess how different ear tip sizes affect noise blocking performance. 

Extra features

Some great-sounding headphones aren’t loaded with features, but I do take into account what extra features are on board and test them accordingly. Modern features include everything from quick-access awareness to transparency modes (your music pauses and the headphones open up to the outside world so you can have a conversation). I test special sound modes like EQ customization, bass modes and spatial audio features, as well as the efficiency of ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off of your ears. For over-ear models, I also evaluate features like quick-charge capabilities, wired/wireless flexibility and comfort-focused elements like auto-pause when lifting an ear cup. Bluetooth connectivity is tested by subjecting the headphones to a wireless range test or repeated device-switching if Bluetooth multipoint is included. I also take a look at the companion app for the headphones (if there is one) and test its user-friendliness across both mobile and desktop platforms where available.

Voice-calling performance

When I test voice-calling performance, I make calls in the noisy streets of New York and evaluate how well the headphones reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear your voice. I assess their reaction to traffic noise and windy conditions for microphone performance. I assess microphone performance in response to traffic noise and windy conditions, testing both built-in microphones on wireless models and detachable boom mics on gaming-focused headphones where applicable. We also move between quiet and noisy environments to test their response, then collect feedback from call recipients about voice clarity and background noise reduction.

Value

Finally, I determine value after evaluating the strength of the headphones against all these criteria and what they’re able to deliver compared to other models in their price class. Great sounding, feature-packed headphones that offer a great bang for your buck earn top marks in this category.

Other headphones we tested

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: When they’re in your ears, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 look a lot like the original Pixel Buds Pro and retain the stabilizer fins that help lock the buds in your ears. But they’re smaller than their predecessor and Google equipped them with its new Tensor A1 chip, which offers more processing power and boosts their performance across the board. How you ultimately feel about them will largely depend on how well they fit your ears. That’s the case for most noise-canceling earbuds, but with the Pixel Buds Pro 2, if you don’t get a tight seal from the included ear tips, there’s a massive dip in both sound quality and noise-canceling performance. If you do get a tight seal, these buds deliver excellent sound, strong noise-muffling capabilities and a robust feature set, particularly for Android and Google Pixel phone users. Read my Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3: The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro stand out with their excellent fit, impressive sound quality and top-notch voice-calling performance. Though Samsung has added stems (it calls them “blades” and they have integrated LEDs) to these flagship earbuds, this new design works better for more people — I found the buds lightweight and comfortable to wear. The sound quality is noticeably improved from the previous Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, with superior treble clarity and bass definition, producing a cleaner, more accurate sound.

Bose QuietComfort Headphones: When Bose released its new flagship QuietComfort Ultra Headphones in late 2023, it also replaced the QuietComfort 45s with a slightly updated model simply called the QuietComfort Headphones. Like the QC 45s, this model carries on the comfortable tried-and-true legacy QuietComfort design that’s been around for a few generations that a lot of people continue to love. The QC Ultra Headphones add Bose’s new Immersive Audio feature and have a more refined design with some metal parts (they also have Bluetooth 5.3 instead of Bluetooth 5.1). But the QuietComfort Headphones still have good sound (the Ultras offer a small step up in sound quality), excellent noise canceling and strong voice-calling performance.

Sennheiser Accentum Plus: If you can’t afford Sennheiser’s flagship Momentum 4 Wireless and other premium models from Bose, Sony and Apple, the Sennheiser Accentum Plus is a good midrange alternative that doesn’t quite offer the same performance as those higher-end models but offers better build quality and sound than most budget noise canceling headphones.

Sony WH-1000XM5: Sony has released its new-for-2025 WH-1000XM6 headphones, but its former flagship model, the XM5 is still an excellent headphone that’s often on sale for closer to $300. Their noise-canceling, voice-calling and sound isn’t quite as good as what the XM6 offers (the XM6 sounds a little more detailed with improved bass performance) and the XM6 has a dual-hinge design that allows them to fold up, not just fold flat. As a result, the XM6’s case is a little smaller. Additionally, the XM6 is powered by a new QN3 chip that Sony says delivers 7 times the performance of the QN1 chip found in the XM5s. All that said, while the jump in performance from the XM5 to the XM6 is certainly noticeable, it isn’t huge; the XM5 still offers good sound, noise-canceling and voice-calling performance that should satisfy most people. Read my Sony WH-1000XM5 review.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: Bose has released its improved QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen), which means you’ll be able to find discounts on the original QC Ultra Earbuds. They feature excellent sound and previously best-in-class noise-canceling performance.

Bowers & Wilkins PX8: The swanky Bowers & Wilkins PX8 headphones feature 40mm Carbon Cone drive units that are “inspired” by the Carbon Dome drive units used in the company’s iconic 700 Series loudspeaker line. They look great and feature excellent sound. However, B&W has released a next-gen “S2” version of the PX8 that offers some significant improvements, including a slimmer design and even better sound and improved noise-canceling. Alas, it does cost more, carrying a list price of $799.

Apple AirPods 4 with ANC: The AirPods 4 With Active Noise Cancellation are simply special, but I still preferred the AirPods Pro 2, which are included on this list. They’re the first open buds I’ve tried to have active noise canceling that actually works, and they’re perfect for people who want ANC without having ear tips jammed in their ears. Want to check them out? Learn more about the model in my full AirPods 4 review.

Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2: Once included on this list, Jabra has discontinued the 2024 Elite 8 Active Gen 2 after announcing it decided to gradually wind down the Jabra Elite product line. Still, we liked their incredible durability (they survived several drops without a scratch) and enhanced spatial sound powered by Dolby Audio. They make for great sport earbuds if you can get your hands on them. I have a full Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 review if you’re still interested in the discontinued buds.

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds have one of the most unusual designs of any earbuds I’ve tested over the last several years. They literally clip onto the side of your ears, kind of like earrings, and their open design has micro speakers that fire sound into your ears while still being able to hear what’s happening around you. While great, I found they had relatively niche use cases, which kept them off this list. Learn more about the novel model in my full Bose Ultra Open Earbuds review.

Anker Soundcore Space One: The Soundcore Space One by Anker are a good value for around $100, offering a strong feature set along with good sound quality and performance; still, they can’t compete sound-wise with many of the premium models on this list. They lack a bit of that natural, refined quality you look for in a great set of cans, so we kept them off.

Beats Solo 4: The $200 Beats Solo 4 are a great pair of on-ear headphones with a strong battery life, USB-C audio, and improved sound and voice-calling performance. Would I pay $200 for them? No, I wouldn’t. So they’re off this list for now, but keep an eye out for great deals that come around events and holidays. Read more about them in my full Beats Solo 4 review and see if they’re right for you.