I love headphones and earbuds. I have many of the latest models and some old favorites that I play around with in between testing new releases to review for work, making me the go-to “headphones person” for my friends and family. After a brief interrogation about their needs and a short pep talk about potential splurging, I find myself recommending four models the most.
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Many of my friends and family want an “all-in-one” pair of headphones that can excel in every environment and for every activity, but I have to break the news to them that they are looking for a unicorn. As my CNET colleague Katie Collins said, “everyone should have exactly three pairs of headphones” — one for everyday wear and tear, one for exercising, and one for extended wear.
Although I agree, many people I know don’t want to invest in three separate pairs of headphones. To get them as close to an all-in-one pair as I can, these are the ones I recommend. And don’t forget: The best time to buy a pair of headphones is when they’re on sale.
My current lineup of headphones
Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 offer excellent noise cancellation, a comfortable fit, and 8 hours of continuous battery life. Additionally, unlike all of its competitors, Apple’s premium earbuds and their charging case are waterproof, capable of surviving submersion up to three feet for up to 30 minutes (though I don’t recommend purposely dunking your earbuds).
Their standout in-ear heart rate monitoring feature works natively with your iPhone’s Fitness app and compatible third-party workout apps, tracking heart rate, steps taken, and calories burned. With these factors in mind, you can take the Pro 3 earbuds with you on your daily commute, wear them at the office, and bring them to your post-work workout.
Also: Do Apple’s new AirPods Max 2 beat the AirPods Pro 3? I’ve tried both, here’s my take
The AirPods Pro 3 replaced the Pro 2 as my everyday earbuds, and I don’t leave the house without them. I wear them to the grocery store, the gym, and around the house while I’m doing chores. Their natural and clear Transparency Mode makes them great for hands-free calls while I’m driving. Also, I’ve caught plenty of flights in these earbuds, as their advanced noise cancellation and eight-hour battery life means I don’t need to carry hefty over-ears on a cross-country flight.
I recommend these earbuds to my friends and family who use iOS, especially iPhone users. Your iPhone is the device you’re likely to have with you everywhere, and the Pro 3 earbuds make a wonderful, portable, well-rounded everyday companion.
If earbuds aren’t your jam and you want over-ear headphones that work well with any device ecosystem, the Bose QuietComfort headphones are a solid option. They aren’t Bose’s most expensive offering, but they provide everything there is to love about the brand: exceptional comfort and noise cancellation.
Bose’s midrange QuietComfort line is best known for its simplicity, functionality, and practicality, and the latest-gen QuietComfort headphones fit right in. I’ve worn these headphones on long-haul flights, in cars, and at my desk. They offer a simple 3.5mm headphone jack for wired listening, and a few other audio features beyond noise-canceling and ambient modes.
Review: Bose QuietComfort Headphones
They’re a reliable, functional pair of headphones that won’t let you down, as long as you stay on top of their 24-hour battery life. I highly recommend the QuietComfort headphones to people who want a simple yet effective experience, but I advise against buying them at full price.
The CMF Buds 2 Plus are a solid pair of budget earbuds, offering a fashionable design, adequate noise cancellation, great sound, spatial audio, and wind noise reduction at a sub-$100 price point. The Buds 2 Plus also have an IP55 durability rating, meaning they’re dust-protected and sweatproof.
Review: CMF Buds 2 Plus
The CMF Buds 2 Plus are feature-rich and high-performing for their price, and ChatGPT integration is the only feature limited to Nothing phones; everything else is available to Android and iOS users. For Android users, the Buds 2 Plus support the LDAC codec, enabling higher-quality wireless audio streaming.
I recommend these earbuds to friends and family who want useful, reliable, everyday earbuds without shelling out $150+. Their audio is great for the price, and their noise-canceling is more than capable of handling office chatter and general ambient noise. Additionally, these earbuds are mostly software ecosystem-agnostic; they work well with nearly any Bluetooth-enabled device.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 over-ear headphones are undoubtedly the most advanced from Sony, sporting a muted, practical design ideal for everyday use. They have 30 hours of battery life, great sound, and the most intuitive noise cancellation available. Sony upgraded the XM6 with smarter noise processing, a foldable design for portability, and spatial audio compatible with any streaming platform.
Also: I listened to Sony, Bose, and Apple’s flagship headphones – and this pair’s ahead of the pack
The XM6 are incredibly feature-rich, offering LDAC and LC3 codec support for most Android users, Speak-to-Chat, location-based audio modes, a detailed 10-band equalizer, DSEE Extreme upscaling, Head Gestures, and Gemini Live integration. The more you customize these headphones, the better they become.
All of the XM6’s features make them a pair of highly practical over-ear headphones suited for commuting, traveling, working in the office, running errands, or listening to music or watching YouTube at home. I recommend these headphones to individuals seeking a pair of everyday headphones that deliver exceptional sound quality, effective noise cancellation, compatibility with various devices, and the latest software features.
However, if you don’t play around with them, you won’t maximize their full potential nor your full $460. If you want a premium yet laid-back experience, consider the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).
I spend all of my time living in the latest headphones and earbuds, taking them with me while I travel, exercise, run errands, and more. I published reviews for these headphones when they were released, but I continued to wear them beyond their initial release date.
At ZDNET, we thoroughly test products before recommending them to our readers. Out of the many headphones I’ve tested, the four on this list have had the highest satisfaction from the friends and family members I’ve recommended them to.
I recognize that my friends and family, like you, are spending hundreds of their hard-earned money on a pair of new headphones, so I feel a strong obligation to consider their needs and wants.
In my perfect world, you’d have a pair of earbuds and a pair of over-ear headphones. The earbuds will act as your everyday headphones for hands-free calling, running errands, exercising, and any of your day-to-day activities. Your over-ear headphones will be your best buddy while traveling, working, or listening for a more immersive experience.
Over-ear headphones cover your whole ear, and after a few hours, they can get hot. On the other hand, in-ear earbuds can become uncomfortable after having the device lodged in your ear for a couple of hours. All of the headphones and earbuds on this list excel in most environments, thanks to their portability, compatibility with your devices, all-day comfort, and outstanding noise-canceling capabilities. Therefore, you should make your decision based on which fit you prefer.
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