Whether taking conference calls on the go or immersing yourself in your favourite album on a long walk, investing in a good pair of headphones can make all the difference to your listening experience.
But with the constant evolution of technology and endless models available, choosing the perfect pair can be daunting.
Below, you’ll find some information about the different types of headphones on offer and which ones could be best for you. We’ve also pulled together some of our favourite models on the market right now. So no matter what your budget or listening needs are, hopefully, we can point you in the right direction.
Which type of headphones are best for me?
Headphones come in many different styles but they can be split into three simple categories: over-ear, on-ear, and in-ear.
What type is best for you will depend on various factors. Besides your budget, the two most important questions to consider are:
- What will you use them for?
- What features are important to you?
Below, we’ll take a look at these three headphone types and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Over-ear headphones
As the name suggests, over-ear headphones sit over your ears, completely covering them. They’re the largest headphone type, which makes them less portable, but they generally produce the best sound quality.
One of the reasons for this is their size. They typically contain large drivers, which generally result in better audio quality. Drivers are the components that convert electrical signals into sound.
We also tend to get a more immersive listening experience with over-ear headphones. This is because the sound hits the entirety of our ear, as opposed to being driven directly into our ear canal as it does with earbuds.
The fact that over-ear headphones cover your whole ear also means that they generally have better noise-cancelling abilities and leak less sound.
However, over-ear headphones are bulky compared to other designs, can make your ears a little hot when worn for long periods, and typically aren’t very water or sweat-resistant – so they aren’t ideal for exercise. Just because a pair of headphones isn’t waterproof, it doesn’t mean that you can’t wear them during a little bit of light exercise – like walking – but avoid wearing them for intensive activities and in wet weather.
On-ear headphones
While over-ear headphones fit over (or around) your ears, on-ear headphones have smaller ear cups that sit on top of your ears. They’re typically lighter and more portable than their over-ear counterparts, but the sound quality isn’t normally as good.
A smaller size means smaller drivers and the on-ear fit can mean a less immersive listening experience. Because the ear cups don’t completely cover your ears to make a seal, they provide less of a physical barrier between your ear and outside sounds. With this in mind, they generally cancel out less external noise than over-ear headphones and leak more sound.
Plus, many types of on-ear headphones don’t have Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), which we’ll talk about below. However, ANC uses significant battery life – so wireless models without this feature can last for longer between charges.
Some people also report that on-ear headphones are slightly more uncomfortable than over-ear ones, especially if you wear earrings. But if you get the right fit, this shouldn’t be a problem.
On-ear headphones are a good choice for those looking for portable headphones with excellent battery life, as long as they’re willing to compromise a little on sound quality.
In-ear headphones
Also known as ‘earbuds’ or ‘earphones’, in-ear headphones are the smallest, most portable type. As the name suggests, they fit directly into your ear canal.
Because they’re lightweight, stay in your ears when you move around, and typically have good water/sweat resistance, in-ear headphones are great choices for working out. However, the biggest benefit of these types of headphones is probably the affordability. While there are exceptional pairs that cost hundreds of pounds, you can generally get yourself a decent pair on any budget.
That said, their small size means they can suffer in sound quality and noise-cancelling abilities, especially budget options. But it’s worth bearing in mind that there are lots of premium options that provide a far better listening experience than cheap over-ear and on-ear options.
Another thing to consider is that because in-ear headphones sit closer to your eardrums, they have the potential to be more damaging to your hearing than over or on-ears. Wireless earbud batteries also don’t last as long as their counterparts because the batteries are smaller.
In-ear headphones are ideal for someone on a budget looking for something to use while exercising or on the go.
What is Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)?
Headphones with great noise cancellation mean you can completely immerse yourself in your favourite album, podcast, or audiobook, despite the hustle and bustle around you.
Nowadays, noise cancellation technology has moved past simply providing a physical barrier between your ears and outside noises. In fact, lots of models now contain active noise cancellation (ANC).
ANC-capable headphones use small microphones to pick up outside noises. Then, the headphones produce a noise that has the exact opposite sound waves, which effectively cancels out the original sound.
There are lots of headphones on the market with ANC, but this feature is most common in over-ear headphones.
