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Best wireless headphones under $200

It's worth spending a decent amount of money on Bluetooth headphones, but no need to break the bank.
By
March 5, 2024
The Best
Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless
MSRP: $179.95
8.3
Check price
Positives
Price
Weight
Comfort
aptX, aptX HD support
USB-C audio
Negatives
Will not get LE Audio
No TRS jack
Best features
Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT
MSRP: $119.00
7.4
Check price
Positives
Easy maintenance
Battery life
USB-C port
Wired listening
Lightweight
Negatives
Ear pads
Can't fold
Best microphone
Anker Soundcore Space Q45
MSRP: $149.00
7.9
Check price
Positives
Bluetooth 5.3; SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs
Multipoint connectivity
Wired connection
Comfort
Battery life and efficient fast charging
Good ANC for the price
Negatives
Finicky app experience
Average sound quality
Best active noise cancelling
Sony WH-CH720N
MSRP: $148.00
7.9
Check price
Positives
Good clamp force
Battery life
Lightweight
Controls work well
EQ
Negatives
Plasticky
Somewhat wonky frequency response
Warms up
Bang for your buck
1More SonoFlow
MSRP: $99.99
8.5
Check price
Positives
Comfortable fit and well-padded
In-app EQ
Long battery life
Stylish design
Travel case included
Attractive price
Negatives
Headband heavy
Low clamping force
No continuous power or connection indicator

The sound quality may not quite measure up, but when you’re out and about, nothing quite beats the convenience of wireless headphones. The best wireless headphones work with everything, sound great, and are comfortable to wear for hours on end. However, while spending a decent chunk of change on a pair of headphones can definitely pay off, you don’t need to absolutely break the bank to find some that check all the boxes you want. Here are some of the best wireless headphones under $200 on the market right now.

What's new?

Why is the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless the best pair of wireless headphones under $200?

The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless held above wood.
The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless is one of the best values in the ANC headphone world.

The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless headphones are a top contender in the under $200 category for several reasons. First, their price-to-performance ratio is exceptional. At just $179.95, these headphones deliver sound quality and features that rival their more expensive counterparts. With support for aptX and aptX HD, users can enjoy high-quality audio streaming, complemented by USB-C audio, for a more versatile listening experience. The comfort of these headphones is also noteworthy, with a lightweight design and adequate padding that allows for extended listening sessions without discomfort, making them ideal for both casual listeners and audio enthusiasts.

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However, it’s not just about comfort and sound. The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless headphones also boast an impressive battery life, lasting up to nearly 47 hours on a single charge. This endurance ensures that users can enjoy long periods of uninterrupted listening, whether they’re commuting, working, or relaxing at home. While active noise canceling (ANC) may not match the levels of some premium models, it’s still effective enough to reduce ambient noise, enhancing the overall listening experience significantly. This combination of long battery life, quality sound, and satisfactory ANC makes these headphones a smart choice for anyone seeking great value.

That being said, there are a few minor drawbacks. The headphones’ ANC might not be the strongest on the market, and the microphone’s noise rejection capabilities could be better. Still, these are small compromises when weighed against the overall value the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless offers. For those prioritizing sound quality, comfort, and battery life, these headphones stand out as an excellent option.

Sennheiser ACCENTUM WirelessSennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless
SG recommended
Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless
Comfortable • Impressive battery life • Effective ANC
MSRP: $179.95
An affordable set of ANC headphones with excellent sound quality.
The Sennheiser Accentum Wireless headphones are a great choice for immersive, comfortable, and extended listening experiences. With up to 50 hours of battery life, they offer high-definition sound and effective ANC. These headphones deliver comfort and audio quality, making them a fantastic choice for both at-home enjoyment and on-the-go use.

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True to form for a set of wireless headphones, the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless can be used for phone calls. The 2-microphone array of the headset uses beamforming to pick up your voice over the din of the outside world and cuts off pickup at 8kHz — it wouldn’t make it over a mobile network anyway.

Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless microphone demo (Office conditions):

Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless microphone demo (Street conditions):

Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless microphone demo (Windy conditions):

How does the microphone sound to you?

922 votes

As you can probably hear, there’s an issue with noise rejection and mitigating wind noise, but intelligibility is okay.

