How to choose the best wireless headphones
1Bluetooth - or wireless - headphones are the most popular type of headphones on the market today. But with options to suit every taste and budget, selecting the perfect pair isn’t always easy.
Fortunately, we’ve tested more than our fair share and this guide will cover everything you need to know to make a well-informed buying decision.
Check out our tried and tested rundown of the best wireless headphones on the market: https://www.expertreviews.co.uk/headphones/1405124/best-bluetooth-headphones-the-best-wireless-in-ear-on-ear-and-over-ear
Bluetooth headphones are available in all major headphone styles:
There are over-ear headphones, which envelop your ears with large cushioned pads. Most utilise a closed-back design to help block external noise. Open-back models, which tend to sound better, are also available but they’re not ideal for wearing when you’re out and about as they let noise in – and your music out.
On-ear headphones look similar to their over-ear counterparts but have earcups that sit on top of your ears rather than over them. These are more compact but less effective at blocking out ambient sounds.
Next, there are in-ear headphones, or earbuds, which are the most lightweight, portable choice. These rest just inside your ears or come with tips that fill your ear canals. Some have earbuds connected by a cable or neckband, while “true wireless” options feature two fully independent buds.
Finally, and the least common are bone conduction headphones, which rest on your cheekbones and transmit audio through tiny vibrations. They offer no sound isolation but are ideal for those wanting to remain aware of what’s happening around them.
Bluetooth
Once you’re set on your preferred style it’s worth digging into the specifications. Without getting too technical, headphones using newer iterations of Bluetooth offer better data transfer speeds for high-quality audio playback, a more reliable connection and less lag. The more recent the Bluetooth version, the better, but anything offering 4.2 or above is fine.
Audio codecs are also important as they determine how Bluetooth transmits information from your device to the headphones. The SBC codec is pretty much universal but you can access higher-resolution audio with more advanced codecs such as aptX and aptx HD. Remember that both your phone, tablet or laptop as well as your headphones need to support a specific codec in order to make use of it.
While audio quality should be a top priority, there are several other features worth considering when weighing up different models.
All wireless headphones rely on battery power to operate and playback times vary greatly between different models and styles. You can usually expect 15 hours and up from on-ear and over-ear headphones and around ten hours from the smaller, in-ear headphones.
True wireless earbuds come with charging cases, which tops up the battery in the buds when you’re not using them, extending the amount of time you can spend away from the mains.
Active noise cancellation – or ANC – is definitely worth having, too. ANC headphones use microphones to monitor external sound, they then take that sonic signal, invert it and play it back in a bid to minimise the ambient background sounds.
While it won’t completely eradicate ambient sound it is useful in loud environments like busy trains and planes, making it easier to enjoy your music or podcasts at lower volumes.
Some Bluetooth headphones support optional wired connections. If you plan on also using your headphones with older playback systems like Hi-Fis and MP3 players then a 3.5mm jack is necessary. Having an optional wired connection also allows some wireless headphones to continue operating even when you run out of battery.
For many, a built-in microphone for phone calls is a must-have, while voice assistant support is important if you rely heavily on Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant.
Touch controls can be handy if implemented properly, too, although physical buttons tend to be a more reliable way of skipping tracks and adjusting the volume.
Finally, there’s waterproofing. If you plan on wearing your headphones while running or at the gym, we recommend you opt for a pair with at least IPX4 certification.
For a complete rundown of the best headphones on the market, along with the latest deals, see our website.
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