Whether you need workout earbuds or gaming over-ears, these WIRED-tested picks sound like a million bucks.
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Whether you're listening to the latest episode of the Gadget Lab podcast or hitting the trail with Taylor Swift on repeat, the right pair of wireless headphones can make your day. The only problem is that there are so many to choose from. WIRED's Gear team is constantly testing new models, and these are the very best wireless headphones we've found.
Be sure to check out all our audio buying guides, like the Best Wireless Earbuds, Best Workout Earbuds, Best Smart Speakers, and Best Bluetooth Speakers, for more music nirvana.
Updated October 2023: We've added the AirPods Pro USB-C, Jabra 8 Active, Technics EAH-AZ80, JLab Jbuds Mini, and Master & Dynamic MH40.
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Parker Hall is a senior editor of product reviews at WIRED. He focuses on audiovisual and entertainment products. Hall is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he studied jazz percussion. After hours, he remains a professional musician in his hometown of Portland, Oregon.
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Apple AirPods Max are undoubtedly fashion's favorite over-ear headphones. Since their launch in 2020, the luxe-looking headphones have been seen slung around the necks of countless fashion week show-goers and the most style-savvy celebs.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless are the best wireless headphones we've tested. These premium over-ears have an outstanding noise isolation performance thanks to their adaptive noise cancelling system.
The choice between them ultimately depends on your personal preferences and needs. If you prioritize convenience and portability, Bluetooth headphones may be the better choice for you. If you prioritize range and battery life, wireless headphones may be the better choice.
If you need the freedom to move around and you don't want to worry about tangled cords, a wireless headset may be the best choice for you. However, if you're on a tight budget or you need the best possible sound quality, a wired headset may be the better option.
We asked U.S. consumers about "Most used headphones by brand" and found that "Apple" takes the top spot, while "Marshall" is at the other end of the ranking.
In conclusion, Bluetooth 5.3 is a more stable and faster version of Bluetooth 5.0. We can expect this technology to become even more popular in the future as it offers many significant benefits over earlier versions of Bluetooth such as improvements in range and battery life for devices with short-range connections.
Best Overall: Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless The Best Active Noise Cancelling Headphones. As the best overall, the Sony WH-1000XM4 offers noise cancellation, excellent audio output, and a suite of advanced features, including touch controls, voice assistant integration, and a battery life of about 30 hours.
Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer the best noise cancellation you'll find from any wireless buds. The QC Ultra Earbuds are extremely similar to 2022's QC Earbuds II in terms of design, fit, and sound. Audio quality is rich and dynamic, delivering more bass thump than, say, Apple's AirPods Pro.
Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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