Best wireless headphones for Android 2024

Finding the best wireless headphones for you can be a challenge nowadays, namely because there are so many options. The key is to locate a set of cans that balance great sound with long battery life and a style that fits you.

A pair of headphones that check all of the boxes are the Sony WH-1000XM5. These flagship wireless headphones from Sony boast leading active noise cancellation (ANC), up to 30 hours of battery life, and an exceptionally comfortable design for long-term use.

That being said, the XM5 aren't cheap, so keep reading for all of the best options for every budget and style imaginable.

Ted Kritsonis

For 20+ years, Ted Kritsonis has been spending a lot of time testing out gadgets to help others make the best decision with their hard-earned money. When it comes down to audio devices, Ted's picks come from countless hours of listening for all the nuances that matter.

At a glance

Best overall

There aren't many flaws to point out with the WH-1000XM5, based on our review. Their predecessors, the WH-1000XM4, already found themselves at the top of the heap for wireless headphones for Android. One of the biggest reasons remains the ANC performance, courtesy of Sony's QN1 processor and a dual noise sensor that does the work of blocking out the background. Commuting on a bus, train, or plane won't be a problem while wearing these. Sony's pedigree in this area shows itself with true wireless earbuds, too.

Sony did change the design to a degree, going for a cleaner look, which also unfortunately means limited folding ability. They'll go flat, just not curled up. The sound signature preserves the same bass-heavy balance that sometimes drowns out the mids and highs. You could always adjust that through the equalizer in Sony's Connect app, including a "clear bass" slider for the potency of the bass itself. It's worth using those available tools to get a more personalized sound out of these excellent headphones.

You can pair with two devices simultaneously to listen to music on one device and take calls on another. Phone calls also keep their clarity through Sony's Precise Voice Pickup and Speak to Chat features. The excellent battery life will let you listen for longer, too. The WH-1000XM5 don't have a bigger battery, maintaining the same 30 hours per charge (depending on volume level and ANC use). So fast charging is convenient when you need some juice in a pinch. The only bummer is that you can't plug in to listen and charge at the same time.

Best budget pick

Most, if not all, modern over-ear headphones nowadays come with ANC in the box, and that includes more inexpensive wireless over-ear headphones that work well with Android. Anker already scored wins with the Soundcore Life Q30 and Soundcore Life Q35. The Space One isn't so much a sequel to those pairs, rather more of a variant that leans more toward balanced sound and smarter noise-canceling features.

The lively soundstage doesn't skew too far one way or the other, though you'll notice it dial back on the bass a little right out of the box. If you want more bass, get it through the great Soundcore app that includes a customizable equalizer and over 20 presets. It changes the overall sound in a variety of ways, making it more likely you'll find a combination that better suits your ears. LDAC codec support adds hi-res and lossless playback on devices or content supporting it.

Adaptive ANC works well for headphones that cost considerably less than others on this list. You can also customize noise cancelation to certain preferences, or leave the Adaptive setting to figure it out on its own. Then there's the superb battery life, which reaches up to 55 hours per charge with ANC off or up to 40 hours with it turned on. That's an impressive figure for any pair of headphones, even more so for something that isn't premium. 

Best premium pick

If money isn’t an object, Bang and Olufsen’s Beoplay H95 headphones might just be the most luxurious set of cans on the market. With a retail price of around $889, these headphones are far from cheap, but Bang and Olufsen justify the steep price with a ton of premium features right out of the box. 

For starters, you get two 40mm titanium drivers that provide crystal clear, massive sound that can be finely adjusted in the companion app. The active noise cancellation is also outstanding, and the battery will last up to 50 hours on a single charge. The headphones come in a sleek hard shell carrying case, and like most Bang and Olufsen products, they’re simply beautiful to look at. 

The earcups are soft and comfortable enough to wear all day, but vegans beware: they’re constructed with genuine leather. These luxury headphones are sure to turn heads, but the steep price tag is going to make them a tough sell for many people, especially since other more-affordable headphones on this list will perform just as well. Still, if you want the height of luxury, the Beoplay H95 are the best you can buy.

Best battery life

Sennheiser's heritage in great sound quality was apparent in our review of the Momentum 3 Wireless and as good as they were, there was still room for improvement. Two areas stood out: ANC and battery life. Noise cancelation does well with low-frequency sounds, and despite an improved ability to muffle higher pitches, overall performance won't match what you can get with Sony and Bose, though the Wind Reduction mode is a nice perk. 

On the battery side, Sennheiser took a giant leap forward. The previous pair could only muster up to 17 hours per charge. With the Momentum 4 Wireless, you can play audio for up to 60 hours. Even if you leave ANC on, you could hit north of 50 hours. That's an enormous improvement that changes how and when you charge them. When you do, you can still use the USB-C port for simultaneous listening and charging when connected to an Android phone or tablet.

That's great news while you're listening because the soundstage is as rich as you'd expect for a brand like this. A slightly boosted bass meshes well with clear midrange and smooth treble for an appreciably balanced sound signature. It's wide enough to suit almost every musical genre. I do recommend using Sennheiser's Smart Control app to adjust the equalizer and bring the best possible sound out of them.

Best noise cancellation

Bose has a solid over-ear headphone lineup that includes the previous Noise Canceling Headphones 700 and QC 45 II, which are among the best you can find for effective ANC performance. The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones maintain that premise and expand on it further. They sound great, sticking to a balanced approach in the sound profile that you can adjust how you want in the Bose Music app. Immersive mode brings in spatial audio with head tracking, only adding to one of the best sonic over-ear pairs you can buy.

