Users are constantly trying to get rid of wires, which often interfere with the convenient use of equipment. So, many consumers today want to choose good wireless headphones, which are becoming more and more necessary due to the gradual abandonment of 3.5 mm connectors in smartphones. Music lovers in this case may object, since even Bluetooth 5.0 cannot yet provide sound quality comparable to that transmitted over the wire. But smartphones are not often equipped with a high-quality DAC, and computers do not always have an advanced sound card. For this reason, the best wireless headphones selected in our ranking will fully reveal the capabilities of your technology. And if you are interested in high-quality models for games, we recommend reading rating of the best gaming headphones
- Best wireless in-ear headsets
- 1. Apple AirPods
- 2. Plantronics BackBeat FIT
- Best wireless earplugs
- 1. Samsung EO-BG950 U Flex
- 2. Koss BT190i
- 3. Beats BeatsX Wireless
- 4. Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear Wireless
- Best on-ear wireless Bluetooth headphones
- 1. Philips BASS + SHB3075
- 2. Marshall Major II Bluetooth
- 3. Sony MDR-ZX220BT
- Best full-size wireless headphones
- 1. JBL E65BTNC
- 2. Beats Studio 3 Wireless
- 3. Sony MDR-ZX770BN
- Which wireless headphones to buy
Best wireless in-ear headsets
The history of in-ear headphones, better known among customers as "earbuds", dates back to 1991. It was then that Etymotic Research created this standard. For development, the engineers relied on audiological headphones used for hearing tests and other tests. The original earbud design remains popular today. But it has some noticeable flaws, so manufacturers are trying to improve the shape of plug-in headsets to provide maximum convenience with high sound quality. Traditional earbuds, however, also have a right to life, but to reduce the strain on the ears with them, you have to use ear cushions, which are distinguished by their simplicity and fragility.
1. Apple AirPods
Perhaps the AirPods are one of the most compact wireless headsets in existence today. Immediately, we note that it is quite possible to use it with Android, but in this case, you will not be able to appreciate the "magic" familiar to Apple fans, and some functions will remain unavailable. Therefore, we recommend choosing these in-ear headphones specifically for Apple devices owners. In this case, you will definitely not have any problems with pairing, using Siri, gesture control, viewing the battery level on the phone and other functions. But on devices with Android everything will not be so good, so a rather big price in 140 $ will not justify itself.
Advantages:
- the smallest case on the market;
- long autonomy;
- thoughtful management;
- attractive design;
- wonderful sound;
- perfectly "fit" in the ears.
Disadvantages:
- outside the Apple ecosystem is almost meaningless;
- small scratches appear on the case even with careful use.
2. Plantronics BackBeat FIT
The second and last place in the category went to the BackBeat FIT sports model from the Plantronics brand. To ensure the most reliable fixation, the manufacturer used earhooks connected by a bow. The Plantronics sports headphones are available in 5 colors: blue, green, pink, gray and black. The device connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth 3.0 and can operate at a distance of up to 10 meters from the source. Of the noticeable disadvantages of the BackBeat FIT sports headphones, you can single out the average, for their price, sound quality and insufficiently high maximum volume.Some users point out the back bow as a disadvantage, which interferes in some scenarios of use. But especially for fitness and sports, the headset is perfect.
Advantages:
- comfortable design;
- good autonomy;
- high-quality materials and reliable fixation;
- great for sports;
- the presence of water protection;
- intuitive controls.
Disadvantages:
- the bow may interfere, so it is better to test before buying;
- no replaceable ear pads;
- in noisy environments, the volume may not be sufficient.
Best wireless earplugs
The engineers also used medical advances to create in-ear headphones. They are also popularly called vacuum ones because they provide improved sealing and, as a result, less distortion and greater sound concentration. To help the user get rid of external noise and get the most comfortable fit, manufacturers offer several attachment options. Usually 3-4 silicone ear pads of different sizes are supplied with the earplugs. If you want to find more convenient attachments or replace old or lost ones, you can buy them separately.
1. Samsung EO-BG950 U Flex
Looking for the best in-ear Bluetooth headphones for sports? Then Samsung's EO-BG950 U Flex would be the perfect purchase. It cannot be called completely wireless, because there are wires leading to the neck block. However, the headset connects to a smartphone over the air. As for the aforementioned block worn around the neck, then it can be called both a plus and a minus. On the one hand, this design made it possible to place sufficiently capacious batteries capable of providing 10 hours of operation with continuous listening to music and a week and a half of autonomy in standby mode. And you can't accidentally lose your device. On the other hand, the neck block can get in the way, making it impossible to comfortably wear jewelry. But the headphones are ideal for playing sports, so if you set such goals for the device, you can safely buy it.
