The best wireless headphones 2024, chosen by our experts for all budgets | TechRadar

The top Bluetooth headphones from Sony, Bose and more

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The best wireless headphones offer great sound, comfort, and smart features, all in a sleek, portable design – no wires needed to enjoy your favorite music, movies, or podcasts.

While audiophiles may still favor the best wired headphones for the ultimate in sound quality, today’s best Bluetooth headphones have made huge strides in performance and reliability. Plus, they’re incredibly convenient, eliminating the hassle of tangled cables caught on hair, zippers, or bag straps. It’s no surprise that wireless headphones now dominate our list of the best headphones.

In this guide, we’ve selected the best wireless headphones, thoroughly tested by our team of audio tech experts with years of experience. While this guide focuses on headphones, if you’re looking for something smaller, be sure to check out our best wireless earbuds guide for our top recommendations.

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.

Best overall

The best wireless headphones for most people

Sony continues to reign with these older cans, which are fantastic value for sound quality, features and ANC – but be sure you're getting a discount before you buy them.

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Best budget

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.

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Best premium

The best higher-end, higher-spec wireless headphones

Packed with high-end features, excellent, expansive sound and an amazing 100 hours of battery, these are our top choice for overall quality at a higher price.

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Best cheap noise-cancelling

The best cheap noise cancelling wireless headphones

One of the older options in the list but still excellent value. Affordable over-ears with solid ANC, good sound and a really comfortable fit thanks to memory foam cups.

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Best mid-priced

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.

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Best for ANC

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.

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Best for sound

The best headphones for sound

These are high-end headphones through and through. They look good, feel good, have a premium build and sound amazing. Expect a detailed, expansive listen that makes all of your favorite music shine, whichever genre is your favorite.

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Best high-end Sony cans

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.

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Best for movies

The best wireless headphones for movies

Not the best-sounding headphones in this guide, but they're our top pick for movies because they sound great when listening in spatial audio with fantastic Dolby Atmos sound.

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Best planar magnetic

The best planar magnetic wireless headphones

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 Bose, Sony and Sennheiser cans.

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Best for design

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.

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Best for Apple fans

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.

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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.

October 11, 2024Reordered our list based on our recent testing. Added the Dali IO-8 as our 'best for sound' pick.

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Our expert review:

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. But be warned, they're only our top pick if they're on offer for under $200/£200. If they're not, you'd be better off with the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 further down in this guide.

Still, 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

Our expert review:

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

Our expert review:

The Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 headphones received a rare 5 out of 5 rating in our review. Therefore, it’s no surprise they’re our new pick in this best wireless headphones guide if you’re looking for a high-spec, high-end choice with a premium price tag to match.

Design-wise, there’s nothing to shout about here. But the fit is comfortable, and that’s what matters. The earpads are detachable and made from memory foam and vegan leather. The same vegan leather is found on the outside, and then there’s a padded headband. There are also physical buttons here, which we know some love and some hate. The benefits of this style are that they’re very straightforward to use, and you don’t have to worry about too much sensitivity.

The Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 will make the most of 16bit/44.1kHz FLAC files from streaming services like Qobuz or Tidal. But, as we wrote in our review, “they don’t judge”. Give these headphones any music, and they’ll make it sound exceptional. Expect “an energetic and thoroughly engaging listen” thanks to their lively, detailed and confident presentation across the range. And, if the sound isn’t quite to your liking, you also have the option of tweaking the seven-band equaliser within the app, which also has several presets.

