The 7 Best Wireless Bluetooth Headphones - Fall 2023 Reviews

The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless are the best wireless headphones that we've tested. Although they're the previous generation of the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless, these premium over-ears have a powerful active noise cancelling (ANC) system that outperforms their successor. They can cut down the low rumble of bus engines and block out office chatter. They also last over 37 hours continuously with the ANC on and have a bass-heavy sound profile that delivers extra thump, rumble, and boom to mixes.

Unfortunately, with these headphones, vocals and instruments sound muddy and cluttered. Luckily, their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you fine-tune their sound. They also support Sony's 360 Reality Audio, which can help create a more immersive audio experience. To access this feature, you'll need to subscribe to a streaming service that supplies compatible audio files, like Tidal.

People often compare these over-ears to the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, which are also high-end ANC headphones. While the Sony headphones have the edge for noise isolation, the Bose are still a solid choice if you're looking for a more comfortable fit, as they're lighter and clamp a bit less tightly on your head. However, this is partly due to their flimsier plastic frame, which some users may find cheap-feeling for their price point.

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless are a more affordable alternative to our top pick. These premium headphones are as sturdy and durable as the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless, and their comfortable fit is great for longer listening sessions. Since they last for over 62 hours off a single charge, you don't have to worry about running out of juice during longer days on the go. Their default sound is bass-heavy, and their companion app gives you access to lots of customization features to switch up their sound to your liking.

These headphones also support multi-device pairing, so you can stay connected with your phone and computer simultaneously, as well as aptX and aptX HD codecs for higher-quality audio streaming. Like the Sony headphones, they have an ANC feature, but it can't block out as much background sound, especially bass-range noises like rumbling engines. If you want a better ANC performance, you might prefer the Sony WH-H910N/h.ear on 3 Wireless. Their build quality directly reflects their cheaper price tag, but they have significantly better noise isolation, so they're a better choice for your commute or next trip.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q45 Wireless are another great pair of wireless Bluetooth headphones available for less. These well-built and comfortable headphones offer an outstanding noise isolation performance that's great for your commute. Their active noise cancellation (ANC) system is nearly as good as what you get with the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless, and it can easily block out the noise from bus engines and chatty coworkers. Their 28-hour continuous battery life is great for active days on the go, and they support multi-device pairing, too, so you can easily switch up your audio source.

When it comes to sound, these headphones aren't quite as neutral-sounding as the Sennheiser right out of the box. Instead, they have a very excited, V-shaped sound profile with plenty of boomy bass and bright treble. They're well-suited for rock and pop, but fans of jazz or folk may find instruments and vocals sound veiled and lacking detail. You can fix it, however, with the companion app's graphic EQ and presets, which let you personalize the sound to your liking. For the price, these versatile headphones offer a really solid performance.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless are our top budget pick. These headphones are less comfortable than the Anker Soundcore Life Q45 Wireless and leak more audio at high volumes, so they aren't ideal if you like blasting your music at the office. Still, their ANC performance almost matches the Q45. When set to 'Transport' mode, it blocks out an outstanding amount of sound, including rumbly bus engines, making them well-suited for your daily commute. However, there's a noticeable difference in sound quality depending on if the ANC is on or off. When turned off, your audio is somewhat hollow and thin compared to the fuller sound you hear with the ANC on.

Out of the box, they have a bass-heavy sound profile that can make mixes muddy and instruments sound cluttered. If you prefer a more neutral sound, their app includes an EQ and presets for sound customization. They also support multi-device pairing, and their continuous playback time of over 44 hours will last through long days on the move. If you're looking for a slightly cheaper alternative, consider the Wyze Noise-Cancelling Headphones Wireless. They feel studier and offer similar in-app sound customization features. However, their ANC can't block out as much lower-frequency background noise, and their battery doesn't last as long on a single charge.

Check out the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless for the most economical option. With three picks in a row from Anker, it's evident that this manufacturer dominates the lower-cost end of the market. These are no exception, and although they're a lot simpler in design than their successors on this list, they're still worth checking out if you're willing to sacrifice extra features for a lower price. Their build reflects their affordability, as the plasticky hinges feel hollow and could be prone to damage over time.

These comfortable over-ears have a V-shaped sound profile. It's well-suited for genres like pop and rock that benefit from extra bass and brightness. However, they don't have any customization features to help you adjust their sound if you prefer something more neutral. You can't adjust their ANC level to suit your environment like the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless. They also fall short when blocking out the low rumble from a bus or plane engine, but they're much better at reducing office-type noise like ambient chit-chat and whiny computer fans. They last over 32 hours continuously; you can use them wired if you run out of power.

If you want headphones optimized for sound quality, you'll want to check out the Focal Bathys Wireless. With a wireless design and ANC, these audiophile headphones stand out among other hi-fi models that typically are open-back and wired. You can stream your favorite hi-res tracks over Bluetooth using aptX-Adaptive or wired via their USB-DAC connection, which converts digital audio signals to analog. Their default sound profile provides ample thump, punch, and boom to compliment more bass-heavy genres, while vocals and instruments still sound present but are slightly pushed to the back of the mix. Their companion app also has a graphic EQ and presets to give you full reign over their sound.

Their ANC is also very good and has a few isolation settings. While it can't cut out as much low-bass noise, like rumbly bus engines or heavy traffic, as the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless, these headphones can easily isolate you from ambient chit-chat and whiny PC fans. They also support multi-device pairing, are comfortable enough for extended wear without fatigue, and have a 29-hour continuous battery life that will last several workdays without recharging.

The best Bluetooth headphones for calls we've tested are the Bose 700 Headphones Wireless. Even though low audio and mic quality are limitations of Bluetooth technology, these stand out from other options and offer the best mic performance on this list. Their mic does a good job of recording your voice clearly, even in moderately noisy environments. They have a dedicated button for muting and unmuting the mic and last over 20 hours continuously. They have a very comfortable fit for long workdays.

Their default sound profile keeps vocals clear and accurate in your audio, so voices over the phone are easy to understand. Their app also features a graphic EQ that you can use to customize their sound to suit you. Even though their ANC feature doesn't perform as well as the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless', it does an excellent job of blocking background noise, so you can hear the person you're speaking with even if you're calling from a busy office.

If you don't mind sacrificing ANC for better battery life, check out the Audeze Maxwell Wireless. Even though they're gaming headphones, they look fairly nondescript. They last over 77 hours on a single charge, and their boom mic better isolates your voice from background noise than the Bose's integrated mic. However, the Audeze are less comfortable.