We’ve got good news—there are countless headphone and earbud models out there, which means there’s a pair for every possible need and budget. The challenge, though? It’s hard to find time to wade through all of them! Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best headphones of 2023 so you can figure out which style and brand work for you, your partner or your child.
Style: On-ear
Wireless: Yes
Battery life: 40 hours
Wireless range: 30 feet
Foldable: Yes
Noise cancellation: No
Excellent battery life.
Not noise cancelling.
Style: Over-ear
Wireless: No
Battery life: n/a
Wireless range: n/a
Foldable: no
Noise cancellation: No
Microphone with flip-up mute.
Not wireless and no USB connection.
Style: Over-ear
Wireless: Yes
Battery life: up to 50 hours
Wireless range: 30 feet
Foldable: Yes
Noise cancellation: Yes
Active noise cancelling, easy pairing and multi-point connection features.
Noise cancelling can affect bass and treble quality.
Style: Earbuds
Wireless: No
Cord length: 3.6 feet
Wireless range: n/a
Foldable: No
Noise cancellation: No
Three sets of earpads.
Not comfortable for sleep.
Style: Over-ear
Wireless: Yes
Battery life: 10 hours
Wireless range: 32 feet
Foldable: Yes
Noise cancellation: No
Lightweight and comfortable.
Not great in loud environments.
Style: In-ear
Wireless: Yes
Battery life: Five hours
Wireless range: 30 feet
Foldable: No
Noise cancellation: No
Are water resistant.
No active noise cancellation.
Style: True wireless
Wireless: Yes
Battery life: Six hours
Wireless range: Around 45 feet
Foldable: No
Noise cancellation: Yes
Auto-on and auto-connect.
Not adjustable.
Style: On-ear
Wireless: No
Cord length: 5.9 feet
Wireless range: n/a
Foldable: No
Noise cancellation: No
On-ear controls.
USB cord only.
This popular style of earbuds fits inside each ear and is completely cordless. They’re super convenient for working out and listening on the go.
This style fits inside each ear and the buds are usually attached to each other by a wire or they attach to your device with a cord.
These headphones feature small cups that fit on the ears and are connected by a headband. They are more compact than over-ear headphones and can be wired or wireless.
- Wired vs wireless: Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music, podcasts and TV or take calls without being physically attached to a device. (Just pay attention to the wireless range, which is the distance you can walk from your device without losing connection.) Wired headphones tether you to your device. The perk? They never need to be charged.
- Battery life: If you choose wireless headphones, check the projected battery life before you buy—particularly if you hate frequent charging.
- Noise cancellation vs noise isolation: Active noise cancellation (ANC) uses technology to counteract external sound waves (especially low-frequency waves like a car engine or air conditioner). Noise isolation, on the other hand, involves physically blocking out external noise with a tight fit or extra padding.[1]
- Foldability: If you want to fit your headphones in a small bag or purse, earbuds or folding headphones might be your best bet.
- Decibel limit: If you’re buying headphones for a child, look for a style that has volume-limiting abilities.
- Headphone fit: Headphones are available in a range of fits based on your needs and preferences. On-ear, over-ear, in-ear, ear wrap-around hooks and headband-style are the most widely-available options.
- Water resistance: If you’re using your headphones for outdoor workouts year-round, look for waterproof or water resistant options that can withstand drizzle, light rain and snow flurries.
- Style: On-ear
- Wireless: Yes
- Battery life: 40 hours
- Wireless range: 30 feet
- Foldable: Yes
- Noise cancellation: No
These affordably priced on-ear headphones from JBL give you major bang for your buck. Sturdy, lightweight and comfortable to wear, they have impressive sound quality. This includes their signature JBL Pure Bass Sound, which they have engineered for some of the biggest venues around the world. They also have up to 40 hours of battery life and can be folded so you can take them with you wherever you go, making them the best over-ear headphones for your buck.
- They let you switch effortlessly from one Bluetooth device to another.
- They have exceptional battery life and you can charge two hours of playtime in just five minutes.
- Enjoy wireless streaming from your smartphone with a 30 foot range.
- The on-ear design is not noise cancelling.
- Some users have noted issues with Bluetooth pairing.
- Style: Over-ear
- Wireless: No
- Battery life: n/a
- Wireless range: n/a
- Foldable: no
- Noise cancellation: No
Turtle Beach’s Recon 70 headset was made for gaming, with high-quality 40mm speakers, an over-ear design that helps block noise, and a high-sensitivity mic that easily flips up to mute. This multiplatform gaming headset is comfortable (so you or the kids can play for hours—sorry not sorry!) and lightweight. They’re available in Blue Camo (pictured), White Camo and Green Camo.
- Lightweight design and premium ear cushions help prevent headset fatigue during long gaming sessions.
- They have a microphone that automatically mutes your voice when flipped up, which makes them perfect for moving between online play and chatting with fam.
- They’re compatible with Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4 Pro, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch and some mobile devices, so you can hop between consoles with ease.
- They’re not wireless so the headphones will be physically connected to your console.
- Does not have a USB connection, but rather a 3.5mm audio jack.
- Style: Over-ear
- Wireless: Yes
- Battery life: up to 50 hours
- Wireless range: 30 feet
- Foldable: Yes
- Noise cancellation: Yes
If you’re looking for headphones to drown out ambient noise at work or home, these sleek JBL noise-cancelling cans are a great choice. The lightweight model really does immerse you in your own little world (you can even use an electric toothbrush and won’t hear a thing), and they feature multi-point connection so easily switch from one Bluetooth device to another. They come in three colours: black, blue and white.
