The best headphones for every budget in 2026

• Does not matter33, 33 models
• Travelling and commuting24, 24 models
• Sport and running1, 1 model
• At work or in the office16, 16 models
• At home, for music33, 33 models
• TV and gaming17, 17 models
• For a child0, 0 models

Travel asks for noise cancelling, sport for water resistance and no cable, work for clear calls, the TV for a headphone jack or LE Audio, and a child for a volume limit.

• Does not matter33, 33 models
• Nothing, just quiet24, 24 models
• Traffic and voices32, 32 models
• Both, at the press of a button23, 23 models
• Help hearing conversations0, 0 models

Noise cancelling silences a train or an office. A transparency mode or an open fit lets traffic and voices through, and a few models can amplify voices like a hearing aid.

• Does not matter33, 33 models
• Every day16, 16 models
• Now and then33, 33 models

For daily calls we keep models with at least two microphones, which pick your voice out of the noise around you.

• Does not matter33, 33 models
• A full day32, 32 models
• A long trip33, 33 models
• With a cable, no charging22, 22 models

A full day asks for 24 hours on headphones, or 6 hours on earbuds and 24 with the case. A long trip asks for 15 hours, or 5 on earbuds. A cable never runs out.

• Does not matter33, 33 models
• Wireless33, 33 models
• Wired0, 0 models

Whether the headphones connect without a cable.

• Does not matter33, 33 models
• Any noise cancelling24, 24 models
• Adaptive16, 16 models

Active noise cancelling as the maker states it. A model whose maker does not say is in neither option.

• Does not matter33, 33 models
• IPX4 or better1, 1 model
• IPX5 or better0, 0 models

The water rating the maker states. IPX4 takes splashes and sweat, IPX5 a jet of water.

• Does not matter33, 33 models
• 8 hours or more32, 32 models
• 30 hours or more30, 30 models
• 50 hours or more21, 21 models

Hours on one charge as the maker states them, with noise cancelling off where given.

• Does not matter33, 33 models
• Two devices at once33, 33 models

Connected to two devices at the same time, a phone and a laptop for example.

• all shops33, 33 models
• Dutch shops33, 33 models
• Dutch-language shops, including foreign33, 33 models

Lowest price at every shop that delivers to the Netherlands, VAT and delivery included. * = delivery cost and VAT estimated for a foreign shop.

• all33, 33 models
• ★★★★☆ 4 stars or higher19, 19 models
• ★★★☆☆ 3 stars or higher19, 19 models
• ★★☆☆☆ 2 stars or higher19, 19 models
• ★☆☆☆☆ 1 star or higher19, 19 models

Counts only models with at least 20 reviews: with fewer, the average says little.

• Does not matter33, 33 models
• 5% & up0, 0 models
• 20% & up0, 0 models
• 30% & up0, 0 models
• 50% & up0, 0 models

Below what the same shop usually asked in the 30 days before, at a shop we followed on all those days.

• Does not matter33, 33 models
• Alexa0, 0 models
• Google Home0, 0 models
• Apple HomeKit0, 0 models
• SmartThings0, 0 models
• Home Assistant0, 0 models
• Matter0, 0 models

Based on the voice assistants and Matter support the maker lists. A model that lists none of them is left out.