April 2024
Wireless Headphones: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of wireless headphones rankings posted by key online experts, as of April 2024.
Summary
On 4 Apr 2024, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 104 headphones endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
60 headphones were endorsed in total, only 15 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 4 Apr 2024, Sony WH-1000XM5 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed headphones with 9 expert endorsements. 6 experts out of 9 recommended it as the '#1 headphones' this month.
Brand breakdown
-
Sony: 8 headphones
(#1 is Sony WH-1000XM5)
-
Bose: 4 headphones
(#1 is Bose Ultra Headphones)
-
Anker: 4 headphones
(#1 is Anker Soundcore Space Q45)
-
Bowers & Wilkins: 3 headphones
(#1 is Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2)
-
JBL: 3 headphones
(#1 is JBL Tour One M2)
Price breakdown
At a glance - April Ranking
Rank | Change | Price | Headphones |
WIRED
|
CNET
|
Tom's Guide
|
IGN
|
T3
|
PCMag
|
Wirecutter
|
Rtings.com
|
Digital Trends
|
What Hi-Fi
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
- | $348 |
Sony WH-1000XM5
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
5
|
3
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
- | $379 |
Bose Ultra Headphones
|
9
|
1
|
3
|
-
|
2
|
3
|
-
|
1
|
2
|
-
|
3
|
+1 | $499 |
Apple AirPods Max
|
8
|
6
|
8
|
8
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
6
|
4
|
+1 | $249 |
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
|
2
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
5
|
-2 | $269 |
Apple AirPods Pro 2
|
5
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
- | $299 |
Sennheiser Momentum 4
|
-
|
3
|
6
|
6
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
7
|
- | Check price |
Sony CH-720N
|
7
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
8
|
- | $349 |
Bose 700
|
11
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
- | $278 |
Sony WF-1000XM5
|
-
|
14
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
10
|
- | Check price |
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2
|
17
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
12
|
- | $139 |
Urbanista Los Angeles
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
13
|
- | Check price |
Bose QuietComfort 45
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
14
|
- | $75 |
1MORE SonoFlow
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
15
|
- | Check price |
Master & Dynamic MH40
|
12
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
16
|
- | $699 |
Focal Bathys
|
15
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
We ranked Sony WH-1000XM5 #1 in April 2024 because:
- 9 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 6 experts ranked Sony WH-1000XM5 as #1.
CNET
Best noise-canceling headphones from Sony
More refined sound and even better noise canceling
Slightly more comfortable
Best-in-class voice call quality
Robust feature set
|
Higher price tag than the previous model
Larger carrying case (headphones fold flat but not up)
|
Tom's Guide
The best wireless headphones overall / Editor's Choice
Articulate and engaging sound
Great control options
Impressive noise-cancelation
|
Redesign and eco credentials ups the price
Gets hot around the ears during longer listening
|
T3
The best noise cancelling headphones for most people
Superb noise cancellation
Stunning sound
Great battery life
Very comfortable
|
Don't fold
Pricier than predecessors
|
PCMag
Best Headphones for Audiophiles / Editors' Choice
Excellent audio performance with robust bass depth and crisp highs
Top-notch active noise cancellation
Intuitive on-ear controls
App offers an adjustable EQ and other customization settings
Comfortable, stylish design
|
Expensive
|
Digital Trends
The best wireless headphones overall
Excellent sound
Very good comfort
Ultra-clear call quality
Best-in-class noise canceling
Very good battery life
Hi-res compatible (wired/wireless)
Hands-free voice assistant access
Classy, modern design
|
Fold-flat, but don’t fold up
|
What Hi-Fi
New design, same winning result for Sony’s latest premium wireless headphones
Sensational sonic clarity
Nice to use
Punchy and precise, agile bass
|
Build seems a little less premium than before
Don’t fold away completely
|
We ranked Bose Ultra Headphones #2 in April 2024 because:
- 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Bose Ultra Headphones as #1.
