© Apple
Democratized by AirPods, the best Bluetooth headphones true wireless are finding more and more pairs d’oreillettes every month. To the point that the offer becomes almost unreadable as the models multiply. On the one hand, smartphone manufacturers almost all offer their wireless headphones to accompany their latest innovations. On the other hand, other, audio specialists are banking on their expertise in the field to grab their share of the pie.
It's hard to see clearly. To help you choose the best Bluetooth headphones in 2024, we have put together a comprehensive comparison. Indeed, sound quality is not the only important point when buying wireless headphones. Battery life, comfort, support or compatibility with your devices are all elements to consider before buying.
Top 5 best bluetooth headphones 2024:
- Sony WF-1000XM5
- AirPods Pro 2
- AirPods 3
- Galaxy Buds 2
- Huawei Freebuds Pro 2
Best Bluetooth Headphones 2024 for Noise Cancelling Quality
© Sony
While its WH-1000XM5 wireless headset is the new benchmark, the WF-1000XM5 wireless headphones are among the best bluetooth headphones 2024 true wireless in terms of audio quality.
Unlike Apple or Huawei, Sony is targeting sound lovers here. The Japanese company's expertise in this field is no longer in doubt, so the WF-1000XM5 give users great freedom.
The application accompanying the headphones allows advanced sound customization with several listening profiles and a complete equalizer. Everyone will therefore be able to configure their headphones as they wish for optimal audio quality.
On the other hand, the WF-1000XM5 are not as comfortable to wear (imposing) even if Sony has considerably reduced their format. They make up for it with very good battery lifeas well as a multitude of touch controls directly accessible on the headphones.
Finally, the Sony WF-1000XM5 have very effective noise reduction. The absolute reference for consumer wireless headphones, especially if you are in the Android universe. At least for the moment.
The best 2024 bluetooth headphones on the market… if you have an iPhone
© Presse-citron
Do we still need to introduce the AirPods Pro ? Apple's headphones have quickly established themselves as the best Bluetooth headphones true wireless of the market. With the first AirPods, Apple even started the trend. It continues it with the recent release of the AirPods Max, a premium wireless headset from the same manufacturer – and now the AirPods Pro 2.
While they don't set the standard for audio quality, the AirPods Pro are still very good, if not excellent. Apple has chosen to provide the same sound to all its users, so you won't really be able to customize the listening experience using an equalizer. Nevertheless, the sound delivered is of high quality with good bass and excellent mids (voice).
The AirPods Pro 2 stand out from their competitors above all by their very good active noise reduction (improved on this generation), a transparency mode well above the competition with this year also an adaptive transparency mode to complement passive isolation due to the in-ear format of the earphones.
Apple also manages to remove the traffic jam effect by integrating welcome air vents. Result? By switching from noise canceling mode to transparency mode, you will never need to remove these headphones from your ears, the comfort of which helps to make you completely forget about them.
That said, if you don't like the silicone tips, we recommend that you opt for the AirPods 3 instead. Beyond that, the AirPods Pro 2 benefit from a new H2 chip, new volume sensors, and increased battery life.
Finally, note that the AirPods Pro 2 offer the best experience for any iPhone, iPad or Mac user.Pairing takes a handful of seconds and the integration into the Apple ecosystem is simply exemplary. An excellent choice for Apple product users, but not for others since the features will be limited.
The best bluetooth headphones 2024 with open design
© Apple
If you're one of those allergic to in-ear headphones, the AirPods 3 are the best Bluetooth headphones than the AirPods Pro. More affordable (199 euros), they are differentiated from the previous generation by their more AirPods Pro design, their improved sound quality and their case with wireless charging.
We therefore find a design with a small stem – which has now become a standard. Here, the sound quality is a little less good than with the Pro version, which is quite logical since the AirPods 3 have neither passive isolation (due to their format) nor active noise reduction. If audio quality really matters very little, we invite you to also consult the AirPods 2 still on sale, a little less expensive.
The AirPods 3 deliver a fairly consensual sound, without gimmicks, but which remains up to the standard of a product at this price thanks to physically larger drivers. Its main asset lies in the quality of conversations and the good transcription of voices. Great for listening to podcasts, a little less so for music. If you plan on making a lot of calls, these Bluetooth headphones will be more enjoyable than the AirPods Pro.
As you might have guessed, the AirPods 3 enjoy the same integration into the Apple ecosystem. That said, they are also compatible with Android devices (and more generally all those compatible with Bluetooth). Hence its position as number 2 in this comparison of the best wireless headphones.
