21 best wireless headphones for every occasion, whether it's for running, commuting or taking work calls
In this day and age, wireless headphones have become somewhat of a necessity. Whether you're a commuter, a jogger or just someone who's tired of traditional headphones that manage to get tangled within 10 seconds of being in your handbag, it's hard to deny how popular they've become.
The best part? No matter what lifestyle you have, you're almost guaranteed to find a pair of wireless headphones that works for you. From water-resistant headphones that are suitable for sporty types who love running outside to more high-quality audiophile-approved options for everyday listening, there's something out there for everyone.
Best wireless headphones at a glance – our top picks:
- Best wireless headphones overall: Sony WH-1000XM5 Over-Ear True Wireless Headphones, £380, Argos
- Best premium wireless headphones: Apple AirPods Max, £549, Amazon
- Best wireless earbuds: Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation), WAS £249 NOW £239, Amazon
- Best stylish wireless headphones: Beats x Kim K Dune Beats Fit Pro Wireless Earbuds, WAS £219 NOW £199, Selfridges
According to science, one of the simplest ways to give yourself a much-needed boost of energy throughout the day is by listening to some mood-lifting music. This is perfect particularly for active gym-goes, since music can make setting a pace much easier while also distracting you from fatigue and exhaustion. Our point is, investing in a pair of one of the best wireless headphones is definitely worth it, even if it is filled to the brim with confusion, tech-y terminology and specs such as aptX and ANC, as well as water-resistance IP ratings such as IPX4, IPX5 and IPX7. Plus, there's so many brands to keep track of, including Sony, Beats by Dr Dre, Apple, Sennheiser, Soundcore and more. Luckily, that's where we come in...
To help you make a more informed decision, we've put together a full edit of all the best wireless headphones on the block. We’ve tried and tested tonnes of options and narrowed it down to a shortlist to suit all needs, preferences, lifestyles and budgets. And yes, you can use them for anything from Zoom meetings, listening to podcasts and for taking on your daily walks. Enjoy.
Looking for more tech? Check out our buying guides on the best hair dryers, best hair straighteners and best curling wands. For more from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Twitter @deniseprimbet and Instagram @deniseprimbet.
Scroll down for our pick of the best wireless headphones and earbuds…
Sony WH-1000XM5 Over-Ear True Wireless Headphones, £380, Argos
Why we love it: Sony's successor to the wildly popular WH-1000XM4 headphones feature USB-C charging as well as industry-leading noise cancellation, which means you'll never have to listen to background noise such as the squeaking brakes of your local transport system or your gym's poor taste in music. But what's better is that if you start a conversation, the high-end Bluetooth headphones are clever enough to pause your music. Magic.
Apple AirPods Max, £549, Amazon
Why we love it: Although they cost a pretty penny, the Apple AirPods Max are undeniably one of the best over-ear headphones around. Along with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), the AirPods Max also feature a handy Transparency Mode, which allows you to listen to your favourite tunes while also being mindful of the outside world.
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation), WAS £249 NOW £239, Amazon
Why we love it: Let's be honest, the Apple AirPods Pro don't need much of an introduction – at this point, they've become almost just as popular as the iPhone itself. Chances are, you've come across three people wearing them just on the way to your weekly shop. Their best features include Personalised Spatial Audio, which tracks your head movement to give you the best listening experience possible. Did we mention they come with a wireless charging case too?
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes.
Jabra Elite 7 Active In-Ear Bluetooth Earbuds, £134, Amazon
Why we love it: Looking for something to keep you entertained during intensive fitness sessions? Say no more. These running earbuds are guaranteed to stay in place while jogging or exercising. These sweat-resistant workout headphones are incredibly durable too, meaning you can go as hard as you need to without worrying.
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes.
JBL Reflect Flow Pro Wireless In-Ear Headphones, WAS £159.99 NOW £129, Amazon
Why we love it: If you like to go on a run all year long, then these earbuds might be a good choice. With an IP68 waterproof design, they're made to be enjoyed wherever you go. Plus, they offer 30 hours of battery life, which is perfect for us forgetful types. One of the best running headphones around.
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes.
Soundcore Liberty 4 True Wireless Earbuds, £139.99, Soundcore
Why we love it: If you're after a pair of earbuds to catch up with your favourite TV shows and movies on your morning commute, look no further, because the Soundcore Liberty 4 earbuds are intended for exactly that. Why, you ask? Not only do they feature an ACAA 3.0 Coaxial Acoustic system that delivers crisp and clear audio, but they also include a 360 immersive spatial audio technology, which will allow you to fully submerge yourself into whatever you're watching.
Beats x Kim K Dune Beats Fit Pro Wireless Earbuds, WAS £219 NOW £199, Selfridges
Why we love it: A Kim K collab for wireless earbuds? Yes please. What makes these headphones unique is their colour scheme, which shifts away from the (frankly) boring tech-y black shade that we're used to seeing so often. Plus, each set also comes with touch controls, comfortable ear hooks, ANC, adaptive Spatial Audio and Transparency Mode. 10/10 would recommend, especially if you're looking for some good wireless headphones for everyday use.