Battery life is the biggest feature to shout about here. You’ll get a total of 100 hours, which is unheard of. That does drop to 60 hours with ANC on, which rival headphones the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless can also reach, but the Cambridge Audio cans still feel like a step up – which is why they replaced the Sennheisers in this guide. These headphones take our high-spec position in this guide, and that’s because there are just so many features worth shouting about, including multipoint connectivity, Bluetooth 5.3 and both aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless codec compatibility. So this means you can listen to lossy 24bit/96kHz streaming and lossless 16bit/44.1kHz resolution available – you’ll just need the right source player and streaming service. There’s also Class AB amplification, tech used to power 40mm full-range dynamic drivers, and six mics to handle ANC and ensure call quality is crisp and clear. ANC here is great. In our review, we wrote: “It will do a job on external distractions of all types, and without leaving a counter-signal or shift in tonality in its wake.” But we also said it’s not the best ANC we’ve ever tested – Bose is still the brand to beat in that regard.

With such excellent specs, they’re not the cheapest option in this list by any means, but they’re well-priced when you consider just how extensively they’re specified. Which means if you’re looking for a pair of wireless headphones that really do tick all of the boxes, providing high-end sound, a high-end fit, and high-end features, you’ve got it.

Read our full Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 review

Our expert review:

If you're looking for a pair of wireless headphones that are affordable and provide solid noise-cancelling, then we highly recommend the 1More Sonoflow. They feature excellent battery life, offering up to 50 hours with ANC on (70 with it off), which is well above average, even for premium headphones. There are only a handful of basic features here, including a simple app and the option to select different EQ presets, but that's okay. We noted the lack of wear sensors in our review, which usually pause the music when you remove your headphones, as being a shame – but then again, this is one of our more affordable options, and it's not like the headphones are hurting for battery life anyway.

The design is understated. Some people will find it nice and minimal. Others might think it's a little boring. The earcups are incredibly comfortable with memory foam and can be adjusted as they move on hinges. During our testing, we noted this is good news for those with thick hair and means your head doesn’t feel too squeezed. The headphones come in a compact zip case with a hard shell, which keeps them protected.

The 1More Sonoflow over-ear headphones have solid noise cancellation. It's not the best in our guide, but they represent really good value for the price. In our review, we wrote: "Most ambient sounds and lots of standard low frequency noises are drowned out completely." The same can be said for the sound quality. No, the 1More Sonoflow won’t compete with headphones three or four times the price, but we commented: "We were impressed with the powerful bass and detailed, crisp highs on offer here – thanks to the Sonoflow’s dual 40mm drivers."

The 1More Sonoflow have been around a few years, but they're still our top affordable noise-cancelling wireless pick as you'll find them available for a cheap price, and they still check all of the boxes when it comes to not only their ANC power at this budget, but their comfortable fit and impressive battery life.

Read our full 1More Sonoflow review

Our expert review:

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

Our expert review:

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.

To save some money on Bose products, check out our Bose discount codes.

Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review

Our expert review:

If you’re an audiophile and top sound is your number one priority, we recommend the Dali IO-8 headphones. During testing, we couldn’t find anything to criticize about the audio on offer from these high-end headphones – which is really saying something. We described the sound as “detailed and expansive”, allowing you to hear your music in new ways. This detail didn’t affect the bigger picture, you can expect a large and persuasive soundstage that we wrote in our review shines with “positive, dynamic presentation” and “great low-end expression and agility.” In short, the Dali IO-8 headphones sound phenomenal. This excellent audio is helped by ANC that may not be best-in-class – a title still held by Bose – but it’s still very good, creating an immersive listening experience that highlights the sonic performance of these over-ears even more.

As you might expect from an audiophile-grade pair of headphones, they’re also built exceptionally well and look good too. Well, at least in a fairly understated way that whispers premium through and through. The earcups are perfectly circular and there’s a comfortable memory foam lining the interior. You can adjust the cups and headband too, which is good news for those who like to tweak their headphones to get the best fit. Unfortunately, there is a big red flag in terms of design here (at least if you’re vegan) and that’s the fact they’re made from leather. We know some people still think leather = luxury, but it’s a shame there isn’t another option.