Advantages:
- quality of materials and assembly;
- great sound for its price
- decent battery life
- clever design (if you like the bow).
Disadvantages:
- design features (if you don't like the neck block);
- mediocre soundproofing, regardless of the choice of earpads.
2. Koss BT190i
If you do not want to constantly wear a bow around your neck, in which batteries and other electronics are hidden, then pay attention to the good inexpensive Koss BT190i wireless headphones. They are water resistant and boast a clever behind-the-ear design. The operating time of the BT190i is typical for its class - 4 hours with continuous audio playback, as well as 80 hours in inactive mode. It's also worth noting that Koss offers relatively cheap headphones with good sound. Most analogs for the same 35 $ less comfortable or poorly playing out low / high frequencies. Here, the bottom, the middle, and the top are well heard. The last, but no less important, advantage of the headset is the convenient remote control located on the right side.
Advantages:
- sound perfect at low cost;
- fit comfortably and securely on the ear;
- good sound insulation;
- Remote Control;
- acceptable price;
- good quality microphone.
Disadvantages:
- battery life.
3. Beats BeatsX Wireless
BeatsX Wireless are some of the best wireless earbuds with mic. This model has a neck cord and magnetic fastening. The device comes with convenient replaceable ear pads and a Lightning cable for charging. The Beats BeatsX Wireless has a range of 15 meters and an operating time of 8 hours. In addition to good autonomy, the device boasts fast charging: in just 5 minutes, one of the lightest headphones in the rating can be charged for 2 hours of music playback, and it takes no more than 45 minutes to fully charge the battery.
Advantages:
- comfortable complete ear pads;
- fast battery charging and operating time on a single charge;
- good autonomy in a compact size;
- magnetic mount is provided;
- thoughtful management;
- well suited for Apple products;
- attractive design.
Disadvantages:
- no particular flaws were found.
4. Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear Wireless
Another interesting plugs are the Momentum In-Ear Wireless from Sennheiser. These are the best sports headphones of a popular brand, equipped with a neck block, where all the electronics and battery are hidden. The latter provides 10 hours of autonomy, and you can charge the device in just 90 minutes. The headset works via Bluetooth 4.1 and supports the AptX codec. In addition, these popular headphones boast an NFC module for quick pairing, as well as a convenient case and 4 pairs of ear pads included.
Advantages:
- high-quality assembly;
- excellent functionality;
- ease of pairing;
- high quality materials;
- high-quality microphone;
- attractive design;
- autonomy and charging speed.
Disadvantages:
- the neck block can be uncomfortable;
- there may be problems when connecting to a PC.
Best on-ear wireless Bluetooth headphones
As the name implies, on-ear headsets are fixed on the surface of the ear and pressed against the auricle. Since in this case the sound source is located farther from the ear canal than in the case of earbuds and plugs, the user will be able to fully reveal their sound only at a volume level above average. To attach the on-ear headphones, either earhooks or a full-fledged arched headband can be used, which provides a more secure fit. As a rule, the overhead type is distinguished by very mediocre sound insulation, therefore, already at an average volume, others will perfectly hear your music.
1. Philips BASS + SHB3075
The first line in the category of on-ear headsets is occupied by budget headphones from Philips. The BASS + SHB3075 combines good sound, build quality and a convenient foldable design. The range of reproducible frequencies in the reviewed device is from 9 to 20,000 Hz, which is quite good for its class. The range of the headset is 10 m, and the battery life is 12 hours when playing music and 166 hours in standby mode. The right side of the Philips earbuds is set aside for the control panel, where there are buttons for answering a call, holding a call, adjusting the volume, and mute the microphone.
Advantages:
- low and fully justified price;
- light weight and compactness;
- quite impressive autonomy;
- deep low frequencies;
- do not squeeze the head with prolonged use.
Disadvantages:
- the quality of the plastic corresponds to the cost;
- short power cable.
2. Marshall Major II Bluetooth
The Marshall brand hardly needs an additional introduction to people who value quality sound. Until recently, this brand, capable of boasting a half-century history, produced only wired headphones. However, having received quite advanced technologies at its disposal, the company began to produce wireless models. To date, the best in terms of price-quality headphone in this class, created by Marshall, is the Major II Bluetooth. Frequency response 10-20000 Hz, impedance 64 Ohm, sensitivity 99 dB, and also closed type - all this provides excellent sound. Another feature of a high-quality Marshal headset is the ability to work over a wire, for which a corresponding cable is supplied with the device.
