5 Best Lightweight Wireless Headphones of 2023

HomeTech and Electronics5 Best Lightweight Wireless Headphones of 2023

Published

author-photo

Edited By Clara Melton

Reviewed By Benjamin Walker

So, you want a new pair of lightweight wireless headphones, but the market is so crowded that finding the perfect fit seems impossible! How can you know what suits your needs when prices and styles range from suburban to ridiculous?

I’m here to help clear the path for you and guide you with options such as wired or Bluetooth, noise-canceling or noise isolation, or a combination.

I looked everywhere before settling on the five best lightweight wireless headphones. Most of these are low-cost options, with a few higher-end items thrown in to show what is available these days.

How to Choose the Best Lightweight Wireless Headphone

I tried out a few wireless headphones and paid close attention to the features that make a good pair of Bluetooth headphones stand out.

Design

First, there is design. When it comes to wireless headphones, comfort is crucial. They must be able to feel great for extended periods of time. To avoid breakage, look for padded cups and sturdy headbands. You must also decide whether you prefer the immersive sound of over-ears or the slight leakage of on-ears.

Features

You should also consider features. Is noise cancellation essential to you? Or do you prefer convenient touch controls? Consider when and where you’ll be using your wireless headphones to determine which features are essential and which aren’t.

Price

Of course, price is an important consideration. In general, the higher the price, the better the sound quality. However, not everyone can (or wants to) spend hundreds of dollars on the most recent headphones with the best audio experience. You’ll also discover that you can get good features in a low-cost package. You may need to make some sacrifices, such as a dull design or some sound leakage.

Related Article: 5 Best True Wireless (TWS) Headphones in 2023

Top 5 Lightweight Wireless Headphones

Now, let’s go over our top 7 lightweight wireless headphones!

5. Jabra Elite 45h

If you’re looking for a pair of on-ear headphones, we recommend the Jabra Elite 45h. As the name implies, these headphones are worn on your ears rather than over them. This means you won’t get noise cancellation or fully immersive sound like you would with the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones or the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700. However, the 45h does not compete with those styles, instead providing fantastic battery life and good sound in a lightweight design.

The Jabra Elite 45h are an upgrade to the company’s Move Style on-ear headphones that cost less than $100 or £100. In a wireless on-ear frame, Jabra has wrapped Bluetooth 5 connectivity, 40mm full-range dynamic drivers, and a smattering of physical push-button controls.

Voice control is available through Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri. Jabra’s Sound+  app even guides you through a quick hearing test to determine how the EQs should be adjusted to best suit your ears.

They also have an extremely impressive battery life of 50 hours on a single charge. Very few headphones at any price can compete with that, and I discovered that the Jabras could go for another 10 hours after only 15 minutes of USB-C charging.

I also discovered that the faux leather and memory foam on the cups provided a comfortable fit during our testing. However, the Elite 45h does not feel special due to the plastic and thin padding on the headband. They are well-made, fold relatively flat, and appear to be able to withstand a lot of rough handling.

Dimensions: 9.45 x 7.24 x 2.01 inches | Weight: 5.6 ounces | Batteries: 1 Lithium Ion batteries required (included)

What I Like:
  • Good sound quality
  • Long battery life
  • Comfortable design
What I Don’t Like:
  • Limited noise cancellation
  • No customization options
  • No water resistance
Promising Review:

“Was looking for great sounding wireless headphones primarily to enjoy music, also occasional calls/zoom, with/without noise cancellation, that does not break the bank – and this Jabra fit the need perfectly.” Sunnydallas, January 6, 2023, on Amazon


4. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

These Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones are fantastic. They are, in our opinion, excellent value for money. The adaptive noise cancellation is effective, the feature set is as extensive as you’ll find at this price point, the design is simple but thoughtful, and the sound is superb. They are unquestionably one of the best pairs of lightweight wireless headphones available today.

I enjoyed testing the Momentum 4 Wireless for numerous reasons, but the battery life stands out as particularly impressive, especially when compared to the competition. Even with ANC turned on, you’ll get 60 hours. In comparison, Sony’s top-of-the-line XM4 wireless headphones, as well as its newer XM5s, offer only half that at 30 hours.

But I also appreciated the crisp and detailed sound these headphones produce—even during calls—as well as the solid ANC. The simple design was a plus, but it may be too essential for those who want their technology to make a statement. Otherwise, while these headphones aren’t cheap, they’re excellent all-around and great value for money.

Dimensions: 17.72 x 7.09 x 7.09 inches | Weight: 10.3 ounces | Batteries: 1 Lithium Ion batteries required (included)

What I Like:
  • Effective noise cancellation
  • Fast charging
  • Smart features
What I Don’t Like:
  • No multi-device pairing
  • Mediocre microphone quality
  • Limited touch controls
Promising Review:

“Incredibly comfortable, fantastic quality (both physically and quality of sound), and likely the best battery performance of any headphone on the market.” Matthew, January 24, 2023, on Amazon


3. Sony WH-1000XM4

The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones offer superior sound quality, comfort, and value balance. Boasting noise cancellation capabilities that make it an absolute delight to use, these lightweight wireless units provide excellent audio upscaling as well as support for the 360 Reality Audio format. Plus, with LDAC codec delivering bitrates way over 900 kbps, you can enjoy your music like never before – although, unfortunately, Hi-Res audio streaming won’t be supported via aptX or aptX HD.