The best bluetooth headphones 2024 for audio quality
If you're looking for a good compromise between top-quality audio and full integration into the Android ecosystem, Samsung's Galaxy Buds 2 are a must. as the best Bluetooth headphones in your case. These True Wireless headphones are praised for their sound reproduction quality, especially thanks to their deep and powerful bass. They are of course equipped with active noise reduction like the best Apple Bluetooth headphones.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000Unlike their competitors, they do have full touch controls on the sides. Of course, the rest is subjective, but many users find them more comfortable than Apple's AirPods and AirPods Pro. They come with a case that charges wirelessly – at no extra cost. Thanks to their larger design, they allow for repairs – including battery changes. Which is a real plus over AirPods, which are disposable, regardless of the model.
They also have a few minor hiccups – which nevertheless have relatively little impact. Not everyone is a big fan, in fact, of the reproduction of highs and mids. Users also report some instabilities in Bluetooth with certain smartphones. The “Transparency” mode which “cancels” the presence of the headphones on your ears can seem a little artificial and unpleasant. Finally, voice capture requires a relatively quiet environment.
The best bluetooth headphones 2024 to make you forget the AirPods Pro
© Huawei
The Huawei Freebuds Pro 2 are probably not the best in-ear headphones on the market with active noise cancellation. But they remain among the best models available, and to this is added their unbeatable value for money. Among the pluses, we can mention their excellent comfort, their rather good sound reproduction, and they have one of the most convincing active noise cancellation in 2024.
In addition, Huawei offers advanced equalizer options to adjust the sound to the user's preferences. They also have a rather well thought-out touch control system. In terms of battery life, the headphones alone allow you to listen to music for 4 hours straight with active noise cancellation and up to 6.5 hours without ANC.
With the charging case, they last up to 30 hours without ANC and 18 hours with active noise reduction. Charging is done via a USB Type-C port or wirelessly. Whether you're on an iPhone or Android smartphone, these headphones are always an alternative to consider, especially given their price of around €150.
The former number 1 in the ANC headphones market is back with a True Wireless QC II
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are the manufacturer's latest attempt to regain market share lost to Apple, Samsung and Huawei. Smaller and more capable than the previous generation, they recharge in just one hour (3 hours for the case) and deliver up to three times six hours of listening time with their charging case.
They have touch controls on the stem like many competing models. Without touching the smartphone, you can play and pause, change the volume, skip to the next track, take and end a call.
Where they really show their value, however, is in the field of active noise reduction accompanied by CustomTune technology on this iteration. A sonar system measures the acoustic response of the user's ear canal to improve performance.
Consumer alternatives to the WF-1000XM4 headphones
© Lemon squeezer
The Sony Linkbuds S are a bit like the consumer version of the WF-1000XM4. Which does not mean that the audio rendering is so far from the latter, despite significantly smaller transducers. Our test shows indeed a very pleasant rendering, even if it is clearly less spectacular than on the more premium models. Despite their price, they have always reduced active noise reduction.
In addition, the memory foam tips replaced by rubber, and the transparency mode a little light are part of the compromises with which we have to deal on this iteration. As well as the autonomy, a little less good and the recharge a little longer. But can we really blame him for all this in view of his qualities and especially his price during this period of promotions ?
Indeed, while they were initially offered at €199, they are now found around €130, which is probably a fairer price for all their services.
All the models in this comparison deserve the title of best Bluetooth headphones 2024. But then how to choose ? The first aspect to consider is the brand of devices you already own. AirPods, for example, are a real treat for those who have an iPhone. After the (simplified) pairing, everything works without having to think about it. You put them in your ears and start playing, whether on your watch, your smartphone or your computer.
The AirPods Pro have truly amazing active noise reduction – whose effectiveness is reinforced by the in-ear design. A design that is never a problem even when you want to stop feeling isolated in your bubble. Indeed, without removing the earphones, it is possible to activate Transparency mode with one press, which makes the earphones “disappear”. You hear everything around you as if you were not wearing them.
The quality of the standard AirPods, and their autonomy can leave a little to be desired. But if you really want to go up a notch in quality, and features, the AirPods Pro are definitely for you. They are compatible with Hey Siri, have a really amazing active noise reduction, and a transparency mode without any equivalent on the market. Of course they can work when paired with an Android smartphone.
But their daily use is much more tedious, especially since depending on the brand of your smartphone, more advantageous alternatives exist. For example, if like a large part of Android users you have a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, you are entitled to almost the same user experience in the case where you choose Galaxy Buds 2 for example. They are excellent and a little more repairable (at least guides exist to change their battery without destroying them, unlike AirPods).
Moreover, ease of use is not everything. Other models in this selection do much better in terms of audio quality. While being capricious when it comes to pairing. This is why we can advise you to buy certain products such as AirPods and Galaxy Buds with your eyes closed, while also advising you to go, as much as possible, test competing products in store before making your final choice.
Our complete comparison of the best Bluetooth headphones 2024 ends here. Obviously, we were not able to compare all the products on the market as there are so many of them. If you particularly liked a product that is not in this guide, do not hesitate to let us know in the comments.
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