Whether you’re taking conference calls on the go or immersing yourself in your favourite album on a long walk, investing in a good pair of headphones can make all the difference to your listening experience.
But with the constant evolution of technology and endless choices available, choosing the perfect pair can be confusing.
Below, you’ll find some information about the different types of headphones on offer and which ones could be best for you. We’ve also pulled together some of our favourite models on the market right now. So no matter what your budget or listening needs are, hopefully, we can point you in the right direction.
Which type of headphones are best for me?
Headphones come in many different styles but, at their most basic, they can be split into three simple types: over-ear, on-ear, and in-ear.
What type is best for you depends on a variety of factors. Besides your budget, the two most important questions to consider are:
- What will you be using them for?
- What kinds of features are important to you?
Below, we’ll take a look at these three types of headphones, and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Over-ear headphones
As the name suggests, over-ear headphones sit over your ears, completely covering them. They’re the largest type of headphones, which makes them less portable, but they generally produce the best sound quality.
One of the reasons for this is, due to their size, they typically contain large drivers, which generally result in better audio quality. Drivers convert electrical signals into the sound that we hear.
We also tend to have a more immersive listening experience with over-ear headphones. This is because the sound hits the entirety of our ear, as opposed to being driven directly into our ear canal as it does with earbuds.
The fact that they cover your whole ear also means that they generally have better noise-cancelling abilities and leak less sound.
However, over-ear headphones are bulky compared to other designs, can make your ears a little hot when worn for long periods of time, and typically aren’t very water or sweat-resistant. So they aren’t ideal for use during exercise. But just because a pair of headphones isn’t waterproof, doesn’t mean that you can’t wear them during a little bit of light exercise – but certainly avoid taking them out on a run in the pouring rain.
On-ear headphones
While over-ear headphones fit over (or around) your ears, on-ear headphones have smaller ear cups that sit on top of your ears. They’re typically more lightweight and portable than their over-ear counterparts, though the sound quality isn’t quite as good.
A smaller size means smaller drivers and the on-ear fit results in a less immersive listening experience. Because the ear cups don’t completely cover your ears to make a seal (see in the photo above how the top of the man’s left ear is poking out), they provide less of a physical barrier between your ear and outside sounds. So, they don’t cancel out external noise as well as over-ear headphones and leak more sound.
Plus, many types of on-ear headphones don’t have Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), which we’ll talk about below. Though ANC does use up a significant amount of battery life – so wireless models without this feature can last for longer between charges.
Some people also report that on-ear headphones are slightly more uncomfortable than over-ear ones, especially if you usually wear earrings. But if you make sure you get the right fit, this shouldn’t be a problem.
On-ear headphones are a good choice for those looking for portable headphones with excellent battery life, as long as they’re willing to compromise a little on sound quality.
In-ear headphones
Also known as ‘earbuds’ or ‘earphones’, in-ear headphones are the smallest, most portable type of headphones. As the name suggests, they fit directly into your ear canal.
Because they’re lightweight, stay in your ears when you move around, and generally have a good level of water/sweat resistance, in-ear headphones make great workout headphones.
But the biggest draw to these types of headphones is probably the affordability. While there are exceptional pairs that can cost north of £500, you can generally get yourself a decent pair on any budget.
That being said, their small size means that they suffer in sound quality and noise-cancelling abilities, especially when it comes to budget options. Though, it’s worth bearing in mind that there are lots of premium options that provide a far better listening experience than cheap over-ear and on-ear options.
Another thing to consider is that because in-ear headphones sit closer to your eardrums, they have the potential to be more damaging to your hearing than over or on-ears. Wireless earbud batteries also don’t last as long as their counterparts, because the batteries are smaller.
In-ear headphones are ideal for someone looking for something to use while exercising and/or who wants to stick to a tight budget.
What is Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)?
Headphones with great noise cancellation abilities mean that you can completely immerse yourself in your favourite album, podcast, or audiobook, despite the hustle and bustle around you.
Nowadays, noise cancellation technology has moved past simply providing a physical barrier between your ears and outside noises. In fact, lots of models now contain Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).
ANC-capable headphones use small microphones to pick up outside noises. Then, the headphones produce a noise that has the exact opposite sound waves, which effectively cancels out the original sound. The Bang & Olufsen website suggests a good way to think about it: if the initial noise had a value of +2, and the inverted sound had a value of -2, then what you’d hear overall would equal zero.