With the Sony WH-1000XM4, choosing between a pair of headphones that provide great noise cancellation or superior audio playback is no longer an issue. These wireless headphones have been hailed by many who appreciate their exceptional noise-canceling capabilities in any environment, from busy commutes and planes all the way down to cutting-edge codec support for superb sound quality.

Although these headphones are great for everyday use, they don’t stand up to physical activities like working out. The lack of an IP rating means that sweat and weather aren’t a match for them – so if you’re looking to take your workout outside, it’s best not to rely on this pair!

Dimensions: 7.27 x 3.03 x 9.94 inches | Weight: 9 ounces | Batteries: 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required (included)

What I Like:
  • Excellent sound quality
  • Fast charging
  • Comfortable design
What I Don’t Like:
  • No multi-device pairing
  • No water resistance
  • No EQ customization
Promising Review:

“I have a pair of Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II, and I can honestly say that these Sony XM4s are hands down better in pretty much every area – sound quality, noise reduction, comfort, pretty much everything.” Andrew Davidson, January 24, 2023, on Amazon


2. Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max were the headphones we were most looking forward to for years, and when they finally came out, they didn’t let us down.

The Apple AirPods Max have a lot of great features. During the testing, the things I liked best were the excellent active noise cancellation, the great sound quality, and the unique design that makes them stand out from other noise-canceling headphones.

During my time with these headphones, their great sound quality and best-in-class ANC really impressed me. However, their eye-popping price and lack of support for Hi-Res Audio codecs let them down.

What makes this confusing is that, despite being expensive, the AirPods Max aren’t really made for audiophiles. If they did, there would be a 3.5mm audio port on them. So instead, I think these headphones are made for people who are already a part of the Apple ecosystem. They have a lot of cool features for iOS users and a design that screams “Apple.”

AirPods Max don’t have the same features on Android as they do on iOS, so I can’t justify the high price of these headphones if you won’t be using them with Apple products.

But if you love Apple products and already use them every day, have a lot of money to spend on a new pair of Bluetooth headphones, and don’t care about the lack of high-resolution audio, I don’t think you’ll find headphones that sound better or are easier to use than the AirPods Max.

Dimensions: 9.43 x 9.57 x 3.15 inches | Weight: ‎13.6 ounces | Batteries: 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required (included)

What I Like:
  • High-quality sound
  • Active Noise Cancellation
  • Stylish
What I Don’t Like
  • Expensive
  • Limited compatibility
  • Heavy
Promising Review:

“Very comfortable and sound excellent! I love working out in them, no annoying movement.” Love, January 22, 2023, on Amazon


1. Bose Noise Cancelling Wireless Bluetooth Headphones 700

The Bose Noise Cancelling Wireless Bluetooth Headphones 700 are the best of the best when it comes to headphones that are not too heavy. These are the long-awaited replacements for Bose’s QuietComfort 35 II headphones. They are part of a new breed of headphones that are smarter and more comfortable. The QuietComfort 35 ll has been the best Bose headphone for a long time, so the Bose 700 has a lot to live up to.

Well, The Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are a lot better than their predecessor, and even though they cost a little more, they are still the best headset for making phone calls. They did this by getting a new set of microphones. This has been set up so that the user’s voice doesn’t get mixed up with any other noise.

Also added is the ability to change the sidetone. This lets you hear both the caller and your own voice through the headphones (this should keep you from talking too loudly on the phone). During testing, they did very well in all situations, from loud streets during morning rush hour to loud, windy beaches where work calls were being made.

Plus, they have a battery life of almost 20 hours, can connect to the Bose Music app, sound great all around, have touch controls, and are the most comfortable over-ear headphones I tried. I think they are a good match for the QC 35 ll.

Dimensions: 2 x 6.5 x 8 inches | Weight: 10.4 ounces | Batteries: 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required (included)

What I Like:
  • Excellent noise cancellation
  • High-quality sound
  • Comfortable
What I Don’t Like:
  • Bass-heavy sound signature
  • No aptX support
  • Slightly bulky design
Promising Review:

“Trust me, the noise canceling is amazing and the sound quality is great. I literally turned around at the gym thinking someone was knocking at the door but it was the sound quality and the song I was playing!” Jamison Mares, January 22, 2023, on Amazon


Conclusion

If you’re confused by the complicated array of options on offer, don’t worry – we’ve got your back! The Bose Noise Cancelling Wireless Bluetooth Headphones 700 take the top spot in our book. But if that’s beyond what you wanted to spend, why not check out Jabra Elite 45h with voice command capability? Your favorite virtual assistant is just a few buttons away!

FAQs Related to Lightweight Wireless Headphones

0 0 votes
Overall Article Rating

ON THIS PAGE

Related Article

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x