How to choose headphones: 2026 buying guide

Get earbuds if you want something pocketable for workouts and travel; get over-ear if you listen for hours and want cups that sit around your ears (makers also call this "circumaural" or "around-ear").

"Earbuds" here means anything that sits in your ear. Most have silicone ear tips that seal the ear canal. A few, such as Apple's AirPods 5 and EarPods, have no tips; Apple calls the AirPods 5 an "open-ear design". They let in more outside sound and sit more loosely, which some people find comfortable and others find less secure. Open-ear models that hang outside the ear on a hook or clip, bone-conduction headphones and on-ear headphones (pads that press on the ear) are not part of this finder.

• If you exercise or get caught in the rain → look at earbuds. Of the 42 headphones we catalogued as of October 19, 2026, 12 state a rating of IPX4 or higher, and all 12 are earbuds.
• If you listen for hours at a desk or on a long trip → look at over-ear. 19 of the 42 are over-ear.
• If you wear glasses all day → earbuds avoid the cushions pressing on the arms of your glasses. With over-ear, the glasses can break the cushion's seal and let in more noise; soft, deep cushions help.

See earbuds · See over-ear headphones

Wireless (Bluetooth) suits most commuters and anyone whose phone has no headphone jack; wired suits desk listening and home recording, with no battery to charge and no Bluetooth delay.

• If you want noise cancellation → go wireless. In our finder, 23 of the 27 wireless models state active noise cancellation, and none of the 14 wired models does.
• If you take calls → 25 of the 27 wireless models state a microphone or call feature. Only 2 of the 14 wired models do (Sony IER-EX15C and Sony MDR-EX15AP, each with a microphone in the cable), because most wired models here are studio and in-ear monitor headphones made for listening.
• If you play games or edit video → wired avoids the small delay Bluetooth adds.

Check the plug before you buy wired. Two wired models in our finder plug into USB-C (Apple EarPods (USB-C) and Sony IER-EX15C); the rest use a 3.5 mm plug, which needs an adapter on a phone with only a USB-C port.

See wireless models · See wired models

You can find earbuds and over-ear, wired and wireless models under $100. We group models by the price the manufacturer's own US store charged when we checked (October 19–27, 2026; changed prices re-read October 27), not by retailer prices. When a maker shows a lower price next to a crossed-out regular price, we use the price the store actually charges; Sennheiser, for example, sold several models well below their regular prices on that date. Prices change, so check the current price before you buy.

The budget options are ceilings, so "Under $150" also shows everything under $100. Of the 41 models in our finder:

• If you want noise cancellation on a small budget → 4 models with stated noise cancellation are under $100 on their makers' stores, two of them over-ear.
• If you want a sweat and water rating under $100 → three earbuds qualify (JLab Go Pop ANC, Sony WF-C510 and Nothing Ear (a)).
• If you want a flagship model → the most expensive noise-cancelling models from Sony, Bose and Sennheiser are above $250.

See models under $100 · Under $150 · Under $250

You need it if you commute by bus, train or plane, or work somewhere loud; you can skip it for quiet rooms and home recording. Active noise cancellation (ANC) uses microphones and processing to turn down outside sound. It is most effective on steady, low sounds such as engine drone and train rumble. Voices and sudden sounds still get through to some degree. Passive isolation is different: ear tips and ear cushions simply block some sound.

• If you commute → choose a model whose maker states ANC. 23 of the 42 models we catalogued do.
• If you want to hear announcements or traffic → many ANC models also have a transparency or ambient mode that lets outside sound in (Sennheiser lists a Transparency Mode on the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless; Sony lists an Ambient Sound Mode on several models). Check the maker's page for the model you choose.
• If you compare ANC strength → don't rely on figures. Makers that give a decibel number measure it their own way, and most give none. We only record whether ANC is stated.

See noise-cancelling models · Related lists: Noise-cancelling over-ear headphones for commuting, Noise-cancelling earbuds under $150

Look for an IPX4 or higher rating stated by the maker and a fit that stays put. Ratings on the workout-ready earbuds in our catalogue range from IPX4 to IP57. No over-ear model we catalogued states IPX4 or higher, and Bose's FAQ for the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) says they have no IP rating.

Fit matters as much as the rating. Earbuds with tips usually come with several sizes; try them all. Ear hooks loop over the top of the ear: Beats calls the Powerbeats Pro 2 "sport earbuds with ear hooks", and it is the ear-hook model in our catalogue. Tipless earbuds such as AirPods 5 sit more loosely.

What is an IP rating?

An IP (Ingress Protection) rating, defined in the IEC 60529 standard, shows how well a device resists dust (first digit) and water (second digit). An X means that part was not rated. IPX4 means protection against splashing water from any direction; a second digit of 7 means the product passed a temporary immersion test. A rating doesn't make earbuds swim-proof: Apple, for example, says AirPods Pro 3 are water resistant "for non-water sports and exercise". Several makers rate only the earbuds, not the charging case. We count a model as water resistant only when its maker states IPX4 or higher.

