The Best Headphones of 2024
After testing everything from over-ear headphones to earbuds, these are our top picks.
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Whether you love listening to music while traveling or you want to take hands-free phone calls at the office without disturbing colleagues, a pair of headphones is essential. But how do you find the right ones for you? With hundreds of styles out there, you can choose anything from noise-cancelling headphones that effectively block out external noise to a pair of super portable, affordable earbuds.
To help you narrow it down, our tech experts compiled a list of our favorite headphones out there, including top-performing headphones with exceptional sound quality to ones with value you just can’t beat.
The audio experts and test engineers at the Good Housekeeping Institute regularly test headphones and earbuds of all shapes and sizes. We’ve put everything from AirPods to earbuds, workout headphones, waterproof headphones and more to the test. In our most recent round of testing we evaluated at least 25 pairs of headphones, running them through audio analysis software to assess key features like noise-cancellation effectiveness (if applicable), sound quality and more. When selecting the best headphones, we also consider feedback from our consumer tester panel who scores their experience using headphones regarding factors like comfort, battery life, design and ease of use.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Pros
- Outstanding audio quality
- Superior noise cancellation
- Comfortable, compact design
Cons
- Pricey
Bose has consistently performed well in our Lab tests, which is just one of the reasons why the brand’s latest QuietComfort Ultra over-ear headphones top our list. Not only are these headphones super comfortable for extended wear (think long flights, days at the office, etc.), but the sound quality is clear and balanced. The new Ultra headphones also introduce an immersion mode that we can’t get enough of but rest assured that switching between immersion, noise-cancelling and transparency is seamless.
While these headphones aren’t the cheapest, we think they’re worth the price you’ll pay for premium noise cancellation. In our latest roundof testing, they outperformed all other sets in their ability to block out outside noise, like the hum of an airplane. GH Institute Data Engineer and audiophile Nik Greenwald even describes the noise cancellation features as “cream of the crop.”
While not everyone may need noise cancellation, we think it’s an investment worth making that transforms the audio experience. Just make sure to decide whether you’ll be comfortable wearing (and transporting) over-ear headphones as opposed to lighter and more compact earbuds.
Type: Over-ear | Claimed battery life: 24 hours (18 with Immersive Audio) | Noise cancellation: Yes
READ MORE: Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs. Bose 700
Pros
- Affordable
- Comfy, lightweight design
- Fantastic battery life
Cons
- Sound quality could be improved
Over-ear headphones are typically pricier than in-ear earbuds, but this pair from Anker is an exception. Like other budget headphones, they won't sound quite as pristine but they're an excellent option for the price. Plus, they come with noise cancellation and have some of the best battery life you'll find (up to 40 hours, according to the brand!).
Our pros found them intuitive and easy to use, and that they performed moderately well. But if you're looking for premium sound quality, you're better off investing a bit more.
Type: Over-ear | Claimed battery life: 40 hours with ANC on | Noise cancellation: Yes
Sony WF-1000XM5
Pros
- Great sound quality
- Effective noise-cancelling
- Solid battery life
- Comfortable
Cons
- Pricey for earbuds
This lightweight, super portable pair of earbuds from Sony got amazing feedback from our testers and it performed just as well in Lab tests. We found noise cancellation to be impressive for earbuds, which oftentimes struggle to isolate noise as effectively as over-ear models.
We were just as impressed with sound quality, no matter what we listened to. Claimed battery life is 24 hours total with the included case so travel and commuting shouldn’t be an issue, and they’re rated IPX4, meaning they can handle some sweat.
Type: In-ear | Claimed battery life: 8 hours (24 hours with case) | Noise cancellation: Yes
READ MORE: Best AirPods Alternatives for Every Budget
Skullcandy Dime 2
Pros
- Affordable
- Sweat-resistant, according to Skullcandy
- Offered in various colors
Cons
- Not as feature rich as other pairs
If cheap is what you're after, it's hard to find a better deal than these Skullcandy earbuds. They feature more than 4,500 5-star reviews on Amazon, and although you shouldn't expect the same audio quality as more premium pairs, our pros were impressed by their performance and how easy they were to set up, all for under $20.
Comfortable, portable and lightweight, they're packed with 12 hours of claimed battery life and are even sweat-resistant so you can safely use them on runs or at the gym.
Type: In-ear | Claimed battery life: 12 hours | Noise cancellation: No
READ MORE: Best Wireless Earbuds Under $100
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C)
Pros
- Seamless connectivity with Apple devices
- Excellent performance overall
- Supports wireless and USB-C charging
Cons
- Can feel uncomfortable for some
AirPods seem to be just as prevalent as iPhones, which makes sense as users love them for how they connect almost instantaneously to Apple devices. While we'll admit they're not the most comfortable earbuds on the market, especially after hours of use, they do shine when it comes to sound quality, noise cancellation and design.
