We put the top 10 headphones of 2025 to the test — these are the ones we'd pick up during Black Friday

Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd gen).

For anyone who's yet to buy into the Bose QuietComfort Ultra line, but wants noise-cancelling headphones that can easily handle long hours of wear, there's no better choice than the second generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones.

The best noise-cancelling headphones aren't much use if they squeeze your head too tight or prevent you from wearing accessories like earrings or glasses comfortably. In other words, comfort is key — we were big fans of Bose's first gen QC Ultra headphones for exactly this reason.

With the second generation of the headphones, Bose makes minor improvements to the soundscape, noise-cancelling, and somehow the wear. They also fixed other bugs that detracted from the otherwise premium experience of using the QC Ultras.

As a first step, Bose upped the battery life from 24 to 30 hours per charge with ANC. They also added options for wired playback with the USB-C cable (which can simultaneously charge the headphones) or the auxiliary cable for passive playback (which wasn't available on the first gen headphones). In tandem with the battery life, these headphones become much stronger contenders for travel.

For day-to-day use, Bose's noise cancelling remains as solid as ever (though Sony's XM6s are ever so slightly more adept at handling high pitched frequencies), while offering an easy adjustment on 10 different levels of ANC via the companion app. As for the listening experience, the immersive audio remains as lackluster as it did on the first gen, but the overall sound profile came through richer and more robust when we compared the headphones side by side. Bose also added quality of life adjustments like better wear detection, and a lay flat mode that puts the headphones into a low power mode when they're placed face down. Overall, it's hard to beat this blend of sound quality, ANC, and comfort, making the second iteration of the QC Ultras one of our top picks for headphones.

Read our full review of the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones.

After three years, Sony's flagship wireless headphones finally got an update. If you love Sony headphones and have an old pair of XM4s, then we can definitely recommend an upgrade. However, if you just purchased a pair of XM5s, then it might be harder to justify an instant upgrade. That said, the active noise cancellation is better than ever, and there are noticeable improvements to audio quality (even if they lose out by a smidge to the latest Technics AZ100 earbuds). Besides music lovers, travelers will also appreciate the new Sony cans, as they fold up and come with an improved travel case.

Mashable's Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth reviewed the XM6 headphones ahead of their launch, and he was impressed with the overall quality. As Werth wrote in his review, "The new Sony headphones offer impressive audio quality, and they definitely improve on the XM5 models. The active noise cancellation is particularly phenomenal...I really appreciated the overall balance, depth, and quality of the audio. For the XM6, Sony audio engineers worked with music mastering engineers here in the United States, and the results are clear when you listen to music. Like all headphone reviewers, I have a dedicated playlist for testing new audio products, and I found that vocal-heavy tracks sound particularly great, with noticeable improvements over the XM5s."

Sony introduced (or, rather, brought back) a major design change for the XM6 headphones — they fold up for easier storage. They're definitely more compact and easier to travel with compared to the previous-gen model. The overall design looks similar, so if you're a fan of the Sony aesthetic, you'll still appreciate how they look.

We do wish there had been slightly bigger improvements after a three-year wait, and the battery life (30 hours with ANC engaged) is the same as the XM5 model, which we also loved. These headphones did arrive with a higher sticker price, so if you can't quite swing the $448 price tag, look for the excellent XM5 headphones on sale.

If you don't particularly care to have the most premium pair of headphones on the market (or care to spend several hundred dollars on them), the JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones more than get the job done. They have functional ANC, decent comfort, great sound balance, and a killer battery life, all with a design that doesn't feel overtly budget-friendly.

At their regular sale price of around $50, these are about a ninth the price of the latest Sony headphones, and a seventh of the price of the Bose QuietComfort headphones, which feel like these headphones' premium analogue.

