Do you like to listen to music on the go? Or perhaps you find yourself wishing you had more freedom of movement while sitting at your computer? Do you want to take your music with you wherever you are? If the answer to either of those is “yes”, then perhaps it’s time to pick up a pair of wireless headphones.
Less than a decade ago, the popularity of wireless headphones was nowhere near the level it is at now. The headphones of old were plagued by many issues, from latency to lower sound quality. However, in 2020, all of these issues are nothing but an outdated stereotype.
Modern wireless headphones offer excellent audio, a lot of comfort of wear, and many additional perks suited for every listener. Fortunately, you no longer have to find yourself restricted by the length of a cord when you want to listen to music. There aren’t any major sacrifices involved in making the switch from wired to wireless. In other words — you CAN have your cake and eat it too.
If you’re interested in going wireless, the one thing left to do is pick out a pair of top-notch headphones. We’re here to aid you in that quest. We’ve made a list of four of our favorite wireless headphones currently on the market. Read on to pick out yours!
Things to Keep in Mind
We truly enjoy the headphones listed below, and we stand by them fully, but the truth is, no pair of headphones will please everyone. The reason for that is simple: no headphones will include everything and excel at each and every possible aspect. However, many of them cover all the bases well while shining in a few categories. Only you can know what matters the most to you.
To make it easier for you to make your decision, we’ve decided to cover some of the most important factors to think of when buying new wireless headphones. We recommend reading through them before checking out our favorite picks.
- Compatibility — depending on the device you plan to pair your headphones with, compatibility may or may not be an issue. A lot of wireless headphones use Bluetooth for connectivity to devices such as mobile phones or tablets. PC or console gaming headphones often use a USB wireless connection, but Bluetooth is also quite common.
- Battery life — depending on what you intend to use your headphones for, this will be one of the most important aspects. Are you planning to use them for many hours in a row? If so, pay a great deal of attention to battery life. It’s worth noting that some earbuds come with dedicated charging cases, making it possible to charge them on the go.
- Type — this comes down to personal preference but is also associated with several different aspects. Wireless headphones can come in the form of small earbuds, ear hooks, or full-on over the ear headphones that block out all noise. While the latter may have better sound quality, the former are much easier to transport.
- Sound quality — adding onto our previous point, the sound quality in any pair of headphones depends on a few factors. The main ones to keep in mind are the headphone type and budget. In general, if you care about the best possible sound reproduction with clear bass and adequate highs and lows, you should look for at least mid-range headphones that encase your entire ear.
- Wearing comfort — have you ever bought a pair of headphones that just didn’t fit right at all? This is a more common problem than you’d think. While manufacturers continuously outdo themselves in terms of making their products even comfier, there’s always going to be someone that doesn’t quite like the fit. For earbuds, try to look for models that have multiple ear tips: this helps make sure they’ll fit. For huge headphones, look into breathable options that limit the amount of pressure on your ears.
- Purpose — this is equally important as all the other points and will affect the type of headphones you end up buying. Are you looking to get into running and need some music to keep you company? Are you planning to isolate yourself from the world and work peacefully? Different types of headphones serve different purposes — keep that in mind when you make your purchase.
- Taking calls — wireless headphones aren’t just great for music; they also enable you to take calls while on the move. Their microphones are usually built-in and not visible at first glance. The mic quality may not be the greatest in budget models, so it’s worth considering whether this is something you want to do frequently.
- Transportation — this is huge for those of us who like to, for example, listen to podcasts while on our way to work or school. Even some of the bigger headphones can often be easily carried if they fold to take less space. However, the easiest solution would probably be earbuds that come with their own charging case for you to carry them in.
4 Best Wireless Headphones In 2020
Now that we’ve talked about all the various aspects at length, it’s time to actually look at the real thing! We prepared a full selection of our favorite wireless headphones. Tried and tested, these are both reliable and impressive in terms of their sound quality.
Without further ado, let’s take a peek at some superb headphones!
1: Bose SoundLink Wireless Earphones
Our Best Overall Pick
Bose is known for top-notch headphones that cater to audiophiles, gamers, or just casual users that appreciate the great sound quality. If you’re after something that ticks almost all of the boxes, these headphones just might be it.
Headphone type: Over-the-ear
Weight: 6.88 oz.
Extra features: Built-in mic, Bluetooth
The audio quality is definitely the winning point in Bose SoundLink. You might discover some new aspects to all of your favorite songs, all because the sound is so immersive. It reaches new heights and new lows, expressing each and every note in its own individual way.
These actually have a built-in microphone that allows you to take calls. Even if you choose to wear them outside, your conversation partner won’t complain due to wind or traffic on your end. Bose does a solid job of removing all distractions from your audio.
You’re allowed to switch between two connected Bluetooth devices, which means that you can swap from one device to another easily. All of this is accessible for a long time. Bose SoundLink provides up to 15 hours of battery life before you need to recharge.
Pros
- Dual-device Bluetooth connectivity
- Advanced HD microphone system
- Incredible sound quality
- 15-hours of battery life
- Huge ear cushions guarantee comfortable wear
- Convenient on-ear controls
Cons
- They’re a little pricey
- The fabric is not too breathable
2: Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earphones
Our Best Earbud Pick
For those that like to stay active and need music to keep them company, earbuds are the way to go. If you don’t want to settle for something average, consider Powerbeats — one of the best earbud options on the market.