Another bonus: Claimed battery life is up to 30 hours, and you'll get at least 6 hours on a single charge. Even better is that you can charge these on MagSafe chargers or via USB-C.
Type: In-ear | Claimed battery life: 6 hours (30 hours with charging case) | Noise cancellation: Yes
READ MORE: The Best AirPods of 2024
Beats Fit Pro
Pros
- Secure, comfortable design
- Great sound quality
- Seamless connection with iPhones
Cons
- Not waterproof
Need headphones that can survive marathon training or stay put during a HIIT workout? This Fitness Awards winner has you covered. Not only is the sound quality excellent, but they're comfortable and have great connectivity with iPhones (they feature the same H1 chip you find in AirPods).
The earbuds' wingtips help keep the earbuds safely inside your ears as you move around, and they come with noise cancellation so you can tune out other gym-goers. Just keep in mind that they're not totally waterproof so you shouldn't plan on jumping into the pool with them.
Type: In-ear | Claimed battery life: 6 hours with ANC on (24 total with case) | Noise cancellation: Yes
READ MORE: The Best Headphones for Working Out, According to Testing
Sony WH-1000XM5
Pros
- Fantastic sound quality
- Lightweight and comfortable design
- Easy to use
Cons
- Carrying case could be more compact
Never board a plane again without these noise-cancelling headphones from Sony, a Family Travel Awards winner. According to our tech experts and testers, they're super comfortable even if you plan on wearing them for hours thanks to plush earpads. They feature up to 24 hours of battery life with noise-cancellation on and they effectively block out outside distractions (i.e. the engine of the plane or a baby crying).
Our pros appreciate that a travel case is included (though it could be more compact) and that the sound quality is "pristine," according to Greenwald. Other testers rave about how easy they are to control and navigate, and we love how adjustable they are to fit a variety of head shapes.
Type: Over-ear | Claimed battery life: 24 hours with ANC on | Noise cancellation: Yes
READ MORE: Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Canceling Headphones
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
Pros
- Unique, trendy design
- Secure, comfortable fit according to testers
Cons
- Does not block out all sound
Perhaps you’ve seen someone walking around with these earbuds and wondered if they’re earbuds or jewelry. That's how cool they look. While open-ear headphones aren't new to the market, this model from Bose is some of the most stylish and discreet that we've seen. Like other Bose headphones, you can expect clear sound quality and an intuitive design.
They're a great choice for anyone who wants to listen to their surroundings and their own private audio at the same time. "These earbuds provide the most secure fit out of all the wireless earbuds I've tried," says Jacqueline Saguin, a commerce editor at the GH Institute who loves walking and running around NYC with them on. "It offers great audio quality but because it isn't designed to fit directly flush inside my ear, I can still safely hear my surroundings."
Type: Open-ear | Claimed battery life: 7.5 hours (4.5 with immersive audio and 19.5 hours extra with charging case) | Noise cancellation: No
Apple AirPods Max
Pros
- Sleek, stylish design
- Available in five colors
- Exceptional sound quality
- Features easy to use controls
Cons
- Super pricey
- Case doesn't fully protect headphones
Sleek and stylish, the AirPods Max look as good as they sound. While they're some of the pricier headphones on this list, the superior design and excellent sound quality may very well be worth it. Our pros found that the AirPods Max sounded crisp and clear, and exceptional at high frequencies. Noise cancellation is effective and the headphones are generally comfortable (though they may overheat or start to feel heavy over time).
Our pros applaud Apple's design effort when it comes to the AirPods Max. Available in five metallic shades, the built-in dial makes it super easy to increase or lower the volume of your audio as well as alternate between transparency mode and noise canceling. Just keep in mind that an AUX cable isn't included (useful for in-flight entertainment systems) and the included case isn't nearly as protective as those of other over-ear headphones.
Type: Over-ear | Claimed battery life: Up to 20 hours | Noise cancellation: Yes
READ MORE: AirPods Max vs. Sony XM5
SHOKZ OpenRun Pro
Pros
- Comfortable, open design
- Fits securely on top of ears, according to testers
Cons
- Doesn't support noise cancellation or isolation
Traditionally, headphones are either over-ear, in-ear or on-ear. But there's one type of headphone that's gained popularity in recent years, and that's open-ear headphones. Our audio experts like this SHOKZ pair if you're hoping to both listen to music and hear your surroundings at the same time without having to switch between the two since they don't actually rest inside your ears. They use bone conduction technology to send vibrations through the cheekbones and deliver sound.
They're a great choice for running, workouts and any activity, and most testers found that they felt secure. “I ran outside and indoors on a treadmill and wasn’t scared they would fall out of my ears,” one tester shared.
Though you'll have to sacrifice battery life since the bulkier case isn't rechargeable (and noise cancellation won't be an option), they offer a unique, comfortable way to enjoy music.
