The best high-end Bluetooth wireless headphones money can buy in 2024
Leave the notion of "wireless headphones can't be good" at the door — er, I mean URL — because that is no longer the case. I mean, how many pairs of wireless Bluetooth headphones have you tried in the past? Is it all of them? How many were from recent years?
Real talk: Bluetooth headphones — earbuds included, by the by — have come a long way. Sure, they can't beat a pair of studio headphones, but so what? Most commercially available and fan-favorite non-wireless models can't either and that hasn't stopped people from buying them, right?
The difference is two fold:
- Comfort: you don't need to stay mindful of a wonky cable at all times
- Ease of use: you just put them on, connect and play, but then you also have things like Noise Cancellation and special modes for talking to those around you without the need to even take off your headphones
And then they also sound good. Well, at least the ones that we've gathered in this list do. Because there are honestly way, way too many options out there, so it can be pretty confusing to pick out the right pair of wireless Bluetooth headphones for yourself.
So what did we do? We curated a list of wireless headphones that are all great picks. Some would match your needs and style better than others, but we're hoping that you'll find this list a more fund endeavor than scouring online forums and store listings.
The best high-end wireless headphones you can get in 2024 are:
- Sony WH-1000XM5 — Noise cancelling, 32 hours of battery life, under $400
- Jabra Elite 85H — Noise cancelling, 36 hours of battery life, under $200
- Sony WH-1000XM4 — Noise cancelling, 30 hours of battery life, under $400
- Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 — Noise cancelling, 20 hours of battery life, under $400
- Master & Dynamic MW75 — Noise cancelling, 24 hours of battery life, under $500
- Shure AONIC 50 — Noise cancelling, 20 hours of battery life, under $300
- Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 3 — Noise cancelling, 17 hours of battery life, under $400
- Bowers & Wilkins PX7 — Noise cancelling, 30 hours of battery life, under $400
- Apple AirPods Max — Noise cancelling, 20 hours of battery life, under $600
- Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless — Noise cancelling, 30 hours of battery life, under $600
Sony WH-1000XM5
Weight: 8.82 oz (250 grams)
Battery life: 32 hours (with ANC on)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2
These are the new fan-favorites from Sony! As long as you are interested in high-end, wireless audio that you can carry with you, you probably can't find a battery experience right now. Sure, some better sounding headphones do exist, but those certainly won't be nearly as portable as these ones.
Sony has managed to amp up the audioscape for the XM5 to an impressive level. While the XM4 are still topping some lists, we thing that the upgrade is worth it.
Jabra Elite 85H
Weight: 10.4 oz (295 grams)
Battery life: 36 hours (with ANC on)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, no aptX
Some might think that this pair doesn't deserve to be here, as compared to others on this list it's quite affordable. However, Jabra has managed to squeeze plenty of audio prowess into its Elite 85H and make them worth considering if you're looking for great sound quality without spending half a grand.
Of course, the Jabra Elite 85H comes with a few sacrifices compared to the competition around here. The design is rather dull and there aren't any fancy materials used, so if you're looking for a pair of headphones that compliment your dress to impress outfit, those aren't it.
Sony WH1000XM4
Weight: 9.0 oz (255 grams)
Battery life: 30 hours (with ANC on)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX HD and LDAC; NFC pairing
Battery life: 30 hours (with ANC on)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX HD and LDAC; NFC pairing
Sony's high-end earphones are more of an upgrade of the previous generation. The design remains the same and so do most of the features, but there are some notable changes. The Bluetooth connectivity is now 5.0, the active noise cancelling is improved beyond what it already was, which is awesome, and you can now pair them to two devices for easier switching between your laptop and phone, for example.
The sound is, of course, also top notch and battery life remains the same, but it was already very good anyway. Owners of the XM3 shouldn't consider these but for everyone else, these Sonys are definitely worth picking up, and are some of the best wireless headphones in 2024.
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
Weight: 8.8 oz (250 grams)
Battery life: 20 hours (with ANC on)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, no aptX; NFC pairing
If great active noise cancellation is what you're looking for in a pair of headphones, the Bose NC Headphones 700 is another option worth exploring. This pair is meant to directly compete with the Sony WH-1000XM3, but it looks better and is made out of more premium materials. Active noise cancelling is pretty much on par with the Sonys, which is quite a compliment in itself. The 700s come with support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, plus touch controls this time around.
The 20-hour battery life is slightly disappointing for over-the-ear headphones but unless you travel across the world on a regular basis, it shouldn't be a problem.