With budget headphones, it's good to understand what you're trading off from the jump. In the case of these JLab headphones, the ANC will dampen a good amount of environmental sound, from talking coworkers to loud fans, but it won't completely silence the world around you. The app can lag some (we had to exit out of it a few times during testing when it froze), and the fit of these headphones might not be for everyone. For one of our testers, these headphones squeezed their head more than usual (though some users on Reddit called these the most comfortable headphones they've tried). Regardless of the fit, you're likely to hear some creaking from time to time when you move your head around.

At $80, these are all cons that may not be ideal, but are fair for the price point. At these headphones' frequent sale prices that hover in the $50 to $55 range, these cons are even easier to swallow, especially when you consider how these headphones actually sound.

To be clear, you'll likely need to play around with the EQ some to find your perfect settings — we found the first preset to be on the bass-heavy end. Once you do, it's impressive the way these headphones can balance a song. Every part of Panic! At The Disco's "Northern Downpour" shone through, from the vocals, lead guitar, bass, and piano. For budget headphones, we might expect some muddying through these elements, but the JLab JBuds held up great. If we're being nitpicky, The Beatles' "In My Life" came through somewhat dimmer sounding than expected, but not necessarily muddy.

Beyond the sound signature, these headphones have a reasonable amount of customization with the app, especially for their price point. You can adjust the button commands on one of the three on-ear buttons, adjust the ANC intensity with a slider in the app, and create your own custom EQ settings. Multipoint pairing is available, as are spatial audio, music, and movie modes.

Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen).

While they're not the perfect all-around earbuds, the high price of entry for the second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds is worth it for getting the absolute best noise cancellation on the market.

They're also an excellent option for anyone who has difficulty finding earbuds that are both comfortable and secure.

Even compared to over-ear headphones, these earbuds provide standout active noise cancellation. Turning them on feels like turning down the volume dial on the world around you, and that's before you start streaming any audio. Whether you're in an office, cafe, at home, or on your commute, these earbuds are sure to impress you with their ANC.

When you do start streaming audio, your equalizer options are a little limited compared to other premium options, but these buds do have a relatively well-balanced sound profile out of the gate. It's not the best we've ever heard, but it's still fair for the price point. If you're a fan of spatial audio that offers plenty of resonance, not unlike live music, you'll likely be pleased with what the Ultras offer.

Even more of a standout than the sound is the way these earbuds fit. The stabilizer band and ear tip work together to keep the earbuds secure, though they never caused us any ear fatigue or soreness. Finding that just-right fit helped boost the passive ANC power on these buds, and makes them a viable option for working out (along with their IPX4 rating).

For all that they do very well, the second-gen Ultra earbuds do have some drawbacks. For one, they're not too different from their predecessors: the ANC and sound improvements are minor, with the most significant changes coming in the form of a wireless charging case, a better transparency mode, and noticeably better voice clarity on calls. We would've liked to see Bose fine-tune its multipoint pairing some more (which can occasionally be spotty with two devices connected) or improve the battery life, which is starting to lag behind compared to other noise-cancelling earbuds. That said, these still offer the best ANC money can buy on a pair of earbuds.

Read our full review of the Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds.

If you want to hear every note in your music, from brash melodies to the subtle details in production, Panasonic's Technics EAH-AZ100 wireless earbuds get you there. Audiophiles will love these headphones that combine exceptional active noise cancellation with the brand's new magnetic fluid drivers that deliver music with high resolution clarity and less distortion.

Panasonic blew us away with its Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds. If you've ever thought that earbuds can't deliver the same potent sound quality as over-ear headphones, then let the AZ100s prove you wrong. The buds come with four different earbuds that range from extra small to large, delivering a snug and secure fit suitable for even those with small or narrow ears who struggle to find earbuds that fit. That being said, they aren't the most comfortable headphones we've ever tested (look to the Bose QuietComfort Ultras if that's what you're seeking), as they get uncomfortable after a couple of hours of wear.