CNET
Best new noise-canceling headphones
Design is an upgrade
Lightweight and very comfortable
Excellent sound and great noise canceling
Voice-calling performance is top-notch
Immersive Audio mode offers some sound-quality enhancements
|
Higher price than the previous model
No USB-C audio
Immersive Audio mode hurts battery life
|
Tom's Guide
The best wireless headphones for ANC
Modernized design
Effective Immersive Audio experience
Intuitive controls
Best-ever ANC
|
High cost compared to most rivals
Middling battery life for a flagship design
|
T3
The best noise cancelling headphones for travel
Active noise cancelling really works
Compact, comfortable, lightweight
18-hour battery life
|
Not the cheapest
Limited touch controls
|
PCMag
Best Headphones for Noise Cancellation / Editor's Choice
Class-leading active noise cancellation
Crisp audio with rich bass
Adjustable EQ
Immersive audio modes with spatial effects
|
Expensive
Adaptive noise cancellation might cause ear pressure
|
Digital Trends
Best noise canceling
Premium materials and design
Excellent comfort
Best-in-class noise canceling
Natural-sounding transparency
Impressive spatial audio
Hi-res compatibility
|
Tricky volume control
ANC can't be turned off
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend wireless headphones.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of wireless headphones, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for April 2024 ranking
We ranked Apple AirPods Max #3 in April 2024 because:
- 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
CNET
Best high-end Apple wireless headphones
Surprisingly comfortable for their weight
Impressive sound and build-quality
Adaptive noise canceling is top-notch and so is transparency mode
Good headset performance for calls
Spatial audio virtual surround for iPhones and iPads is a sweet bonus feature
Automatic switching between iOS devices on your iCloud account (multipoint Bluetooth)
|
Expensive, heavy and the smart case may be too smart for its own good
No cable included for wired use
|
Tom's Guide
The best over-ear wireless headphones for iOS users
Luxury design
Excellent noise cancellation
Spatial Audio sounds great
|
Expensive
|
PCMag
Best Headphones for iPhone Users
Excellent audio performance with rich lows and crisp, detailed highs
High-quality active noise cancellation, especially for low-frequency rumble
Stunning, unique design
Adaptive EQ and Spatial audio
Hands-free Siri access
|
Expensive
Sound signature and Adaptive EQ/spatial audio aren't for purists
No user-adjustable EQ
Button placement makes it easy to misfire when adjusting fit
Smart Case does little to protect the headphones
|
Digital Trends
Best for iPhone users
Best-in-class ANC
Amazing transparency mode
Excellent build quality
Excellent sound quality
Top-notch call quality
|
Charges via Lightning cable
Heavy on head
|
What Hi-Fi
For Apple users, these sensational over-ear AirPods are hard to beat
Superb audio and noise-cancelling
Cinematic spatial audio
Exceptional build quality
|
Near-pointless case
Audio cable not included
Practically Apple-only
|
We ranked Bose QuietComfort Ultra #4 in April 2024 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
CNET
Great noise-canceling
Excellent sound and best-in-class noise canceling
Fit Kit ear tips and stabilizer system gets you a secure, comfortable fit
Immersive Audio creates a different listening experience
Slightly improved voice-calling
|
No wireless charging or multipoint Bluetooth
Immersive Audio mode hurts battery life
|
T3
Best noise-cancelling earbuds
Top notch sound
Incredible comfort
Unrivalled noise cancellation
|
Case is larger than some
Pricier than most
|
PCMag
Best Earphones for Noise Cancellation / Editor's Choice
Best-in-class noise cancellation
Crisp, full-bodied audio
Active Aware feature blends noise cancellation and transparency modes
Spatial audio support with head tracking
Good Bluetooth codec support
|
Case doesn’t support wireless charging
No multipoint connectivity
|
What Hi-Fi
Bose's premium wireless ANC earbuds sound the business
Punchy, musical sound
Solid, weighty bass
Excellent ANC
|
Immersive Audio slashes battery life
No multipoint Bluetooth
No wireless charging
|
We ranked Apple AirPods Pro 2 #5 in April 2024 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Apple AirPods Pro 2 as #1.
