Best headphones 2023

It seems Sony can do no wrong with its flagship XM headphones, well almost. They’re more expensive than their predecessors and the design no longer folds down which will irk some users.

However, the price can largely be put down to inflation and if the non-folding design doesn’t bother you then these headphones are essentially flawless starting with the kinds of high-end sound and noise cancelling you’d expect from Sony, despite smaller drivers.

Elsewhere, the improved headband allows smooth adjustment and there’s an unrivalled selection of smart features from Adaptive Sound Control to Speak-to-Chat. It’s a small step forward but they remain the best over-ear headphones you can buy.

The caveat, as usual, is that considering this is refinement and not reinvention, you can buy previous generations, even the WH-1000XM4, for much lower prices providing a better value option.

Sony has done it again with its latest pair of flagship earbuds with an unmatched combination of sound quality, top-notch noise cancelling and high-end smart features borrowed from the WH model.

They also have strong battery life so they are the best package on the market if you can afford them. 

There’s very little to be disappointed with here, perhaps only that the earbuds themselves are still bigger than some rivals so aren’t well-suited to smaller ears.

They don’t have noise cancelling, but the Melomania Touch are still a great pair of wireless earbuds.

As long as ANC isn’t a must-have feature, they offer excellent sound quality and a comfortable design with changeable fins.

The standout here is unrivalled battery life with the ability to go for a whopping total of 50 hours if you use them in low power mode. They can still last an awesome 44 hours in high performance mode.

NuraLoop manages to condense the audio wizardry found in the company’s first product and deliver an in-ear alternative that’s hard to beat in terms of comfort, quality sound, top-notch noise cancellation and battery longevity.

Better yet, at this price, they undercut Apple’s AirPods Pro while delivering a better audio experience overall. Just be aware that they lack virtual assistant support and relies on some proprietary components that might cost a little extra to replace.

They are now cheaper due to the introduction of the NuraTrue earbuds.

It was a long wait for Bose to update the QC35 II and five years later the QuietComfort 45 still live up to the name.

With cloud-like cushions and a lightweight design, they are the best choice for long listening sessions – whether you’re simply at your desk or on a long haul flight. 

Noise cancelling performance is top-notch as you’d expect from Bose and battery life is solid – with wired mode still an option.

Things are surprisingly simple though with just two ANC modes – Quiet and Aware – missing the 11 levels of adjustment found on the QC Earbuds. They also lack smart features such as ear detection.

If you’re not on a tight budget then you’ll struggle to find better wireless earbuds than these.

They might have a slightly cheap-feeling case and no auto-pausing tech (aka wear detection) but those downsides are massively overshadowed by great performance and a surprisingly comprehensive feature set.

As well as powerful bass, the A2 buds have excellent noise cancelling with three presets for different environments and the app offers EQ sound customisation. Throw in touch controls and solid battery life and there’s very little to dislike.

And you can easily find them at prices lower than the RRP.

If you need headphones for running or other forms of exercise then this pair from Adidas is a steal.

They don’t charge very fast and the controls are tricky to master but they get a lot of more important stuff starting with a range of tips and wings to ensure a secure fit.

They are also lightweight and have an IPX4 splash resistant. Sound quality is great, particularly the bass, and the price is rather agreeable. If you need longer battery life look to the more premium Adidas FWD-01.

If noise cancelling is your top priority then Marshall is a little behind rivals in this area, but the Monitor II ANC headphones have a lot to offer.

For starters, they have a more affordable price (RRP) and offer one of the most compact and comfortable designs for a pair of over-ear headphones. They also sound very good, too.

We also like the useful buttons, long battery life and the way the app allows you to customise various elements.

In terms of pure sound quality, the Fairbuds XL can’t quite duke it out with other premium headsets, but they still deliver perfectly enjoyable audio that will please most users.

The active noise cancelling is good, but also not class-leading. The battery life is great though and the Fairbuds XL offer an alternatively stylish design, particularly in the green colour shown.

The big, XL even, reason to buy these headphones over rivals is down to Fairphone’s ethical and sustainable ethos with recycled materials and the ability to fix pretty much anything that goes wrong down the line with official spare parts.

They got off to a rocky start but after some firmware updates, the AirPods Max are an excellent choice for Apple users who can afford them.

The design and build are among the most luxurious we’ve ever seen (ignoring the ridiculous Smart Case) and they sound great too, even without Lossless playback support.

You also get active noise cancelling with an excellent transparency mode along with smart features like Hey Siri and Spatial Audio with head-tracking for a more immersive listening experience, whether that’s music or movies.