Skip to main content
MM logo white 1
MM logo red
Image description is not available
Image description is not available

The best headphones of 2026

Femke24 MARCH 2026
A person wears pink glasses and headphones against a yellow background with a pink gradient on the left.

Looking for new headphones that best suit your needs? Discover the best models for noise cancelling, battery life, connectivity and volume limiting. Get inspired by our top list of headphones.

What are the best headphones?

A person wearing headphones lies on a couch with legs raised. A bookshelf is in the background.

Several criteria play a role when choosing the best headphones. Connectivity matters. Choose between wired headphones and wireless headphones, depending on your preferences for freedom of movement and sound quality. Battery life is also an important criterion. Good headphones will last for hours on a full charge. Sound quality is crucial. Pay attention to clarity and bass response for an optimal listening experience. Choose headphones with noise cancelling to reduce or filter ambient sound. AI integration offers smart features such as automatic sound adjustment and voice assistance, enhancing ease of use. Comfort is important, especially for extended listening. Durability ensures the headphones can withstand daily use and last a long time.

Meer advies om een goede koptelefoon te kiezen

Sony WH-1000XM4

Black Sony headphones are displayed against a plain, light background, featuring visible branding.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 delivers excellent sound quality and advanced noise-cancelling technology, letting you fully immerse yourself in your music. With a long 30-hour battery life and a comfortable fit, these headphones are ideal for long listening sessions or uninterrupted online meetings. Smart features such as adaptive sound control and voice assistance complete the ease of use of these Sony headphones.

+ Advanced noise cancelling.
+ Up to 30 hours of battery life.
+ Comfortable fit.
- Not water-resistant.

Go to the Sony WH-1000XM4

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

Black Bose headphones, shown against a light grey background.

If you’re looking for wireless headphones with stylish design and premium sound quality, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) will be music to your ears. These Bose over-ears have soft ear cushions and an adjustable headband for optimal comfort. You can also listen undisturbed thanks to advanced noise cancelling and very high-quality sound via CustomTune technology. In the Bose app, choose one of four sound modes that best fits your listening scenario. Pick Cinema for films, or Aware when you need to stay alert to your surroundings. These Bose headphones are made for every moment.

+ Great comfort thanks to soft ear cushions and adjustable headband.
+ Premium sound quality thanks to CustomTune technology.
+ Different sound modes for various scenarios.
- Long charging time of around 3 hours.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

Apple AirPods Max 2

A dark grey over‑ear headphone with a wide cushioned headband and oval ear cups is shown standing upright against a clean, light background.

Apple AirPods Max 2 deliver powerful, balanced sound with deep bass and clear highs, while the up to 1.5x improved Active Noise Cancellation filters out ambient noise even more effectively, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your music, work or FaceTime calls. Thanks to the H2 chip, you enjoy cleaner audio, more realistic Spatial Audio and intelligent features such as Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation and Live Translation. The comfortable over-ear design remains pleasant to wear during long sessions and, after charging, the battery lasts for up to 20 hours.

+ High-quality sound and improved noise cancelling.
+ Smart features.
+ Fast charging.
- Relatively high price.

Check out the AirPods Max 2

Bose QuietComfort

A pair of black, over-ear Bose headphones are angled against a plain white background.

Take control of your music with the Bose QuietComfort Headphones. Listen wirelessly via Bluetooth or use a cable. The comfortable design with soft ear cushions and a sturdy headband lets you enjoy your music for hours. Connect via Bluetooth to your phone and listen all day thanks to the strong 24-hour battery. Need a quick top-up? After 15 minutes of charging you’re good for another 2.5 hours. Adjust settings with the Bose Music app and pair with other Bose devices for even more listening pleasure. The Bose QuietComfort features strong noise cancelling that filters ambient noise at different levels.

+ Strong noise cancelling.
+ Comfortable fit.
- Not water-resistant.

Go to the Bose QuietComfort

Sony WH-1000XM5

A pair of wireless headphones with a padded headband and earcups is displayed against a plain white background.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is a wireless noise-cancelling headphone. It has a sleek design with soft ear cushions that mould to your head. The battery lasts 30 hours with noise cancelling and up to 40 hours without. After 10 minutes of charging, you can listen non-stop for another 5 hours. The headphones have four microphones for better call quality and smart AI features such as Adaptive Sound Control and Speak-to-Chat. You can connect the Sony WH-1000XM5 to two devices at the same time, automatically switching between music on your laptop and an incoming call on your smartphone.

+ Powerful battery lasting up to 40 hours.
+ Ear cushions mould to your head.
+ Connect two devices at once.
- Not water-resistant.

