The 7 Best Wireless Headphones - Black Friday 2024

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. They can cut down a wide variety of noise, from the low rumble of bus engines to ambient chatter and the high-pitched hum of A/C units. With their noise cancelling on, they last 29 hours continuously, so they can easily get you from point A to B.

They have a very comfortable and lightweight fit, so you can wear them for hours without discomfort. Their bassy default sound profile is nice if you listen to genres like EDM and hip-hop since they deliver extra thump, punch, and warmth to audio. Plus, their mid-range and treble are clear, so you don't lose details. You can fine-tune their sound to suit your tastes using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. Additionally, they have a head tracking feature, which allows audio to follow your head movements, creating a more immersive audio experience, and they support multi-device pairing. They also have some futureproofing if you have (or plan to get) a phone with Snapdragon Sound support for CD-quality audio.

If you're looking for premium headphones but want to spend a bit less, consider the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They're the previous generation of the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless but are still available on the market. They also offer a better noise isolation performance than their successor and even have the edge over the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless. Their ANC can easily reduce a fantastic amount of sound across the range, so you can enjoy your audio in peace. They aren't quite as comfortable as the Bose, although they're similarly well-built.

They have a pretty bass-heavy sound out of the box with a bright and treble, and their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets for customization. They also support LDAC, Sony's proprietary codec for streaming high-quality audio. You can connect them to your PC and smartphone simultaneously, and their roughly 37 hours of continuous battery life means they'll easily last through long days on the go. If you're looking for even longer-lasting headphones, try the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless. They last over 62 hours continuously and even support audio while charging. However, their ANC doesn't block out as much background noise as the Sony.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q45 Wireless are another great pair of wireless headphones that go for less than the more established big players. These well-built and comfortable headphones offer an amazing noise isolation performance that's great for your commute. Their ANC system is almost as good as what you get with the previous two picks, so it can suppress the noise from bus engines and chatty coworkers. Their 28-hour continuous battery life is great for active days on the go, and they support multi-device pairing, so you can easily switch up your audio source.

When it comes to sound, these headphones aren't exactly neutral-sounding. Instead, they have a very excited, V-shaped sound profile with plenty of boomy bass and bright treble. They're well-suited for rock and pop, but fans of jazz or folk may find instruments and vocals sound uneven. The companion app's graphic EQ and presets let you personalize the sound to your liking. They include support for the LDAC codec, like the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless, which optimizes your connection and audio quality. Unlike our top two picks, these don't have any spatial audio with head-tracking, but they're a solid pick for conventional stereo sound. For the price, these versatile headphones offer a really solid performance.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless are our top budget pick. These headphones are less comfortable than the Anker Soundcore Life Q45 Wireless and leak more audio at high volumes, so they aren't ideal if you like blasting your music at the office. Still, their ANC performance almost matches that of the Q45. It reduces an outstanding amount of sound when set to 'Transport' mode, including rumbly bus engines, making them well-suited for your daily commute. It's worth noting that there's a noticeable difference in sound quality with the ANC turned off, as your audio sounds somewhat hollow and thin compared to the fuller sound you hear with the ANC on.

Out of the box, they have a bass-heavy sound profile that can muddy and clutter mixes with an excited treble response. If you prefer a more neutral sound, their app includes an EQ and presets for sound customization. They also support multi-device pairing, and their continuous playback time of over 44 hours means you don't need to recharge daily. Unlike our top picks, their Bluetooth support is limited to AAC and SBC codecs, without higher quality Bluetooth codecs like aptX Adaptive or LDAC. As compromises go, it's not bad for the savings.

Check out the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless for the most economical option. With three picks in a row from Anker, it's evident that this manufacturer dominates the lower-cost end of the market. These are no exception. Although they're a lot simpler in design than their successors on this list, they're still worth checking out if you're willing to sacrifice extra features for a lower price. Their build reflects their affordability, as the plasticky hinges feel hollow and could be prone to damage over time.

These comfortable over-ears have a V-shaped sound profile. It's well-suited for genres like pop and rock that benefit from extra bass and brightness. However, they don't have any customization features to help you adjust their sound if you prefer something more neutral, which may dismay jazz and folk music fans. You also can't adjust their ANC level to suit your environment like the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, and they don't do a good job of blocking out the low rumble from a bus or plane engine. However, they're much better at reducing office-type noise like ambient chit-chat and whiny computer fans. They last over 32 hours continuously; you can also use them wired if you run out of power.

If you want headphones optimized for sound quality, consider the Focal Bathys Wireless. With a wireless design and ANC, these closed-back audiophile headphones stand out among other hi-fi models that are typically open-back and wired. You can stream your favorite hi-res tracks over Bluetooth using aptX Adaptive or wired via their USB-DAC connection, which converts digital audio signals to analog. Their sound is fairly neutral, so kick drums and basslines sound punchy without overwhelming the mix. Vocals and other instruments sound clear and present, if a little dull, with cymbals and sibilants sounding veiled. Their companion app has a graphic EQ and presets to give you full reign over their sound.

Their ANC is also very good and has a few isolation settings. While this ANC doesn't cut out rumbly bus engines or heavy traffic as well as the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless, these headphones can easily isolate you from ambient chit-chat and whiny PC fans. They also support multi-device pairing and aptX Adaptive. Their 29 hours of continuous battery life will last several workdays without recharging, and they feel comfortable enough for those extended listening sessions.

The best Bluetooth headphones for calls we've tested are the Bose 700 Headphones Wireless. Even though low audio and mic quality are limitations of Bluetooth technology, these stand out from other options as they offer the best mic performance on this list. They outperform their successor, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless, when it comes to noise handling, as the mic easily separates speech from background noise, allowing you to take calls in noisy environments without being drowned out. Their mic also does a good job of recording your voice clearly, and they have a dedicated button for muting and unmuting the mic. They last over 20 hours continuously, which is a bit shorter than the QuietComfort Ultra, and they aren't quite as comfortable. However, you can still wear them for long periods without significant fatigue.

Their default sound profile keeps vocals clear and accurate in your audio, so voices over the phone are easy to understand. Their app also features a graphic EQ that you can use to customize their sound to suit you. Their ANC feature does an excellent job of blocking background noise so you can hear the person you're speaking with, even if you're calling from a busy office. However, these are older headphones that are often out of stock at retailers. In the event you can't find them, the Bose QuietComfort Headphones Wireless (not to be confused with our top pick) are a good substitute with a solid mic performance, and they isolate out noise very well. However, their mic's noise handling is a little worse, and they leak more audio than the Bose 700 Headphones.

Check out more picks for the best earbuds and Bluetooth headphones for phone calls.