As a seasoned blogger with years of experience in the headphone field, I have always adhered to my unique style. When it comes to reviews, I never follow the crowd to produce the same old content. In my view, truly valuable sharing can effectively solve everyone’s problems and provide practical information, which is far more meaningful than blindly chasing trends.
Recently, I noticed a significant increase in the number of private messages in my inbox. Upon closer inspection, I found that most friends were asking the same question: how to choose the right Bluetooth headphones. It seems that everyone is very enthusiastic about Bluetooth headphones! Since that’s the case, let’s dive deeper into this topic today and introduce some Bluetooth headphones worth considering on the market this year.
Before recommending headphones, 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 brand or a crossover brand. This is because professional brands have technology specifically designed for Bluetooth headphones in terms of sound quality tuning, stability, protection, comfort, and sound quality, making them superior to other brands. Currently, professional Bluetooth headphone brands include Nank, JBL, Jabra, Sennheiser, etc., and you can choose according to 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, then open-style Bluetooth headphones, which do not require in-ear wear, are definitely the best choice.
In addition, the material of the headphones is also 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 fit different ear shapes.
Bluetooth Headphone Selection Guide 3: Be Cautious with Low-Priced Bluetooth Headphones
Low-priced Bluetooth headphones may seem like a great deal on the surface, but they actually hide multiple alarming risks. To cut costs, these headphones often lack necessary volume control and protection features. If you’re not careful, your eardrums could be subjected to overwhelming volumes, and prolonged use could even lead to premature hearing loss. Even worse, 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 risk of electric leakage or short circuits during charging is also common, posing a threat to life safety. Lastly, low-priced headphones usually come with no after-sales support, and their lifespan is laughably short, often breaking down within months, with manufacturers ignoring you and leaving you in the “after-sales black hole.” Headphones priced at a few dozen yuan may seem cheap, but in reality, it’s a matter of “saving money at the cost of your life.”
Bluetooth Headphone Selection Guide 4: Sound Quality
When selecting Bluetooth headphones, sound quality is definitely a critical factor that cannot be overlooked.Key factors include the driver unit and acoustic technology.
First, regarding the driver unit, the larger the size, the better the sound quality foundation and the wider the soundstage. Additionally, the transient response speed, frequency range, and sensitivity parameters of the driver unit are all related to the sound quality experience.
Secondly, sound tuning is essential. It is best to choose brands with strong capabilities, as they will have their own acoustic systems that can dynamically adjust specific frequency spectrums and intelligently compensate for sound quality curves, making the sound quality closer to the original sound. Therefore, try to select brands with strong capabilities and their own acoustic systems to ensure good sound quality, such as Nank, 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, some headphones have taken the lead in using the latest Bluetooth 5.4 version. Given that many phones do not yet support this version, compatibility issues must be considered. Therefore, Bluetooth 5.3 chips are fully sufficient to meet daily usage needs, with minimal differences from Bluetooth 5.4.
Now, let me recommend some excellent open-style headphones!
Bluetooth Headphone Recommendations
1. Nank OE MIX
Bluetooth Version: 5.4
Acoustic System: Super Sound OS Acoustic System 2.0
Sound Fidelity: High
Wearing Experience: Comfortable
Product Highlights: A flagship product priced under 100 yuan, offering performance comparable to thousand-yuan models
The Nank OE MIX, as an open-style headphone, features a non-in-ear design that offers exceptional comfort, allowing for prolonged wear without discomfort. If comfort is a priority, you can choose this model without hesitation.
Nank, with over a decade of research and development experience, has always adhered to the principle of not compromising product performance for price wars. They have provided audio solutions for many international brands and have even invested heavily in building high-standard acoustic laboratories,which is a level of professional experience and research attitude that most headphone brands do not possess.
Nank has always been a behind-the-scenes powerhouse in the audio system development field, providing data, technology, and process solutions for many international Bluetooth headphone brands, maintaining an outstanding position in the industry. They have even established high-standard acoustic laboratories and collaborated with over 20 headphone enthusiasts and HiFi club experts, along with 100 acoustic engineers, to create the intelligent acoustic system Super Sound OS. This system can intelligently compensate and optimize sound quality, dynamically adjusting the sound spectrum to prevent distortion or loss during transmission, achieving up to 98.6% sound quality restoration.The sound quality experience rivals that of traditional high-end headphones, achieving performance comparable to thousand-yuan headphones, offering exceptional value for money.
