The 11 best headphones of 2025 — see the top contenders from Sony, Apple, Bose, and Beats
Choosing the right headphones can be a daunting task, especially with the plethora of options available in the market today. As highlighted in a recent article, there is no definitive “best” headphone; rather, the ideal choice heavily depends on individual preferences and specific use cases. For instance, while some users might prefer the immersive experience of over-ear headphones, others may lean towards the convenience and portability of earbuds. Athletes, for example, often seek out waterproof options and secure fits to withstand rigorous workouts, while frequent travelers prioritize comfort and long battery life to enhance their flying experience. Music enthusiasts and audiophiles, on the other hand, are likely to invest in headphones featuring high-end specifications such as custom equalizers and advanced noise cancellation technology.
To aid consumers in making an informed decision, the article reviews a selection of top headphones for 2025, categorizing them based on essential features like noise cancellation, sound quality, and price. The focus is predominantly on wireless headphones, which have become increasingly popular due to their convenience. However, the article does not overlook wired options, recommending the Marshall Mode earbuds for those who prefer a wired connection. Among the tested headphones, the JBL Tour One M3 and Skullcandy Method 360 ANC are mentioned as potential future additions to the guide, emphasizing the ongoing nature of product testing and evaluation.
The article also shares insights from recent tests of various models, including the Marshall Major V and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 headphones. While both offered impressive sound quality and user-friendly features, they ultimately fell short in terms of comfort and active noise cancellation, respectively. The guide is regularly updated, reflecting the dynamic nature of the headphone market. Recent updates include the introduction of the Sony WH-CH720N as the best headphones under $100 and the addition of the Sony XM5 as an honorable mention, showcasing the commitment to providing readers with the most current and relevant information. As technology continues to evolve, staying informed about the latest headphone options will ensure that consumers can find the perfect match for their listening needs.
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How to choose the best headphones
We won’t beat around the bush: There’s no definitive “best” product here. Sure, elite audio brands put out high-quality products across the board, but even within each of those brands, you’ll find different tiers of products. Some will deliver better value, and some will deliver better hardware and active noise cancellation.
All this to say, the
best pair of earbuds
or headphones largely comes down to personal preference and how you plan to use them. Some listeners swear by over-ear headphones, while others prefer the minimalism of earbuds — one is not necessarily better than the other. Athletes who like to use
headphones at the gym
will appreciate waterproof materials and the
best open earbuds
, while
frequent fliers
will prefer devices with long battery life, comfort, and portability. Finally, music lovers and audiophiles will want to invest in premium features like a custom equalizer, spatial audio, or best-in-class active noise cancellation.
To help you pick your pair, we tested all of the headphones in this guide (and a lot that didn’t make the cut). Here, you’ll find the top headphones of 2025
for noise cancellation
, music, price, and wired connections.
What about wired headphones?
We focused primarily on the best wireless headphones for this guide. While
wired headphones have their fans
, wireless headphones are just more convenient for most of us. If we had to pick, we’d recommend the Marshall Mode earbuds as our top wired pick. Some of us are also
fans of Apple’s EarPods
.
Other headphones we’ve tested
Most recently, we tested the
JBL Tour One M3 headphones
and the
Skullcandy Method 360 ANC
, and we may add them to this guide in a future update. We also tested the
Marshall Major V
headphones and
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2
headphones, both of which had excellent sound profiles and easy-to-navigate custom equalizers on their companion apps. Ultimately, they didn’t make the cut on our final list for a couple of reasons. With the
Major V headphones
, we love that their claim of 100+ hours of battery life held up under our testing, but we found them to get uncomfortable after a couple of hours. We also would have appreciated ANC at their $149 price point.
For the B&W headphones, we loved their design and premium feel in addition to their truly impressive sound, but we found that their ANC was only so-so. If you’re willing to spend $399, you can find a better balance of sound and ANC in the Sony XM5 headphones.
We’ve also tested the
Sonos Ace headphones
and
Dyson OnTrac headphones
. And while we loved them both for sound quality and noise cancellation, they fare in the way of AirPods Max — left out of our recommendations for their high price points.
In the testing pipeline
For our future updates, we’re testing out more budget noise-cancelling earbuds and headphones.
Recent updates to this guide
December 2025:
We replaced the
Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2
earbuds, which are no longer available, with the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 sports earbuds.
December 2025:
We removed the
Marshall Mode wired earbuds
, as they’re frequently out of stock.
December 2025:
We added the
Sony WH-CH720N Noise-Canceling Headphones
as the best headphones under $100.
December 2025: We added the
Sony XM5 headphones
, originally released in 2022, as our new honorable mention pick.