Headphone type: Earbuds with ear hooks
Weight: 0.64 ounces
Extra features: Water & sweat-resistant, volume & track controls on each earbud
Most of us like to listen to music or podcasts when at the gym or out for a jog. Powerbeats make for a secure solution to the problem of earbuds falling out when you move too much. Thanks to the ear hooks, the earphones remain safely in place, even during vigorous exercise.
Tied with the above, Powerbeats are completely adjustable, so the ear hooks will not hurt your ears. The design is sturdy and sweat & water-resistant. Don’t worry if you break a sweat, as that won’t damage your headphones at all.
Earbuds are not known for having the most incredible sound quality, but these are quite high up there — after all, this is a Beats product. You’re also able to choose if you want audio in each bud or just one at a time. Additionally, each earbud has its own set of volume & track controls.
They’re compatible with both iOS and Android devices and offer up to 9 hours of listening time. If you also pick up the charging case (sold separately), you can use them for up to 24 hours without needing a full recharge.
Pros
- Long battery life
- Completely wireless
- Comfortable ear hooks keep them secure
- Good sound quality
- Volume controls on each earbud
- Compatible with iOS and Android
- Low-latency and few dropouts
Cons
- Not the cheapest option
- Some people dislike the feeling of ear hooks
3: COWIN E7 Wireless Headphones
Our Best Noise-Cancelling Pick
If you’re after a pair of big headphones that will help you block out the outside world, you’re sure to like COWIN E7 — they truly excel at noise cancellation.
Headphone type: Over-the-ear
Weight: 0.85 lbs
Extra features: ANC (active noise canceling), controls on the headphones, long battery life
Coming in a wide range of vibrant, exciting colors, these wireless headphones were built with noise reduction in mind. This makes them perfectly suited for those of us that are often on the go and want to avoid the urban noise. However, they’re just as good for office workers with chatty colleagues or simply people that want to focus solely on their music.
They’re comfortable to wear, largely due to the protein earpad combined with 90-degree swiveling earcups, which makes them easy to transport. The ear cushions are big enough to not make you feel squashed and do not hurt even after hours of wear.
A lot of emphases has been placed on the way music sounds when played through these headphones. They have proprietary 40mm large-aperture drivers, which guarantees solid audio quality. We found the sound reproduction to be fairly accurate, with the right balance between bass and trebles.
Pros
- Top-notch noise cancellation
- Cool design with interesting colors
- Affordable pricing
- Built-in microphone
- Comfortable wear
- Hands-free controls
Cons
- Average build quality
- Not made for audiophiles
4: Sennheiser RS 175 RF Wireless Headphone System
Our Best High-End Pick
If budget is of little concern, Sennheiser makes for a worthwhile investment. These durable premium headphones may last you for years.
Headphone type: Over-ear
Weight: 0.68 pounds
Extra features: Controls on headphones, range of up to 328 ft/100m, supports analog and digital input
Although it’s less and less common, wireless headphones sometimes suffer from issues like interference or loss of connection. That is not the case here. Thanks to their digital wireless technology, these Sennheiser headphones maintain a clear transmission over 2.4-2.48 GHz carrier frequencies. They also have an impressive range of up to 100m.
They have a couple of different modes that will surely please any audiophile. There’s a bass boost mode for those songs that hit extra hard and a surround sound mode for movies, music, and games.
All of the main controls are located directly on the headphones, allowing you to adjust volume and skip tracks whenever you like without having to pull up your music software.
Pros
- Sturdy, comfortable build
- Reputable brand
- Easy plug-and-play setup
- High range without a loss of connection
- Several sound modes
- Controls directly on the headphones
- Designed with audiophiles in mind
Cons
- Quite expensive
- The controls are not intuitively placed
Wrapping Up
This covers our favorite wireless headphones that are readily available right now. We hope that you found our reviews informative. Perhaps you’ve already picked something out?
If not, don’t worry. Good headphones are quite the investment, and we have presented you with a whole lot of information. To make things easier, here’s a bit of a wrap-up and a summary of each of our favorites.
- Bose SoundLink Wireless Earphones: These rank highest on our list. They offer a fantastic sound quality combined with great comfort of wear. You’ll be able to wear them for hours. The downside? They’re not too cheap.
- Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earphones: If you’re always on the move, pick up Powerbeats. Designed for sports lovers, these are water and sweat-resistant. Some people may dislike the feeling of ear hooks, but they do keep them steady when you’re exercising.
- COWIN E7 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones: Tired of all that noise? COWIN E7 has got you covered. These budget headphones have an excellent level of noise-cancellation with decent sound quality.
- Sennheiser RS 175 RF Wireless Headphone System: This is our high-end pick for when you want to treat yourself to something that will last for years. At a quite high price, you receive headphones that will please even the most demanding audiophile.
We hope that our guide has helped you pick out a great pair of wireless headphones. Treat this purchase as an investment. The models above should serve you for a long time and let you listen to music, podcasts, and audiobooks without the hassle of being attached to a cord.
Let us know down in the comments if you have any questions, and enjoy your favorite songs!
