© Presse-citron
For a few years now, a relevant comparison to choose the best Bluetooth headset has been one of the things we are asked most often. To stand out, brands are constantly improving their on-board technologies.
In 2024 the best Bluetooth headset offers active noise reduction. The offer is expanding and now includes big names in tech like Apple, Sony and Bose as well as other audio specialists.
The best Bluetooth headset delivers a battery life of around 20 hours – which generally allows you to use the device for several days without having to recharge it. Some headsets offer simplified Bluetooth pairing that allows you to use your headset more quickly when you put it on your ears.
Note, however, that these pairing systems are generally exclusive to ecosystems. For example, you will not be able to use the simplified AirPods pairing on an Android smartphone. Conversely, simplified pairing of devices like the Sony WH1000-XM4 will not work on iPhone.
There is also the question of audio quality, reinforced by quality headphones and the design of the headset (circum or supra-aural). But also comfort, because the headband of some headsets can quickly become uncomfortable after a few hours of listening.
It should also be noted that Bluetooth is still a more limited technology than most users think in terms of audio quality. The best Bluetooth headsets have special codecs such as aptX or DHSEE which allow you to overcome the bandwidth limit of the Bluetooth connection to a certain extent.
We help you see things more clearly in our comparison of Bluetooth headsets in 2024.
Top 5 best Bluetooth headsets 2024:
- Sony WH-1000XM5
- Sony WH-1000XM4
- Bose Headphones 700
- Apple AirPods Max
- Bose QC45
Best Bluetooth Headphones 2024 for Active Noise Cancellation
© Sony
The Sony WH-1000XM3 headset surprised when it was released by the quality of its active noise cancellation system and the quality of the audio rendering – clearly above the previous reference of the genre the Bose QC-35. The WH-1000XM4 remained the undisputed king of the market thanks to an even better proposition.
But the latest WH-1000XM5 model released in 2024 promises a new leap forward in the department. Now the headset's active noise cancellation relies on no fewer than 8 microphones to better filter out unpleasant sounds in the mids and treble.
To this, Sony adds a new automatic active noise cancellation optimizer, called Auto NC Optimizer: the system thus constantly adapts to the surrounding conditions and what you are wearing. The WH-1000XM5 also features new 30mm drivers all in a new polyurethane design that enhances passive noise cancellation, especially in the low and high frequencies.
The headset is also equipped with LDAC technology which allows to transmit about 3 times more data than conventional Bluetooth (990 kbps) – we are not yet quite on lossless, but it is close. For the rest, the autonomy is 30 hours with active noise cancellation and up to 40 hours without. The device has been available since May 20, 2024 at the price of 419 euros.
The other best Bluetooth headset 2024
© Sony
It is impossible to start this comparison without mentioning the Sony WH-1000XM4, without a doubt the best Bluetooth headset from the manufacturer – and in our opinion the best Bluetooth headset on the market, period. With the WH-1000XM3, Sony already offered an almost flawless Bluetooth headset.
Its successor therefore logically takes the same bases and is adorned with new sound processing algorithms and noise reduction. The result is even better, too the XH-1000XM4 is establishing itself as the benchmark of the moment.
First of all, thanks to its excellent sound quality with a good balance between highs and mids, but above all, excellent bass management. But above all, thanks to its impeccable active noise reduction.
Its use is extremely simple, thanks in particular to the touch controls on the right earpiece. The companion application is also well designed. Finally, the WH-1000XM4 is compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa. It also supports multipoint Bluetooth, which was the main weakness of its predecessor.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is available for at a price of 349 euros. It comes in black and silver. For smaller budgets, The WH-1000XM3 is a good alternative. Less expensive, there are few differences between these two models.
The other best Bluetooth headphones 2024
© Amazon
The latest in the Bose family doesn't have much to envy the Sony model. Highly anticipated, the successor to the QC 35 II is here. With its Headphones 700, the American wanted to make a splash by completely revising the design of its best Bluetooth headset. A success.
Among its main strengths, noise reduction is at the top. It must be said that Bose's primary business was to create headsets for the aviation industry.
Bose is also a sound quality praised by all specialists. The 700 therefore inherits this know-how. Unlike Sony's headset, the Bose signature is distinguished by a sound more focused on the midrange. Enough to delight podcast fans for example.
