Wireless headphones are one of the greatest inventions of the modern age, giving you a chance to enjoy your favourite songs, audiobooks, podcasts and more, all without being bogged down by wires. It’s the type of tech we used to dream about but now it’s very much the norm, and thanks to the tireless work of our testing team, we can help you navigate the market to find the best wireless headphones for your needs.
There is almost certainly an audiophile reading this list who is ready to extol wired headphones as the only true means of enjoying audio fidelity, and to their credit, they’re not completely wrong. If you want true lossless audio then a wired connection is essential, but wireless headphones have come so far that for the majority of people, listening to music with a wireless pair will tick off all the right boxes.
As you can see from the accounts of our reviewers, a lot of the latest wireless headphones carry impressive soundscapes filled with depth and detail, and the experience is made even better with lossless streaming tiers on services like Spotify and Tidal. Still, some wireless headphones sound a lot better than others and to save you from a bad purchase, you’ll only find the cream of the crop on this list.
Beyond audio quality, one of the biggest things to be aware of is battery life, something that fans of wired playback don’t have to worry about but is essential if you plan on using headphones during a long trip. Active noise cancelling also plays a key role here, especially if you want a pair of headphones that allow you to focus on work when in busy areas. If the latter is your sole point of interest then the best ANC headphones are worth checking out.
To offer some variety, we’ve also included a few earbuds in the mix to give you a better understanding of what’s available to you, but if you’d rather focus on that more compact form factor then we have a separate guide focusing on the best wireless earbuds. Similarly, for students or anyone tied to a strict budget, you’ll find no shortage of bargains in our breakdown of the best cheap headphones.
Best wireless headphones at a glance
- Best wireless headphones overall: Sony WH-1000XM6
- Best wireless headphones for sound: Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
- Best true wireless headphones: Sony WF-1000XM6
- Best premium wireless headphones: Focal Bathys
- Best noise-cancelling wireless headphones: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
- Best mid-range wireless headphones: Sony WH-1000XM5
- Best affordable wireless headphones: Sony WH-CH720N
- Best wireless headphones for battery life: Cambridge Audio Melomania P100
- Best wireless on-ears: SoundMagic P23BT
- Best Apple wireless headphones: Apple AirPods Max 2
- Best budget wireless headphones: Soundcore Space One Pro
- Best wireless headphones for audiophiles: Dali IO-8
- Best AirPods: Apple AirPods Pro 3
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How we test
Not just anybody can review a pair of headphones. You don’t need superhuman hearing to tell what’s good, but you do need to know what to listen out for.
Our headphone tests are done by some of the best and most prolific reviewers in the industry, with years of experience listening to everything from the plasticky freebie earbuds that come with your smartphone, to five-figure beasts of glass and marble. We love music and we want your tunes to sound good, too.
So we listen every pair of headphones we can get on or in our ears. We use a variety of sources, from basic MP3s playing on a laptop to high-quality tracks on dedicated hi-res audio players.
Our test tracks are wide-ranging to give headphones a thorough challenge. They’re also familiar, so we know every track backwards, and we know which bits might trouble the lesser performers.
We listen again and again, and we do that for weeks in case the sound changes – because it usually does. Then we’ll listen to similarly priced rivals and come up with a verdict that reflects the performance and features for the money.
Sony WH-1000XM6
Pros
- Foldable design is back
- Improved noise-cancellation
- Clearer, more balanced sound
- Stacked with features and convenience
- Strong battery performance
Cons
- New fast-charging feature requires ‘optional’ cable
- Px7 S3 beats it for sound
- ‘Modern’ appearance is arguably bland
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
Pros
- Class-leading sound
- Good comfort
- Excellent wireless performance
- Solid battery life
- Clear call quality
Cons
- ANC not much, if any, improvement over older model
- Transparency mode could be clearer
Sony WF-1000XM6
Pros
- Comfortable to wear
- Impressive noise-cancellation
- Superb true wireless sound
- Same price as before
- Improved call quality
Cons
- Finding that airtight seal can be fiddly
- Not necessarily anything ‘new’ with this model
- Unchanged IPX4 rating
Focal Bathys
Pros
- Clear, insightful sound
- Strong wireless performance
- Long battery life
- Excellent call quality
- Standout looks
Cons
- Beaten for ANC
- Premium price
- Use of real leather may not appeal to some
Sony WH-1000XM5
Pros
- Musical, rich audio performance
- Impressively natural-sounding noise cancellation
- Great Ambient Mode
- Good call quality
Cons
- Non-foldable design
- Choppy wireless connection in busy areas
- Beaten for noise-cancellation
Sony WH-CH720N
Pros
- Lightweight, comfortable design
- Affordable price
- Decent noise-cancellation
- Fun, punchy audio
- Long battery life
Cons
- Average call quality
- No carry case
- Better-sounding options available
Cambridge Audio Melomania P100
Pros
- Clear, detailed, spacious sound
- Good comfort
- Solid noise-cancelling
- Very good call quality
Cons
- Default volume is conservative
- Some stronger efforts in the ANC realm
SoundMagic P23BT
Pros
- Refined and detailed sound
- Compact and lightweight design
- Long battery life
- Cheap
Cons
- Can pinch on the ears
- Not what you’d call stylish
Apple AirPods Max 2
Pros
- Great sound
- Top-tier ANC
- Unmatched iOS integration
Cons
- The case is still bad
- No actual power button
- Heavy and expensive
Soundcore Space One Pro
Pros
- Very comfortable
- Impressive sound for the money
- Strong wireless performance
- Excellent call quality
Cons
- ANC can be a little inconsistent
- Battery life not quite as long as claimed
Dali IO-8
Pros
- Excellent sound over wireless and wired connections
- Comfortable to wear
- Great build quality
- Strong wireless performance
- IP rated design
Cons
- Battery life a little less than rivals in practice
- Better options for noise-cancellation
- Call quality just fine for the price
- Genuine leather might put off vegans
Apple AirPods Pro 3
Pros
- Better fit thanks to subtle design tweaks
- Improved battery life, sound and ANC
- The HRM is such a great addition, and it’s very accurate
Cons
- Many of the best features require an iPhone
- Minimal customisation available if the audio isn’t to your taste
Premium headphones that cost above £300/$300 usually offer superior noise cancellation, better sound quality, longer battery life, and more advanced features. If you’re an audiophile, a frequent traveller, or you use headphones for long periods of time daily, expensive wireless headphones definitely justify their cost.
It depends on your needs, to be honest. Headphones tend to be much more comfortable due to the padding on the headband and the ear cups, but they’re much bigger and harder to transport. Earbuds on the other hand are much easier to move and block out quite a lot of noise due to their placement inside the ear. Both types have their pros and cons, but it’s up to you what you value more.
We’d recommend the Sony WH-CH720N, which offer good noise cancellation and rich and vibrant audio for less than £100.
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