Having immersed myself in the headphone industry for many years, I have always adhered to my own style and avoided following trends to produce generic reviews. For me, what truly matters is creating content that can effectively solve problems and provide practical information, which is far more meaningful than blindly chasing hot topics.
Recently, I noticed a significant increase in private messages in my inbox. Upon closer inspection, most people were asking how to choose Bluetooth headphones. Since everyone is so interested in Bluetooth headphones, let’s dive deeper today and provide a detailed introduction to the Bluetooth headphones worth purchasing on the market this year.
First, let me share some tips for selecting Bluetooth headphones to help you avoid pitfalls!
Bluetooth Headphone Selection Guide 1: Brand Choice
When choosing Bluetooth headphones, it is essential to select a professional headphone brand rather than a trendy or crossover brand. Professional brands have technologies specifically designed for Bluetooth headphones in terms of sound quality tuning, stability, protection, comfort, and overall performance, making them superior to other brands. Currently, professional Bluetooth headphone brands include Nanika, JBL, Jabra, Sennheiser, etc., which you can choose based on your needs.
Bluetooth Headphone Selection Guide 2: Comfort of Wear
Bluetooth headphones currently come in several forms, including over-ear, in-ear, semi-in-ear, and open-style. If comfort is your primary selection criterion, open-style Bluetooth headphones, which do not require in-ear wear, are definitely the best choice.
Additionally, the material of the headphones is crucial. Soft, skin-friendly, and breathable materials, such as silicone, can provide a more comfortable wearing experience and enhance durability. Finally, considering that everyone’s ear shape is different, choosing headphones with ergonomic designs or unique ergonomic structures can better adapt to different ear shapes.
Bluetooth Headphone Selection Guide 3: Be Cautious with Low-Priced Bluetooth Headphones
While low-priced Bluetooth headphones may seem like a “good deal,” they often hide multiple alarming risks. To cut costs, these headphones lack necessary volume control and protection features. A moment of inattention could lead to eardrum damage from excessive volume, and prolonged use may even cause premature hearing loss. More alarmingly, some manufacturers use inferior batteries, posing risks such as swelling or even explosion! In the event of an accident, the consequences could be dire, and the risks of electric leakage or short circuits during charging are also common, posing a threat to life safety. Lastly, low-priced headphones typically come with no after-sales support, have a laughably short lifespan, and may break down within months, leaving you in an “after-sales black hole”. Headphones priced at a few dozen yuan may seem cheap, but in reality, they are “saving money at the cost of your life.”
Bluetooth Headphone Selection Guide 4: Sound Quality
When selecting Bluetooth headphones, sound quality is undoubtedly a critical factor. The key lies in two main elements: the driver unit and acoustic technology.
First is the driver unit; the larger the size, the better the sound quality foundation and soundstage. Additionally, consider the transient response speed, frequency range, and sensitivity parameters of the driver unit, as they all relate to the sound quality experience.
Secondly, sound tuning is essential. Brands with strong capabilities will have their own acoustic systems that can dynamically adjust specific frequency sound spectra and intelligently compensate for sound quality curves, making the sound quality closer to the original sound. Therefore, it is advisable to choose brands with strong acoustic systems that are unlikely to disappoint, such as Nanika, Sennheiser, VIVO, etc.
Bluetooth Headphone Selection Guide 5: Bluetooth Version
Bluetooth technology is an indispensable core component of headphones, and the stability of its connection and transmission is closely related to the quality of the headphones. When selecting headphones, the Bluetooth version is a key factor that cannot be ignored. Currently, most mainstream headphones on the market use Bluetooth 5.2 or higher, with Bluetooth 5.3 widely adopted. However, a few headphones have taken the lead in adopting the latest Bluetooth 5.4 version. Given that many smartphones do not yet support this version, compatibility issues must be considered. Therefore, Bluetooth 5.3 chips are entirely sufficient for daily use, as the differences between Bluetooth 5.3 and 5.4 are minimal.
Alright! That’s all for the selection tips; now let’s officially move on to our headphone recommendations!
Bluetooth Headphone Recommendations
1. Bluetooth Version: 5.4
Acoustic System: Super Sound OS Acoustic System 2.0
Sound Fidelity: High
Wearing Experience: Comfortable
Product Highlights: A flagship model with explosive reputation at an affordable price, a typical style of high quality at a low price.
