Best Wireless Headphones Buying Guide
What kind of headphones do you want?
Are you a diligent gamer looking for a headset with low latency?
Or, are you a professional looking for the perfect headphones for studio use?
Are you a DJ who creates the best mixes and is looking for the right headphones? Or, are you an audiophile looking for headphones with the perfect sound signature?
From your workouts and travels to relaxing and workplace needs, we have got you covered.
We have scoured, tried, and tested the endless pool of options and listed out the best ones that suit your needs.
What are the Different Types of Headphones on the Market?
| Types of Headphones | Over-the-Ear Headphones | On-the-Ear Headphones | In-ear Headphones |
| Comfort | Very comfortable | Medium comfortability | Lower, when compared to the other two |
| Weight | Generally heaviest | Medium; mostly lightweight | Very light |
| Portability | Not portable | Portable | Highly portable |
| Noise Isolation | Highest | Medium | Poor noise isolation |
| Sound Leakage | High | Low | Minimum |
(These distinctions are generalized. They don’t apply to all models in each category.)
Over-the-Ear Headphones
Over-the-Ear Headphones are generally the first choice of almost every individual looking for headphones. They are the most comfortable actual headphones that give you an engulfing listening experience.
Also called circumaural headphones, their earcups cover your whole ears, hence the naming conventions.
They are the largest headphones in size and have nailed the job of producing a unique sound signature, from the sub-bass to the treble notes. They also block most of the ambient sounds.
When comfort and audio quality are important to you, you can buy these headphones and use them for office, video editing, studios, and a relaxing listening experience at home.
Advantages
- They provide excellent fit and maximum comfort with cushions made of removable fabric, leather, or foam sleeves.
- They offer a great listening experience.
- They have good noise isolation that they provide by covering your ears completely.
Disadvantages
- They are large and heavy, which means they aren’t portable.
- They are not suited for working out since they are bulky.
Over-the-ear headphones come in two different types: Open-back and Closed back.
Open-Back Headphones
Open-back headsets allow airflow through the ear cups from the speaker driver’s rear for ventilation. Your ears will hardly feel any air pressure, and they provide the best resonant free sound signature without any low-frequency buildups.
The open-back is a feature primarily found in high-end headphones.
Advantages
- They provide a fantastic sound quality, making them the top choice for audiophiles.
- The sound doesn’t produce any echoes. It is natural, realistic, and compares to quality in speaker systems.
- Heat doesn’t get trapped. You can use them for more extended periods and say bye to sweaty ears.
- They are lightweight.
Drawback
- They work well only in a quiet environment since they don’t offer any noise isolation.
- It also has sound leakage, which means it isn’t suitable for use outside your home. You’ll hear others complaining about your music, and you’ll also hear the comments.
- The open-back design paves the way for moisture, making them fragile and sensitive.
Closed-Back Headphones
Closed-back headsets have a sealed, secured back that keeps sound in and lets you immerse deeply into the listening experience. It cancels most of the ambient noise in your surroundings.
These headphones are the choice of musicians in recording settings, DJs who travel frequently and are perfect for studios.
Advantages
- They have a powerful bass.
- They provide very little or no sound leakage.
- They have noise isolation, making them perfect for the workplace.
- They are portable, smaller, and foldable, making them suitable for traveling.
- They are pretty sturdy and durable. The ear cushions wear off with time, which you can replace easily.
Drawback
- There’s no ventilation option, which can make your ears sweaty after prolonged use.
- They are not suited for workouts.
Which kind of headset is suitable for gaming-open-back or closed-back?
You can choose either between open-back or closed-back for dedicated gaming headphones. If your surrounding doesn’t have ambient noise, then prefer open-back headphones. They will provide better sound quality and also let your ears stay ventilated.
Is open or closed back better for mixing?
Open-back headphones are the ideal choice for mixing. They provide the best and natural audio quality, and it’s easier to keep references and undertake precise mixing actions during the sessions. Also, the ventilation is suited for long sessions.
