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I love headphones and earbuds. I have many of the latest models and some old favorites that I play around with in between testing new releases to review for work making me the go-to "headphones person" to my friends and family. After a short interrogation session about their needs and a small pep talk about spending at least $200, there are four models I find myself recommending the most.
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Many of my friends and family want an "all-in-one" pair of headphones that can excel in every environment and at every activity, but I have to break the news that they are looking for a unicorn. Like my CNET colleague Katie Collins said, "everyone should have exactly three pairs of headphones": one that can handle everyday wear and tear, one for exercising, and one for hours-long wearing.
Although I agree, many people I know don't want to invest in three separate pairs of headphones. To get them as close to an all-in-one pair as I can, these are the ones I recommend. And don't forget: the best time to buy a pair of headphones is when they're on sale.
My absolute favorite headphones
These premium Apple earbuds offer great noise cancellation, a comfortable and stable fit, and 30 hours of battery life, and their IP54 rating makes them dust and water-resistant. With all of these factors in mind, you can take the Pro 2 earbuds with you on your daily commute, wear them in the office, and bring them to your post-work workout.
Also: I've used my AirPods Pro 2 since they first launched. Here's my buying advice for 2025
The AirPods Pro 2 are my everyday earbuds, and I don't leave the house without them. I wear them to the grocery store, the gym, and around the house while I'm doing chores. I've caught plenty of flights in these earbuds and often take and make hands-free phone calls with them while I'm out and about.
I recommend these earbuds to my friends and family members who are in the iOS ecosystem, especially if they have an iPhone. Your iPhone is the device that's likely to go everywhere with you, and the Pro 2 earbuds make a wonderful companion.
If earbuds aren't your jam and you want over-ear headphones that work well with any device ecosystem, the Bose QuietComfort headphones are a solid option. They aren't Bose's most expensive offering, but they provide everything there is to love about the brand: exceptional comfort and noise cancellation.
Bose's midrange QuietComfort line is best known for its simplicity, functionality, and practicality, and the latest QuietComfort headphones fit right in. I've worn these headphones on long-haul flights and car rides, and often wear them while working at my desk.
Also: I often replace my premium headphones with this classic Bose pair - and never regret it
They're a reliable and functional pair of headphones that won't give up on you, as long as you stay on top of their 24-hour battery life. I highly recommend the QuietComfort headphones, but advise against buying them at full price.
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are the best premium earbuds for Android users, regardless of their phone's manufacturer. Many of the Pixel Buds Pro 2's most popular features, like translation services, in-ear detection, adaptive noise cancellation, and Gemini integration, are available on devices running Android 10 or newer. For context, the latest version is Android 16.
I recommend these earbuds to friends and family with Android smartphones who have expressed interest in AirPods. Only a few features are reserved for Pixel users, making the Pixel Buds Pro 2 compatible with more Android devices than the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.
The Sony XM6 over-ear headphones have a muted, practical design perfect for everyday use. They have a 30-hour battery life, great sound, and the best noise cancellation you can find. Sony fitted the XM6 with stronger noise cancellation, a foldable design for portability, and spatial audio that's compatible with any streaming platform.
Also: I ditched my daily driver Bose headphones for the XM6 - and I'm hesitant to go back
All of the XM6's features make them a pair of highly practical over-ear headphones suited for commuting, traveling, working in the office, running errands, or listening to music or watching YouTube at home. I recommend these headphones to people who want a pair of everyday headphones that sound great, have exceptional noise cancellation, are compatible with any device, and include all of the latest software features.
I spend all of my time living in the latest headphones and earbuds, taking them with me while I travel, exercise, run errands, and more. I published reviews for these headphones when they were released, but I continued to wear them beyond their initial release date.
At ZDNET, we thoroughly test products before recommending them to our readers. Out of the many headphones I've tested, the four on this list have had the highest satisfaction from the friends and family members I've recommended them to.
I recognize that my friends and family, like you, are spending hundreds of their hard-earned money on a pair of new headphones, so I feel a strong obligation to consider their needs and wants.
In my perfect world, you'd have a pair of earbuds and a pair of over-ear headphones. The earbuds will act as your everyday headphones for hands-free calling, running errands, exercising, and any of your day-to-day activities. Your over-ear headphones will be your best buddy while traveling, working, or listening for a more immersive experience.
Over-ear headphones cover your whole ear, and after a few hours, they can get hot. On the other hand, in-ear earbuds can become uncomfortable after having the device lodged in your ear for a couple of hours. All of the headphones and earbuds on this list excel in most environments, thanks to their portability, compatibility with your devices, all-day comfort, and outstanding noise-canceling capabilities. Therefore, you should make your decision based on which fit you prefer.
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