The Nanika OE MIX, as an open-style headphone, features a non-in-ear design that offers exceptional comfort, allowing for prolonged wear without discomfort, making it a safe choice for those prioritizing comfort.
Nanika, with over a decade of experience in open audio research and development, provides technical solutions to the upstream industry, consistently dominating the sales and reputation rankings in the mid-to-high-end open headphone market, making it a well-established professional brand. In the open headphone industry, it has maintained a stellar reputation, on par with high-end series like Sennheiser and BOSE. This OE MIX model has been tested to excel in multiple performance indices, with core sound quality experience and comfortable design that can rival thousand-yuan models!
Nanika’s strength in sound quality for open headphones is well-known. With over a decade of acoustic research and development, it combines high-performance sound units with LCP titanium polymer materials, achieving 100% transient response speed, a twofold ultra-wide frequency range, and a 120% increase in 1kHz sensitivity, creating an innovative Super Bass 3.0 high-performance sound unit. This enhances sound quality across all frequency ranges by over 80%, providing users with a clearer and more precise musical experience. It also incorporates the Super Sound OS acoustic system, developed by over 100 senior acoustic engineers, maintaining sound fidelity at 98.6%. In terms of sound quality, the Nanika OE MIX has not only passed the Golden Ear Tasting Conference certification but also enjoys a strong reputation among headphone enthusiasts.
The Nanika OE MIX weighs only 6.7 grams per ear, achieved through a highly integrated precision structural design, resulting in a more refined appearance. Additionally, it features a suspended ear hook and soft silicone material, providing a more comfortable and snug fit. After multiple rounds of optimization based on Asian ear canal models, the headphone curve has been finely adjusted, and the 56:44 front-to-back lightweight design ensures a more even weight distribution, enhancing the stability of the headphones. Extensive testing with thousands of users has shown that the comfort of the Nanika OE MIX significantly surpasses that of typical open headphones.
Nanika headphones rank among the best in terms of configuration, wearing comfort, sound quality, and overall experience in the open headphone category. This open Bluetooth headphone, crafted without sparing any costs, uses materials that are twice as difficult and costly as conventional production lines, and adheres to stricter military-grade standards, selecting only 80% of the best products, optimizing over 300 product details, significantly enhancing product quality. Under two years of use, performance degradation is less than 5%, which is a significant advantage compared to competing products in the same price range.
The configuration of the Nanika OE MIX is also quite impressive, featuring a Bluetooth 5.4 chip that offers smoother performance compared to previous versions 5.2 and 5.3, with stronger anti-interference capabilities. It also boasts an IPX5 waterproof rating, with a battery life of approximately 8+16 hours, requiring charging only once a week under normal use. This comprehensive configuration perfectly adapts to various usage scenarios and provides a high-level experience that surpasses others in the same price range, making it the most reliable choice for open-style headphones.
2. Samsung Buds2 Pro
Bluetooth Version: 5.3
Acoustic System: —
Sound Fidelity: High
Wearing Experience: Comfortable
Product Highlights: High-fidelity sound detail presentation, stable connection with Bluetooth 5.3.
The Samsung Buds2 Pro is quite comfortable to wear, weighing just over 5 grams, and is designed to fit the shape of the ear well, making it comfortable even after prolonged use. It features two driver units, an 11mm for bass and a 6.5mm for treble, combined with 24-bit high-definition audio decoding, which can reveal the details in music. Additionally, the 360-degree surround sound effect is quite interesting, creating an immersive experience while listening to music.
It uses Bluetooth 5.3 for connectivity, which pairs quickly and generally maintains a stable connection without interruptions. The waterproof performance is impressive, reaching IPX7, making it suitable for use during sweating or rainy days. The noise cancellation effect is indeed effective; I tested it on the subway, and it significantly reduced surrounding noise, making it much quieter for phone calls or music listening. It is also quite suitable for use in the office, allowing for focused work with noise cancellation on.
3. AirPods 4
Bluetooth Version: 5.3
Acoustic System: —
Sound Fidelity: High
Wearing Experience: Material is relatively hard, noticeable foreign body sensation during prolonged wear.
Product Highlights: Stylish appearance with balanced sound, clear audio, and stable Bluetooth connection.