- They feature Active Noise Cancelling and JBL’s Pure Bass Sound so you can really tune into your music.
- The headphones have easy hands-free call and voice control, activated by a button on your earcup, so you can take calls or trigger voice assistants.
- You can listen wirelessly for 35 hours with active noise cancelling, or 50 hours without. The battery recharges in 2 hours.
- Some users report that the noise cancelling settings can affect bass and treble levels while listening to music.
- The Active Noise Cancelling doesn’t always block out really loud sounds like fans or air conditioners.
- Style: Earbuds
- Wireless: No
- Cord length: 3.6 feet
- Wireless range: n/a
- Foldable: No
- Noise cancellation: No
Sometimes, you just want a pair of headphones that won’t break the bank. While this set of wired earbuds from Panasonic won’t beat the sound quality of pricier models, they’re extremely comfortable and work just fine for standard listening and calls.
- They come with three sets of earpads (small, medium and large) so you can find your perfect fit and even use a different size in each ear.
- They’re lightweight, tiny and easy to transport.
- They have a microphone for taking calls.
- For iPhone 7 and later, you’ll need a lightning plug adapter.
- They probably won’t be comfortable for sleep.
- Style: Over-ear
- Wireless: Yes
- Battery life: 10 hours
- Wireless range: 32 feet
- Foldable: Yes
- Noise cancellation: No
If you want kids’ headphones that are affordable and safe for young ears, you’ll love these Wicked Audio headphones in bright blue or candy pink. They’re easy on the budget and, most importantly, they have a volume limit of 85 decibels to help protect kids from hearing damage.[2]
- Parents can rest easy knowing their child won’t be able to blast the volume.
- The adjustable headband means the lightweight headphones provide a comfortable fit for kids and parents.
- They fold up compact for storage and travel.
- Because these headphones don’t have noise cancellation, your child will still be able to hear ambient noise, parent conversations, etc.
- The built-in mic works for phone and video calls, but only in quiet environments.
- Style: In-ear
- Wireless: Yes
- Battery life: Five hours
- Wireless range: 30 feet
- Foldable: No
- Noise cancellation: No
When sweating it out in the living room or gym, the comfort of your headphones should be the last thing on your mind. These Bose sport earbuds StayHear Max tips won’t hurt your ears or fall out, no matter how vigorous your workout is. Plus, they’re designed to repel sweat and moisture. The capacitive touch interface makes it easy to swipe up and down for volume control while you move or tap to play or pause music, answer calls and more.
- The StayHear Max tips create a tight seal with your ear canal, which blocks ambient noise. With three sizes of tips included, you’ll be able to get the perfect fit.
- The IPX4 rating means the electronics inside each earbud are protected against splashing water, so you can get your sweat on and not have to worry about getting caught in the rain on a run.
- A quick 15-minute charge gives you up to two hours of playback time.
- With only five hours of battery life before requiring a charge in their case (which holds up to 10 hours of charge), they’re less versatile than other headphones.
- They are not equipped with active noise cancellation.
- Style: True wireless
- Wireless: Yes
- Battery life: Six hours
- Wireless range: Around 45 feet
- Foldable: No
- Noise cancellation: Yes
These Apple Airpods are an easy yes for any iPhone user. The wireless earbuds are quick to pair with any Apple device and switch seamlessly between devices, so you can transfer from a work call to a movie on your laptop to music on your phone without missing a beat. That said, if you want active noise cancellation, you’re better off with the pricier AirPods Pro.
- They are sweat- and water-resistant for non-water sports and exercise, and are IPX4-rated.
- Once you set them up (which is super easy), simply pull them out of their case and they’re automatically on and connected.
- Just say “Hey Siri” to activate your voice assistant.
- With only six hours of battery life before requiring a charge in their case (which holds up to 30 hours of charge), they’re less versatile than other headphones.
- They don’t have adjustable earpads if they’re a poor fit.
- Style: On-ear
- Wireless: No
- Cord length: 5.9 feet
- Wireless range: n/a
- Foldable: No
- Noise cancellation: No
For a budget-friendly pair of headphones that’s made for work calls, check out Logitech’s H540 headset. They cost less than many other headsets and have a discreet, noise-cancelling microphone that can be flipped up when not in use. The cord has a USB connection that’s made for use with laptops and desktops.
- Thanks to on-ear controls, you can easily adjust the volume or mute your calls.
- A light indicator on the cord notifies you when the microphone is muted.
- An adjustable headband and padded ear cups that sit lightly on the ears are comfortable to wear for hours.
- Due to the USB cord, they’re made for use at an office or home office, not on the go.
- They aren’t secured to the ears and can slip off if you bend over.
Shop all headphones at Walmart 
- Headphonesty. Noise Cancelling vs. Noise Isolating: Which Is Better?
- It’s a Noisy Planet. Are Volume-Limiting Headphones Safe for Your Child?
Simply put, we don’t recommend any products we wouldn’t buy ourselves. Our writers leverage a number of sources as a starting point, including reputable third-party reviews, Walmart.ca user reviews, and Walmart Canada’s category specialists. theHUB editorial staff has final say for all products included in this guide.
Any product claims noted are provided by the manufacturer, unless otherwise stated. Prices shown are subject to change. Please check Walmart.ca for the latest pricing. This article is intended as general information. To be sure a product is right for you, always be sure to read and follow the label(s)/instruction(s) that accompany your product(s). Walmart will not be responsible for any injury or damage caused by this activity.
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This article is intended as general information. Always be sure to read and follow the label(s)/instruction(s) that accompany your product(s). Walmart will not be responsible for any injury or damage caused by this activity.
