The Top 10 Wireless Headphones of 2023: Reviews, Pricing, Noise-Cancellation

Whether you’re ready or not, the world is going wireless. As phone manufacturers remove headphone jacks, consumers must seek out wireless headphones to match the changing world. And while there is no shortage of Bluetooth headphones on the market, it can be hard to determine which ones are worth the investment. Right now, the best wireless headphones have a few features in common: comfort, noise-cancellation, all-day battery life and advanced drivers.

Unfortunately, these top-rated wireless Bluetooth headphones have one more thing in common: Most cost about $300 (but we still found some deals for you too). That’s a lot of money to spend, so you want to ensure you buy a high-quality product that meets your needs and will last for at least two years.

In this shopping guide, SPY breaks down the best wireless headphones for sale in 2023 into a few different categories: noise-canceling headphones, on-ear headphones, budget headphones and wireless earbuds. Keep scrolling for our editors’ top picks of the year. We’ve got excellent options from our favorite audio brands such as Apple, Sony and Bose.

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The Best Noise-Cancelling Wireless Headphones

If you truly want the best of the best, you don’t want just any pair of Bluetooth wireless headphones. Instead, you’ll want to find a set of cans that offer true active noise cancellation. While many cheap headphones promise to reduce ambient noise, true noise-cancellation technology is its own category. The best noise-cancelling headphones let you shut out the world as you disappear into your favorite music or podcasts, and this tech is absolutely worth the higher price.

Fortunately, there are a lot of companies competing to deliver the best noise-canceling headphones, which means there are tons of options at (almost) every price. Below, you’ll find our top picks from Apple, Marshall and Sony.

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Why We Chose It: We think these are the best headphones for the money right now.

SPY Reviewer William Goodman said that these are the best noise-canceling headphones on the market and the XM5 is your first and only stop. The WH-1000XM5 builds upon the successful line with headphones that last upwards of 30 hours with ANC and 40 hours with it off.

That’s a whole work week without having to charge them. The cans also have eight microphones that listen for outside noise and filter it out, leaving you with only your favorite music or podcast in your ears. These are pricey at $400, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find more comfortable, durable and better sounding wireless headphones.

We were very excited to test these noise-canceling headphones and compare them to the Sony XM4 headphones, which we previously named the best noise-cancelling headphones in the world, full stop. We’re pleased to report that the new XM5 headphones offer more than a design upgrade, but also noticeable improvements to the already killer ANC. Based on our experience, we’re ready to name the XM5 the best wireless headphones of the year.

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Why We Chose It: The seamless connectivity between all of your Apple devices is * chef’s kiss. * 

When it comes to the best performance, the Apple AirPods Max is so good in every imaginable facet that few pairs are even worthy of mention in the same breath. Whether you’re considering audio quality, design, comfort or noise-cancellation, these headphones are among the very best.

But what really sets the AirPods Max apart is its spatial audio support, which not only simulates the effect of 3D audio a la Dolby Atmos but can also track the position of your head and make audio adjustments on the fly to make it feel like you’re in the same room as whatever you’re watching. Plus, they’re absurdly comfortable.

So why aren’t these our top overall pick? We named these among the coolest tech gadgets of 2022, but we couldn’t call them the overall best wireless headphones. There are two main reasons: price and compatibility. As you may have heard, Apple AirPods Max are expensive. And not just “premium” expensive, but “luxury” expensive. And while they pair perfectly with iPhones and other Apple devices, Android users might prefer headphones from Sony or Marshall.

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Why We Chose It: Instead of a one-size-fits-all noise cancelling experience, we like that Bose gives you a choice to craft your soundstage to your preference. 

Bose has long been the standard for noise-canceling, and while Sony is giving Bose a run for its money, nothing tops the 700’s A.N.C. performance. An adaptive eight-mic system hides underneath the ingenious design that works in unison with the company’s intelligible algorithm to produce 11 levels of noise cancellation.

The Bose Music app lets you control the amount of noise entering the soundstage, which is also customizable via the E.Q. setting. Notable features like Alexa integration, one-tap Spotify and multipoint technology to simultaneously pair the unit to two devices keep the 700 in the race with other wireless headphones on this list. We recommend Bose’s flagship for those who are looking for reliable, stylish and great-sounding headphones.

Like the Sony XM4 headphones, the Bose 700 series has excellent customer reviews, and the noise-canceling tech left a powerful impression on our product testers. However, the Sony headphones edge these out on price by about $50. If genuinely elite active noise-cancellation is more important than price, then these are the best headphones for sale in 2022.

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Why We Chose It: Aside from looking great, we feel these also have premium features. 

