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The Best Headphones To Buy In 2024

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Best Headphones and Earbuds 2024

Everyone is different when it comes to picking the right pair of headphones or earbuds. Whether you're looking for something capable of blocking out your noisy neighbours, a pair that will stay in place during your toughest workouts, or pocket-sized earphones that have the battery life of a workhorse, finding the right pair of headphones to suit your needs can literally make or break your routine.

Below, we've taken the time to narrow down a list of the best 10 headphones and earbuds on the market, perfect to serve a spectrum of wants and needs. So, regardless of whether you're looking for just the basics at a great price or you're a fully-fledged audiophile with a budget to match, there's a pair of headphones or earbuds on this list to suit.

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Urban List's Top Picks

The Best Headphones To Shop In 2024

Best Overall Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones

The Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones, one of the best headphones
Image Credit: Sony | Website

If you've got some cash to spend and you're looking for a workhorse, you can't beat these headphones from Sony. Perfectly designed to meet a range of needs, there's not much these headphones can't do; seamlessly handling everything from Zoom calls, to music, to workouts.

Those particularly attuned to sound quality and noise-cancelling technology won't be disappointed thanks to the onboarded tech, and the 30-hour long battery life ensures you'll rarely experience that dreaded low-battery feeling. Comfortable to wear (and equally sleek looking), you'll also love the highly responsive voice command and inbuilt touch controls for seamless use.

Best New Sonos Ace

The Sonos Ace headphones, one of the best new headphones
Image Credit: Sonos | Website

Get ready to level up your sound game with the newest addition to the slick Sonos lineup—headphones that are as stylish as they are smart. Designed with obsessive attention to detail and tuned to perfection, these headphones let you get lost in the sounds that move you most. 

Expect top-tier immersion with spatial audio, dynamic head tracking, and world-class Active Noise Cancellation—all working together to deliver crystal-clear calls and all-day comfort. Plus, with a whopping 30 hours of battery life, you’ll stay powered up for the long haul. Need to stay aware of your surroundings? Just tap to switch to Aware mode whilst on your commute

Best Luxury Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max, one of the best luxury headphones
Image Credit: Apple | Website

Outrageously expensive, if you're an audiophile who's in the market to splurge on a luxury pair of over-the-ear headphones, you can't go past the new-and-improved Apple Airpods Max. With superior noise-cancellation technology and some of the best sound quality out there, there's no denying part of the appeal is not just how good these headphones sound, but also how they look and feel.

Apple users will particularly benefit from how seamlessly these headphones integrate alongside other IOS devices, including their standout head-tracking object-based surround sound technology.

Best Value Sony WF-C510 Truly Wireless Earbuds

best budget earbuds Sony WF-C510 Truly Wireless Earbuds
Image Credit: Sony | Website

Coming in at under $100, these sleek wireless earbuds are an excellent choice for the budget-minded. With up to 22 hours of battery life, the ability to connect to two devices at once, and an Ambient Sound mode, these compact headphones are still packed with features.

Providing a solid sound profile, if you're looking for a pair of basic earbuds perfect for listening to music, podcasts, or making calls that won't break the bank, you can’t go wrong with these.

Best Noise Cancelling Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, one of the best noise cancelling headphones
Image Credit: Bose | Website

Whether you're looking to shut the world out or become even more connected, these wireless Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones will meet your needs by ensuring you hear everything you want and nothing you don't. Utilising a combination of digital signal processing technology and an advanced microphone, they work to reduce background noise and provide clear voice sound—something that's become even more critical during this work from home era.

As a bonus, the inbuilt touch sensors and voice control allow you to manage volume, calls, and music right from your headphones.

Best Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2

best apple earbuds Apple AirPods Pro 2
Image Credit: Apple | Website

One of the most popular earbuds on the market, there's no denying that if you're an Apple user looking for a solid pair of headphones, the second-generation AirPods are a great choice. The super-portable and compact design, coupled with quality sound, great noise-cancellation, seamless connectivity (when using alongside IOS devices), and intuitive controls, makes them perfect for anyone looking for multifunctional headphones that can be used for a variety of needs.

While these may not have the best battery life on the market (although six hours ain't bad), the recharge time for top-ups is relatively quick, thanks to the clever charge storing case.

Best Android Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro

best android earbuds Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro
Image Credit: Samsung | Website

A great alternative to AirPods for Android users, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro from Samsung are a quality pair of noise-cancelling earbuds at a moderate price point. Providing excellent battery life for their size, these comfortable and cool-looking earbuds provide studio-quality sound and a crisp and clear microphone, whether at home or on the go.

With inbuilt noise cancellation, voice control and immersive 360 audio, these Android headphones were designed for easy listening and all-day-long seamless connectivity. 

Best For Workouts Beats Fit Pro Wireless Earphones

Best For Workouts and exerise beats fit pro earbuds
Image Credit: Beats | Website

When it comes to the perfect pair of headphones for working out, it often falls to a matter of personal preference. While some people can happily exercise with their usual earbuds or over-ear headphones, overwhelmingly, if you're looking for a workout-specific pair, you want something that will stay in place regardless of your chosen activity. 

These hook-tipped earbuds headphones use a clever design that ensures they will remain in place, with six hours of listening time (24 hours in total) and a reinforced sweat and water-resistant design, you can be confident they will go the distance no matter your workout.

Best Gaming SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Gaming Headset

Best Gaming headphones steelseries
Image Credit: SteelSeries | Website

Lightweight and comfortable to wear, with a sleek design profile, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Gaming Headset will take your wireless gaming needs to the next level. The dual battery system—which allows you to use one battery for play whilst the other is charging—ensures you'll seldom have to deal with a flat headset.

The superior audio clarity and microphone allow you to use this headset for more than just gaming if required, whilst the powerful inbuilt Bluetooth provides seamless connectivity between all your devices.

Image credit: Sonos | Instagram

Urban List editors independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. Urban List has affiliate partnerships, and if you purchase something through the links in this article, we will earn a commission from those partners. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.

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