Best Wireless Headphones for 2023

Best new noise-canceling headphones

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

The company’s Noise Cancelling 700 headphones may not be significantly improved by Bose’s new flagship QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, but they do have a more upscale style and the company’s new Immersive Audio function, which improves sound quality. The QC Ultra Headphones provide exceptional sound quality and noise cancellation, and they are also ideal for making calls with excellent background noise reduction. All things considered, these are the greatest new noise-canceling headphones of 2023 and a formidable rival to Apple’s AirPods Max and Sony’s highly regarded WH-1000XM5.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Change can be risky when you have a product that many people adore. This is the situation with Sony’s WH-1000XM5, the fifth generation of the 1000X series headphones. These headphones were first introduced in 2016 as the MDR-1000X Wireless and have grown in popularity as they have gotten better with each new iteration. Sony has made various design changes over time, but none as significant as what it did with the WH-1000XM5. The majority of those changes are positive, with the exception of the $349 price increase, and Sony has made some notable advancements in voice-calling functionality, as well as even greater noise cancellation and more pristine sound.

Pros:

• More refined sound and even better noise canceling
• Slightly more comfortable
• Best-in-class voice call quality
• Robust feature set

Cons:

• Higher price tag than the previous model
• Larger carrying case (headphones fold flat but not up)

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

Momentum Wireless headphones from Sennheiser’s previous generation have always had a rather distinctive appearance that was a mix of retro and modern and stood out for having exposed metal on the headband. For better or worse, that’s all changed, and the brand-new Momentum 4 Wireless noise-canceling headphones from Sennheiser resemble some of their rivals and look a little more muted.

The Momentum 4 Wireless outperforms the Momentum 3 Wireless in every way, but its noise cancellation and voice calling capabilities and exceptional battery life (up to 60 hours at moderate volume levels) are where it really shines. Additionally, the Smart Control app for iOS and Android allows users to create a personalized sound profile using the in-app EQ, sound modes, and new Sound Personalization feature, which “assesses the user’s listening preferences and adjusts the listening experience according to their taste.”

Sennheiser claims that the 42mm drivers in the Momentum 4 Wireless deliver “best-in-class” sound, but this claim is disputed. The Momentum 4 sounds terrific, with the necessary well-defined, punchy bass, relatively broad soundstage (they sound very open), and smooth treble that brings out some of the finer nuances in well-recorded tunes. I’d say the sound quality of the Momentum 4 is right there with comparable models in this price range. They are enjoyable to hear.

Pros:

• Excellent sound
• Improved noise canceling and voice-calling performance
• Impressive battery life
• Good sound personalization features

Cons:

• Ho-hum design
• Noise-canceling isn’t as good as Sony’s or Bose’s

Updated Apple noise-canceling wireless earbuds

Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)

Apple changed the AirPods Pro (second generation) to USB-C connectivity in addition to switching from Lightning connector in its new iPhone 15 models. The new AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe (USB-C) give the same superb sound, noise cancellation, and voice-calling capabilities as their Lightning predecessor. However, they also provide a few minor changes, such as increased dust resistance and a new acoustic design that supports Lossless Audio with the $3,499 Vision Pro wearable headset that Apple will deliver in early 2024. Is it conceivable that the buds sound slightly different when used with modern devices like the iPhone because of new acoustic architecture? Perhaps, perhaps not. Either way, the AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) are easy to recommend to Apple users despite their high price.

Top midrange noise-canceling headphones

Sony CH-720N

The CH-720Ns, Sony’s upgraded entry-level noise canceling headphones, are lightweight and extremely comfy, although they have a bit of a plasticky budget touch. I had some preconceived notions that they would sound rather unimpressive, but I was pleasantly pleased. The WH-1000XM5s sound better, so no, they don’t compare. They perform better overall than their predecessor, the CH-710Ns, and sound more expensive than they feel and look. Do they warrant $150? Possibly, or perhaps not. The good news is that these should see large discounts in the not-too-distant future, which is what you may want to wait for, much like the CH-710N and WH-XB910 did before them.

