The Best Wireless Headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts or music on the go without being tethered to your audio device. The best headphones can connect wirelessly to your phone, laptop, or record player using Bluetooth or another protocol.

They also have an active noise cancellation system that easily cuts down the low rumble of bus engines or chatty coworkers. They're also extremely comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

The WH1000XM5s are Sony's top-of-the-line headphones. They're a significant improvement over the XM4s offering better noise cancelling and smart features. The headphones are more expensive but have an elegant look and feel. These headphones have a lot to offer and are a great choice for commuters and frequent travelers.

The new headphones are made of recycled plastic and sport sleek, minimalist design. The headphones are also lighter than predecessors. They're comfortable to wear for extended durations, and the headband is now covered in soft padding that makes it less rigid than it was before. The earcups are also smaller and fit closer to the ears to prevent sound leakage.

The headphones come with an automatic adaptive ANC which can alter the volume based on the surrounding. The ANC isn't able to block the same amount of low frequency noise as Bose QuietComfort 45 Wireless or QC45, but it still can be effective in reducing high and mid frequency sounds, like airplane engine roar and office chatter.

Wearing Detection is another feature that detects when you remove your headphones and then automatically pauses the music. It then resumes playing when you put on the headphones again. There's also Speak-to Chat, which lets you converse with people without taking your headphones off. It's a good idea however it's not perfect. Sometimes the audio will be switched off after you've finished talking.

Sony's DSEE HX Extreme audio processing engine is also present. This upscales compressed music to give it greater clarity and depth. This is not a feature you'll notice every day, but it makes a big difference when listening high-resolution music.

These headphones are compatible with Bluetooth 5.0, which supports more high-bitrate streaming than many other headsets. This should improve their performance when you play music on your laptop, mobile phone, or tablet. They also support multi-point connectivity which means you can connect them with two devices at the simultaneously. This is particularly useful when you want to listen to music while using the device for hands-free phone calls.

2. Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless don't stand out from the crowd, but this doesn't mean that they're not an excellent pair of headphones. These headphones have exceptional noise cancellation, and boast a staggering 60 hours of battery life. This is nearly twice as long as most other competitors. The Sony WH1000XM5 or Bowers & Wilkins Px8 wireless offer 30 to 40 hours of battery life. The MOMENTUM 4's incredible endurance is due in part to a variety of power-saving features, including sleep and head-to-head detection.

Sennheiser headphones are among the best Bluetooth headsets on the market. They have a balanced mix between rich bass and warm mids, that don't overpower each other. The high-end is crisp without being piercing or bright and the headphone bluetooth's outstanding clarity allows it to effortlessly handle action movie soundtracks that have plenty of brash. The Control app allows you to modify the sound profile and add an EQ. This makes it simple to personalize the headphones to suit your preferences.

As compared to the wired version, the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless are less durable, yet feel sturdy and well-constructed. The ear pads of the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless are soft and supple and rest comfortably on the head. I used them all day, whether working at home or on an airplane. They aren't as good for exercise however, as they can slide off the ears when you move your head swiftly.

Like their predecessors, the MOMENTUM 4's ANC performance is outstanding, though not quite as class-leading as the Sony WH-1000XM5. They do a good job of removing background noise and low rumbles from plane and bus engines, but aren't so well at removing passengers' chatter. They also have the added benefit of aptX support which has more bitrates than AAC and SBC.

The ear cups on the Sennheisers are able to rotate to lay flat, but they don't fold like other models. The headphones are compact enough to fit in their hard carrying case when not in use, making them ideal for commute and travel.

3. Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2

Bowers & Wilkins second-generation wireless headphones are some of the best noise-canceling headphones that you can buy. They are in direct competition with Sony's WH1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort 65. They offer premium build quality, impressive audio performance, and comfort. In contrast to many premium Bluetooth headsets, these don't include a myriad of fancy features or touch-based gesture control however, they are designed to provide an audio experience that is as immersive and satisfying as is possible.

The Px7 S2's ANC is very effective in reducing ambient noise, and has a good degree of isolation from low-frequency rumbles like bus and plane engines, mid-range sounds such as office chatter, as well as the high-pitched whirl of laptop fans. The ANC of the Px7 S2 is less effectively against higher-frequency sounds, like traffic and blue tooth head phones conversations however, it does a superior job of absorbing high-frequency sounds. The Bowers & Wilkins app also lets you fine-tune your ANC to suit your hearing.

They feature a premium design, with a sleek headband and ear cups that feature leatherette memory foam padding. The headphones are heavier than other top noise cancelling over-ear headsets however, they are worth the investment because of their sturdy design and thoughtful design. They're comfortable when you listen to music for prolonged periods and are suitable for use at home at work, on the go or even on long flights.

When it comes to sound, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2's 40mm dynamic drivers provide strong bass, crisp highs, and spacious, detailed imaging. They have a rich and dynamic sound with an airy space between the elements of sound making them a great choice for listening to music and podcasts. They come with aptX Adaptive codec support, which means you can stream hi-res audio with minimal latency.

The Px7 S2's controls are easy to operate, featuring the play/pause button as well as the volume up and down buttons on the right earcup. The buttons are tactile and texturized, a small detail that enhances the headphones' luxurious feel. The headphones are stable over-ears and won't fall off your head. They fold down into a compact carrying case to make transporting easy.

4. V-Moda S-80

The V-Moda S-80 headphones are an exception to the rule that you get what you pay for. They're among the prettiest wireless headphones around and boast a sleek and durable design. However, they cost nearly as much money as the Sony WH1000XM5 or Bowers & Wilkins px7 S2 quite a bit for a pair of on-ear headphones.

The V-Moda S-80 are the brand's first wireless-only headphones and they're made to be worn on your Blue tooth Head phones or as a personal speaker system (with the earcups facing upwards when they're wrapped around your neck). They're designed to enhance modern electronic music with a dazzling sound and support the latest audio codes, such as Qualcomm's HD aptX. They feature magnetic shields that can be interchanged and are customizable in colors, allowing you to give your headphones a unique appearance to match your outfit.

While the S-80 are a refreshing departure from the company's M-Series models, they still have some flaws that make them not ideal for all users. Their weight of 12.5 pounds makes them feel heavy on the head, particularly when worn over-ear. This puts pressure on the ear, which could cause headaches within an hour. The headband can also be somewhat stiff and can be uncomfortable while wearing the headphones around your neck.

The S-80 has poor noise cancellation. Even at moderate volumes you will hear background noise. It's not a deal-breaker however, the absence of ANC will mean you'll need to limit the amount of time you listen to music to around 20 hours per charge.

The S-80 does not have the 3.5mm connector, which restricts connectivity and could make it unsuitable for intense physical activity. They aren't able to fold and do not come with a case which limits portability and stowability. The rugged design of the S-80 and excellent sound quality offset these drawbacks. They also have a two-year warranty and the Immortal Life Program guarantee that gives you a new pair for half of their retail price in the event that they break, get scratched, or lose value.