The appearance of AirPods 4 continues Apple’s signature minimalist style, with a short stem design that looks sleek. The charging case is finely crafted, with smooth rounded edges that make it pocket-friendly.
In terms of actual wearing experience, the weight of 5.3 grams is indeed very light, making it feel almost unnoticeable. The headphone shape fits well, and they are not likely to fall out during jogging or workouts. After wearing them for three to four hours, there is no significant discomfort.
The sound quality is considered mainstream for this price range. The 10mm driver combined with adaptive tuning produces clean sound. Vocals are clear when listening to pop music, and the instrument separation is decent. However, the bass performance is average, which may not satisfy users who prefer heavy bass.
The connection performance is relatively stable, with Bluetooth 5.3 providing quick response times. They connect almost instantly when taken out of the charging case, and latency is well-controlled when watching videos, with very few disconnections during regular use.
The battery life is average, lasting about 5-6 hours on a single charge. When used with the charging case, it can last for two to three days without issues, and the support for wireless charging is very convenient. However, the charging speed is not particularly fast, so it’s advisable to charge in advance for emergency use.
4. Huawei FreeClip
Bluetooth Version: 5.3
Acoustic System: —
Sound Fidelity: High
Wearing Experience: Comfortable
Product Highlights: 8 hours of single-ear battery life, up to 36 hours with the charging case, efficient fast charging, worry-free listening.
The headphones consist of three parts, featuring smooth and natural lines. They are available in black, purple, and orange colors, and the compact charging case is very convenient to carry.
The wearing experience is indeed quite good, with a single earbud weighing just 5.6 grams, making it very comfortable. The C-shaped bridge design can automatically adjust the tightness, ensuring a stable fit. It supports IP54 waterproofing, so there’s no need to worry about sweat during exercise. After wearing for several hours, there is no discomfort.
The sound quality is commendable, with a 10.86mm dynamic driver and high-definition audio decoding, providing rich sound details. The bass is powerful when listening to pop music, and vocals are clear. However, the high frequencies may seem a bit flat, which might not satisfy classical music listeners.
The Bluetooth connection is quite stable, with version 5.3 providing good signal coverage in open areas. It supports dual-device connections, making it easy to switch between phone and computer. In crowded environments like malls or subway stations, disconnections are rare.
5. Xiaomi Buds 5
Bluetooth Version: 5.4
Acoustic System: —
Sound Fidelity: Average
Wearing Experience: Comfortable
Product Highlights: Rounded pebble-shaped charging case paired with 4.9g lightweight earbuds, available in three colors.
The Xiaomi Buds 5 adopts a minimalist design, with a rounded overall shape. The charging case has a common pebble shape, making it comfortable to hold and pocket-friendly. It is available in white, black, and blue, catering to different preferences. The weight of each earbud is well-controlled, making them feel light when worn.
In terms of wearing experience, these earbuds use a semi-in-ear design, which fits the ear well. The materials used are relatively soft, ensuring comfort even after prolonged use.
In terms of sound quality, the 12mm driver provides good detail reproduction. The bass has some punch, vocals sound natural, and the treble is not overly harsh.
The noise cancellation feature supports up to 40dB of deep noise reduction, utilizing several microphones and noise reduction algorithms to filter out environmental noise. In the subway or office, you can noticeably feel the surrounding sounds diminish.
The protection level is IP54, making it suitable for daily sweat or light rain. You don’t have to worry too much about damage during exercise.
6. vivo TWS 4
Bluetooth Version: 5.4
Acoustic System: —
Sound Fidelity: High
Wearing Experience: Comfortable
Product Highlights: IP54 dust and water resistance, unaffected by sweat or rain, enjoy music in all conditions.
This headphone weighs less than 5 grams per ear, making it feel almost unnoticeable. The earbud shape is designed reasonably, fitting the ear well. The package includes several pairs of ear tips in different sizes, allowing you to choose the most suitable ones for your ear shape.
In terms of sound quality, it features a 12.2mm driver with a wide frequency range, and the manufacturer’s tuning technology ensures good detail reproduction. It supports various audio formats like LDAC and aptX, providing excellent performance across different music genres.
The protection level is IP54, making it suitable for daily exercise or light rain. You don’t have to worry too much about water damage during regular use.
