Best Headphones for 2024: In-Depth Review

Choosing the best headphones can be daunting given the plethora of options available, each boasting unique features, sound quality, and comfort levels. Here’s a comprehensive review of the top headphones for 2024, ranging from over-ear to in-ear models, catering to various budgets and preferences.

Top Over-Ear Headphones

1. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

• Price: $379
• Pros:
  • Premium design and build
  • Lightweight and extremely comfortable
  • Excellent sound quality and noise cancellation
  • Superior voice-calling performance
  • Immersive Audio mode enhances sound quality
• Cons:
  • Higher price compared to previous models
  • No USB-C audio
  • Immersive Audio mode impacts battery life
• Battery Life: Up to 24 hours
• Noise Canceling: Yes
• Multipoint: Yes

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

• Price: $330
• Pros:
  • Refined sound and improved noise canceling
  • Enhanced comfort
  • Best-in-class voice call quality
  • Comprehensive feature set
• Cons:
  • More expensive than the previous model
  • Larger carrying case
• Battery Life: Up to 32 hours
• Noise Canceling: Yes
• Multipoint: Yes

1. Apple AirPods Max

• Price: $549
• Pros:
  • Superior sound and build quality
  • Outstanding adaptive noise canceling
  • High comfort despite weight
  • Excellent for calls
  • Spatial audio for iOS devices
• Cons:
  • Very expensive
  • Heavy and sound leakage at high volumes
  • No cable for wired use
• Battery Life: Up to 20 hours
• Noise Canceling: Yes
• Multipoint: No

1. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

• Price: $284
• Pros:
  • Lightweight and comfortable
  • Great sound quality
  • Very good noise canceling
  • Excellent battery life
• Cons:
  • Design could be more distinct
• Battery Life: Up to 60 hours
• Noise Canceling: Yes
• Multipoint: Yes

Top In-Ear Earbuds

1. Sony WF-1000XM5

• Price: $278
• Pros:
  • Smaller design
  • Improved sound, noise canceling, and voice calling
• Cons:
  • High price
• Battery Life: Up to 8 hours
• Noise Canceling: Yes
• Multipoint: Yes

1. Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)

• Price: $199
• Pros:
  • Excellent sound and noise canceling
  • Strong voice-calling performance
  • USB-C charging
• Cons:
  • No high-resolution audio support for non-Apple devices
  • No XL ear tips included
• Battery Life: Up to 6 hours
• Noise Canceling: Yes
• Multipoint: No

1. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

• Price: $299
• Pros:
  • Superb noise canceling
  • Comfortable fit
  • Immersive Audio enhances sound experience
• Cons:
  • No wireless charging
  • Immersive Audio mode reduces battery life
• Battery Life: Up to 6 hours
• Noise Canceling: Yes
• Multipoint: Yes

1. Earfun Air Pro 3

• Price: $80
• Pros:
  • Affordable
  • Good sound quality
  • Wireless charging
  • Multipoint connectivity
• Cons:
  • Average voice call performance
• Battery Life: Up to 7.5 hours
• Noise Canceling: Yes
• Multipoint: Yes

Budget Options

1. Sony CH-720N

• Price: $80
• Pros:
  • Comfortable
  • Good sound quality for the price
  • Decent noise canceling
• Cons:
  • No carrying case
• Battery Life: Up to 33 hours
• Noise Canceling: Yes
• Multipoint: No

1. Edifier W820NB Plus

• Price: $80
• Pros:
  • Comfortable fit
  • Good sound quality
  • Long battery life
• Cons:
  • No carrying case or headphone jack
• Battery Life: Up to 49 hours
• Noise Canceling: Yes
• Multipoint: No

Conclusion

For the best overall experience, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Sony WH-1000XM5 stand out for their excellent noise canceling, comfort, and sound quality. For in-ear options, the Sony WF-1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Pro 2 offer top-tier performance. Budget-conscious buyers can find great value in the Sony CH-720N and Edifier W820NB Plus. Each of these headphones brings something unique to the table, making it easier to find a pair that suits your specific needs and preferences.

Best Wireless Earbuds for Sports

Beats Fit Pro

Price: $170 at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy

Pros:

• Lightweight and comfortable fit
• Excellent voice-calling performance
• Android-friendly with hands-free Siri for iOS users
• Improved battery life

Cons:

• Lacks wireless charging and in-ear detection sensor

Features:

• Battery Life: Up to 6 hours
• Noise Canceling: Yes
• Multipoint: No
• Resistance Rating: IPX4

The Beats Fit Pro earbuds, launched in 2021, leverage the same tech platform as the AirPods Pro, featuring Apple’s H1 chip, active noise canceling, spatial audio, and Adaptive EQ. Their secure fit and upgraded performance make them an excellent choice for sports, potentially surpassing the AirPods Pro for some users.

Top Wireless Earbuds from Beats

Beats Studio Buds Plus

Price: $170 at Samsung, $110 at Walmart, $230 at Best Buy

Pros:

• Improved design and comfortable fit
• Excellent sound quality and noise canceling
• Very good voice-calling performance
• Extra features for Galaxy device owners

Cons:

• Fairly pricey
• Some features exclusive to Samsung devices
• No multipoint Bluetooth pairing

Features:

• Battery Life: Up to 29 hours (with case)
• Noise Canceling: Yes
• Multipoint: No
• Resistance Rating: IPX7

The Beats Studio Buds Plus come with significant improvements over their predecessor, including better sound, noise canceling, and battery life. They are particularly appealing for Samsung Galaxy users due to additional features like 360 Audio and hands-free Bixby.

Best Samsung Wireless Earbuds

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro

Price: $198 at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy

Pros:

• Compact and comfortable design
• Very good sound quality and noise canceling
• Support for high-resolution wireless audio streaming

Cons:

• Some features only work with Samsung Galaxy devices
• No wireless charging

Features:

• Battery Life: Up to 6 hours
• Noise Canceling: Yes
• Multipoint: No
• Resistance Rating: IPX4

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are Samsung’s flagship earbuds, offering improved noise canceling and sound quality along with high-resolution audio streaming support for Galaxy device owners. Their new design and smaller size provide a better fit for more users.

Best Sony Compact Mid-Range Wireless

Sony LinkBuds S

Price: $349 at Master & Dynamic

Pros:

• Top-notch sound quality
• Strong voice-calling performance
• aptX support

Cons:

• Expensive

Features:

• Battery Life: Up to 32 hours
• Noise Canceling: Yes
• Multipoint: Yes
• Resistance Rating: No IP rating

The Sony LinkBuds S are traditional noise-isolating earbuds with tips that fit snugly in your ears. They are compact and lighter than Sony’s former flagship WF-1000XM4, featuring Sony’s V1 processor, and offer excellent sound and noise-canceling performance.

Best-Sounding Premium Noise-Canceling Headphones

Master & Dynamic MW75

Price: $599 at Master & Dynamic

Pros:

• Sleek design and comfortable fit
• Great sound quality
• Much improved noise canceling
• Strong battery life

Cons:

• Expensive
• Voice-calling performance could be slightly better

Features:

• Battery Life: Up to 16 hours
• Noise Canceling: Yes
• Multipoint: Yes
• Resistance Rating: No IP rating

The MW75 is Master & Dynamic’s best full-size headphones yet, offering superior build quality and excellent sound for a wireless model. They support aptX Adaptive for Android users and provide a strong battery life of up to 16 hours.