BEST WIRELESS HEADPHONES: QUICK MENU
The best wireless headphones bring fantastic convenience and a swathe of smart features, in a comfortable design that doesn’t need to be wired to any device to play your favorite music, movies or podcasts.
For quite some time now, the best Bluetooth headphones have been winning in the popularity stakes thanks to their sheer convenience and ease of use. The best wired headphones might still have the edge on sound quality for audiophiles, but for the rest of us, it’s wireless options that dominate our pick of the best headphones. Their quality and reliability is so good now, there are very few downsides.
We’ve spent hours reviewing every pair of wireless headphones in this list and our testing is done by experts with more years of experience in the game than we’d care to admit. We know how newer rivals stack up against the class-leaders – that’s why the Sony WH-1000XM4 remain our top pick, despite being a few years old. (Spoiler alert: they’re still top dog for value.)
We’re serious about music, which means we know what makes a fantastic pair of headphones and which features you need to listen out for, including app support and active noise cancellation. In this best wireless headphones guide, we’re looking at (or listening to) headphones rather than earbuds – we’ve got a whole separate guide to the best wireless earbuds you can dive into.
Becky Scarrott
I’ve reviewed over 150 audio products since becoming a tech journalist, ranging from super-budget headphones to high-end Hi-Res Audio music players. Before joining TechRadar, I spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing everything the world of audio had to offer; before that, I was a professional dancer. My love of music ties it all together.
11 March 2024
Added more information about the comfort of each pair of headphones, and added more clarity to our categorization.
The quick list
Want to cut out the noise and find which wireless headphones are the best? Below, you’ll find a quick roundup of our top choices for different needs, and you can jump to a more detailed review of every model.
The best wireless headphones for most people
Sony continues to reign with these older cans, which remain fantastic value for sound quality, features and noise cancellation thanks to price drops.
The best cheap wireless headphones
These were already great value when we first reviewed them, but now that they often see discounts, the WH-CH520 are by far the best bargain buy for wireless on-ear cans.
3. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
The best higher-end, higher-spec wireless headphones
Packed with high-end features, smart control options and a class-leading, expansive sound, these are top choice for overall quality at a higher price.
4. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
The best headphones for noise cancellation
These have the best active noise cancellation you can get in any headphones right now, and the audio quality is exquisite too. They’re pricey, but worth it.
5. Edifier Stax Spirit S3
The best wireless headphones for sound at a reasonable price
Edifier’s flagship wireless planar magnetic headphones are an audiophile dream. They have great wireless features and battery life, but no ANC, at a similar price to Sony and Sennheiser cans.
The best mid-priced wireless headphones
Great sound balance, strong detail, solid active noise cancellation, useful smart features and a very light and comfortable design make these great value.
Load the next 3 products…
The best wireless headphones for luxe design
These deliver awesome detail and balance, and pretty good ANC along with other smart features. As do lots of other cans here, but the PX8 look and feel a cut above.
The best wireless headphones for big Sony fans
For a lot of people, Bluetooth headphones means Sony, and these offer its best active noise cancellation and sound, though for a slightly high price.
The best wireless headphones for audiophile sound
Wireless convenience without compromising on sound one bit – these are made for hi-res quality, tuned for audiophile tastes. They’re very expensive, but you can hear why.
The best Apple wireless headphones
These are fantastic-sounding headphones with excellent features unique to iPhone, including spatial audio. But they’re extremely high-priced.
The best wireless headphones for 2024
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The best wireless headphones overall
This is not a mistake – even though the newer WH-1000XM5 now exist, we still rate the XM4 as a better-value purchase for most people, because you can find them at such deep discounts these days compared to their launch price. The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones deliver excellent noise cancellation and sound quality throughout every step of our testing, while remaining comfortable to wear for long periods thanks to their lightweight design. The XM5 do all of this better, no question, but they also do it for a lot more money, and we think the XM4 are the better balance right now.
The Sony XM4 are crammed with features, ranging from support for the LDAC codec for CD-quality audio (if your phone supports it) to location-based noise-cancellation modes, to Sony’s 360 Reality Audio tech for spatial audio from compatible sources. It’s a shame there’s no aptX compatibility, though. But the standout feature is the superb noise cancellation for the price, which we found worked incredibly well in all kinds of environments – even noisy commutes and planes.
