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From premium over-ear pairs to gym-friendly earbuds, you'll get supreme sound with no strings attached.

There was a time when being seen with headphones or earbuds not physically connected by a string to your smartphone could stir up some looks from passerbys. Look at that guy over there, thinking he’s cooler than us… We all thought going wireless was just a fad, huh?

But, as years passed by, going cordless has proven too damn useful to ignore. Wireless Bluetooth headphones streamline pretty much every scenario that requires tuning into audio into just two steps: Put them over your head or in your ears, then press play. No plugging needed. Gym time, commutes, downtime and such will all go smoother without a few pesky cables dangling over your whole upper body. A wireless lifestyle has thus prevailed over us, and that rumpled ball of wires lying dirty and tangled in your backpack is now officially a relic.

So, whether you’re still skeptical or are ready to get on with a cordless life, here are the 16 best wireless headphones we here at Esquire have tried and love, including over-ear headphones with large cushioning ear pads, in-ear Bluetooth options (earbuds) for the most portable listening experience, and a few Bluetooth headphones that sit directly against your ears (on-ear). Many come with active noise cancellation (NC) that stops outside distraction from leaking into your ears, and each has its own perks for your wireless listening needs.

For a wireless headphone that's an all-in-one workhorse, Sony's model is the right call. A beyond-doubt update from the crowned WH-1000XM4, WH-1000XM5 uses eight (!) mics and Auto NC Optimizer to provide better-than-ever noise cancellation attuned to your situation. It also uses an upgraded processor to field pristine sound and crystal-clear calls. No wonder it's become an all-around favorite by audio freaks and laymen alike for its industry-best abilities through and through. And it's smart, too, with touch and voice controls to make life easy.

If you want truly wireless earbuds, free from cords or neck bands, your best option is from Beats. Fit Pro allows you to control calls, music, and more via manual as well as voice control. They come with a case with extra charging power and block unwanted noise with real-time audio calibration. They provide personalized comfort with multiple eartip options. And they let you hear instruments clearly with enhanced stereo separation. For athletes, Fit Pro is sweat and water resistant, with a wingtip design that'll make the earbuds impossible to drop or fly out.

Soundcore by Anker makes an excellent pair of hi-res audio, long-lasting wireless headphones, Life Q20 that is shockingly affordable. It can go up to 40 kHz for high-frequency clarity, and balance that out with BassUp strengthening low-frequency output. And Life Q20 is said to be able to reduce up to 90 percent of ambient noises. Coupled all those blings with its up-to-60-hour battery life, you won't find a better pair of wireless headphones at this price range.

Need to power through a workout? Or add some tunes to your walk? Or just want some less tedious downtime in general? This is a cheap pair of wireless earbuds that will cover all basic music-playing needs while fighting off some sweat. Unfortunately, there’s no active noise canceling. But with deep bass you can feel and rich sound you can immerse in, you probably won't pay no mind to those ambient noises either way.

For Bose, the competition is stiffer than ever with the advent of QuietComfort 35, 45, and whatever the next gen is called. But its flagship 700 has proven itself an enduring champion whose overall quadruple threat of ANC, audio quality, mic system, and sleek look has yet to be bested. 700 provides 11 levels of noise canceling, produces balanced lifelike sound at each volume level, focuses on your voice while filtering out noises during calls, and looks futuristic doing all that. If not for music, at least cop the 700 for better video calls and Zoom experience.

All runners and weightlifters and bodybuilders ought to grab a pair of Elite Active 65t. It can help bring the best out of those sweaty sesh after sessions with an integrated motion sensor that tracks fitness and performance. Otherwise, they have a sweat and water resistance, secure fitting bud design that ensures they won’t go flying out of your ears, and anti-audio-dropout stability. It's the wireless earbuds you can depend on for good when you're doing cardio or just pumping benches.

