If you’re in the market for the best Bluetooth headphones or earbuds, your first step is deciding which subcategory of headphone is right for you. Bottom Line Personal asked consumer-technology expert Marc Saltzman to identify the pros and cons of each type plus the best headphone brands and products…
Soundcore P20i
JBL Vibe Beam
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
JBL Tune Flex
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4
Apple AirPods 4
Apple AirPods Pro 2nd gen
Samsung Galaxy-Buds3
Google Pixel Buds A-Series
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Powerbeats Pro 2
JBL Live 670 NC
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth
Sony WH-1000XM6 Noise Canceling Headphones
SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2In-ear Bluetooth earbuds are tiny, lightweight devices that fit snugly inside the ear opening. They’re appropriate when portability or unobtrusiveness are priorities. Many modern earbuds feature “active noise cancelling” (ANC), which can dramatically reduce the amount of noise that reaches the wearer from the outside world.
Best values: JBL and Soundcore by Anker provide excellent quality relative to their price. Some of these companies’ lower-end models, such as Soundcore P20i ($40, often available for under $25)…and JBL Vibe Beam ($55, often available for under $40), lack ANC, but their higher-end models—Soundcore Liberty 4 NC and JBL Tune Flex—include this feature (each $100, often available for under $60).
Best for audiophiles: Sennheiser earbuds offer some of the product category’s best sound quality—its current top-of-the-line earbuds are Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 ($350). [Photo #5]
If you’re wondering about Apple AirPods 4 (starting at $129) or Apple AirPods Pro 2 ($249), they’re very nice earbuds though a bit pricier than products of similar quality. They offer a wonderfully seamless experience when paired with an iPhone or other Apple device.
The same applies to Samsung Galaxy Buds3 ($180) and Galaxy Buds3 Pro ($190) when paired with Samsung phones…and Google Pixel Buds A-Series ($99) and Pixel Buds Pro 2 ($189) when paired with Pixel phones.
Around-the-ear Bluetooth earbuds are much like in-ear earbuds except they feature a firm loop positioned over the top of the ear to secure them in place. That’s especially useful when earbuds are worn while exercising.
Best overall: Powerbeats Pro 2 ($249) are the standouts in this category, offering great sound quality, active noise cancelling and an impressive ability to remain snugly in place during exercise. Apple now owns the company that makes them, but they’re compatible with both Android and Apple devices.
Over-the-ear and on-ear Bluetooth headphones can offer exceptional sound quality, ANC and battery life—but they’re bulky and obtrusive compared to the earbud options above and can be awkward to use when wearing eyeglasses.
Best values: JBL and Soundcore by Anker are great value brands in this category, as they are with earbuds. House of Marley headphones provide good value, too. JBL Live 670NC are a particular standout ($130, often available for less than $100), providing sound quality, ANC and battery life on par with headphones costing significantly more.
Best for audiophiles: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones ($449, often available for under $400) and Sony WH-1000XM6 Noise Canceling Headphones ($450, often available for $430) both provide elite sound quality and some of the very best ANC capabilities on the market.
Open-ear Bluetooth headphones. There are two kinds of open-ear headphones. The first kind uses “bone conductivity” to transfer sound by vibrating against bone, typically cheekbones. The second kind uses “air conduction”—where the headphones sit close to the ear but not in it or on the cheek. and transmit sound waves through the air to your eardrums. These are appropriate for users who don’t want to block their ability to hear the world around them. But open-ear headphones don’t provide ANC, and their sound quality isn’t elite.
Best overall: SHOKZ is the bone-conduction audio tech leader. Their latest model is the OpenRun Pro 2 ($180).
*Prices cited are recent retail prices, not list prices.