The Audio Technica ATH M50xBT2 are great value

Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 with headphone cable plugged in, held in a hand.
The ATH-M50xBT2 ships with an optional wired connection.

Audiophiles and audio enthusiasts know Audio-Technica as a premium audio company that puts out high-quality affordable headphones time and again. Audio-Technica hit it out of the park with its wireless headphone debut.

If you liked the ATH-M50x, you’ll love the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2—this headset is almost identical to the wired version, which brings the same pros and cons. The company adds playback controls and retains the same synthetic padding, which is a bit thin. A sturdy metal band reinforces the headband, and you can twist it every way without breaking it. When you need to travel from one gig to the next, you can just compact the ear cups toward the band and place them in the carrying pouch. Listeners who want more assurance may want to invest in a separate headphone case.

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The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 isn’t a flashy pair of headphones. Instead, the headset nails the audio quality the company is known for. It includes the necessities to keep pace with the best of them, including Bluetooth 5.0 and LDAC support. Battery life is also excellent; this headset lasts a bit longer than 64 hours.

If you’re looking for Bluetooth headphones under $200 that can do it all, the ATH-M50xBT2 is your best bet.

The microphone system is okay here, but it doesn’t do the best job of rejecting background noise. You do have the option to enable a sidetone effect if you want to hear your own voice through the headset.

Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 microphone demo (Non-standardized):

How does the microphone sound to you?

5529 votes
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
High-quality sound • Fast pairing • Long-life battery
MSRP: $199.00
An excellent-sounding and straightforward headset.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 headset offers excellent sound and the long battery life with an optional headphone jack promotes an uncomplicated music experience.

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 is best for work

A view of the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 sitting on a wooden tabletop.
The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 finds the middle ground between premium features and affordable price.

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 headphones stand out in the sub-$150 category for their impressive combination of features and performance, making them an attractive option for commuters, workers, and those seeking quality active noise canceling (ANC) on a budget. These headphones offer Bluetooth 5.3 support with SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs, multipoint connectivity, and a wired connection option. made with well-made pleather padding and an adjustable, metal-reinforced headband, they ensure a comfortable fit for extended listening sessions. Additionally, the efficient fast charging capability and impressive battery life of up to 55 hours with ANC make these headphones convenient for lengthier travel.

While the sound quality is adequate for most listeners, it may not satisfy those seeking a more refined audio experience, as it deviates from our ideal frequency response across various ranges. The high-end response, in particular, can sound uneven, affecting the accuracy of playback. Despite this, the headset’s ANC performance is commendable for its price range, effectively reducing background noise in various environments.

Moreover, the Soundcore Space Q45 excels with its microphone system, which effectively rejects background noise, making it an excellent choice for work-related calls or voice chats. The Soundcore app extends the functionality of the headphones, offering customizable EQ settings and additional features, although the app experience can be finicky.

Anker Soundcore Space Q45Anker Soundcore Space Q45
Anker Soundcore Space Q45
Full-bodied audio • Good ANC • Customizable EQ
MSRP: $149.00
Have it all on a low budget.

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The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 microphone system is surprisingly good, although it doesn’t stand out under ideal conditions. Instead, the dual microphone array shines under sub-optimal conditions. It effectively rejects background noise, particularly on city streets and in windy environments. Few $150 wireless headphones can reject unpredictable background noise, as heard in our simulated office environment, as this one from Soundcore. You can hardly hear the keyboard clicks, and the speaker remains audible throughout the clip.

This is a great ANC headphone pick for work, especially if you spend much of your days on conference calls. Don’t just take our word for it. Listen to our demonstrations, and let us know your thoughts by voting on the poll below!

Anker Soundcore Space Q45 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Anker Soundcore Space Q45 microphone demo (Office conditions):

Anker Soundcore Space Q45 microphone demo (Street conditions):

Anker Soundcore Space Q45 microphone demo (Windy conditions):

How does the microphone sound to you?

4904 votes

The Sony WH-CH720N is lightweight with ANC for a low price

The Sony WH-CH720N with the ear cups rotated flat, showing the exterior plastic housing, resting on a wood surface with a grid in the background.
Harley Maranan / SoundGuys
At under $150 originally, these are a good choice for most people if you don’t expect perfection.