However, what you're really after here is the incredible sound quality of the Technics. Music just sounds better on the AZ100 earbuds. The earbuds deliver music as close to the source as possible. While listening to James Brown's "The Boss," the song sounded rich and textured, with layers of horn and deep bass bursting through. Plus, it picks up on the most subtle details, like in "Angel Of My Dreams" by Jade, the soft shuttering of cameras flashing on the backing track rang through in crisp detail.

Plus the active noise cancellation on these headphones is impressive. While testing them on a trip to New York, they blocked out the clatter of the subway and ruckus of noisy streets. With such excellent ANC, it makes sure nothing distracts from the superior audio quality.

Read our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 3.

Whether you're an Apple user looking for earbuds that'll connect easily to your devices and have excellent ANC or you're simply someone who appreciates a pair of well-rounded earbuds, the AirPods Pro 3 have got you covered.

The AirPods Pro 3 may look relatively similar to their previous generations, but with this release, Apple upped the ante.

For starters, Apple claims these earbuds offer twice the noise-cancellation power of the previous generation. In his review of the buds, Mashable contributor Adam Doud noticed this, writing, "Standing in the middle of a tech conference social mixer, surrounded by the drone of people talking specs, all I had to do was pop in the AirPods, put on some music, and nothing else in the world existed." The earbuds now come with five sizes of foam-infused ear tips ranging from XXS to L, to help with passive ANC and comfort.

As with generations past, Doud also found that these earbuds have an excellent, balanced sound profile. The major drawback is that, also like generations past, there's no custom equalizer, so you can't manually adjust the audio settings. Still, these are earbuds meant for ease, so the plug-and-play nature of them isn't too surprising.

Apple also added improvements in the form of eight hours of battery life with ANC on, a built-in heart rate monitor, and live translation. In his testing, Doud found the latter two features work as advertised. The heart-rate monitoring consistently fell within one to two beats of another fitness tracking device he was testing. Live translation also impressed, leaving only a one to two second lag from the subtitles on a foreign movie.

All together, these features make for an incredibly well-rounded pair of earbuds that are also a great value. At $249, they are firmly priced as premium buds, but they're cheaper than the $299 Bose QC Ultra second-generation earbuds and Technics EAH-AZ1000.

If you don't want to pay over $100 for headphones, but still want good ANC and sound quality, the EarFun Air Pro 4 are one of the best value earbuds we've ever tried.

Usually, buying budget means you're willing to compromise. Maybe the earbuds' battery life runs out in just a few hours, the ANC comes with an annoying hiss, or they can't connect to more than one device at a time.

The EarFun Air Pro 4 make it incredibly difficult to find where those compromises exist. Their ANC is easily comparable to earbuds $50, if not $100, more expensive. They paired easily with most devices and offered better battery life than the AirPods Pro.

In the app, you can adjust how they sound with the equalizer controls, but they sound balanced and clear right out of the box. Unlike more expensive options, they also allow you to customize the level of noise cancelling, a feature that's been difficult to find since Bose discontinued their noise-cancelling 700 headphones. As for the fit, we could wear them all day without issue in a variety of settings, from working on a desk to running on a treadmill.

The main area where they showed their price point was their touch controls. Though they're customizable, they're also on the finnicky side, not always correctly distinguishing between a single and a double press. That said, you can toggle the settings off entirely if they really start to annoy you.

While inconvenient, it's certainly not the worst con — especially when you factor in that these earbuds regularly on sale for $60 to $70.

If you want a pair of fail-safe, trusted headphones for working out, go with the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 earbuds. Whether you're running on pavement or at the quick pace of the elliptical, these earbuds fit securely in your ear.

But what if you're a trail runner and you're worried about them falling out in tough conditions? Well, even if they do slip out, these are the only earbuds we tested with a U.S. military-grade standard of durability, meaning they won't crumble if you step on them. Plus, they're IP68 dust- and water-resistant.

While the sound won't impress the pickiest audiophiles, the Elite 8 Active buds deliver clear, consistent sound. The ANC quiets the surrounding world so you can focus on your music as you move through your reps.

