So you’re on the lookout for a new pair of headphones to keep you going through that commute back into the office? Well not to worry, because we’ve built a complete guide of all the best headphones you really need to know about, whether you’re after a small pair of true wireless earbuds to take out on a run, or professional-grade ear-cans to drown out the world.
Some music boffins did some research over 2020 and they reckon more than 155 million albums were streamed since lockdown began – yes, we have been playing Baddiel and Skinner’s 'Three Lions' on repeat for the entire summer – so if you’re anything like us, you’re after the best devices to make sure your playlists sound as good as they can.
Audiophiles might have already earmarked their favourite brands and won’t entertain any suggestion that you can get better quality elsewhere. However, with top features like active noise cancellation (ANC), voice control, day-long battery, and studio-standard audio becoming a standard, we’ve found dozens of models that might convince you otherwise.
How we test
To test audio performance, we played an eclectic playlist including bass-heavy rap and melodic rock anthems as well as a few podcasts, noting down range and quality.
We also assessed comfort, weight, how easy it is to control and the battery life.
What key specs do you need to know?
Noise cancellation - Some headphones will have what’s called active noise cancellation, which creates a vacuum inside your ear, blocking out ambient noise to help you focus on the music. Some headphones will have a sliding scale of strength to let you hear the important things (like train announcements) but still emphasises your music.
Voice assistants - Got a good relationship with Siri? Some headphones can keep the conversation going in your ear, allowing you to use voice commands to skip tracks, answer calls or adjust the volume. You'll find Siri, Google Assistant and Alexa in these ear-cans.
Drivers - Without going into too much detail, your driver is the important bit of the headphone, translating the electric signals into audio. It’s a bit like a mini speaker placed right by your ear drum. Obviously they can’t be too big, but most you’ll find will be between 20mm and 50mm, with a bigger driver offering better quality.
Battery life - Almost all the headphones below can work with or without a cable, using your Bluetooth to connect to your smartphone or laptop. They have their own little batteries inside, which can last anywhere between four hours on some of the smaller in-ear models (don't panic, they can be topped up with a wireless charging case) to 45 hours on the beast-y over-ear headphones.
5 Best In-Ear Headphones
In the approximate words of Ferris Bueller, “tech moves fast”, but we’ve been looking around once in a while to keep up with the audio world. The latest trend is the smaller, in-ear true wireless headphones, or buds as they are often called.
They connect to your smartphone, tablet, or laptop through Bluetooth, so these little earplugs lose the wires from the old days and sit snug in your ear. They often come with a little charging case that helps you keep them safe when travelling around and also keeps them topped up on juice, which can last between four and 24 hours.
Some of the more advanced ones will have ANC, which cancels out ambient sounds to help you focus on your tunes, and will likely be super lightweight to make them comfortable for long sessions or to the gym. You control them with taps on the bud or through your smartphone as there are no in-line controls, though some come with voice control too.
Best Overall In-Ear Headphones
Apple Airpods Pro - Our favourite wireless headphones, Apple’s high-end AirPods are top performers for audio quality, noise cancellation, and style. You get five hours of battery (24 with the charging case) so we could pop them in the case for a quick charge over our lunch break before placing the nose back on the grindstone.
Apple
Who they’re for: These dinky earbuds slot right in to your lifestyle, whether you're on a plane, in the office, or working out at the gym. Only for iPhone, if you’re an Apple fan, we don’t think you can go wrong with picking up one of these.
Why we like them: We understand why other buds are so bulky (more space to cram some speakers in), but we adore how Apple has managed to squeeze brilliant tech into a stylish, crisp-white design. We thought the ear-tips were comfortable over long sessions, and the ANC did a good job of blocking out the shouting from a junior school down the road. You can switch between ANC and ‘ambient mode’ which amplifies audio to keep you aware of your surroundings.
Key specs
ANC: Yes
Battery life: 4.5 hours (up to 24 hours with charging case)
Weight: 5.4g
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5 Best Over-Ear Headphones
For most of you, the over-ear type of headphone will be the ones you’ll likely know the most about. They have the best sound reproduction, and the highest quality of ANC.
You’ll find the largest batteries on these devices, as well as noise cancellation that can be adjusted depending on how much outside sound you’d like to be aware of. A lot of these will be wireless, but they sometimes come with a cable to plug in directly to your smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
Best Overall Over-Ear Headphones
Sony WH-1000XM4 - Collecting the crown as the best headphones on the market right now, Sony’s WH series delivers the superior audio you’ve come to expect, all packed in with a 30-hour battery and a gorgeous design. Use the simple touch controls to manage your tracks, or have a chat with Alexa or Google Assistant to begin your playlist.
Sony
Who they’re for: Anyone looking for the very best sound should start their search right here, as you simply won’t find a better range anywhere else. The 40mm drivers do a good job of reducing distortion at higher volumes, pleasing the pitch-perfect audiophiles.
Why we like them: While we respect some audio brands going for bold colours and brash designs, there is something to be said about Sony’s quiet confidence in its build quality. We love how it feels to slip them on, and the cups cushion your head in a loving embrace. Oh, and the new silent white colour is gorgeous.
Key specs
ANC: Yes
Battery life: 30 hours
Weight: 254g
Voice control: Yes (Alexa and Google Assistant)
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5 Best On-Ear Headphones
On-ear headphones are much the same as over-ear devices except they have slightly smaller, narrower cups that sit on top of your ear rather than over them. They aren’t often as good as their over-ear brothers as they don’t form a bubble around your ear to surround you with music, but they're still worthy of your playlist.
Best Overall On-Ear Headphones
Jabra Elite 45h - Don't let the lower price fool you into thinking the Elite 45h are not worth considering. These headphones are built to last thanks to the massive 45-hour battery life. It’s the longest on this list by some way, and the device is meant to accompany you wherever you go.
Jabra
Who they’re for: For less than £100, you get an abnormally long battery, a simplistic design, and a great microphone for making calls. You might not see the fancy noise cancellation of the pricier models, but we don’t think that’s much of a dealbreaker.
Why we like them: As mentioned, it has an impressive microphone for taking calls, blocking out a lot of the external noise from around you while you’re talking to make sure you’re clearly heard on the other end. Our mum could quite easily hear our drunken, slurring jeers as we called from a Euro fanzone after the Germany game. Poor woman.
Key specs
ANC: No
Battery life: 45 hours
Weight: 160g
Voice control: Yes (Alexa and Google Assistant)
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