See earbuds with a sweat and water rating · Related list: Water-resistant earbuds for workouts

Every Bluetooth headphone works with every Bluetooth phone. What changes is the extras. Some makers design features for one phone family:

• iPhone: Apple says AirPods can be used with non-Apple devices, "but functionality may be limited". Beats states one-touch pairing for both Apple and Android devices.
• Samsung Galaxy: Samsung says some Galaxy Buds features, such as 360 Audio, are only available on Galaxy phones and tablets.
• Other Android phones, such as Pixel: Google says the Pixel Buds Pro 2 need Fast Pair with an Android phone for full features. JLab, Nothing, CMF, Technics, Audio-Technica and Sony (on the WH-CH730N) state Google Fast Pair, which pairs in one tap on Android.

In our catalogue, 14 of the 42 models state phone-specific features like these; the others don't say, so they score nothing on this question in the finder rather than counting against you.

iPhone matches · Samsung Galaxy matches · Other Android matches

Pick a model that states a microphone, and ideally multipoint: a connection to two devices at once, so a call on your phone can interrupt music from your laptop. 28 of the 42 models we catalogued state a microphone or call feature, and 15 state multipoint (makers also call it "Dual Connection" or "dual-device connection"). For noisy places, makers that list several microphones per earbud or beamforming microphones say these help pick up your voice.

• Driver size and frequency-response figures: brands measure and present them differently, and they don't tell you whether a model fits your commute or workout.
• Battery-life headlines: brands mix earbuds-only, with-case, and noise cancelling on or off figures, so compare only figures measured the same way.
• "Studio" or "pro" in the name: it describes the intended use, not whether the headphones suit you; most such models in our catalogue state no microphone.
• Impedance, for most people: it only matters for some studio models. beyerdynamic, for example, sells the DT 770 PRO in 32-ohm (labelled for mobile devices), 80-ohm and 250-ohm versions; check the version before you buy.

1. Buying wired without checking the plug. USB-C and 3.5 mm plugs are both common, and a 3.5 mm plug needs an adapter on a USB-C-only phone.
2. Expecting over-ear headphones to handle the gym. None of the over-ear models we catalogued states an IPX4 or higher rating.
3. Expecting studio headphones to work for calls. Most state no microphone.
4. Trusting a crossed-out price. A "regular" price is not what most people pay. Our budget options use the price the maker's store charged on the check date, and that price can change.

• Noise-cancelling over-ear headphones for commuting (2026): wireless over-ear models with stated noise cancellation and a microphone.
• Water-resistant earbuds for workouts (2026): earbuds rated IPX4 or higher, including an ear-hook model.
• Noise-cancelling earbuds under $150 (2026): ANC earbuds for students and commuters on a budget.
• Wired over-ear headphones under $250 (2026): plug-in models for desk listening and home recording.

Does noise cancellation work on the subway or a plane?

Yes, mostly on the steady part of the noise. Noise cancellation is most effective on low, constant sounds such as engine drone and train rumble; voices, announcements and sudden sounds still come through to some degree. A good seal from the right ear-tip size or cushion helps. For platforms and streets, use a transparency or ambient mode if your model has one.

Do AirPods work with Android phones?

Yes, as Bluetooth earbuds. Apple says AirPods can be used with non-Apple devices, "but functionality may be limited", because features such as one-tap setup ("place AirPods near your iPhone or iPad and tap Connect", in Apple's words) are built around Apple devices. If you use Android, models that state Google Fast Pair, or Beats models that state one-touch pairing for Android, give you more of those conveniences.

Can I use wireless headphones with a cable?

Some can. Several wireless over-ear models in our catalogue also play over a cable (Beats says the Studio Pro plays lossless audio over USB-C, and Audio-Technica includes a cable with the ATH-M50xBT2), which helps on flights with seat-back screens. Most wireless earbuds don't take a cable. Check the maker's "in the box" list for the model you choose.

What is multipoint?

Multipoint is a Bluetooth feature that keeps headphones connected to two devices at once, such as a laptop and a phone, and switches to whichever one plays sound or rings. Makers name it differently ("Multipoint Connection", "Dual Connection"). In our catalogue, 15 models state it; when a page doesn't mention it, we leave it as not stated rather than guess.

Are open-back headphones a good choice for commuting?

Usually not. Open-back headphones let sound in and out, so people nearby hear your music and you hear the room. They suit quiet rooms, so we left open-back models out of this finder.

Why is JBL missing?

JBL's US website couldn't be checked when we built this category (it redirected us to a regional site that refused the request), so we couldn't cite its specs or US prices. We only list products whose specs we can source from the manufacturer.

Written with AI assistance from manufacturer specifications; reviewed and approved by the site owner. We don't test products hands-on. How we choose.

Results are ordered by how well each model fits your answers. When models fit equally, the one with more features stated by its maker comes first, then the one with the lower price on the maker's own store, then a fixed catalogue order. Commissions never affect the order.

"Catalogued" means the 42 headphones and earbuds we catalogued for this category from manufacturer sites as of October 19, 2026, not the whole market. Each product's source links appear with its specs. Pages quoted in this guide:

• Apple AirPods 5 and specs page
• Apple AirPods Pro 3
• Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
• Beats Solo Buds
• Beats Studio Pro
• Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
• Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro
• Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
• Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
• Sony WH-CH730N
• Sony WF-C510
• Sony IER-EX15C
• Sony MDR-EX15AP
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
• beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO
• Apple EarPods (USB-C)