Listen up, audio lovers: We rounded up some of the most beloved headphones you can find online, in all sorts of styles and at a variety of price points. Whether you’re ready to splurge on a pair with all the bells and whistles or are looking for a budget set, we’re cranking the volume on our favorite headphones — and letting everyone hear it.
Choosing a good pair of headphones can feel as personal and particular as picking what song to play. From earbuds to over-ear options, these are options loved by HuffPost readers and Amazon reviewers alike. We hope you find your next daily-wear pair of buds or a spare pair to gift someone or to keep in your gym bag or backpack.
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Come for the fun colors, but stay for the comfort and sound quality. This over-ear option has up to 40 hours of listening time between charges and controls on the earbuds for easy listening.
Promising review: “I love these headphones !!! So comfortable to wear and stays on your ear well and comfortable. Seeing they are sports related and are water resistant I have even worn them in the shower as long as I’m not washing my hair. Case recharges them when docked and auto connect when removed. Definitely recommend to anyone who loves music in the background without having everyone hearing it. Wearing one at the time gives one on standby for when you want to switch ears and you can still hear everything else going on around you. Great product and very well made, quality product” — Charlie Suzy
No, you’re not looking at some sort of futuristic earring — you’re looking at a pair of open-ear headphones, and yes, that’s a real thing. Rather than being pushed into your ear, this style from Anker is designed to attach to your cartilage, wrapping around the ear and sealing off the canal to play sound into it. They’re meant to have a little give, but will keep their shape as you wear them walking, working out or lounging.
Promising review: “So far I have worn these for about 5 hrs straight and can’t even feel they are there, which is a record for me. I usually take my ear buds out after a couple of hrs max (probably why I lose them so much)! I also like to be able to move them around on my ear without removing them if need be! The sound is really nice don’t have to feel like I have to such them up my ear drum to hear the bass. I recommend 10/10 so far, plus I think I’m starting a new ear accessory trend at work already talked a few people into buying them!” — ANGELA
Connected to each other but wireless for your device, this set from Beats really gives you the best of both worlds. The earbud heads are magnetic and can stick to each other for easy storage or to keep them around your neck when they’re not in your ears. The battery lasts for up to 12 hours between charges, with a built-in microphone and on-device controls that let you control your sound on the move. Best of all, these headphones have audio sharing letting you connect your sound with other pairs of Beats or AirPods.
Promising review:“I have no interest in fully wireless earbuds as I know I’ll lose them right away. Finding these Beats wireless earbuds that wrap behind the neck are perfect. I bought my first pair a few years ago when looking for an affordable option and I use them almost daily (my second pair is for keeping in my suitcase). I like that I can wear one (leaving one ear free to hear around me) or two, or I can let them both fall around my neck where a small magnet connects them, turns the sound off, and keeps them from falling off. I can control everything on the lightweight comfortable headset.” — CarMela
These waterproof earbuds have racked up 245,000+ 5-star ratings and an overwhelming number of positive reviews on Amazon that attest to their versatility, durability, sound quality and also the fact that they perform just as well as pricier options. Don’t stress about charging, as these keep a charge for over 40 hours and have an IPX8 waterproof rating, meaning they can be submerged in up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.
Promising review: “These are great and I have 2 pair. I found out they are truly waterproof because I dropped them in the hot tub and they were down for about 5 minutes while I looked for them. It was a big deep public hot tub. Found them, shook them off and let them dry. They still worked perfectly.” — Arike Ifaremi
Without a doubt, the consistent top-selling headphones here at HuffPost are the second-generation Apple AirPods. If you use a Mac computer or have an iPhone or iPad, these wireless earbuds automatically turn on and connect seamlessly between them. Truly, go from listening to music on your computer to taking a call on your phone in seconds without any fuss about disconnecting and reconnecting. They’re Siri-enabled with a built-in microphone, five hours of direct playtime and an over 24-hour battery life with the charging case.