There are some notable features missing here, including a control app. There are also only two EQ settings. Then again, we don’t know why anyone would need to tweak the sound here. The Dali IO-8 have 35 hours of battery life onboard. However, you can use them as passive, wired headphones if you forget to charge them. They’re not cheap, but if you want quality sound, a comfortable design and essential features, they’re great value and the audio they deliver is hard to beat.

Read our full Dali IO-8 review

Our expert review:

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

Our expert review:

The long-awaited Sonos Ace over-ear headphones are our top pick for movies. But, to be honest, we weren't huge fans of the sound overall during our testing. We found that the Sonos Ace are behind rivals in certain respects, especially when it comes to expansive, expressive music reproduction.

However, for powerful and cinematic sound and listening in spatial audio from your Sonos soundbar, they're unbeatable. They're part of our new favorite home cinema setup – especially if you're a movie lover but don't want to wake the house up every time you put on a film. The features on offer here are also impressive, especially if High-Res Audio is a priority for you, including aptX Adaptive, Snapdragon Sound and USB-C lossless options.

Design-wise, Sonos speakers always look slick, minimal and high-end and the brand's first foray into headphones is no exception. In our review, we wrote that these wireless headphones have a classy, premium design and look "simple, elegant and thoughtful". They were comfortable to wear for the most part with a plush headband and earcups. However, it's worth pointing out that some glasses-wearing testers struggled for long-term comfort.

So although the Sonos Ace headphones are incredibly impressive, only consider them if you don't wear glasses and plan on pairing them with a Sonos soundbar. They're not the best-sounding headphones in this guide, but they're the best headphones for movie lovers, hands-down.

Read our full Sonos Ace review

Our expert review:

The Edifier Stax Spirit S5 are a comfortable and impressively specified pair of wireless over-ear headphones, and our top choice if you're looking for a planar magnetic option. Which means they're designed to deliver a sound that's clear, detailed and with less distortion.

During our testing, they certainly delivered in the sound stakes. In our review, we wrote that the Edifier Stax Spirit S5 are ideal for those who want to hear the complete sonic picture: "The S5 are capable of extracting tiny, previously unknown details in recordings you’ve heard plenty of times before." But they're not just about fantastic detail retrieval, they sound phenomenal whatever you're listening to, delivering a sound we described as "positive, entertaining and informative."

Features-wise, you'll find Bluetooth 5.4 with LDAC and aptX Lossless codec compatibility here, as well as aptX Voice for telephony. One notable omission, however, is active noise-cancellation. This is bound to put some people off, as is the fact there's animal hide on the exterior of these headphones. It's worth mentioning there is decent passive noise isolation thanks to the snug fit of these headphones, but if you're used to ANC they'll fall short.

The design of the Edifier Stax Spirit S5 headphones is small and reasonably light at 347g – especially compared to other bigger, heavier planar magnetic designs. This contributes to them being very comfortable to wear, especially for long periods of time. You can also adjust the headband to get an even better fit. And they're hinged, so will happily fold up into a carry case.

Read our full Edifier Stax Spirit S5 review

Our expert review:

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

Our expert review:

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

There have been a few recent reviews that narrowly failed to make this list, including the Creative Zen Hybrid SXFI, a great choice for budgets under $100 with quality spatial audio. But we just weren't convinced in these over-ears as a proposition overall. Take a look at our Creative Zen Hybrid SXFI review to find out more. There's also the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro, a good pair of headphones that felt a bit chunky. Other options in this guide also boast much better buttons and work better overall. Read our Anker Soundcore Space One Pro review here.

We'd highly recommend you take a look at our Final D7000 review. These are large planar magnetic headphones with exceptional build quality and sound. So why didn't they make this guide? They're incredibly expensive. Although worth checking out if money is no object and you want audiophile-grade sound. Another pair of headphones we tested recently were the Dyson OnTrac, which may have good battery life and detailed sound but aren't great, delivering a compressed audio experience. Still, if you're interested in Dyson's dedicated to audio tech as of late, check out our full Dyson OnTrac review.

