Earbuds may reign as the most popular personal listening device, but over-the-ear headphones are a must for unmatched sound quality and supreme comfort. Competition is stiff in the over-the-ear headphone market, though, and hundreds of models are available in virtually every price range. To that end, we’ve tested numerous brands to come up with a list of the 10 best over-the-ear headphones that we think are worth the spend.
We evaluated each pair of headphones based on battery life, sound quality, comfort and overall listening experience. Whether you want the best noise-canceling headphones for flights, or a simple pair to use for virtual classes or enjoying your favorite playlist, these won’t disappoint.
Over Ear Headphones
Best Overall: Beats Studio Pro Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones
Key Specs
- Up to 40 hours of battery life
- Rechargeable via USB-C
- Available in four colors
Pros
Whether you’re listening to music, taking a call or simply watching a movie on a noisy flight, these Beats Studio Pro wireless Bluetooth noise-canceling headphones will ensure a crisp, clear listening experience. Compatible with both Apple and Android devices, these headphones feature a voice-targeting microphone to filter out background noise. Additionally, the personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking provides an immersive listening experience.
These Beats headphones have up to 40 hours of battery life, making them great to take with you on the go, and they’re rechargeable via a USB-C cable, which is included with the headphones.
Cons
At $350 a pair, these Beats Studio Pro headphones are on par with many of the options on our list in terms of price — but they’re still a bit of an investment. Luckily, though, you can often find them on sale. (In fact, at the time of publishing, these are on sale for a hefty discount on both Amazon and Best Buy!)
Best for Sound Quality: Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise Canceling Overhead Headphones
Key Specs
- Up to 30 hours of battery life
- Rechargeable via USB-C
- Available in three colors
Pros
Featuring Bluetooth 5.0 (Bluetooth’s latest and greatest connection tool), and an exceptionally high rating for sound quality, noise cancellation and battery life, the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise Canceling Overhead Headphones get the best in class. Users say the 30 hours of battery life is consistent, and a quick 10-minute charge will give you five hours of playback time. These Sony headphones also feature wearing detection, which automatically pauses play when the headphones are removed.
Capable of multi-device pairing, users report seamless Bluetooth connectivity with few glitches. The speak-to-chat technology reduces noise during phone calls, making these a perfect solution for video and phone calls.
These headphones also get high marks for sound quality and have an optional audio cable if you want to plug in. Part of the great sound quality includes Sony’s answer to Apple’s spatial audio, giving you a great surround-sound-esque experience.
Cons
Some customers report that these headphones have a high default volume level, so be sure to do a quick volume check before you start listening through them.
Best for Apple Users: Apple Airpods Max
Key Specs
- Up to 20 hours of battery life
- Rechargeable via USB-C
- Available in five colors
Pros
It should come as no surprise that Apple’s Airpods Max are the best over ear headphones for Apple purists. These connect seamlessly to your Apple devices with very few reports of glitching. The noise cancellation is on par with Sony’s WH-1000XM4 — however, the available transparency mode and unmatched spatial audio are two features that set the Airpods Max apart.
The Airpods Max also have superior build quality, being crafted mostly with aluminum and stainless steel. They’re slightly heavier but incredibly durable, and they’re available in the traditional Apple colors of pink, blue, space gray and green (in addition to black and white).
Cons
Some users find these headphones to be uncomfortable, especially if you wear glasses, and reported noise leakage from the earcups. The headband is also difficult to adjust without hitting one of the sound controls. And, at over $500, these are the priciest headphones on our list.
Best for Battery Life: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Headphones
Key Specs
- Up to 60 hours of battery life
- Rechargeable via USB-C
- Available in four colors
Pros
With up to 60 hours of battery life on a single charge, we rated the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Headphones as the best for extended battery life. While other brands may have claimed the same length of battery, the combination of sound quality and other features skyrocketed these to the top.
Sennheiser built a 42-millimeter transducer into these headphones, allowing audiophiles to enjoy completely adjustable hi-fi sound quality. They also come with an extremely user-friendly app with touch controls.
Cons
Some customers have mentioned connectivity issues when pairing these headphones with their device.
Best for Audiophiles: Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless Noise Canceling Bluetooth Headphones
Key Specs
- Up to 30 hours of battery life
- Rechargeable via USB-C
- Available in three colors
Pros
Thanks to 40-millimeter drive units angled inside the earcups of these headphones, you’ll get superior sound that is unrivaled by other similarly priced over-ear headphones. The battery life is not bad either, offering 30 hours of playback on a two-hour charge and seven hours on a quick 15-minute charge. Additionally, they have exceptional build quality, with one user reporting they’re virtually “bulletproof.”
Cons
When compared to other models on our list, these headphones don’t get the highest marks for noise cancellation.
Best for Noise Cancellation: Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700
Key Specs
- Up to 20 hours of battery life
- Rechargeable via USB
- Available in two colors
Pros
With 11 different levels of active noise cancellation, it’s easy to see why these Bose Noise Canceling Headphones are our top pick for escaping the outside world. Adaptive voice pick-up helps calls remain crystal clear, and the upgraded microphone makes it easier for others to hear you clearly.
These also offer an easy touch Spotify integration; you can listen to your favorite Spotify playlist by simply tapping and holding the right earcup.
Cons
At 20 hours, these headphones don’t have the most impressive battery life compared to most of the others on our list.
