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It’s the time of the year when you need to start thinking about Christmas gifts. Sometimes, there’s no better gift than a great set of headphones or earbuds. There are people who can’t go anywhere without music or a podcast in their ears. So why not surprise them with a nice pair? Here’s a list of some of the best headphones that you can buy your loved ones for the holidays.
This list consists of great products chosen for some of their best qualities. Along with the main selections, there will also be some honorary mentions that demand your attention. These are still great examples of headphones to pick up, and you might want those over the main entries. Without further ado, let’s hop right into this list.
Best noise cancelation: Galaxy Buds FE
These earbuds truly turn off the world when you enable ANC
These are the newest budget-friendly pair of earbuds from Samsung. Once you put these on and activate the active noise cancelation (ANC), you’ll have trouble believing that these are affordable. However, they’re extremely affordable. They only cost $99, but you’re getting the performance of earbuds that cost double that price.
I reviewed these earbuds myself, and I could not believe that Samsung only wanted $99 for them. Let’s start off with the audio quality. Just about every genre of music I listened to with these earbuds, from classical to 2000s pop, sounded amazing. Samsung delivered a notably balanced sound with a pleasing amount of low-end to add depth and warmth. There was also a nice emphasis on high-end that balanced out the sound to great effect.
One major aspect of these headphones is the ANC. Out of all the earbuds that I tested out, I can say that these have the best ANC. When it turns on, you don’t hear it as much as you feel it. You feel this intense sense of isolation as the world just shuts off. They filter a wide range of noise that you’d hear in your environment. With other devices, you’d sometimes hear a high-pitched hiss from them missing those tones. I didn’t hear that with the Galaxy Buds FE.
I’ve heard earbuds that cost more than twice as much as these that didn’t have as good ANC as these. I honestly believe that the ANC is the best part of these earbuds; it’s professional quality.
You will also be able to listen to the Galaxy Buds FE for a while without needing to charge them. You should be able to have a full day of listening if you use the earbuds along with the charging case. These are amazing earbuds for their price.
Honorary Mention: beyerdynamic Free BYRD
The Free BYRD give you such a well-balanced and amazing sound
These are the first-ever TWS earbuds from the company beyerdynamic, and the company knocked it out of the park with these. The Free BYRD are meant to be professional in just about every way from their design to their audio quality, and the company delivers on that. I reviewed these earbuds, and every aspect of them just screams high quality.
Starting off with the audio, these drivers were specially tuned to give you an extremely balanced sound, Nothing overwhelms the ears. There’s a nice boost to the lower tones that make the bass in what you’re listening to just pop. Also, the higher tones are accented, but they’re kept well in check to avoid sounding shrill or overwhelming. Additionally, if you want to finetune the audio to your liking, there’s a feature in the app that will automatically optimize the audio to your ears.
beyerdynamic put a bunch of TLC into the ANC for these earbuds. The noise cancelation is top-notch. They do a great job of canceling out a wide range of ambient noise that would otherwise ruin your listening experience. This includes AC units, traffic, and other sounds that you would experience outside or inside. You get that same sense of isolation that you would get from larger and more expensive headphones.
If you take that into account with the superior audio quality, you have an amazing audio experience on your hands. You or your loved one will feel like they’re wearing a pair of headphones crafted specifically for them with the personalized audio profile. They’re not the kind of earbuds you’d want to pass up if you’re looking to add to your arsenal of potential Christmas gifts. They’re truly a treat for the ears, and your loved one will definitely more than appreciate it.
beyerdynamic Free BRYD - Amazon
Best bang for your buck: JBL Vibe 200
Being strapped for cash doesn’t mean that you need to skimp on quality
You already have a ton of gifts on your list, so you can’t quite spend too much on the headphones. Well, that’s not an issue with these earbuds. For the low price of $49.99, you’re getting a pair of earbuds with some nice features thrown in. So, if you’re looking for some earbuds that will give you some nice bang for your buck, then these are the ones for you to pick up.
Not to mince words, these aren’t meant to give you a premium experience for the price. These are proudly mid-range earbuds. So, you’re not getting ANC or ambient mode. There’s also no EQ in the companion app. That shouldn’t discourage you from getting them, however. Maybe the person you’re buying these for doesn’t really care about the super premium features.
While these aren’t the most feature-packed, they still have some nice additions. These earbuds do have touch controls on the side, so you only have to tap them to change the tracks. Also, these are compatible with digital assistants. So, you’ll be able to access Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa using the earbuds. That’s always a great addition. The only downside is that you can’t control the volume using the touch controls.
The JBL Vibe 200 can be controlled individually. This means that you can listen to one of them while the other one is in the charging cradle. This is great for a job where you need to have only one in your ear. Speaking of charging, these earbuds will last you about five hours on a single charge without the charging case. That jumps to 20 hours with the case included.
So, the JBL Vibe 200 are a pair of earbuds that will give you a nice experience at a nice and low price.