The V-Moda Crossfade 3 separates itself from the pack with a unique ear cup design that forgoes the classic circular model for a diamond-like hexagon available in Matte Black, Gunmetal and Bronze finishes that visually look striking.

The inside of the ear cups are occupied by 50mm dual diaphragm drivers that achieve a wide frequency range worthy of DJing a set of music with these cans. We also appreciate the 30 hour battery life that ensures you stay in the flow of your music instead of waiting for them to charge. 

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Why We Chose It: We loved the iconic Marshall Amplifier design formatted into these wireless headphones. 

When we wrote about Marshall’s Monitor II headphones last year, we stated that the noise-canceling cans “immediately (stood) out” thanks to their retro-inspired look and feel. There’s so much more than just good looks at play here, as the audio company has ensured they deliver on premium audio quality as well.

If you want excellent performance without having to forgo a sharp-looking set of headphones, consider your search complete. Marshall has solidified their brand as a go-to for musical equipment, and these wireless headphones are no exception. If you’re rocking on a Marshall amp, this is a great tool for practicing at home.

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Why We Chose It: We think these offer great utility for office settings thanks to multipoint connection as well as casual wear considering the long battery life. 

When you need to get work done but your open office concept brings along with it everybody’s conversations, the JBL Tune 760NC provides active noise cancellation to help you focus on your tasks, or music and podcasts.

With Google Fast Pair and multipoint connection, you can connect these headphones to multiple devices at once and jump back and forth easily. You can also squeeze 35 hours of battery life and all the way up to 50 hours without using ANC. Beyond utility, these headphones are tuned to produce rich bass to provide real depth to your music.

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Why We Chose It: These are affordable and have a number of great features. 

The people at SkullCandy took a unique approach to the Skullcandy Crusher Evo headphones and wanted to personalize the headphone experience to each individual. It starts with the Built-in Tile technology that helps you locate your headphones when you misplace them.

When you’re listening, you can use the Skullcandy app to personalize the sound quality based on a quick in-app listening test. You can even adjust the bass production with a slider located on the ear cup that modulates from “mellow” to “bone rattling.” The only feature omission we would have liked to have seen is ANC, but considering all the extras at this price, it’s hard to ignore these unique headphones.

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Why We Chose It: After SPY Reviewer Jonathan Knoder wore these on a cross country flight and back, the battery life, comfort and low price make these a worthy purchase. 

In a world where premium wireless headphones are often priced upwards of $400, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 is an oasis in a high priced desert of headphones for bargain shoppers looking for affordable tech. For sub $200, you get a pair of incredibly comfortable headphones that have the best battery life compared to all others in our list.

SPY Reviewer Jonathan Knoder wore these on a cross country flight to New York and while commuting around the subway and was impressed by the battery life and ANC performance. If you’re looking for a quality pair of high performing wireless headphones for a good price, look no further.

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Why We Chose It: We think it’s cool that you can ask Alexa to turn on your AC, or turn off your bedroom light via these Wyze Headphones (assuming your house is an Alexa supported smart home). 

There’s plenty to love about the Wyze Noise Cancelling Headphones. Not only is this pair of wireless headphones one of the more affordable options on our list, but it’s packed with rich features such as noise cancellation, dual Bluetooth connectivity, 20 hours of battery life and custom equalizer settings.

What sets it apart, though, is its support of Amazon Alexa. The popular smart assistant is built-in and offers all the same conveniences as any Echo device, with Alexa a quick double-tap of the right earcup.

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Why We Chose It: We like the long 40 hour battery life and features like Spatial audio for sub $150. 

If you looked at the price tag of the Apple AirPods Max in shock and horror, the Beats Solo 3 provide solace with a sub $150 price tag, better battery life and features such as Spatial audio. The 40 hour battery life is almost twice as long as the AirPods Max and matches our best overall pick.

We also liked the quick charging where only five minutes on the charger provides three more hours of listening. And like AirPods Max, you can submit to cinematic immersion with Spatial Audio support. Even if you aren’t Team Apple, the Beats Solo 3 are also compatible with Android devices as well.

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How We Chose The Best Wireless Headphones 

Wireless headphones are a significant investment, especially on the higher end of the spectrum, so making sure you get exactly what you want from your headphones is imperative. Here’s a look at the criteria we used to curate our list of the best wireless headphones: 

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Features to Look for in the Best Wireless Headphones

Everyone has different needs and preferences, but when shopping for the best wireless headphones, prioritize the following features:

With this in mind, we’ve rounded up the best wireless headphones on the market. A majority of these come with superior active noise-canceling abilities and Bluetooth connectivity, so you’ll be able to focus on what really matters: whatever podcast, tune or audiobook that you just can’t seem to get enough of.

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