The comfort level of the Nank OE MIX is extremely high, with a weight of only 6.7g, making it one of the lightest models among mainstream open-style headphones, approximately 30% lighter than typical open-style headphones. Additionally, the compact size, combined with the open design and 56:44 front and rear lightweight technology, ensures an even weight distribution, allowing it to stay securely in place without discomfort during extended wear! During the development phase, the Nank team even invited 10,000 people to participate in wearing comfort tests to accommodate a wider range of users,which is unique in the industry!
The Nank OE MIX has undergone over 100 high-quality testing standards, five times more than the typical quality testing items in the industry. Leveraging Nank’s resources and focus on large-scale acoustic project development and production, they have meticulously crafted a production, testing, and quality inspection process that meets the standards of thousand-yuan products, with over 50 quality inspection items, while typical Bluetooth headphones only have 5-10 items. With such strict quality control,the performance degradation of the Nank OE MIX after two years of use is less than 5%.
The configuration of the Nank 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: Professional sound integration with high fidelity, wide compatibility, and strong waterproofing
The Samsung Buds2 Pro is designed with a strong emphasis on wearing comfort, crafted based on the structure of the human ear. Weighing only 5.5g per earbud, they fit perfectly in the ear, ensuring that even prolonged wear does not cause excessive burden on the ears.
The sound quality is exceptional, with an 11mm bass driver and a 6.5mm treble driver working in harmony, combined with 24-bit high-fidelity audio technology, accurately reproducing every musical detail, along with Spatial Audio 360 surround sound, making users feel as if they are at a live music venue.
The Bluetooth function utilizes version 5.3, providing extremely stable connection performance, fast transmission speeds, and ensuring quick pairing between devices and headphones without lag or disconnection during use.
With an IPX7 waterproof rating, this means that whether it’s sweat from exercise or unexpected rain, the headphones will not be damaged, easily handling both daily use and sports scenarios.
3. OnePlus Buds Pro 2
Bluetooth Version: 5.3
Acoustic System: —
Sound Fidelity: High
Wearing Experience: Comfortable
Product Highlights: Unique appearance with comfortable ear tips, excellent sound quality, strong waterproofing, and convenient operation
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 features a unique oval-shaped charging case with a horizontal lid, smooth lines, and rounded corners, weighing only 47.3 grams for easy portability. The surface has a matte finish, while the logo has a glossy treatment, giving it a premium feel. The earbuds have a streamlined design that fits the ear shape, weighing only 4.9 grams each, with a matte surface and a metallic-looking stem that resists fingerprints.
They are comfortable to wear, with multiple sizes of soft silicone ear tips to choose from, ensuring that long-term wear does not cause fatigue, and they stay securely in place during exercise. The sound quality is outstanding, with an 11mm bass unit and a 6mm treble unit working together, tuned by Dynaudio, providing rich details. They support various Bluetooth audio formats, delivering even better sound quality when paired with specific phones. The noise-canceling capability is strong, reducing noise by up to 48dB, and can intelligently adjust.
With excellent waterproof performance, the earbuds have an IP55 rating, while the charging case has an IPX4 rating, making them resistant to sweat and rain. The battery life is impressive, providing 6 hours of playback with noise cancellation on, and 9 hours with it off. Combined with the charging case, the total battery life reaches 25 hours and 39 hours, respectively, supporting wireless fast charging. Additionally, the Bluetooth 5.3 connection is fast with low latency, and when paired with Android 13+ systems, users can enjoy surround sound, with convenient operation by simply pressing the earbud stem.
4. Huawei FreeBuds 5
Bluetooth Version: 5.2
Acoustic System: —
Sound Fidelity: High
Wearing Experience: Noticeable foreign body sensation during prolonged wear
Product Highlights: Custom ultra-magnetic dynamic driver, 11mm large diaphragm combined with high-definition decoding and spatial audio, excellent sound quality
The Huawei FreeBuds 5 features an eye-catching design with a fully curved streamlined shape, and the water droplet-shaped earbuds paired with a rounded charging case feel delicate in hand. They come in various fashionable colors, such as Galaxy Blue and Frost Silver, to meet different users’ individual needs. The bridge-style ear stem design provides multi-directional comfort support during wear and makes operation easier, while also featuring an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance, making them suitable for both daily commutes and outdoor sports.
