The perfect pair of headphones is out there, but finding it can feel like a chore. Over-ear or in-ear? Active noise cancellation or not? You can now skip the endless research, because CNET readers have got you covered.
CNET’s People’s Picks is a survey-powered awards program where our readers tell us which products they love and use the most. Time around, we asked about the factors that really matter, like durability, sound quality and comfort. Did your favorite make the list? Listen up, here’s what CNET readers recommend.
CNET’s People’s Picks
Sony is the overall People’s Pick winner for the best headphone brand. It wins in several categories, including comfort and audio quality. Sony’s over-the-ear headphones, the WH-1000XM6 is CNET’s best headphone pick for its noise cancellation and battery life — two more awards the brand gets recognition for.
Winner: Audio quality, active noise cancellation, battery life, comfort, deep focus and creativity, over-the-ear wireless headphones, sleep and relaxation, and video editing
Apple is a household brand we’re all familiar with, and its AirPods are well-loved for a few reasons: call quality, ease of use and connectivity. Apple wins for both wireless earbuds, giving a nod to the AirPods and AirPods Pro models, but also the wired earbuds that Apple doesn’t sell anymore, but still are a part of readers’ homes and heads.
Wins for: Brand loyalty, call quality, durability, earbuds, ease of use and connectivity, listening to music, audiobooks and podcasts
CNET experts say that if you want the best sound quality, wired headphones are the way to go. And readers say Sennheiser is it. Sennheiser offers high-quality wired and wireless headphones at an affordable price for audiophiles, such as the Sennheiser HD 505 and Sennheiser 660S2.
Wins for: Wired headphones
Which headphones should you pick: wired or wireless?
Choosing between wired and wireless headphones boils down to how you want to connect to hear sound. Wired headphones mean you won’t have to worry about Bluetooth connectivity issues or battery life, whereas wireless headphones give you the freedom to avoid tangled wires and keep your phone in your pocket while using your earbuds. You’ll also want to make sure there’s a headphone jack since most smartphones don’t include it anymore. Based on CNET’s findings, most respondents have wireless earbuds.
By brand, Apple is the most popular pick for both wired and wireless earbuds, with popular models including the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Max and AirPods Max 2. Sennheiser wins for wired headphones, while Sony wins for wireless headphones. Here’s a closer look:
Over-the-ear or in-ear headphones
Earbuds or in-ear headphones may be a popular choice if you want something more compact and lightweight, but if you’re looking for better sound quality or plan to wear headphones for hours and want a secure fit, you may consider over-the-ear headphones.
Sony is the most popular pick for over-ear wireless headphones, with models like the WH-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM6. Bose is a close runner-up. For in-ear picks, readers love Apple’s AirPods and AirPods Pro models.
The headphone features that really matter
Beyond choosing between wired and wireless headphones, or whether you want headphones that cover your ears, there are other features that matter on a daily basis — whether you’re commuting and taking a call or listening to music on a long flight. Here are the features that matter most, and what CNET readers recommend.
Active noise cancellation
Winner: Sony
Runner-up: Bose
Active noise cancellation can make a big difference whether you’re on a call or listening to music. David Carnoy, CNET’s principal writer and headphones expert, has tested dozens of pairs of headphones, and CNET has reviews on some of the most popular picks, like the Apple AirPods Pro 3 and the Sony WH-1000XM6. It’s the buying factor you should pay close attention to.
“Headphones and earbuds with good active noise canceling can make a real difference when it comes to shielding you from loud noise,” Carnoy says.
When it comes to active noise cancellation, Sony wins over many CNET respondents, scoring 4.39 out of 5, while Bose and Bowers & Wilkins are close runners-up — scoring 4.33 and 4.23, respectively. CNET’s best all-around headphones are the Sony WH-1000XM6 over-ear headphones, and they also have the best active noise cancellation.
The Sony XM6 over-the-ear headphones cost $428, but if you’re looking for a more affordable option, you might consider other Sony or Bose headphones with solid ANC performance or earbuds like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) and the Sony WF-1000XM5 — which both cost $300.
Audio quality
Winner: Sony
Runner-up: Bose
Listening to music is one of the most popular uses of headphones, followed by podcasts and audiobooks, so audio quality is a big deal. And while many brands may boast about their sound quality, CNET respondents have a favorite.
Sony wins again for audio quality, scoring 4.55, with Bose as a close runner-up, scoring 4.53 and Beats scoring 4.48. One potential reason for the win is Sony’s LDAC audio codec, which enables high-resolution audio. So it’s definitely one feature to look out for when choosing Sony headphones. The Sony WH-XB910N over-the-ear headphones have extra bass and support the LDAC audio codec. The Sony XM6 and XM5 are two other options.