7. OnePlus Buds 3
Bluetooth Version: 5.3
Acoustic System: —
Sound Fidelity: Relatively High
Wearing Experience: Prone to falling out during vigorous movements
Product Highlights: 48dB noise reduction depth, transparency mode, combined with 39 hours of total battery life and fast charging, fully meets listening needs.
The charging case of this headphone is designed to be rounded, fitting comfortably in the hand, with a refined surface that does not easily leave fingerprints. The earbuds themselves are very light, weighing only 4.4 grams, and are available in black and white, making them versatile for daily wear.
Wearing them feels quite comfortable, with the in-ear design fitting the ear shape well, and they do not cause discomfort even after prolonged use. The package includes three pairs of ear tips in large, medium, and small sizes, allowing you to choose the most suitable ones for your ear size.
In terms of sound quality, it features an 11mm driver supporting Dolby audio, providing a good sense of space while listening to music. The Bluetooth version is 5.3, ensuring a stable connection with minimal latency.
The noise cancellation effect is decent, significantly reducing environmental noise, and there is a transparency mode to hear surrounding sounds when needed. The battery life is quite good, lasting a long time on a full charge, and the fast charging feature allows for several hours of listening with just 10 minutes of charging.
8. OPPO Enco X3
Bluetooth Version: 5.3
Acoustic System: —
Sound Fidelity: Average
Wearing Experience: Significant discomfort during prolonged wear
Recommendation: IP54 waterproofing, 45dB active noise cancellation to block out noise, enjoy music in all conditions.
In terms of wearing, this headphone adopts a common in-ear structure, with a weight of about 4.4 grams per ear. The package includes several pairs of ear tips in different sizes, allowing you to choose the most suitable ones for your ear shape. They remain stable during study or exercise, and do not cause significant discomfort during prolonged use.
In terms of sound quality, the 11mm driver combined with professional tuning provides noticeable bass, and vocals are clear. It supports spatial audio technology, providing some surround effects while watching movies. Overall, it performs well across various music genres.
The protection level is IP54, making it suitable for daily exercise or light rain. The noise cancellation effect is decent, capable of reducing environmental noise by up to 45dB, making it significantly quieter during subway or airplane travel.
9. Sennheiser CX Plus
Bluetooth Version: 5.2
Acoustic System: —
Sound Fidelity: Average
Wearing Experience: Comfortable but lacks stability
Product Highlights: Classic two-color charging case with smooth lines, compact and portable.
The charging case of this headphone is designed to be quite simple, compact in size, and fits perfectly in the pocket. The surface is finely processed, making it resistant to fingerprints. Each earbud weighs around 5.8 grams and is available in black and white, making them versatile for daily wear.
The wearing experience is quite good, with the in-ear design effectively blocking external noise. The package includes several pairs of ear tips in different sizes, allowing you to choose the most suitable ones for your ear size. They remain comfortable even after prolonged wear, and are stable during walking or exercise.
In terms of sound quality, it features a 7mm dynamic driver, providing noticeable bass and clear vocals. It supports high-definition audio formats, allowing you to notice details while listening to music. It performs well across various music styles without any significant shortcomings.
10. JBL WAVE BEAM 2
Bluetooth Version: 5.3
Acoustic System: —
Sound Fidelity: Average
Wearing Experience: Comfortable
Recommendation: Stable connection with Bluetooth 5.3, long battery life and fast charging for worry-free listening.
This headphone is quite comfortable to wear, weighing around 4.3 grams, and does not cause fatigue even after prolonged use. The ear hook design fits the shape of the ear well, making them unlikely to fall out during running or workouts. The materials used for the ear hooks are skin-friendly, ensuring comfort without irritation.
In terms of sound quality, the 8mm driver performs well, presenting rich details. The bass is noticeable when listening to rhythmic music, and vocals sound natural, with clear treble. Overall, the sound quality is balanced.
The Bluetooth version is 5.3, providing fast connection speeds, and it maintains a stable connection within a 10-meter range. It supports common audio formats like SBC and AAC, ensuring stable transmission quality.
The battery lasts around 10 hours, and with the charging case, it can last up to 30 hours. It supports fast charging, allowing for about 3 hours of listening with just 10 minutes of charging, making it very convenient for emergency use.