Pros:

• Lightweight and comfortable
• Good sound with very good noise canceling
• Good voice-calling performance
• 35 hours of battery life

Cons:

• No carrying case
• No ear-detection sensors
• No LDAC audio codec support

Apple AirPods Max

Yes, the AirPods Max are pricey, but they outperform similarly priced competitors from Bose and Sony in terms of richer, more detailed sound quality and call quality. The finest wireless headphones for iOS and Mac users who wish to move between their Apple devices effortlessly are these, even if I wouldn’t recommend them for Android and Windows users.

They also have superior build quality, perhaps the greatest noise cancellation on the market, and Apple’s virtual surround spatial audio function for watching videos. Although they are heavy, they manage to be surprisingly comfortable. However, when I was out walking with them, I did need to move the mesh canopy headband forward on my head to get a nice, secure fit. There will be exceptions, but they ought to fit the majority of heads nicely.

Best sound for under $100

Edifier W820NB Plus

The Edifier W820NB noise-canceling headphones, now in their second generation as the Edifier W820NB Plus, do a fantastic job of blocking out background noise. Edifier also makes some decent-sounding PC speakers and true wireless earbuds. When you put them on, the first thing you’ll notice is how comfy they are and how well they fit your head. Edifier has updated the ear pads with higher-grade memory foam. Thanks to what appear to be updated drivers (and the fact that they now support the LDAC audio codec for Android devices), they also sound well for their price, providing marginally better audio quality than the originals. You gain a little bit more clarity and improved bass definition. Their sound didn’t necessarily blow me away — they lack a bit of openness — but it’s very good for what the headphones cost. Like their predecessor, they’re pleasant-sounding headphones — and even a bit more so now.

Other features include a low-latency gaming mode and an ambient mode that lets in outside sound. They have a small improvement in noise cancellation and work well for voice calls. With noise cancellation turned off, the battery life is rather amazing, lasting up to 49 hours on a single charge.

There are still a few things lacking. There is no carrying case or headphone jack, but you can use the USB-C to USB-A cable that is provided to connect your headphones to your computer. However, the 820NB Plus headphones continue to be a terrific deal.

Pros:

• Comfortable (upgraded ear pads)
• Very good sound quality for their price
• Decent noise canceling
• USB-C audio and LDAC audio codec support

Cons:

• No carrying case
• No headphone jack

Great noise-canceling

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

The outstanding QC Earbuds 2 by Bose from 2002 aren’t significantly improved by the QC Ultra Earbuds, although they are marginally better. They have excellent noise canceling, possibly the best available, and they should suit most ears extremely well. And if the noise around you becomes too loud, a new ActiveSense feature with a natural-sounding transparency mode activates some ANC (kind of like the Adaptive Audio feature on the AirPods Pro). Additionally, they sound a little clearer overall, and their new Immersive Audio function somewhat expands the sound.

Good-performing noise-canceling headphones under $100

1More SonoFlow

The SonoFlow headphones from 1More have a design that is somewhat reminiscent of some older Sony headphones and the more recent Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 4. They have a somewhat unremarkable appearance but are nevertheless stylish and, most importantly, comfortable to wear. Additionally, they have excellent sound quality. Even while it falls short of the superior sound quality offered by more expensive devices like the Momentum Wireless 4, it isn’t all that far off. The SonoFlow headphones produce sound that is smooth, clear, and somewhat well-defined in the bass department (although they don’t sound nearly as rich or dynamically as those high-end models I described). Additionally, they support the LDAC audio codec.

Although the noise canceling is less effective than what Sony and Bose models offer, it does a good job of muting background noise and has a transparency mode. The voice calling experience is also respectable but unspectacular. The noise cancellation only works in wireless mode, which is a problem for regular passengers who like some noise cancellation when hooking into an in-flight entertainment system. However, you may use this in wired mode with the provided connection.

Pros:

• Comfortable
• Good sound quality for their price
• Decent noise canceling
• LDAC audio codec support for Android users

Cons:

• A bit generic looking
• Noise canceling only works in wireless mode