Which one of them is preferred for Music Production?
When it comes to the actual creation of the sounds, closed-back headphones are most suited. They’re great for music production, from recording and monitoring to sequencing and sound designing and live performances.
Semi-open Headphones
As the name suggests, it is a mixture of open and closed-back headphones. These headphones will allow for some sound isolation and a little leakage. They provide a commendable listening experience and are worth it.
Advantages
- They are great for casual listening.
- They provide some noise isolation and also a little ventilation.
Disadvantages
- They leak sound.
On-the-Ear Headphones
Also called Supra Aural, they are the go-to option for portable headphones. They provide a highly immersive sound experience with noise isolation. They are popular among DJs, hipsters, and the fitness crowd.
The difference between over-the-ear and on-the-ear headphones sometimes can get confusing. The over-the-ear headphones cover and engulf your ears with the audio experience, whereas on-the-ear headphones go over the head and sit on top of the ears.
The on-ear headphones are a little smaller, nearly the size of your ears. They are incredibly versatile, lighter, and cost-effective. They often come with noise cancellation and rotating or collapsible hinges for storage, making them suitable for traveling.
Pros and Cons of On-the-Ear Headphones
Talking about the pros:
- The best portability among the “real” headphones
- Great sound with a Great model
- suited for sports, more stable
- status symbol item; good sound with brand
- stable
However, they are not without a few drawbacks.
- Not very comfortable; especially for extended time-periods
- leak more sound
- Tends to absorb sweat
In-Ear Headphones
In ear-earphones are the best options for people who use headphones a lot. They are lightweight, compact, and easy to carry around with you anywhere you go.
There are two categories of In-ear headphones: Earbuds and In-ear monitors.
Earbuds
Earbuds are the go-to choice for working out. They are very compact, most discreet, and easily portable. They quickly get synchronized with your phone and fit in your pocket.
What are In-Ear Monitors (IEMs)?
IEMs are more comfortable and provide a better passive noise isolation as they fit inside your ears completely. They are used mainly by professionals.
They are pretty similar to earbuds, and we often use both terms interchangeably. They’re both small, portable audio devices. But, they have a few differences.
The significant difference between IEMs and earbuds is that IEMs are inserted into the ear canal, whereas earbuds rest in your outer ears only.
Pros and Cons of In-Ear Headphones
There are several benefits that in-ear earphones offer:
- Highly portable, fit for intense workouts and traveling.
- They are cost-effective.
However, they have some drawbacks:
- They have bothersome controls.
- Their compact size makes it easy to misplace them.
- Compared to traditional headphones, they have poor noise isolation.
What to Choose: Wired or Bluetooth Headphones?
There’s nothing like best or worst when it comes to choosing between wired or Bluetooth headphones. It all depends on your needs and inclinations.
Wired
They are audio devices that only need plugging to play. One of the best things about wired headsets is that they’re always working and always on. They use older but inexpensive, reliable technology.
Wired headsets work through analog signals, producing excellent sound quality, even better than few Bluetooth Headsets.
Pros
- They offer better sound performance.
- They are cost-effective
- You just have to plug and use them.
- You don’t have to worry about battery or charge.
Cons
- Hassle of wires, which also gets damaged with rough use.
- It causes restrictions in movements because of wires
Bluetooth Headsets
Bluetooth headsets are devices that connect to a Bluetooth-compatible device. They offer you a great listening experience with liberation from wires.
Pros
- No hassle of cables and freedom of movement
- Connects to all devices that support Bluetooth
- Best suited for the workplace, intense workouts, and traveling.
Cons
- When compared to wired headphones, sound quality gets hampered.
- Battery life dies with use.
Considerations for Buying Wireless Earbuds for Wireless Headphones under $200
In the 200$ range, you will get great features and approach a few high-end headphones. You might have to compromise on a few things, but you’ll still have a good package of commendable features, like excellent built quality, comfortability, powerful battery, and great sound signature.