Promising review: “AirPods are fantastic! They offer a seamless connection with my devices and deliver crisp, clear sound quality. The battery life is impressive, and they’re comfortable to wear for extended periods. The built-in mic provides excellent call quality, and the convenience of the charging case makes them perfect for on-the-go use. If you’re looking for reliable and high-performing wireless earbuds, AirPods are a top choice!” — Mayshin Keltner
Upgrade your workout, daily commute and general podcast listening with a pair of second-generation AirPods Pros. With active noise cancellation and transparency mode, these AirPods can let you get totally absorbed in your music or let some noise through so you can be safe while out and about. They’re water- and sweat-resistant so you can wear them in the rain or during a high-intensity jog. Best of all, they come with four different-sized silicone tips, only take an hour to charge and have up to six hours of playtime with active noise canceling. Made with Apple’s H2 chip, these headphones have dynamic noise cancellation and personalized spatial audio, meaning the sound moves with your head and fits your personal ear shape. These have six hours of direct listening time and 30 hours with the charging case.
Promising review: “AirPods Pro 2 are amazing. The Adaptive Transparency mode is absolute magic. I can wear it on the NYC subway and the terrible train noise is muted, but I can still hear the conductor’s through the speakers or even chat with someone next to me. Noise Cancellation mode is also fantastic when the world is just too noisy. They are also usually much cheaper on Amazon than they would be if you bought directly from Apple. Pro tip: if you find concerts or movie theaters too loud, wear these and just don’t play music. It’s a great use of Adaptive Transparency mode and will really cut the loud sounds down.” — Andrew
Another quality name in the audio world, JBL’s popular earbuds offer up to 32 hours of battery life, with eight hours of direct play via the earbuds alone and 24 hours of charge with the case. And if you ever forget to charge them, you can speed-charge for two hours of listening time in just 10 minutes. They’re hands-free, meaning the ergonomic shape will stay in your ears, helping you fade out external sounds and get totally into whatever you’re listening to. Make calls on the go with a “VoiceAware” program that lets you limit how much of your own voice you hear as you talk. These earbuds are water and dust-resistant, perfect for taking on the trail, mowing the lawn or using while working out or working at your desk. Per Amazon, the JBL brand has low return rates, and over 100,000 customers have rated JBL items highly. If you’ve been looking for a high-quality pair of headphones at an almost drugstore price, we recommend snagging a pair of JBL wireless buds.
Promising review: “These are without a DOUBT the best earbuds I have ever owned. That sound quality is PHENOMENAL. The amount of bass is unbelievable. And the fact that you can use the app which has an equalizer you can adjust yourself. Also, if you lose them the app can show you where to look. All around great buy.” — Nelson Eugene Perry
Looking for noise-canceling, sweat-resistant wireless earbuds with a long battery life? You came to the right place. These babies have six microphones, making them perfect for taking clear calls on the go or wearing during Zoom meetings. They have JBL’s Pure Bass sound and up to 40 hours of battery life per charge, too, so you’ll never be without your favorite podcast or playlist. They’re also water- and sweat-resistant, so you can take them to the gym or on a hike with no issues. With active noise-canceling as well as “Ambient Aware” and “TalkThru” features, you can totally tune out the outside world, decide what you want to hear or immediately switch to calls. You can change the earbud tips (three sizes are included) to ensure a comfortable fit and even choose between black, white and blue colors to find a pair you really love.
Promising review:“I purchased these earbuds for running and for work, where I am active all the time. They are a GREAT value for the money. I didn’t wamy to spend hundreds of dollars on more expensive options and the JBL reviews were positive. I am very pleased with the sound quality, bass, connectivity, and battery life. I usually get more than 12 hours of continuous use before charging. I recently compared the JBLs against the Apple pods and the JBLs were vastly better sounding.” — john
When Oprah put these Beats Studio Pro over-ear headphones on her Favorite Things 2023 list, we knew they had to be good. The priciest option on the list, they boast superior audio quality and spatial tracking that automatically moves with you and adjusts the sound. Enjoy an impressive 40 hours of battery life with complete noise cancelation or transparency mode that gives you some sounds.
Promising review: “I had beats a few years ago, and I liked them back then – I definitely like the new ones even more now. They have great sound, amazing noise cancellation, and sit super comfortably on ears.Battery lasts an insane long time, I had them on for 12 hours straight for my flight I they still had half charge left. They also look very stylish and I look forward to matching them to my new iPhone.” — Randella