The traditional Bluetooth headset, once the only game in town, is now one option among many. The single-ear headsets of 10 years ago have largely evolved into stereo Bluetooth headphones, almost all of which include microphones for you to make calls with. That means many people will want to head over to our list of thebest wireless headphonesand the best true wireless earbuds. Most have microphones and call control buttons, and we detail call quality in each review. If you're looking for Apple's AirPods Pro, for instance, or anything like them, you'll find them in the true wireless earbuds roundup, not here.
This roundup is for people who prioritize voice calls above all other things, and so it's a collection of single-ear voice headsets and headphones that have big boom microphones. A Bluetooth headset with a good microphone is lighter than most music headphones and has better audio quality than most earbuds. If your work has you making calls all day, those factors matter.
Picking the right headset might seem simple, but there's one obvious challenge: It's tough (and not completely sanitary) to try products out before plunking down the cash for them. But a major component of a headset's success depends on how it fits and feels—and that varies widely from person to person, or even from ear to ear. Other important factors include sound quality, design, style, battery life, and extra features. We've come up with the main points you should consider when shopping for a Bluetooth headset.
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The Best Bluetooth Headset Deals This Week*
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
- Plantronics Voyager Legend Bluetooth Headset(Opens in a new window) — $74.12(List Price $99.99)
- Plantronics Poly Voyager 5200 Bluetooth Headset(Opens in a new window) — $79.99(List Price $99.99)
- BlueParrott M300-XT NC Bluetooth Headset(Opens in a new window) — $79.99(List Price $99.99)
- Jabra Talk 45 Bluetooth Headset(Opens in a new window) — $66.50(List Price $79.99)
- Jabra UC MS Bluetooth Headset(Opens in a new window) — $241.54(List Price $253.99)
More About Our Picks
Jabra Evolve2 65
4.5 Outstanding
Dedicated Microsoft Teams Controls
Bottom Line:
The Jabra Evolve2 65 Bluetooth headset gets the important things right, like a comfortable fit and good mic clarity, and really knocks it out of the park with excellent stereo audio performance.
Pros
- Excellent mic clarity
- Powerful bass depth and clear treble for music
- Comfortable design
- Compatible with Microsoft Teams app, with dedicated onboard controls
Cons
- Can be annoying to properly dock headset for charging
- Audio playback between simultaneously paired computers and phones can get complicated
Read Our Full Review
Jabra Evolve2 75
4.0 Excellent
Best Headset/Headphones Combo
Bottom Line:
Though pricey, Jabra's Evolve2 75 Bluetooth headset is comfortable, sounds excellent for calls, and doubles as a capable pair of noise-cancelling headphones.
Pros
- Excellent clarity from retractable boom mic
- Quality audio performance with rich bass and bright highs
- Good active noise cancellation
- Exceptionally comfortable
- App includes EQ and customization options
Cons
- Expensive
- Default audio sculpting won't appeal to purists
Read Our Full Review
Plantronics Voyager 4220 UC
4.0 Excellent
Best Music Quality
Bottom Line:
The pricey Plantronics Voyager 4220 UC Bluetooth headset offers high-level voice clarity and powerful audio performance in a comfortable, easy-to-use design.
Pros
- Excellent audio performance with deep bass and crisp highs.
- Strong mic clarity, with HD Voice mode for enhanced intelligibility.
- Comfortable fit.
- Adjustable boom mic.
- Solid battery life.
- Useful app.
Cons
- Expensive.
- Mic clarity in standard Bluetooth mode (not HD Voice) is just average.
Read Our Full Review
BlueParrott B550-XT
4.0 Excellent
Best Boom Mic Quality
Bottom Line:
The BlueParrott B550-XT Bluetooth headset delivers excellent voice intelligibility in loud environments, making it perfect for noisy jobs that require clear wireless communication.
Pros
- Excellent mic clarity with solid intelligibility even in loud situations.
- Comfortable.
- Can be controlled by voice using app.
Cons
- Expensive.
- App could be more useful.
Read Our Full Review
Plantronics Voyager 5200
4.0 Excellent
Best Lightweight Model
Bottom Line:
The Plantronics Voyager 5200 headset continues to set the standard for Bluetooth voice quality, but this model is a little less comfortable than previous generations.
Pros
- Long battery life.
- Won't fall off your ear.
- Long range.
- Built-in voice commands.
- Completely reversible.
- Solid noise cancellation.
Cons
- Ear hook takes some finesse to fit perfectly over glasses.
- Not quite as comfortable as previous Voyagers.
Read Our Full Review
Plantronics Voyager Focus UC
4.0 Excellent
Best for All-Day Video Calls
Bottom Line:
The Plantronics Voyager Focus UC Bluetooth headset combines quality music playback with fantastic voice quality and unrivaled comfort.
Pros
- Very comfortable.
- Long battery life.
- Excellent voice quality.
- Balanced sound signature for music.
Cons
- Bluetooth only.
- No wired option.