The ANC serves to help drive that point further, doing a solid job of blocking out most persistent noises, like engines, and some mid-range sounds like people talking. They also do better with higher-pitched sounds, putting them right on par with the best in the business. If you want some customization, there are 11 steps of ANC to work with.

Bose also made the QuietComfort Ultra comfortable to wear, along with them being easier to transport because of their new folding design and protective case. At up to 24 hours per charge, battery life is also pretty decent. A quick 15-minute fast charge through USB-C will deliver up to 2.5 hours of playback, ensuring you can listen to some tunes in a pinch.

Best on-ear headphones

On-ear headphones aren't for everyone, but the Beats Solo Pro are a real standout to consider for those who want a pair. True to Beats' reputation, there's plenty of bass to listen to here, though it's surprisingly subdued compared to what you would typically find in anything the brand does. The mid-range and treble pipe up well for a more balanced sound. It's still more weighted toward the bass, but not as much as expected.

The Solo Pro will manage decent ANC performance. Part of it is lacking, but simply because of the limitations of passively blocking out noise with on-ear headphones. The results aren't bad, blocking out much of the consistent low-end noise but not as much of everything else. Overall, it gets the job done, so long as you recognize the challenges in doing it well with on-ear cans.

Comfort is going to be highly subjective. It's equally possible that you will get accustomed to wearing them or find them too much of a squeeze. There's a good amount of adjustment, though the ear cups have a strong clamping force that applies to your head more than other models might. It's not conducive to longer listening periods. However, smaller heads and ears should have fewer issues. The Solo Pro are also solid on battery life, getting you up to 22 hours of playback with ANC enabled. Turn ANC off, and it almost doubles to 40 hours. 

Best wireless earbuds

As our review showed, the Elite 10 are a big win for Jabra in a number of ways, starting with the fit and comfort that doesn't change for the worse despite the design changes. If you felt previous models didn't fit so well, you may want to give these a try. A snugger fit also leads to a more balanced sound signature that you can also tailor to your liking through the Sound+ app available for Android and iOS. The Elite 10 are a lot like the Elite 8 Active, though these earbuds focus a little more on call quality as well.

Firmware updates will boost call clarity by suppressing noise and isolating voices to make conversations feel more natural while wearing the earbuds. Updates also came out to address ANC performance, adding more effective use of the adaptive algorithms inside. The IP57 water and dust-resistance also make the Elite 10 rugged enough to handle rigorous runs and workouts, so don't expect issues with sweat, rain, snow, or other water-absorbing activities. Don't take them swimming, but otherwise, you have solid protection.

Battery life can get you up to eight hours per charge with ANC on, plus three extra charges for a total of about 30 hours. Charge back up via USB-C or Qi wireless charging, including a fast charging option where plugging in for five minutes can get you up to 60 minutes of playback.

Best neckbuds

Neckbuds aren't as common as regular wireless earbuds are, but Sony made an effort to include some of the same tech that plays such a big role in its other products. That includes ANC support from the company's QN1 chip, so these would stand out from the pack in that regard. A tighter seal with the earbuds is important to get the most out of the feature and works nicely in reverse when the mics pipe in ambient sound so you can hear announcements or people talking.

Sony gave the bass a boost for a slightly warmer sound signature, keeping things pretty balanced. It's not going to be the same kind of sound you'd get from Sony's over-ears, where sound isn't as skewed to the lows, but mids and highs are still more than noticeable here. You can try using Sony's Adaptive Sound Control mode to adjust noise reduction automatically, but this feature is still very much in the works from a practical standpoint. The Headphones Connect app has some decent tools to use, like EQ and control settings, among other things.

As for the level of comfort, it will really depend on how you feel about the neckband. It's lighter than Sony's previous models, so that helps the whole package feel lighter. Battery life is decent for a pair of neckbuds, lasting up to 10 hours on a single charge. Fast charging them for 10 minutes will get you up to 60-80 minutes of playback.

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Which wireless headphones are best with Android?

Good headphones for Android aren't hard to come by, you just have to know where to look. This best wireless headphones list is made up of several great options, some of which are especially good at a particular aspect of audio. If you're looking to get the best, the Sony WH-1000XM5 are an outstanding place to start your search. Equipped with an excellent combination of industry-best noise-canceling technology, great sound, long battery life, handy controls, and a comfortable fit, it's hard to top them. There are great wireless earbuds and neckbuds in the list, too, showing that great things can come in small packages.

While the XM5 don't look or sound dramatically different from their predecessors, the improved ANC and phone call quality make them even more well-rounded than the previous pair already was. As a result, you can't go wrong listening to whatever you like most wearing them.

How to choose

Headphones are inherently subjective for a variety of reasons based on how they fit, how they sound, how they look, and who makes them. Add battery life and noise cancelation into that mix and we're talking about a balancing act that requires more careful assessment.

The good news is the best options often check those boxes in the right ways. Battery life has improved to the point where anything less than 24 hours on an over-ear pair of cans can be viewed as outliers. Same with active noise cancelation, which only gets better and better — and frankly speaking, this list has the pairs that set the bar for all others in that regard.

All that said, what's also made headphones change over the last five years is the way dedicated apps help you customize what you want from them. That could be an EQ to tweak the sound tuning, onboard control adjustments, different levels of noise cancelation, and more. Finding a pair of headphones that can better suit your own tastes is what makes the listening experience feel more satisfying.

They also have to fit right, which is easier to manage when talking about over-ear headphones, but ear cups can differ in both size and overall comfort. Not to mention cushioning on the headband, which is where discomfort tends to happen most often. 

If you plan to travel or commute with them, keep an eye out for headphones that come bundled with a protective case for easier transport. It can be expensive to buy a good pair of headphones, so best to keep them safe from any potential scuffs or damage along the way.

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