Apple has actually gone through with that “no more headphone jack” thing. If you're aren't about the dongle life, that means it's time to go Bluetooth. (Or buy another phone.)
While all wireless headphones continue to suffer from the same problems — higher prices, a reliance on batteries, and generally duller sound than wired pairs — those downsides are countered by, well, not having to use cables. For a lot of people, that's enough.
So, since the future of audio appears to be wireless, we're keeping a rolling list of the best Bluetooth headphones on the market. Here's what we recommend today.
The Plantronics Backbeat Sense SE is lightweight, water-resistant, and natural-sounding.
Going further up the on-ear ladder, the $160 Plantronics Backbeat Sense SE is wonderfully comfortable, good-looking, and safe to wear in the rain. They work well for taking calls — not surprising, given Plantronics’ history of making Bluetooth headsets — and they have the nifty ability to (ahem) sense when it’s off your head, then play and pause tracks accordingly. Battery life is great, lasting over 15 hours.
Once you have the Sense on, they offer a pleasant, well-balanced profile that works well with a variety of genres. They’re on the brighter, more treble-focused side, so bassheads should steer clear, but if you’re looking for something like a natural sound, they should satisfy.
The Plantronics Backbeat Fit are well-rounded and convenient for runners.
We’ve raved about them in the past, but the Plantronics Backbeat Fit are a great all-rounder in the realm of wireless exercise headphones. They’re sweatproof, sturdy, and easy to keep in place. Like the Backbeat Sense above, Plantronics has fitted them with excellent call quality. They even come with an armband case for running with your smartphone.
The sound quality is clean and distortion-free, but it’s important to note that the around-the-neck design here is unsealed. That means the earbuds don’t dig in your ears so much as they rest outside them. This lets in too much air for there to be any satisfying bass punch, but it also makes it easier to hear your surroundings as you’re running around.