Honorary Mention: Raycon The Everyday Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds
These earbuds bring top-notch performance down to an affordable price
These earbuds are also affordable, and you should consider getting them if you have a bit more money to spare. Like the ones above, these also don’t come with noise cancellation. However, they still come with some nice features to give you an all-around good experience. They’re really meant to scratch at the heels of premium headphones without being quite as expensive.
The Raycon everyday earbuds are meant to be all-around reliable earbuds that are great for different scenarios. While they’re pretty inexpensive, they still give you some superior sound quality. If you’re into more bass-heavy music, then these will definitely satisfy you. They’re tuned to offer deep and rich bass, so they’ll give you a fully immersive listening experience. You’ll feel all the warmth of the bass no matter what genre you’re listening to.
These aren’t only for you if you are a music enthusiast. You can also be into health and fitness and greatly benefit from these earbuds. The Raycon Everyday Earbuds come with an IPX6 water resistance rating. This means that they can survive in any rainstorm. You’ll just want to make sure not to fully submerge them into water. With this water resistance rating, it’s perfectly suited to resist your sweat, so if you typically work out, and you work up a heavy sweat, then you’re covered.
If you’re giving the earbuds a workout, they will also go the distance, as they boast up to 8 hours on a single charge. With the charging case, that gets boosted to a full 24 hours. The Raycon everyday earbuds are all-around reliable and high quality for their price. They’ll make the perfect gift for a person who’s just getting into pro audio.
Raycon The Everyday Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds - Amazon
Best all-around earbuds: Google Pixel Buds Pro
These earbuds are definitely deserving of the “Pro” moniker in their name
Google has its own line of mobile products, and these include earbuds. The Pixel Buds Pro have been a part of the Pixel Buds ecosystem, and even non-Pixel phone users can use these Earbuds. The Pixel Buds Pro are not meant to be specifically good at one certain thing. Rather, they’re designed to give you an all-around good experience.
One part of the experience is the superior audio quality. When you’re listening to music, podcasts, and calls, everything just sounds so crisp and clear. They’re powerful enough to give you some great and well-balanced space to help balance out the overall sound. We’re talking about rich and enveloping low-end performance that makes every genre of music sound warm and immersive. This also works in tandem with crisp high tones that make for an overall dynamic sound.
The other part of the experience is the arsenal of features that come with them. Google typically launches new features for these earbuds every now and then. The company is really big on AI, and there are some powerful AI features that you can get through the Google Pixel Buds app. They’re constantly being supported by Google, so you’ll have the peace of mind that you are in Google’s hands.
These are amazing earbuds that excel in many ways. They’re very comfortable in your ear, and you can listen to them for extended periods of time without them feeling uncomfortable. Speaking of listening to them for extended periods of time, you should expect about 11 hours of listening on a single charge. With the charging case included, you should be looking at about 31 hours of listening time. This makes them perfect for using them during work or long trips. These earbuds are definitely deserving of the “Pro” moniker in their name.
Honorary mention: Jabra Elite 7 Active
These are called “Elite” for a reason
Jabra is a top-tier audio company, and it churns out all sorts of wearable audio equipment. The Jabra Elite 7 Active is a line of premium wireless earbuds that cover all the bases and then some. These are a great fit for you if you want to enjoy superior audio quality along with a great workout experience. The “active” in the name means that these are well suited for an act of Lifestyle.
Starting off with the audio quality, you can tell that Jabra put a lot of attention into making a well-balanced sound. Many modern earbuds focus a lot on emphasizing the low end for bass-heavy music. However, these deliver a high-quality experience for the full range of tones. So, while the base does get a notable and helpful boost, it doesn’t overshadow the rest of the sound. That’s something you’ll appreciate if you’re an audiophile.
It’s not just about the sound that you hear, it’s also about the sound that you don’t hear. The Jabra Elite 7 Active come with solid noise cancellation. They’re able to filter out a wide range of ambient noise that would otherwise distract you from your music. In fact, the noise cancellation is some of the best on the market.
Since these are active earbuds, they’re meant for an act of lifestyle. They will not break if exposed to your sweat, so feel free to run, lift, or do whatever exercises you need to. You can work up a good sweat without worrying about them getting broken or slipping out of your ear.
If you tend to wear your earbuds for long periods of time each charge, don’t worry. You’re able to get up to 8 hours of listening on a single charge. That gets boosted to a full day using the charging case.
Jabra Elite 7 Active in-Ear Bluetooth Earbuds - Amazon
Best headphones overall: Edifier WH950NB
These headphones are just great in so many ways
Edifier is a high-quality audio brand with a special emphasis on producing quality speakers. However, the company is no stranger to wearable audio equipment, and the Edifier WH950NB is a testament to the company’s commitment to superior audio. These headphones strike a great balance of design, performance, and portability. They’re an amazing pair of headphones, and I’ve had the opportunity to review them myself.
