The Best Headphones for 2023

We found the best small and big headphones and earbuds and can help you choose the right pair. We tested many headphones to find the best ones for you. They all have great features, noise cancelling, good looks and comfort. Consider where you will use them when choosing, such as choosing earbuds for running or noise-cancelling headphones for commuting.

We have a lot of headphones and earbuds to choose from. They are all good because they offer comfort, great sound, and extra features like voice control or a strong wireless connection. If you want to use them with your phone, computer, or MP3 player, you will be happy. If you want headphones for gaming with a microphone, we have a different guide for that.

OVERVIEW

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

Best Earphones for iPhone Users.

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$239.00
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Bose QuietComfort 45

Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones.

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$279.00
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Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

Best Noise-Cancelling True Wireless Earphones.

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$249.00
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Jabra Elite 45h

Best Low-Cost On-Ear Headphones.

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$83.50
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Sony WH-1000XM5

Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Audiophiles.

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$398.00
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Jabra Elite 7 Pro

Best True Wireless Earbuds for Runners.

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$149.99
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Urbanista Los Angeles

Best for Eco-Conscious Music Lovers.

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$199.00
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Anker Soundcore Space A40

Best Value.

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$89.00
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Rode NTH-100

Most Affordable Studio Headphones.

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$149.00
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The 1More SonoFlow

Best Budget-Friendly, Noise-Cancelling Headphones.

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$95.53
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OVERVIEW

The right headphones for someone depend on their personal preferences for sound, features, and budget. The author has gathered a list of the best headphones tested and provided recommendations for different users and budgets.

When buying headphones, consider the purpose and location of use and choose accordingly. For example, choose earbuds for exercising and noise-canceling headphones for commuting. Determine the best headphones by testing factors such as design, fit, sound quality, features, and battery life.

A Deeper Dive: Our Tested Top Picks

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

Best Earphones for iPhone Users

4.5 Outstanding
Rating-4.5

Bottom Line:
The 2nd generation AirPods Pro are the best noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds for people who use Apple devices. They have great noise-cancelling technology and produce great sound quality.

PROS

  • Rich, well-balanced audio performance
  • Excellent active noise cancellation
  • Adaptive Transparency mode is genuinely impressive
  • Charging case has a useful built-in speaker
  • Seamless integration with Apple devices

CONS

  • No hi-res codec support
  • Offers only non-adjustable EQ presets

Bose QuietComfort 45

Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones

4.5 Outstanding
Rating-4.5

Bottom Line:
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are the best headphones with active noise cancelling technology available in the market. They are ahead of other competitors.

PROS

  • Best-in-class noise cancellation
  • Sculpted audio with rich bass and crisp highs
  • Exceptionally comfortable

CONS

  • ANC can’t be adjusted
  • Sound signature isn’t accurate for true audiophiles

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

Best Noise-Cancelling True Wireless Earphones

4.5 Outstanding
Rating-4.5

Bottom Line:
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are wireless earbuds that have exceptional noise cancelling technology and strong bass-focused sound quality. They set a new benchmark for in-ear active noise cancellation.

PROS

  • Engaging audio performance with deep lows and bright highs
  • Fantastic low- and high-frequency noise cancellation
  • Useful Active Aware mode
  • Water-resistant build

CONS

  • No way to turn off noise cancellation altogether
  • Case doesn’t support wireless charging

Jabra Elite 45h

Best Low-Cost On-Ear Headphones

4.5 Outstanding
Rating-4.5

Bottom Line:
The Jabra Elite 45h headphones are on-ear wireless headphones that provide great sound quality and many useful features at an affordable price of $99.

PROS

  • Powerful, bass-forward audio performance
  • Useful app with adjustable EQ
  • Comfortable on-ear fit
  • Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
  • Strong mic clarity

CONS

  • Combined volume/track navigation controls make it easy to accidentally skip a track

Sony WH-1000XM5

Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Audiophiles

4.5 Outstanding
Rating-4.5

Bottom Line:
The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones have excellent noise cancellation and excellent sound quality, and they have a comfortable and attractive design.

PROS

  • Beats the RTX 2080 Super in most benchmarks
  • Great price-to-performance ratio
  • Stable launch drivers
  • Runs cool
  • Short PCB, redesigned cooling system make for a compact card

CONS

  • RTX 3070 gives an extra margin for 4K today and tomorrow

Jabra Elite 7 Pro

Best True Wireless Earbuds for Runners

4.0 Excellent
Rating-4

Bottom Line:
The Jabra Elite 7 Pro earbuds are wireless earbuds that have great active noise cancellation and good microphone performance. They are also waterproof.

PROS

  • Powerful audio performance with deep bass and crisp highs
  • Adjustable ANC and EQ settings
  • Excellent mic intelligibility
  • Fully waterproof, dust-resistant earpieces

CONS

  • Tunable ANC requires more work than other models
  • Sculpted sound signature not for purists

Urbanista Los Angeles

Best for Eco-Conscious Music Lovers

4.0 Excellent
Rating-4

Bottom Line:
The Urbanista Los Angeles headphones are fashionable headphones that offer good bass, clear high notes, and good noise cancelling technology. They also have a unique design that allows them to be charged using solar power.

