Wireless technology is widely used in the production of modern gadgets. Our review will be relevant for those who want to choose the best Bluetooth headphones just for the phone.
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The best wireless headphones for your phone
Wireless Bluetooth headphones are much more convenient than their wired counterparts. Forget about untangling wires, loose connectors, and ripped plugs. With a range of about 10 meters to use the headset, you don't even have to hold your smartphone in your pocket while playing sports or doing any work.
Bluetooth headphones can be made a trusted phone device so that in their proximity the gadget stays unlocked. As long as the owner is nearby, you don't have to enter a pin every time or catch your face in the camera lens for recognition.
Well, and of course, they're handy as a headset - provided you choose a good model with quality microphones.
Sony WF-1000XM3
TWS-headset with active noise cancellation
This is one of the best headsets on the market that provides comfortable use in a variety of situations. The device allows you to receive calls using only one earpiece.
Reasons to buy:
- Adaptive sound control;
- Comfortable fit;
- HD noise reduction processor;
- Fast recharging.
The sound quality of the Sony WF-1000XM3 is one of the best among TWS models. The device works with SBC and AAC codecs. The Sony QN1e processor effectively suppresses noise at all frequencies and consumes little power. The passive sound isolation is also good, especially with the foam ear cushions.
Each earphone can be used individually. The microphone of the gadget is so good that there are no problems during conversations even in noisy surroundings.
The Sony's case is quite large, but it has an ergonomic Tri-hold design. It provides reliable and comfortable contact with three different points in the ear. The high-friction rubber surface keeps the headphones firmly in the ear. Six pairs of interchangeable ear cushions lets you find the most comfortable fit.
On the outside of the case, there is a touch pad that allows you to easily control the headset. The sensors are responsive even with wet fingers. When charging from the case, the headphones will have a battery life of 24 hours, and just 10 minutes of charging will guarantee 90 minutes of listening.
Apple AirPods 2
Apple's second-generation Bluetooth headset
The AirPods 2 headphones switch between active sources twice as fast. The model features increased battery life in call mode, while other models just don't have the best performance here.
Reasons to buy:
- Sound quality;
- Instant pairing and multipoint support;
- Clear speech recognition;
- Fast recharging;
- Siri voice commands.
AirPods 2 features the new H1 chip. It provides a stable wireless connection to devices and faster data transfer. Siri is also voice-activated thanks to this processor. As soon as the headphones are removed from the charging case, they immediately pair with your mobile device.
High quality voice pickup is provided by a sensitive microphone and advanced digital noise reduction algorithms. There is Multipoint technology, universally working with all operating systems of Apple products. You can communicate with the source device from up to 45 meters away.
Even though they are earmolds, they still have good noise isolation. Depending on what volume and in what mode (headset or music playback) AirPods 2 are used, the headphones can function autonomously for 4-5 hours. When using the recharging case, this time increases to 20 hours. The case itself is small, thin and as comfortable as possible - it fits in a shirt pocket.
Jabra Elite Active 75t
Compact and comfortable TWS headphones
The Elite Active 75t is designed for active workouts. The gadget has an ergonomic shape and high quality build.
Reasons to buy:
- Good fit in the ears;
- Clear sound during calls;
- Long battery life;
- Resistant to moisture and dust;
- Audio Transparency Mode;
- Multipoint.
Jabra creates good competition to Apple in terms of headset quality. The model Elite 75t uses a cascade of 4 microphones. This makes the quality of calls very close to AirPods. It also provides a "local effect" (sidetone), that is, the ability to turn off the microphone, and a separate equalizer for the speech of the caller. This model is a must for those who talk a lot on the phone.
The model has good sound insulation. The device has an automatic pause sensor and multipoint to connect the headphones to two carriers. There is one control button on each headphone. A handy application allows you to configure their functionality and sound to suit you. The overall sound quality and detail is good.
Jabra Elite 75t supports Bluetooth 5.0 as well as SBC and AAC codecs. Compared with previous models of this brand, the size of the "ears" has become smaller, but the battery life has increased. The manufacturer claims 7.5 hours on a single charge. When using the case the total time reaches 28 hours.
The model has a good degree of protection IP57. This means that the headphones will not be afraid to get into the rain and take a shower. In general - perfect for sports and other activities.
