AirPods are great, but you may be missing out on high-quality headphones for a fraction of the cost

Are you planning to drop hundreds on a new pair of headphones soon? You might want to listen.

buying Headphones It can feel like a leap into the dark. From reading reviews to blindly trusting the manufacturer’s promises Noise cancellation And convenience, you may worry about making the wrong decision in the long run by sticking to brands you know, which may seem like a safe bet. If you’re already deep into the Apple ecosystem, you’ll get… Airpods It may seem like an obvious choice. But you may be missing out on other great headphone options.

CNET released People’s choicesa community-based awards program, recently asked readers about their favorite technology. This tour is everything Headphones. Some of the results were surprising, while others were no-brainers — like how much people love AirPods. According to our survey, apple is the most popular brand among our readers for both headphones and wireless earbuds. It also wins in several CNET categories, including durability, connectivity and brand loyalty.

I get it. I’m an AirPods user too. But other brands have won over CNET readers. Sony It won the overall award, dominating categories like active noise cancellation, sound quality, battery life, and comfort. and Boss It was in second place in terms of sound quality, battery life, and brand loyalty. Sennheiser Sony was the favorite for wired over-ear headphones, while Sony took the top spot for wireless headphones.

For years, my country AirPods Pro 2 It was durable, easily plugged in, had top-notch sound quality and fit easily into any bag. So, when it comes to buying over-ear headphones,… AirPods Max 2 It seemed like an obvious choice. But the $530 price tag and mixed reviews made me think twice.

As great as some headphones are, keeping your options open can help you save some money if you’re looking for premium headphones within your budget. But how? truly Do you know which headphones are worth your hard-earned money?

Brand recognition isn’t everything when choosing headphones

You tend to hear about some brands more than others, like Apple and Sony. But that doesn’t mean you always need to stick to the same brands. CNET readers gave brands including Beats — Owned by Apple but marketed as an independent brand — Bose has high customer satisfaction rates.

Customer satisfaction speaks volumes when it comes to headphones. Apple scored 4.17 points, while other popular brands such as Beats and Sony scored 4.44 and 4.46 out of 5, respectively. Despite the drop in customer satisfaction, Apple still ranks first in terms of call quality, durability, ease of use, and connectivity. So, it’s not just about the brand, it’s about satisfaction You It is with the features that you will use the most.

Choosing between Beats Studio Pro and Apple’s AirPods Max

Take it from me. My husband gifted me Beats Studio Pro Despite telling him how much I love Apple’s AirPods Max. My preference was less about sound quality, design, or active noise cancellation, and more about staying in the Apple ecosystem, especially since I already use AirPods. But after my husband did some research, he found that the $250 Beats Studio Pro was a solid option at a lower price. They offer noise cancellation, great sound quality, battery life, and better comfort than the AirPods Pro 2 — all for a fraction of the price of the AirPods Pro Max, which are over $500. The Beats Studio Pro uses some of the same components as the AirPods, so I get a bunch of features, including automatic switching between devices, for a lot less money.

All of these features can make a huge difference in your daily life. Although it may seem like choosing headphones that win at almost everything is the right move, CNET’s headphone editors have a more helpful tip to help you narrow down which headphones you should invest in.

Think about how you use your headphones the most

It’s a good idea to try new brands, especially if you’re looking for something specific, says David Carnoy, executive editor and headphone expert at CNET. “For example, you can experiment Shokz Open Fit Pro,Shokz unlock points or Anker Aerofit 2 “Because you want open buds with ear hooks or a clip-on design for running,” Carnoy says.

CNET’s survey results also show that Anker wins for value and scores highly for reliability and battery life, making it a top contender among premium brands like Apple and Sony.

Or if you are looking for Over-ear headphones Which features top-notch active noise cancellation to block out noise while exercising or working, you may consider Sony WH-1000XM6. If you’d rather skip the $400 price tag,… Baseus Inspire XH1 It costs $150 and offers the best value when it comes to active noise cancellation. It’s still worth checking out lesser-known brands that can have some of the features you want at a lower price. However, Carnoy points out that the AirPods Pro 3 are very hard to beat for those already in the Apple ecosystem, thanks to a slew of upgrades, including better microphones and noise cancellation.

Which headphones do CNET readers recommend?

If you’re not sure which headphones are best based on what features they should have and how to use them, here’s what CNET readers recommend.

Don’t budge on your headphones

You may have some non-negotiables that make the more expensive price tags worthwhile. CNET senior writer Jeff Carlson pointed out the big bonus of Apple’s headphones: they provide a seamless connection to whatever device one uses. Some brands don’t make headphones as seamless as possible, and this level of integration may be a must, especially if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem.

“It was the lack of friction that finally convinced me to buy AirPods Max On some cheap headphones I had before. Switch from iPad to iPhone to Mac to Apple TV It almost always happens spontaneously. “Before, I had to jump through manual hoops,” Carlson says.

But after Carlson’s AirPods Max died a few months ago, he made a purchase Anker Soundcore Space One headphones For sale. He paid $88 after discovering the deal via CNET during an Amazon sale. Although the quality isn’t as good as the AirPods Max, the music and noise cancellation are good enough to work in its shared space.

Some brands you may not have considered before may tick all your boxes for features and design. You may find that the old headphones meet all your expectations, such as purchasing the Apple AirPods Max instead of the AirPods Pro Max to save about $50. Or you could consider a refurbished pair from an authorized retailer.

Before you settle on one pair, do some shopping. CNET has recommendations for Best value headphonesHow to choose the right headphones for your needs and How many pairs should you own? And why. Spoiler alert: It’s more than just one.