The best headphones for 2023 (and why they've made our list)

The need to know: Over-the-ear headphones are ideal for an immersive listening experience with top-tier ANC, but are more likely to sacrifice your comfort in the process. With the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones(opens in a new tab), you get all-day wear without sacrifice.

Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel uses the Bose QuietComfort 45 on a daily basis and praises them as the most comfortable headphones she's owned: "I had an impossible time finding a pair of on- or over-ear headphones that fit well. I don't know if I have a huge dome or what, but most of the name-brand models I tried made my head ache after just a couple minutes of wear (specifically, JBL and Beats). That wasn't the case with the cushiony and lightweight Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones, which feel secure but not overly snug — I can wear them for an entire workday, no problem. The cherry on top is their fantastic noise cancellation, which is a godsend for my eardrums when my parrot (who lives in my office) decides to randomly scream. All in all, I'd say they certainly live up to their name."

The nice to know: As with any Bose product, these headphones deliver well-balanced audio, but we wouldn't consider it their biggest draw. They do have adjustable EQ so you can balance your music exactly how you like, but it isn't necessary to have a pleasant listening experience. A 20-hour battery life (greatly increased if you switch off noise cancellation) means the music won't stop any time soon either.

As Henschel wrote, the ANC is fantastic, though not adjustable like the Bose 700 headphones. Still, between the two modes, these headphones are well-equipped to block out low rumbling sounds and higher-pitched tones, making them great for plane rides and working in the office.

Read our full review of the Bose 700 headphones.

The need to know: Like the existing Bose QuietComfort series of over-the-ear headphones, the Bose 700 headphones aim to deliver high-quality audio while canceling out the noise around you.

Many headphones with ANC have at least one level of noise cancellation, plus a transparency mode, so you're not completely unaware of the world around you in every situation. The Bose 700s amp that up tenfold, giving you ten different adjustable levels of ANC, plus one level without, for the ultimate customization experience. You can adjust either from the app, or between the three favorite settings on the headphones themselves. When Mashable tech reporter Alex Perry tested out these headphones, he found they worked effortlessly in multiple loud scenarios: "I've tried these out in the lively Mashable office, on the busy streets of New York City, and even in a particularly noisy bar. In every scenario, I couldn't hear much, except for what I chose to listen to."

The adjustable ANC will run a bit more, as these headphones start at $379, but for many, they could be more than worth it.

The nice to know: The Bose 700s are as easy to use as they are to look at. Pairing is as simple as with any other Bluetooth device, though the Bose app used for pairing can have a little trouble switching between devices. Once you're done with that, there's a typical array of touch commands on the right side. Phone calls also come through especially clearly, as a four-microphone system isolates your voice, so both you and the person you're talking to have an easy-to-hear call, despite the hustle and bustle around you.

As for comfort, they're not quite at the level of the Bose QC 45s, and can feel more noticeable after hours of wear. Still, the stainless steel headband feels light yet reliable, the rubber padding on its interior rests well on the top of your head, and the foam earcups are plenty comfortable to wear for pretty heavy use.

Read our full review of the second-generation AirPods Pro.

The need to know: It's not uncommon for earbuds to have active noise cancellation these days, but if you want some of the best, the AirPods Pro deliver an impressive performance. The second generation of the earbuds dropped last fall, bringing with them several minor improvements that add up to an all-around better product, as Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder wrote in his review.

After wearing the buds for a week, this is what he found: "In some aspects, the active noise cancelation was even better than on my daily drivers: B&W's excellent PX7 over-ear headphones. For example, the new AirPods Pro were better at canceling the noise of people talking (again, this may not be ideal for people who want to drown out background noise but still be available when someone talks to them). These are the first pair of earbuds I'd actually consider taking on an airplane (instead of my much larger and clunkier over-ear headphones)."

Despite their size and enhanced ANC, the Pros battery lasts for up to six hours on a single charge, and 30 hours overall with the case. It is worth noting though, though they've not been out long enough for us to test it ourselves, AirPods users frequently see noticeable dips in battery longevity after a couple years.

The nice to know: For a pair of earbuds, the Pros have decently long battery life and standout ANC, which makes them a great on-the-go option that doesn't sacrifice quality. With that said, they are on the pricey side, though not unreasonably so for what they're offering. They pair easily with any Apple product, and will likely be best for those who are already at least a little in the fruit company's ecosystem, thanks to the lightning port.

Read our full review of the Beats Fit Pro.

The need to know: When it comes to workout headphones, you need a pair that'll actually stay in your ears — motivating yourself to get through a set of push ups is hard enough without an earbud popping out. The Beats Fit Pro earbuds are more than up to the task — and they deliver exceptional battery life, sound quality, and a few extras.

Earbuds designed for exercise typically have some sort of wingtip to help hold them in place, but those wingtips can often squeeze uncomfortably on your ears, especially with longer-term use. The small wingtip of these Beats hit the sweet spot — they're large enough to provide hold, and small enough to be undetectable. Mashable tech reporter Alex Perry writes that the wingtips "result [in] a pair of earbuds that never feel like they're going to fall out and, more importantly, never intrude on your comfort. I've worn these bad boys for six straight hours without any problems. It's hard to ask for more than that."

Beyond comfort, these earbuds provide an impressive sound profile, including that deep bass that Beats are known for. And of course, as any workout earbuds should be, these earbuds are sweat and water-resistant with an IPX4 rating.

