The 13 best headphones of 2026: We tested the top contenders from Sony, Apple, Bose, and Beats

To help you find the best pair of headphones possible, our experts test headphones year-round, from popular models to new releases to budget picks (you can learn more about our detailed testing standards below).

The result of that vetting is this guide, which we keep updated regularly to give you the most accurate and current purchasing information possible.

How to choose the best headphones We won't beat around the bush: There's no definitive "best" product here.

Sure, elite audio brands put out high-quality products across the board, but even within each of those brands, you'll find different tiers of products.

Some will deliver better value, and some will deliver better hardware and active noise cancellation.

All this to say, the best pair of earbuds or headphones largely comes down to personal preference and how you plan to use them.

Some listeners swear by over-ear headphones, while others prefer the minimalism of earbuds — one is not necessarily better than the other.

Athletes who like to use headphones at the gym will appreciate waterproof materials and the best open earbuds , while frequent fliers will prefer devices with long battery life, comfort, and portability.

Finally, music lovers and audiophiles will want to invest in premium features like a custom equalizer, spatial audio, or best-in-class active noise cancellation.

To help you pick your pair, we tested all of the headphones in this guide (and a lot that didn't make the cut).

Here, you'll find the top headphones of 2026 for noise cancellation , music, price, and wired connections.

What about wired headphones? We focused primarily on the best wireless headphones for this guide.

While wired headphones have their fans , wireless headphones are just more convenient for most of us, though some of us are also fans of Apple's EarPods .

With the release of the new noise-cancelling wired earbuds from Bose , we will be keeping our testing pool open to more wired models and will update this guide accordingly, should any earn a spot.