Samsung Galaxy Buds+
The comfortable headset for every day
Galaxy Buds+ has good battery life and is compatible with a wide range of mobile devices. The device features dual-way speakers and premium sound from AKG.
Reasons to buy:
- Improved voice communication;
- Quick recharging in 3 minutes;
- Background sound feature;
- Compatible with Android and iOS;
- Very high battery life;
- Great sound.
The Galaxy Buds+ has an adaptive system of three microphones (2 external and 1 internal), ensuring that calls can be made even in very noisy places. Music sounds good here, too. The model's dual speakers include: a tweeter, which is responsible for clean upper notes, and a woofer for powerful bass.
The Galaxy Buds+ does not have active noise cancellation, but there are no problems with noise isolation and comfortable listening to music. The right pads play a big role in this. And in order to hear the world around you, sound transparency mode is provided. The Galaxy Wearable app lets you customize your headset and control equalizers.
Buds+ provide up to 11 hours of music listening on a single charge - a lot for their format. And if you use the charging case, the total battery life is 22 hours.
The headphones support not only the standard SBC codec, but also AAC for iOS and Samsung Scalable for proprietary devices. Synchronization with all sources is almost instantaneous.
Edifier TWS NB2
A stylish headset that's call-oriented
A pair of NB2 headphones weighs 12.3 grams. The gadget is IP54-certified against sweat and drizzling rain, allowing you to use the headset safely in almost any environment.
Reasons to buy:
- Active noise cancellation ANC;
- Comfortable fit;
- Good autonomy;
- Reliable connection;
- Game mode with reduced latency.
The connection to your smartphone is via Bluetooth 5.0, although there is no support for aptX or AAC codecs. But especially for gaming there is a mode with minimal response delay (80 ms).
There is also a function for automatically pausing music when you remove the headphones. Noise cancellation makes it convenient to answer calls in both quiet and noisy environments.
Touch control is used to control the headphones. It is intuitive and easy to use. The sensors are located on the outside of the headset.
Edifier NB2 are equipped with 10-millimeter drivers with composite diaphragm. For everyday use, they provide pretty good sound - you can hear every musical instrument.
If the device is disabled ANC function, the headphones work up to 9 hours from one full charge. If you use the charging case on the other hand, the total time is 32 hours. With noise reduction you get 7 and 25 hours, respectively.
Soundcore Liberty Air 2.
Comfortable plugs with a "stalk."
The device uses dynamic drivers with diamond plating. The headphones themselves have good passive noise isolation for comfortable listening to music and talking.
Reasons to buy:
- Good fit in the ear canal;
- Long battery life;
- An app that extends the capabilities of headphones;
- Support for aptX;
- Comfortable and quality case.
Anker Liberty Air 2 features Bluetooth 5.0 wireless connectivity, supporting aptX, AAC and SBC codecs. During use, the gadget maintains a stable connection and high signal strength even when on the move (for example, if you are riding a bicycle).
The headset has a total of 4 microphones: 2 are on the top and another pair is located at the bottom between the two contacts for charging. They guarantee high quality speech transmission during calls. The voice will be well heard by the interlocutor, even if it is noisy or wind blows around.
On one full charge, if you listen to music at half volume or a little more, the headphones will last 6.5-7 hours. The case is enough for three full recharges. Liberty Air 2 is good for long trips and will not run out of power at the most inopportune moment.
JBL Tune 225TWS Ghost Edition
The original translucent droplets
JBL Tune rejoice with clear sound with voluminous bass. The headphones themselves can work as a pair or individually.
Reasons to buy:
- Clear sound;
- Convenient mechanical buttons;
- Original design of case and earphones;
- Will not fall out even when running.
JBL Tune headphones support only SBC and AAC codecs. In operation, the gadget is very handy, the controls are intuitive. Due to the Dual Connect function, you can use only one earphone, which will help save the charge of the set.
The JBL itself is quite original, and in combination with the case is a real perfectionist's dream. Through the clear plastic, you can clearly see the circuit board and all the electronic components that are on it.
In your ears you can hardly feel the drops, but you have to get used to wearing it. If we evaluate the capabilities of the headset, we can give the model a solid B. The caller hears you clearly and intelligibly, although the sound is slightly muffled.