The nice to know: If you need your headphones to help you get into the zone, you'll appreciate the ANC on the Beats Fit Pros. Compared to the $249 AirPods Pro, $200 isn't bad for this feature. You'll also get six hours of battery life per charge (that's with the ANC on) and 24 hours overall. To top it off, you get your choice between ten different colorways.

Read our full review of the Amazon Echo Buds.

The need to know:  Amazon's Echo Buds(opens in a new tab) deliver good sound quality, effective ANC, and a slimmed-down build for a startlingly low price. These are solid, dependable earbuds.

The 5.7mm drivers provide good-but-not-great sound quality and noise-canceling technology is perfectly adequate, but the best thing about these is undoubtedly the price. When we stacked the Echo Buds up against similar quality competitors, they had the best price by a wide margin. Here's what Mashable Tech Reporter Alex Perry had to say about them in his review:

"The second generation of Amazon Echo Buds are a serious improvement over the original thanks to a slimmer size and the addition of real active noise cancellation. At such a comparatively low price, I'd call them a steal for anyone who wants to dip their toes into the world of ANC without setting their wallet on fire. They're also particularly enticing for those who aren't married to Android or iOS, which can be a real barrier for AirPods or Galaxy Buds adoption."

The biggest downsides to these second-generation Echo Buds(opens in a new tab) are an average battery life and a short Bluetooth headphone range, plus a somewhat unnerving reliance on Amazon's Alexa voice assistant and average battery life.

The nice to know: Counterpoint to the above is that if Alexa has become a big part of your day-to-day life then you'll love the AI integration with these headphones — you just may not be able to escape it. If you're looking to get the best bang for your buck, the Echo Buds regularly dip down to just $80.

Read our full review on the Sennheiser IE 300 earbuds.

The need to know: The best thing about these earbuds by Sennheiser is their incredible sound. Audiophiles: take note. Sennheiser jammed a 7mm transducer and a 6Hz to 20kHz frequency response into the IE 300s, and the results are "the best-sounding earbuds" that our reviewer Alex Perry has ever used. We want to be clear — just because these earbuds are wired doesn't make them a budget pick. As Alex puts it, "The Sennheiser IE 300s cost more than AirPods Pro despite being wired and including little in the way of special features. With all that in mind, you'd expect them to sound incredible. Why else would they cost so much? The good news is, yes, the sound quality here is a real highlight."

Note that these are wired earbuds, so you'll need a headphone jack (or a dongle, for the iPhone users out there) in order to listen. The fit is comfortable, with several options provided for nestling into your ears, though the hooks can be a bit irritating.

The nice to know: Not a whole lot in the way of special features here, although you may consider it a plus that these will never lose their charge. (Because they're wired. Get it?) If you're a true audiophile, the Sennheiser IE 300 earbuds are a good way to go.

Read our full review on the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones.

The need to know: The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones(opens in a new tab) deliver top-notch ANC and audiophile-level sound quality, with an incredible 30-hour battery life. Their design offers a less expensive alternative to the AirPods Max, for those who like their headphones to sound and look good.

If you're into Bose headphones but aren't totally sold on Sony, we're willing to bet you'll see something you like in the WH-1000XM5s. Often, people herald Bose as having the superior ANC but Sony as owning the sound space. Senior Reviews Editor Miller Kern definitely noticed these headphones excelling in the latter when she tested them out: "The sound itself is also impressive — it’s full and clear, and feels like surround sound. I’m a big fan of power ballads (I’m not allowed to pick the music at parties), and Brandi Carlile’s “Right on Time(opens in a new tab)” sounded like it was meant to be listened to on these headphones. The vocals and instruments all got to shine, and the headphones made it feel like I was there in the studio. These are probably the best-sounding headphones I’ve ever tried.

Perhaps even better is that the 30 hours of battery life beats every other headphone on this list (and both pairs of Bose headphones by 10 hours). If you like to minimize your recharges, these Sony headphones are almost certainly for you.

The nice to know: If you already own a pair of the WH-1000XM4s, it probably won't be worth it to spring for the upgrade. Though there are improvements to both the ANC and sound, it's not worth spending an additional $400. In addition to looking good, these headphones come with plenty of (customizable) controls, activated by swiping and pressing on the earcups.

Maybe their biggest flaw is that you can't fold the earcups in, so these headphones are a little bulky if you ever need to stash them in your bag.

The need to know: Wireless earphones don't have to cost a fortune, provided you're willing to compromise. That's the thinking behind a lot of Skullcandy's headphones, but especially the Sesh Evo(opens in a new tab) earbuds.

There are no options for tweaking frequency response, and certainly no dedicated app, but if you want some earphones that simply just work, these are worth a purchase. Battery life weighs in at about five hours, which should be good for your daily commute and gym session. The case has 24 hours of charge overall, but it might take a while to juice the earbuds back up (so don't expect the quick charge you might get from AirPods or Bose headphones). At their full price, these headphones are slightly stepped up from our former budget pick, the Skullcandy Jib(opens in a new tab) earbuds. However, they do come with some extra features, including a built-in Tile tracker you can activate by downloading the Tile app. They're also regularly on sale for about $30, putting them squarely in the same price range as the Jibs.

The nice to know: The low price means that these Skullcandy earbuds lack the extras that elevate your listening experience. There's a built-in mic so you can take hands-free calls, and a button for volume and accepting calls, but that's about it. Still, you can appreciate that they're super lightweight, easy to put in your pocket, and way cheaper than a pair of AirPods.

Note: we did not hands-on test these earbuds, but we did choose them after extensive research, including reading through many of the 49,000-plus Amazon reviews.