Usually you’re forced to pick between a pair of noise-cancelling headphones that do a good job of blocking outside noise, or ones that excel at audio playback. The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are great at both, meaning you don’t have to pick – and they do it in a lightweight design that’s comfortable to wear for long periods as well. We’ve been through lengthy international flights with these and come out unscathed, with maybe just a few pauses to let the area where the pads touch cool off.
The only drawback we’ve found is they’re not ideal for working out. That’s because they don’t stay put with lots of movement and there’s not IP rating here, which means they’re not water resistant enough for sweating or even mild rain showers.
Read our full Sony WH-1000XM4 review
The best budget wireless headphones
If you like the idea of Sony wireless headphones but don’t need a high-priced, high-end set like the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones above, then the Sony WH-CH510 headphones are a much more affordable option packed with all the features most people will need.
The Sony WH-CH520 offer strong audio for the price that we found to be really well-balanced in our review, plus tons of battery life. At such a low price, they don’t have the build quality or the dynamic audio of headphones costing five times as much, but they are an excellent pair of all-rounders for a very impressive price.
These are on-ear headphones rather than over-ears, and one result of that is that the soundstage isn’t quite as immersive as with a pair of over-ears. You might also hear some ambient sounds too, but for those who work in an office or need to stay alert at home this could be a plus point rather than a criticism. Not everyone finds these as comfortable for long periods too, since they press right on the ear’s helix (the outer edge).
Sony says you can get 50 hours of battery life from a charge, and we found that to be realistic. Usefully, you can fast-charge from flat for 90 minutes of playback in just three minutes, which can be a lifesaver. Annoyingly, there’s no 3.5mm audio jack for listening if you run out of charge, or to connect to a computer or plane system.
Read our full Sony WH-CH520 review
The best premium wireless headphones
These Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones are incredibly impressive. In our review we called them excellent value for money and wrote: “The adaptive noise cancellation is strong, the feature set is as exhaustive as you’ll find at the level, the design is minimalist but carefully considered, and the sound is supremely talented.”
They’re definitely one of the best pairs of wireless headphones you can buy today and one of the best pairs of headphones ever, full stop.
Although there are plenty of reasons why we enjoyed testing the Momentum 4 Wireless, it’s the battery life that really leaps out as being exceptional, especially compared to the competition. You’ll get 60 whole hours of use with the active noise cancellation turned on. For comparison, Sony’s XM4 wireless headphones at the top of this list, as well as its newer XM5s, offer only half that at 30 hours. Thankfully, given how long they last, they’re very comfortable too – multiple members of team TechRadar use these headphones for long periods during the day with not problems.
But beyond that, we also loved the crisp and detailed sound these headphones deliver – on calls, too – as well as the solid ANC. The simple design was a plus in our eyes, but it might be a little basic for those who like their tech to really make a statement. Otherwise, these headphones might not be cheap, but they’re still fantastic all-rounders and great value for money.
Read our full Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review
The best wireless headphones for active noise cancellation
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are easily the best headphones from the audio pioneer yet – they sound incredible, they’ve got useful app-powered features, they have a premium and comfortable design, and their noise cancellation is the best we’ve ever heard. They cost more than most of the headphones here, but they are so, so worth it.
Let’s be clear about the active noise cancellation: it’s absolutely a clear level above the competition, turning cities silent in a way we’ve never heard before (so to speak). It makes it basically impossible to hear anything going on your own house even, or the office, or the bus. We found it did have some trouble with extremely loud noises causing it to glitch a little, but that was so rare (during a plane take-off, only for a few seconds, and when next to the engine of a bus struggling up a hill) that we don’t really mind.
The sound quality is also the best we’ve ever heard from Bose, delivering a truly thrilling level of energy and dynamic range. It’s so detailed, so poised, so lively, and so layered, from its (really very deep) bass to its clear and well-honed treble. And that’s all with the noise cancellation turned on, so not even the ‘purest’ sound they can do. With Snapdragon Sound for high-res and a wired connection (though no USB-C audio, sadly), they can do higher-quality audio too, wired or wireless.
The Bose app enables you to make custom noise cancellation modes (dialling it from 1-10) to switch between, which is easy and really useful in our experience. You can also tweak the EQ, but you won’t need to.
These are an obvious audio improvement on anything that costs less than them, and even sound a little better than the AirPods Max, which cost more – though the spatial audio on the Bose it’s only ‘okay’ (it’s nice with movies, we turned it off with music), while the spatial audio on AirPods Max with Dolby Atmos on Apple devices is ‘wow’.
