5 Best Headphones of 2026, Plus 5 Budget Picks, Tested by Our Experts

These top-rated options from Apple, Bose, Sony, and others deliver great sound, whether you're at home or on the go

Allen St. John, Consumer Reports Senior Home & Tech Writer.

By Allen St. John
Senior Home & Tech Writer

Updated August 17, 2026

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grid of three images with Bose Ultra Open Earbuds and Sony WF1000XM6/B Earbuds on light blue background and person with their eyes closed wearing Apple AirPods Max 2 on light blue background — The best headphones of today deliver great sound in many forms. Our testers can help you find the pair that's just right for you.

If there’s one thing that separates really great headphones from those that are merely mediocre, it’s sound quality. At Consumer Reports, our testers evaluate fit as well as the performance of the noise-canceling tech (if a model has that feature). But in our headphone ratings, we give the most weight to sound quality.

In this article

Best AirPods Best-Sounding Noise-Canceling Earbuds Best Anti-Earbuds Best Noise-Canceling Headphones Best-Sounding Wired Headphones
How We Test Headphones

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We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.

Allen St. John

Allen St. John has been a senior product editor at CR since 2016, focusing on digital privacy, audio devices, printers, and home products. He was a senior editor at Condé Nast and a contributing editor at publications including Road & Track and The Village Voice. A New York Times bestselling author, he's also written for The New York Times Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and Rolling Stone. He lives in Montclair, N.J., with his wife, their two children, and their dog, Rugby.