Table of Contents Table of Contents Table of Contents How do wireless headphones work? What are the most important headphones features? What is noise cancellation? What are the best wireless headphones? Sony WH-1000XM5: Best For Features Apple AirPods Max: Best For Apple JBL Tune 660NC: Best For Durability Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e: Best For Sound Quality Grado GW100x: Best For Home Marshall Monitor III ANC: Best For Battery Life EarFun Wave Pro: Best For Connectivity This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.Wired headphones are making a comeback with Gen Z — and wired headphones have always been the choice for true audiophiles — but wireless headphones are still the direction of technological travel. In fact, lots of up-to-date devices don't even have headphone jacks, so going wireless is now the universal option. And we are talking headphones here, not earbuds. Sure, earbuds might be more convenient for on-the-move lifestyles and fitness, but headphones tend to deliver superior sound. And they do a great job of shutting out the outside world. That's because headphones create a seal over your ears to block out exterior noise, so even if they aren't technically "noise cancelling", they will still do a decent job preventing unwanted sound from interfering with your music or podcast.But buying headphones can be hard. The sheer number of available headphones, combined with ever-advancing tech — which is all designed to cater to different listening habits and lifestyles — makes it tricky to pick the best pair of headphones for you and your ears. Let us help by offering some handy headphone information.How do wireless headphones work?Most wireless headphones are Bluetooth-enabled, the standard technology these days for hooking your headphones to a smart device. Other options include old radio frequency technology. Bluetooth is the standard and work perfectly well for music and podcasts, but if you’re using wireless headphones to hook up to your TV, radio frequency might be a better choice because there’s less chance of lag between picture and audio — sometimes an issue with Bluetooth unless your device and headphones support the latest and best performing Bluetooth codecs.What are the most important headphones features?Some of the jargon around headphones can be confusing, so we've broken down some of the most important headphone features to help you pick the perfect pair:Bluetooth codecs — As referenced above, these are clever bits of software that encode and decode digital audio signals. The codecs decode at a specific bitrate, which determines whether the headphones have a high or low latency (AKA lag), measured in milliseconds. Look out for headphones with low latency that support Qaulcomm’s aptX codecs, which are usually rated as the best codecs for streaming video content or hooking up to a TV.Closed-back/open-back — Closed back headphones have completely sealed ear cups, which directs sound to your ears and keeps out ambient noise. Closed-back are often the go-to choice for commuting and noisy environments. Open-back headphones let air into the ear cup but can cause sound leakage that goes both ways — in and out. This is sometimes found on very expensive headphones for clearer, natural sound. Drivers — These are little cone-shaped gadgets in the ear cups that are responsible for your tunes. They convert electrical signals into sounds. For over-ear headphones, they usually measure between 20mm and 50mm in headphones. On-ear and over ear —Keep these features in mind when shopping around for your next pair of headphones.What is noise cancellation?Noise cancellation is exactly as it sounds — a method of cancelling out external noise to help you shut off the outside world and get deep into the listening zone. There are two kinds of noise cancellation: Passive and active noise cancellation. Passive noise cancellation happens by design as the physical build of the ear cups creates a seal to block incoming sounds. Active noise cancellation (ANC) is a bit more complicated. It uses tiny microphones within the ear cups, which detect incoming noise and emit sound waves to cancel out that noise. Some headphones feature different ANC modes, such as “transparency mode”, which allows certain noises to get through, such as voices. That means you can immerse yourself in the music but always know when a friend or colleague starts a conversation.What are the best wireless headphones?To help you decide, we've rounded up the best wireless headphones based on researching the reviews, listening experience, and customer comments. They range in quality, features, and price, so there's something for everyone.These are the best wireless headphones for 2025. Sony WH-1000XM5 Best For Features The Good & The Bad Great sound and ANC Speak-to-Chat mode Voice assistant Multi-point pairing Rapid charging Not built for fitness Why We Like It Unless you’re into specialist audiophile tech — which is a whole other world — there’s one top choice for premium, everyday headphones: The Sony WH-1000XM4. As ever with Sony’s top-of-the-range gear, you’ll pay a little more (or a lot more, even) but you get the full package: Incredible sound, immersive ANC, and extra features. It all comes thanks to Sony’s V1 processor.The WH-1000XM5 headphones deliver a vast soundscape with plenty of oomph in the lows and fine details in the mids and highs. Sounds travels via 30mm drivers, which are supported by 360 Reality Audio and LDAC Bluetooth codecs for hi-res audio files. Best of all is the AI-powered active noise cancellation — the best you’ll get