The Best Wireless Headphones of 2020: The 10 Best Wireless Over-ear Headphones Compared

The best over-ear wireless headphones on the market, for every budget and every taste

Wireless (wireless) headphones have come a long way in the last decade. The wireless revolution translates into ever more advanced Bluetooth codecs, longer battery life and better sound performance. This is all great news for those who appreciate both sound quality and the convenience of having no wires around.

If a few years ago we would have continued to recommend headphones with wires, for those who prioritize sound quality (and for impeccable sound quality we would still recommend them), good quality wireless headphones (like the ones you will see in this article), these days, they really are the ideal companions for listening to music on the go.

With quality, quantity also came hand in hand, however: the market is in fact packed with wireless headphones and earphones so, before starting the hunt for the best model, you should understand what kind of headphones you want. Our picks on the best wireless headphones fall on the over-ear, often noise-canceling ones, led by brands like Sony, Bose, Sennheiser, B&W and AKG.

There are, by now, also a lot of wireless in-ear headphones (or headphones, if you prefer): some have neck-straps attached to the headphones, but there are other models, known as “true wireless”, in which earphones are completely detached from each other, like AirPods.

Many use wireless headphones for the TV, for the PS4 (for gaming) or for the PC. Whatever your needs, we’ve picked the best wireless headphones you can buy for you, so you can rest assured that all of the products recommended below are great value for money.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4

Sony’s premium wireless headphones deliver a unique sound experience

Bluetooth: Yes | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery life: 30 hours | Charging Port: USB-C | Integrated controls and microphone: Yes

Pros: dynamic and detailed sound; incredible perception of rhythm; light, comfortable and smart.
Cons: no IP protection; no aptX support.

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The arrival of Sony’s WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones with noise cancellation is probably the biggest news when it comes to headphones. Because? Well, they happen to replace the WH-1000XM3 (below), the most popular headphones in the world, which among other things give Bose and Sennheisers a hard time. Yes, these headphones are a real gem and – good news – they live up to their fame.

They are as comfortable as their predecessors (that is, a lot, for those who do not know them); introduce useful new features that elevate the user experience (such as the “Speak to Chat” feature, which allows you to talk to someone while the headphones are still in your ears, all without lifting a finger) and, most importantly, you will get a real and significant increase in sound quality compared to the XM3s (partly thanks to a new DSEE Extreme audio processor).

The care of this line for the quality of the music is as always amazing, and there are also great improvements in general compared to the XM3. The sound of the WH-1000XM4 is more “composed” and clearer, especially when it comes to the lower frequencies.

2. Sony WH-1000XM3

Suitable for all tastes and undisputed masters of over-ear headphones in general: Sony’s WH-1000XM3 are all you need

Bluetooth: Yes | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery life: 30 hours | Charging Port: USB-C | Integrated controls and microphone: Yes

Pros: detailed dynamic sound; intuitive and intelligent functions; excellent noise cancellation and long battery life.
Cons: Touch controls could be complicated at first

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While these wireless noise-canceling headphones are no longer Sony’s latest model (nor the best) (those would be the WH-1000XM4, mentioned above), they still represent a more than viable alternative, especially for those on a more budget. restricted; their price has dropped quite a bit since the newcomers went on the market.

In our opinion, they remain among the best sounding, most comfortable and most intuitive headphones. Features include: Sony’s Atmospheric Pressure Optimiser, which optimizes noise cancellation when on an airplane; touchpad controls and an app to control headphones. Thanks to a fast-charging battery (via USB-C), the WH-1000XM3 headphones go from empty to full in three hours, and a ten-minute charge guarantees you a full five hours of use.

They reproduce open and intense sounds, which give space and emphasize every instrument, effect and voice. The singers’ voices are concentrated and direct, while the sounds of the accompanying instruments are emitted in such a way that it seems to be in the same room with the band. Combine all of this with attention to detail, dynamism and lots of beautiful deep bass, and you get breathtaking noise canceling headphones. If you are looking for headphones with an excellent noise cancellation system, but cannot afford the WH-1000XM4 (mentioned above), you will certainly not be disappointed with these.

3. AKG N60NC Wireless

Portable and eye-catching noise-canceling headphones with powerful and balanced sound.

