Headphones buying checklist
Open a section, slide each spec to what you want, and print your own headphones wish list at the end.
The shape decides comfort, battery life and how much outside noise is blocked. Earbuds are the most portable, over-ear the most comfortable for hours.
Tiny buds in a charging case. Easy to carry everywhere.
Earbuds only sound right when the tips seal your ear. A poor seal loses bass and noise cancelling. On headphones, look for soft pads and a light grip.
Small, medium and large in the box. Fits most people.
The IP rating. X means not tested for dust, and the last digit is water: 4 is sweat and splashes, 5 water jets, 7 a short dunk.
Handles sweat and light rain. Fine for the gym.
How you play, pause, skip and change volume without your phone. Some let you choose what each tap does.
Choose what each tap or press does, including volume.
EQ (equaliser) lets you raise or lower bass, vocals and treble in a companion app, so the sound suits your taste.
Adjust several bands yourself and save your own setting.
A codec is how music is squeezed to travel over Bluetooth. Better codecs sound cleaner, but only if your phone supports the same one.
A little better than SBC. Works on every phone, though Android quality varies.
Makes sound seem to come from around you, like a cinema. Works best with Dolby Atmos films and music. Some people love it, others switch it off.
Normal left and right sound. Fine for most music.
Some headphones also play over a cable, which helps when the battery is flat or on a flight. USB-C audio plugs straight into a phone or laptop.
Most earbuds and neckbands. Fine for everyday use.
ANC (active noise cancellation) uses mics to cancel steady sounds like engines and fans. "ENC" on a box is for call mics, not for your ears.
Most metro and bus noise fades
Rough idea of how much outside hum is cut.
Usually hybrid ANC, with mics inside and outside. Calms metro and bus noise.
Lets outside sound in through the mics, so you can hear announcements or talk to someone without taking the buds out.
Lets sound in, but voices can sound thin or hissy.
Hours of music per charge with noise cancelling on. Earbuds are small, so they last far less per charge than neckbands and over-ear headphones.
A full workday of listening with breaks.
The case carries extra charges for earbuds. Fast charging gives a quick top-up when you forget. Over-ear models skip the case but often fast charge too.
About 30 hours in total, quick top-ups
Rough figures for earbuds, including the case.
A 10 minute charge gives roughly an hour or more of music.
More mics per side help pick out your voice from traffic and wind. Mic count is a clue, but call samples in reviews tell you more.
Clear in a busy office
Rough idea of how clear you sound to the other person.
Handles offices and cafes well.
Connects to two devices at once, like a laptop and a phone, so a call on your phone interrupts your laptop video without re-pairing.
Stays connected to two devices and switches on its own.
Bluetooth adds a small delay to sound. Video apps hide it, but in games the sound can lag behind the action.
Videos look in sync. Games may feel a beat late.
Newer versions connect more steadily and use less power. LE Audio is a newer Bluetooth standard that works only with phones that support it.
Steadier connection and better battery life.
Your wish list
HEADPHONES WISH LIST
by TechPP Insights
Your next headphones or earbuds should have these minimum features
Your picks will print here.
Scan to make your own wish list
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Choose at least one spec to print your wish list.
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