Headphones are the way we connect and disconnect from the world. Whether you’re running a marathon or sitting in the library studying, you need to have a reliable way to listen to your devices close by — preferably, in your pocket. But with such a wide array of spectacular choices on the market, how do you choose the best one for your lifestyle?
There are features like noise cancellation, sound quality, and IP ratings to consider, not to mention aesthetics and compatibility. Depending on your needs, there’s surely a perfect set of earbuds or headphones out there waiting for you. Here are Pocket-lint’s top picks, broken down by what (and who) each pair of headphones is best for, to help you decide.
Best headphones for iPhone owners
4.5/5
- Battery Life
-
8 hours
- Bluetooth
-
Yes
- Noise Cancellation
-
ANC
New AirPods Pro 3 features include Live Translation, IP57 sweat and water resistance, and a built-in heart rate sensor, allowing users to track workouts directly with the wireless earbuds.
- Comfortable design
- Battery life improvements
- Live Translation works great
- Sound quality improvement isn’t notable
- ANC upgrade is marginal
The AirPods Pro 3 are the latest and greatest earbuds from Apple. Building off the previous generation, the AirPods Pro 3 are the company’s most comfortable in-ear buds yet — spectacular for long wear periods whether you’re working out or going about your daily business. In fact, Apple even boasts that they’re the “best-fitting AirPods ever,” with which we agree.
The premium buds come backed with active noise-cancellation (ANC), an improved eight-hour battery life, built-in heart rate tracking, and Live Translation right inside your ears. When it comes to sound quality, the difference between the AirPods Pro 2 and 3 is subtle. But if you’re upgrading from the original AirPods Pro, you’ll notice the improvements right away.
If you’re an iPhone owner, your AirPods Pro 3 will integrate right into iOS — no companion app required. Apple sells the AirPods Pro 3 for $250, maintaining the same launch price of the AirPods Pro 2. Read our whole review of the AirPods Pro 3 below.
The AirPods Pro 3 are my favorite earbuds I’ve ever used
As far as wireless earbuds go, it doesn’t get better than the AirPods Pro 3 (as long as you’re an Apple user).
Best headphones for working out
4.5/5
- Battery Life
-
45 hours
- Charging Case Included?
-
Yes
- Microphones
-
6
Beats’ Powerbeats Pro 2 are the latest athletic earbuds from the Apple-owned company. Featuring Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), Transparency mode, Adaptive EQ, and wireless charging, Powerbeats Pro 2 are 22% lighter and offer a 45-hour battery life.
- Accurate heart rate monitoring
- Sound quality
- Wireless charging
- Spatial audio
- Limited third-party support
- Large case
The Powerbeats Pro 2 are right in line with the AirPods Pro 3, but they’re for a slightly different demographic: people primarily looking for a little color pop, buds that will keep up with their workouts, and something that they don’t need an iPhone to connect to. While Beats is owned by Apple, the Powerbeats Pro 2 can work with both iPhones and Android devices thanks to the companion app.
While the compatibility could be slightly smoother outside Apple products (some features like Personalized Spatial Audio are only available through iOS), the Powerbeats Pro 2 do sport Apple’s H2 chip inside, which allows for accurate heart rate monitoring, impressive sound quality, and more.
As someone who runs half-marathons, I need headphones that will stay in my ears and brave both perspiration and precipitation. The ergonomic ear hooks are by far and large my favorite design, and they’re comfortable enough for even my longest runs. The buds also boast up to 45 hours of battery life (with the charging case) and have an IPX4 rating for both sweat and water-resistance.
Between their exceptional sound and comfortable design, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are my personal daily drivers. I own two pairs — one in the classic Hyper Purple, and the other a brand-new Nike Special Edition set featuring the athletic giant’s iconic “Volt” color palette. But why am I harping on colorways? Because it’s becoming more uncommon to find earbuds that let your personality fly — and Beats has always offered an exciting selection no matter what.
Best for style and bold design
3.5/5
- Battery Life
-
Up to 80 hours with ANC off, 35 with ANC on
- Wireless?
-
Yes
- Microphones
-
4 mic ENC architecture
Nothing Headphone (1) brings a bold, retro-inspired design to the consumer audio market. Priced below premium competitors, the Headphone (1) is still packed full of features, including multipoint support, LDAC support, USB-C and 3.5mm audio and a rarity for headphones, IP52 waterproofing and dust ingress.
- Spectacular physical controls
- Retro-inspired unique design
- Great ANC
- Cheap case
- Base enhancement functionality
If you like bold or retro, these over-ear headphones from Nothing are for you. Famous for its quirky, retro-feeling design, Nothing made the Headphone (1) nothing short of eye-catching. On each rectangular ear cup, transparent and translucent displays feature a retro-like design that almost mimics a Walkman, but looks aren’t the only reason why we love the Headphone (1).
Pocket-lint’s John Kanellakos gushes about the physical controls on these headphones, while our resident audiophile, Tshaka Armstrong, commends their immersive sound stage and impressive sound separation in general. He even calls them “a joy to listen to,” especially with the companion app’s robust EQ options.
Their IP52 rating protects it against dust ingress and light water exposure, so it should be suitable for moderate workout sessions. But if you’re someone who laces up their running shoes every time rain hits the radar, you might want to pick another pair — for $299, they aren’t a comfortable price to casually replace.