at this price, bar none. The V1 processor and Adaptive Sound control enables the ANC to react to external noise. Each can has two mini mics which adjust 700 times per second. That means noise cancellation happening in real time.There’s a Sony Headphones Connect app, too. You can customise the ANC and ambient noise levels. Even set different ANC levels for different places — at home, in the office, around the park — and geo-location tech will automatically adjust the ANC as and when you arrive in these locations.Other features include an auto-pause that kicks in whenever you remove the headphones, and Speak-to-Chat, which stops the music when you start a convo. Be warned: Speak to Chat might kick in if you sing along too loudly. Details Active Noise Cancellation: Yes App Support: Yes Battery Life: Up to 30 hours Colours: Black, Silver, Midnight Blue GET IT Apple AirPods Max Best For Apple The Good & The Bad Sync perfectly with Apple devices Lots of colours to choose from Intuitive volume control High quality sound and ANC No cable included Middling battery life Flimsy case Why We Like It We can’t notBut that’s what Apple has always done best: Evolve technology. Remember when its headphones were little wired white buds that leaked your tunes to the entire bus? They were the equivalent of the creatures that first crawled out of the sea. The Apple AirPods Max, by comparison, sit at the evolutionary peak. As with all Apple devices, they sync seamlessly within the eco-system. They combine style and substance, with stunning sound, ANC, and iOS features. They are heavier in the hand, but you’ll barely notice once they’re on your head — that's all down to efficient construction. They have just two buttons, with a button for ANC modes and a multi-functional dial for volume and playback. The battery life is a bit average and below similarly-priced headphones. But these automatically switch into low power mode when you put them in the carry case. Another small complaint is that they need to have some battery power even when they’re wired to a device.Overall, the Apple AirPods Max are fantastic, but best suited to Apple users. Android users will find them an excellent pair of noise cancelling headphones but they'll miss out on iOS-specific features. Details Active Noise Cancellation: Yes App Support: Yes Battery Life: Up to 20 hours Colours: Grey, Blue, Green, Silver, Pink GET IT JBL Tune 660NC Best For Durability £69.95 Amazon The Good & The Bad Battery life pushes up to 30 hours Very durable build Best ANC at this price Ambient mode Lacking more advanced features MicroUSB charging only Battery could be better Why We Like It JBL deserves a spot on any “best of” list, particularly for its excellent selection of mid-range headphones — affordable tech that matches big name brands by hitting that note between value and performance.  The JBL Tune 660NC are a case in point: Premium plastic cans that create a seal around your ears with their large, padded, over-ear cups. That does the basic work of blocking out external noise, before you’ve switched on the ANC — which is, in terms of price vs. performance, some of the best noise cancellation that money can buy. Just one push of the button and you’ll immediately hear (or not hear with ANC) the difference.They’re not the most expensive headphones around, but the quality is proven by how robustly they can handle the elements. JBL headphones can last literally years before you notice any signs of wear and tear. The sound is finely tuned and loaded with bass — possibly a little heavy with bass, in fact, according to some reviewers. But if bass is your thing, then it’s thumpingly good news all round. Additional features include Ambient Aware tech — which is essentially a transparency mode — plus a TalkThru feature for when you stop to chat. This lowers the music and amplifies voices.The buttons on JBL headphones can be less-than-intuitive — a bit fiddly — but you’ll soon feel your way around them. They also have a handy multi-point pairing feature, which allows you to hook these up with two devices at once. Details Active Noise Cancellation: Yes App Support: No Battery Life: Up to 20 hours Colours: Black GET IT £69.95 Amazon Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e Best For Sound Quality The Good & The Bad Excellent sound quality High-end codec support Swish fabric design Adjustable EQ levels 'Hybrid' noise cancellation Not for throwing in your bag The premium price tag Why We Like It The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e Wireless look fantastic — a timeless frame with a soft fabric finish, pleather-covered memory foam on both ear cups, and a fine selection of colours — cementing the fact that high-end headphones are as much a style accessory as a piece of audio tech. But that’s not why you come to a manufacturer such as Bowers & Wilkins, which remains one of the very best names in premium quality speakers and headphones.The Px7 S2e is a continuation from the regular Px7 S2 — the “e” stands for evolved — and takes “learning and inspiration” from the even pricier Px8 model. Ultimately, they sound amazing, with audio deliver via 40mm dynamic full range bio cellulose drivers. The inclusion of the aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec which allows glitch and lag-free listening (not to mention in-sync when streaming from Netflix and other video streaming platforms). You can also adjust your EQ levels — as well as control other features and use your phone's voice assistant — on the Bowers & Wilkins app.The noise cancellation is also very good. It’s actually “hybrid” noise