The best headphones 2024: The audio your music deserves

Score: 4.5/5

The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the latest in a lineage of best-selling, top-ranking headphones. It could’ve been easy for Sony to rest on its laurels and churn out a minor upgrade to its established winning formula. Instead, it decided to mix things up – and to great effect.

The WH-1000XM5 have new audio drivers, producing a beautiful sound that will delight all listeners. In our review, we tested the headphones with everything from cheesy pop to death metal – the XM5s handled them all without fault. Topping this off, the noise-cancellation is immensely accomplished, keeping the world at bay while you work and play.

Additional features include an array of microphones dedicated to sending your voice through clearly on calls, a responsive touchpad for easy control, speak-to-chat, smart assistant support, and Spotify Quick-Access. The smartphone app is a doddle to install and use, and the 30-hour battery never disappoints – but if it does, the USB-C quick charging will have you back up and running in no time.

As of 2024, these are the best Sony headphones available. Period.

Our review: "The physical style of the headphones and the additional features that Sony packed into these headphones is excellent. But given that headphones deliver audio, these are only part of the equation. If the sound isn’t good, the headphones aren’t worth jack. Gladly, this isn’t the case. The sound quality the XM5 produces is excellent – no doubt thanks to the high-resolution audio decoding found onboard - and without wires, handily (note that you'll need a service that provides hi-res streaming to get the most from this tech)." Tried and tested by William Lobley, Digital Editor

Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review.

Score: 5/5

The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro are, without question, the best in-ear headphones we have tested. The bold but unobtrusive design sits comfortably and firmly in the ear, allowing you to go about your daily tasks without worry – whether you’re working at a desk or working up a sweat in the gym. The outer shell of the earbud has reliable touch controls, allowing you to pause music or change noise-cancelling modes with ease.

The Bluetooth signal is as strong as you’ll find anywhere on the market. This connection can zip a good amount of data through to the Buds2 24-bit decoder, which is good news for anyone using lossless streaming services like Tidal or Apple Music.

Whether lossless or not, the audio quality produced by Samsung’s earbuds is staggering. The internal drivers, including a tweeter and a woofer, have all audio frequencies covered. Whatever you’re doing, wherever you are, the Buds2 Pro will put a bounce in your step.

Our review: "The physical style of the headphones and the additional features that Sony packed into these headphones is excellent. But given that headphones deliver audio, these are only part of the equation. If the sound isn’t good, the headphones aren’t worth jack. Gladly, this isn’t the case. The sound quality the XM5 produces is excellent – no doubt thanks to the high-resolution audio decoding found onboard - and without wires, handily (note that you'll need a service that provides hi-res streaming to get the most from this tech)." Tried and tested by William Lobley, Digital Editor

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro review.

Score: 5/5

The name behind the Walkman is still delivering the goods, even all these years later. With the WF-1000XM4 earphones, Sony provides pleasing audio in a refined, stylish shell. When one of our audio experts reviewed the earphones, they found them to produce a bouncy and confident bass with well-poised high notes. Basically, if you’ve got music to listen to, it’s going to sound primo.

The noise cancelling is adept, and the touch controls can be programmed via the app. Like on the Sony over-ear headphones, speak-to-chat is also present, and eight hours of battery life is carried onboard. An additional 24 hours come via the wireless case. When Sony launches the WF-1000XM5s, we’re going to be interested to see how they can up the game because, until Samsung came along with its Galaxy Buds2 Pro, we considered these the ones to beat.

Our review: "The Sonys use tiny 6mm drivers and a new DAC (Digital to Audio Converter) and the results are extremely impressive – even when we leave noise-cancelling to one side. Sony says it tunes products for popular music at the time, and that means the XM4s are bass specialists. Bass-heavy tracks bounce along, while lower-sub-bass frequencies are also rendered confidently. And rather than being clunky and bottom-heavy, the Sonys can pull off great low-end while still maintaining poise in the higher frequencies." Tried and tested by Curits Moldrich, What's The Best contributor

Read our full WF-1000XM4 review.

Score: 5/5

Marshall has an audio pedigree that can’t be faked. From Jimi Hendrix to Oasis, Motorhead to Fall Out Boy, the Milton Keynes-based company has shared the stage with some of the world’s best-known rock outfits. This means there are no prizes for guessing which genre the Marshall Motif earphones perform well on – but these offer more than just crisp, crunchy, and heavy tones.

The quality of the speaker drivers by the Motif means that any music genre will be well served. Likewise, the additional features carried by the earphones are what you would expect, with decent noise cancellation, smart assistant support and touch controls.

Where it drops a few points is in battery life – 4.5 hours with ANC on, extending to six with ANC off – and the support app, which frankly sucks. Nevertheless, we gave Motif top marks in our review, despite these flaws – that’s how good they sound.

