The Best Bluetooth Wireless Headphones

Earbuds are discreet and convenient to use, but if you want to get the best wireless sound for the money, choose over-ear Bluetooth headphones.

Although no single headphones set is a perfect match for everyone, the JBL Tour One M2 comes darn close. We love this pair’s customizable sound, stellar call clarity, and days-long battery life—plus, it includes some bonus features usually reserved for pricier pairs.

JBL’s Tour One M2 ：

JBL’s Tour One M2 is a comfortable, feature-rich Bluetooth set that does most everything well. The sound is good right out of the box, and it can be further improved with the use of the EQ settings inJBL’s app. The battery life, rated at 30 to 50 hours, is excellent, and the battery recharges quickly.

Voice control is available via the always-listening Alexa and Google Assistant functions, and Apple users can access Siri via a simple button push. The M2 supports dual-device connectivity, and the built-in microphones reduce wind and background noise remarkably well, ensuring clear phone calls—even on the go. Plus, this pair is water-resistant (with an IPX5 rating), so your gear won’t be ruined by rainy-day splashes.

Flaws are minimal: Though we like the combination of touch-based and physical control buttons, the touchpad can be a bit over-sensitive. Also, the active noise cancellation (ANC) is good but not as effective as that of our favorite noise-cancelling headphones.

Soundcore Space One：

If you want a fantastic pair of wireless headphones for around $100, consider the Soundcore Space One. While the sound quality is not as rich and full as what our top pick delivers, it is still fun to listen to and can be modified to your taste in the Soundcore app. The headphones are lightweight and comfortable to wear for long stretches, and you get the full complement of control options. Also, the adjustable active noise cancellation is competitive with models that cost three times as much.

Dual-device connectivity is supported, and a hear-through mode can be activated by the press of a button or automatically when you speak. The 40-hour battery life with ANC on (55 hours with it off) means you may only have to charge this pair once a week or less.

The Space One has three noise-reducing microphones, but we found that voices can sound compressed and somewhat distant to callers—especially when compared to more expensive headphones like our top pick.

Sony WH-1000XM5：

If you’re willing to pay more to get a premium experience, the well-constructed Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are extremely comfortable, can sound great, and have a nice assortment of features that suit them for a variety of uses.

Out of the box, this pair’s sound quality is just okay. But if you put effort into adjusting the equalizer settings in Sony’s app, the WH-1000XM5 can sound better than our top pick and many other wireless competitors. The battery life is a solid 24 hours, and the combination of physical and touch-based controls works more intuitively on this pair than on our top pick, the JBL Tour One M2.

The XM5 set is particularly well suited for use in a loud office environment, since it passively blocks out human voices but has a natural-sounding awareness mode to let in sounds as needed. Plus, the speak-to-chat function will sense your voice, turn on the awareness mode, and pause your music automatically. And the built-in microphones are effective at reducing background noise during phone or video calls.

The noise cancellation isn’t as effective as that of our top pick, and this set isn’t built for water resistance, though it can handle a light spritzing rain. Sony’s one-year limited warranty covers manufacturing defects but not water damage, so we don’t recommend that you take this pair to the gym or out for a stroll in a deluge.

Edifier Stax Spirit S3：

If your priority is to find wireless over-ear headphones that sound fantastic, the Edifier Stax Spirit S3 is for you. This pair is among the best-sounding under-$500 headphones we’ve ever tested, including those in our guide to wired audiophile headphones.

This portable pair uses planar-magnetic drivers, which are capable of reproducing delicate detail and powerful bass notes. The S3 sounds amazing in both wired and wireless mode, largely due to the built-in headphone amplifier, which provides consistent driving power. Edifier includes two types of earpads (isolating pleather and cooling, breathable mesh), and the sound quality remains consistent when you swap between them.

Though this pair has to be powered on to work, the 80-hour battery life means you won’t need to charge frequently, and there’s a quick-charge feature when you do. The built-in microphones sound clear, even in a light breeze, and the dual-device connectivity works well, for easy transition between phone and laptop use.

Though this pair is portable, the lack of water resistance means you need to be careful when commuting in inclement weather, and you should choose a different pair for working out. Plus, this pair lacks active noise cancellation.