PROS

  • Solar-powered charging
  • Impressive audio performance with rich, deep bass and crisp highs
  • Quality noise cancellation for the price
  • Stylish design

CONS

  • No in-app EQ
  • Noise cancellation slightly impacts sound signature

Anker Soundcore Space A40

Best Value

4.0 Excellent
Rating-4

Bottom Line:
The Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds offer good active noise cancellation and clear sound at an affordable price.

PROS

  • Rich, detailed audio performance
  • Quality active noise cancellation for the price
  • App includes customizable EQ and controls
  • Strong battery life
  • Water-resistant build

CONS

  • Light on sub-bass
  • Noise cancellation mode slightly affects sound signature

Rode NTH-100

Most Affordable Studio Headphones

4.0 Excellent
Rating-4

Bottom Line:
The Rode NTH-100 headphones are designed for use in studios and provide clear and accurate sound. They are comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

PROS

  • Accurate audio performance with a focus on clarity
  • Comfortable, cool design
  • Headband features locking mechanisms for a consistent fit
  • Detachable cable

CONS

  • No inline remote or mic cable options

1More SonoFlow

Best Budget-Friendly, Noise-Cancelling Headphones

3.5 Good
Rating-3.5

Bottom Line:
The 1More SonoFlow headphones have good sound quality and effective noise cancelling technology, but they have a poorly designed app and difficult-to-use controls. They can be purchased for less than $100.

PROS

  • Bass-forward, sculpted sound signature
  • Effective noise cancellation
  • Attractive, comfortable over-ear design

CONS

  • Clunky, beta-like app
  • No customizable EQ
  • Odd layout of on-ear controls

Top Recommendations: Best Headphones | 2023

Which is better for you: earphones or headphones?

Earbuds do not block out outside noise and usually have the worst sound quality. Earphones fit into the ear canal, provide better bass and balanced sound, and stay in place better. On-ear headphones sit on the ear and over-ear headphones go around the ear. Both types of headphones can be wired or wireless.

Over-ear headphones usually offer a better sound experience, but some on-ear headphones also have good sound. It depends on personal comfort and whether you need headphones that are easy to carry while traveling.

Which is better: wired or wireless headphones?

Wired headphones and earphones used to be popular, but now Bluetooth headphones and true wireless headphones are more popular because they don’t require a cable. Some audiophiles still prefer wired headphones, especially for home listening, but many wireless headphones come with a cable that lets you use them without draining the battery.

Wired headphones provide better audio quality compared to wireless due to a direct connection. Bluetooth audio quality has improved, but still not as good as a wired connection. To get the best audio quality in wireless headphones, make sure they support high-quality Bluetooth codecs like LDAC and AAC, not just the standard SBC codec. Check the headphones’ compatibility with your device to ensure you get the best audio experience.
What Are the Types of Headphone Drivers?

Balanced armature drivers are used more frequently in earphones due to their compact size, but they often have a more balanced, neutral audio profile and can handle higher frequencies better than dynamic drivers. Ultimately, the type of driver used in a pair of headphones will depend on the design goals and target audience of the product.

Headphones usually have dynamic drivers while earphones can have either dynamic drivers or balanced armature drivers. Dynamic drivers are common in headphones because they are larger and can produce more volume and bass. However, balanced armatures are favored in earphones due to their small size, which allows for smaller earpieces. They can also be arranged in larger earpieces to handle specific frequency ranges for better audio. Both dynamic and balanced armature drivers can produce high-quality or poor-quality sound, it depends on the manufacturer.
Another type of driver used in headphones and earphones is the planar magnetic driver. This type of driver is more expensive than dynamic and balanced armature drivers but offers a more precise sound. Another type of driver, electrostatic, is also similar to planar magnetic drivers but is even more expensive and used less often. Electrostatic headphones are best suited for home use and are not as common as other types of headphones.
How Active Noise Cancellation Works?

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is a feature that is becoming increasingly popular in headphones and earphones, and many affordable options are now available. Most ANC headphones are now wireless, which is convenient. However, not all ANC is the same, and some brands such as Bose are known for their exceptional performance. It’s important to understand how noise cancellation works and what to look for when choosing a pair of headphones with this feature.

When noise-cancelling headphones don’t work well, it’s usually because they’re not very effective in reducing noise, they create a faint hissing sound, or they affect the sound quality. This often happens with cheaper headphones that cost less than $200. The best noise-cancelling headphones, like those made by Bose, are very effective, but others, like those made by Apple and Sony, are also good options.

Headphones with good noise cancellation can effectively reduce low-frequency noise, block out surrounding sounds, and produce minimal hiss. They also maintain their sound quality while in the noise cancellation mode. Some brands, such as Bose, even have apps that allow you to adjust the strength and frequency range of the noise cancellation.

What is the Ideal Budget for Buying Headphones?

The cost of headphones is determined by factors such as quality, performance, technology, and branding. Advanced technologies like true wireless and active noise cancellation tend to make headphones more expensive, with higher-quality options typically starting around $150. Iconic brands like Apple, Beats, and Bose can also impact the price.

The cost of headphones can range from as low as $50 to more than $1,000, depending on the level of quality and features desired. Most quality options fall in the range of $100 to $400, with many good options available in the $100 to $200 range.