Our review: "Listening through a mix of genres you soon realise that the Motifs never miss a beat. The music of J Dilla and MF DOOM is given just as much respect as Herbie Hancock and John Coltrane - it’s all down to the organic balance of the Motif’s drivers. The performance on distorted guitar-led music is undoubtedly the highlight, though. It’s a real treat to encounter, as many mainstream earphones struggle with the dynamics of rock music." Tried and tested by William Lobley, Digital Editor

Read our full Marshall Motif review.

Score: 4.5/5

Basically a gripper version of the Jabra Elite 7 Pro but missing the bone-conducting voice call technology, so if you spend more time in the gym than the office these are the earbuds for you.

ShakeGrip technology is a silicon rubber coating that ensures wobble-free fitment whether you're lifting weights or running on a treadmill, and the IP57 dust and water rating means you don't need to worry about sweat.

Best of all they sound absolutely brilliant and last eight hours between charges, with active noise cancellation that can block out all but the loudest sounds.

Our review: "The active noise cancellation is really powerful and rivals some over-ear headphones I’ve tried. The Jabra app allows you to tailor the level that is best for you, and there’s also a HearThrough mode so you can retain situational awareness. Useful when running or riding near traffic. The sound is absolutely brilliant – so rich and deep despite originating from a small 6mm source. These earbuds have the sound quality to rival a pair of over-ears, and that is very impressive." Tried and tested by Adam Binnie, What's The Best contributor

Read our full Jabra Elite 7 Active review.

Score: 5/5

Focal has a reputation – it builds some of the best audio equipment available and it comes at a price. Its Bathys, though a budget headphone within the French brand's range, is a testament to this.

The look, while not to all tastes, is bold. The battery life is huge – 42 hours without ANC, though you’ll want to keep it on because it is fantastic. The Bluetooth audio is excellent, full of life, space and precision. Even the app is good.

Despite its five-star feature set, the biggest reason you will need £700 to grab the Bathys is they carry a high-quality DAC (Digital-to-Analogue Converter). When connected via USB-C, the Bathys’ DAC can take over from your device when decoding digital music because, frankly, it’s better at doing it than your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. The result is a vastly improved audio experience that allows your music to sound clearer, of a higher quality and louder. We’d recommend reading our hands-on review if you want to know more but suffice it to say the improvement isn’t slight – it’s a complete revolution.

While the Focal Bathys have the best audio we’ve trialled – and it’s not even close – we can’t in good conscience give them the top spot in this list. While the DAC does give incredible sound, this will only truly appeal to audiophiles who will be happy shelling out. Anyone looking for a solid set of everyday Bluetooth headphones will find better value for money with the Sony WH-1000XM5.

Our review: "Focal is known for its design sensibilities and audio prowess, and with the Bathys, it manages to combine these reputations into something rather special. With travellers in mind, the Bathys are comfortable over long periods, carrying up to 42 hours of battery and boasting a powerful Silent ANC mode, the headphones more than meet the mark. Long-haul flights and packed commuter trains are now peaceful havens. The audio quality via Bluetooth is excellent and expansive, full of energy and power. But it’s when the DAC is activated that you hear the reason the Bathys are such a high-end product." Tried and tested by William Lobley, Digital Editor

Read our full Bathys review.

Score: 4/5

A former world champion, the Sony WH-1000XM4 were king of the hill until its younger relative, the WH-1000XM5, usurped the position. But this doesn’t mean that the XM4 are old news – they still have more to offer than much of the contemporary field and offer a substantial saving over the XM5.

The audio performance is superb. In our test, we found the upscaling processor in the XM4 to be a wonderful touch, adding definition to all tracks and delivering great bass and clear highs. Comfortable to wear, the XM4s create a solid seal around the ear to help keep the world at bay, while the noise cancelling works to tone down any noise that might slip through significantly.   

The Bluetooth connection is still very adept today, connecting to multiple devices, allowing you to listen to music from one device and take calls from another. Touch controls are present and correct, USB-C charging onboard, and speak-to-chat and smart assistance are supported.

Our review: "Sony’s WH-1000XM3s were class-leading, and it’s no surprise to see the XM4s better them slightly in every area. They offer a good mixture of performance and price compared to the competition, so if you’re in the market for a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, these need to be towards the top of your list. However, Sony’s similarly impressive WF-1000XM4 earbuds offer a similar experience for less money and more versatility." Tried and tested by Curtis Moldrich, What's The Best contributor

Read our full Sony WH-1000XM4 review.

