How to choose headphones (2026)
By the Let’s Compare Editorial Team · 3 min read · 6 things that matter · Updated September 2026
Short answer: First decide how you'll wear them: over-ears for comfort and sound at home or on planes, earbuds for the gym and your pocket. Then spend on the two things you'll notice every day (good active noise cancelling and all-day battery), and don't get talked into codecs or driver sizes that won't change what you hear.
Headphone boxes lean hard on numbers that barely change what you hear. So for each spec below we say what it does, how much it shifts our 0–100 score and what's normal across the pairs we track, which makes it easier to separate an upgrade from a marketing line. Keep in mind that sound is subjective and depends heavily on tuning and fit. Use the specs to build a shortlist, not to pick the winner.
What matters most, and how much
| Factor | Weight in our score |
|---|---|
| Noise cancelling | 24% |
| Bluetooth & codecs | 18% |
| Battery | 16% |
| Sound & drivers | 10% |
How much each factor moves our 0–100 headphones score.
Torn between the top two? See our head-to-head: JBL Live 770NC vs JBL Live 670NC →
Noise cancelling: the feature you'll notice most
For commuters, frequent flyers and anyone working in a noisy room, ANC does more for the experience than any sound spec. It's common now (74% of the pairs we track have active noise cancelling), so the thing to judge is how well it kills low, droning noise like engines and AC hum. Look for a proper transparency mode as well, so you can hear announcements or a colleague without taking the headphones off. On earbuds, ANC depends on the seal. A tip that doesn't fit leaks bass and lets noise in, so try the included sizes before you judge.
Weight in our score: 24%See the best for this →
Battery: enough to forget the charger
Over-ears and earbuds part ways on battery. The over-ears we track run a median of 30 hours with ANC on, enough for a week of commutes or a long-haul flight. Earbuds manage more like 5–8 hours per charge and rely on the case for the rest. Whichever you pick, look for quick charging (a few minutes for hours of playback), because that's what rescues you on the way out the door. The headline figure is usually measured with ANC off at a modest volume, so expect a bit less in daily use.
Weight in our score: 16%See the best for this →
Bluetooth & codecs: mostly a non-issue
78% of what we track is wireless, and for most listeners the codec barely matters. SBC and AAC are fine. The "hi-res" codecs (LDAC, aptX Adaptive, LHDC), found on 75% of our pairs, only pay off with high-bitrate lossless files and matching hardware. Two features are more useful day to day: multipoint (70% have it), which keeps you connected to a laptop and a phone at once, and a low-latency mode if you watch a lot of video. A codec logo on its own is no reason to buy.
Weight in our score: 18%
Sound & drivers: tuning over numbers
Driver size is another arms race worth ignoring. Our pairs cluster around 40mm, but a bigger driver doesn't mean better sound; tuning, housing and (on earbuds) fit decide what reaches your ears. Frequency-response ranges like "20Hz–40kHz" are effectively marketing, since you can't hear most of that. Impedance and sensitivity only matter for wired or audiophile use when you're pairing with an amp. Read reviews for tuning and comfort, and listen before you buy if you can.
Weight in our score: 10%See the best for this →
Comfort, fit & build: the deciding factor for daily use
Great sound is wasted on headphones you won't keep on. With over-ears, clamp force and earcup depth decide whether hour three is still comfortable; with earbuds, it's tip fit and how heavy they feel in the ear. For workouts, look for a water/sweat-resistance rating and a secure fit. If they'll live in a bag, a folding design and a hard case help. You won't find any of this in a headline spec, which is exactly why weight, materials and pad type deserve more of your attention than another codec.
Mic, app & extras: small things you'll use daily
If you take calls, mic quality and wind handling count for more than any playback spec, so look up a review's call-quality test. A good companion app lets you tune the EQ, adjust ANC strength and remap controls, and it's also how firmware fixes arrive. Two nice-to-haves: wear detection that pauses playback when you take them off, and on-device controls you can work by feel. Don't pay for features you'll never open.
Frequently asked questions
Do Bluetooth codecs like LDAC really matter?
For most people, no. SBC and AAC are fine, and hi-res codecs only help with high-bitrate lossless files and matching hardware. If you watch a lot of video, a low-latency mode is more useful.
Is active noise cancelling worth it?
Yes, if you commute or fly. It's the feature you'll notice most. Good ANC cuts constant low-frequency noise by 20–40 dB, and on earbuds it needs a proper seal to work.
Should I get over-ear headphones or earbuds?
Over-ears win on comfort, sound and battery at home and when travelling; earbuds win for portability and workouts. Pick based on how you'll wear them.
Explainers for this guide
- Bluetooth codecs explained: SBC, AAC, aptX and LDAC
The codec logo on the box matters much less than the marketing implies. Latency is the exception.
- How active noise cancelling actually works
Feedforward, feedback and hybrid mics, why ANC loves a droning engine, and how much quiet you can expect.
Sources & further reading
Every figure above is computed from our own catalogue. The general technical claims are backed by the independent references below (some from non-English outlets), so you can check them yourself.
- Understanding Bluetooth codecs — SoundGuys
- Bluetooth Codecs: aptX, AAC, SBC und Co. erklärt — HIFI.DE (DE)
- Active noise canceling (ANC) technology types explained — SoundGuys
Ready to compare?
The figures in this guide are computed live from the 46 headphonesin our catalogue and update as it grows. Analysis by the Let’s Compare Data Engine.