Headphones are a must-have in the modern world, but knowing which type and brand to pick can cause as bad of a headache as getting the wrong pair.
This goes doubly for those shopping for headphones as a gift, especially with graduation season coming up -- new grads heading to college or entering the workforce will undoubtedly be grateful for an upgraded pair to use during workouts, commutes, long hours spent studying, in the office and more.
Below, we've broken down a few common categories and their respective best uses and benefits, as well as suggestions for top picks in each. We're also including an exciting new release from stylish brand Nothing: The Headphone (a) designed in the brand's signature, tech-savvy aesthetic at an under-$200 price point.
Read on to check out that launch and more of our favorites to determine which headphone style, brand and model are right for your needs. Happy listening!
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New launch from Nothing Tech
British tech company Nothing has launched a new, lighter and more affordable headphone model: The Headphone (a).
Unflinchingly stylish with one of the most eye-catching designs on the market, Nothing lean into a cyber-futuristic vibe that has a distinct turn-of-the-20th-century look and feel you won't find elsewhere. While the Headphone (1) offers a slightly more sturdy, dynamic headphone for a $300 price point, the new Headphone (a) sees a $100 price decrease (great for gifting at a more accessible price point) and lighter build for comfort during longer listening sessions.
Both models benefit greatly from downloading the accompanying app that allows you to choose the level of noise cancellation you want, the best division of sound for your music, book or podcast, and plenty of options for customizing your listening experience instantly.
Each also offers a tactile experience that invokes muscle memory for smoother control thanks to the various on-ear controls. For example, it's a cinch to skip tracks with a satisfying paddle click that lets the listener flip through songs without picking up their phone and potentially getting distracted by the notifications.
As for audio quality, Nothing options offer deep, rich bass that can be tweaked to your liking, crisp middle and top notes, and an overall immersion on par with any of our other favorites in the $300 to $500 range of evergreen favorites below.
Best over-ear headphones
For the ultimate listening experience, we recommend an over-ear headphone. They have the most advanced engineering possible inside due to sheer size and -- like the pairs we've selected -- can provide a very comfortable listening session that makes you feel like you're in the recording studio listening live.
Px8 S2 Over-ear noise-canceling headphones
Described by the brand as "the best headphones we've ever made," the Px8 S2 are the most advanced headphone in the Bowers & Wilkins catalog as of right now, thanks to a host of benefits you'd expect from the makers of such luxury products. The best hi-res audio lets you hear old music with completely new ears thanks to optimized drivers and top-of-the-line wireless connectivity. They offer 30 hours of battery life -- the perfect trade-off point before you get into bulky, heavy batteries -- and there's a quick charge option, so 15 minutes plugged in gets you 7 hours of playtime. If you've ever been running late for your commute or a long flight, you know exactly how valuable those hours can be! Call quality and noise cancellation benefit from the inclusion of eight microphones spaced throughout the headphones, and you can use the Bowers & Wilkins app to create precision settings tailored to your listening preferences. As always with the brand, style is of utmost importance, too, and the sleek, British design is the definition of "quiet luxury." Black is classic, but the warm stone colorway will let you stand out while complementing nearly any ensemble.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Looking for noise cancellation, top-tier sound quality, and a stylish colorway? Bose is known for all three, and they show up in spades with this gorgeous set of black and gold QuietComfort headphones. Despite the intricate engineering that offers top-notch, immersive listening, these remain lightweight for long-wear sessions, and the adjustable band makes it easy to adjust these to your head. You can customize the sound in the Bose app for a tailored listening experience, and multiple points of Bluetooth connectivity makes for instant connection and interruption-free listening.
Best earbuds
Earbuds are all about convenience and portability, but modern brands like JBL and Nothing don't let that erode the sound quality -- try these top picks to experience incredible sound and comfortable in-ear wear.
JBL Tour Pro 3 - True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds with Smart Charging Case, Legendary Pro Sound with Hybrid Dual-Driver, Spatial 360 Sound with Head Tracking
While we said over-ear headphones are known for being the best way to experience music with lossless sound, it would take a very sophisticated ear to spot lesser quality when trading in the over-ears for a bud like the Tour Pro 3. The adaptive noise-cancelling is so good it's almost startling at first, totally blocking out the sounds around, but you can easily tap between that mode, talk-through, and ambient awareness mode. The Smart charging case is genius, offering a real-time measurement on your charge in each individual bud as well as the case itself, and the magnetic pull makes it a breeze to pop these in when you're done listening.
Audio brand Nothing has mastered the art of fusing aesthetics and performance like no other, especially if your taste falls in line with the cool, silvery futurism that reigned supreme at the turn of the millennium. The brand's ear (3) earbuds are no exception, packaged tightly in a compact, see-through case for maximum visual impact, but this isn't a trade-off for lesser aural quality at all -- quite the opposite. They're noise-canceling up to 45 decibels for immersive sound and were "built with aerospace materials (PMI & TPU) and an upgraded 12mm dynamic driver to create precise and expansive listens," according to the product description -- in other words, these are space-age earbuds that look cooler, sound cooler and will be your new go-to pair if both matter to you.
Best open-ear headphones
No everyone wants noise-canceling headphones for many reasons, and an open-ear model lets you experience top-notch listening without sacrificing spatial and aural awareness. We think you'll love these options if this sounds up your alley.
SHOKZ OpenDots ONE-Open-Ear Headphones
More than a thousand pairs of these Shokz OpenDots ONE-Open-Ear Headphones have been purchased on Amazon alone in the past month, making these a top seller in the open-ear category. Soft silicone grips help them conform to your ear shape for comfortable wear, and interchangeable wear makes them a cinch to throw on when you're in a hurry. Customize the sound in the Shokz app for the ideal listening experience, and enjoy great audio without blocking out the world around you.
Bose x Kendra Scott Ultra Open Earbuds
Noise-canceling headphones are great for certain situations, but there are times -- commuting, walking through the city, sitting in the office -- when it behooves you to be in touch with your surroundings. Bose's open-ear headphones offer exactly this while maintaining a rich symphony of aural immersion, and the brand's recent collaboration with Kendra Scott offers an elevated take on the design thanks to filigree detailing that makes these look less like earbuds and more like earrings. They're also lightweight and great for all-day wear, hold up to seven hours of battery life, and are water-resistant with an IPX4, so they're suitable for wearing during workouts or in a light rain.
Best on-ear headphones
On-ear headphones offer a lighter wear than over-ears sometimes, and the Beats Solo 4 is a must-have if you dislike the feeling of earbuds and want that over-ear experience with slightly less bulk to wear and carry.
Beats Solo 4 - Wireless On-Ear Bluetooth Headphones, Up to 50-Hour Battery Life
With nearly 20,000 reviews on Amazon raving about the sound quality, connectivity, battery life, and comfort, these on-ear headphones are well worth the price -- and are often marked down for key holidays. They're super lightweight and come in a variety of colorways, even in special editions like the Beats x Jennie collaboration from earlier this year that sold out quickly. They're great for working out and other activities involving movement thanks to their lightweight build, and they come with AppleCare+ for added value, in case something goes wrong.
