A lot of headphones and wireless earbuds were released over the past 12 months. Like, a lot a lot. And a Gear Patrol, we've reviewed most of them. Looking back on the year that was, we've rounded up some true standouts. From the budget-friendly to lavishly expensive, these are our favorite headphones and wireless earbuds we've reviewed this past year.
Sony WF-1000XM5
- Release date: July 2023
The Sony WF-1000XM5 are our new pick for the best noise-canceling wireless earbuds you can buy — their combination of excellent sound quality, noise-cancellation and features puts them slightly above every other flagship pair. Plus, they're more affordable than the top-of-the-line options from Bose and B&W. (They're also frequently on sale.)
READ OUR REVIEW OF THE SONY WF-1000XM5
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
- Release date: September 2023
Bose went back to its QuietComfort roots this year and rebranded all its noise-canceling headphones and wireless earbuds under it. These new flagship QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are super comfortable, have a travel-friendly design and and offer probably the most powerful active noise-cancellation you'll find in a pair of wireless headphones.
READ OUR REVIEW OF THE BOSE QUIETCOMFORT ULTRA HEADPHONES
Master & Dynamic MW09
- Release date: November 2023
Master & Dynamic's newest flagship noise-canceling wireless earbuds just might be the prettiest we've seen — they're made of sapphire glass and aluminum, and some models come in a Kevlar charging case. But looks aside, they deliver pretty much everything you'd want in a pair of flagship-quality wireless earbuds.
READ OUR REVIEW OF THE MASTER & DYNAMIC MW09
Focal Bathys
- Release date: October 2022
Released in late 2022, the Focal Bathys — pronounced "bat-ees," in your best French accent — are the high-end French audio company's first wireless noise-canceling headphones. And yes, they're quite fancy. They marry premium materials (like magnesium, aluminum and real leather) with drivers from Focal's wired hi-fi headphones. At $699, the Bathys are among the most expensive wireless noise-canceling headphones out there.
READ OUR REVIEW OF THE FOCAL BATHYS
Nothing Ear (2)
- Release date: March 2023
Nothing's Ear (2) looks basically identical to its original Ear (1) — which is a great thing as the transparent design is the most defining feature — but these buds boast upgraded sound and active noise-cancellation, as well as a couple new features. At $149, these are a solid pair of mid-range wireless earbuds.
READ OUR REVIEW OF THE NOTHING EAR (2)
Amazon Echo Buds (2023)
- Release date: May 2023
The Amazon Echo Buds (2023) are the best AirPod knockoffs you can buy. They cost $50 — but are often on sale for just $35 — and have a similar fit to Apple's entry-level wireless earbuds. They also sound and work better than you'd think from earbuds this cheap. The only minor downside is that if you don't already have the Alexa app on your smartphone, you'll have to download it to set these bad boys up.
READ OUR REVIEW OF THE AMAZON ECHO BUDS (2023)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
- Release date: September 2023
Just a year on, Bose has replaced its 2022-released flagship wireless earbuds, the QuietComfort Earbuds II, with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. The two are very similar, but the Ultra models perform a little better on calls and support spatial audio. If you're looking for the most powerful ANC in a pair of wireless earbuds, these are the best of the best.
READ OUR REVIEW OF THE BOSE QUIETCOMFORT ULTRA EARBUDS
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 S2
- Release date: January 2023
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2s are quite similar to the 2021-released B&W Pi7s. They look nearly identical and have most of the same features; including the same sound and active noise-cancellation, support for wireless charging and the ability to connect to non-Bluetooth devices (like an in-flight entertainment system) thanks to a charging case that doubles as a Bluetooth receiver. The difference is that they have much improved battery life and approximately double the Bluetooth range.
READ OUR REVIEW OF THE BOWERS & WILKINS PI7 S2
Beats Studio Pro
- Release date: July 2023
The Beats Studio Pros are the company's first new flagship pair of wireless noise-canceling headphones in nearly six years. They look quite similar to the 2017-released Beats Studio3 Wireless, but they have new drivers and mics. And since Beats is owned by Apple, they offer many of the same capabilities as AirPods Max do.
READ OUR REVIEW OF THE BEATS STUDIO PRO
Anker Soundcore Space One
- Release date: September 2023
The Anker Soundcore Space One wireless noise-canceling headphones overdeliver, given their $99 price tag. They're comfortable and have great battery life, plus their noise-canceling and transparency abilities are surprisingly good. They're among the best budget-friendly ANC headphones available right now.
READ OUR REVIEW OF THE ANKER SOUNDCORE SPACE ONE
Beats Studio Buds +
- Release date: May 2023
The Studio Buds + are upgraded versions of Beats's 2021-released Studio Buds. They have improved sound, better ANC and longer battery life. The real standout new feature, however, is that you can purchase these wireless earbuds in a really cool transparent finish.