cancellation, which means it has miniature mics on both the interior and exterior of the headphones, which seek out and cancel even more ambient noise. There’s the option of a passthrough transparency mode.There’s a reassuring 30 hours of battery overall, plus fast charging. Just 15-minutes of charging gives you an impressive five hours of runtime. The only downside is the price, which is steep by anyone’s standards. But as you’ll see elsewhere on this list, that’s the cost of high-quality headphones. Details Active Noise Cancellation: Yes App Support: Yes Battery Life: Up to 30 hours Colours: Black, Grey, Forest Green, Cloud Grey, Grey, Ocean Blue, Ruby Red GET IT Related Stories Grado GW100x Best For Home The Good & The Bad Incredible sound performance Naturalistic sound Extended battery life Minimalist 80s-influenced style Indoor use only Leaks sound Limited features Why We Like It Grado will likely fly under the radar of casual listeners but committed audiophiles know the Brooklyn-based brand as a top choice, particularly for their open-backed, wired designs — the mark of detailed, naturalistic audio performance. The Grado GW100x headphones are an upgrade of their first ever wireless set. But they're still a rarity as an open-backed Bluetooth headset. We recommend the Grado GW100x for exclusive home use because the open-backed ear cups leak sound both ways. You'll still be able to hear external ambient noise and people around you will also hear what you're listening to.But these days our lives are so device dependent that we're often Bluetooth'd in while we're at home — it's great to have a good set of headphones for using around the house. Especially if you appreciate the nuances of audio performance. The sound from the Grado GW100x is rich and spacious with an open soundstage — a different experience to being locked in with a pair of closed back headphones. That sound is also bolstered by aptX Bluetooth codecs.Made from plastic, they feel cheaper than the sound quality would otherwise suggest. But it’s all part of this headset’s stripped-back design. And the plastic build means they’re comfortably lightweight. Other features include a built-in mic for calls, voice assistant connectivity, on-ear controls, and fast-charging. Details Active Noise Cancellation: No App Support : No Battery life: Up to 45 hours Colours: Black GET IT Marshall Monitor III ANC Best For Battery Life The Good & The Bad Massive battery performance Industry leading sound Customisable listening Foldable design and carry case On-ear control knob Not exactly cheap Driver size has been reduced Why We Like It If there’s one audio brand synonymous with big, bold sound, it’s Marshall — instantly recognisable as the most rock 'n' roll amplifier in musical history and usually seen stacked high on the stage of epic concerts. As Marshall says itself, the sound is “iconic.” And Marshall has packed that signature sound into these highly-rated headphones, the Marshall Monitor III ANC.The sound comes via custom-tuned, scaled-down 32mm drivers, while the Marshall Bluetooth app allows you to adjust levels and customise the sound to your preference. If you’ve got a good ear for the finer details, you’ll find this app is seriously impressive: Adjustments can be subtle and detailed, with modes for all kinds of different musical genres and frequencies.It offers good sounds all round, in fact, with fantastic (not to mention adjustable) noise cancellation. The really impressive thing about the ANC is that the headphones deliver a massive 70 hours of playtime even with the ANC turned on. Without ANC they max out at a whopping 100 hours. The ANC is controlled by an on-ear button, while there's also a multi-function "M-Button" that you can customise in the app. You can set it to launch Spotify Tap, for instance. Elsewhere there's a physical knob that you use to control playback, volume, and calls. It works like a mini joystick — just flick it up, down, left, and right to use the various controls. Details Active Noise Cancellation: Yes App Support: Yes Battery Life: Up to 100 hours Colours: Black GET IT EarFun Wave Pro Best For Connectivity The Good & The Bad Hybrid ANC technology Multipoint connectivity Solid audio performance Competitive battery life Wired sound option Some budget level limitations Better sound available Why We Like It You may be familiar with the EarFun earbuds, a popular range of budget-priced buds. Well, the brand also delivers in the over-ear headphone category, as you can see — and hear, of course — with the EarFun Wave Pro, which are among the best headphones you’ll find for significantly less than £100.The most prominent feature is the hybrid noise cancellation, which is a fancy way of saying the ANC uses five mini (but powerful) mics and boasts five modes to choose from: Normal, transparency, wind cancelling, comfort ANC and strong ANC. That's a whole lotta ANC.Other than that, the audio performance is very respectable. You can can’t expect the kind of sound you’ll get from high-ticket Sonys but at this price the EarFun Wave Pro still deliver fantastic value. They also pack in mire battery life than you’ll find on more expensive ‘phones, with an impressive 55 hours with ANC switched on and 80 hours with ANC switched off.Multipoint connection is another huge bonus at this price, allowing you to connect to multiple devices at once. And everything’s customisable — whether you want to tweak the sound or ANC mode — via the EarFun App. Details Active Noise Cancellation: Yes App Support: Yes Battery Life: Up to 80 hours Colours: Black GET IT Topics Apple Bose MORE: