The best headphones for 2024 (and why they made our list)

Read our full review of the Bose 700 headphones.

Who it's for:

Many headphones with active noise cancellation 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. If you're picky about how your ANC works, these are your headphones.

Why we picked this:

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."

To cycle through the different levels, you can use the app or cycle between three favorite settings directly on the headphones. As they're being phased out of Bose's lineup (the Bose QuietComfort Ultras are serving as their replacement, though they only have one level of ANC and transparency mode), they are on sale — you'll just want to grab them while they're still around.

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

Who it's for:

The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones 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.

Why we picked this:

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. Deputy 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” 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."

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

Who it's for:

If portability, active noise cancellation, and balanced sound are what you're looking for, your search ends with the AirPods Pro. It's not uncommon for earbuds to have active noise cancellation, but the AirPods Pro deliver an impressive performance. Plus they're versatile — whether you like to wear your headphones around the house, on a run, or as you're falling asleep at night, the AirPods Pro fit the bill.

Why we picked this:

Last year, Apple finally gave their AirPods Pro a much needed upgrade in the form of a USB-C charger. Other than the charging port, they're identical to the second-gen Pros released in 2022, which Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder described as "the first pair of earbuds I'd actually consider taking on an airplane (instead of my much larger and clunkier over-ear headphones)." He went on to say that "In some aspects, the active noise cancelation was even better than on my daily drivers: B&W's excellent PX7 over-ear headphones."

Despite their size and enhanced ANC, the Pro's battery still lasts for up to six hours on a single charge and 30 hours overall with the case. However, it is worth noting that the battery life will noticeably decline after a few years.

Who it's for:

Over-the-ear headphones are ideal for an immersive listening experience with top-tier ANC, but they're more likely to sacrifice comfort in the process. With the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones, you get the best of both worlds — stellar audio, no ear fatigue.

Why we picked this:

Lead Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel uses the Bose QuietComfort 45 on a daily basis and praises them as the most comfortable headphones she's ever owned. Until she found the QC 45s, the on- and over-ear cans from Bose, JBL, and Beats that she tested kept making her head ache. "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."

Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard also found that the QC 45s wear easily over an entire workday, even while she wears glasses.

Who it's for:

If you're into earbuds with good ANC but less into shelling out $249 for those earbuds, you'll find your happy medium in the Beats Studio Buds +.

Why we picked this:

The AirPods Pro are great, but they're not in everyone's budget. These Beats will run you about $80 less (or an even greater discount, if you catch them on sale), give you some more leeway with color options, integrate just as well into an Apple ecosystem as AirPods, have the same battery life as AirPods, and still deliver pretty good ANC. While we didn't find them to be a one-to-one experience during our testing — you should expect the AirPods to block out more — they were incredibly comfortable. We also found them to fit better than AirPods, so if those Apple earbuds usually slip out of your ears, you'll want to try these Apple earbuds.

We do want to mention that if $169.95 is still fairly steep, you can also get ANC through Amazon's Echo Buds for just $119.99. They were our former budget pick, but we found the Beats to have more to offer all-around.

Read our full review of the Beats Fit Pro.

Who it's for:

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.

Why we picked this:

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.

Read our full review on the Sennheiser IE 300 earbuds.

Who it's for:

If you're an audiophile ready to invest in a pair of audio-first earbuds, we recommend the Sennheiser IE 300s. Casual listeners or folks who value noise cancellation above all else probably won't find this purchase worth it.

Why we picked this:

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."

Again, 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.

Who's it for:

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 earbuds. These are your earbuds if budget is at the top of your consideration list.

Why we picked this:

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 look. 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 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.

Note: we did not hands-on test these earbuds, but we did choose them after extensive research, including reading through many customer reviews and comparing specs to other options.