After the smartphone, headphones are the gadget we reach for most often in our daily lives. Here, The Verge tracks the best headphones for every budget and purpose, whether they be wireless, noise cancelling, in-ear, or over-ear. With all the big brands — from Bose and Beats to Sony and Sennheiser — and a few of the over-performing smaller ones, there's a perfect pair of headphones out there for everyone, and we'll have it covered.
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The best noise-canceling headphones to buy right now
Get some peace and quiet with any of our top picks for noise-canceling headphones. Sony’s still the best overall, but there are reasons to go elsewhere, too.
The best wireless earbuds to buy right now
The best from Apple, Bose, Samsung, Sony, Beats, Google, and more
8
Verge Score
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review: still great but a questionable ‘upgrade’
Spatial audio and voice call improvements are the main new features, but these earbuds are largely identical to last year’s QuietComfort Earbuds II otherwise.
8
Verge Score
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are its best earbuds yet
More comfortable, much better sound, and improved ANC
7
Verge Score
Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones review: less cool, more comfortable
An overhauled design prioritizes comfort over the retro looks of Sennheiser’s past Momentums
8
Verge Score
Google Pixel Buds Pro review: the sweet sound of redemption
Google’s premium buds have more features — without deal-breaking flaws
8
Verge Score
Beyerdynamic Free Byrd earbuds review: soaring sound and long battery life
For a first effort, there’s a lot to like about Beyerdynamic’s $250 buds
5
Verge Score
HyperX’s Cloud Mix Buds deliver the goods but not the comfort
Its debut true wireless earbuds left me wanting more
8
Verge Score
SteelSeries Nova Pro Wireless review: it nearly does it all
The standard Nova Pro is a compelling wired option, too
7
Verge Score
OnePlus Nord Buds review: very affordable, perfectly capable
These budget earbuds don’t disappoint for their under $40 price
7
Verge Score
Sony LinkBuds S review: supreme comfort doesn’t come cheap
An airy fit, ANC, and LDAC all in one pricey package
8
Verge Score
Sony WH-1000XM5 review: new design, new sound, new price
Sony’s latest noise-canceling headphones have a fresh look and iterative improvements
8
Verge Score
Rode’s first pair of headphones offer a comfortable and balanced way to monitor audio
The NTH-100 offers a great option for audio mixing
7.5
Verge Score
The LinkBuds are Sony’s strangest earbuds in years — and surprisingly good
They’re weird, refreshing, and fantastic at voice calls
7
Verge Score
Jabra Elite 7 Pro review: something’s missing
Jabra’s latest earbuds impress on voice quality but arrive without the company’s signature feature
8.5
Verge Score
Beats Fit Pro review: sporty AirPod Pros with better sound
The latest Beats earbuds are the company’s best product since the Powerbeats Pro