Wireless headphones are essentially the standard now, with Bluetooth not only being convenient but Apple removing the audio jack on the iPhone range. For most people, the sound quality difference to wired isn't noticeable anyway.
The market is huge but here are the best wireless headphones we've tested for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Macs. If you do want a wired connection some of these do offer it in addition to Bluetooth but we also have a dedicated list of the best Lightning headphones.
Wireless headphones typically fall into three main categories:
Over-ear headphones: Big, chunky models that completely cover your ears seem to be something of a fashion statement at the moment - even if they do make you look like a Cyberman - and the size of these headphones means there's plenty of room inside them for large drivers that provide expansive, detailed sound.
On-ear headphones: If you want something a little more compact, that you can take off and slip into a backpack when you're travelling, then smaller on-ear headphones that just rest on the outside of the ear are a good choice.
In-ear headphones: But, of course, mobile tech is all about portability, so many people prefer lightweight, in-ear headphones that they can wear all day long, or simply shove into a pocket when they're not needed.
Best wireless headphones
How to choose wireless headphones
As well as simply choosing the basic type of headphones mentioned at the top, there are some other things to consider before you hit that buy button.
Battery life
This life is crucial, and many in-ear sports headphones have tiny batteries that help to keep the weight down but may only last for a few hours. That might be fine if you just want to listen to some music while you're working out, but won't be much use on a long journey by train or plane.
However, some in-ear headphones, such as Apple's AirPods, also include a charging case that can top up the battery, so that's something you should check on before buying any in-ear headphones.
Larger on-ear and over-ear headphones have room for more powerful batteries, and can often last all day on a single charge. Many also provide a wired option so that you can still use them like ordinary wired headphones when the battery runs down, which is ideal for people who spend a lot of time travelling.
Noise cancelling
Some headphones are specifically designed for people who travel a lot or use headphones in noisy conditions and provide active noise-cancelling (ANC) option that helps to block out background noise on trains and planes - although this can add quite a lot to the overall price of the headphones.
Note this isn't to be confused with passive noise isolation (or often referred to as cancelling), which is just the way physically having headphones in/on blocks sound - like putting earplugs or ear defenders on.
Sound quality
We'd always recommend trying out any new headphones in a store or showroom whenever possible, but that's not always practical with so many new headphones competing for your attention.
So we've tested a selection of Bluetooth headphones that provide great sound quality to help you get started.
Compatibility
All the headphones here will work excellently with the latest iPhone models. It's typical for them to support Apple's preferred AAC codec, although some will have others too like aptX which is handy if you want to also use them with other devices like Android phones.
It's also worth noting that all Bluetooth headphones mentioned here are compatible with the Apple Watch - perfect when going for a run.