For a pair of headphones designed for working out, we want to see all of the following: a secure but comfortable fit, sweat resistance, easy connectivity, good sound quality, active noise cancellation, and responsive touch controls. The Elite 8 Actives measure up on every front.

The ear tips come in three sizes; the small ones fit perfectly in narrow ear canals. The buds sit snugly in the ear and don't budge when chugging along on the stair climber or elliptical. Plus, the touch controls have an actual button to press that's responsive but not too touchy, unlike the Beats Fit Pro, which leave you vulnerable to accidentally ending calls.

For the weeks we tested them, the headphones instantly connected every time we opened the case and wore them. The AirPods Pro were the only other earbuds with such easy connectivity. Plus, the battery life can't be beat. The earbuds run for nine hours, and the charging case provides another 32 hours with ANC and 56 hours without ANC.

Where the Jabra earbuds fall flat (literally) is with sound. The ANC isn't the strongest on this list; there is some sound leakage; however, for working out, this isn't much of an issue since we prefer to stay aware of our surroundings. They deliver good sound; we didn't feel like we were missing anything while tuning into podcasts. But the sound wasn't quite as rich as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Beats Studio Buds + headphones while listening to music. They provide a clear but flatter sound than the more audio-focused headphones. But overall, it's one shortcoming that didn't detract from our enjoyment of the headphones as we blasted Brat while getting our sweat on.

There are a lot of good reasons to consider wired earbuds. Some people simply don't want the hassle of constantly charging their headphones. Fair enough. Some people want impressive audio quality without shelling out $100 or more, and some simply aren't buying what Big Bluetooth is selling. For shoppers who fall into any of the above groups, we recommend the affordable Marshall Mode earbuds.

Though they're only $35, Marshall Mode earbuds deliver better sound than most wireless earbuds that are triple the price. The bass is clear but not overpowering, and the highs bright but never too thin or tinny-sounding.

As for how you sound on the headphone's built-in mic, friends we spoke to on the phone said we came through with perfect clarity (the same can't be said for our tester's two-and-a-half year-old first-generation AirPods Pro). Lower down on the wire is a separate remote, so you can pause and play your audio or hang up your calls without fiddling around with the mic. If you're sensing a theme, these earbuds are well-designed, and that comes through in how they wear and store.

During our testing, we had no trouble with the wire tangling, and it never felt too long during everyday wear. The buds themselves come with three ear tip sizes and wear comfortably all day. If you're not a fan of the shape of AirPods, then you're likely to find these a better shape for actually keeping your earbuds situated in your ears. There is one major downside with these wired earbuds, however. Unlike their more expensive wired counterparts, Marshall's don't come with a replaceable wire, so you'll want to take extra care to be as gentle as you can with the wire to extend its lifespan.

For anyone who's become a little too familiar with their headphone's low battery sound, the Sennheiser Momentum 4s offer more insurance with 60 hours of battery life on a full charge.

We're as guilty as the next person of not charging our headphones as regularly as we should. (As headphone testers, we are in the unique position of often being able to swap to another pair in an emergency, but not everyone is so lucky.)

With that in mind, we couldn't believe how long the battery life lasted on these headphones — wearing their battery down took work. Considering the only other headphones we've seen with this kind of battery life are Sennheisers and the Dyson OnTrac headphones, which cost $120 more at full price, we were especially impressed at how the Momentum 4s delivered.

And then, there's the matter of them sounding excellent right out of the box. The bass of Magdalena Bay's "Killshot" came through strong and clear but never overpowering, balancing the song expertly without a single EQ adjustment. While the ANC felt less adept at blocking out noise generally than the Sony WH-1000XM5s, it still did a fair job for its price point, never feeling like an obvious con to the listening experience.

Our biggest performance issue came down to the touch controls, which, while extensive, ultimately were a little too sensitive to feel truly convenient. We found we were happiest with these headphones when we toggled them off.