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A good pair of wireless headphones can see you through work meetings, gym visits and subway rides. However, there are many options available, with many commendable features such as active noise cancellation or wireless charging. Below, we list the best wireless headphones of 2024, plus our methodology for choosing them.
How we picked the best wireless headphones
Every pair of buds mentioned below has been tried on by a member of staff or tested by me – we recommend them because we love them and have been using them for at least three months. To test these headphones, I wore them to work, to the gym, and in noisy environments like a grocery store or subway train. I also took note of how comfortable they felt, how secure the fit was, and how vocally heavy and bassy songs sounded on them.
Wireless Headphone Features We’ve Covered:
Battery life: Each option mentioned below has a battery life of at least five hours on a single charge.
IP rating: A product’s IP rating determines its resistance to water and dust, see here for a full list of what each IP rating means. For example, an IP68 rating tells us that the product is dust and water resistant.
Suitable: Every headphone we mention comes with multiple ear tips for a better fit. We’ve also included a range of headphone options, including bone-conduction headphones that don’t need to be plugged into your ears, as well as more traditional headphones like AirPods Pro.
The best wireless headphones of 2024:
Best Overall: Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
I’ve had AirPods Pro 2nd Gen for over two years now and I can’t get enough of them. They have excellent noise cancellation – easily some of the best I’ve experienced – almost completely drowning out loud subway sounds and city chatter. You can also turn on transparency to listen to what’s going on around you, or try the new adaptive sound mode, which automatically adjusts noise cancellation to your surroundings. For example, you’ll get a more muted sensation of the ignition on around noisy construction spaces, but if you’re in a quiet office, you might hear more background noise. Battery life is around six hours on a single charge, and the wireless case can hold an additional 24. As for sound, I personally love listening to music on the AirPods Pro. They have Apple’s new H2 chip, which the brand says gives you better noise cancellation and more immersive sound. I like listening to songs with a lot of bass, especially since they don’t distort even at high volumes.
Best sound: Bowers & Wilkins Pi8
If you want something a little more premium, go for Bowers & Wilkins Pi8. These buds also have active noise cancellation, but their best feature is the clean, balanced sound. In fact, when playing some of my favorite songs, I could hear instruments and sonic characteristics that I hadn’t heard before. They have fast charging features, support multi-device pairing, and have a battery life of up to 20 hours for all-day listening. You can choose between four ear tips and four colors, depending on your preference.
Best sweat protection: Jabra Elite 8 Active
These are the best waterproof headphones on the market, so if you’re looking for a pair for the gym or your next jog in the rain, go for the Elite Active 8. They’re extremely light and grippy, staying in my ears even during HIIT workouts or cycling . You’ll get eight hours of battery life on a single charge (32 hours total with the case), and there’s also active noise cancellation that automatically filters out background noise depending on the environment you’re in. It’s not the strongest ANC Jabra offers though. If you’re willing to sacrifice a sweat-resistant design, go for the Jabra Elite 10, which is also extremely comfortable and has the best noise cancellation Jabra has to offer.
Best Bone Conduction: SHOKZ New OpenRun Pro 2
These bone-style earplugs are my new favorite because of the sweat-resistant design and secure fit – thanks to the lightweight frame that wraps around your head. Since they don’t technically fit in your ears, there’s no noise cancellation available. However, if you want to be in sync with your surroundings, these are the best headphones for you. They conduct sound through vibrations sent to your cheekbones, which then transmit the sound to your inner ear, according to the brand. The result is an immersive sound experience without having to worry about ear tips or finding the right fit. Battery life is up to 12 hours (four hours more than the previous generation), but you can get an extra 2.5 hours with a 5-minute charge, according to the brand.
Most stylish: Pixel Buds Pro 2
You don’t have to be a Google Pixel user to take advantage of Pixel Buds Pro – it works with iOS devices too. They have multi-point connectivity that allows you to seamlessly switch between listening to music on your smartphone and your laptop. It also has active noise cancellation which is pretty decent and can drown out most of the city sounds around you. There’s also a dedicated gaming mode that helps deliver sound faster during intense moments of eSports. Like the other headphones on this list, you also get a transparency mode that helps you be aware of your surroundings, and a sweat-resistant design so you can wear them while you exercise. Battery life lasts up to a full 30 hours with the included charging case. Choose from four colors, including brighter tones like hot pink and garden color.
Why trust us?
I’ve been testing and writing about wireless headphones for over five years now, including doing in-depth reviews of various headphones and earphones. For this article, I personally tested these headphones and took customer feedback into consideration.
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