Our review of the best wireless headphones

Wireless headphones have quickly become one of the most popular gadgets, and for good reason. They’re fun, flexible, and perfect for listening to music or taking calls on the go, all without having to worry about pesky wires and cables getting in the way or catching on things.

But it’s also true that some wireless headphones are better than others. Today, let’s break down the best wireless headphones of 2023, exploring several great headphone sets with emphases on comfort, price, or functionality.

Bose QuietComfort 45 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones

Best for: Fans of Versatility

If you’re looking for a set of wireless headphones that can do it all, the Bose QuietComfort 45 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones are right up your alley. With a Bluetooth range of up to 9 m or 30 feet and ANC (active noise canceling), these wireless headphones come with high-fidelity audio and your choice of quiet or spatial awareness modes.

It also comes built for up to 22 hours of battery life and personalization settings. You can use these headphones to focus on bass, mid-range, and treble sounds – mix and match based on preset options or fine-tune the headphones to your personal preferences.

Even better, these headphones work with the patented Bose SimpleSync technology, which allows you to pair the headphones with many high-quality Bose soundbars. This kind of connectivity lets you enjoy TV at your own volume without disturbing others.

Overall, these are some of the best noise-canceling headphones that can do it all, with excellent sound quality for audiophiles, a comfortable fit, and a fair price tag.

Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones

Best for: Travelers and Commuters

Maybe you’re looking for something you can rely on as you travel to various business meetings or make your morning commute. In that case, the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones are perfect.

Not only does this pair of headphones come with industry-leading noise cancellation and great sound, but they also come built-in with an automatic noise canceling optimizer. In this way, the headphones optimize the noise canceling function based on ambient sounds in your environment.

Not to mention, these headphones function with hands-free calling, featuring four high-quality microphones for very precise voice pick-up. The headphones last for about 30 hours on a single charge, and they are lightweight, comfortable, and ideal for wearing for many long hours on a train or plane.

Touch control settings allow you to skip different music tracks, control the volume, or even activate a voice assistant with a minimum of effort. All in all, the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones are great for noise-canceling headphones fans who need something they can rely on for years to come.

JBL Live 660NC Wireless Headphones

Best for: Students

Not everyone has several hundred dollars to splurge on a pair of great wireless headphones. Students, in particular, often find that their budgets are limited. That’s why, if you are a student, you should consider the JBL Live 660NC Wireless Headphones.

For starters, these Bluetooth wireless headphones have excellent sound, despite the affordable price tag. They also come with patented Ambient Aware technology, which increases ambient sounds as you are out and about. You can chat while keeping your headphones on thanks to the TalkThru music function, as well, plus enjoy podcasts without having to wear a full headset or stifling earcups.

Even better, the JBL Live 660NC Wireless Headphones offer functionality with your preferred voice assistant, like Amazon Alexa. You can take calls, play music for up to 50 hours, and much more, and only have to charge the headphones for about 10 minutes to enjoy four hours of battery life. Just note that these headphones do require Android 6.0 or higher if you plan to pair them with your smartphone choice.

Apple AirPods Max

Best for: Premium Headphone Fans

The Apple AirPods Max are pricey, but they come with a lot of value for money, making them perfect for those who want the best of the best. These Apple wireless headphones run for 20 hours before needing to be recharged, even with active noise cancellation enabled.

The active noise cancellation feature is high-quality and allows you to immerse yourself in your favorite music. Or you can activate the transparency mode to hear the world around you. In either case, the headphones provide spatial audio and dynamic head tracking, so they always provide good sound no matter how you move your head.

These are bolstered by on-head detection, device switching, and audio-sharing functions with other Apple devices, like your iPhone or iPad. If you need to save battery, you can store it in ultra-low power mode with a very slim Smart Case. Ultimately, these are some of the best wireless headphones available thanks to their quality and plethora of high-tech features.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro In-Ear Bluetooth Earbuds

Best for: Earbud Enthusiasts

The Jabra Elite 7 Pro In-Ear Bluetooth Earbuds are popular choices for earbud fans who prefer something smaller and more manageable as opposed to larger headphones. These are available in a variety of excellent colors and aren’t too expensive, despite offering tons of value for money.

Six mm custom speakers ensure top-tier music transmission, and the earbuds also come with adjustable active noise cancellation. Proprietary Jabra MultiSensor Voice technology uses four different microphones to pick up your voice, ensuring crystal-clear calls to and from the buds. The HearThrough technology ensures you’ll always be able to hear your surroundings while on a call.

The earbuds get even better when you download the proprietary Jabra Sound app, which allows you to tailor your music to individual preferences and hearing profiles. In the end, these are some of the best wireless earbuds you can get, matching the audio quality and extra features of even the most robust, high-tech headphones.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones

Best for: Comfort Seekers

Maybe you’re more in the market for a set of great wireless headphones that won’t make your ears feel sore after several hours. The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones are perfect for you in that case.

These upgraded over-ear headphones have a redesigned, fully optimized acoustic system and a powerful motor system, ensuring that you get excellent audio performance and high clarity 24/7. Noise-canceling technology is present, of course, and you can adjust the external microphones to improve your voice clarity during phone calls.

