10 Best Headphones 2025 in the United States

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones in Twilight Blue offer a comfortable over-ear design that’s great for long listening sessions, thanks to soft cushions and a padded headband. They use dynamic drivers to deliver clear, balanced sound across the full 20 Hz to 20 kHz range, with an adjustable EQ to customize bass, mid, and treble to your liking. Noise cancellation is a standout feature, effectively blocking out distractions with both active and passive methods, and you can switch between full noise cancellation or a mode that lets in surrounding sounds for safety or awareness.

These headphones connect wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.1, providing stable connections up to 30 feet and can be paired with multiple devices seamlessly. Battery life is solid, giving you up to 24 hours on a single charge, with a quick 15-minute USB-C charge adding a couple more hours. If the battery runs out, you can plug in the included audio cable and keep listening without interruption. Controls are touch-based and intuitive, and the built-in microphone supports calls clearly.

The headphones are lightweight at 240 grams, but they are not water resistant, so they’re best kept away from sweat or rain. The build is mostly plastic and leather-like materials, designed for everyday use but requiring some care to maintain. These headphones are well suited for those seeking premium sound, effective noise cancelling, and comfort, especially for travel, work, or casual listening. However, if you need water resistance or prefer a smaller form factor, you might want to consider other options.

Apple's AirPods Max are high-end over-ear headphones designed for a premium listening experience. They feature top-notch sound quality thanks to Apple-designed dynamic drivers and sophisticated computational audio powered by the H1 chip. This means you get rich, high-fidelity audio tailored to your unique ear shape, which can make your music, movies, and calls sound fantastic. The Pro-level Active Noise Cancellation is very effective, ideal for blocking out background noise, while the Transparency mode allows you to stay aware of your surroundings when needed.

Comfort is a strong suit with the knit-mesh canopy and memory foam ear cushions, which help provide a snug and comfortable fit for extended use. The battery life is solid, offering up to 20 hours of listening time on a single charge, which should suffice for a full day of use. The headphones charge via USB-C, making them compatible with other Apple devices. The build quality is robust, though the headphones are on the heavier side at 13.6 ounces, which may be a concern for some users. Additionally, they come in five stylish colors and include a color-matched Smart Case for storage.

One downside is the lack of water resistance, which limits their use in certain situations. Also, these headphones are quite expensive, aligning with their premium status. They automatically switch between Apple devices for convenience and have intuitive controls, but they might not be the best fit for Android users due to the seamless integration with Apple’s ecosystem. If you’re an Apple user looking for high-end, feature-rich headphones with excellent noise cancelling and sound quality, the AirPods Max are worth considering.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 are over-ear wireless headphones known for their top-tier noise cancellation, thanks to an advanced processor and 12 microphones that actively block outside sounds very effectively. This makes them great for noisy environments like planes or busy streets. Sound quality is excellent, with clear, balanced audio designed with expert input, supporting high-resolution wireless audio for a rich listening experience.

Comfort is a focus here, with a lightweight, pressure-free design and soft synthetic leather cushions that suit long listening sessions. They also fold neatly into a compact carrying case, making them convenient for travel. Battery life is strong, offering up to 30 hours per charge with quick charging available—just 3 minutes of charge can provide around 3 hours of playback, which is handy if you're short on time. These headphones support both Bluetooth wireless use and wired connections, so you can keep listening even if the battery runs out.

Additional smart features include an adaptive noise cancellation optimizer that adjusts based on your environment and wearing style, and ambient sound mode that balances music with outside noise when you need to stay aware of your surroundings. Call quality is clear due to advanced microphones and noise reduction, making these suitable for phone or video calls in busy places. The main considerations are a slightly premium price and the fact that their advanced features are best experienced with compatible devices. If you want high-end noise cancelling headphones with excellent sound, comfort, and smart features that adapt to your daily life, the WH-1000XM6 is a strong choice.