The Best Bluetooth Headphones
If there's something many of us can agree on, it's that being tethered to a cable is downright annoying. In an ideal world, we would never have to deal with the mess of cables and wires snaking out of our pockets and tangling up our workspaces. Fortunately, with a pair of Bluetooth headphones, that utopia doesn't feel so far from reach. Designed to transmit sound through radio waves, Bluetooth headphones have come a long way in recent years, and today offer the same stellar sound as your old pair of cans, just without the inconvenience of a wire. They also work seamlessly with a wide range of Bluetooth-equipped devices, from laptops to smartphones. To help you find the best pair of Bluetooth headphones for your lifestyle, we combed through the top models on the market today. In doing our research, we focused on some key features that can make or break quality headphones, including value, design, and of course, sound quality. For listening to music, our favorite was the Sony XM4, which boasts industry-leading audio quality and noise cancellation in a sleek, compact form factor. If you need even more noise cancellation, we also loved the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, which features super comfortable ear padding and is great for making phone calls. Read on to discover more of our favorite Bluetooth headphones and how they can help you cut the cord.
Sony WH-1000XM4
King of the hill
Let’s state the obvious: these headphones are quite costly. With that said, they’re well worth the price. Boasting the most thoughtful design of all the headphones we reviewed, these are both the easiest to use and the best-sounding. Use the buttonless Touch Sensor to control playback, pair two Bluetooth devices together, or use Sony’s Headphones app to adjust your sound settings while you listen to music. The highs are pristine, the middles are clean and full, and the bass comes through in a purring rumble that’ll please even the most elite of sound geeks. And a ten-minute charge is enough to supply your battery with about five hours of playback time, so if you’re pressed for time, you can plug them in for a few minutes before you head out the door and still be satisfied with the battery life.
Pros:
- Sony’s intelligent Adaptive Sound Control system adjusts to your environment, ensuring an optimal listening experience wherever you are.
- Thanks to a whopping five microphones, hands-free calls come in clear and crisp.
- The design is foldable, saving you space while in transit.
Cons:
- You’ll never feel okay using a cheap pair of headphones again.
Zihnic Foldable
All folded into one
Whether you’re a traveler, businessperson, commuter, or someone who really likes geometry, a folding pair of headphones should catch your attention. As bulky as headphones are, for most of us, bringing them along to work or on vacation is non-negotiable. Sure, they take up a lot of room in our bag, and yes, that stinks, but they’re coming with. Enter the Zihnic Foldable. Thanks to their clever design, these Bluetooth headphones can be folded near the cups to create a compact little bundle. Shove them into the included carrying case and you’ll find yourself wondering why every pair of headphones isn’t designed this way. Aside from that, these headphones are cute, durable, and inexpensive. Audiophiles may not be sold when they hear the sound quality, but that’s okay. Outside of high-fidelity music, these cans will do just fine.
Pros:
- With 14 hours of music playback, the battery life is pretty impressive.
- The headphones are available in seven different colors, so you’re sure to find one to suit your style.
- The included case makes carrying them a breeze.
Cons:
- If you’re looking for top-of-the-line audio quality, these may disappoint.
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
Peace and quiet
If you haven’t experienced the brilliance of active noise-canceling headphones for yourself, you’re truly missing out. While low- and mid-tier products are beginning to adopt active noise cancellation, it doesn’t compare to the Zen that the QuietComfort 35 II can deliver. This is because they are built with advanced circuitry running on a dual-mic system that can pick up and block out sound more accurately than any other pair on the market. Add to this a cutting-edge collection of features like its ability to integrate with AR (Augmented Reality) audio, its customizable settings, and the fact that it is Alexa-enabled, and you can hardly ask for more. Except there is more: these Bluetooth headphones also happen to provide world-class sound reproduction, too.
Pros:
- Bose’s proprietary app allows you to adjust the level of noise cancellation from low to high.
- Thanks to their generous ear padding, these are also one of the most comfortable pairs out there.
- The controls are really intuitive and the battery lasts up to 20 hours on one charge.
Cons:
- While comfortable, the ear pads aren’t very breathable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a difference in sound quality between wireless headphones and wired ones?
When Bluetooth was first introduced, the difference in sound quality between wired and wireless units was glaring. Simply put, early Bluetooth units sounded bad. In the years since, however, the technology has advanced by leaps and bounds. With today’s newest Bluetooth codecs, there is very little difference at all in sound quality.
What does “active noise canceling” actually mean?
Headphones that tout active noise-canceling capabilities are in vogue – and with good reason. Whether it’s the sound of sirens and cars honking on the street, noisy housemates, or other cacophonous sounds, ambient noise can leak into even the most densely padded earcups. This often disrupts the listening experience. Active noise-canceling technology allows headphones to mask unwanted external noise by creating a second source of sound to block out the first source. In short, the unit picks up the incoming frequencies (typically low-frequency sounds) and mirrors them with an inverted sound wave that cancels out the ambient sound in an act of wizardry known as destructive interference. The end result is a serene, quiet bubble where you can block the world out and focus.
About the Author
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With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.