CNET
Updated Apple noise-canceling wireless earbuds
Additional dust resistance
MagSafe (USB-C) charging
|
Nearly identical to their Lightning predecessor
High price
|
T3
Best true wireless earbuds for Apple users
Supreme sound quality
Excellent adaptive noise cancelling
Longer battery life than predecessor
|
Fairly large headphone body
Android users miss out on some features
|
PCMag
Best Earphones for iPhone Users / Editors' Choice
Rich, well-balanced audio performance
Excellent active noise cancellation
Adaptive Transparency mode is genuinely impressive
Charging case has a useful built-in speaker
Seamless integration with Apple devices
|
No hi-res codec support
Offers only non-adjustable EQ presets
|
We ranked Sennheiser Momentum 4 #6 in April 2024 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
CNET
Best Sennheiser noise-canceling wireless headphones
Excellent sound
Improved noise canceling and voice-calling performance
Impressive battery life
Good sound personalization features
|
Ho-hum design
Noise-canceling isn't as good as Sony's or Bose's
|
Tom's Guide
Best-ever battery life for a wireless headphone with ANC
Spectacular battery life
Great sound
Effective noise-cancelling performance
Reliable touch controls
Robust design with plain styling (if you like that sort of thing)
|
Anonymous styling
Earpads may make ears hot
Flaky connectivity issues with Smart Control app
|
T3
The best noise-cancelling headphones for battery life
Energetic, powerful sound
Very effective adaptive ANC
60 hours of battery, fast charging
|
Could look more exciting
EQ control could be more extensive
|
Digital Trends
Best for sound quality
Amazing battery life
Outstanding sound
Effective wind noise reduction
Comfortable
Effective ANC
|
No auto-off function
|
We ranked Sony CH-720N #7 in April 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
CNET
Top midrange noise-canceling headphones
Lightweight and comfortable
Good sound with very good noise canceling
Good voice-calling performance
35 hours of battery life
|
No carrying case
No ear-detection sensors
No LDAC audio codec support
|
What Hi-Fi
Affordable over-ears with no obvious shortcomings
Compellingly clear, direct sound
Decent ANC for the price
Solid, durable build quality
|
A little over-enthusiastic in the bass
Sadly no case or foldability
|
We ranked Sony WF-1000XM5 #9 in April 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
CNET
Best sony earbuds
New smaller design
Improved sound, noise canceling and voice calling
Upgraded processors and drivers
|
Pricey
No Find My feature integrated into app
|
PCMag
Best Earphones for Audiophiles / Editors' Choice
Rich bass response and crisp, detailed highs
Adjustable in-app EQ
Excellent noise cancellation
Top-tier mic clarity
Case supports wireless charging
Hands-free Alexa and Google Assistant
|
Expensive
Some bloat in companion app
|
What Hi-Fi
Sony's best true wireless earbuds to date, with a price tag to match
Class-leading levels of detail and clarity
Top-notch musicality and timing
Comfortable, discreet design
|
Some rivals produce more bass
Could feel more secure
|
We ranked Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 #10 in April 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
Tom's Guide
Updated premium over-ears with elite sound
Great sound
Low-profile designs with smart styling
Effective noise canceling
|
No touch controls
Noise canceling isn't as good as its rivals
|
T3
Best premium ANC headphones
Great audiophile grade sound
Motion-sensing features
Stylish and comfortable
|
On the expensive side
ANC isn't quite perfect
|
We ranked Urbanista Los Angeles #11 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
PCMag
Best for Battery Life / Editors Choice
Solar-powered charging
Impressive audio performance with rich, deep bass and crisp highs
Quality noise cancellation for the price
Stylish design
|
No in-app EQ
Noise cancellation slightly impacts sound signature
|
Digital Trends
Best for the eco-minded music fan
Solar charging really works
Secure fit
Real-time power meter in app
Huge 80-hour battery
|
Only works under optimal conditions
No EQ adjustments
|
We ranked Bose QuietComfort 45 #12 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
T3
Great noise-cancelling headphones for travel
Impressive noise cancelling
24 hours of battery life
Folding design, great carry case
|
Can't turn off noise-cancelling entirely
No manual EQ settings
|
We ranked 1MORE SonoFlow #13 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
CNET
Good-performing noise-canceling headphones under $100
Comfortable
Good sound quality for their price
Decent noise canceling
LDAC audio codec support for Android users
|
A bit generic looking
Noise canceling only works in wireless mode
|
Digital Trends
Best budget wireless headphones
Great sound quality
Very comfortable for long periods
Ridiculous battery life
Solid ANC performance
Great app support
Affordable price
|
No wear sensors
Wired mode disables extra features
|
We ranked Master & Dynamic MH40 #14 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless headphones” rankings.
Digital Trends
Best for the style-conscious buyer
Top-quality materials/build
Unique styling
Excellent sound
aptX Adaptive
USB-C digital audio
Good battery life
|
Pricey
No ANC/transparency
May not please bass fans
iPhones miss out on best wireless/digital sound quality
|