Our site uses cookies to give you the best experience. or continue shopping if you're happy.
Accept & close
Best Headphones 2022
From workout motivation to morning playlists, music plays a huge part in our lives, and a decent pair of headphones is an essential accessory. We’ve picked out some of the very best headphones for different needs, be it every day listening, all action gaming or sweat inducing exercise.
Best headphones for exercise
Whether you want your favourite music to push you through your morning run, or an electric playlist to get you in the mood for that gym session, we’ve listed some of the best headphones to get your blood pumping.
What makes these a great choice?
Ambient mode
If you’re out on a run or a brisk hike, your music can help you go the extra mile. But with ambient mode you’ll still hear what’s going on around you to keep you safe and aware.
Bluetooth connection
Don’t let wires hold you back. Headphones with Bluetooth connection can connect to your device wirelessly at the touch of a button, so you can bust a gut without any restrictions.
Long battery life
The last thing you want while working out is your headphones to run out of battery. Models with all day battery lives will keep your tunes switched on for uninterrupted exercise.
Quick to charge
Less waiting, more listening. Look out for wireless headphones with super-fast charging. Some models will give you hours of battery life in just a couple of minutes of charge.
Best headphones for music
If you’re a music lover then a good quality pair of headphones are worth their weight in gold. From noise cancelling tech to comfy designs, we’ve picked out some of the best headphones and features for all things music.
What makes these a great choice?
Over-ear design
If music is a big part of your life, chances are you’ll be wearing your headphones most of the time. For hours of immersive listening, don’t look past headphones with an over-ear design. They cover your ears for the most immersive audio.
Active noise cancellation
When you’re out and about listening to your playlist, you don’t want to hear that person munching on the train or those roadworks drumming away. With noise cancelling tech, it reduces the noise around you, leaving just you and your music.
Smart features
A lot of the best headphones have handy smart features, from voice control that lets you switch a track with just a spoken command, to headphones that pause automatically when they’re removed.
Quality craftmanship
For music lovers, brands such as Bose, Sennheiser, Beats and Sony craft some of the very best headphones with crisp and clear audio, that’ll make your favourite tracks pop.
Best headphones for phones
If you’re looking for a pair of headphones to pair up with your smartphone, you’re going to want something small, wireless and just great all round. We’ve picked a few of our favourites as well as some of the very best features.
What makes these a great choice?
In-ear design
Possibly the most popular design, in-ear headphones are perfect for pairing with your phone. They’re small, comfy to wear and despite their size, offer great audio quality for streaming music, videos and taking calls.
Compact
The best headphones for your smartphone are usually in-ear headphones, and that’s mainly due to their compact size. They’re discreet to wear, and they can slip in your pocket, so you can always have them on hand.
Quick charge
With wireless headphones becoming the norm, you going to want a pair that can charge up in no time. Some models like Sony’s in-ear headphones can give you an hour of power after just 10 minutes of charging.
Ambient mode
You’ll most often use your headphones when getting from A to B. With that in mind you’ll want a pair with ambient mode, this handy feature make sure you can still hear what’s happening around you when listening to your favourite music.
Best headphones for TVs
If you’re picking up a pair of headphones to hook up to your TV, you’re going to want something that packs a punch and brings those blockbuster films to life. We’ve listed a few of our favourites along with the features you should keep an eye on.
What makes these a great choice?
Wireless design
If you’re camping out in front of the TV all day, you don’t want to be held back by any wires. With a good pair of wireless headphones you can curl up wherever you like.
Immersive audio
For watching films and shows, you’re going to want over-ear headphones. They’re super comfy and better yet, they cover both of your ears for truly immersive audio.
Transmission range
Look out for headphones with a far-reaching transmission range. This lets your headphones hook up to your TV from further away, so you can move around your home without the sound cutting in and out.
Listening modes
Look out for headphones with different listening modes if you want the best cinematic experience. From modes that up the bass, to surround sound options, those heart stopping moments will sound and feel even better.
Best headphones for gaming
A quality pair of headphones is an essential accessory if you’re serious about gaming. The right pair will pull you further into your favourite titles. So, if you need a little help, we’ve chosen a few of the very best.
What makes these a great choice?
Wireless connectivity
Enjoy a fluid gaming experience with a pair of wireless headphones. They’ll sync up to your console through a mini USB transmitter so you can tuck into your favourite titles without any wires tugging you back.
Over-ear design
Over-ear headphones are really the only option for gaming. Not only are your ears completely covered for incredibly immersive audio, the headphone cups themselves are super comfy.