Bluetooth: Yes | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery life: 30 hours | Charging Port: Micro USB | Integrated controls and microphone: Yes

Pros: clear, incisive and balanced sound; clever design; economic
Cons: nothing relevant

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Among the most compact and affordable noise canceling headphones, the AKG N60NC offers superb performance at a great price. They are beautiful on-ear, with excellent portability. Battery life is 15 hours with noise cancellation and Bluetooth enabled; it lasts up to 30 hours when the noise canceling function is turned off.

Bass sound is powerful yet clear, vocals are crisp, highs are dynamic and convincing, and sound impressive, thanks to a compact design that’s great for those on the go too. The sturdy metal (rather than plastic) components between the headphones and the headband mean these headphones can travel with us in peace.

Noise cancellation activates automatically when you use the headphones wirelessly, but you’ll also find a 3.5mm jack cable in the box to use them with wire. They’re not as comfortable as Sony’s more expensive WH-1000XM3s, but you can still wear them all day long. For the price they cost they are really hard to beat.

4. Bowers & Wilkins PX7

Truly impressive noise canceling headphones

Bluetooth: Yes | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery life: 30 hours | Charging Port: USB-C | Integrated controls and microphone: Yes

Pros: lively and penetrating sound; three-level noise cancellation; sophisticated and comfortable design.
Cons: The headphones cannot be folded.

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These headphones are B & W’s flagship and were born to entertain, as well as being able to afford to compete with the best competitors in their category. When you think about it, all headphones have to do is sound good, look good and comfortable to wear. Well, the B&W PX7 ticks all three of these boxes without problems.

By pressing a button on the left ear cup of the headset, you can cycle through the noise canceling modes (low, medium and high), so you can retreat to quiet solitude anytime, anywhere. The striking design is accompanied by a powerful, detailed and tonally balanced sound with a large dose of rhythmic precision. As with all “premium” headphones, the PX7 have a proximity sensor: when you lift them from your head, the track being listened to is automatically paused; when you put them back in your ears the track resumes.

The Sonyes we talked about above, the ones at the top of this list, are better, but the PX7s are great alternatives, especially for those who appreciate clear sounds and good design.

5. Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless

Superb noise canceling headphones, carrying Sennheiser’s reputation high

Bluetooth: Yes | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery life: 17 hours | Charging Port: USB-C | Integrated controls and microphone: Yes

Pros: They offer a rhythmic and energetic sound, comfortable control functions, effective noise cancellation.
Cons: Battery life not on par with other products.

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For Sennheiser it could be said that “the third time is the good one” for its third generation of Momentum Wirelesses; in fact, both the original and the second version were failures shortly after their release. The Momentum 3 have been significantly improved compared to the first two releases in terms of sound, offering an energetic and extremely immersive sound: you can not help but enjoy the sonic performance.

The success of the sonic part is also supported by greater ease of use. Through the Sennheiser control app it is possible to adjust the equalization settings, view the battery life and switch from one noise cancellation mode to another: “Maximum”, “Anti-wind” (which allows “input “Of some environmental noises) and” Anti-pressure “, the less intense one. A button on the right headset activates the voice assistant of the connected phone, be it Google Assistant or Siri.

It is worth noting that the battery life is only 17 hours, while the Sony have a runtime of 30 hours, but in all other respects, these headphones, capable of canceling external noise, are a nice piece of great class.

6. Shure Aonic 50

Shure certainly made a great debut with these headphones

Bluetooth: Yes | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery life: 20 hours | Integrated microphone and controls: Yes | Charging Port: USB-C

Pros: incredible detail; clear and clean audio; solid bass.
Cons: Noise cancellation isn’t entirely convincing; they are not at the level of the products mentioned above.

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Audio product specialist Shure has designed some of the best wired in-ear and over-ear headphones we’ve had the pleasure of using over the years, and their products are used by artists ranging from Haim to Hozier. But why stop here?

With the Aonic 50, Shure embarks on an ambitious journey to enter two new markets simultaneously. If we consider that this is a new field for Shure, the Aonic 50 is a great first attempt at wireless noise canceling headphones. Sure, they could have worked harder overall (they don’t feel like they last as long as the Sony WH-1000XM3s or the B&W PX7 mentioned above, for example) but, despite that, they’re great performers in many ways.

