Buying a pair of headphones is a much more complex affair today than it was just a few years ago. This is because of the range of features that are now available can make choosing the best headphones a lot more challenging, and that doesn't even take into account noise-cancelling headphones. This difficult choice is compounded by the sheer number of hardware options on the market, with thousands of devices vying for your hard-earned money. But some headsets are trying harder than others to give you the best listening experience possible.

Here we look at headphones from Sony, Bose, SteelSeries, and more as we attempt to give you the best options from hundreds of headphones to help you make the most-informed purchase for your needs.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones are the successors to the celebrated Sony WH-1000XM4 & Sony WH-1000XM3, and they have big shoes to fill in terms of expectations. The XM5s do this by improving the XM4's performance with better bass, a tuned soundstage, and a much better set of mics. As a result, it sounds much punchier than its previous iteration with a focus on clarity, while also improving battery life and enhancing the overall aesthetic.

The XM5 replaces the previous king of the hill, the XM4, which significantly dominated competing hardware, so to say that the XM5 are completely new headphones would be overreaching. They obviously take inspiration from the XM4, but do make meaningful changes such as moving to a new 30mm carbon fiber-based driver instead of its predecessor's much-lauded 40mm driver. The design changes have been met with mixed reception, but in our opinion, these changes enhance your experience, making this pair our best overall headphones in 2023.

The Bose Noise Cancelling 700 Headphones are currently Bose's flagship consumer-grade ANC headphones and sport an excellent finish, outstanding noise-cancelling performance, and an impressively accurate gesture control system, all in one neat package. It does get somewhat upstaged by the Sony XM5s at lower frequencies when it comes to noise-cancelling, and also has some unfavorable stats when it comes to battery life. However, it does make up for those downsides with an impressive audio calling performance.

Featuring Bluetooth 5.0, it does support the bulk of devices on the market right now, and Bluetooth is backward compatible on both sides. It does have limited codec support, bringing in only SBC and AAC support out of the box, which feels a bit underwhelming when you consider that its most direct competition outdoes it in this regard with LDAC support out of the box. Overall, these are excellent noise-cancelling headphones and definitely worth considering as our top pick in this category.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Headphones are a class apart when it comes to gaming. While pricey, they offer a host of features that most gaming headsets are a generation or more away from achieving. Featuring excellent sound quality, and backed by the flexibility of going wireless on either 2.4 GHz or Bluetooth, the Arctis Nova Pro makes inroads in an industry normally bound by budget constraints, being that the bulk of gaming headsets price in the $50-150 region. It sports active noise-cancelling for audio, as well as an excellent noise-cancelling microphone in tow.

The one major gripe we have with the Nova Pro is the same one we have with almost all gaming headsets. Thanks to licensing issues, we rarely see a wireless headset that works with both current-gen Xbox and Playstation consoles simultaneously, and it seems the Arctis Nova Pro wireless is not an exception. Thankfully, if you have a smart TV that supports Bluetooth audio, you can salvage the audio end of the headsets on the incompatible console (assuming you have both), but it is still an inconvenience to say the least.

All in all, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Headphones are an excellent pair of gaming-centric headphones that we can also see becoming a mainstay for casual use (music, streaming, etc.) given their comfort, Bluetooth support, and ability to hot-swap batteries to extend usage in a single sitting. For all these reasons, the SteelSeries Arctis Pro's are our pick for the best gaming headphones you can currently buy.

Still not sure? Check out our review of the Arctis Nova Pro.

The Beats Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earbuds from Apple are one of the best workout-centric headphones we have used. With decent audio quality and IPX4 certification for water and sweat-resistance, combined with some of the best-fitting earphones we have experienced, the Powerbeats Pro stand apart from the competition. While physical buttons might normally be seen as a con in a world of gesture control, in this case, it is actually a benefit given that physical buttons are a lot less likely to be pressed by accident during a vigorous workout.

This is not to say that Beats Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earbuds are flawless. They lack active noise-cancelling altogether (ANC) and cost considerably more than alternatives with similar features, which can do slightly better in the audio department in some cases. That being said, they do a fine job without overcomplicating the experience, making them our pick for the best headphones for working out or running in 2023.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless Headphones are a surprisingly good value compared to the competition, and take some of the higher-end versions of more premium brands to task in terms of value for the money, and relatively similar-sounding audio. While bass-heavy to a fault, the Q35 comes equipped with strong audio quality given its price range, and delivers on its promise to provide an optimized listening experience.

It has excellent battery life and charge times, and supports NFC for pairing out of the box, something we usually only see in higher-priced alternatives. Featuring Sony's LDAC codec support available on the headset, it is also Hi-Res Audio certified. One major drawback is that it has lackluster noise-canceling, and some competitors in this price range offer a better solution.

If the price is still a limiting factor, you can also opt for its renewed version that currently sells for below $70 levels, making it an even sweeter deal.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2 are capable ANC-supporting IEMs that have smart features central to Samsung's product line, along with some state-of-the-art tech designed to make them an appealing choice for users, even those that do not have Samsung phones.

These earbuds are IPX7 certified and excellent for workouts, and are built with a modern, stylish approach that allows them to be a viable alternative as a reliable daily driver and a fashion statement. Sadly, the 24-bit Samsung 'Seamless' codec that drives much of Samsung's upgrade drive is currently limited to Samsung devices only, somewhat limiting their appeal to end users with alternative devices like iPhones and Androids.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2 are some of the best consumer-grade in-ear headphones money can buy, and they are on sale at nearly $100 off MSRP currently, making them a no-brainer recommendation from the team at GameRant when you consider the value-for-money factor in play.

FAQ:

Q: Can I use Samsung Buds Pro 2 with an iPhone?

A: Yes, you can. They do not support Samsung's latest Seamless Codec or some of the 'smarter' features that Samsung has with their own phones, but they do work just fine as standard earphones.

Q: How important is Active Noise Canceling (ANC) for Headphones?

A: ANC is important in areas where you expect to have some degree of ambient noise which can affect your hearing experience; most headphones do allow sound to seep in from the sides, making for a less-than-stellar listening experience for users. ANC fixes this issue by reducing the amount of incoming noise and therefore 'filtering' what you hear. In the same way, ANC microphones in some of these headphones tend to amplify your voice while reducing background noise to allow more clarity and coherence when you are talking to someone or simply using a voice assistant.