From the best earbuds for Android users to the best (budget) wireless headphones
Photo-Illustration: Courtesy Retailer Given the enormous number of headphone options, finding the best pair for your day-to-day needs can feel overwhelming. But don’t let it. The odds of finding a good pair are high, considering that a number of companies are making great headphones right now. And that’s if you’re looking without any help. Over three months, I tested the latest and greatest in noise-canceling headphones, earbuds, and wireless headphones.
$130 at Best Buy Buy $159 at Apple Buy Best earbuds for Android users Jabra Elite 85t $221 now 19% off $180 The Jabra Elite is shockingly sleek. Most earbuds are either bulbous or alarmingly small, but the Jabra sits within a happy medium. They are also comfortable. Even after a particularly long meeting, they weren’t pulling at my ears like cinderblocks. They’re sweat and water resistant and have a 5.
From $379 at Amazon Buy From $379 at Best Buy Buy Best noise-canceling headphones Urbanista Miami Wireless Over Ear Bluetooth Headphones $149 $149 The Urbanista’s button layout is exactly what you want a $150 pair of noise-canceling headphones to be: efficient. Other headphones in this price range tend to have badly placed buttons or shoddy touch controls, but the Urbanista’s buttons are reasonably responsive and intuitive.
$70 at Amazon Buy $100 at Best Buy Buy Best gaming headset SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless Gaming Headset $100 This headset comes recommended by both Emily Heller, a gamer and recommendations editor at Vulture, and Kyle F, a tech TikToker and gamer. Although it’s not completely wireless — “You need this little dongle that you plug into [your console] to make it work wirelessly,” Heller says — the dongle actually allows it to work with the Switch, PS4, PC, and Android phones.