The only straight-up disappointment is the battery life. At 24 hours, they’re lower than anything else here – lower than the 30 hours of the Sony headphones, and much lower than the 60 hours of the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. But with sound this good, we forgive them. Just remember to turn on their auto-off feature.
Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review
The best planar magnetic wireless headphones
When it comes to sound, these Edifiers absolutely excel, thanks in no small part to their planar magnetic drivers, which offer more precise and dynamic sound than standard drivers. Truly, in a wireless design you’ll struggle to better the sound for this money – planar is incredibly rare, and doubly so at this price. However, are you willing to forgo active noise cancellation to get this sound? It’s not included, so that decision is up to you – but a quick glance at the star-rating above proves how we feel about these regardless.
And it’s not just about the sound. As stamina claims go, 80 hours is impressively insatiable in almost any arena, but particularly concerning wireless headphones – and we actually gleaned just over 90 hours from these in practice.
These headphones are very easy to pair, very quick on the uptake where the app is concerned, and easy to use, too. Multipoint? Completed it; you’ll happily be chopping and changing betwixt phone and laptop all the livelong day. They’re comfortable for all that time, too – we said in our review that their “headband is nicely padded over the crown, which makes these cans feel well weighted and good for longer listening sessions”.
But aside from lacking ANC, you’re also not getting an ambient awareness mode here, no auto-off functionality, and the Edifier Connect app is fine, but that’s as far as it goes. They’re not the smartest on the block, but they sound so good.
Read our full Edifier Stax Spirit S3 review
The best mid-priced wireless headphones
The Sony WH-CH720N are a straight-down-the-middle hit. They aim to offer you impressive sound, useful extra features including adaptive noise cancellation, and a comfortable and light fit – and they succeed.
The sound is extremely well-balanced, which is what we expect from Sony (though our review unit came set to a bass-heavy EQ setting out of the box, which we quickly corrected) and has an agile touch with detail. In our review, we said “Bass is warm but level-headed, mid-range is robust and individual instruments stand out within it well, and treble has plenty of clarity to make the little details pop. An extra step of precision is definitely what you get here that most other affordable headphones won’t deliver.” The only limitation from the price is that it’s clearly a less expansive soundstage than higher-priced headphones, but that’s fair.
The noise cancellation again is a very clear step down from the Sony WH-1000XM4, but it does its job of toning down outside sounds so you don’t have to crank the volume all the way up to hear anything. For other features, you’ve got Sony’s DSEE upscaling to make lower-quality streaming tracks sound better, and 360 Reality Audio support for spatial audio. There’s no higher-res LDAC wireless tech, but they do come with a wired 3.5mm cable.
The very light build is comfortable to wear, so you can really get into how enjoyable they are to listen to – though we might request a little more headband padding in the next version. They don’t excel in any particular area, but they do great in all areas, and that makes them ideal for most people.
Read our full Sony WH-CH720N review
The best wireless headphones for design
If you’re looking for a luxe pair of headphones that make a statement but still sound fantastic, then we recommend the Bowers & Wilkins PX8, which we called “exceptional” in our review. In fact, something magical happened when we tested them, we wrote: “To put these headphones on is to experience a pride of ownership rarely felt, even at this level.”
Not only is the build fantastic, but the sound is absolutely jaw-dropping for detail, clarity, energy and agility. When compared to the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless above, we found the energy, depth and immersion of the PX8 to put them in a different league. Sonically, they’re incredible.
Of course, that’s not a totally fair comparison given they’re around double the price of the Momentum 4. At $699 / £599 / AU$1150 they’re eye-wateringly expensive – even more so than the already expensive Apple AirPods Max. In our review we explained why some of the choices here resulted in such a high price tag: “a new carbon cone 40mm drive unit replaces the bio-cellulose driver in the more affordable Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 and the die-cast aluminum arms, diamond-cut bright metal detailing and Nappa leather trim elevates the build to high-end territory.” So if you want luxury-feeling tech that sounds out of this world, this is it.
Read our full Bowers & Wilkins PX8 review
The best high-end Sony wireless headphones
The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are among the best wireless headphones we’ve ever tested – but their high price means we think there are better-value options in some cases.
