The era of the traditional Bluetooth headset is coming to a gentle close. If you look at Amazon or any other major retailer, you see that the single-ear headsets of 10 years ago have largely evolved into stereo Bluetooth headphones, almost all of which include microphones for you to make calls with. While there are still mono headsets on sale, many of them are either low-quality, no-name products, or several years old.
So our list of best Bluetooth headsets is evolving, too. Along with dedicated, single-ear headsets we're including stereo models as well. Most of our Best Wireless Headphones have microphones and call control buttons now, although the microphones aren't always of the best quality. We've put what we think are the standouts on this list.
Picking the right Bluetooth headset might seem simple, but it actually comes with a challenge that's unique to all headphones, and, well, anything that needs to be placed in your ear: It's tough (and not completely sanitary) to try products out before plunking down the cash for them. But a major component of a headset's success depends on how it fits and feels—and that varies widely from person to person, or even from ear to ear. Other important factors include sound quality, design, style, battery life, and extra features. We've come up with seven points you should consider when shopping for a Bluetooth headset:
1. Mono vs. Stereo
Stereo headsets aren't just for listening to music. They also make calls, often quite well. So if you're thinking about a pair of wireless headphones to rock out to, you may not need a separate mono Bluetooth headset. All of the stereo headsets in our list also make calls. That said, stereo headsets are usually bigger and heavier than mono headsets, and while an over-the-ear pair of headphones may be great at listening to calls, the outbound noise cancellation abilities of their microphones may not be up to heavy street noise. The Plantronics Voyager Focus UC combines both stereo audio quality and outbound noise cancellation well.
2. Call Quality
Call quality is an issue in both directions; one headset might sound full and crisp in the earpiece, but then transmit a thin, computerized-sounding version of your voice to the person you're talking to. If call quality is the most important consideration for you, you'll want to check out the Editors' Choice Plantronics Voyager 5200 or Voyager Focus UC.
3. Noise Cancellation
How well you can be heard when you're in a speeding car with the windows down, or in the middle of a noisy conference room, can quickly separate the good performers from the bad. Headsets with two or three mics usually perform the best, as there's at least one mic dedicated to detecting ambient noise, which the headset can then cancel out using adaptive digital signal processing algorithms. We test noise cancellation performance in every one of our Bluetooth headset reviews.
4. Battery Life
A guiding principle with mono headsets: If you don't want to charge, go large. Bigger headsets mean more room for big batteries. The new trend of wire-free headsets hasn't been very friendly to battery life: all of the wire-free models, such as the Apple Airpods and Bragi Dash, clock in at three or four hours. We have not put any wire-free headsets on this list.
5. Comfort
This is a very personal choice. The best in-ear headsets have a range of fit styles—for instance, several different sizes of eartips, plus an option for an over-the-ear hook in case headsets always fall out of your ear. If you absolutely can't bear to put something in your ear, go for an over-the-ear stereo headphone pair like the BlueParrott S450-XT or Plantronics Voyager Focus UC.
6. Range
Most Bluetooth headsets offer about 30 feet of good range before they start popping badly or devolving into digital artifacts. Larger headsets, with larger antennas, can have a bit more range; we got decent calls on the Voyager 5200 up to about 40 feet.
7. Price
The sweet spot for a mono Bluetooth headset is $99 list, and you can often find those models discounted to $70 or $80 if you shop around. A good stereo headset generally runs between $100-200. You can still find a decent headset for under $50, and sometimes you can find a really good one at that price since headsets tend to stay available in retail channels for a long time after they're discontinued. Typically you'll have to buy something a little bit clunkier, with noise cancellation that isn't up to par with the leaders, but you can't deny the value of models like the Plantronics Explorer 500, which offers solid quality for a price under $40 online.
Featured in This Roundup
Beats BeatsX
$149.95
%displayPrice% at %seller% The BeatsX Bluetooth earphones from Beats deliver strong audio performance and excellent wireless connectivity, aided by Apple's W1 chip. Read the full review ››-
JBL Reflect Mini BT
$99.95
%displayPrice% at %seller% The JBL Reflect Mini BT headphones deliver powerful, accurate Bluetooth audio in a sweat-resistant, secure-fitting design. Read the full review ›› -
Plantronics Voyager 5200
$119.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Plantronics Voyager 5200 headset continues to set the standard for Bluetooth voice quality, but this model is a little less comfortable than previous generations. Read the full review ›› -
Plantronics Voyager Focus UC
$299.95
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Plantronics Voyager Focus UC Bluetooth headset combines quality music playback with fantastic voice quality and unrivaled comfort. Read the full review ›› -
Plantronics Voyager Edge
$129.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Plantronics Voyager Edge Bluetooth headset cuts the bulk of its predecessors without sacrificing superlative call quality. Read the full review ›› -
Jabra Halo Smart
$79.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Jabra Halo Smart makes excellent voice calls for a pair of Bluetooth earphones, but musical prowess is lacking. Read the full review ›› -
Jabra Steel
$99.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Jabra Steel is a Bluetooth headset designed for outdoor workers, or anyone who needs aggressive noise cancellation. Read the full review ›› -
Plantronics Explorer 500
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The $60 Plantronics Explorer 500 sets the benchmark for affordable, no-frills Bluetooth headsets. Read the full review ›› -
VXi BlueParrott S450-XT
$179.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The VXi BlueParrott S450-XT Bluetooth headset delivers decent stereo music performance with excellent outbound sound quality for over a day's worth of use. Read the full review ››