Advantages:
- work on wired and wireless connection;
- perfectly worked out frequencies (especially lows);
- convenient control (joystick on the left cup);
- impressive battery life;
- the highest sound quality;
- excellent equipment.
Disadvantages:
- when worn for a long time, the ears may get tired.
3. Sony MDR-ZX220BT
The next place in the TOP was taken by the popular model of MDR-ZX220BT headphones from the Japanese brand Sony. On a single charge, the device in question can work for 8 hours, and you can charge the device in 2 hours and 30 minutes. The manufacturer used 30 mm membranes in the headset, thanks to which the headphones reproduce low frequencies well, and neodymium magnets. When charging, the device does not work, which can be attributed to minor disadvantages. In addition, with an average price tag of 49 $, before us are some of the most interesting headphones in the review, which do not stand out with significant flaws.
Advantages:
- attractive design;
- high quality plastic;
- do not squeeze the ears;
- sound (for its price);
- operating time from a single charge;
- affordable price.
Disadvantages:
- significant were not found.
Best full-size wireless headphones
If you're looking for the perfect headphones for home use or don't want to “share” your music outdoors, then the full-size models are a great option. They cover the ear completely and please with good noise isolation, which is necessary for high-quality sound. Over-ear headphones often come with multiple leather / leatherette and fabric ear pads. Please note that some headsets are positioned by manufacturers as full-size, although in fact they are closer to the overhead type. This is due to the lack of portability of full-size models and, as a result, their less popularity among buyers.
1. JBL E65BTNC
The model E65BTNC opens the last category of our rating. These are inexpensive headphones with good sound, made by JBL. Already one brand is enough to describe the build quality and sounds of the monitored headset. In addition, the cost of the headset is only 98 $, which is quite small for the proposed parameters. So, E65BTNC reproduces frequencies in the range of 20-20000 Hz, differs in impedance of 32 Ohm and sensitivity of 108 dB. The diameter of the membrane in some of the highest quality headphones according to customer reviews is 40 mm. For many buyers, a plus will be the ability to connect a wire to the headset to listen to music through it with a dead battery. The latter, by the way, has a capacity of 610 mAh, which is enough for 15 hours of continuous operation. You can charge the device in 2 hours.
Advantages:
- autonomy is one of the best on the market;
- attractive design and excellent build;
- excellent sound quality for its price;
- there is a wire for connecting via an audio jack;
- good noise reduction.
Disadvantages:
- soiled fabric headband on a white model;
- a little inconvenient location of the control buttons.
2. Beats Studio 3 Wireless
The best wireless headphones for music are the Beats Studio 3 Wireless. This stylish device is available in almost 10 color options. The reviewed model can be connected to a smartphone, TV and computer not only wirelessly, but also via a 3.5 mm cable connector. Beats Studio 3 can last 22 hours on a single charge, and after 10 minutes of charging, the device can be used to listen to music for 3 hours. In conclusion, among the pluses, it is worth highlighting the active noise cancellation system, which works just fine.
Advantages:
- attractive design and a variety of colors;
- high-quality assembly and excellent materials;
- sound, especially lows and middle;
- a well-functioning noise reduction system;
- very fast connection;
- flawless battery life;
- support for "apple" devices.
Disadvantages:
- high price;
- volume reserve is not enough for everyone.
3. Sony MDR-ZX770BN
The best wireless headphones for TV got the right to close the review. MDR-ZX770BN manufactured by the Japanese brand Sony is estimated at an impressive 210 $... For such a price, the user receives a high-quality assembly, a well-thought-out design, stylish appearance and excellent sound.The range of the model in question is 10 m, and among the useful functions in the headset there is an NFC module, support for the AptX codec, an active noise reduction system, as well as convenient control, including dialing using voice. However, due to its rather large size and lack of folding ability, this model is the best headphones for home, not for use outside. However, if this does not bother you, the device is perfect for the street too.
Advantages:
- excellent sound quality;
- convenience and quality of construction;
- active noise cancellation;
- thoughtful mechanical control;
- excellent delivery set;
- quality of work at a distance.
Disadvantages:
- lack of bells and whistles;
- no support for Sony Headphones;
- microphone quality.
Which wireless headphones to buy
We reviewed the TOP 12 of the best wireless headphone models in a wide variety of designs, functionality and cost. It is worth choosing a certain headset among them depending on preferences. If you are a fan of compactness, owning an iPhone, iPad or other Apple technology, then you should immediately buy AirPods. For the same "apple" you can also purchase one of two models of headphones produced by Beats. Athletes will love models from Samsung, Koss and Plantronics. If you are not satisfied with the plugs and earbuds, but also the full-size solutions are not to your liking, then choose one of the overhead options.