Like the WH-1000XM4, the Bose Headphones 700 supports multipoint Bluetooth connections. Finally, note that these headphones shine with their excellent battery life.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000The Bose 700 is available at a price of 320 euros and comes in three colors: black, silver and midnight blue. If your budget is smaller, you can turn to the Bose QC 35 II, still an excellent headset at the end of 2020.
The best bluetooth headset 2024 Apple
© Apple
Apple's arrival on the wireless headphone market has makes a lot of noise. With the AirPods Max, the Californian giant is making a spectacular entrance since it is positioning its headphones at a high price.
Sold at 629 euros, the AirPods Max stands out above all for its design, which is the opposite of what you can find at Sony or Bose. No plastic on the best Apple Bluetooth headset, but aluminum and steel for a resolutely elegant result.
On the other hand, the AirPods Max is heavy. And while the soft fabric headband makes wearing the headset comfortable, its bulkiness is noticeable during prolonged listening.
And the sound in all this ? Despite limited compatibility with AAC and SBC codecs, Apple manages to tame sound frequencies brilliantly.Spatial Audio technology (already available on some content) and the arrival of Apple Music with Lossless tracks promise great things. Be careful though, to enjoy this premium quality it will be imperative to connect the headset to the transmitting device with a cable.
The best bluetooth headset 2024 in the footsteps of the QC35 II
© Bose
Bose has just launched a new model in the QuietComfort range, the QC45. The new headset is one of the best Bluetooth headsets of the brand. It delivers an exceptional autonomy of 24 hours for a full charge that is completed in 2h30 – 15 minutes of charging is enough to deliver 3 hours of listening.
On the audio quality side, it improves the quality of active noise reduction. The headset will have two modes, “Aware” and “Quiet”. The first mode is actually a variation of the “transparency” mode that you find on competing models.
The sound picked up by the external microphone array is directly amplified and transmitted back into the headset so that it feels like it's no longer on your ears. Quiet mode is of course the mode that activates active noise reduction.
This has been strengthened and improved, especially in the mid frequencies – which represent the bulk of annoying sounds on planes, trains, and crowded places.
The best bluetooth headset 2024 if you are looking for a good surprise
© Nura
This one, we didn't see it coming. And yet, it has something to worry the market references. Doctors in acoustic engineering, the creators of the Nuraphone have developed one of the best Bluetooth headphones in a way very different from anything you've seen until today.
To restore the best possible sound in your ears, the headset can analyze your acoustic resonance. In short, the headset scans the structure of your ear canal with the precision of a goldsmith for a perfect sound reproduction.
To achieve this, the creators have therefore imagined a headset that is both circum-aural and in-ear. This design allows it not only to deliver excellent sound quality but also to ensure incomparable immersion.
For the rest, the Nuraphone comes with a very ergonomic and complete application. Its autonomy is also on par with the genre's references. We will only criticize it for a slight tendency to heat the ears and an underuse of the touch keys. Otherwise, it is flawless.
The Nuraphone is available at the price of 399 euros in a single black color.
Apple Music has just joined Tidal on the issue of lossless – lossless audio. The tracks you listen to regardless of the platform are normally compressed in order to deliver high quality rendering, while accommodating bandwidth limitations.
But your data and mobile connectivity aren't the only reason why almost everything you listen to on your smartphone should normally be compressed. In fact, after pushing the adoption of Bluetooth headphones for years, manufacturers, Apple in the lead, are now complaining about the constraints of the standard.
The available bandwidth has indeed become a real bottleneck that prevents audio accessory manufacturers from going beyond a certain quality. As a result, no matter which model you choose, you won't be able to listen to lossless audio in Bluetooth. Buying the AirPods Pro Max or a pair of AirPods Pro 2 won't change that.
These two models remain incompatible with the lossless format, simply because Apple relies on the standard Bluetooth protocol without proprietary technology. But the firm's engineers seem to be preparing a technology that would ignore these limitations. The future of Bluetooth could thus be called UWB. But that's another story.
If you really have to listen to lossless content, opt for a very high-end model that offers a wired connection to your smartphone. You may also need to invest in a separate DAC or preamplifier. It's impractical and sad, but for now, it's all there is, before probably a quick transition to something better.
As we can see, choosing the best Bluetooth headset in 2024 comes down to your budget. You can make your choice with your eyes closed among the most premium Sony, Bose and Apple models. But as we go down the comparison, each model has its own characteristics that should be evaluated to be sure that the device will meet your expectations.
This guide to the best wireless headphones ends here. Of course, we will update it as manufacturers launch new models. So, which headset do you like the most ? Share your feedback in the comments !
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