In terms of wearing comfort, after thousands of ergonomic tests, the semi-in-ear design offers excellent breathability, with a single earbud weighing only 5.4g±0.3g, ensuring that even prolonged wear does not feel heavy or stuffy.
The sound quality is exceptional, featuring a custom ultra-magnetic dynamic driver combined with Turbo low-frequency sound pressure technology, providing strong and full low-frequency effects, effectively addressing the low-frequency shortcomings of semi-in-ear headphones. Real-time optimization across a wide frequency range ensures that sounds between 100Hz and 2kHz are delicate and realistic. Supporting both L2HC and LDAC dual high-definition audio decoding enables lossless transmission, along with spatial audio that immerses you in the music.
The noise-canceling function is also outstanding. Although they are semi-in-ear, advanced algorithms and hardware optimizations effectively reduce environmental noise.
5. Oladance OWS Pro
Bluetooth Version: 5.3
Acoustic System: —
Sound Fidelity: High
Wearing Experience: The earbuds are relatively hard and heavy, not suitable for long-term wear
Product Highlights: Innovative design and excellent performance wireless earbuds
The Oladance OWS Pro is a wireless earbud that utilizes Bluetooth 5.3 technology, characterized by low power consumption, low latency, and high stability. Each earbud weighs 13.6g, with a total weight of 27.2g, making them very lightweight. The new curved ear hooks provide a comfortable and snug fit, making them feel almost “weightless.” In terms of battery life, the OWS Pro offers up to 16 hours of single-use battery life, with a total battery life of up to 58 hours when combined with the charging case. For hearing protection, it features two characteristics: independent left and right ear balance adjustment, and a patented “smart hearing protection mode.”
6. Sony LinkBuds S
Bluetooth Version: 5.2
Acoustic System: —
Sound Fidelity: Average
Wearing Experience: Soft and comfortable
Recommendation: Approximately 4.8g lightweight body, ergonomically designed with multiple silicone ear tips for a secure and comfortable fit
The wearing experience of the Sony LinkBuds S is indeed impressive. The earbuds are designed to be ergonomic, with each weighing under 5 grams, making them feel almost weightless. The package includes multiple sets of silicone ear tips in different sizes, ensuring that once the right size is selected, they can be worn for hours without discomfort. Whether for work meetings, daily commutes, or workouts, they stay securely in place.
The sound quality is commendable, with a 5mm driver unit combined with Sony’s audio optimization technology, providing a good level of detail in sound reproduction. The bass is sufficient, the mid-range vocals are clear, and the highs are not harsh. The DSEE sound quality enhancement technology significantly improves the performance of ordinary audio sources, making listening to various types of music quite enjoyable.
The battery life is average, lasting about 6 hours on a single charge. With the charging case, the total battery life can reach 20 hours. The fast charging feature is quite practical, allowing for a quick 10-minute charge to provide an hour and a half of use, which is convenient in emergencies.
The Bluetooth connection is stable, with version 5.2 providing quick response times. In crowded environments like malls or subway stations, disconnections are rare. The latency control during video playback is also good, with minimal audio-visual sync issues.
7. Vivo TWS 4
Bluetooth Version: 5.4
Acoustic System: —
Sound Fidelity: High
Wearing Experience: Comfortable
Product Highlights: Featuring a 12.2mm ultra-wideband driver with professional tuning and multi-format audio decoding, delivering stunning sound quality
The Vivo TWS 4 charging case features smooth curves, with a compact size of 60×24×46mm, made from high-quality matte material that not only feels comfortable but also effectively resists fingerprints and wear. Whether in your pocket or bag, it is lightweight and unobtrusive. The earbuds are designed in an ergonomic semi-in-ear style, weighing only 4.8±0.3g each, fitting perfectly in the ear canal without causing pressure during prolonged wear. The included different sizes of ear tips cater to various ear canal needs.
In terms of comfort, the semi-in-ear structure fits the contours of most people’s ear canals, reducing the discomfort often associated with traditional in-ear headphones.
The sound quality is stunning, featuring a 12.2mm ultra-wideband driver combined with professional acoustic tuning, supporting various audio decoding formats such as LDAC, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC, and LC3, accurately reproducing everything from energetic rock to heartfelt folk and grand symphonies, providing an immersive auditory feast.
The Bluetooth functionality is also impressive, utilizing the BT5.4 specification, ensuring stable connections with a minimum latency of 44ms, allowing for synchronized audio and video, whether gaming or watching videos, without any sound delay.