Go to the Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony WH-CH520

A pair of wireless headphones in gray, featuring the Sony logo on the side, is displayed against a plain white background.

The Sony WH-CH520 Black offers wireless listening with great sound quality and a very long battery life. Enjoy up to 50 hours of music and charge for just 3 minutes for an extra 1.5 hours of listening. These stylish headphones feature an ergonomic design made from recycled material and soft ear cushions for comfort. Thanks to DSEE technology, your music sounds clear and lively. Control the headphones easily via the Headphones Connect app and pair them with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. Use the buttons on the earcup for quick and simple operation.

+ Very long battery life (50 hours).
+ Easy to operate.
- No noise cancelling.

Go to the Sony WH-CH520

Fresh ’n Rebel Clam 2 ANC

Blue over-ear headphones with padded headband are displayed against a light grey background, angled to show the side and ear cup.

Enjoy your favourite music all day with the Fresh ’n Rebel Clam 2 ANC. These wireless over-ears offer style, comfort and sound quality with high-grade Bluetooth and noise cancelling. The comfortable headband and soft ear cushions ensure great comfort, even during hours of listening. The battery lasts up to 35 hours (30 hours with noise cancelling). Qualcomm aptX HD audio delivers clear sound, and the Fresh ’n Rebel headphones fold up for compact carrying. This makes the Fresh ’n Rebel Clam 2 ANC one of the best value-for-money options.

+ Great value for money.
+ Foldable for easy carrying.
+ Clear audio thanks to Qualcomm aptX HD.
- Relatively heavy headphones (0.7 kilograms).

Go to the Fresh ’n Rebel Clam 2 ANC

Sony WH-CH720N

Black Sony headphones are shown against a plain white background. The headphones are over-ear style with cushioned earcups and a padded headband.

The Sony WH-CH720N Black offers wireless listening with fantastic sound quality and long battery life. These stylish headphones feature a light, ergonomic design made from recycled plastic and soft ear cushions for comfort. Enjoy up to 50 hours of music (35 hours with noise cancelling) and get 60 minutes of extra listening with a 3-minute charge. Thanks to the V1 processor and DSEE technology, your music sounds clear and balanced. Control the headphones easily using the buttons on the earcup and pair them with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. The advanced noise-cancelling tech offers 20 different levels of sound reduction.

+ Powerful battery that lasts up to 50 hours and charges very quickly.
+ Advanced sound reduction with 20 different levels.
+ Pair the headphones with two devices at once.
- Lightweight headphones (0.44 kilograms) can feel a bit fragile.

Go to the Sony WH-CH720N

JBL Tune 770NC

Black headphones with a padded headband and earcups are angled against a white backdrop. The brand logo is visible on the earcup.

Looking for headphones with a powerful battery? Then the JBL Tune 770NC is one of the best options. These JBL headphones last up to 70 hours on a full charge. This is slightly less if you use the high-quality adaptive noise cancelling. With it, you decide how much ambient sound to reduce. Shut out the world to focus, or stay aware of important sounds around you. Control these headphones very easily via the JBL Headphones app. Pairing a JBL headset is generally already very easy and that certainly applies to the JBL Tune 770NC.

+ One of the most powerful batteries, lasting up to 70 hours.
+ Adaptive noise cancelling with different levels.
+ Good control via the JBL Headphones app.
- Controls take some getting used to.

Go to the JBL Tune 770NC

Sony ULT WEAR

Dark grey wireless headphones with the brand name "SONY" visible on the headband, against a plain white background.

The Sony ULT WEAR are wireless over-ear headphones with a stylish, comfortable design. You can wear them all day without your ears getting sore. The battery lasts up to 50 hours, or 30 hours with noise cancelling on. With 3 minutes of fast charging, you’ll get another 1.5 hours of listening. The Sony ULT WEAR excels with bass-heavy music. Use the ULT button or the Sony Music Centre app to choose between Deep Bass and Attack Bass settings. You can also make hands-free calls thanks to beamforming microphones and multipoint functionality. With a 3.5 mm jack cable you can also listen wired to your favourite music — handy, for example, when your phone is in flight mode.

+ Outstanding bass.
+ Can also be used via 3.5 mm aux input.
- Not water-resistant.

Go to the Sony ULT WEAR

The best headphones at MediaMarkt

The best headphones at least offer great sound quality, powerful noise cancelling and a comfortable fit, even for longer sessions. In addition, the best headphones last for dozens of hours on a full charge and feature the latest smart technologies for optimal listening convenience. All the headphones in our top list meet these criteria. If you’re specifically looking for good headphones for children, check out our list of the best kids’ headphones.

Bekijk soortgelijke artikelen