Once you’ve chosen the best type of headphones for you…
While over-ear, on-ear, and in-ear headphones are the three basic types of headphones, these categories don’t necessarily encompass every model out there – for example, bone conduction headphones (a sport-specific type of headphones) transmit sound by sending vibrations through the bones in the head and jaw.
We also haven’t gone into things like Bluetooth codecs and frequency response. You can find out more about this in this guide from Sound Gear Lab.
That being said, thinking about headphones in these three categories can help give you a good understanding of what kind is best for you.
Best headphones right now
Below you’ll find some of our picks for the best headphones on the market. We’ve started with in-ear headphones, as these are probably the most common type, before moving on to over-ear and on-ear varieties.
Note: Many headphones are built for the average consumer and intended for casual listening and taking calls. However, there are various models, such as the Sennheiser HD 800s, which are crafted with professionals like sound mixers in mind and can cost thousands of pounds.
Although this guide features some fantastic hardware, it generally sticks to more affordable choices in the range of £10-£350. So, if you’re an audio enthusiast looking for some seriously impressive gear, check out this round-up of the best premium headphones from What Hi-Fi.
Plus, with Black Friday just around the corner, we’re experiencing big fluctuations in price. So while our stated price can be used as a rough guideline, you may be able to find better deals by shopping around.
Best in-ear headphones
1. Earfun Air
Price: £24.99
Wireless: Yes
Battery: 6 hours (35 hours total with charging case)
Water resistant: Yes (IPX7 rated)
Billed by What Hi-Fi as “too good to be true”, these inexpensive earbuds offer a selection of features and impressive sound quality far beyond the expectations of their price point.
With a premium-feeling design, decent battery life, and touch control, there’s a lot to love about the Earfun Airs. Brilliant waterproofing (an IXP7 rating means they can be submerged up to one metre for 30 minutes) means they’re durable too – ideal for anyone looking for something that transitions smoothly between exercise and general use.
2. Sony WF-C700N
Price: From £77.00
Wireless: Yes
ANC: Yes
Battery life: 7.5 hours (15 hours including charging case)
Water resistant: Yes (IPX4)
If active noise cancellation is what you seek but you don’t want to spend more than £100, the Sony WF-C700N are definitely worth considering.
While they won’t be able to block out all noises – like the squealing of noisy trains – they’ll work perfectly well with general hubbubs, such as coffee shop chatter.
Plus, the WF-C700Ns boast Sony’s Adaptive Sound Control feature, which changes your noise-cancelling settings automatically depending on where you are and what you’re doing. Throw in a stylish, comfortable design (there are three colour choices) and you have a winner.
3. Sony WF-1000XM5
Price: From £188.00
Wireless: Yes
ANC: Yes
Battery life: 8 hours (24 including case)
Water resistant: Yes (IPX4)
When we think of premium wireless earbuds, our minds might go straight to Apple AirPods, but most reviewers agree that the Sony WF-1000XM5s are the better choice.
Alongside amazing sound quality and noise-cancelling, these buds offer features you didn’t know you needed – like the ability to accept or decline calls with a nod or shake of the head. Plus, according to Sony, they’re 25% smaller and 20% lighter than their previous model, which makes them comfortable to wear for hours at a time.
Best over-ear headphones
4. Earfun Wave Pro
Price: £75.99
Wireless: Yes
ANC: Yes
Battery life: 80 hours
Water-resistant: No
If you’re looking for a pair of decent-sounding wireless over-ear headphones but don’t want to break the bank, why not check out the Earfun Wave Pro?
They’re comfortable and solidly built, with extraordinary battery life (Earfun claim a mere ten minutes of charging gives you ten hours of listening). Plus, with dynamic ANC (including wind and ambient modes), they’ll serve you well inside and out.
Like many over-ear headphones, lack of waterproofing means they aren’t suited for exercise – and the sound quality is a far cry from premium models – but, at their price point, they’re hard to beat.
5. Sony WH-1000XM5
Price: from £259.00
Wireless: Yes
ANC: Yes
Battery life: 40 hours (max)
Water-resistant: No
Sony has been leading the pack when it comes to premium, over-ear, noise-cancelling headphones for years now. The WH-1000XM3 and WH-1000XM4 models – which were released in 2018 and 2020 respectively – were among the best out there, and the WH-1000XM5 are no different.
