The best headphones for every situation

 Need a new pair of headphones? Of course you do. They're one of life’s essentials. And the thing about life’s essentials is this: they always need an upgrade. And there’s no shortage available. There are hundreds of headphones and earbuds to consider. That's why selecting the perfect pair doesn't sound easy.

Ask yourself this: What do you actually need headphones for? Working out? Commuting? Listening at home? There are more questions: What spec suits you? Super long battery life or quick and easy charging? What about being able to drown out the world around you? All headphones fundamentally promise the same thing — to deliver great sound — but some pairs are better tailored to your specific lifestyle.

Sure, you could always visit Amazon and nab the cheapest pair, but that’s a false economy. Always do your research before buying a pair of headphones. To help, we've lined up all the information you need to get started.

What is true wireless?

This is a term you’ll come across a lot when researching headphones. But wireless is wireless, right? Well, not exactly. Technically there are different types of wireless headphones — particularly when it comes to earbuds. Regular “wireless” means they are independent from the device or stereo — as in, not connected by a wire — but the buds are still wired to each other. “True wireless” means the buds are completely independent and connect via Bluetooth.

Wireless over-ear headphones often aren’t “true wireless” as they might have an optional cable that can be plugged into your device, which is usually handy for when you run out of juice. Even so, wireless is usually the preference.

Can you still buy wired headphones?

True wireless and other kinds of wireless are certainly the preference in this Bluetooth-connected world, but wired headphones make this list. And since brands such as Apple began ditching the classic jack from their smart devices, good quality wired headphones are harder to find, but they are out there. They’re often the choice of serious audiophiles as Bluetooth can cause issues decoding hi-res file formats.

What are the most important headphones features?

Some of the jargon around headphones can be confusing, so we've broken down some of the most important headphone features to help you pick a perfect pair:

• Bluetooth codecs — These are clever bits of software that encode and decode digital audio signals. The codecs decode at a specific bitrate, which determines whether the headphones have a high or low latency (AKA lag), measured in milliseconds. Look out for headphones with low latency that support Qaulcomm’s aptX codecs, which are usually rated as the best codecs for streaming video content or hooking up to a TV.
• Closed-back/open-back — Closed back headphones have completely sealed ear cups, which directs sound to your ears and keeps out ambient noise. Open-back headphones let air into the ear cup but can cause sound leakage that goes both ways — in and out. This is sometimes found on very expensive headphones for clearer, more natural sound. Closed-back are a go-to choice for commuting and loud environments.
• Drivers — These are little cone-shaped gadgets in the ear cups that are responsible for your tunes. They convert electrical signals into sounds. In over-ear headphones they usually measure between 20mm and 50mm in headphones. In earbuds, they measure between 8mm and 15mm.

Keep these features in mind when shopping around for your next pair.

What are the best headphones?

We've checked out just about every set of headphones and earbuds, and taken notes to help you decide. Regardless of your budget or requirements, there's a perfect pair of headphones for your needs. Just pick the pair that, well, sounds best.

These are the best headphones in 2023.

Wissonly Hi Runner

Wissonly is a headphone brand that attaches great attention on health, and that does not hurt the ears. Their team is also the first one to design non-in-ear headphones that are used to listen to songs. They began to explore the application of bone conduction technology to Bluetooth headphones as early as 10 years ago. After 10 years of accumulation, they have made great progress in the sound quality improvement and sound leakage reduction of bone conduction headphones. And these technologies are applied to their Wissonly Hi Runner headphones, their flagship product.

In order to solve the problem of sound leakage of bone conduction headphones, wissonly developed full closed sound leakage reduction technology. They comprehensively improved the vibration of the headphones, body design, software optimization and other directions. They finally reduced the sound leakage by 90%. In terms of sound quality, most of the bone conduction headphones have average sound quality, but the sound quality of Wissonly Hi Runner is undoubtedly better in bone conduction. They used a large-sized vibration unit, and through structural optimization, and finally increased the effective vibration area, so that the sound range was wide. The official claimed sound quality reach the HIFI level, but I don't think that they reached. They are just close to the HIFI sound quality, which is enough to satisfy me.

The excellent performance of these two characteristics, sound leakage reduction and sound quality, makes Wissonly Hi Runner have the basic conditions to become an excellent bone conduction headphone. Their other configurations are also very good. They are with a built-in 32GB of memory, and can play music even without connecting the phone. You can use them as an MP3 player. They support IPX8 waterproof level in swimming, even in underwater scenes that do not support Bluetooth, they can be used with MP3 function.

