Is it time to buy some new headphones? Find the best headphones for your lifestyle with our headphones reviews and buying guide. We’ve tested over-ear headphones, true wireless earbuds, air and bone conduction headphones from Sony, Sennheiser, Bose, JBL and dozens more.
Buy the best headphones for your lifestyle
We’ve tested different types of headphones in a range of styles to find which perform best and which are most comfortable and durable.
Our assessment covers:
Sound quality
Comfort
Noise cancelling
Durability
Sound leaking.
Best headphones of 2025
Is it time to upgrade your headphones or get an extra set? Our expert recommendations help you find the right ones, looking at the different types, features, performance and budget.
Best value headphones (on ear)
Best value true wireless earbuds
Best noise cancelling headphones (over ear)
Best noise cancelling true wireless earbuds
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What you need to know when buying headphones
Headphones are essential for enjoying your audio without disturbing others, and great for keeping you entertained on the go or staying motivated while you exercise or work. But how do you choose the right set?
Read our buying guide to explore the different types of headphones and their features. We discuss style and comfort, connection type, noise cancelling, sound leaking, battery life, controls, water resistance and more.
Headphone trials and investigations
Suunto Wing 2 headphones review
The Suunto Wing 2 bone conduction headphones have 'turn & brake' lighting, head-nod controls and a mini power bank. Read our full review to see how useful these features are and whether the Wing 2 deliver solid sound performance and battery life.
JBL Soundgear Sense headphones review
The JBL Soundgear Sense let you stay tuned into your environment while listening to audio. Read our expert review to see if they’re the best open-ear headphones yet and whether their sound quality rivals over- and in-ear styles.
Bone conduction headphones: cheap vs premium
Bone conduction headphones are great if you want to listen to audio while staying aware of your surroundings. But is it worth spending hundreds or will a cheap set perform sufficiently well? Read our comparison of the Shokz OpenRun Pro and the Lenovo X3 Pro.
Which headphone brands offer parts and repairs?
When buying expensive headphones, you’ll want to know you can replace a lost earbud or worn-out ear cushions. Find out which, of 27 headphone manufacturers, offer parts and servicing outside of warranty.
People's Choice
Our People's Choice awards are granted to brands that consistently rate above average for customer satisfaction and meet out other performance criteria. Become a member and see which brands have earned a People’s Choice award.
Which headphone brands are most reliable?
We ask thousands of Consumer members about their products to find out which brands are most reliable and satisfying to own. The results are available to members and Digital Pass holders.
Other tech gadgets
If you're looking for other tech gadgets to keep you entertained and connected, we've also tested WiFi & Bluetooth speakers, smartwatches & fitness trackers and mobile phones.
Best retailers to buy tech gadgets from
Many things can ruin a shopping experience – a pushy salesperson, the product you wanted not being in stock or having to pay more than you intended. We asked consumers to tell us who they think are the best and worst retailers.
Find out which are the best and worst shops in New Zealand for buying tech gadgets, appliances, tools and more.
How we test headphones
We get five expert testers to wear each pair of headphones and listen to a range of music genres and a podcast. They assess sound quality, noise cancelling, sound leaking, comfort and durability.
