The minute Apple ditched the traditional headphone jack from its phones, the future of Bluetooth headphones was pretty much sealed. Lucky then, that wireless sounds have improved greatly in recent years. There’s now more choice than ever before, longer battery life, simplified setup and even true wireless earbuds that can be charged on the go and have no cables at all. So, whether you want to soundtrack your workouts, cut yourself off on your daily commute or kick back at home with CD-quality sound, here’s our pick of the best bluetooth headphones for every situation.
Best Bluetooth headphones for Apple lovers
Apple AirPods (£159)
Apple’s distinctive, truly wireless AirPods earphones have become so popular, it’s rare to step on to public transport or into a coffee shop without seeing a set of the toothbrush head-like buds poking out of someone’s ears. Not only are they more conveniently paired with iOS devices than standard Bluetooth headphones, they also sound surprisingly great. They’re always on, automatically connect to your iPhone and the battery lasts for five hours. They ship with a custom charging case that offers easy recharging on the go and 24 hours of playback in total. They also play nicely with Siri – just double tap the sides and use your voice to request music, make a phone call, ask for directions and more.
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Best Bluetooth headphones for runners
Jaybird Tarah Pro (£139.99)
Durability and longevity are as important as audio quality in a great set of running headphones. The new Jaybird Tarah Pro earphones have both. They’re waterproof (IPX7) and offer 14 hours of playback on a single charge, which should be enough even for the most seasoned long-distance runners. There’s a range of interchangeable tips for optimum fit and the buds twist so you can wear them over- and under-ear. A clever magnet in the buds also makes it easy to stow them around the neck. Needless to say, the sound quality is amazing and there’s even the option to personalise the EQ settings to suit your ears.
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Best Bluetooth headphones for gaming
Stealth 700 for Xbox One and PS4 (£129)
For a fully immersive gaming experience, you need a killer wireless headset. The Stealth 700 from Turtle Beach (Xbox) offers great bang-for-buck with active noise cancellation and support for DTS 7.1 surround sound. As well as the directional sound, you get Superhuman Hearing tech, meaning you’ll hear footsteps creeping up on you or opponents stealthily reloading for another assault. Naturally, there’s a flip up mic for in-game strategy and smack talk. The 700 series also connects wirelessly to other devices, so you can listen to music and phone calls while you’re gaming.
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Best truly wireless Bluetooth earphones
Jabra Elite Active 65t (£169)
Jabra has gone all in for truly wireless sports headphones and the Elite Sport 65t really hit the sweet spot. These buds offer a secure fit, five hours of battery life, tremendous audio quality and support for voice calls thanks to the microphones in both earpieces. If you’re prepping for a gym visit and notice you’re low on juice, 15 minutes on charge will get you 1.5 hours of battery life, while the charging case itself offers 10 hours of extra charge in total. If you’re an Android user seeking an alternative to AirPods, these Bluetooth 5.0 buds are definitely a great bet.
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Best Bluetooth headphones for commuting
Bose QuietComfort 35 (£329)
In most cases, commuter-friendly headphones succeed or fail based on their ability to block out external noise, while providing excellent sound quality. The classic Bose QC35 wireless over-ear headphones do both brilliantly well. As the name would suggest, comfort is as important as quiet here, meaning you’ll have no problem wearing these for an entire transatlantic flight while drowning out snoring fellow travellers and screaming babies with ease. You can also add a 3.5mm cable if the battery runs out, or you want to connect to an in-flight entertainment system. The second-generation version also offers a dedicated button for summoning the Google Assistant without touching your phone, but we’d recommend sticking to the original. Smarts aside, these are the best noise-cancellation headphones you can buy.
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Best Bluetooth headphones for design fans
Bowers & Wilkins PX headphones (£329)
These headphones are contenders in a number of our categories. If you want a unique and stylish design with world-class sound and adaptive, customisable noise-cancellation, look no further than the B&W PX wireless Bluetooth headphones. Drawing inspiration from the classic P5 design, the sculpted headband rests a little further back on the head and wraps behind the leather-padded ear pads, which sit on the ear without engulfing it. Battery life is exceptional, allowing you to rack up 22 hours with both Bluetooth and noise-cancelling switched on. There’s support for audiophile sound quality with the ability to transmit hi-res audio at up to 24bit/48kHz. The soft gold colour is an especially nice touch.
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Best Bluetooth headphones on a budget
Plantronics BackBeat 500 (£89.99)
For those on tighter budgets, the Plantronics BackBeat 500 headphones are worth a look. These attractive and youthful over-ear buds are a great alternative to the higher-priced headphones such as the Beats Solo range. Like Beats there are on-ear touch controls, allowing you to play, pause and skip tracks. You’ll get 18 hours of playback on a single charge and support for a 3.5mm cable in a jam. The memory foam ear cups not only offer improved sound isolation, but they’re comfortable whether they’re sitting on-ear or around your neck. These cans also offer multipoint Bluetooth support, meaning you can connect two devices at a time.
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Best Bluetooth headphones for sound quality
Sennheiser HD1 wireless (£279.99)
Traditionally speaking, going wireless has meant compromising on audio quality. However, the Sennheiser HD1 wireless cans are among the best-sounding Bluetooth headphones we’ve ever sampled, delivering high-definition audio without the wires, thanks to the support for the new AptX codec technology. These are as comfortable as your favourite easy chair and, if you’re relaxing at home during the evening, there’s also the option to add a 3.5mm cable for wired listening. The added near-field communication (NFC) feature makes it even easier to pair via Bluetooth 4.0. Plus, the lovingly-fashioned, leather-clad design will turn heads. In short, they look as good as they sound.
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Best Bluetooth earphones for watching movies
Sony MDR-XB950BT (£99.99)
The default sound audio experience, even on high-end televisions, often leaves a lot to be desired. You can spend £1,000 on the best 4K HDR picture, but if the sound doesn’t match the quality, you’re not getting the best experience. A great pair of Bluetooth headphones can come to the rescue here. Among our favourites are the Sony MDR-XB950BT Extra Bass over-ear headphones, which are designed for the action movie soundscape. If you’re looking for the T-Rex’s roar in Jurassic Park to shake you to your foundations as it did in the cinema, these are the cans for you. Like some of the other options in our list, they also offer one-touch pairing thanks to NFC. However, depending on your TV you may need an adapter to connect.
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Best all-round Bluetooth sports earphones
Jaybird X4 (£110)
The Jaybird X4 wireless earphones improve upon the excellent X3 version, but keep the reasonable £110 price tag. Sound performance rivals any Bluetooth sports headphones on the market, while eight hours of battery life will keep you pushing through the most arduous of workouts. The Jaybird X4 also boasts water resistance with IPX7 certification, meaning they’ll survive being submerged in 1 metre of water for 30 minutes. Whether you’re at the gym, running the trails or just dashing around town, the Jaybird X4 also offers a secure fit that just won’t budge. That’s thanks to the adjustable neck cable and the multitude of versatile fit options. The earbuds are also small enough to be bike helmet-friendly.
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To find discount codes for the best Bluetooth headphones from major electricals retailers, visit discountcode.theguardian.com/uk
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