Are you looking for superior quality earmuffs with some of Shure’s famous highlights? Then the Aonic 50 is worth a “listen”.

7. Bose 700 Noise Canceling Headphones

They are not perfect, but the noise canceling function and design are among the best seen in this ranking.

Bluetooth: Yes | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery life: 20 hours | Integrated controls and microphone: Yes | Charging Port: USB-C

Pros: next-generation noise cancellation; comfortable and elegant, deep and clear sounds.
Cons: some innovations that other brands have are missing; expensive.

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Bose claims these on-ear noise-canceling headphones are “the biggest step forward for the world of headphones, after the iconic QuietComfort,” a bold claim considering the success of this range.

They are certainly innovative, with an incredibly sophisticated noise cancellation system. They are equipped with 8 microphones and 11 levels (from 0-10) of noise cancellation intensity, which allow you to go from complete isolation to full passage of external noise. The only downside to all this advanced technology is its impact on battery life, which in this model is around 20 hours, 10 hours shorter than Sony’s WH-1000XMX3s.

We appreciate these sleek, minimalist headphones for aesthetics and comfort – they stay firmly in place and you don’t feel like they can slip off at any moment. There are also touch controls, which means you can adjust the volume or skip a track with the touch of a finger. They would need a little more to stand up to the leaders in the category, but it’s hard not to please them with their crystal clear, direct and punchy sound.

8. Sennheiser HD 450BT

They play music smoothly and are long lasting, with the typical Sennheiser charm.

Type: Over-ear | Wireless: Yes | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery life: 30 hours | Weight: 238 g

Pros: balanced and fluid sounds; excellent battery life; aptX Bluetooth low latency.
Cons: bad button layout; the emphasis on bass may not appeal to everyone.

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While lacking features like the sheer transparency and simplicity found in the best noise canceling headphones, there is really a lot to like about the HD 450BT: they are by no means the last on the list when it comes to high-end features, such as the incredible battery life (30 hours) and aptX Low Latency support, which are far from present in headphones of this price.

If battery life and bass performance are among your top priorities you won’t regret buying these Sennheisers.

9. Philips PH805

Apparently premium noise canceling on-ears, but at a lower price point than a premium product.

Bluetooth: Yes | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery life: 30 hours | Charging Port: Micro USB | Integrated controls and microphone: Yes

Pros: controlled and very full-bodied sound; decent battery life; nice sturdy design.
Cons: could be more dynamic; suboptimal noise cancellation.

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Philips’ strategy is to combine most of the functionality of the current market leaders, wrap it in a design not far from that of the current market leaders, and then charge it at a lower price than the current market leaders. And in this case, the strategy has mostly been spot on, delivering a product with incredible performance and competitive battery life.

Aside from the slightly “inhibited” high-end reproduction, the PH805s deliver a truly balanced listening throughout the frequency range, even if no area receives particular emphasis.

However, if noise canceling efficiency is one of your priorities when choosing a new pair of headphones, the PH805s may not be for you. Unfortunately they are unable to eliminate outside noise as much as their rivals.

10. Lindy BNX-60

Great value on-ear bluetooth headphones for the price they cost.

Bluetooth: Yes | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery life: 15 hours | Charging Port: Micro USB | Integrated controls and microphone: Yes

Pros: excellent value for money; detailed and solid sound; noise cancellation and bluetooth.
Cons: Treble is a bit damped in standard mode.

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The cost of the BNX-60 shows that noise cancellation and Bluetooth aptX can easily be included in a price well below what one would expect from a product with these characteristics. And what they lack in “frills” they make up for in comfort and performance.

Functionality is simple: one headphone has volume control, on / off switch for active noise cancellation, and a blue light that indicates when noise cancellation is in use, while the other headphone has USB input for charging, pause / play / track change controls, a light for Bluetooth connection and a headphone output with standard cable. A full charge supports 15 hours of wireless music, or just under 15 hours with active noise cancellation.

At this price you might be worried about having overblown treble or too loud bass, and instead the Lindy BNX-60s produce a balanced, easy-to-hear sound. Noise cancellation does a good job, but falls short of the (more expensive) Sony, Bose and Sennheiser models on this list. But at this figure, these headphones are extremely difficult to fault.