Stylish and comfortable with a distinctly premium feel, the Sony WH-1000XM5 offer well-balanced sound and probably the best noise-cancelling features of any pair of headphones out there.
The noise-cancelling settings work automatically as you move around to give you a seamless listening experience. If you start having a conversation, they’ll press pause on your music and switch to ambient mode so you can hear whoever you’re speaking to. However, make sure to turn this feature off if you like singing with your headphones on!
There are also plenty of other smart features that come along with the WH-1000XM5, such as a ‘Find my Headphone’ feature. This is a great one for peace of mind considering the hefty price tag, which is probably the only major downside of these headphones.
If you like the sound of these headphones but want to keep the price down, the previous model of this range – the WH-1000XM4 – is still a great option.
Best on-ear headphones
6. Sony WH-CH520
Price: From £34.40
Wireless: Yes
ANC: No
Battery life: 50 hours
Water-resistant: No
Headphone technology has come a long way in the past 10 years, and the fact that you can get decent-sounding wireless on-ear headphones that cost as little as the Sony WH-CH520 is proof of that.
With that said, there are plenty of drawbacks to consider. For one, while they’re not bulky, they don’t fold down to a smaller size, so aren’t ideal from a portability standpoint. Plus, there’s no analogue input, so you can’t use a wired connection to improve your listening experience or use them when they’re out of battery.
That said, with 50 hours of battery life, you probably won’t need to worry about running out of juice.
7. Jabra Elite 45h
Price: £98.99
Wireless: Yes
ANC: No
Battery life: 50 hours (max)
Water-resistant: No
The Jabra Elite 45h is ideal for casual users looking for something to keep them company on a quiet commute, or even during some light exercise.
Along with great battery life, the Jabra Elite 45h also supports Bluetooth 5 connectivity, has a pretty crisp-sounding microphone and comes with a two-year warranty that covers both water and dust protection – which is good considering they aren’t very waterproof.
However, there’s no headphone jack for wired connection and users have reported problems with the Bluetooth multipoint connectivity (which allows you to connect to two or more devices at once). The sound isolation also is less than perfect, but that’s to be expected from on-ear models.
8. Grado SR325x
Price: £248.00
Wireless: No
ANC: No
Battery life: n/a
Water-resistant: No
Over-ear and on-ear headphones can be sorted into two categories: closed-back and open-back.
Closed-back headphones involve the earcups being completely sealed on the outside. Every headphone on this list so far has been closed-back, and they’re ideal for sound isolation. Open-back, on the other hand, is when the speaker housing is exposed, usually by a grille. This allows air to move through the ear cups, offering a more natural and clear sound.
It’s this better sound quality that makes open-back headphones ideal for audio professionals like sound mixers who have to engage in what’s called ‘critical listening’. However, they’re also popular among audio enthusiasts who want to invest in some quality tech.
The Grado SR325x is one of the best pairs of open-backed headphones that money can buy. The sound quality is incredibly clear, clean, and detailed – listening to your favourite tracks through these will put them in a whole new light. The build quality is top-notch and (depending on your style preferences) it sports a timeless retro design.
One caveat is that the open-back design means they don’t have noise-cancelling features and will leak lots of noise. So they aren’t designed for busy trains or shared offices – a fact that’s compounded by the wired-only connection.
But if you’re a music lover (with a big budget) looking to take your home listening experience to the next level, you won’t find much better than the Grado SR325x.
Final thoughts…
Whether you love to listen to audiobooks on your daily commute or you’re more likely to be blasting dance tracks in the gym, we hope this selection of headphones has given you a good idea of what’s out there.
However, it’s worth reiterating that this isn’t an exhaustive list. While these are a handful of our favourite choices, there are plenty of other good options on the market. This list was also created with the average consumer in mind, so there are a few different types of specialist headphones that aren’t present here – such as sport-specific and studio headphones.
For more tech round-ups, take a look at our lists of the best fitness trackers and air-fryers.
Are you thinking about investing in a new pair of headphones? Or have you recently bought a pair you’d like to recommend? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.