There are lots of headphones on the market that have ANC, though this feature is typically most common in over-ear headphones.
Once you’ve chosen the best type of headphones for you…
While over-ear, on-ear, and in-ear headphones are the three most basic types of headphones, these categories don’t necessarily encompass every single model out there – for example, bone conduction headphones (a sport-specific type of headphones) transmit sound by sending vibrations through the bones in the head and jaw.
We also haven’t gone into things like Bluetooth codecs and frequency response. You can find out more about this in this guide from Sound Gear Lab.
That being said, thinking about headphones in these three categories can help to give you a good understanding of what kind is best for you.
Best headphones of 2022
Below you’ll find some of our picks for the best headphones on the market. We’ve started with in-ear headphones, as these are probably the most common type, before moving on to on-ear and in-ear varieties.
Note: Lots of headphones are built for the average consumer and intended for things like casual listening and taking conference calls. However, there are a wide variety of models, such as these Sennheiser HD 800s, which are crafted with professionals like sound mixers in mind and can cost thousands of pounds.
Although this guide features some fantastic hardware, it generally sticks to more affordable choices in the range of £10-£350. So, if you’re an audio enthusiast looking for some seriously impressive gear, then check out this round-up of the best premium headphones from What Hi-Fi.
Plus, with Black Friday just around the corner, we’re experiencing big fluctuations in price. So while our stated price can be used as a rough guideline, you may be able to find better deals by shopping around.
Best in-ear headphones
1. 1MORE Piston Fit In-Ear Earphones
Price at time of writing: £11.99
Wireless: No
ANC: No
Battery life: n/a
Water-resistant: Not specified
Whether you’re looking for a pair of backup headphones to shove in the bottom of your bag, or you just want something lightweight, portable, and inexpensive to get the job done, you can’t go wrong with a pair of cheap wired earbuds.
At just over £10, these Piston Fit Wired in-ear earphones from 1MORE will cost you less than a few pints or a couple of glasses of wine. Inside is a dynamic titanium driver that provides exceptional sound quality for the price, and the buds sit at a 45-degree angle, which means they’re more comfortable than lots of other headphones at this price point.
There’s a mic and a remote for controlling playback, and the cable is wrapped in Kevlar fibre, which makes them super durable (which many earbuds at this price aren’t).
One thing that’s worth mentioning is that if you have a device without a 3.5mm jack, like all the new iPhones, then you’ll need to make sure you have a dongle to connect these earbuds.
If wired earbuds are your thing, and you’re in the market for something a little more premium, it’s also worth looking at the 1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear earbuds.
2. Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus
Price at time of writing: £49.95
Wireless: Yes
ANC: No
Battery life: 9 hours (maximum) at a time (50 hours total with charging case)
Water resistant: Yes – can be used in rain and is resistant to splashes (IPX4)
Wireless earbuds are all the rage right now, though some of the more premium pairs come with quite a hefty price tag.
However, the Melomania 1 Plus from Cambridge Audio prove that you don’t need to pay £150+ for great-sounding wireless earbuds.
Unless you’re into your audio tech, you might not have heard of Cambridge Audio. They’re a British brand that specialises in high-quality Hi-Fi systems, but recently they’ve ventured into the land of wireless earbuds, first with the Melomania 1s, and now these.
Their clean and detailed listening experience is unmatched by similarly-priced products, and they have a powerhouse battery life (nine hours per charge, and up to 50 with the case).
TechRadar, one of the world’s favourite sources for tech buying advice, described the Melomania 1 Plus’ sound as ‘mind-blowing’, and the Radio Times called them ‘some of the best value true wireless earbuds you can buy’.
Although, one thing to bear in mind is that they don’t have ANC – so if you’re looking for earbuds to use on a busy train or shared office, you might want to think about investing in a pair with this feature.
To find out more about these earbuds, have a watch of the video below from all things tech.
3. Sony WF-1000XM4
Price at time of writing: £159 (Black Friday deal)
Wireless: Yes
ANC: Yes
Battery life: 12 hours (maximum) at a time (approximately 24 hours total with charging case)
Water resistant: Yes – can be used in rain and is resistant to splashes (IPX4)
Touted by many as the best wireless earbuds on the market right now, the Sony WF-1000XM4s shine across the board.