Read the rest of Tshaka’s thoughts in his official review below.
The retro-inspired Nothing Headphone 1 are polarizing on sight but pleasing on sound
Radio Raheem would be proud to rock these “dual cassette deck” headphones made for the modern listener.
Best budget earbuds
4/5
- Battery Life
-
11 hours / up to 45 hours with case (ANC off)
- Bluetooth
-
Bluetooth 5.4
OnePlus Buds 4 offer a lightweight fit and effective noise cancellation for daily use. With up to 11 hours of battery per charge and a compact charging case, these earbuds are great for long listening sessions. They support Bluetooth 5.4 out of the box and are priced at $130.
- Excellent sound quality
- Affordable
- Great battery
- Bulkier
- Touch controls aren’t very sensitive
For the affordability factor, the OnePlus Buds 4 take home the bacon. They offer excellent sound quality, with very balanced lows, mids, and highs. This is due, in part, to the dual-driver system and support for Dual DAC and audio codecs like LHDC 5.0. When it comes to noise cancellation, the OnePlus Buds 4 sit among the best in the sub-$100 market with three ANC modes and an adaptive mode for various environments. While they do retail for $130, OnePlus and Amazon frequently listed them at marked-down prices, usually around $80.
However, they aren’t perfect — both the charging case and the buds themselves are slightly bulkier than competitors, which may make ultra-long listening sessions slightly uncomfortable. Physical touch controls work well, but they aren’t nearly as sensitive or responsive as some alternatives, like the AirPods Pro 3. But you’re getting incredible sound at an incredible price for these buds, and their value does make up for the possible inability to wear them 24/7.
Read Sanuj’s whole review below.
One week with the OnePlus Buds 4 convinced me they’re almost all you need
OnePlus Buds 4 aren’t perfect, but they come surprisingly close to being the only earbuds you’ll ever need.
Best earbuds for audiophiles
5/5
- Battery Life
-
Up to 6.5 hours with ANC, Additional 13.5 hours from Charging Case
- Charging Case Included?
-
Yes
- Microphones
-
3 per earbud
Bowers & Wilkins’ updated Pi8 in-ear earbuds are the most sonically impressive earbuds I’ve ever tested. The Pi8 is what happens when one of the most respected audiophile brands in the world sets their sights on noise-cancelling, travel-friendly, and superbly engineered high-fidelity in-ear wireless earbuds.
- Impeccable sound quality
- Excellent noise cancellation
- Comfortable fit
Audiophiles often gravitate toward over-ear headphones, but these Bowers & Wilkins buds might pull you in a different direction. First of all, the sound quality is impeccable — Pocket-lint’s Andre Revilla even mentioned in his review that they are “the best-sounding earbuds [he’s] ever used.” Doubling down, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 have incredibly strong balance, excellent instrument separation, and quite convincing lows, mids, and highs. If you call yourself an audiophile, these buds pack the punch you’re looking for.
Their endurance is solid, with up to 6.5 hours of battery (with ANC on), plus another 13.5 hours stowed away in the charging case. At a whooping $400, you’d hope for more, but when the headline feature is sound, you don’t mind plugging in a little more often to access the performance. If budget isn’t an issue, and you want a more premium pair of earbuds, the Pi8 are the buds for you.
Read Andre’s whole breakdown below to see why he gave them a five-star review.
These Bowers & Wilkins noise cancelling earbuds are an introvert audiophiles dream
Bowers & Wilkins have applied their excellent audio engineering to their latest headphones for the Pi8 noise cancelling in-ear earbuds.
The bottom line: How to pick the best headphones for you
The first question you need to ask yourself is what you need your headphones for. Will you be using them all day for casual listening and phone calls, or are you looking for a rigorous set that won’t fall out of your ears on mile 12? Are you an audiophile with sound as your number-one priority, or would compromise (just slightly) for a smaller price point?
Here’s a quick summary to help:
- AirPods Pro 3: Best overall (if you’re an iPhone user) for casual listeners, great ANC, most versatile
- Powerbeats Pro 2: Best for exercise, staying securely in your ear, and color options
- Nothing Headphone (1): Best for style, uniqueness, and sound quality without looking drab
- OnePlus Buds 4: Most affordable, best value for budget shoppers who don’t want to skip sound quality entirely
- Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: Best for true audiophiles searching for in-ear earbuds that don’t mind spending extra
If you’re looking for a general daily driver, the AirPods Pro 3 are probably your best bet. If exercise is more of a priority (like it is for me), nothing beats the Powerbeats Pro 2 in my book. The ear hooks are a game-changer for running, lifting, and even going upside down in a solo yoga flow. And if you’re an Android user outside Apple’s ecosystem, the Powerbeats Pro 2 will work with your device (unlike the AirPods Pro 3).
If you want to stay away from Apple entirely, the OnePlus Buds 4 might appeal — especially to your wallet. But if you’re craving a little more personality, nothing (no pun intended) makes a splash like the Nothing Headphone (1) on the sidewalk. Personality aside, if you want to put ‘premium’ front-and-center, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8’s have the authority of one of the most well-respected audiophile brands on its side.
But if you’re here looking for the best budget option, the OnePlus Buds 4 are a spectacular choice. You don’t always have to sacrifice great sound to keep your wallet happy, and those buds prove it.
