Best headphones and earbuds to buy in 2023

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1. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

These sleek earbuds are “the best in the business” when it comes to noise cancellation. Bose claims that they can actually tailor the audio to the shape of your ear canal. Either way, their sound is very good.

£239.95; bose.co.uk

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2. Grado GS3000x Statement

Given the price tag, you would expect an awful lot from these headphones, and, remarkably, they deliver it. The sound quality is “incredible”, they are beautiful to behold, and the attention to detail is evident.

£2,195; premiumsound.co.uk

3. Jabra Elite 7 Active

Marketed for use while exercising, these in-ear headphones have a comfortable fit that is designed to make sure they stay in place. They also have plenty of battery life, noise cancellation and great sound quality.

From £170; jabra.co.uk

4. Fairphone Fairbuds XL

With sustainability as its USP, Fairphone makes headphones that are made largely from recycled materials, and that are modular and repairable. You can buy spares for any of the 11 parts, and they’re easy to replace. The “leather” on these is vegan.

About £215; fairphone.com

5. Nothing Ear 2

These wireless earbuds are stylish, but also substantial. They pack some power, and offer 24-bit Hi-Res Audio, as well as active noise cancellation and good battery life.

£129; nothing.tech

6. Kokoon Nightbuds sleep headphones

Kokoon’s earphones are designed to be worn at night, with soft earbuds for side sleepers. Connected to an app that plays relaxing sounds, they can identify when you’re drifting off and fade the audio or replace it with white noise.

£161; uk.kokoon.io

7. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX

Made of soft leather and recycled aluminium, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX headphones are amazingly light. They fold flat to fit in the sturdy case, have amazing sound, automatic noise cancelling and 35-hour play time.

£449; bang-olufsen.com

8. Marshall Motif A.N.C. earbuds

Marshall’s earbuds promise “front-row sound” and come equipped with Bluetooth 5.2 for a solid connection to your devices. Designed for all-day listening, the Motif A.N.C. boasts 20 hours of wireless playtime with active noise cancellation and 26 without. If you’re ever low on juice, simply pop the buds in the portable charging case and after only 15 minutes you’ll get one hour of listening time.

£179.99; argos.co.uk

9. Apple AirPods Max

Apple’s first over-ear headphones warrant the hefty price tag. Among the best noise-cancelling wireless headphones on the market, they have stunning audio. Their case isn’t great though.

£549; apple.com

10. Panasonic RZ-S500WE-W

Although a bit big and bulky for earbuds, these offer noise cancellation to rival many over-ear headphones. Audio is clear and balanced, and the touch controls are easy to use.

£84.99; amazon.co.uk

11. Bowers & Wilkins PX7

With a unique wireless design, the PX7 has finely balanced sound quality. Noise cancelling works well and is versatile, with three levels to choose from.

£99; richersounds.com

12. Sony WH-1000XM4

Sony’s wireless over-ear headphones provide impressive sound and noise cancelling, and can be controlled by touch control, voice command or the app.

£249; johnlewis.com