Read Our Full Review
BlueParrott C300-XT
4.0 Excellent
Most Wearing Styles
Bottom Line:
The single-ear BlueParrott C300-XT Bluetooth headset delivers strong clarity and environmental noise reduction for making calls from especially loud workplaces.
Pros
- Wideband audio allows for strong voice clarity.
- Effective noise-canceling mic.
- Excellent range.
- Rugged build.
Cons
- Cumbersome customization and firmware update process.
- App doesn't always recognize paired earpiece.
Read Our Full Review
BlueParrott M300-XT
4.0 Excellent
Best Noise-Cancelling Headset
Bottom Line:
BlueParrott's M300-XT Bluetooth headset is affordable, comfortable, and delivers clear voice quality in loud work environments.
Pros
- Affordable
- Superior voice intelligibility in noisy environments
- Comfortable ear gels
Cons
- Not fully waterproof
- Getting a good in-ear seal takes a bit of work
Read Our Full Review
BlueParrott S450-XT
3.5 Good
Best Battery Life
Bottom Line:
The VXi BlueParrott S450-XT Bluetooth headset delivers decent stereo music performance with excellent outbound sound quality for over a day's worth of use.
Pros
- Long battery life.
- Wired and wireless options.
- Excellent outbound noise cancellation.
Cons
- Bass-heavy at the expense of midrange.
- Bluetooth quality isn't great if connected phone isn't out in the open.
Read Our Full Review
JLab JBuds Work
3.5 Good
Best Affordable Stereo Headset
Bottom Line:
The JLab JBuds Work over-ear Bluetooth headset delivers good mic clarity and decent stereo sound for a reasonable price.
Pros
- Solid mic clarity
- Mono and passive wired modes
- Impressive battery life
Cons
- Audible hiss during stereo audio playback
- App adds little value
Read Our Full Review
Plantronics Voyager Focus UC
Bluetooth Headsets vs. Bluetooth Headphones
Stereo headsets aren't just for listening to music. They also make calls, often quite well. So if you're thinking about a pair of wireless headphones to rock out to, you may not need a separate mono Bluetooth headset.
That said, stereo headsets are usually bigger and heavier than mono headsets, and while an over-the-ear pair of headphones may be great at listening to calls, the outbound noise cancellation abilities of their microphones may not be up to heavy street noise. The stereo headsets in this roundup are optimized for calling, often with boom mics that help focus your voice and exclude outside noise. We get more into the headset/headphone comparison in our list of the best headsets and headphones for your home office.
Call Quality and Noise Cancellation
Call quality is an issue in both directions; a headset might sound full and crisp in the earpiece, but then transmit a thin, computerized-sounding version of your voice to the person you're talking to. Make sure that good (or at least acceptable) call quality is mentioned in the review any any headset you plan to buy.
How well you can be heard when you're in a speeding car with the windows down, or in your office on a VoIP call, can quickly separate the good performers from the bad. Headsets with two or three mics usually perform the best, as there's at least one mic dedicated to detecting ambient noise, which the headset can then cancel out using adaptive digital signal processing algorithms.
You definitely pay a premium for advanced noise cancellation, but depending on what you need your headset for, it might be worth it. We test noise-cancelling performance in every one of our reviews. For more on noise cancellation, head over to our roundups of thebest noise-cancelling headphones and the best noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds, and see how we test noise cancellation.
BlueParrott C300-XT
Battery Life, Comfort, and Range
A guiding principle with mono headsets: If you don't want to charge, go large. Bigger headsets mean more room for big batteries.
Comfort is a very personal choice. The best in-ear headsets have a range of fit styles—for instance, several different sizes of eartips, plus an option for an over-the-ear hook if headsets always fall out of your ear. If you absolutely can't bear to put something in your ear, go for an over-the-ear stereo headphone pair.
Most Bluetooth headsets offer about 30 feet of good range before they start popping badly or devolving into digital artifacts. Larger headsets, with larger antennas, can have a bit more range. BlueParrott's products tend to have very good battery life and range, but at the cost of size and weight.
How Much Should You Spend on a Bluetooth Headset?
The sweet spot for a mono Bluetooth headset is $99 list, and you can often find those models discounted to $70 or $80 if you shop around. A good stereo headset generally runs $150 to $300. The headsets in this roundup are on the high end of that price range, because we're focused on the absolute best performing devices for people who rely on their headsets all day.
You can still find a decent headset for under $50, and sometimes you can find a really good one at that price since headsets tend to stay available in retail channels for a long time after they're discontinued. Cheaper Jabra, Motorola, and Plantronics headsets work fine; they just aren't up to the performance standards set by the more expensive category leaders. Typically you'll have to buy something a little bit clunkier, with noise cancellation that isn't up to par with the leaders, but then again, you aren't paying a premium for it.
FAQs
The Best Bluetooth Headsets for 2022? ›
- Plantronics Voyager 5200: Best premium mono Bluetooth headset. ...
- Jabra Elite 45h: Best Bluetooth headset for battery life. ...
- EKSA H1: Best mono over-ear Bluetooth headset. ...