8. OPPO Enco X3
Bluetooth Version: 5.3
Acoustic System: —
Sound Fidelity: Average
Wearing Experience: Noticeable discomfort during prolonged wear
Recommendation: IP54 waterproof, resistant to sweat and rain, with 45dB deep active noise cancellation to block out noise, allowing for an immersive music experience.
In terms of wearing comfort, it features an ergonomic in-ear design that fits various ear canals. Each earbud weighs about 4.4g, making them lightweight and unobtrusive. With different sizes of soft silicone ear tips, they ensure a secure and comfortable fit, whether for long study sessions, work, or exercise.
The sound quality is exceptional, featuring an 11mm ultra-dynamic planar diaphragm driver combined with Dynaudio tuning technology, accurately presenting musical details. The powerful bass is impactful, the mid-range is clear, and the bright highs are delicate. Coupled with 360° spatial audio technology, it creates an immersive surround sound experience, making you feel as if you are at a live music venue.
The waterproof rating reaches IP54, effectively resisting sweat and light rain, making them suitable for exercise and outdoor use.
The noise-canceling function is also outstanding, with active noise cancellation technology achieving a maximum depth of 45dB. It effectively blocks out external noises such as airplane noise, subway chatter, and street noise, instantly creating a quiet music space for you to enjoy.
9. Sennheiser Momentum 4
Bluetooth Version: 5.4
Acoustic System: —
Sound Fidelity: High-frequency areas may have distortion
Wearing Experience: Comfortable
Recommendation: 30 hours of long battery life with fast charging and wireless charging, fully meeting listening needs
In terms of wearing comfort, each earbud weighs only 6.2g, and with multiple sizes of silicone ear tips and ear fins, they can be selected according to the ear canal, achieving a perfect combination of comfort and stability, allowing for long-term wear without pressure.
The sound quality is top-notch, utilizing the TrueResponse ultra-wideband transducer system and a 7mm driver unit, with a frequency response range of 5Hz – 21KHz, a sensitivity of 107dB, and extremely low distortion. It accurately reproduces musical details, with powerful bass, full mid-range, and delicate highs, providing an immersive listening experience.
In terms of Bluetooth, it uses Bluetooth 5.4 technology, ensuring strong compatibility and supporting various audio codecs such as aptX Adaptive/Lossless for lossless Bluetooth audio transmission. The improved antenna design allows for faster and more stable connections.
It has an IP54 protection rating, making it dust and splash resistant, suitable for daily and sports scenarios. Additionally, the hybrid adaptive noise cancellation technology, combined with a six-microphone array, creates a quiet environment. The transparent listening mode has three levels to choose from and can be automatically adjusted via the app. In terms of battery life, it lasts 7.5 hours on a single charge, with a total battery life of 30 hours, supporting fast charging and Qi wireless charging.
10. Soundcore Air
Bluetooth Version: 5.4
Acoustic System: —
Sound Fidelity: Average
Wearing Experience: Noticeable foreign body sensation
Recommendation: 42 hours of ultra-long battery life, IP55 waterproof with fast charging, Bluetooth 5.4 dual-device seamless switching!
In terms of battery performance, the Soundcore Air can last approximately 9-12 hours on a full charge (measured at 60% volume), with a total usage period of about 38-44 hours when used with the charging case. The device supports both Type-C wired fast charging and Qi standard wireless charging, with a quick charge of 12 minutes providing about 3.5 hours of playback time. It should be noted that enabling active noise cancellation will reduce the battery life to about 7 hours, and the device may reach temperatures of around 40°C during wireless charging.
The protective performance adopts a composite sealing solution, adding waterproof rubber rings at the ear hook junction, along with a nano hydrophobic coating. Testing has shown that it can withstand moderate rain splashes and sweat erosion during exercise, but using it in high-humidity environments like saunas may lead to oxidation marks at the metal contact points. It should be noted that its dust protection design is limited against fine sand particles, and it is recommended to clean out any accumulated dust from the sound holes after use in beach environments.
The connection stability is based on the Bluetooth 5.4 protocol, supporting dual-channel intelligent switching. In an office environment with multiple devices, switching from a phone to a tablet takes an average of 1.8 seconds, but some users have reported about 0.5 seconds of audio delay in areas with strong interference, such as airports. The device can remember up to 8 paired devices, and exceeding this limit requires manual deletion of old device records, which may cause management issues for multi-device users.