With smartphones abandoning the 3.5mm headphone jack, there has been an increase in the adoption of truly wireless Bluetooth headsets as consumers have realized that they are much more comfortable to wear. While wireless headphones were expensive a few years ago, things have changed quickly, and now you can find a decent pair of headphones with excellent sound quality and even Active Noise Canceling (ANC) at a good price.
As more and more smartphones are shipped without a headphone jack, consumers are forced to switch to wireless headsets, which in turn is leading to increased demand and lower prices. If you’re looking for a truly wireless pair of headphones, check out some of our suggestions below. There’s a recommendation for everyone, regardless of budget, and all of the headphones below will deliver a great experience along with a level of comfort that wired headphones simply can’t match.
AirPods or AirPods Pro
If you own an iPhone and have the money to spend, you really should get AirPods or AirPods Pro based on your budget. They are without a doubt the best wireless headphones for iPhone and other Apple products. AirPods are a great buy, not for their sound quality, but for the convenience features they bring. If you own multiple Apple products, including a Mac or iPad, you can seamlessly switch between them while using your AirPods at the touch of a button.
They also offer extremely low latency and great battery life thanks to Apple’s custom H1 chip. Regular AirPods aren’t known for their sound quality, but the AirPods Pro also excels in that department, offering ANC along with a sweat-resistant design.
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Samsung Galaxy Buds +
If you want the best wireless Bluetooth headphones that are great in every department and don’t cost an arm and a leg, you can’t go wrong with Samsung’s Galaxy Buds +. The headphones have a comfortable design and offer a clear and balanced sound quality. Although the Buds + lack ANC, their design is such that they passively block ambient noise. The only complaint I have about the Buds + is that they are only IPX2 certified, which means it is best if you avoid using them while exercising or in the rain.
With up to 11 hours of battery life on a single charge that can double to 22 hours with the case, the Galaxy Buds + ‘s battery life can be matched by very few headphones. What’s even better is that the charging case features wireless charging so that one can easily and conveniently charge it.
Samsung even solved the microphone problem that was prevalent in the original Galaxy Buds with the Buds +, ensuring that they can now also be used for voice calls. After using the Galaxy Buds + for over three months, these are easily my recommendations to anyone looking for a great pair of wireless headphones.
If you own a Samsung smartphone, the Galaxy Buds + is obvious, as it will offer better sound quality and range when paired with it compared to a non-Samsung phone. While the Galaxy Buds + retail for $ 149.99, they often have a $ 20- $ 30 discount on Amazon.
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Jabra Elite 75t
The Jabra Elite 75t is another great pair of wireless headphones that fit snugly in your ear and deliver excellent sound quality. It even features four microphones to ensure your voice is heard clearly on phone calls, a task that many wireless headsets tend to fail at.
The Jabra Elite 75t offers up to 7.5 hours of battery life on a single charge that can be extended to 28 hours with the carrying case. Priced at $ 179.99, the Jabra Elite 75t has a slight premium for its superior sound and microphone quality, though despite paying that premium, it’s not getting ANC.
There’s also the Jabra Elite Active 75t with an IP57 certification that is ideal for people who have an active lifestyle and want waterproof headphones that can be worn while training or when running. Jabra is so confident in build quality that they offer a 2 year warranty against dust and sweat.
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Sony WF1000XM3
If you want to buy a premium pair of truly wireless headphones with ANC, the Sony WF-1000XM3 is a good choice. It has excellent sound quality, but is only compatible with AAC and SBC codecs, and LDAC support is missing.
With noise cancellation enabled, Sony cites that the WF1000XM3 can offer up to six hours of music playback, which can be extended to eight hours with NC turned off. The case is good enough to charge the headphones up to three times for a total battery life of 32 hours. To facilitate pairing, the case features NFC. You can also customize various headphone settings with the Sony Headphones Connect app. The headphones also feature the integration of Alexa and Google Assistant so you can easily activate your voice assistant of choice.
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OnePlus Buds
You really don’t need to spend a lot to get a good pair of wireless headphones and the OnePlus Buds are the perfect example of that. They are available for just $ 79, making them 50% cheaper than Apple’s AirPods. They offer decent sound quality thanks to their large 13.4mm drivers, although a lack of aptX or LDAC codec means the sound quality isn’t as good as it could be. There is also no ANC or passive ambient noise blocking here.
Battery life is pretty good, as the headphones offer up to 7 hours of music playback or up to 4 hours of phone calls. This can be extended to a total of 30 hours thanks to the included carrying case. There’s a quick charge here too, so with just a 10-minute charge, the OnePlus Buds can deliver roughly 2 hours of additional music playback. Lastly, the Buds are IPX4 certified, making them splash resistant, which means you can use them while you exercise or on your runs.
The only downside to OnePlus Buds is that they only have a single double-tap gesture to control music playback or accept / reject incoming calls. And if you own a OnePlus phone, you will be able to enjoy additional features like Deep Bass, Dolby Atmos support, Dravc Audio Tuner on Buds that will not be available on other devices than OnePlus.
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Anker Soundcore Liberty Neo
If you just want a decent pair of Bluetooth headsets to listen to music while in the gym or to take phone calls, Anker Soundcore Liberty Neo is a good choice. Priced at $ 32.99, they offer incredible value for what they offer: Bluetooth 5.0, IPX7 rating that makes them waterproof and average sound quality. Unlike other offerings on this list, the Liberty Neo will stick out a little more from our ears, but then you get what you pay for.
Battery life is also strictly average as Soundcore Liberty Neo offers approximately 3.5 hours of music playback on a single charge that can be extended to approximately 9 hours with the charging case featuring a microUSB port.
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What pair of wireless headphones do you use with your smartphone? Are you happy with them Leave a comment and let us know!
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