These are the kind of headphones that don’t have a singular standout feature. Rather, they’re just amazing in pretty much every category. From the moment I picked them up, I could tell that Edifier put a lot of care into the design. They have a nice reassuring heft to them, and the ear cups rotate smoothly without any creaks or sounds.
Moving on to the audio quality, I had no complaints. These headphones produce a nice very balanced sound with equal emphasis on the high end as well as the low end. You get the full range of sounds from warm and relaxing to cool and high-pitched. I tested these with several genres of music, and they impressed me.
Another great feature is the noise cancellation. Edifier does a great job with the noise cancellation of its headphones, and the WH950NB did not disappoint in that department. I used these both inside and outside, and overall, these headphones did a great job of filtering out the noise of the world. Everything from traffic to ambient voices and other types of noise was completely cut out.
I have no trouble getting a couple of days worth of usage on a single charge. If I needed a quick top-up, it only took about 15 minutes on the charger. These headphones are just great in so many ways, that it’s hard not to recommend them for a gift idea.
Honorary Mention: SkullCandy Crusher 2 ANC
Skullcandy is a company that’s known for both its budget and mid-range headphones. However, the company also dabbles in premium high-quality headphones. The Skullcandy Crusher 2 come in at a notable $229.99, and they excel in several categories to make these a great pair of premium headphones. They also bring a unique feature that bass lovers will very much enjoy.
When it comes to the overall sound, these headphones produce a very well-balanced and high-quality audio signal. Out of the box, the highs, lows, and mids, all sound nice and well-balanced. You’ll be able to listen to pretty much any genre of music and have a good time. However, they might be lacking in the bass department out of the box. This is something that the company anticipates, and it comes with a special dial.
On one of the ear cups, there’s a dial called the Adjustable Sensory Bass dial. Basically, when you turn the dial, the headphones will deliver even more powerful low-end sound. This is great if you want some more low-end in your audio. If you like listening to Modern bass bass-heavy music like dance, hip-hop, dubstep, etc., then you will love these headphones. The combination of the superior audio quality and the ability to add more bass make these headphones a viable option for most users.
The only drawback is that the noise cancellation is not exceptional. They do a good job of filtering out most of the noise around you, but it won’t be the best noise cancellation you hear on the market. However, if you’re more accustomed to listening to music inside a less noisy environment, then these will serve you just fine. This is what makes them one of the best overall headphones that you can buy for the holiday season.
Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 - Amazon
Best affordable headphones: BERIBES 202A
These headphones offer you a nice experience at a low price
You’re used to seeing all of the premium and professional headphones that are on the market. They’re great to have, but they’re also expensive! If you’re looking for a nice and affordable pair of headphones that also sound nice, it might seem that your options are extremely limited. However, that’s not the case. The BERIBES are a set of very affordable headphones, and they’ve been making waves through the market recently. This is because these headphones offer some nice features for their low price.
Let’s not mince words; you’re not getting these headphones or a remotely premium experience. You’re not getting features like ANC or ambient mode. You’re not going to find a robust suite of premium features or luxuries. Instead, you’re getting a well-rounded experience that just makes listening to music fun. First and foremost, the BERIBES headphones have some decent audio. The drivers sound nice, and they’re pretty powerful. They’re a little light on the low-end, but it’s not bad.
As for the audio quality itself, you’re getting a nice Hi-Fi sound coming from these headphones. It’s not studio-quality, of course, but it’s definitely better than the $27.99 price would suggest. The music sounds pretty detailed and punchy. You’ll be able to listen to all types of music with them and not skip a beat.
To top things off, there are EQ preset modes that you can switch between to adjust your listening experience. If you don’t like how the headphones sound out of the box, you can choose between the six EQ presets to give the sound a different personality.
If you take these features along with the impressive 65H battery life, you’re looking at a pretty solid headphone experience for under $30.
BERIBES Bluetooth Headphones- Amazon
Honorary Mention: Edifier W820NB
These are the headphones to get if you want to break into the premium headphones market
If you’re looking for a pair of affordable headphones that give you a premium experience, there are options out there for you. One of the best options would be the Edifier W820N. These are a great option to consider because they’re worth more than they actually cost. They’re a great option if you’re looking to enter the premium headphone market.
At $79.99, these are up there in price if you’re used to cheaper headphones. However, the sheer quality of audio and features that you get with these headphones make the price more than worth it. I personally reviewed these headphones, and the main thing that impressed me during my testing was the ANC. It’s as good as what you would hear in more expensive headphones.
They do a great job at canceling out a wide range of ambient noise.
As for the overall sound quality, they produce an extremely balanced sound with a fair amount of low-end. I enjoyed listening to different genres of music using these headphones and I think you will too.
You will also have access to all of the different features and additions with the Edifier Connect app. These are a great option if you’re looking to up your headphone game.