Best Headphones of 2021

Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.

Most people can’t listen to dozens of headphones every year to find the best pairs. At Consumer Reports, we can and do.

We buy and evaluate headphones continually, rating them on factors including sound quality, noise cancellation, features, and fit. With CR on your side, all you need to know to find the best headphones in 2021 is what kind you want and how much you want to spend.

You can probably decide which category of headphones you want with a quick glance. A wired over-ear set may be best suited for home listening, while a true wireless model is convenient if you want to slide your headphones into a pocket or wear at the gym.

Budgets matter, too. The following list of the best headphones of 2021 includes both our top-rated picks (which tend to be pricier) and recommendations for bargain-priced headphones that deliver great performance.

For more information, check out CR’s headphone ratings, which are open to members. Note: CR buys the headphones in our labs through normal retail channels, just like we buy everything you’ll find in our ratings, from trucks to TVs.

Truly Outstanding True Wireless

The best: Samsung Galaxy Buds are one of the best-scoring portable Bluetooth models Consumer Reports has ever tested. That’s all the more impressive given their true wireless design, meaning there’s no cord connecting the earbuds. The Galaxy Buds produce exemplary audio quality packed into a pair of unobtrusive earpieces, complete with easy-to-use touch controls for playback, volume, and skipping tracks.

They have an advertised 6-hour battery life and a powered carrying case that will recharge the earphones for up to 7 additional hours of playback on the go. The case itself can be charged with a wireless charging mat, and it’s particularly compact compared with the cases that come with many true wireless models.

The bargain option: At around $50, the 1MORE PistonBuds deliver great sound quality for the price, beating out competitors that cost far more. They have an advertised 3.5-hour battery life—about average for a true wireless model—and come with a charging/carrying case that will power the earphones almost five times before it needs to be plugged in again.

Uncompromised Listening

The best: If sound is your No. 1 priority, the Grado Prestige SR325e should be on your short list. Grado’s flagship model is an audio champ. You might not want to show off these headphones in public, though. The open-back ear cups—an intentional design choice meant to add clarity to the audio—aren’t meant to block sound from bleeding in or out, so they may not be suited for noisy environments or places where you might bother a neighbor. The SR325e are best for the listener who wants to plunk down in a room and bask in the glory of hi-fidelity sound.

The bargain option: Looking for a wired over-ear model for a little less? The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones are a classic choice for music producers and fans. They deliver high-quality sound, and unlike the Grados listed above, they’re closed-back and designed to isolate your ears. They retail for about $150.

Noise Canceling On the Go

The best: Sony gets a lot of attention for its line of noise-canceling headphones, and the WF-1000XM3 is one of its best offerings. It has outstanding sound quality and top-of-the-line noise reduction—and does it all with a true wireless design.

These feature-rich earphones have variable noise cancellation, which you can adjust to let in more or less sound, and a “monitor” mode that actively pipes in audio from your surroundings. According to Sony, the XM3 has a 6-hour battery life. It can be recharged up to three times with the portable charging case and includes a quick-charge feature.

One caveat is that some users, particularly those with larger ears, may feel the XM3 doesn’t fit securely.

The bargain option: There are lots of great choices if you’re looking for less expensive noise-canceling headphones. One of our top picks is the 1MORE Comfo Buds Pro. You get the convenience of true wireless headphones, great sound quality, and superb noise cancellation, all for around $100. 1MORE advertises a 6-hour battery life backed by a charging case that holds enough power for two full cycles.

High-Performance Bluetooth

The best: The GW100 is Grado’s first Bluetooth model. The audio quality doesn’t match that of the company’s best wired options, but it beats most of the wireless headphones we’ve tested in this category. According to Grado, the headphones have a 40-hour battery life. Shop around and you can find them for about $250.

Grado’s signature open-back design is intended to improve audio quality, but it’s unusual for a wireless model because it isn’t meant to completely muffle sound from getting in or out. But Grado says the GW100 is designed to limit sound leakage far better than its other models built for home listening.

For consumers who want more traditional Bluetooth headphones, we recommend the Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Headphones II. They aren’t noise canceling like many of Bose’s headphones, but they get a great rating for sound and cost a bit less.

The bargain option: The Sennheiser HD 250BT is a relative newcomer, but it makes a mark for providing great sound at a bargain price. This is a sleek on-ear model with a price that sometimes dips below $70, making it one of the best values among Bluetooth headphones in our ratings. The HD 250BT has an advertised 25-hour battery life, and it charges over USB-C, the same cable that powers newer Mac laptops and tons of other devices.

Portable, Affordable High Fidelity

The best: For the best sound quality you can get from a portable model under $100, look no farther than the 1MORE E1001 Triple Driver. You won’t find many competitors that deliver such impressive audio anywhere near this price. We've seen it go as low as $50.

These headphones have a sleek design and come with extras, including a removable shirt clip, a carrying case, and nine sets of earpieces of varying shapes and sizes to help you find a good fit.

The bargain option: The $25 Scosche Sports Flex 3 is a good bet for those who want something even less expensive. The flexible earhooks make them a great pick for the gym, and the sound quality is well above average.

Premium Noise Canceling

The best: The Sennheiser PXC 550-II is such a great deal we could almost call it the best and the bargain pick. It’s one of highest-scoring headphones in our ratings, and it costs as much as 50 percent less than many competitors. In our tests, the PXC 550-II outperforms flagship models from manufacturers such as Sony and Beats, and gets almost the same score as the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, another one of our other top picks, priced at almost $400.

The PXC 550-II has appealing features, such as adjustable levels of noise cancellation and an ambient sound monitoring mode that lets noise from your environment back in so you can hear your surroundings when necessary. Sennheiser says this model will run for up to 20 hours with both Bluetooth and noise canceling turned on.

The bargain option: We’ve got a great one: the Monoprice BT-300ANC. The audio quality is solid, the noise cancellation is great, and they sell for less than $45.

How to Choose Headphones

With so many types of headphones, how do you know which pair is right for you? On the "Consumer 101" TV show, Consumer Reports expert Elias Arias explains everything you need to know.