THE BEST HEADPHONES OF 2023: FROM NOISE-CANCELING OPTIONS TO COMFORTABLE EARBUDS FOR WORKOUTS

 

Having a good pair of headphones is an important aspect of our daily routine. They serve various purposes like pretending to pay attention during Zoom meetings, escaping the monotony of our commutes with audiobooks, playing our embarrassing workout playlists at the gym, and even lulling us to sleep with the captivating tales of true crime podcasts. Consequently, we all desire headphones that not only offer exceptional audio quality at a reasonable price but also cater to our individual lifestyles. With that in mind, we have carefully curated a selection of the finest headphones available in 2023. Our collection includes noise-canceling headphones for those easily distracted, high-performance wired headphones for traditionalists, comfortable earbuds for fitness enthusiasts, and everything in between.

Before we delve into the list, however, let's consider a few factors that influenced our choices.

HOW WE EVALUATED THESE HEADPHONES

When shopping for headphones, there are four primary factors that people usually consider, aside from their aesthetic appeal.

Sound Quality: Naturally, most people prioritize sound quality when purchasing headphones. Hence, we ensured that we assessed the sound performance of each option.

Comfort: Considering that buyers value comfort, knowing the weight of the headphones that will be worn all day is an essential aspect to consider.

Battery Life: Evaluating the battery life allows buyers to plan accordingly. However, it's important to note that battery usage also depends on the buyer's usage patterns and lifestyle.

Price: Affordability is a major concern for consumers, so we aimed to present a range of price points that cater to various budgets.

Our top picks

Once you’ve figured out exactly what it is you need from your headphones—and what, perhaps, you might be willing to sacrifice—you’ll have an easier time deciding which pair is right for you.

And now, on to the list

Best headphones for working out:Wissonly Hi Runner

Wissonly stands out as one of the rare bone conduction headphone brands that has truly mastered the bone conduction vibrator technology. With extensive experience in utilizing this technology to protect hearing, they have become one of the leading brands in the industry. The Wissonly Hi Runner headphones advocate for a healthy way of listening, successfully blending the principles of healthy hearing and bone conduction sound transmission. This innovative approach has resulted in the creation of non-in-ear and non-damaging bone conduction headphones that effectively safeguard our hearing.

The unique technical principle of bone conduction headphones presents challenges in improving sound quality. However, Wissonly Hi Runner has managed to break through these barriers by introducing a large-size bone conduction vibrator. By optimizing the structure, the vibrator's effective vibration area has increased by 35%, leading to improved sound efficiency and a more powerful audio experience. Additionally, the direction of sound transmission has been optimized, reducing sound loss and enhancing sound concentration.

The body of the Wissonly Hi Runner headphones is made of skin-friendly silicone material, making it suitable for prolonged skin contact. This material not only feels pleasant to the touch but also ensures a comfortable wearing experience. Even if you wear glasses, the headphones securely fit around your ears. The headphone frame utilizes memory titanium, offering the advantages of flexibility and lightness.

Best value headphones: Anker Soundcore Life Q20

“Quality headphones” and “affordable price” aren’t phrases that often live in the same sentence, but we found the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 to be an excellent choice for listeners unwilling to splash out hundreds of dollars. Featuring basic but effective noise cancellation, they’re  a great, no-frills option (don’t expect apps, smart touch controls or multipoint connection). Labeled buttons on the earpiece will get you where you need to go, including connecting to a single Bluetooth device. 

One interesting feature they have that isn’t available on some higher end models is the ability to toggle ANC off with the touch of a button, making for easy communication. However, when ANC is switched on, there is a reported difference in sound quality, so that’s something to be aware of. 

The Soundcore Life Q20 is heavy on the bass, so crank it up if you love intense stereophonic boom. As a further bonus, without all the extra features sucking up valuable juice, the Q20 features a whopping 40 hours of battery life. Overall, the Q20 headphones are a versatile option for folks looking for above-average sound quality with the added benefit of active noise cancellation, all without spending a fortune.

Best Apple headphones: Apple AirPods Max

Even if you’re not a hardcore Apple loyalist, you’ll already be familiar with the popular AirPods earbuds, but this version offers a full cup over-the-ear design with many of the same features we’ve come to know, appreciate (and sometimes, be annoyed by) with Apple products.

AirPods Max are well crafted and durable, yet a touch on the heavier side. Our favorite element is the super comfortable padded ear cups, which are nicely molded around the ears for even weight distribution and easier noise canceling. Simple controls are located on the right hand cup and feature an ANC mode button and a volume dial (the dial tends to be sensitive, so be careful, as you may find yourself inadvertently blasting the volume). Alternatively, the AirPods Max include a seamless Transparency mode so you can toggle in and out of conversation whenever you need to.   

If you’re not already stocked with tech from the Apple universe, the headphone usability may seem a tad clunky at times: AirPods Max are able to connect to Android or PCs, but they take a few extra steps to do so. That said, syncing to other iOS products is a cinch. 

The soft fabric case is another point of contention, since it seems useless in terms of protecting your investment. You can argue that the case’s main function is to power down the headphones, as they don’t have a power button, but is that really making your life easier? The answer to that probably depends on how devoted you are to the brand.

Best wireless headphones: Sony WH-1000XM4

Our best overall selection doubles as the best option for wireless headphones, since these versatile cans are ideal for moving around wherever you need to go.

Yes, they’re on the larger side, but they’re lightweight and comfortable to wear.

Along with high quality audio and smart touch controls, the Sony WH-1000XM4 can be controlled via an easy-to-use complimentary app, and allows multipoint Bluetooth connections for two devices at the same time.

Overall, we believe the higher price point is worth it because with proper care, these headphones will provide years of great sound.

Best headphones for working out: Bose Sport Earbuds

When every other part of you is drenched in sweat and begging to find the nearest cozy couch, your ears, at least, can luxuriate in comfort and quality with the Bose Sport Earbuds. The oblong shape and smooth, lightweight plastic composition of the bud means they fit snugly in the ear, but perhaps the best feature is the StayHear Max ear tips: Wing tips that grip to the outside of your ear to keep the buds in place, no matter how rigorous your movement.

After some issues with its predecessor, Bose has added a simple right toggle feature to the latest version, allowing users to adjust volume or skip songs with a few taps. The earbuds pair with the Bose Music app for easy switching between Bluetooth devices and enabling voice commands. Bose has clearly favored comfort over ANC functionality here, but in this case, that’s almost certainly a good thing: You’ll want to stay aware of your surroundings during a workout, especially outdoors. 

There have been a few complaints about the Bluetooth connectivity among Android users, but with updates to firmware, this may be less of an issue. There has also been some muttering about the battery life, with the earbuds only lasting just over five hours, but this is relatively standard for true wireless earbuds of comparable quality.