Flip-up mic
Whether your teaming up or facing off against your friends online, you’ll want your voice to be heard. The best gaming headphones have a handy flip-up mic, which will make sure you’re always in the thick of the conversation.
3D audio
For the most immersive gaming experience, pick up a pair of headphones with 3D audio. This innovative tech will give you the full surround sound experience, putting you right at the centre of your favourite games.
Best headphones for lifestyle
For many people, headphones are an essential accessory for everyday life, whether that’s listening to music at work, or taking calls on your travels. With that in mind, we’ve pulled out some of our favourites.
What makes these a great choice?
Comfy in-ear design
The popular in-ear design is ideal for general day to day use. They’re comfy, small and easy to take in and out, perfect for when you’re out and about.
Wireless
You can’t go wrong with a pair of wireless in-ear headphones. They’re comfy, light and you don’t have to faff about with any knotted wires on your morning commute.
Bluetooth connectivity
With wireless headphones, Bluetooth connectivity will let you easily hook up to your different devices be it your phone, tablet or your laptop.
Quick to charge
If you’re on the move a lot, look out for wireless headphones that are quick to charge. A lot of models can charge up within an hour or two, and some can even give you 60 minutes of power in just 10 minutes of charging.
FAQs
- How much are AirPods Pro?
With active noise cancellation and an improved fit compared to the original AirPods, it's no surprise the newer Airpods Pro are a firm favourite with Apple fans. Click here to see how much they are and order a pair if you like.
- Where to buy AirPods Pro?
Look no further, we've got them right here! Bag yourself some Apple AirPods Pro and you'll be hearing your favourite tunes like never before thanks to the truly immersive sound.
- What are AirPods with wireless charging case?
This nifty bit of tech charges AirPods while they're stored inside the case. Wireless, portable and with enough power for 24 hours’ worth of listening, you’ll never be without your playlists again. Clever, eh?
- Who sells wireless headphones?
Whether you want on-ear or in-ear headphones, wireless is the way forward. You'll find all the biggest brands in audio at ao.com, from Beats and LG to Skull Candy and Sony. Say goodbye to annoying tangles with a wireless upgrade. Click here to see our range.
- What are the best headphones for running?
For running you can either go for a good in-ear or over-ear pair of headphones. But make sure their wireless, it’ll make running and listening to your music effortless without the faff of wires.
- What are the best headphones for sleeping?
We’d probably recommend a good pair of in-ear headphones, their lighter and more discreet than over-ear models, making them easy to slip in before snuggling up in bed. Look out for models with noise cancelling tech, they’ll reduce the noise around you to help you get a better night’s sleep.
- What are the best headphones for kids?
You can buy child specific headphones for kids. These over-ear headphones are smaller than normal to better fit over a child’s head, and a lot of them usually have some sort of volume limiting controls so you can keep their ears safe. We’d also recommend looking for a wireless pair, as you won’t have to worry about anyone tripping over wires or those expensive devices being yanked away when your little one forgets to take off their headphones.
- What are the best headphones for the gym?
Similar to running, both in-ear and over-ear models will help spur you on when hitting the gym. Obviously, over-ear headphones usually offer better audio quality, but in-ear models are lighter and more discreet, which is probably better if you’re going to be moving around a lot. Also, it kind of goes without saying, but wireless headphones are a must for effortless workout sessions.
- What are the best headphones for the PS4 & PS5?
Most gaming specific headphones will elevate your favourite games with crisp sound. But you’ll want to look out for models with immersive 3D audio to put you at the heart of the games you love. If you like to play online, then make sure you grab a pair with a flip up mic so your voice will always be heard in the heat of battle.
- What are the best headphones for the Xbox Series S & Series X?
Similar to PS4 & PS5, most gaming headphones will be great when paired with your Xbox. Wireless headphones will give you more freedom, as you won’t be held back by any wires, and certain models deliver surround sound audio that will bring you closer to your favourite games.
- What are the best headphones for making calls?
Most headphones are great for taking calls, from in-ear to over-ear models. If you take calls quite often, a good quality over-ear pair with a built-in mic is your best bet.
- What are the best headphones for mixing music?
Firstly, over-ear headphones are the only way to go if you’re planning on mixing or making music, the audio quality is usually superior to in-ear models. Secondly, if your serious about music, then you’ll want to invest in a high-end pair from the likes of Sennheiser, Sony and Bose.