Best Budget-Friendly: PHILIPS H8506 Over-Ear Wireless Headphones
Key Specs
- Up to 60 hours of battery life
- Rechargeable via USB
- Available in black only
Pros
Users rave about the battery life of the Philips Over-Ear Wireless Headphones (eight hours after a 15-minute charge and a total of 60 hours after the full two-hour charge). We love that the sound and noise cancellation are all high quality without a massive price tag, and the durable build is an added perk.
Cons
Volume control can be an issue with these headphones, with some users reporting crackling or loss of low-level bass quality at max volume (and similar issues when the volume is turned down). But if you’re not an audiophile, these are a great option that won’t break the bank.
Best for Commuting: Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Canceling Headphones
Key Specs
- Up to 60 hours of battery life
- Rechargeable via USB
- Available in four colors
Pros
If you travel to work or school via train or bus, these Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Canceling Headphones are a great pick for your commute. Another budget-friendly option, these boast up to 60 hours of battery life on standard mode (and up to 40 hours in wireless active noise cancellation mode). They feature padded ear cups, which make them quite comfortable to wear on long commutes. We also found that, for the price, the Bluetooth connection was impeccable with these headphones.
Cons
Some customers have reported that you can only connect to one device at a time when using these headphones.
Best for the Gym: JBL Tune 710BT Wireless Over-Ear Bluetooth Headphones
Key Specs
- Up to 50 hours of battery life
- Rechargeable via USB-C
- Available in black
Pros
We’ll start by saying that these don’t technically have an IPX (water-resistant) rating — however, they’re a favorite among gym-goers and don’t seem disturbed by a little sweat. Although the JBL Tune 710BT Wireless Over-Ear Bluetooth Headphones cost less than $70, they have a high-end sound that helps superpower your workouts.
Battery time is about 50 hours, but if you forget to plug in, a five-minute charge will get you a 3-hour playback. They’re also slightly smaller than some of the other options, which may be more comfortable during physical activity.
Cons
The great sound quality is limited by volume control, with some users reporting a loss of bass at high volume.
Best for Occasional Use: Sony Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
Key Specs
- Up to 35 hours of battery life
- Rechargeable via USB-C
- Available in two colors
Pros
If you want a pair of over-ear headphones that produce great sound, have a solid build and offer plenty of playtime on one charge, the Sony Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones are the best option. Battery life is up to 35 hours, and a 10-minute charge will get you 60 minutes of playback, perfect for getting through short flights or quick errand runs.
Cons
The battery life and noise-canceling quality on these headphones aren’t quite as impressive as some of the other options on our list.
The Bottom Line
No matter your budget, you don’t have to settle for low-end, over ear headphones. Our list includes options in numerous price ranges that received marks for the best sound, optimal noise cancellation, quality building materials, and ease of use.
One final word, consider purchasing your headphones from a retailer with a good return policy and/or check with the manufacturer to determine their warranty. If you have any issues with your headphones, you want to make sure you’re able to easily return them and try another option on this list.
How To Shop for Over-the-Ear Headphones
An Amazon search for over-the-ear headphones quickly pulls up close to 5,000 options. Here’s how to cull through them easily to find the ones you want.
Wired vs. Wireless
You’ll usually save money and get better sound quality by choosing wired headphones, and this may be preferable to users who don’t want to deal with Bluetooth connections or simply don’t mind their headphones being leashed to their device. Wired headphones also give you the benefit of continuous use without having to worry about the remaining hours of battery life.
Before you buy, consider the devices you’ll be connecting to and make sure they still have a headphone jack if you’re planning to get wired headphones — many smartphones no longer have them.
Some headphones can connect both wirelessly and with a wire, giving you the ability to have the convenience of wireless and the sound quality of wired in one pair of headphones.
Noise Cancellation
The ability of your headphones to block out background noise might be the most important factor you want to consider. No headphones can offer complete noise cancellation, but some do a better job with active noise cancellation than others. There’s a lot of science behind noise cancellation, and some brands get it better than others.
A few models offer adjustable ANC (active noise cancellation), allowing you to “turn up” the feature and block out more background noise to your preference. Keep in mind that all headphones will offer some level of noise isolation simply because they place a physical barrier between your ears and the environment. However, ANC headphones do so even more effectively.
Controls
Controls on over-the-ear headphones are usually found on the sides of the headphones themselves. Touch control options are usually physical buttons or touch-sensitive pads. Try both to see which you’re most comfortable with.
Another control option you’ll need to decide is whether or not a connection to certain AI platforms (like Alexa, Siri, etc.) is important. If it is, you’ll need a set of Bluetooth-enabled headphones.
Battery Life
If you choose wireless headphones, you’ll want to carefully read the reviews to determine how long battery life lasts. Most over-the-ear headphones have a battery life lasting 15 to 20 hours, but if you’re not diligent about recharging, it might be better to purchase a more high-quality pair that lasts a little longer.
When shopping by battery life, make sure the manufacturer specifies how long the total battery life lasts in particular modes — like ANC or standard music mode. Some styles may last significantly less time in noise cancellation mode.
Budget
You can easily spend $1,000 on a pair of wireless over-ear headphones, but you don’t have to. Plenty of options are available, but knowing your budget will help you determine where to shop and what features are available in the monetary parameters you set.