TWS has no active noise cancellation, but this does not affect their functionality. The gadget has a large volume reserve, adapting to any external conditions. With a single full charge, the headphones work for 5 hours. With the use of a charging case this time reaches 25 hours.
11 Best Bluetooth Headphones for Your Phone
How to choose the best headphones for your phone
When choosing wireless headphones for your smartphone, consider:
- Battery life - 12-20 hours, so you don't have to recharge often;
- Frequency range - 20-20 000 Hz (these are the sounds the human ear recognizes;
- Sensitivity - 85-95 dB;
- Impedance - 16-32 Ohms, no more;
- The convenience of the form factor - the headset should not fall out of your ears when you sharply turn your head, but it should not cause discomfort;
- The presence of a good microphone, so you can answer the phone without unnecessary movements.
Equally important are the features implemented Bluetooth technology and supported codecs.
Bluetooth technology
Bluetooth wireless technology transmits data wirelessly via radio waves. They are inferior to wired communications, but are in the lead due to the ease of use of the headset. When choosing, pay attention to the Bluetooth class. It affects the power of the output sound and the range of a pair of headphones:
- The first class has a maximum power of 100 mW. In audio equivalent, this adds +20 dBm. The range is great, so you can even keep your phone in the locker room while you're working out at the gym.
- The second class has 2.5 mW of power, producing +4 dBm of sound. The range is limited to 10 meters (quite standard).
- The third class is 1 mW, only supporting pairing at 6 meters.
Keep in mind that with different classes of phone and headphones, Bluetooth will work on the lowest one. For example, if your phone only supports class 2, it makes no sense to buy headphones of the first class - the range and power will be limited by the parameters of the smartphone.
Bluetooth versions affect the speed of audio file transfer from the smartphone to the headset and power consumption. We will not consider obsolete generations - we will dwell only on the current ones:
- 4.0 - this generation sacrificed the speed, leaving it at 1 Mbit/s, but significantly reduced the battery drain.
- 4.1 - retains all the characteristics of the fourth generation, but with improved protection against interference.
- 4.2 - excellent sound quality, plus data protection from theft, interception.
- 5.0-5.2 - used in modern devices, offering an excellent balance between speeds of 2 Mbps and battery saving.
When synchronizing a smartphone and headset, the bundle will work on the parameters of the lower generation.
You may want headphones with Multipoint technology that can stay connected to multiple devices at once. It could be a smartphone and a laptop - handy for watching movies at the computer and quickly answering incoming calls. Another combination of pairing is multiple phones. With one pair of headphones you can answer calls from all devices.
What Codecs Affect
Codecs are used to compress and transmit audio data wirelessly. Conventionally, they are divided into two types according to the principle of operation: Classic and LE (long energy).
The first type is used to transmit volumetric data, as in the case of listening to music. The sound quality is good, but the battery drains quickly. The second is designed to compress data and transmit/play it back at low speed to conserve battery consumption. Most often it is used when pairing a smartphone with a fitness tracker and is not used in headphones.
The most common codecs for multiband audio transmission from your phone to your headphones are:
- SBC - works in the 240-345 kbps audio output speed range. This slightly reduces the sound quality.
- aptX - playback speed is 279-420 kbps. It sounds better due to fewer skips than the analog described above.
- LDAC - playback speed range is 330-990 kbps. The best data transfer in terms of sound level, but it is very battery-draining.
New for 2020 is LE Audio technology with its LC3 Bluetooth codec. This is a frugal standard for minimal battery drain, which used to be used only when pairing with fitness trackers. Its playback speed range is 160-345 kbps. In terms of sound quality, it is on par with the SBC codec.
For audiophiles with high requirements to the sound of wireless "ears" the LDAC codec is more suitable. And if battery life is a priority, look for the LC3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any wireless headphones as good as wired ones?
Not yet. All Bluetooth headsets lose out to wired sound transmission, and any claims the manufacturers make are marketing. There are models that are closer to the wired level. The generation of Bluetooth plays a role in this, as well as codecs that must be supported by both the headphones themselves and the audio source (the phone).
Are there codecs for wireless transmission that do not use data compression at all?
No. All types of codecs, including LDAC, use compression.
How important is the Bluetooth version of the headphones?
The version affects transmission speed and power consumption (headset and smartphone discharge rate). Pairing is always lower grade, so ideally the BT generation should match on both devices.
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