Their predecessors, the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, are at the top of our list because we think the specs and the price will suit anyone looking for a high-end pair of headphones. But the XM5s do offer a more lightweight wireless design, new drivers for improved sound, a whole array of microphones for better call quality and super-fast charging. There’s also beefier processing for the noise cancellation, which was already superb. It’s beaten by the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, but basically nothing else beats these.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones give you exactly what they promise and then some thanks to their exceptional noise cancellation and cutting-edge codec support, which delivers even higher quality audio in compatible apps.
The drivers in these models are smaller than before at 30mm, but the soundstage remains spacious and gives all elements of a mix room to breathe and shine. We were happy to find that there’s very little sound leakage, too, even when you’re listening to loud music. We sat next to a colleague in the office with the volume at full, and they didn’t hear anything – that’s an improvement over the previous model.
The issue is really just the price – they cost a lot more than the WH-1000XM4, but the differences are not totally night and day. You also get better features and sound quality from the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless at the same price (the Sony are better for ANC). It’s also a shame they no longer have a folding design for travelling, though that’s not a dealbreaker for most. We love these a lot, we just think other headphones squeak out more value.
Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review
The best wireless headphones for sound
Audiophiles tend to prefer the higher-quality and rock-solid reliability of wired headphones over wireless once, but Focal has made something that could easily tempt them over. The Bathys offer wireless convenience over regular Bluetooth and aptX, even with active noise cancellation so can use them happily on transport, but also have the ability to connect over USB-C to make used of the 24bit/192kHz built-in DAC for truly hi-res power.
Combined with a special M-shaped driver, these are very special when it comes to sound, and are geared to be superbly revealing and neutral, just like audiophiles usually like. Having said that, there’s a five-band EQ that can be tweaked manually (or using presets) if you want to change the balance.
This sound quality comes at a very high price, but those who refuse to compromise on sound quality will find it to be worthwhile – these are truly the best of both worlds, bringing cutting edge wired and wireless tech together, in a package from one the world’s most elite headphone makers. The noise cancellation isn’t anything to write home about, and the battery life is average, but these aren’t the focus here.
We should note that they’re really quite heavy for wireless headphones, but we found them comfortable anyway – but if you’re looking for something for a long flight, these may not be the best option, between the weight and the weaker noise cancellation.
Read our full Focal Bathys review
The best wireless headphones for Apple fans
There’s a lot to love about the Apple AirPods Max. The things we rated highest during our use of them includes extremely detailed and well-balanced sound, very impressive active noise cancellation, and an iconic look that’s become one of the most knocked-off on the market (but you can always tell the originals).
However, while their exceptional audio performance, fantastic spatial audio for movies, and strong ANC continue to impress us to this day, their high price and their lack of support for Hi-Res Audio codecs or a standard 3.5mm jack are definitely an issue at this point, especially for hardcore audiophiles. They’re also pretty heavy, and use a good clamping force to spread that weight around your head. This works fairly well, but isn’t to everyone’s taste – especially those with smaller heads and glasses, in our experience giving them to a few people.
These headphones are squarely targeted at people already bought into the Apple ecosystem, as they’re packed with smart features for iOS users (including that astounding Dolby Atmos spatial audio, plus “Find My” support if you misplace them) and come in an unmistakably Apple design. And, bear in mind, they still sound fantastic.
For Android users, however, the AirPods Max don’t have the same features as on iOS, so we can’t justify the high price of these headphones if you won’t be connecting them to Apple hardware. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are what you want instead. And may be what a lot of Apple users want too, considering their lower price than the AirPods Max.
However if you use Apple products daily, are happy to spend generously on a new pair of Bluetooth headphones with all kinds of extra tricks to use with that Apple gear, and you don’t mind lacking hi-res audio, AirPods Max are a very nice package.
Read our full Apple AirPods Max review
How to choose the best wireless headphones
We’ve tested hundreds of wireless headphones over the years, featuring every feature imaginable. That means we’ve learnt the key factors that make a great pair of Bluetooth headphones.
First of all, the design really matters. Comfort is crucial when you’re wearing wireless headphones: if they don’t feel great for a long listening session that defeats the point of having them. So we’d recommend looking for generously padded ear cups for comfort, and strong headbands to help them survive everyday life.
One key decision here is whether you want over-ear or on-ear headphones. Over-ears are generally more immersive, and with on-ears you’ll need to factor in the fact that they do leak a bit more audio – which might make you less popular on the bus or train.