Sony WH-1000XM4

For non-specialist, everyday (but premium) headphones, there’s one choice — the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones. These stunning Bluetooth over-ear headphones deliver the full package of great sound, class-leading noise cancellation, and tons of features. The secret to their brilliance is an advanced bit of tech from the ever-popular brand: Sony’s new QNe1 processor chip.

As you’d expect from Sony, the sound is up to scratch and then some. There’s a broad soundscape with plenty of power in the lows and fine detail in the mids and highs. Sound comes via 40mm drivers, backed up by 360 Reality Audio tech — which works with select streaming services to boost performance — and the LDAC Bluetooth codec for hi-res audio files. 

Where these really excel over competing headsets is active noise cancellation. Dual Sense technology puts two mini microphones in each ear cup. These react to external noise in real time and adjust a staggering 700 times per second. 

The Sony Headphones Connect app allows you to customise the ANC and ambient noise levels. Set noise cancellation levels for different places — home, work, the park — and geo-location tech will do the rest, automatically adjusting the ANC as and when you arrive in that location.

There are other big features, including an auto-pause that kicks in whenever you remove the headphones, and Speak to Chat, which stops the music whenever you start a conversation. That makes these excellent for the office but be warned: Speak to Chat might pause if you sing along too loudly. There's also voice assistant and multipoint pairing, meaning they can pair with two Bluetooth devices at once. 

Apple AirPods Pro

Apple products are pricey but Apple users know why. Apple’s ever-evolving tech sets the standard, from laptops to earbuds. It’s little wonder then that the Apple AirPods Pro make it to the upper tier of this list. As far as earbuds go these are close to unbeaten. And for Apple users they're almost a lifestyle choice. You’ll realise just how smart they are straight out of the box. 

Apple's audio tech range has come a long way since those little wired buds that came free with your iPhone and leaked sound to the whole train carriage. Powered by Apple’s H2 chip, the AirPods Pro offer a more elegant sound than ever before and solid noise cancellation. 

Their first port of call is to scan your ears and tell you whether the tips you’re using (they come with three size options) fit properly. The tips have an internal taper, which conforms to the shape of your ear, securing them with tight seal. But they’re so lightweight, you’ll barely notice them in your ears. 

Already blocking out external sounds with their tightly-sealed design, the AirPods Pro add active noise cancellation, which uses both inward and outward facing microphones to keep you fully immersed. There’s a transparency mode too. The ANC even adapts to the geometry of your ear. The sound quality is similarly designed — Adaptive EQ automatically tunes and tweaks the music to suit the shape of your ear.

Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless

The German-built Sennheiser brand has been perfecting the art — and it very much is an art — of masterful audio technology for generations. The family-owned manufacturer is well known for highly durable craftsmanship. Their headphones are built both to last and excel in performance. It’s no coincidence than Sennheiser is a go-to brand for serious audiophiles. 

For over-ear fans, the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless are arguably their best ever. The sound is pretty much unmatched in their range, which combines with high-quality build and multifunctional features. 

The sound is both big and nuanced, picking out details within a rich, full-bodied depth. Sound performance is further boosted by high-end codecs and fully adjustable levels within the Sennheiser Smart Control app. 

Also adjustable within the app are the noise cancellation levels. There are three ANC modes each designed for listening in different environments — Max, Anti-Wind, and Anti-Pressure. Plus, an adjustable Transparent Hearing mode for keeping tuned in to the outside world. 

You can’t help but be impressed by the sleek, retro-esque design of the headset. The Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless are built with a genuine leather head strap, steel arms, sliders, and oval ear cups. Indeed, the upgraded Sennheiser Momentum 4 are also available. They also sound excellent but they don't have the classic style of the Momentum 3.

Beats PowerBeats Pro

The Beats PowerBeats Pro combine two things with unmatched qualities in the wireless headphone sphere — the booming audio smarts of Beats by Dr Dre, and the standard-setting technology of Apple. They also mark Beats’ first (and still unbeaten) attempt at purpose-built running earbuds. Reviewers have rated them as not just the best running buds, but a contender for the best true wireless buds overall. 

The design is a little different from the buds that you’re probably used to wearing. They have silicone nozzles (three size options included) that push into and sit in the ear canal, over-ear hooks that hold on tight. The sensation of wearing them might take a bit of getting used to at first but they won’t budge — run as fast and hard as you like. This design also helps block out noise, though there’s no active noise cancellation. There’s an added level of comfort, with barometric venting holes that help relieve in-ear pressure. 

The tech is powered by Apple’s H1 chip. Other Apple standards include hands-free Siri and a highly intuitive design. The volume can be controlled from either bud — a surprisingly ingenious addition that allows you to pump the sounds up or down via a small button — and playback is controlled by touch controls on the buds’ B-emblazoned surface.