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By 2026, headphones have basically become something I use every day. Nowadays, headphones costing a hundred or two hundred yuan can actually meet basic needs like listening to music and commuting, but if you really wear them for several hours every day, the differences in comfort, noise cancellation, and sound quality are quite noticeable.

Of course, more expensive doesn’t always mean better. Currently, flagship over-ear headphones from brands like Apple, Sony, and Bose are priced at 3,000 to 4,000 RMB or even higher. Therefore, I will select them based on different budgets this time to see which headphones are truly worth it and which ones don’t actually require the extra spending.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Noise Cancelling Headphones (2nd Gen) | The Most Comfortable Headphones

If I had to choose a flagship over-ear headphone that is most comfortable for long-term wear, I would still put the Bose QC Ultra 2nd Gen at the top of my list. It doesn’t completely eliminate the clamping sensation, but the ear cups are soft enough and the pressure is well-distributed. After wearing them continuously for several hours, my ears and the top of my head don’t feel particularly tired. For over-ear headphones, this point is actually more important than many technical specifications.

The noise cancellation is still at the level Bose is known for. I compared it back and forth with the Sony XM6; the XM6 handles some high-frequency noise a bit cleaner, but for daily subway rides, office work, or flights, it’s hard to say there’s a significant difference between the two. On the contrary, the Bose is more comfortable to wear, so if I really need to use it for a long time, I personally prefer to take it.

Another practical improvement in the second generation is that the battery life has been extended from 24 hours to a maximum of 30 hours, and now USB-C can transmit digital audio directly, allowing you to listen just by plugging it into a computer. The sound is also slightly fuller than the first generation, with more weight in the low frequencies. However, I’m still not really into the immersive audio; after using it a few times, I basically turned it off.

It’s not the kind of upgrade that makes a massive difference the first time you hear it, but after using it continuously, the comfort, strong noise cancellation, and long battery life are exactly what make me want to keep wearing them. To me, this is far more important than having a few extra fancy features.

Sony WH-1000XM6 | The best headphones prioritizing sound quality

I had a chance to listen to the XM6 before its official release, and my most striking impression at the time was that this generation sounds significantly better than the XM5. The vocals, in particular, are fuller than before, and the sound layering is much clearer. If I prioritize sound quality when buying noise-canceling headphones, the XM6 would definitely be my preferred choice now.

This time, Sony has equipped it with a new 30mm carbon fiber driver unit and the QN3 noise-canceling processor, while increasing the microphone count to 12. The specs look impressive on paper, but in actual listening, what I care about more is that the sound isn’t overly harsh just to highlight details; the low end has weight, the vocals aren’t drowned out, and overall, it’s more pleasant to listen to than the XM5.

Another thing I really like is that the folding design is finally back. The fact that the XM5 couldn’t fold always felt inconvenient to me, but the XM6 is clearly more space-saving when packed away, making it much more comfortable to carry in a bag when going out.

The battery life is nothing to write home about, still around 30 hours with noise cancellation on. After waiting for three years, it’s not a massive upgrade in every aspect, but if you care more about sound quality, I think the changes in the XM6 are quite noticeable.

Black Key Clip-on Bone Conduction Headphones | Best Price Clip-on Headphones

I usually use clip-on earbuds quite often, so when I saw this Black Key model for 38.9 yuan, my first reaction wasn’t to check out the “spatial audio” feature, but rather to see if it would be uncomfortable to wear and if it was light enough. At only 3.7g per earbud, combined with the clip-on structure made of TPU and memory titanium wire, it is at least on the right track in terms of wearing comfort.

The audio on the Black Key uses an open-ear directional sound transmission paired with a full-range driver. For daily activities like listening to music, watching videos, or listening to podcasts without sound leakage, I think it has already fulfilled its mission. It features Bluetooth 5.4 with a connection range of 10-15 meters, along with dual-microphone noise cancellation. Its touch controls are quite comprehensive, covering play/pause, track switching, answering/hanging up calls, rejecting calls, and voice assistant access. In daily use, you won’t miss any essential functions.

The battery life of these headphones is about 8 hours per charge, with a 30mAh battery in each earbud, and it takes about 1.5 hours to charge. That prominent “100 hours” on the page refers to the standby time with the charging case, not 100 hours of continuous playback. For a product in the tens of dollars range, I actually think it’s more important to state these details clearly; otherwise, a “100H” label can easily mislead people into thinking the battery life is incredibly exaggerated.

It is not the kind of product that outperforms headphones hundreds of dollars more expensive based on just one or two specs, but it is lightweight, non-in-ear, features Bluetooth 5.4, dual-mic calls, touch controls, and a charging case. If you just want to spend a little money to see if clip-on headphones suit you, I think it is more attractive than I expected. As for 720° surround sound and various sound quality improvement percentages, I am actually not that concerned about them. Ultimately, headphones come down to two simple questions: are they comfortable to wear, and does the sound pleasant to the ear?

Sony WH-CH720N | A highly recommended over-ear noise-canceling headphone under 1,000 RMB

The WH-CH720N gives me a very simple impression: it doesn’t have any single feature that truly stands out as flagship-level, but it basically has everything you’d expect at this price point, and it does all of them quite well.

The noise cancellation definitely can’t compare to the XM6, but it’s more than enough for commuting and office environments. It also supports connecting to two devices simultaneously, making it very convenient to switch between your phone and computer. In practice, this feature is much more useful than many flashy selling points.