It’s important to focus on the features that really matter to you. Touch controls are handy, but will you actually use them or do you prefer to use a voice assistant? Do you really need active noise cancellation if you’re not going to be listening on public transport? There’s no point in paying for features you’re not going to use very often.
Price matters too, of course. And while it’s true that you get what you pay for and some of the world’s best headphones are pretty pricey, that doesn’t mean you have to spend hundreds of pounds to get a great audio experience. There are plenty of affordable options that punch way above their price tag, and the compromises tend to be small: slightly less premium materials, perhaps, or a bit more audio leakage when you’re listening in public places.
If you’re planning to buy headphones to match your existing audiophile kit, such as high-end network streamers or Hi-Res Audio players, look for headphones that use hi-res audio codecs such as Sony’s LDAC or the Bluetooth aptX HD and aptX Adaptive codecs. Without them, your audio source won’t be able to stream hi-res audio wirelessly at its best quality.
What it boils down to is that every one of us is different, so there’s no such thing as one pair of headphones everybody should buy. It’s about balancing the price and the features so that you get the best possible audio experience at the best possible price. Which is exactly what our guide here is designed to help you with.
The best wireless headphones: FAQs
Which brand is best for wireless headphones?
That’s up to you. The best brand of wireless headphones is the brand that delivers the features and audio quality you want at the price you’re willing to pay.
That said, there are some pretty safe bets out there. Apple’s headphones are a good option for teaming with Apple hardware; Sony makes a range of excellent all-rounders; and as you’d expect from the firm that popularized noise cancelling headphones in the first place, Bose makes some of the best noise cancelling headphones and earbuds you can buy.
We’d recommend thinking more about how you’ll use them than about the logo. Some offer much better battery life than others, some are more focused on sound and some are focused on convenient features.
How much should wireless headphones cost?
You don’t necessarily have to spend a ton of money to get great wireless headphones. Paying top dollar usually guarantees a first-class experience, but there are some incredibly good alternatives that cost a lot less.
For example, the Sony WH-CH520 headphones in this list are extremely affordable, costing only around $60 / £50. If you step up to around $120 / £120, you can get a big jump in quality from the likes of the Final Audio UX3000. Then, stepping to around $200 / £200 means another clear jump in features and quality from the Sony WH-1000MX4. And then you get towards $300 / £300 for the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless or Sony WH-1000XM5. Moving to $450 / £450 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones again rewards you with an obvious improvement, though not much in the way of new features.
How we tested the best wireless headphones
We’ve tested all of the best wireless headphones on this list. The ones that made it into our guide had to tick a number of key boxes.
First up, there’s Bluetooth connectivity. Wireless is a given, but wireless quality is crucial too: we want our connections to be stable and reliable, not to cut out just as we get to the good bits.
Wearability and style matter too. We tested over long periods to see how comfortable they were during longer listening sessions or commutes, and we also evaluated their style to see if they looked like you were a plugged-in music fan or one of the Cybermen from Dr Who.
The days when wireless headphones got a free pass on sound quality because they were more convenient are long gone. We expect every pair of Bluetooth headphones to deliver clear and powerful sound.
Not all of the headphones in this list have more advanced features such as noise cancellation or AI assistant integration. But we tested those features on the ones that do in order to assess how well the features worked, how well integrated they were and how they compared to rivals.
Last but not least, we considered the cost. We’re well aware that premium headphones can be too expensive for some; we’re also aware that for some music fans, there’s no such thing as an acceptable corner to cut when it comes to audio quality. So we’ve considered both kinds of listener here, and as a result we believe that every pair of headphones in our guide will make you feel you’ve spent your money wisely to get the best possible audio experience for you.
Latest updates to the best wireless headphones guide
11 March 2024
Added more information about the comfort of each pair of headphones, and added more clarity to our categorization.
9 February 2024
Added Sony WH-CH720N as the best mid-priced wireless headphones, and Focal Bathys as the best for audiophile sound.
22 January 2024
Added Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones into the list following their review, removed Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, and moved Sony WH-1000XM5 down in the list now that a better noise-cancelling option has been added.
2 January 2024
Checked all models against currently reviews, and updated for 2024.
21 November 2023
Added information about Black Friday deals on our headphones choices.
21 September 2023
Added quick menu for easy navigation and made the list simpler, so you can find something that suits your needs more easily.
