The Best Wireless Headphones To Stick It To Apple With
With the announcement of the iPhone 8 confirming you're not getting that headphone jack back any time soon, a life without cables is soon to be the norm. Wireless headphones are quickly becoming the go-to replacement and thus are advancing with impressive speed.
Here's some of our favourite options for all-day listening, on the go travel and perfect sound quality.
Jabra Elite Sport 2017
A buffed-up version of the 2016 originals, Jabra's in-ears have 50 per cent-improved battery life on their totally wire-free proposition. They're waterproof, lightweight, come with a charging case and a wide variety of silicon gel earbud tips. There's a heart rate and activity monitor too, which will help you along with personalised audio coaching, once you download Jabra's app.
£229, Amazon
SoundMagic E10BT-BK
Winners of multiple audio awards, SoundMagic's earlier E10s remain something of a best-kept secret. Odd, because at £30 they wipe the floor with brands costing three or four times the price. The Japanese company has introduced a wireless version that keeps the same comfortable, solid build and superlative sound, but adds Bluetooth compatibility and a remote so you can take calls.
£59, Amazon
Bose SoundSport Pulse
Solid and sporty headphones, and more comfy than they might look, Bose have shrunk their audio knowhow into a pair of sweat-proof in-ear headphones. With excellent wireless reliability and strong bass, there's an in-built heart rate sensor to let you know how well you're doing on workouts and runs. An ok-but-not-great five-hour battery life is the only downside.
£1194, Amazon
AKG N60 NC Wireless
Light, portable and comfortable, you get 15 hours of playback time with both Bluetooth and active noise cancelling turned on (30 hours with just the former). A clever hinge means this on-ear set will fold into your luggage, or even your pocket, but it's just as easy to wear them slung round your neck.
£199, Amazon
BeoPlay E8
Wireless in-ears like Apple's AirPods are a Marmite proposition – yes, they do look easy to lose – but try them out and they bring a genuine sense of freedom. These E8s, from Bang & Olufsen's sporty line BeoPlay, click into place inside a carry case using built-in magnets, which will recharge them on the move. Tap the side to change tracks, or enable Transparency Mode, so you can hear what's going on around you.
£259, Amazon
Bowers & Wilkins P7 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
Following on from their successful P5 Wireless Bluetooth headphones, B&W have now cut the chord on their premium P7s, giving a wireless option for serious bass fans. Battery life is excellent – 17 hours on a full charge via USB, enough for a week's worth of commuting according to B&W. They give a clean, rich sound with the emphasis on the aforementioned bass (they handle electronic music particularly well). Constructed from aluminium, sheep leather and memory foam ear-cups they look and fell super-luxurious. As well they might - they're B&W's most expensive cans.
£319, Amazon
Audeze Sine Lighting Edition
The Audeze Sine Lighting Edition use technology called planar magnetics. Instead of the classic vibrating diaphragm cone found in most speakers (including headphones), sound signals are sent through a coil of ultra-thin wire, creating a magnetic field that reacts with a magnet it's set into. Less moving parts mean less resistance and a cleaner sound, goes the thinking. These headphones also have a lighting adapter Cipher cable allowing your iPhone to power an in-built 24-bit DAC, resulting in audiophile-quality sound. The first headphones to do so, this is a clever pice of kit.
£499, Amazon
Denon AH-GC20
Active noise cancelling is the big sell here, making these a good option for frequent fliers and travellers. You can communicate wirelessly with your smartphone, tablet etc while the memory foam ear pads cut out ambient sound using noise-specific volume control. There's also a premium microphone, so hands-free calling is possible too. Lighter than they look, they pack a powerful set of 40mm drivers. They've been around for about 18 months now, so shop around – it's possible to pick up a pair for less than the RRP.
£164, Amazon
Senheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless
Wireless, noise-cancelling, in-line mic/ remote-featuring headphones with high-end ball joints that mean you pivot the cups to suit your face shape: Senheiser's updated Momentum 2.0 Wireless are a fantastic all-rounder. The retro looks might not be to everyone's taste but constructing both headband and the ear pads from super-soft breathable material mean they stay comfortable for long periods, and will suit the office commute as well as laid-back home listening.
£365, Amazon
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