Battery life
Winner: Sony
Runner-up: JBL
Sony picks up another People’s Picks award with its battery life, scoring 4.52. Both the XM5 and the XM6 have 30 hours of battery life if the volume is set to moderate and noise cancellation is on. Otherwise, battery life can last up to 40 hours. JBL is a close runner-up in this category by scoring 4.41 and Beats scores 4.33.
For comparison, battery life on Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 is up to 8 hours, and Bose’s Immersive Audio hurts the battery life for some of its headphones, like Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) — both over-the-ear wireless headphones.
Brand loyalty
Winner: Apple
Runner-up: Sony
You may consider a brand that you’re more familiar with, especially if you already own other devices from the same brand. When it comes to brand loyalty, most Apple respondents would buy the same brand of headphones, but a newer model. But Sony and Bose headphone users are loyal to their ecosystems, too. Many Sony respondents would buy the exact same brand and model if they lost their headphones, and most Bose respondents would buy the same brand, but a newer model. Here’s a look at the top five brands.
Call quality
Winner: Apple
Runner-up: Sony
Handling calls hands-free is one of the perks of having the right headphones. However, not being able to hear on the other end, or someone not being able to hear you, can be a pain. If call quality is a big deal, CNET readers highly recommend Apple.
Carnoy noticed good voice-calling performance in the latest Apple AirPods 4, and a slight improvement in voice isolation in Apple’s AirPods Max 2, for better calls that focus on the voice and less on background noise.
Comfort
Winner: Sony
Runner-up: Bose
Carnoy says there’s a tendency to think that sound quality is the most important factor when buying headphones and earbuds. However, fit is most important, especially with noise-isolating earbuds featuring silicone eartips. “If you don’t get a tight seal, sound quality and noise canceling will suffer,” Carnoy says.
Sony and Bose go head-to-head again as the closest top contenders in comfort. Sony wins for comfort with 4.44 out of 5, while Bose gets 4.25 for comfort and Sennheiser scores 4.15. Some of Sony’s over-the-ear headphones are lightweight, such as the Sony CH-520, Sony CH-720N and Sony XM4. If you’re OK with wired headphones, the Sony MDR-7506 is noted for its comfort over hours and is priced at $115.
CNET editors also consider Bose headphones to be lightweight and very comfortable, so it’s no surprise that respondents make it a close runner-up to Sony. Both Bose’s earbuds and over-the-ear headphones are designed with comfort in mind. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have Fit Kit eartips for comfort, while CNET editors also like that the Bose QuietComfort Headphones are designed with comfort in mind.
Connectivity
Winner: Apple
Runner-up: Sony
If you’ve ever had trouble connecting your headphones to devices, CNET respondents recommend Apple for headphones that easily connect to devices, and Sony is a runner-up.
There are two features worth noting when connecting Apple headphones. If you have an iPhone or Apple device, you’ll press and hold a button on the headphones for a pop-up to appear on your screen, which lets you connect. However, if you have an Android device, you may need to connect via Bluetooth in your device’s settings. And if your headphones automatically connect when you open the case, if the device is recognized.
Durability and reliability
Winner: Apple
Runner-up: Sony
Choosing headphones that are well-constructed and reliable can be hard just by looking at them. Chances are, you won’t know how well they’re designed until you put them to the test, whether it’s rain or dropping them. And how well they hold up over time matters just as much if you don’t plan to buy new headphones every year.
CNET respondents shared their opinion on how durable and reliable their headphones are. When it comes to durability, most Apple owners have kept their headphones for more than three years, and respondents from other popular brands have kept their headphones for the same amount of time, including Sony and Bose.
However, if you want headphones that are reliable and can withstand incidents, CNET respondents recommend Sony and Apple because of the damage tests the headphones withstand, including heavy rain, intense sweating, dropping on concrete and accidentally being left in a hot car.
Read more: You Should Have Exactly 3 Pairs of Headphones. Here’s Why
How you use your headphones
Winner: Apple
Runner-up: Sony
How you use your headphones may also determine which ones you prefer. Apple wins among respondents who primarily listen to music, podcasts and audiobooks on their headphones. Other top contenders include Bose and Sony for the same use cases. When it comes to taking calls on the go, Apple wins again, but Sony is a close runner-up, especially for video calls, where Apple wins by only one respondent.
There are some categories where Sony shines above all other brands. Sony is the preferred headphone choice for deep focus and creative thinking, sleep and relaxation and video editing.
Methodology
CNET commissioned Alchemer to conduct the People’s Picks survey to compile data. The survey was carried out online, and all figures are from Alchemer. The total sample comprised 1,071 adults. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18 plus). Fieldwork was undertaken April 6 – April 30, 2026.
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