But most importantly, these comfortable headphones are made with technical fabrics, lightweight polymer arms, and other improvements to the ear cushions. As a result, they fit a variety of different head shapes but never make your head, neck, or ears feel sore, even after many hours of use. The headphones last for 30 hours before needing to be recharged.

Marshall Major IV On-Ear Bluetooth Headphones

Best for: Budget-Minded Shoppers

Marshall’s Major IV On-Ear Bluetooth Headphones are fantastic choices if you need some great wireless headphones without breaking the bank. These affordable wireless headphones still deliver custom-tuned dynamic drivers, ensuring that all levels of sound are clear and effective, whether you’re listening to music or calls.

Even better, you get up to 80 hours of wireless playtime and quick charging functionality. With just 15 minutes of charging, you’ll get about 15 hours of battery life. These long-haul, durable headphones are ergonomic and very comfortable, with the ear cushions being designed for softness and conformity to your ear shape.

These affordable wireless headphones can be charged wirelessly and controlled with a multidirectional knob that enables extra ease of use. You can even take these Bluetooth headphones with you on vacation, as they are easy to fold up into a compact size for storage.

Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Headphones

Best for: Hands-Free Gadget Lovers

For many, the draw of wireless headphones is total hands-free control. Sony’s WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Headphones deliver on that tech promise. It features comprehensive voice-activated control technology so you can easily change music, activate noise canceling, and make calls all with your voice.

However, these wireless headphones are also bolstered by special touch sensors that let you pause, play, skip tracks, and activate your voice assistant with barely any digital movements. Call quality is phenomenal, and the headphones come with special wearing detection – they will automatically pause music playback when you remove the headphones from your head.

The adaptive sound control ensures a totally personalized listening experience at all times, and the high-end headphones have an updated design to relieve the pressure around your ears and promote long-term comfort.

Bottom line: these headphones have a lot to like, both for hands-free gadget lovers and everyone else.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro True Wireless Earbuds

Best for: Samsung Phone Owners

If you already have a Samsung Galaxy of some variety, you might consider purchasing some wireless headphones designed to partner with that gadget. The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro True Wireless Earbuds are lighter and easier to use than full-on headphones, and they are designed to pair perfectly with your Samsung Galaxy phone of choice.

Of course, they still come with a lot of quality, including crystal-clear calls, water resistance, and high-quality sound, thanks to 11 mm woofers and 6.5 mm tweeters. These lightweight earbuds also benefit from long-lasting battery life, plus a wireless charging case that comes included with your purchase. Alternatively, you can share your Samsung Galaxy phone’s battery by placing the buds on the back of your device – talk about convenience!

The buds are easy to use thanks to touch music control. Or you can switch to voice detection to answer calls, change music tracks, and more without using your fingers, plus enjoy some of the best sound available. In the end, these advanced earbuds are perfect choices for Samsung fans and wireless headphone lovers alike.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Headphones

Best for: Professionals on the Go

Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 Wireless Headphones are designed for consistency, quality, and reliability, making them perfect for working professionals who need wireless headphones they can rely on. For example, these come with up to 60 hours of playback time and very fast charging.

However, this pair of wireless headphones are also lightweight, foldable, and comfortable thanks to a padded headband and very deeply cushioned ear pads. They facilitate crystal-clear business and personal calls thanks to four digital beamforming microphones, which automatically suppress ambient and wind noises to optimize your calls and enable you to use the voice assistant more easily.

You can enjoy better sound with these wireless headphones with the Sennheiser Smart Control App. Tailor your sound listening preferences using the integrated equalizer and ensure a unique sound experience while on the go, plus minimize latency. Overall, it’s an excellent set of wireless headphones for those with a bit more money to spend.

Apple AirPods Pro Wireless Earbuds

Best for: Apple Loyalists

Of course, Apple also has its share of excellent wireless headphones and earbuds. The Airpod Pros should be the go-to choice for Apple fans and loyalists, especially since they come with four pairs of silicone ear tips, which you can choose and swap out so they always fit your ears.

The AirPods Pros also come with high-quality active noise cancellation functionality, enabling you to focus or reduce background noise around you while on your commute. The audio experience delivered by these wireless earbuds is excellent, so it’s perfect for immersing yourself in your favorite music.

You can control the earbuds just by swiping their stems. Even with active noise cancellation enabled, these will last for six hours before needing to be charged, and your purchase comes with a fast charging case that provides you with 30 total hours of battery life. When it comes to quality Apple products, you can’t do much better.

The Bottom Line

As you can see, there are plenty of excellent wireless headphones you can choose from. The Bose QuietComfort Headphones are good all-around choices, but you might prefer something more specialized, like the Jabra Elite 7s. In any case, now you know where to start your search for the ideal wireless headphones for your needs.

Sources:

Bridget Reed is the Vice President of Owned Media & Content at GR0, an omnichannel digital marketing agency that has been serving a wealth of industries since 2020. Bridget’s expertise is rooted in results-driven content production, with a passion for producing high-quality, informational articles that serve valuable insights to consumers. Through the years, Bridget has worked with industry thought-leaders spanning the business, health, wellness, parenting, and tech industries, and brings this breadth of experience directly into the content she produces. McClatchy’s newsrooms were not involved in the creation of this content. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of our links.