The best headphones for every situation

If you’re shopping for over-ear headphones anywhere other than the Apple store, look no further than the Sony WH-1000XM4. They’re rated as some of the best headphones in every other category.

Sony’s QNe1 processor chip delivers some high-powered, innovative technology. This includes exceptional ANC, with Dual Sense microphones that can adjust 700 times per second to deliver real-time noise cancellation. You can control the amount of external noise you want to let in or set different ANC levels for different locations, which adjusts automatically as you enter those locations (such as the office or the gym). Other features include an automatic pause when you take the headphones off, auto-switch off, voice assistant, and a “Speak-to-Chat” function that pauses the music when you begin a conversation.

The sound quality is fantastic, bolstered by advanced LDAC Bluetooth and other audio-enhancing tech. What else do you expect from the world’s most popular audio brand? The battery life is impressive too, maxing out at 30 hours (that's with ANC switched off). It’s fast charging too, with five hours of juice from just ten minutes plugged in. 

It's worth noting that the next-gen version of these headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM5, are now available. They're fantastic, of course, but considering the price hike we're still recommending the Sony WH-1000XM4.

Read our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro.

Who it's for:

If you're an iOS user who wants to avoid dealing with an auxiliary app, Apple AirPods Pro is your best bet. They have impressive noise cancellation and seamlessly connect to iOS systems. To pair them to your iPhone, just open the charging case. Need to go hands-free? The AirPods will announce your texts to you.

Why we like it:

As an iPhone user, I'm partial to Apple AirPods Pro's connectivity. They connect easily, and no app is needed. Instead, you can just go into your phone's settings; the AirPods have their own settings menu there.

But beyond their iOS compatibility, they're also fantastic earbuds. I was taken aback when outdoors and found that their ANC drowned out the busy street I was walking along. The audio quality is generally good, but it wasn't nearly as impressive as the Bose or Sony earbuds. These buds played my songs as I would expect, but with no extra flair.

The biggest downside to the Apple AirPods Pro is that they don't come with multiple ear tips. The AirPods Pro fell out often, and I wished for a smaller ear tip for a better fit.

If you like the idea of the AirPods Pro 2 but can't swing the price, the new AirPods 4 also come with active noise cancellation. Plus, they just received a positive review from Mashable's tech editor.

The German-built Sennheiser brand has been perfecting the art — and it very much is an art — of masterful audio technology for generations. The family-owned manufacturer is well known for highly durable craftsmanship. Their headphones are built both to last and excel in performance. It’s no coincidence than Sennheiser is a go-to brand for serious audiophiles. 

For over-ear fans, the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless are arguably their best ever. The sound is pretty much unmatched in their range, which combines with high-quality build and multifunctional features. 

The sound is both big and nuanced, picking out details within a rich, full-bodied depth. Sound performance is further boosted by high-end codecs and fully adjustable levels within the Sennheiser Smart Control app. 

Also adjustable within the app are the noise cancellation levels. There are three ANC modes each designed for listening in different environments — Max, Anti-Wind, and Anti-Pressure. Plus, an adjustable Transparent Hearing mode for keeping tuned in to the outside world. 

You can’t help but be impressed by the sleek, retro-esque design of the headset. The Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless are built with a genuine leather head strap, steel arms, sliders, and oval ear cups. Indeed, the upgraded Sennheiser Momentum 4 are also available. They also sound excellent but they don't have the classic style of the Momentum 3.

The ear cups do a good job of passive noise cancellation — that’s even before you’ve switched on the active noise cancellation on. Meanwhile, the headset is equipped with three control buttons for playback, volume, switching between music and calls, and connecting to the voice assistant. Another handy feature is smart TILE tech which helps you find your headset if you lose it.

Needless to say, a pair of headphones like this are not made for fitness, so if exercise is part and parcel of your listening lifestyle these aren’t for you. There’s better noise cancelation (check out Sony) and battery life around too, in case those are crucial features for you.

Beats is one of the biggest names in quality audio tech. And they're technically an Apple product — Apple bought the brand back in 2014. That means the Beats PowerBeats Pro give you the full package: The brilliant sound of Beats’ bass wizardry, plus Apple’s all-powerful H1 chip. 

Beats PowerBeats Pro wireless earphones are a good alternative if you aren't a fan of the AirPods Pro fit. And “fit” is the operative word. The Powerbeats Pro have a slimline silicone nozzle (with different size options) and over-ear hooks that ensure these never come loose.

They come with intuitive controls, which include playback and volume buttons. In fact, you can control the volume via either earbud — a small but subtly brilliant addition that other brands would do well to follow. Other nice touches include hands-free Siri, micro-laser barometric venting holes to relieve in-ear pressure, and an oversized charging case (though it may be too big for some people). The case will give you two full charges before it needs plugging back in.

There are downsides. These are splash proof rather than fully waterproof. Plus, there's no ANC or adjustable EQ levels. But these gripes can be overlooked given how impressive the Powerbeats Pro are elsewhere.

Grado might be a left-field name — they don’t rank quite as highly as Sony or Bose on lists of the best-known headphone brands — but they’ll be familiar to many audiophiles as niche, well-respected sound gurus. Which is why the Grado SR80x come highly recommended in any category.

The Brooklyn-based brand specialises in wired, open-back, on-ear headphones. That goes against current trends, but they deliver a better, naturalistic sound — very much like listening to live music. It's a kind of sound that Bluetooth and closed-cup headphones simply can’t compete against.

With the Grado SR80x, the results are tried and tested. The sound is pretty much flawless: punchy, detailed, and a pleasure to immerse yourself in.

There are drawbacks to this style of headphones, but it’s all down the personal preference. The open-back design leaks sound, both in and out. That makes them best for listening at home, where you can settle down for a serious listening session with your stereo. But that open-back design is part of what gives the sound its spacial, dynamic quality. You won't be disappointed.

If you want headphones with reliable sound, ANC, and connectivity — and you don’t need the latest tech — check out the JBL Tune 660NC. These mid-level favourites are made from premium, hard-wearing plastic, with a sound that's robust and bass-heavy. Large, over-ear cups block out external sound, which combines with highly efficient ANC tech to keep out any unwanted ambient noise. The noise cancellation is as good as it gets at this low price.

They have multi-point pairing, which means they can hook up to two devices at once. It's a very handy addition to the overall package. They’re very portable too, with ear cups that fold and turn inwards. Just throw them in your bag and off you go. They're certainly tough enough to handle being bashed about.

JBL has upgraded to Bluetooth 5.0, meaning that connection problems reported on older models are no longer a problem. The controls — placed on the right ear cup — are tricky at first but you soon get used to them. You’ll get up to 50 hours of battery life, depending on which features are switched on.

The British-made Bower & Wilkins continue to break ground with their audio tech. The Bower & Wilkins PI7 headphones are expensive but the smart tech makes them worth the cost for frequent flyers.

The charging case acts as a retransmission system, which can be plugged directly into the in-flight system. The case then retransmits the sound directly to your earbuds. That means you can watch the in-flight entertainment without using the flimsy buds provided by the airline.

If you prefer streaming Netflix from your phone or laptop, they also support the aptX Adaptive codec, which has an always-adjusting bitrate — that means a picture and sound combo that's lag-free and always stay in sync. 

The sound is fantastic, with Dual Hybrid Drive units and Diamond Series speakers. There’s adaptive noise cancelling, too, though better noise cancelling is available. That's worth bearing in mind if you're the kind of flyer who gets irritated by the plane's constant droning noise.