Type: Open-ear | Claimed battery life: 10 hours | Noise cancellation: No
READ MORE: The Best Headphones for Running
How we test headphones
The experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have evaluated over 25 pairs of headphones and earbuds in the past year alone.
To find the best headphones on the market, we first score each pair’s ease of use. We rate how easy it is to connect the headphones via Bluetooth to devices like laptops and phones. Next, we evaluate on-ear controls by listening to music, podcasts and other entertainment, noting how intuitive it is to adjust the volume, play, pause and skip tracks as well as activate or remove noise cancellation (if applicable).
We download any apps recommended by headphone manufacturers and review them for features like EQ (to adjust the sound to our preferences) and spatial audio.
We rate how comfortable the headphones feel while wearing them.
We assess the durability of each pair of headphones by reviewing water and dust protection claims (or Ingress Protection ratings) from the manufacturer. Though it isn't a dealbreaker for us if headphones aren’t water-resistant, we do have a slight bias toward pairs with sturdier construction and the ability to withstand the elements.
When it comes to audio, we also evaluate the following features while listening to music and podcasts:
✔️ Noise-cancelling: Our experts test noise-cancelling by putting on the headphones and turning on active noise cancellation without playing any other audio from the headphones. From there, we use an audio analysis software called REW to output pink noise (a sound with a consistent frequency that mimics hum and buzzes representative of the noise you try to filter out with noise-cancelling headphones in real life) from the speakers of a laptop placed in front of us at -70dBFS pk. We then increase the volume until we can hear the pink noise through the headphones and note the level where the noise breaks through the noise cancellation.
✔️ Audio spectrum analysis: Next, spectrum analysis involves using MiniDSP EARS, or a headphone analysis rig featuring molds of the human ear, so that it can analyze the spectrum of each pair of headphones via microphones inside of the ears. Headphones are placed on the rig and a spectrum analysis is run, producing a graph that reveals where the headphones have boosts and cuts along the frequency spectrum.
We pay particular attention to the low and high end of the spectrum to ensure a balanced frequency response. We tend to favor headphones with a flatter response, which indicates that the headphones reproduce music and audio exactly as the mixing or mastering engineer produced it. The spectrum analysis also gives us an idea of how much color or distortion is added to the signal that leaves the headphones. We favor headphones that reproduce audio with as little distortion as possible.
Sound quality: Lastly, we run subjective sound quality evaluations by having our test engineers in the Media & Tech Lab listen to a variety of audio content and rate the sound quality of the headphones.
As the final stage of our evaluation, we also consider feedback from our consumer testers regarding their experience using the headphones, asking them to rate everything from the comfort of the headphones' design to how easy they were to set up and use.
What to look for when shopping for headphones
✔️ Type: The first question to ask yourself when shopping for headphones is what type of design suits you best. Do you like in-ear headphones (or earbuds) that are lightweight and portable? While they're convenient, they may end up feeling uncomfortable after extended use or not fit inside your ear canal properly.
Over-ear headphones are a popular option for travel, as these typically do the best job at isolating outside noise and can be extremely comfortable. They can, however, feel tight, heavy or hot after extended use. Lastly, open-earbuds are another option that lets you listen to audio and let in outside sound at the same time so you can enjoy the best of both worlds.
✔️ Noise cancellation: Active noise cancellation (ANC) is a technology that uses counter soundwaves to block out external sounds and noise. Headphones featuring ANC will be pricier than those that simply use noise isolation (isolating out sound by their design), but they're worth the investment if you want an audio experience without distractions from your surroundings.
✔️ Battery life: If you're someone who forgets to charge their devices, you'll want to choose headphones with a significant amount of battery life on a single charge. Our pros suggest finding a pair with at least six hours with a rechargeable case, or over 20 hours total if you frequently travel.
✔️ Accessories: Consider what accessories are provided with your headphones, including the case. Is it compact enough to fit in your backpack or pocket? A durable case is preferred for transportation, and a lightweight one for activites like walking or running. For over-ear headphones, check if an AUX cable is included so you can easily connect to in-flight entertainment systems.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
GH Institute Writer and Product Analyst Olivia Lipski covers everything from tech to travel, fitness, home and more. During her time at GH, she regularly tests and reviews some of the most popular audio gear like JBL earbuds, Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Bose 700, Beats Solo 3 and the AirPods Max. Since joining the Institute in 2021, she has rotated through at least 25 pairs of headphones and earbuds annually.
Olivia (she/her) is a senior reviews writer and analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she tests and writes about tech, home, travel, fitness, parenting and health products. Since joining GH in 2021, she has continued to leverage her extensive product reviews experience by staying on top of the industry’s latest innovations and helping readers make better buying decisions. Olivia is a graduate of the George Washington University, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, political science and French, and she holds a master’s degree in communications from Sciences Po Paris.
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