We spent thousands of hours listening to find the best wireless headphones (2024)
Wireless headphones are the norm these days, and there are about a million of them (and counting). We try our best to test them all, but not everything makes it onto the big list. Here are some other great options worth checking out.
Sonos Ace for $449: Sonos Ace (8/10, WIRED recommends) is Sonos’ expensive but impressive debut product, with great noise cancellation, great sound, and one of the most comfortable designs (if not the most) the comfiest) you’ll find in the game. A few initial software bugs hampered their performance at release, including an issue with the TV Swap feature that lets you stream audio from Sonos sound bar for the Ace, but I hope Sonos will address this issue via a software update.
EAH-AZ80 Engineering for $298: AZ80 (9/10, WIRED recommended) are great headphones. Their most notable feature is convenient pairing with three devices at once, but they come full circle with good noise cancellation technology, top-notch sound quality, and seven different ear tip options to provides a comfortable fit.
Beats Studio Pro for $250: Studio Pro (7/10, WIRED recommends) delivers quality performance, including surprisingly clear audio, good noise cancellation, and a refreshing natural transparency mode. The design feels a bit cheap, and they miss out on features like auto-pause, but extras like hands-free Siri and spatial audio head tracking help increase their value—especially since Their selling price is sometimes reduced to about half of the original MSRP of $350.
Sony WH-CH720N costs $150: These Sony cans may have a silly name, but they make up for it with their sheer value. They’re not as flexible as top picks and don’t come with a carrying case, but their sound quality and noise-canceling capabilities are excellent for the money. They’re also built to last and have consistent battery life, making them a great choice for the cautious shopper.
Sony WH-1000XM4 for $267: Sony’s XM4 (9/10, WIRED recommends) are still the top headphones, even after being replaced by the more luxurious XM5. For a pretty significant price reduction, you get excellent noise-canceling technology, great sound, and luxurious comfort in an extremely portable package.
Master and Dynamic MH40 for $399: M&D’s second generation MH40 (8/10, WIRED recommends) packs stunning sound into an equally stunning design, with luxurious touches like lambskin and metal parts instead of plastic. The lack of advanced features, which don’t even include noise cancellation, makes them an expensive gateway to minimalism, but they’re still stylish for days.
Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S2 costs $300: These slim and comfortable headphones from B&W (9/10, WIRED recommended) has been updated in Newer S2e ($399)which offer advanced digital processing to improve sound. We loved the sound of the originals, and while they can’t match the features or noise-canceling capabilities of our top pick, either option is a solid choice—especially on sale.
Technica ATH-M50xBT Audio for $199: Original ATH-M50X (9/10, WIRED recommended) offer balanced sound and great durability, making them popular in music and film studios. But what if you want to take them with you between takes? Enter the ATH-M50XBT, which combine a wired studio connection with Bluetooth for wireless freedom. They don’t offer noise cancellation or other advanced features, but they’re great for mixing art and entertainment.
Sony Linkbuds for $128: Linkbuds (8/10, WIRED recommended) have a neat trick: a speaker with a hole in the middle that lets you in on the world around you for increased environmental awareness. They’re not too engaging in noisy environments, making them a bit of a workhorse, but they’re one of the best options in the growing open-ear trend.
JLab Jbud Mini for $40: These micro-buds from JLab have average sound quality, but their adorable small design that can be worn on a key chain makes them an interesting accessory for those who need cheap headphones to take with them on the go.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2 costs $160: Samsung’s flagship Galaxy Buds headphones (9/10, WIRED recommends) are a bit old, but they’re still among the best headphones for Galaxy phones, offering solid noise cancellation, clear and vibrant sound, and a few Samsung-only features. However, their app won’t work with non-Samsung phones, and their five-hour battery life is currently the worst.