Built Quality and Size
Most headphones are molded from high-quality plastic or steel. In this price range, you might even approach metal or aluminum build.
If you’re opting for wired headphones, make sure you look for braided cables or intangible wires so that they are long-lasting.
Comfortable Design
For a comfortable design, you can look for:
- Adjustable earcups to get the right fit
- Breathable cushions so that ears don’t feel heated up or sweaty
- Soft ear cup cushions for added comfort
- Ergonomic design, for a proper fit
A comfortable pair of headphones will allow prolonged usage for hours without discomfort.
Sound
You’ll find the sound signature on headphones commendable. You can look for extra bass if you like emphasized bass. The trebles, mids, and vocals are mostly clear, crisp, and accurate.
Battery Life
You’ll get amazing battery life in this range. Most headphones provide 15-40 hours of battery life. It takes approximately 2-6 hours to recharge them.
Few of them also support USB-C type charging and fast charging. However, you’ll hardly find wireless charging features.
Features
Carrying Case
If you’re a Hodophile who enjoys music, you can look for headphones that come with a carrying case. Also, if they are rotatable and foldable, and rotatable, it is easier to travel with them.
Active Noise Cancellation
Active noise cancellation means using technology to block ambient noise in your surroundings to give a great listening experience.
A few headphones under 200$ offer amazing noise cancellation technology and have different modes to control the level of cancellation you need.
Passive Noise Isolation
Blocking ambient noise through ear tips in earphones and ear cushions in headphones is passive noise isolation. They physically block noise to give you the best audio quality.
Most headphones, especially over-the-ear, closed-back headsets, have passive noise isolation. However, only a few of them offer the best sound blockage.
Latency
It is the delay produced during the wireless transmission. The latency ranges between 100-300 ms for wireless headphones and true wireless earbuds. Even wired headphones produce latency, but it’s almost negligible.
All wireless headphones have some level of latency.
To reduce latency, look for good Bluetooth versions and codecs, like aptX or AAC. If you’re looking for dedicated gaming headphones, look for ones with minimum or negligible latency.
What’s a Good Driver Size for Headphones?
A good driver size for headphones lies between 20mm to 50mm.
Most headphones have a larger driver size that improves the overall sound quality. Few headphones have individual drivers for boosting bass, trebles, and mids differently.
Water Resistance
Most headphones in this range don’t offer water resistance. You’ll find a few athletic headphones suited for workouts packed with IPX4 to IPX8 water resistance and sweat-resistance.
Touch Controls
Only a few headphones in this range offer touch controls.
You’ll get options to control the volume levels, change songs, answer or hang up calls, and even wake up the digital assistant if your headphones have one.
Wireless Range
Several headphones have a great wireless range. The wireless connectivity without barriers ranges around 10-30 meters.
Products
The 5 Best Wireless Headphones under $200
Best On-Ear Headphones
Beats Solo3 Wireless
The Beats Solo3 is one of the best headphones in this price range. Compatible with android and IOS, it has powerful battery and connectivity, premium built-quality, connects to digital assistants, Siri, and Google assistant, and supports fast charging.
Build Quality
The built quality is commendable. It is stable, durable, and can resist a few minor drops too. These are the headphones that won’t break. It is foldable and comes with a case that makes it suitable for commuting.
It has easy-to-use controls and touch sensors on the left earcup that wakes up the assistant on triple tap. It has controls for volume, music, and calls. It also allows wired use with the 3.5 mm jack.
Comfortability
Speaking about comfortability, it is okay. It has soft, breathable cushions with adjustable ear cups. However, you cannot wear them for more than 2-3 hours as it might feel a bit uneasy.
Connectivity
It is packed with an Apple W1 chip, supports AAC codecs, and has class 1 wireless Bluetooth connectivity with an excellent range.
Battery Backup
We noticed that it gave around 45 hours of playtime, which is impressive. It supports Micro USB charging and fast charging, providing 3 hours of backup with 5 minutes of charge.