Score: 4.5/5

The Shokz OpenFit Air notably improves sound quality for open-ear headphones, balancing situational awareness with rich audio. While not matching the clarity and bass of in-ear or over-ear options like the Samsung Galaxy Buds or Sony XM5, the OpenFit Air impresses with its large driver surface and four adjustable EQ modes via the companion app. 'Standard' mode is versatile, 'Bass boost' enhances music richness, 'Vocals' highlights speech, and 'Treble boost' cuts through loud environments.

The open-ear design allows ambient sounds like traffic and conversation, which is essential for outdoor safety. Shokz's DirectPitch™ technology effectively reduces sound leakage. During our testing, leakage was minimal at moderate volumes.

In addition to the sound quality, the lightweight design and secure fit make it an excellent choice for active users. At £119, the OpenFit Air is a solid investment for those prioritising safety and audio quality in open-ear headphones.

Our review: "I used the headphones for running and cycling outdoors, as well as indoor yoga and in the office for calls and background music. I was impressed by the Shokz OpenFit Air headphones' exceptional fit, sound quality, and ease of use, making them perfect for outdoor exercise."

Read our full Shokz OpenFit Air review.

Score: 4.5/5

Typically, bigger and heavier headphones are considered the place to head for excellent audio quality. While this rings true in many situations, it makes finding something counter to this all the more exciting. Here, with the LinkBuds S, Sony has managed to provide awesome audio quality in a shell that weighs a mere 4.4g.

This lightweight design and smart ergonomics make the LinkBuds S super comfortable. Days in the office and hours in the gym aren't hindered by discomfort. And the battery does a fair job of helping them keep up too.

In our LinkBuds review, we concluded that though Sony does provide better audio on other items - which are typically more expensive - the LinkBuds S balances weight, sound and cost to deliver a package that is hard to beat.

Our review: "If you value comfort above overall quality, and you’re looking for something to take to the gym or wear all day, then the LinkBuds S are worth a look. Sure, they won’t deliver the overall quality of Sony’s flagship in-ears, but they get pretty close and come with their own, unique set of strengths to boot." Tried and tested by Curtis Moldrich, What's The Best contributor

Read our full Sony LinkBuds review.

Score: 4/5

These are tiny earphones – they weigh in at just 3.7g. Somehow 1MORE has managed to cram a significant amount of audio quality into the little shells, ensuring that you can get rich audio and some quality noise-cancelling.

In addition to lightness, 1MORE has focussed on making these earbuds as comfortable as can be. The weight and size allow them to sit and ‘float’ in your ear rather than press down and in as some larger choices can. We also enjoyed the five-hour battery life and 24-hour charge carried by the case.

In our 1MORE ComfoBuds review, the only flaw we encountered was with the touch controls, which were fiddly. They were so temperamental that we gave up trying to use them and resorted to smartphone control – not the end of the world by any stretch. Despite this fault, we’re still using them today.

Our review: "The active noise cancelling (ANC) was surprisingly good too. You'd be forgiven for thinking that the small size would quickly become overwhelmed by the sound of traffic, but it provided near-silence wherever I tried it. All in all, it's a very impressively packaged pair of headphones, tiny in size and weight but infinitely capable. Comfort was also exemplary. Thanks primarily to the tiny weight and diminutive size (I've seen larger M&Ms), it's the comfiest pair of headphones I've ever tried. Where other in-ear headphones have a noticeable weight and can press against your inner ear, the Comfobuds Mini appear to float in your ear, the only sensation of their presence being music produced by them." Tried and tested by Ryan Gilmore, What's The Best contributor

Read our full 1MORE ComfoBuds review.

Score: 4.5/5

Three years since release and the Logitech Pro X LIGHTSPEED headset is still our favourite for gaming. For PC gaming, the Logitech software carries features that help you dial in the right sound for your preferred game type. The surround sounds vast and accurate, with the frequencies covering delicate detail and bombastic explosions with equal quality. Additionally, the BLUE VO!CE microphone is on hand to carry your voice.

The LIGHTSPEED wireless connection is, as the name suggests, rapid. Thanks to the implementation of its data pipeline, the 2.5GHz connection is advertised to achieve speeds faster than a wired device. In the case of audio applications, this translates to a lossless and latency-free experience.

We are still recommending this headset so long after its release because we are still using them all these years on from our original test. If a headset surviving years of day-in, day-out gaming and office work doesn’t impress you, we don’t know what will.

Our review: "With the Pro X LIGHTSPEED, Logitech has created a streamlined wireless gaming experience with flawless connectivity, impressive battery life and immersive audio, all thanks to these superb headphones. There has been a slight dip in performance over the alternative standard addition. Still, for those looking to go wireless, and simplify their setup with wireless gaming peripherals, the Pro X LIGHTSPEED is a hugely compelling choice." Tried and tested by William Lobley, Digital Editor

Read our full Logitech Pro X LIGHTSPEED review.