- Plantronics Voyager Focus UC: Best noise-cancelling Bluetooth headset.
Name | Battery Life | Active Noise Cancellation |
---|---|---|
Galaxy Buds Pro Best Overall | 8 hours | Yes |
Jabra Elite 85t Strong Runner-Up | 5.5 hours | Yes |
Tozo T10 Best Budget | 6 hours | No |
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 Best Premium | 4 hours | Yes |
- OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z Bass Edition. The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z Bass Edition is equipped with a 9.2mm dynamic driver and super bass tone for a good sound experience. ...
- Sony WI-XB400 earphone. ...
- Bose SoundSport. ...
- Realme Buds Wireless. ...
- Noise Tune Active. ...
- Boult Audio ProBass X1-WL headphone.
- JBL Under Armour Flash (Our Pick)
- Tempo 30 Extra Bass Earbuds (Best Value)
- Bose Quietcomfort earbuds (Premium Option)
- Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless.
- Anker Soundcore Liberty 3.
- Liberate Air Earbuds.
- Skull Candy Sesh Evo Earbuds.
- Sony WH-1000XM5. The best wireless headphones overall. ...
- Grado GT220. Class-leading sound in a minimalist package. ...
- Bose 700. The best wireless headphones for ANC. ...
- Apple AirPods Pro. ...
- Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2. ...
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. ...
- Cleer Enduro ANC. ...
- Apple AirPods 3.
Short answer: no, not directly. If you're considering a pair of Bluetooth 5.0 headphones in the hope that they have better audio quality, we'll have to disappoint: Bluetooth 5.0 does not offer any improvement to the audio quality itself.
Which is the best headset for mobile phone? ›- Best Bluetooth Headset For Phone Calls. Bose 700 Headphones Wireless. ...
- Best Budget Bluetooth Headset For Calls. TOZO T6 Truly Wireless. ...
- Best Bluetooth Earbuds For Calls. Sony WI-1000XM2 Wireless. ...
- Best Bluetooth Headset For Driving.
Bluetooth 5.0 is the fastest iteration. It processes connections at 2 times the speed over 4 times the range handling over 8 times the amount of data. This means the higher the speed the more responsive high-performance devices will be.
What is the latest Bluetooth version? ›Bluetooth 5.0 is the latest umbrella iteration of Bluetooth, the wireless, close-range technology found in smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, wireless headphones and speakers, laptops, desktop computers and more.
Which is best Bluetooth earphones or earbuds? ›Best Bluetooth Earbuds For Sound Quality
If you value high sound quality from your earbuds, the Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless are the best wireless earphones that we've tested with this in mind.
Are beats louder than Sony? ›
Our Verdict
The Sony feel slightly more premium and sound a bit more neutral, but with a small excess in thump and rumble. Additionally, you can customize their sound to your liking easily inside the Sony app, which Beats is lacking. The ANC of the Sony is also noticeably better and will block out more ambient noise.
The JBL Tune 700BT is one of the loudest Bluetooth headphones from JBL that delivers JBL signature sound with deep bass. These headphones are designed to deliver really loud sound with deep bass, and offer a lightweight over-ear design for comfort and full sound immersion.
What is difference between Bluetooth and wireless headphones? ›The primary difference lies in how the headphones connect to a media player. While Bluetooth headphones use short-range radio waves to transmit audio signals, wireless headphones can use radio waves, infrared, internal memory, or KleerNet.
Are Bose headphones really worth it? ›Overall, Bose makes well-rounded headphones that provide an unparalleled level of comfort. Many of their headphones also have very good noise cancelling and sound well-balanced.
Which Bluetooth headphones have the best battery life? ›Name | Battery Life (earbuds) | Total Battery Life with Charging Case |
---|---|---|
Master & Dynamic MW08 Best Overall | 12 hours | 42 |
Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0 Strong Runner-Up | 10 hours | 80 hours |
Edifier TWS1 PRO Best Budget | 12 hours | 42 hours |
Back Bay Duet 50 Pro Best Charging Case | 8 hours | 130 hours |
- Best Bluetooth Headset For Phone Calls. Bose 700 Headphones Wireless. ...
- Best Budget Bluetooth Headset For Calls. TOZO T6 Truly Wireless. ...
- Best Bluetooth Earbuds For Calls. Sony WI-1000XM2 Wireless. ...
- Best Bluetooth Headset For Driving.
- Plantronics Voyager 5200. Great Bluetooth headset for work and play. ...
- Sony MBH22. A simple Bluetooth headset that's smart and reliable. ...
- Plantronics Explorer 500. ...
- Jabra Stealth. ...
- Sennheiser Presence UC. ...
- Jabra Steel. ...
- Plantronics M70. ...
- Jabra Wave.
- Audio Technica ATH-M50xBT (Our Pick)
- Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC (Best Value)
- HiFiMan ANANDA-BT (Premium Option)
- Bowers & Wilkins PX7 (Most Versatile)
- Bose QuietComfort 35 II.