Audio Quality
The sound signature on this headset is good. The bass is low, but the mids, vocals, and trebles are clear and accurate. The passive noise cancellation is okayish. It has a stereo Bluetooth beamforming mic with optimal noise cancellation, which also could improve a bit.
PROS
- Premium built-quality
- Quite durable
- Powerful battery backup
- Travel-friendly
- Fast-charging
- Excellent connectivity with Apple W1 chip
CONS
- Poor noise isolation
- Microphone quality could improve.
- Sound leakage at higher volumes.
| Type | On-ear Headphones |
| Connectivity | Wireless+Wired; Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Battery Life | 40 hours |
| Water-resistance | NA |
| Active Noise Cancellation | NA |
| Passive Noise Isolation | YES |
| NFC | YES |
Click on this link to buy this headset.
Best Budget Headphones
Soundcore By Anker Life Q30
The Soundcore Q30 by Anker Life has one of the best noise-canceling features and is budget-friendly too.
Great ANC
It has multi-mode noise cancellation that has the transport mode, outdoor mode, and indoor mode. It also has a transparency mode that allows you to hear sound in your surroundings without removing the headset. The passive isolation is also commendable.
Build Quality
The built quality is fine. It is lightweight with oversized, soft cushions, which might feel a bit heated after prolonged use. It is rotatable and foldable and comes with a case that makes it portable and easy to carry and travel.
Connectivity
It has Bluetooth 5.0 with NFC and 49.21 feet range and also connects to multiple devices simultaneously. The pairing is fast and seamless. However, it supports SBC and AAC codecs only.
Battery Backup
Anker Life advertises 40 hours of battery. Our test showed more than 40 hours of backup with ANC on, which is fantastic. It charges with a USB Type-C cable and supports fast charging, where 5 minutes of charge gives 4 hours of playtime. It also supports wired use.
Sound Signature
These headsets have 40 mm drivers that tend to overemphasize bass and treble frequencies. The mids are tremendous, and bass players are good people who like EDM and Hip-Hop genres. It also has good app support through which you can adjust equalizer settings.
The integrated mic works fine and provides good noise cancellation too.
PROS
- Very comfortable and lightweight
- Cost-effective
- Impressive active noise cancellation with different levels
- Transparency mode
- Powerful battery backup
- Multiple device pairing
- Great app support
- Good for traveling
CONS
- Audio leakage at high volumes
- Not for working out
- Over-emphasized bass
| Type | Over-ear Headphones |
| Connectivity | Wireless and Wired; Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Battery Life | 40 hours; USB Type-C |
| Water-resistance | NA |
| Active Noise Cancellation | YES |
| Passive Noise Isolation | YES |
| NFC | YES |
Here is the link to get this product.
Best Wired Headphones
Razer BlackShark V2 Gaming Headset
The Razer Blackshark V2 is a wired gaming headset with fantastic sound quality and excellent noise isolation under 100$.
Built Quality
The build of this headset is good, and it’s made with high-quality plastic. It has a braided cable of length 1.77 meters, a detachable microphone, and easy-to-use controls. However, it only has two buttons to control volume.
Comfortability
It is lightweight and has a great level of comfortability. The oval, soft ear cup cushions infused with cooling gel prevent heat and provide added comfort.
Sound Performance
The audio quality is excellent, and it supports THX 7.1 surround sound. It has triforce titanium 50mm high sound drivers divided into three parts for individual tuning of the bass, mids, and trebles.
Compatibility
These headphones don’t support wireless connectivity. They only have the plug and play option that supports your PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One. It also has great app support.
Microphone
The boom mic comes with a hyper-clear cardioid sound. The quality is okay, but it could use improvement in terms of build.