AirPods Pro—the bar—is cool. AirPods 3 is just a tad behind since it doesn't have noise cancellation. And AirPods Pro 2 is looking very promising. But in Apple's domain, the trump card is the AirPods Max. Our best-and-brightest tested it, and assured that its brilliant specs are worth every extortionate penny: A vast soundstage, magnificent audio, rich bass, memory foam comfort, and deafening noise cancellation. I once tested it in Apple Fifth Avenue during busy hours; I put it on, and it was as if the world around me stopped making sounds. I looked at my friend in shock, then turned to enjoy 1975's "Somebody Else" in my own world.

One of our editors once called these buds the magic beans. What I think he meant is that Galaxy Buds Live will goldilocks any track, or any type of audio content, at this price point. These buds are ergonomically designed to not tunnel into your ear canal, so you can actually enjoy your surroundings, or go through hours without your ears getting itchy. Thus, they make podcast-listening a five-star luxury experience. (But they can reduce outside noises so you'll concentrate on your music.)

After almost three years in the making, it's here: A pair of solar-powered wireless headphones that you'll never ever need to charge so long it's exposed to any kind of light. Before you succumb your judgment to the stereotype that solar-powered stuff is all bark and no bite—gimmicky but doesn't work great—I assure you that Adidas' RPT-02 SOL sounds just like AirPods 2nd Gen, which is pretty damn good. Not the best, but up there in terms of audio quality. With a sweat-proof, splash-proof design, your limitless playtime with RPT-02 SOL can also include some hardcore workouts as well.

Sony's LinkBuds are meant for a natural listening experience. Their open ring design lets noise into your ears so you can stay connected to the surroundings, but you won't sacrifice high-quality sound or clear calls since the hardware pumps out enough beefy audio. Better yet, the Adaptive Volume Control optimizes whatever you hear to wherever you are. Another pro is the charge time: 10 minutes of charging gets you 90 minutes of playback.

Master & Dynamic owns the market for luxury wireless listening experiences. Premium leather and lambskin memory foam make this pair comfortable and stylish as hell. And with sound this stellar—and noise isolation tech—you'd be forgiven if you forgot these are powered with Bluetooth, not a wire. Expensive? Definitely. But they deliver for the price.

The long-awaited Google Pixel Buds Pro gives AirPods a run for their money. First, the sound quality, which is pretty much on par with AirPods Pro and WF-1000XM4, is improved with a volume equalizer. Second, the silicone fit, which can't fall out of your ears (try as you might) and won't induce soreness or discomfort like plastic earbuds. And the noise cancellation—Google's first foray into that world—will make sure your music shine first.

Like, hello? Headphones crafted in aluminum and leather? Color me intrigued. Even trash music will probably sound like gems in Montblanc's premium build. It certainly helps that MB01 is equipped with audio hardware that fine-tunes sound output. And the over-ear design is rather ergonomic; soft leather cushion will cover your ear in lasting comfort. Really, silence has never been so opulent and snug.

Sound quality gets granular with Bowers & Wilkins' PI7. Rooted in the true 24-bit connection between left and right earbuds, PI7's high-resolution wireless audio is equivalent to a video's 4K quality. And in each bud, there's a two-way drive unit that'll broadcast immersive sound like high-performance speakers. Every bass, high note, and pitch in between will sound just as they're intended. And the active noise-cancellation will make sure nothing interferes with that.

Marshall’s on-ear wireless headphones are the coolest look option out there by a long shot, with that classic gold-chrome-on-black style and recognizable cursive logo. The sound quality is great (especially the bass), making them a solid option for people into great audio. And the ear pads are rather comfortable for an on-ear. But they aren’t meant for workouts.

For active noise cancellation, plus solid sound quality, plus decent affordability, plus a one-of-a-kind sleek design, cop a pair of House of Marley's Rebel wireless earbuds, courtesy of Bob Marley's family. They're perfect for a commute immersed in music or video, blocking out racket and sitting comfortably on your head, with the connectivity rarely faltering.