These premium earbuds have a matt finish and round body that sits comfortably in most ears. It’s unlikely you’ll find better sound quality and noise-cancellation in any other earbud, let alone everything else that this piece of tech does to such a high standard, including its excellent call quality.
When compared to the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus above, the battery life of the Sony WF-1000XM4s may seem a little unimpressive – though compared to other premium earbuds like the Apple Airpods Pro, it’s still pretty decent.
The Sony WF-1000XM4s have an IPX4 rating, which means they’re water resistant and can double very well as workout headphones, which is good news because, at this price point, you might not want to be investing in multiple earbuds for different activities. There’s also a wide range of creature comforts, including wireless charging compatibility.
Check out the video below from InsideTech to find out more about these earbuds.
Best over-ear headphones of 2022
4. JBL Tune 750BTNC
Price at time of writing: £54.55
Wireless: Yes
ANC: Yes
Battery life: 30 hours (max)
Water-resistant: No
If you’re looking for a pair of decent-sounding wireless over-ear headphones but you don’t want to break the bank, why not check out the JBL Tune 750BTNCs?
They’re a few years old now, but in the time since their release, they’ve seen a massive price drop (released at £120, you can now get them for around £55 on Amazon) and they boast some features that rival more premium products – most notably, effective ANC. They also have a comfortable, foldable design.
However, there are inevitably a few drawbacks too. For example, there’s no waterproofing and the battery life isn’t in the same range as more premium options, especially if ANC is enabled.
Plus, they don’t support the newest 5.0 Bluetooth technology, which allows for things like dual audio (where you can connect two separate listening devices to a single audio device), a longer connectivity range, and a more stable connection.
Though, considering the price, these are a great choice for those looking for something to immerse themselves in their favourite albums or podcasts on the go, and to drown out the noise around them. The Sennheiser HD 350BT are another option to consider at this price point.
Take a look at the video below from Avvai K for a more in-depth review.
5. Sony WH-CH710N
Price at time of writing: £79.75
Wireless: Yes
ANC: Yes
Battery life: 35 hours (max)
Water-resistant: No
If you have a relatively strict budget, another top choice for wireless headphones with ANC is the Sony WH-CH710N.
Again, one of the big highlights of these is the price. Sitting at around £80, they’re more expensive than the JBLs listed previously, but with that extra 25 quid, you get Bluetooth 5.0 support and far better battery life. The charging is also fast – with 10 minutes giving you around an hour of playtime.
They’re comfortable and lightweight, though the lack of weight is a consequence of the plastic they’re made of, giving them a less-than-premium feel.
The WH-CH710Ns also aren’t the most portable pair of over-ear headphones. The ear cups don’t fold up into the headband, though they do rotate 90 degrees so they can lie flat.
Despite its flaws, the Sony WH-CH710N is still a good choice for those looking for a decent pair of over-ear headphones for well under £100.
The video below from DHRME takes a closer look at these headphones if you’d like to find out more.
6. Sony WH-1000XM5
Price at time of writing: £295.99 (Black Friday deal)
Wireless: Yes
ANC: Yes
Battery life: 30 hours (max)
Water-resistant: No
Sony has been leading the pack when it comes to premium, over-ear, noise-cancelling headphones for years now. The WH-1000XM3 and WH-1000XM4 models – which were released in 2018 and 2020 respectively – were among the best out there, and the WH-1000XM5 is no different.
Stylish and comfortable with a distinctly premium feel, the Sony WH-1000XM5s offer well-balanced sound and probably the best noise-cancelling features of any pair of headphones out there.
The noise-cancelling settings work automatically as you move around to give you a seamless listening experience. If you start having a conversation, they’ll even press pause on your music for you and switch to ambient mode so you can hear whoever you’re speaking to. Though make sure to turn this feature off if you like singing with your headphones on!
There are also plenty of other smart features that come along with the W-1000XM5s, such as a ‘Find my Headphone’ feature. This is a great one for peace of mind considering the hefty price tag, which is probably the only major downside of these headphones.
If you like the sound of these headphones but want to keep the price down, the previous model of this range – the WH-1000XM4s – are still a great option.
Check out the video below from Tech Radar for a more in-depth look.