The sound is also the Sony style I quite like; the 30mm driver doesn’t sound too thin, the low end has a decent amount of punch, and the vocals are relatively clear, plus it supports DSEE. More importantly, it weighs only about 192g, so there isn’t too much pressure when wearing it for a long time.

With about 30 hours of battery life when noise canceling is on, you basically don’t have to worry about charging it every day. The WH-CH720N isn’t a flagship alternative, but if you’re on a budget and want a well-balanced mix of noise cancellation, sound quality, and comfort, I think it’s a great choice.

Sony WF-1000XM6 | Best Noise-Canceling Earbuds

If noise cancellation is the top priority, the WF-1000XM6 is still the one I’d prefer to rank higher on my list. The Bose QC Ultra II remains very strong in terms of wearing comfort, but Sony has achieved a better balance between noise cancellation, sound quality, and battery life this time.

Equipped with the QN3e and V2 dual chips, these earbuds feature a total of 8 microphones. What truly makes a difference isn’t these specs, but the clean sound when noise cancellation is on, without a noticeable hissing background noise even in quiet environments. A single charge provides about 8 hours of noise cancellation, so you don’t have to constantly worry about charging during daily use.

Sound is still one of Sony’s strong suits; the low end has plenty of impact without completely drowning out the vocals and details. If you want to customize it yourself, Sound Connect now offers a 10-band EQ, providing much more room for adjustment than before.

2399 yuan is definitely not cheap, especially since the AirPods Pro 3 in China is only 1899 yuan. But if noise cancellation is my top priority when buying earbuds, and I don’t want to compromise too much on sound quality and battery life, the WF-1000XM6 is still more to my liking.

Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Headphones Ultra II | The Most Comfortable ANC Noise Cancelling Headphones

If I had to choose the most comfortable one among these flagship noise-canceling earbuds, I would still prefer the Bose QC Ultra II. The design of the ear tips combined with the stability bands fits quite naturally, and once secured, they don’t constantly press against the ears. I didn’t experience any noticeable soreness or fatigue even after wearing them continuously for a while.

Its noise cancellation is equally impressive. Even without playing music, the surrounding noise becomes noticeably quieter, and once the seal is properly established, the sensation of suppressing ambient sound becomes even more pronounced. While the sound quality isn’t the most surprising among these models, and the EQ customization isn’t as extensive as Sony’s, it sounds quite balanced by default, so I basically don’t have to fiddle with it much.

The changes in the second generation that truly make it practical for me are the improved transparency mode and call performance, and the charging case finally supports wireless charging directly. Compared to the first generation, it’s not a major overhaul, but these are exactly the things you encounter in daily use.

My only real concern is the battery life; a single charge lasts at most 6 hours, and it drops to just 4 hours when using Spatial Audio. Multipoint connection can also be a bit finicky at times. However, if I prioritize long-term wearing comfort and strong noise cancellation, the QC Ultra II is still the pair I would reach for first.

Apple AirPods Pro 3｜最佳AirPods

If I’m currently using an iPhone and don’t want to mess around too much with my headphones, the AirPods Pro 3 is still the most hassle-free choice. The design doesn’t look much different, but once you put them on, the noise cancellation and comfort are actually much more noticeable than the previous generation.

Apple says the noise cancellation on this generation is up to twice as effective as the AirPods Pro 2. What actually made a bigger difference for me is the redesigned ear tips. There are now five sizes ranging from XXS to L, and they include an extra layer of soft foam. Once they are properly fitted, outside noise is indeed much easier to block out.

The sound still has that familiar AirPods style; no particular part stands out, but it sounds very smooth. I basically just pick them up and use them right away without needing to spend ages adjusting the EQ. Of course, this is also its downside—if you really enjoy customizing your sound, Sony offers much more freedom.

I really like the other two upgrades in this generation: the maximum single-use noise cancellation time has finally reached 8 hours, and a heart rate sensor has been directly added to the earbuds, so you can record your heart rate during exercise without needing to wear a separate watch.

1,899 yuan is still not cheap, but among the current flagship earbuds, it is no longer the most expensive. If I were already in the Apple ecosystem, the AirPods Pro 3 would still be the one I wouldn’t have to hesitate about.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 | The best choice for fitness workouts

If the main use is for running and working out, I would lean more towards the Powerbeats Pro 2. Its biggest advantage is actually not the noise cancellation, but the ear hook design. Once they are securely on, you don’t have to worry about them slipping off during intense movements, which is more important for sports headphones than many other features.

The ear hooks of this generation have been replaced with a lighter nickel-titanium alloy, and the entire device is 20% lighter than the previous generation. Combined with IPX4 sweat and water resistance, it is clearly positioned for sports. It features both ANC and transparency modes; while the noise cancellation performance is not the strongest, it is more than sufficient for working out.

What I like even more is that it also includes heart rate monitoring, so you can record data while exercising without wearing an extra device. Battery life is also not a major concern; with noise cancellation turned off, it lasts up to 10 hours on a single charge, and with ANC on, it still provides about 8 hours.

Powerbeats Pro 2 might not be the one with the strongest sound, but if I buy headphones mainly for sports, I care more about whether they stay secure on my ears, and that is exactly where this pair excels.

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