Beats Studio Wireless Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones, WAS £348.99 NOW £204.99, John Lewis
Why we love it: A fan of Apple internals but don't want to really go for the Apple aesthetic? Check out these premium Beats headphones. Available in 7 different colours, these headphones use the Apple W1 chip, which allows seamless use with any iOS or Android device. Each set also comes with adaptive noise cancellation – ambient noise who?
Beats Powerbeats Pro Totally Wireless Earphones, WAS £219 NOW £199, Very
Why we love it: Like to work out but don't trust small earbuds to stay in their place all throughout your session? Say no more – that's where the Powerbeats Pro come in. These sports headphones feature a wing tip ear design made specifically for high intensity workouts.
AFTERSHOKZ Aeropex Lunar Grey, WAS £149.95 NOW £129.95, Amazon
Why we love it: Bone conduction headphones may sound a bit odd at first, but wait ‘till you find out that these ones don’t go in your ears at all. Instead, they sit just in front of your ears and play music, leaving your ears open. Plus, these running headphones are waterproof and come with a headband to guarantee a secure fit and keep them from slipping off during a jog.
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes.
Jaybird Vista 2 True Wireless Headphones, WAS £189.99 NOW £153.50, Amazon
Why we love it: If you're not the most… careful… person out there, then it might be worth checking out these earbuds. With military-grade durability (yes, you read that right), as well as a waterproof, sweatproof and dust-proof design, these Jaybird headphones are definitely worth picking up.
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes.
JLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Earbuds, £24.99, Amazon
Why we love it: Wireless headphones don't necessarily have to break the bank. At just below £25, these affordable earbuds come in 5 different colours and have a decent battery life too. Definitely worth checking out if you're on a budget.
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes.
Bose QuietComfort 45 Bluetooth Wireless Headphones, WAS £319.95 NOW £249, Amazon
Why we love it: These on-ear headphones from Bose may not have the most revolutionary design, but trust us when we say that their ear cups are incredibly comfortable and suited for all-day wear. They offer noise cancelling technology, a 24-hour battery life and quick charge too, with just 15 minutes of charging yielding up to 3 hours of listening time.
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, £279.95, Amazon
Why we love it: Like the minimalistic aesthetic of earbuds, but those darn things just won't stay in place? That's because everyone's ear canals are different. These wireless headphones from Bose come with three pairs of ear tips and three stability bands, which allow you to customise your fit to make sure they stay in your ear comfortably.
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes.
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, WAS £349.95 NOW £222.19, Amazon
Why we love it: Crisp audio quality and 11 different levels of noise cancellation is definitely worth bragging about. This pair of headphones also features Siri, Alexa and Google voice assistant compatibility, which allow you to control your playlist hands-free. Plus, you can get up to 20 hours of playback on a single charge.
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes.
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, £379, Amazon
Why we love it: Smart? Check. Comfortable? Check? Intuitive in use and a long-lasting battery life? Check aaand check. These ANC headphones from Bowers & Wilkins offer an immersive experience, thanks to their great sound and crystal-clear call quality. One of the best noise-cancelling headphones around – after all, who needs ambient sounds interfering with our tunes?
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes.
Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless Over-Ear Wireless Headphones, WAS £369 NOW £349, Amazon
Why we love it: When it comes to pure sound quality, not many brands do it better than Sennheiser. This device comes with a comfortable leather-clad design as well as noise isolation capabilities, both of which make your audio experience that much more enjoyable. 10/10.
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes.
Logitech Zone Vibe 100 Lightweight Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, WAS £109.99 NOW £95.16, Amazon
Why we love it: With hybrid work becoming practically commonplace nowadays, you might want to go for some wireless headphones that you can use for your regular Zoom calls. This lightweight headset from Logitech comes in three shades and even has a flip-to-mute microphone that you can move around as needed to mute and unmute yourself during calls.
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes.
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Wireless Earphones, WAS £139 NOW £99, Amazon
Why we love it: The Samsung Galaxy Buds are the Apple AirPods competitors we love and deserve. These earbuds come with noise cancellation and immersive sound capabilities. Plus, they use machine learning to drone out any external noise to help make your voice sound much clearer during phone calls.
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes.
Google Pixel Buds Pro Wireless Earbuds, WAS £179.99 NOW £136, Amazon
Why we love it: Small buds, big sound. Google's signatures Pixel Buds Pro come with great sound quality, as well as full Google Assistant capabilities to allow you to make calls, find directions or change your music all while remaining hands-free.
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes.
Skullcandy Push Active Wireless In-Ear Earbuds, WAS £69.99 NOW £59.99, Amazon
Why we love it: Remember Skullcandy? Well, the brand now offers wireless in-ear earbuds that offer a crazy long battery life of 44 hours. Yup. The best part is that they're relatively affordable, especially when you compare them to some of their competitors.
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes.