Best on-ear headphones
7. Sony WH-CH510
Price at time of writing: £29.00
Wireless: Yes
ANC: No
Battery life: 35 hours (max)
Water-resistant: No
Headphone technology has come a long way in the past 10 years, and the fact that you can get wireless on-ear headphones that cost as little as the Sony WH-CH510s do is proof of that.
With that said, there are plenty of drawbacks to consider. For one, the Sony WH-CH510s are made mostly of cheap-feeling plastic. And while they’re not bulky, the Sony WH-CH510 also don’t fold down to a smaller size, so they aren’t ideal from a portability standpoint.
Plus, there’s no analogue input, so you can’t use a wired connection to improve your listening experience or use them when they’re out of battery. However, the battery life itself is exceptional at 30 hours.
Another major thing to consider that’s been reported by lots of reviewers is the Sidetone feature. Sidetone is a feature that plays your own voice through your headphones while you’re speaking. It’s used to help you know how loudly and clearly the other person can hear you.
While Sidetone should only be activated during calls, many reviewers of the Sony WH-CH510s have noted that it switches on at other times. For example, when people are talking around you on the train. As you can imagine, this can really take you out of your listening experience, so we wouldn’t recommend them for use in noisy places.
Despite its flaws, the Sony WH-CH510 is one of the best quality pairs of on-ear wireless headphones that you’ll get at this low price. For a similarly-priced alternative, why not check out Sennheiser’s HD 250BT?
Check out the video below from MrYouWho to see a review of these headphones after 12 months of use.
8. Jabra Elite 45h
Price at time of writing: £39.99 (Black Friday deal)
Wireless: Yes
ANC: No
Battery life: 50 hours (max)
Water-resistant: No
Another great value-for-money option, the Jabra Elite 45h is ideal for casual users looking for something to keep them company on a quiet commute, or even during some light exercise.
The first thing to mention when it comes to the Jabra Elite 45h is the battery life, which far exceeds its competitors. Plus, the charging itself is very fast (15 minutes connected via the USB-C cable will give you a whopping 10 hours of wireless listening).
It also supports Bluetooth 5 connectivity, has a pretty crisp-sounding microphone, and comes with a two-year warranty that covers both water and dust protection – which is good considering it isn’t very waterproof.
However, there’s no headphone jack for wired connection and users have reported problems with the Bluetooth multipoint connectivity (which allows you to connect to two or more devices at once). The sound isolation also is less than perfect, though that’s to be expected from on-ear models.
You can find out more in the video below from Tech Spurt.
9. Grado SR325x
Price at time of writing: £254
Wireless: No
ANC: No
Battery life: n/a
Water-resistant: No
Over-ear and on-ear headphones can be sorted into two distinct categories: closed-back and open-back.
Closed-back headphones involve the earcups being completely sealed on the outside. Every headphone on this list so far has been closed-back, and they’re ideal for sound isolation. Open-back, on the other hand, is when the speaker housing is exposed, usually by a grille. This allows air to move through the ear cups and helps to give a more natural and clear sound.
It’s this better sound quality that makes open-back headphones ideal for audio professionals like sound mixers who have to engage in what’s referred to as ‘critical listening’. Though they’re also popular among audio enthusiasts who want to invest in some quality tech.
The Grado SR325x is one of the best pairs of open-backed headphones that money can buy. The sound quality is incredibly clear, clean, and detailed – listening to your favourite tracks through these will put them in a whole new light. The build quality is top-notch and (depending on your style preferences) it sports a timeless retro design.
One caveat is that the open-back design means that they don’t have noise-cancelling features and will leak lots of noise. So they aren’t designed for use when commuting on a busy train or working in a shared office – a fact that’s compounded by the wired-only connection.
But if you’re a music lover (with a big budget) looking to take your home listening experience to the next level, you won’t find much better than the Grado SR325x.
For audio enthusiasts, the video below from DMS provides a seriously deep dive into these headphones.
Final thoughts…
Whether you love to listen to audiobooks on your daily commute or you’re more likely to be blasting dance tracks in the gym, we hope this selection of headphones has given you a good idea of what’s out there.
Though it’s worth reiterating that this isn’t an exhaustive list. While these are a handful of our favourite choices, there are plenty of other good options on the market. This list was also created with the average consumer in mind, so there are a few different types of specialist headphones that aren’t present here, such as sport-specific and studio headphones.
For more tech round-ups, take a look at our lists of our favourite fitness trackers and air-fryers.