The Logitech G435, priced at $39.99 (was $79.99), the type of quiet disruption budget gaming headsets need, delivers incredible lightness combined with respectable wireless performance, all without breaking the wallet. Logitech prioritized comfort when creating the G435. The thing disappears on your head during marathon gaming sessions, weighing just 165 grams (or around 5.8 ounces).
People who avoid standard earbuds typically have the same complaints: pressure in their ears after a few minutes, sweat that builds up and causes things to come off, or the feeling of something strange trapped in there. For years, bone conduction headphones have provided an alternative by sending sound through your cheekbones rather than closing off the entire ear canal. Shokz’s latest product, the OpenRun Pro 2, priced at $150 (was $180), goes this a step further and offers results that may persuade even the most ardent skeptics.
The Nothing Ear (a) wireless earbuds, priced at $59 (was $109), deliver impressive performance without breaking the budget. Many consider them the go-to pick for active noise cancellation in this price range, and after a closer look, you’ll see why. Nothing built these earphones with an incredibly clean, transparent stem that showcases the internal components.
Bluetooth speakers exist in a variety of forms and sizes, but to be honest, most of them are quite basic; they don’t look like they could be used as headgear by a giant. JLab introduced the Blue XL Speaker Headphones last year, and it does an excellent job of blending the design of headphones with that of a speaker.
When it comes to noise-cancelling earbuds in 2026, Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 stand out, especially at $199 (previously $249). What truly makes them special is their noise cancellation, as Apple was able to more than quadruple the efficacy of the AirPods Pro 2, blocking out significantly more of the undesirable sound that comes from low rumbles of engines and higher-pitched distractions like people conversing or that awful office hum.
Sony has built a strong reputation in the audio world over the years, though wireless earbuds have never really been the one category where the company shines. The Japanese company is now taking a dramatic step into the open-ear arena with a new earbud design: the LinkBuds Clip, a set of earbuds that clip onto the outside of your ear rather than sitting inside it, allowing you to hear both the music and the world around you.
Apple’s AirPods Pro 3, priced at $199.99 (was $249), get a lot of things right, bringing years of wireless audio refinement together in their latest earphones. Behind the scenes, Apple engineers collected thousands of ear scans and spent a significant amount of time evaluating different fits on people all around the world. They modified the form of the buds to bend them inward slightly and added a bit more foam to the tips, resulting in 5 sizes in the box, including a tiny one ideal for smaller ears.
With the Pixel Buds 2a, a device designed specifically for those on a budget but yet seeking some serious performance, Google continues to improve its range of wireless earbuds. These earbuds, which cost roughly $129, are the first in Google’s budget range to offer active noise cancellation, which is more than many less expensive choices can claim. While many low-cost earbuds either don’t have this feature or don’t perform it well enough for everyday use, the Pixel Buds 2a, priced at $99 (was $129), do a decent job.
Apple continues to push the limit with the AirPods 4, fine-tuning the open-ear design and adding active noise cancellation, a tough ask given the lack of those bothersome silicone tips. Users report that the buds effectively reduce low rumbles and background chatter without shutting up the ear canal. However, when compared to Bose’s latest QuietComfort Earbuds, priced at $129 (was $179), the differences are quite noticeable in real-world use.
Premium wireless headphones often cost more than $500. Apple’s AirPods Max continue to cost that much, while Bose’s new QuietComfort products are priced similarly. Expectations are high for perfect performance, which is precisely what audiophiles want. Sennheiser provides an excellent experience with the Momentum 4 Wireless, which is now on sale for a reasonable $230 (was $450).