The Best Wireless Headphones (2025): Tested Over Hours

Wireless headphones are all the rage these days, and there are about a gazillion of them (and counting). We try to test them all, but not everything we test will make the big list. Here are some great ways you should try.

Soundcore Space A40 for $60: Although they’ve left our main list, the Space A40 is still one of the best headphones you can get for your money. Their sleek, stylish design is enhanced by a solid design, clear and detailed sound, and excellent noise cancellation for the price.

Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 for $280: These headphones from Jabra (7/10, WRED Review) are more expensive compared to options that sound (and cancel) better. These are Jabra’s last consumer earphones, so brand new is doubtful. We love that they have wireless transmitters, like the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, which offer latency-free connectivity to non-Bluetooth sources (I’m looking at you, airplanes).

Sonos Ace for $350-450: The Sonos Ace (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a pricey but impressive debut from Sonos, with excellent noise cancellation, great sound, and one of the best designs (if not and comfiest) you will find in this game. A number of original apps have limited functionality after release, including an issue with the TV Swap feature that allows you to switch audio from a group. Sonos sound bar for the Ace, but this seems to be standard, making this a very good choice, especially for those already installed in the Sonos system.

Beats Solo 4 for $150: We love Beats headphones these days, but these two were a little rare for our needs at $200 (7/10, WIRED Recommends). Now that they’ve dropped, we can wholeheartedly recommend them to people looking for wireless headphones that don’t have noise cancellation.

Technics EAH-AZ80 for $298: The price of AZ809/10, WIRED Recommends) and great audio. Their most popular feature is combining three devices at once, but they finish strong with noise-canceling technology, high-quality audio, and seven eartip options for incredible durability.

Beating Studio Pro for $350: Studio Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends) offers great performance, including amazing sound quality, good noise cancellation, and a natural looking design. The design is cheap, and they skip things like slow-motion parking, but extras like Hands-free Siri and head tracking and in-car audio add to their value—especially since their retail price is sometimes down to half of the original $350 MSRP.

Sony WH-CH720N for $150: These Sony cans may have a silly name, but the value makes up for it. They aren’t as flexible as the top options and don’t come with a case, but their sound quality and noise cancellation are very good for the money. They’re also built for long-lasting battery life, making them a great option for smart consumers.

Sony WH-1000XM4 for $267: Sony’s XM4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) remain premium headphones, even after being replaced by the fancier XM5. For the lowest price, you’ll get the most advanced noise canceling technology, maximum noise reduction, and maximum comfort in a very versatile package.

Master and Dynamic MH40 for $399: M&D second-gen MH40 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) carries a visual sound rather than a plastic one. Their lack of advanced features, including even noise reduction, makes them cheap for minimalism, but they stay stylish for days.

Audio Technica ATH-M50xBT for $199: Picture of the ATH-M50X9/10, WIRED Recommends) provide clear and powerful sound, making them ubiquitous in music and film studios. But what if you want to go with them between takes? Enter the ATH-M50XBT, which connects to a wired studio with Bluetooth for wireless freedom. They don’t offer noise canceling or other advanced features but are great for mixing art and gaming.

Sony Linkbuds for $128: Linkbuds (8/10, WIRED Recommends) have an illusion: speakers with holes in the middle that let the world around you know about the environment. They’re not particularly hot in noisy environments, which makes them a bit of a one-trick pony, but they’re among the best in open-ear development. It has also been updated in the new Linkbuds Open (7/10, WIRED Recommends), which is expensive at the moment but offers several new and stable features.

JLab Jbuds Mini are $40: This microbuds from JLab provide great sound, but their sleek design that fits the key ring makes them an interesting addition for those who need inexpensive blades to go.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2 for $160: Samsung Galaxy’s top features (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is a little long in the tooth, but it’s still among the best Galaxy phones, offering solid noise cancellation, clear and crisp sound, and a few Samsung-only features. Their apps won’t work with non-Samsung phones, and their five-hour battery life is now under the barrel.