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Many of us use headphones on a daily basis, but how and why we use them is very individual. The best pair of headphones for an avid runner won't be the same as the best pair for someone who primarily uses them while they work from home. This gift guide will help you find the perfect set of new headphones for anyone on your list this year.
The best headphones for Apple users: The AirPods Max 2
The latest AirPods Max 2 make it into the list because Apple users will always value staying in the Apple ecosystem. But that's not the only reason: Apple’s AirPods Max 2 are excellent ANC headphones, have quality audio, and an impressive design. The biggest upgrades to the AirPods Max 2 include the new "dynamic range" amplifier, live translation, and Apple's H2 chip. If your giftee is in the Apple ecosystem and wants to stay there, then the AirPods Max 2 might be the best fit. Keep in mind they are much heavier than most headphones (but just as comfortable). You can read about the headphones in more detail in PCMag's review.
The best headphones for bass lovers: Sony ULT WEAR
The Sony ULT WEAR headphones have been around since 2024, and their sale price of $144.95 (originally $249.99) make them one of the most affordable headphones on this list. At that price, the ULT WEAR offer incredible value, considering they have solid ANC and share the Sony Sound Connect app with the flagship Sony headphones. But what makes the ULT lineup special is the powerful bass that can be activated with the "ULT" bass button, which has two levels to enhance the low frequencies. They feature a battery life of up to 44 hours with ANC on, have decent mic quality, and are comfortable to wear for long periods, making them great overall headphones, especially for bass lovers.
The best headphones for audiophiles: Sony WH-1000XM6
If your giftee is an audiophile who values the best sound possible even while using ANC, look no further than the Sony WH-1000XM6. Audiophiles love having control and will likely want to tune the sound to their liking, and if they're Android users, they get to listen to the LDAC Hi-Res codec. The XM6 allows users to tweak the audio with a full EQ, as well as the action buttons and other features in the app. They also have the best ANC and transparency features of any other headphone I've tested and are very comfortable. You can read about the headphones in more detail in my review.
The best headphones for frequent flyers or commuters: JBL Tour One M3 Smart Tx
People on the go who often fly or commute value practicality, ANC, comfort, long battery life, and portability. The JBL Tour One M3 Smart Tx headphones excel in all of these categories, but especially so in practicality. The JBL Tour One M3s are quite light, which, along with the comfortable soft earcups and headband, makes them great for wearing for long periods of time. The battery life is also impressive, with up to 70 hours with ANC off and 40 hours with it on. The travel case is compact, convenient, and has extra storage for the audio transmitter, which is the best feature of the Tour One M3. This is a high-quality, low-latency audio transmitter. You can essentially make anything that you can plug an AUX cable, USB, or USB-C port into stream high-quality 24-bit audio wirelessly to the Tour One M3. The main way most people will use these headphones is by plugging them into the in-flight entertainment, which lets you watch movies in high-quality LDAC with ANC. This is a great gift for anyone who flies a lot or commutes, which is why I deemed them my favorite travel headphones in my review.
The best headphones for gym rats: The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 might've made headlines for their heart-rate monitoring feature, but that's actually their worst feature. Still, they make great earbuds for working out in the gym with an IPX4 water resistance rating and their physical buttons to control media (as opposed to touch controls, which are a nightmare when you're sweaty). The ear hooks are small for a tight fit and are made out of nickel titanium alloy, making them flexible and durable. There are four sizes of eartips so you can get a tight seal to take advantage of the ANC and audio quality. You can also hear your surroundings with its transparency mode, a critical feature for running outdoors.
The best headphones for runners or people who hate things in their ears: The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 are bone conduction headphones (BCHs), meaning they send vibrations through your bones, which your ears pick up as sound, meaning your ears are open to hear your surroundings. However, these Shokz headphones also employ a hybrid technology with an open-air sound that projects low frequencies to your ears. This means they sound almost like regular headphones, while keeping the benefits of BCH. I love that I can have a full conversation with my wife while washing the dishes or cooking and not have to worry about pausing my media or fumbling with my earbuds. As you can read in my review, these are a great option for runners or people who don't like things in their ears.
The best headphones for remote workers: Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen)
Remote workers value microphone quality, multipoint Bluetooth, comfort, and long battery life, and all of these things and more perfectly align with the best qualities of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen). I've had my own pair of Bose earbuds for over a year, and they're still my go-to choice for everyday use while working from home. As you can read in my review, these earbuds have impressive ANC, clear transparency mode, seamless multipoint connection, a design with comfort in mind, and much more to love.
The best headphones for side sleepers: Soundcore Sleep A30
As noted in Mashable's review, the Sleep A30 Special are the most popular and arguably the best sleeping earbuds you can buy right now. They're designed for sleep in every way: Side sleepers can doze off without feeling pressure in their ears, since the earbuds sit comfortably inside, and with the addition of ANC, you can now block outside noise with ANC. There's cool tech and features designed for sleeping: The companion app lets you set a timer for your music so you don't drain the battery after you've fallen asleep; the earbuds now integrate with the Calm app for sleep-focused meditations and sleep stories; the charging case's microphones use adaptive snore masking to block snoring sounds by increasing white noise; and the app includes an alarm and sleep-tracking features.