PROS
- Great sound signature with high-quality drivers
- Best noise isolation under 100$
- THX 7.1 surround sound
- Very comfortable and prevents heat buildup
CONS
- Not portable
- Microphone could improve
| Type | Over-the-ear Headphones |
| Connectivity | Wired |
| Battery Life | NA |
| Water-resistance | IPX4 |
| Active Noise Cancellation | NA |
| Passive Noise Isolation | YES |
| NFC | NA |
Click here to buy this wired headset.
Best Gaming Headset
SteelSeries Arctis 7
The Arctis 7 by SteelSeries is one the best gaming headphones in the market with a discord-certified mic.
Built Quality
Their built quality is excellent with premium, lightweight steel, air weave cushions, and retractable microphone with LED lights. They are pretty comfortable, but the ear cups are very soft and bounce a bit while you move.
Controls
The left side features a mute mic button, a volume dial, 3.5mm Micro-USB, and a four-pin port. The right earcup has the power button and a dial for switching between the game and supported chat audio channels.
Battery Backup
Arctic 7 states that it has 24 hours of battery life with Micro-USB charging. At moderate volume levels, the backup was over 20 hours, which is great.
Connectivity
These headsets don’t have Bluetooth. Instead, they use a 2.4GHz wireless RF USB dongle, giving an ultra low latency wireless connection and 12-meter connectivity range. They also have wired usage with a 3.5mm connector.
Compatibility
The USB dongle connects to Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch dock, and your PC. You can also connect to the undocked Nintendo Switch and Xbox One through the controller.
Microphone
The bidirectional microphone delivers studio-level voice clarity and commendable background noise cancellation. It also has okayish noise isolation. The sound quality and surround sound are impressive.
PROS
- Premium built quality
- Very comfortable
- Powerful microphone
- Good battery life
- Ultra-low latency
- Wired and wireless use
CONS
- Not portable
- over-emphasized bass
- Needs app for full usage of features
| Type | On-ear Headphones |
| Connectivity | Wireless; 2.4GHz wireless RF USB dongle |
| Battery Life | 24 hours |
| Water-resistance | NA |
| Active Noise Cancellation | NA |
| Passive Noise Isolation | YES |
| NFC | NA |
Here’s the link to buy this on Amazon.
Best In-Ear Headphones
Bose Soundsport Wireless Headphones
The Bose Soundsport Wireless Headphones offer excellent audio quality, great fit, and are one of the best fitness earphones.
Built and Control
The built quality and comfort are commendable. You can wear them for hours, and they won’t hurt. They are molded from hard plastic with wings to give a secure fit. They have the Stayhere+ tips with three extra sets of ear tips and a carry pouch included.
They protrude a bit and might feel like they would fall off, but they won’t even during intense workouts. With sweat resistance and excellent bass, they are the perfect workout companion.
Controls
The built-in controls are easy to use, and the microphone quality is excellent. The controls allow you to adjust the volume, skip songs, and answer/end calls. The good quality of the mic lets you take calls without disruptions.
You can also travel with them since they are portable and also come with a pouch. But since they sit outside your ears, the noise isolation isn’t that great, so you’ll hear ambient noise.
Connectivity
The connectivity is also superb. They have NFC and the SBC and AAC codecs and work without issues up to 10 meters. The battery life is around six hours, which could be a bit better.
Audio Performance
The sound signature on their earbuds is terrific. It comes with a default Bose equalizer and has almost no sound leakage.
- Bass is powerful, punchy, and accurate.
- Mids are pretty clear.
- Highs are flawless but could use a little more detail
PROS
- Excellent comfort and premium built-quality
- Wonderful sound quality
- Good for calls
- Great workout companions
- Good connectivity
- Auto-power off feature and tile integration
CONS
- Earbuds protrude a bit; they are not very discreet
- Battery backup could improve
- Poor noise isolation
- A bit bulky
| Type | In-ear Headphones |
| Connectivity | Wireless; Bluetooth 4.1 |
| Battery Life | 6 hours |
| Water-resistance | IPX4 |
| Active Noise Cancellation | NA |
| Passive Noise Isolation | NA |
| NFC | YES |
Here’s the link to buy this pair.
