Unlike the wired counterparts, over-ear wireless headphones save you from the headache of dealing with tangling cables. They also allow you to move around conveniently as they connect via Bluetooth.
If you’re looking for over-ear wireless headphones to take your listening experience to the next level, consider the battery life, availability of smart features, sound quality, durability, weight, and comfort.
Here are the best over-ear wireless headphones you’ll find on the market today.
If you prefer high-end headphones that offer long-term comfort, you can’t go wrong with the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX. This pair of headphones are designed with comfort in mind, thanks to the pressure-relieving headband. The ear cushions are also crafted from lambskin leather, a premium material that provides a secure grip and all-day comfort.
The physical controls on the headphones are responsive and reliable for quick Bluetooth pairing and volume adjustment. The Bang & Olufsen control app is another handy feature that lets you get the most out of your headphones. You can personalize your listening experience by fine-tuning the EQ presets, accelerometer’s sensitivity, and the level of noise cancelation.
Regarding sound performance, the headphones feature 40mm neodymium drivers in each earcup that take you on an audio adventure. The instruments across different genres are well separated and strike as intended. But as mentioned, you can tweak the sound according to your liking.
- Bluetooth 5.1 technology
- Useful control app
- Three hours charging time
- Brand: Bang & Olufsen
- Battery Life: 40 hours with ANC off, 35 hours with ANC and Bluetooth on
- Material: Leather, rubber, fabric, aluminum, polymer
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Noise Cancellation: Yes
- Waterproof: No
- Microphones: 4x MEMS mic for the ANC function, 2x MEMS Voice mic
- Weight: 0.63lbs
- Colors: 4
- Folding/Storage: Yes
- Charging: 3 hours
- Elegant design
- Long-term comfort
- Durable
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX
Most ANC headphones feature one or two levels of noise cancelation, but the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 stands out with 11 levels. You can adjust from talk-through to the highest setting via the supported app to suit your listening needs. There’s also an option to set your favorite modes as defaults.
The four-microphone system picks up your voice with ease while isolating surrounding noise. This means you can have a conversation on the phone in a noisy environment without it affecting your call. In addition, the advanced microphones also create a conversation mode that pauses music and turns off the ANC. Once activated, you can have a quick conversation with anyone approaching you without it interfering with your music.
The intuitive controls on the earcup’s surface make operating the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 a breeze. A simple tap lets you answer/reject calls, adjust the volume, pause/play music, or skip tunes. You can also go hands-free by interacting with Google Assistant or Alexa.
- Powerful microphone system
- Google Assistant compatible
- Conversation mode
- Brand: Bose
- Battery Life: 20 hours
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Noise Cancellation: Yes
- Waterproof: No
- Microphones: Yes
- Weight: 0.5lbs
- Colors: 2
- Folding/Storage: No
- Charging: 2.5 hours
- Incredible ANC capabilities
- Excellent call quality
- Comfortable to wear
- Battery life could be better
Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700
Almost seven times cheaper than the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX, the JBL Tune 710BT headphones are an excellent choice if you’re looking for affordable headphones with long battery life. The 690mAh battery lasts for approximately 50 hours with ANC off. However, you’ll still get 35 hours of playtime with ANC and Bluetooth on, which is considerably higher than what most models offer.
If you’re always on the move, the headphone’s foldable design comes in handy as it improves portability. They take less space in your bag, leaving enough room for other essentials.
Bluetooth Multipoint is another outstanding feature that makes it easy to connect two different devices quickly. You can switch between your audio gadgets like a laptop and smartphone without difficulty. In addition, you can answer calls from one device while the other is still connected to music.
- Multipoint Bluetooth technology
- 40mm driver size
- Two hours of charging time
- Brand: JBL
- Battery Life: 50 hours (ANC off)
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Noise Cancellation: Yes
- Waterproof: No
- Microphones: Yes
- Weight: 0.49lbs
- Colors: 3
- Charging: Two hours
- Hands-free calls
- Longer battery life
- Lightweight and foldable design
Gaming with some wireless headphones can be challenging, but the Sennheiser HD 450BT solves delay annoyances with AptX Bluetooth codec. It offers a low latency mode to ensure that gaming audio syncs with whatever you see on the screen.
But, aside from being beneficial to gamers, these headphones are also foldable for easy storage and portability. You can throw them into a small bag or purse and carry them to work or class. You can also retract the headband to achieve a sitting position that doesn’t feel constricting or awkward on your head.
The intuitive controls are a delight to use, but you will have to install the Sennheiser Smart Control free app to get the most out of your headphones. However, you can always update the firmware and adjust the frequencies to improve the audio quality.
