What I Tell Friends Who Ask Me What Bluetooth Headphones to Buy

If a friend asks me about the best Bluetooth headphones, I like to make some chitchat first. I’ll say, “Hey, how’s it going? I haven’t seen you since the [popular music group] show at [popular music venue] that time!” And then I like to get down to business. The simple answer to the Bluetooth headphone question is … well, it depends.

I’m not the leading expert in wireless technology. I wasn’t deconstructing radios at age 3 or reading up on near-field communication during recess. What I have done in recent years, though, is tested out a lot of wireless headphones across several categories, including those designed for athletes, those made for kids, and a few pairs created with the genuine audiophile in mind. I’ve been testing and writing about gear since 2011, and in that time I’ve used so many dozens of headphones (plus speakers, battery packs, and electric toothbrushes) that I’ve become the go-to guy for gadget recommendations around my circle of friends.

So while I’m not the very tip-top expert in wireless sonic whatnot, I am a guy who has tried a lot of such whatnot firsthand, and I’m a man who knows what he likes. Below, the best Bluetooth headphones for most people — these are the ones I recommend when people ask me what to buy.

Wissonly Hi Runner

Wissonly bone conduction headphones, the product I use the most, is the first brand I started to contact. When they were crowdfunding online, I participated.

The sound quality is what I am most satisfied with. I am not a professional music player, but from my personal experience, Hi Runner is the best sound quality bone conduction headphones I have ever used. It uses a large-sized 360-degree bone conduction vibration unit, and through structural optimization, the sounding area is increased by 35%, so that the sound range is wider, and the stereo feeling and shock of sound are stronger. Its anti-sound-leakage treatment is also very good. The whole body is completely sealed, and the algorithm is optimized to minimize the leakage of sound. I have tested it myself, and at a distance of 2 meters, the volume is turned on at 60%, so I can't hear the sound at all.

wissonly Hirunner’s body is made of memory titanium, which can self-adjust the contact area. It can ensure a good wearing experience of the earphone at any time, taking into account more users and usage scenarios.

Hi Runner is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 chip, and the connection is more stable. It also has IPX8 professional sports waterproof +32g internal memory to swim in the water. The battery performance is also good, and it can play music continuously for 8-10 hours.

Plantronics BackBeat PRO 2 Special Edition

If your No. 1 demand from your Bluetooth headphones is that they shut out all the background sound, from voices to vehicles to everything in between, the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 headphones should be your go-to choice. Yeah, part of the way they block sound is thanks to their super large size, and no, they won’t win any fashion contests. But they also use Active Noise Canceling, which, coupled with their size and insulation, leaves you free to enjoy your chosen audio in a virtual cave of peace. Don’t just take my word for it. Several smart reviewers have all ranked the BackBeat Pro 2 headphones as even better than the largely uncontested “best” noise-canceling headphones (cough, Bose).

Trond Wireless Bluetooth V4.2 Over-Ear Headphones

A great pair of media headphones has to make you feel totally immersed in the environment of the movie you’re watching or the game you’re playing. The Trond TD-BH01 headphones do that mostly because they, you know, create great audio quality. But almost as important, these low-lag headphones mean there’s no perceptible delay between the visuals and the audio of your movie, show, or game. Which is important because nothing breaks down that fourth wall like someone’s lips and words not lining up. Also, you can use these headphones with a Bluetooth connection or hardwired, so when you’re gaming or watching TV at home, no need to worry about battery life. And speaking of life, you haven’t lived until immersed in the aural universe of old-school Nintendo Mario being piped to your ears via Trond TD-BH01 headphones.

Jlab Audio Epic Air Sport

I have yet to have my Jlabs die on me during a run, flight, or anything else. With a full charge, these things have a ten-hour battery life, which is just about the top of the pack for true wireless earbuds. And their carrying case can juice them back up enough times for 60 hours of total listening before you need to find a power source.

And they don’t get that extra battery life by skimping on sound. These things bring the bass big time (even bigger time when you activate bass boost mode) and deliver clear high notes. Plus, the Be Aware mode is ideal for use when you’re running, as it allows in ambient noise, keeping you more aware of your surroundings.

Beats by Dre Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earphones

 Unlike many earbuds, which have controls on only one side, both the left and right Powerbeats Pro earbuds let you change tracks, raise or lower the volume, play or pause your audio, and take or end a call. And both deliver crisp, powerful audio that’s ready when you are: the earbuds feature motion-detecting accelerometers that put them into a sleep mode when not in use, saving power for later. Plus, a quick five-minute “Fast Fuel” charge can add enough battery life for 1.5 hours of playback.