Made for Bass Lovers
Sony WHXB900N Noise Cancelling Headphones, Wireless
These over-the-ear headphones by Sony are packed with extra bass, powerful battery, great codecs, and excellent comfortability.
Built Quality
The Sony WHXB900N is made from lightweight plastic that also has a 3.5 mm headphone connector. They are durable, relatively stable, have flexible cups that rotate up to 90 degrees, and touch sensors that allow you to play, pause, skip music, and answer/end calls.
Comfortability
These headsets are super comfortable. But they are not airy, so you’ll feel warm after prolonged use. We won’t recommend them for working out.
The foldable design and travel bag make it suited for carrying around and traveling.
Connectivity
The pairing is seamless with Bluetooth 4.2 and NFC support. Without barriers, it gives a range of over 50 meters. It also has Sony’s LDAC codec, aptX, aptX HD codecs, which is excellent.
Battery Backup
Sony claims that these headphones have 30 hours of battery life and uses USB type-C charging. Our tests showed that it has a whopping over 37 hours of battery backup with fast charging that gives around an hour of juice with 10 minutes of charge.
However, it has a long recharge time of over 5 hours, but you can also use it wired, which won’t leave you without music.
Sound Performance
The audio quality of these headphones is robust. They are pretty loud, have active noise cancellation and passive noise isolation, which works fine.
- Strong, powerful bass
- Clear Mids, Trebles, and Vocals
- An integrated microphone that lets you have good quality calls
- Option to turn the ANC mode on/off
The headphones also have the built-in digital assistant, Alexa. Also, you can install the headphone app and adjust equalizer and ambient sound settings.
PROS
- Good Build quality
- Seamless pairing and connectivity
- Great codecs
- Powerful battery backup
- Suitable for commuting with a foldable design and travel bag
- Excellent sound signature
- Wired use
CONS
- Not suited for intense workouts
- Long recharge time
- Bass might seem too much for some people
| Type | Over-the-Ear Headphones |
| Connectivity | Wireless+ Wireless; Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Battery Life | Over 37 hours; Micro USB charging |
| Water-resistance | NA |
| Active Noise Cancellation | YES |
| Passive Noise Isolation | YES |
| NFC | YES |
Click here to buy these extra bass headsets.
FAQs
Are Wireless Headphones Better Than Wired?
There’s nothing like better or worse when comparing wired and wireless headphones. Wireless headphones provide freedom, while wired headphones produce better sound quality and low latency.
Is the Sound and Build Quality compromised at all With Bluetooth Headphones?
It depends on the type and brand of headphones. Technically speaking about general headphones, the sound and built quality are compromised, but it’s not a significant difference.
How do we choose the best over-ear headphones?
When you’re choosing the best over-ear headphones, ensure they have good comfortability, breathability, noise isolation, sound signature, and battery life. Also, according to your requirements, consider if you want open or closed back and wired or wireless.
How do you Charge Bluetooth Headphones?
You can charge your Bluetooth headphones through a USB Type-B or USB Type-C cable as specified and connect it to your laptop, phone’s charger, and the charger in your car.
What are the best noise Cancelling headphones under $200?
Soundcore By Anker Life Q30 and Sony WHXB900N have the best noise cancellation technology under $200. Coupled with noise isolation, these over-the-ear, closed-back headphones block almost over 90% of ambient noise.
What Bluetooth headphones have the longest battery life?
Beats Solo3 provides a whopping 40 hours of battery life and supports the fast charging feature, where you get 3 hours of battery backup with 5 minutes of charge. Also, it takes less than 2 hours to recharge and allows wired listening.
Which headphone is best for gaming?
SteelSeries Arctis 7 is one the best headphones for gaming with ultra-low latency, excellent surround sound, and a discord-certified microphone.
What type of headphones has the best sound quality?
Open-back headphones offer the best sound quality and are preferred by audiophiles. They provide resonant free sound signature without any low-frequency buildups.