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The Best Wireless Headphones of 2025
When it comes to wireless headphones, there’s no substitute for the immersive experience they provide. As we enter a new year, wireless technology has made significant strides in both sound quality and convenience, making it harder than ever to choose the perfect pair. To help you make an informed decision, Gizmodo has curated this list of the best wireless headphones of 2025.
**Best Wireless Headphones All-Around: Sony WH-1000XM6**
There are hits, and there are hits, and Sony’s WH-1000XM6 are the latter. Sony’s latest pair of class-leading wireless headphones get good marks unanimously, and our thoughts are no different. The WH-1000XM6 aces all of the important stuff in a pair of headphones: the active noise cancellation (ANC) is great as usual, and the sound is characteristically excellent thanks to two 30mm drivers that deliver robust highs, mids, and lows without getting muddied up by distortion. It’s not just the basics. The WH-1000XM6 are feature-rich due to Sony’s companion app, and they also come equipped with spatial audio and several listening modes for any occasionâeven a background music mode when you want to talk but still listen to music quietly. If you never want to take these wireless headphones off, you don’t have to either; a 12-mic array with beamforming delivers your voice with clarity while the headphones also reduce background noise with AI. When you do want to take them off and put them back on at will, it’s a breeze thanks to magnetic earcups. That’s not all – they hold their ground in terms of comfort as well.
**Best Wireless Headphones for iPhone: AirPods Max**
This one might be a little obvious, but the truth sometimes is. AirPods Max are the best over-ear wireless headphones for anyone in the Apple ecosystem, which could be an annoying fact given they’re the only pair of Apple-branded wireless headphones, but luckily (despite the hefty premium), they still have a lot to offer, lack of options aside. In addition to rich, nuanced sound, AirPods Max also knock ANC out of the parkâthese are some of the nicest noise-canceling wireless headphones you can buyâand give you an equally functional transparency mode for when you want to hear the world around you. Naturally, they’re highly compatible with all of your other Apple products and offer seamless switching between devices.
**Best Wireless Headphones for Sonos: Sonos Ace**
While the Sonos Ace may not be the perfect pair of wireless headphones for everyone, they’re a strong contender if you’re deep in the Sonos ecosystem. One of the shining features, if you do happen to have a Sonos soundbar, is a TV Audio Swap capability that seamlessly switches between the Ace and your soundbar connected to a TVâwith the press of a button. Yes, the Sonos Ace takes a lot of cues from Apple’s AirPods Max, including in the actual look of the wireless headphones, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Like the AirPods Max, the Sonos Ace is also comfortable and holds its ground in the sound department.
**Best Wireless Headphones for iPhone: Nothing Headphone 1**
Looks aren’t everything, but when it comes to wireless over-ear headphones, they’re kind of a lot. Unlike wireless earbuds, which are relatively low profile, wireless headphones are more of a fashion statement, and with that bigger footprint on your head comes an increased onus on design. In my opinion, Nothing and its Headphone 1 nail the style side of things. These wireless headphones carry Nothing’s signature transparent design but also bring a distinct retro vibe to the party, especially in the gray colorway that somehow combines the aesthetics of cassette players and the PlayStation 1. It’s not just looks, either. Nothing’s first pair of wireless headphones, which are tuned in collaboration with the hi-fi audio company KEF, also delivers sound that challenges AirPods Max and comes with lots of buttons for those of us who like tactile controls. The Headphone 1 are a solid pair of wireless headphones all around, especially since it clocks in at a full $250 cheaper than AirPods Max.
**Best Wireless Headphones for Style: Nothing Headphone 1**
Looks aren’t everything, but when it comes to wireless over-ear headphones, they’re kind of a lot. Unlike wireless earbuds, which are relatively low profile, wireless headphones are more of a fashion statement, and with that bigger footprint on your head comes an increased onus on design. In my opinion, Nothing and its Headphone 1 nail the style side of things. These wireless headphones carry Nothing’s signature transparent design but also bring a distinct retro vibe to the party, especially in the gray colorway that somehow combines the aesthetics of cassette players and the PlayStation 1. It’s not just looks, either. Nothing’s first pair of wireless headphones, which are tuned in collaboration with the hi-fi audio company KEF, also delivers sound that challenges AirPods Max and comes with lots of buttons for those of us who like tactile controls.
Source: gizmodo.com