The recent Apple Glowtime showcase event on September 9 revealed some interesting news about Apple's headphones, with health and gesture updates coming to the Apple AirPods Pro 2 – including a hearing test – plus two new Apple AirPods 4 models. However, we didn't see the AirPods Max 2. This isn't a huge surprise, but we had been hoping for a new version of Apple's over-ears.

The Earfun Wave Pro are also a relatively new and affordable set of headphones headphones with active noise cancellation, and they were serious contenders for this list. They sit in a slightly awkward price gap between the Sony WH-CH520 and the Sony WH-CH720N, although Earfun products are usually available with discounts once they've launched. We'll keep an eye on prices, and if the price drops closer to the Sony WH-CH520, they could well become our new budget choice, given that they offer good active noise cancellation, solid sound, excellent battery life, and even hi-res wireless audio sport. Read our full Earfun Wave Pro review for more.

Speaking of affordable noise-cancelling headphones, we also took at a look at the Edifier W820NB Plus. These are packed with features, and seriously impressed us when it comes to the spec list – but the music quality just isn't there, and for the same price as the Earfun Wave Pro, they're a clear step down. Read our Edifier W820NB Plus review if you want to know more about them, though.

At the higher end, the Sennheiser Accentum Plus are a great-performing pair of headphones, with two problems: the Sony WH-1000XM4, and the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. The Sony headphones are usually the same price as the Accentum, and they're still our number one pick, so… that's tough. And the Momentum 4 Wireless are often only a small amount more expensive than the Accentum Plus, but offer a stronger feature list, so are arguably better value. However, the Accentum Plus are definitely another option that could make it into this list if prices change, shifting their value. Definitely read our in-depth Sennheiser Accentum Plus review.

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.

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.

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.

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.

October 11, 2024 Reordered our list based on our recent testing. Added the Dali IO-8 as our 'best for sound' pick.

September 11, 2024Replaced the Edifier Stax Spirit S3 for the newer Edifier Stax Spirit S5 based on our testing and the improved design and sound. Added some new options in our 'also consider' section, including the lovely but expensive Final D7000 headphones and the Creative Zen Hybrid SXFI.

July 31, 2024Replaced the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless for the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 based on our extensive testing and 5-star review.

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July 22, 2024 Added the 1More Sonoflow as the best budget noise-cancelling headphones, to offer this feature at a cheaper price than the other options here.

June 24, 2024Added the Sonos Ace as our 'best for movies' choice and clarified why. Updated the copy throughout and the 'Also consider' section.

May 30, 2024Refreshed the intro to reflect the current choices for sound, updated the 'Also consider' section to include models recently tested.

April 11, 2024Added an 'Also consider' section, where we cover headphones recently reviewed but not featured in this guide's top picks.

March 11, 2024Added more information about the comfort of each pair of headphones, and added more clarity to our categorization.

February 9, 2024Added Sony WH-CH720N as the best mid-priced wireless headphones, and Focal Bathys as the best for audiophile sound.

January 22, 2024Added 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.

January 2, 2024Checked all models against currently reviews, and updated for 2024.

November 21, 2023Added information about Black Friday deals on our headphones choices.

September 21, 2023Added quick menu for easy navigation and made the list simpler, so you can find something that suits your needs more easily.

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Becky became Audio Editor at TechRadar in 2024, but joined the team in 2022 as Senior Staff Writer, focusing on all things hi-fi. Before this, she spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing and reviewing everything from wallet-friendly wireless earbuds to huge high-end sound systems. Prior to gaining her MA in Journalism in 2018, Becky freelanced as an arts critic alongside a 22-year career as a professional dancer and aerialist – any love of dance starts with a love of music. Becky has previously contributed to Stuff, FourFourTwo and The Stage. When not writing, she can still be found throwing shapes in a dance studio, these days with varying degrees of success.

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