Master & Dynamic MW75
Weight: 12 oz (338 grams)
Battery life: 32 hours (with ANC on)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX
Battery life: 32 hours (with ANC on)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX
Unique? Check! Made my masters of the trade? For sure! Inspired by the very concept of sound itself? Yeah. And it shows, especially when you put them on. These are the upgrade to a previous contender on this very list: the MW65. But with better Bluetooth connectivity, improved ANC and a longer lasting battery life, the MW75 are certainly worth the price. Not only that, but they also allow you to connect to a 3,5mm port through USB-C and that is just one of the nifty little extra goodies that they come with.
And, come on: the Look of M&D products plays a large part in the purchase decision. Not many headphones display their materials this proudly: aluminum, leather, tempered glass. If you are want to look your sharpest while wearing headphones, then you can't go wrong with the MW75!
Shure AONIC 50
Weight: 11.7 oz (331 grams)
Battery life: 20 hours
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX
Shure also has its contender in the high-end wireless headphones space, as you might expect from a known brand like it. Unlike some other models around, however, the AONIC 50 don't have active noise cancelling but rely solely on the passive one provided by the cups. They are quite bulky and have generous padding, so you should get a good amount of noise reduction anyway. They still have an "Environmental mode", so you can safely wear them outside without being too separated from your surroundings. The sound of the AONIC 50 is excellent and you can enjoy it for up to 20 hours on one charge, which is okay but not amazing for over-the-ear headphones.
Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless
Weight: 10.7 oz (303 grams)
Battery life: 17 hours (with ANC on)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX
Another pair of headphones with design that makes a statement. The Momentum 3 Wireless look good and sound great. Sennheiser has packed them with the best tech it has available and the result is a pair of banging cans. Unfortunately, the minimalist design comes with a sacrifice: battery life. With barely 17 hours of playback time with ANC on, this pair lasts almost half the time some of the other headphones do. If sound is what matters most to you, however, these are some of the best-sounding wireless headphones out there right now.
Bowers & Wilkins PX7
Weight: 10.7 oz (304 grams)
Battery life: 30 hours
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX
If there's & in the name, you know it's something high-end. Jokes aside, the PX7 are a worthy member of the premium wireless headphones club. The elegant design surrounds your ears without adding too much bulk, but still has enough soft padding for comfortable wear. As for the adaptive noise cancelling on board, B&W says that it will give you the best experience for your surroundings. The PX7 have large, 43mm drivers, so you can expect nice and full sound spanning across the frequency range. You can pair them to two devices at the same time for easy switching, which the headphones will even do automatically, if you get a call while watching a movie on your laptop, for example.
Apple AirPods Max
Weight: 13.6 oz (384.8 grams)
Battery life: 20 hours (with ANC on)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, no aptX
The AirPods Max are definitely high-end, and among the best wireless headphones you can get in 2024. If you're deep within the Apple ecosystem and have an iPhone, an iPad and a MacBook, the AirPods Max will seamlessly switch between the three. The design is extremely Apple-esque and it's safe to say that people on the streets will recognize that you're wearing a $550 pair of headphones. For better or worse.
Of course, for that price, they have active noise cancelling, which we found to be excellent in our AirPods Max review. They sound very well too, detailed and fairly flat-sounding, with a good amount of bass that isn't overpowering, which all makes the AirPods Max akin to studio monitors. In addition, their large and soft earpads will keep you comfortable even during long listening sessions.
Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless
Weight: 13.4 oz (380 grams)
Battery life: 30+ hours (no ANC)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX
With the Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless, we're reaching peak audio quality. This pair is for those that put sound quality above all and want to get the best, no matter the price. Going beyond the superior sound, however, those are an odd pair of wireless headphones. The build quality is excellent but it seems that they aren't meant to be used outside much. First, they're very bulky, second, the carrying case is enormous because they don't fold and third, they don't have active noise cancelling.
They are, however, perfect for enjoying your favorite music all around your house, without worrying about disturbing the neighbors or other members of your household. The Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless are true audiophile Bluetooth headphones, and if price isn't an issue, definitely among the best wireless headphones to pick up in 2024.
And just like that, you now know which are the best high-end headphones that you can get in 2024! You've got a lot of factors to consider, such as comfort, battery life, quality of ANC and quality of the soundscape itself. From here on out, you need to be diligent in fact-checking, because — as you've likely noticed — these bad boys cost a pretty penny. But you know what? When the right pair is in your hands and you put them on, the purchase just makes sense.
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