Planning to drop hundreds on a new pair of headphones soon? You may want to listen up.
Buying headphones can feel like a leap in the dark. From reading reviews to blindly trusting manufacturer promises for noise cancellation and comfort, you may worry about making the wrong choice in the long term by sticking to brands you know, which may feel like a safe bet. If you’re already deep into Apple’s ecosystem, getting AirPods may feel like an obvious choice. But you could be missing out on other great headphone choices.
CNET released its People’s Picks, a community-driven awards program that recently asked readers about their favorite tech. This round is all about headphones. Some of the results are surprising, while others are no-brainers — like how much people love AirPods. According to our survey, Apple is the most-owned brand among our readers for both over-the-ear headphones and wireless earbuds. It also wins for several CNET categories, including durability, connectivity and brand loyalty.
I get it. I’m an AirPods stan, too. But other brands won CNET readers over. Sony won the overall winner, dominating categories such as active noise cancellation, audio quality, battery life and comfort. And Bose was a close runner-up for audio quality, battery life and brand loyalty. Sennheiser was a favorite for over-ear wired headphones, while Sony took the top spot for wireless headphones.
For years, my AirPods Pro 2 were durable, connected easily, had top-notch sound quality and fit easily in any purse. So when it came down to buying over-the-ear headphones, the AirPods Max 2 seemed like an obvious choice. But a $530 price tag and mixed reviews made me think twice.
As cool as some headphones may be, keeping your options open may help you save some money if you’re looking for premium headphones within your budget. But how do you really know which headphones are worth your hard-earned money?
Brand recognition isn’t everything when choosing headphones
You tend to hear about some brands more than others, such as Apple and Sony. But that doesn’t mean you always need to stick to the same brands. CNET readers gave brands including Beats — owned by Apple but marketed as an independent brand — and Bose high customer satisfaction ratings.
Customer satisfaction speaks volumes when it comes to headphones. Apple scored 4.17, while other popular brands such as Beats and Sony scored 4.44 and 4.46 out of 5, respectively. Despite a lower customer satisfaction score, Apple still took the top spot for call quality, durability, ease of use and connectivity. So it’s not all about the brand but rather how satisfied you are with the features that you’ll use the most.
Choosing between the Beats Studio Pro and Apple’s AirPods Max
Take it from me. My husband gifted me the Beats Studio Pro despite having told him how much I loved Apple’s AirPods Max. My preference had less to do with sound quality, design or active noise cancellation and more to do with staying in the Apple ecosystem, especially since I already use AirPods. But after my husband did some research, he found that the $250 Beats Studio Pro were a solid choice for less. They offer noise cancellation, great sound quality and better battery life and comfort than my AirPods Pro 2 — all for a fraction of the price of the AirPods Pro Max, which are over $500. The Beats Studio Pro use some of the same components of AirPods, so I’m getting a bunch of features, including automatic switching between devices, for way less money.
Watch this: AirPods Max 2 vs. Sony WH-1000XM6: Which Headphones Are Better?
All those features could make a big difference in your day-to-day. Even though it may seem like the right move to choose headphones that win at almost everything, CNET headphone editors have a more helpful tip to help you narrow down which headphones you should invest in.
Think about how you’ll use your headphones the most
David Carnoy, CNET’s executive editor and headphones expert, says it’s good to try new brands, especially if you’re looking for something specific. “For instance, you might try the Shokz Open Fit Pro, Shokz Open Dots or Anker’s Aerofit 2 because you want open buds with ear hooks or a clip-on design for running,” says Carnoy.
CNET’s survey findings also show that Anker wins for value and scores highly for reliability and battery life, making it a top contender among premium brands such as Apple and Sony.
Or if you’re looking for over-the-ear headphones that have top-tier active noise cancellation to block out noise while you’re exercising or working, you may consider the Sony WH-1000XM6. If you’d rather skip the $400 price tag, the Baseus Inspire XH1 cost $150 and offer the best value when it comes to active noise cancellation. And it’s still worth checking out less notable brands that could have some of the features you want for even less. That said, Carnoy notes that the AirPods Pro 3 are honestly very hard to beat for those already in the Apple ecosystem, thanks to a plethora of upgrades, including better microphones and noise cancellation.
What headphones CNET readers recommend
If you’re unsure what headphones are best based on your must-have features and how you’ll use them, here’s what CNET readers recommend.
Don’t budge on your headphone must-haves
You may have some non-negotiables that make more costly price tags worthwhile. Jeff Carlson, CNET’s senior writer, pointed out a big bonus for Apple’s headphones: They offer seamless connectivity to whichever device he’s using. Some brands don’t make headphones as seamless as they could be, and that level of integration can be a must-have, especially if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem.
“It’s that lack of friction that finally convinced me to buy AirPods Max over some cheaper over-the-ear headphones I had before. Switching from iPad to iPhone to Mac to Apple TV almost always happens automatically. Before, I’d have to jump through manual hoops,” says Carlson.
But after Carlson’s AirPods Max died a few months ago, he bought the Anker Soundcore Space One headphones on sale. He paid $88 after spotting the deal through CNET during an Amazon sale. Even though the quality isn’t as good as the AirPods Max, the music and noise cancellation are good enough for working in his shared space.
Watch this: The Secrets Behind Value in Earbuds and Headphones
Some brands you may never have considered may check all your boxes for features and design. You may find that older headphones meet all your expectations, such as buying the Apple AirPods Max instead of the AirPods Pro Max to save about $50. Or you could consider a refurbished pair from a certified retailer.
Before you settle on one pair, shop around. CNET has recommendations on the best value headphones, how to choose the right headphones for your needs and how many pairs you should own and why. Spoiler alert: It’s more than just one.