- USB-C fast charging
- High-quality codec support
- Works with voice assistants
- Brand: Sennheiser
- Battery Life: 30 hours
- Material: Plastic
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Noise Cancellation: Yes
- Waterproof: No
- Microphones: Yes
- Weight: 0.52lbs
- Colors: 2
- Folding/Storage: Yes
- Charging: Two hours
- Foldable
- Intuitive equalizer
- Portable
If you want to listen to your favorite music with pressure-free comfort, consider the Soundcore by Anker Life Q30 headphones. The headphones feature an ultra-soft protein leather design on the earcups for comfortable lengthy listening sessions. They also fit snugly over your ears, thanks to the mattress foam padding. However, they do tend to get pretty warm, so this should be a consideration if you live in a warmer climate.
With Life Q30 40mm drivers, the headphones deliver every fine detail of your favorite songs. For improved sound quality, the model’s dual noise-detecting microphones filter out up to 95 percent of any background distraction within your environment, improving clarity when listening to music.
The frequent need to keep charging your headphones can be frustrating if you’re always on the move. For this reason, the Soundcore by Anker Life Q30 headphones integrates a best-in-class battery, lasting up to 40 hours. A quick five-minute charge is enough to give the headphones up to four hours of playtime.
- 40-hour playtime
- 40mm drivers
- Protein leather earcups
- Brand: Soundcore
- Battery Life: 40 hours
- Material: Protein leather earcups
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Noise Cancellation: Yes
- Waterproof: No
- Microphones: Yes
- Weight: 9.3oz
- Colors: Black, Blue, Pink
- Folding/Storage: Yes
- Charging: 2 hours
- Great sound quality
- Outstanding noise cancelation
- Long battery life
Soundcore by Anker Life Q30
The SONY WH-1000XM5 noise-canceling headphones boast Auto NC Optimizer that automatically cancels noise based on your headphone-wearing conditions and listening environment. Its eight microphones and two powerful drivers efficiently analyze your surroundings to blur out noise, resulting in a total focus on your audio.
Regarding the battery life, these headphones can run for about 30 hours, making them excellent for outdoor environments. If you’re an enthusiastic gym-goer, quick-charging these headphones for three minutes will last up to three hours, enough time to enjoy your favorite playlist throughout the entire workout session.
The SONY WH-1000XM5 boasts intuitive touch control settings for ease of use. This includes an instant pause/play feature that automatically pauses when you remove your headphones and continues playing when you put the headphones on.
- Auto NC Optimizer
- Noise cancelation
- Multipoint connection
- Intuitive touch control
- Brand: Sony
- Battery Life: Up to 30 hours
- Material: Leather and plastic
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Noise Cancellation: Yes
- Intercom Range: Not Provided
- Waterproof: No
- Microphones: Yes
- Weight: 0.55lbs
- Colors: 2
- Supported codecs: Not Provided
- Audio codecs: Not Provided
- Folding/Storage: Collapsible case
- Charging: USB
- Excellent and adaptive ANC
- Lightweight
- User-friendly
- Long battery life
If you’re a music lover looking for headphones to use for long hours comfortably, the Philips PH805 headphones are a great choice. The sound quality is top-notch since they feature 40mm Neodymium Acoustic drivers coupled with ANC technology.
The awareness mode is a valuable addition that keeps you alert to your surrounding without overpowering your music. This feature gives you complete awareness of travel and office spaces, ensuring you don’t miss any important announcements at the train station or airport.
The Philips PH805 packs one lithium polymer battery that provides a lengthy playtime. A single charge lets you enjoy your favorite music for about 25 hours with ANC on and 30 hours with ANC off.
- Awareness Mode
- 40mm Neodymium Acoustic drivers
- ANC
- Brand: Philips
- Battery Life: 30 hours
- Material: Plastic, faux leather, stainless steel
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Noise Cancellation: Yes
- Waterproof: No
- Microphones: Yes
- Weight: 0.62lbs
- Colors: Black
- Folding/Storage: Yes
- Charging: 2 hours
- Comfortable
- Impressive sound quality
- Long-lasting
FAQ
Q: Are Over-Ear Wireless Headphones Repairable?
There are common issues you’re likely to encounter when using wireless headphones, but most are fixable.
Sometimes, the headphones may fail to pair with audio devices, face interference from time to time, generate a buzzing sound, or fail to charge. Depending on the problem, you can bring your headphones to life in minutes in the comfort of your home.
But if the problem is beyond your DIY skills, visit a professional repair store. If the headphones are old, consider replacing them to enjoy new features.
Q: Can I Game With Over-Ear Wireless Headphones?
Yes, you can. Over-ear headphones offer full-ear coverage, meaning the noise isolation capabilities are better than on-ear models. You hear realistic and more prominent audio when gaming, thus boosting concentration when hunting down opponents.
However, when buying wireless headphones, consider picking a pair with low latency mode to eliminate audio lag that may cost you a win.
Q: Can I Use Over-Ear Wireless Headphones on Planes?
Yes. Most connect to your devices via short-range Bluetooth, so they have zero to minimal effects on the aircraft. But remember to check if the airline you plan to use permits the use of wireless headphones.
In addition, most models have epic battery life even with ANC on, making them ideal for long flights.
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