While Sony’s flagship headphones, the WH-1000XM5, may be the current king of the audio market, you don’t need to spend so much to get a solid pair of noise canceling headphones. The Sony WH-CH720N offers slightly stepped-down performance but retains excellent sound quality and Sony’s 360 Reality Audio in a budget-friendly package.

The WH-CH720N’s lighter weight at 192g ensures comfortable, long listening sessions, especially with the spacious ear cups and just-right clamping force. Although they lack a luxe finish, their ergonomic design compensates for it. The WH-CH720N also features reliable ANC to make make most noisy environments more pleasant.

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Connecting these headphones may require a bit of patience initially, but once paired, Bluetooth 5.2 assures a steady connection. The battery life has been maintained at an impressive 40 hours with ANC on, which means fewer interruptions and more jam sessions. If you do run out of juice, a quick charge via USB-C gets you back in the game.

While the ANC doesn’t set industry standards, it performs better than one would expect at this price point, effectively reducing low-frequency sounds by up to 28 dB. As for sound quality, they offer adjustable equalization via the Sony app, allowing you to fine-tune your audio experience. With multipoint connectivity, LDAC, and AAC support, these headphones are an upgrade from their predecessor, the WH-CH710N, and a steal for the features they pack in.

The mic performance of the Sony WH-CH720N is quite good for an embedded mic. You can hear the speaker’s voice perfectly well in an office, with some background noise attenuation. Some keystrokes will make it through. With the introduction of wind, the WH-CH720N filters out wind noise particularly well, and speech remains intelligible.

Sony WH-CH720N microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Sony WH-CH720N microphone demo (Office conditions):

Sony WH-CH720N microphone demo (Windy conditions):

How does the microphone sound to you?

1908 votes
Sony WH-CH720NSony WH-CH720N
Sony WH-CH720N
ANC • Value • Comfortable
MSRP: $148.00
Light-weight noise cancelling headphones
A light-weight design, active noise cancelling, and up to 35 hours of battery life make the Sony WH-CH720N serious contenders for the best portable wireless headphones. Alexa is built-in, and the ambient sound mode offers twenty levels of control.

The 1MORE SonoFlow is the best bang for your buck

A man wearing the 1MORE SonoFlow headphones

The 1MORE SonoFlow headphones distinguish themselves in the sub-$100 category by offering a rich array of features combined with a stylish design, presenting outstanding value for money. With a focus on comfort, they come with plush ear pads and a padded headband, ensuring a snug fit for extended listening periods. They are particularly suited for commuters and travelers, thanks to their effective active noise canceling (ANC), long battery life of nearly 57 hours with ANC engaged, and a sleek foldable design that fits neatly into the included travel case.

In terms of sound quality, the 1MORE SonoFlow offers a decent audio experience straight out of the box, with the ability to greatly enhance this through the in-app EQ. The app provides access to 12 studio-grade presets as well as a customizable graphic EQ, allowing users to tailor the sound to their personal preferences. The headphones’ sound profile is a bit light on the low end compared to other models, but with EQ adjustments, they can deliver a more robust and immersive sound.

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The headphones also feature a 5x ENC (environmental noise canceling) microphone system, which, while not perfect, allows for acceptable phone call quality in most environments. They’re not the best choice for constant conference calls in noisy areas, but they’re adequate for casual chats.

Connectivity is versatile with Bluetooth 5.0 and an option for wired listening through a 2.5mm to 3.5mm TRS jack cable. However, it’s worth noting that ANC is not available in wired mode. The controls are conveniently located on the ear cup. While they are straightforward, the lack of a continuous power or connection indicator means you need to be attentive to the operational chimes to ensure they’re turned off when not in use. While they may have some limitations in terms of build and microphone quality, the overall value they provide is hard to beat at this price point.

1More SonoFlow1More SonoFlow
SoundGuys Editors Choice
1More SonoFlow
Comfortable fit and well-padded • In-app EQ • Long battery life
MSRP: $99.99
Feature rich with a stylish design, the SonoFlow headphones are all about value
The 1MORE SonoFlow are good-sounding, feature-rich headphones that won't break the bank. Commuters and travelers will enjoy the ANC, long battery life, and plush ear pads. Experienced listeners will enjoy decent sound and EQ options.

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You can use the SonoFlow headphones for fielding phone calls. Although it boasts 5x ENC (environmental noise canceling) microphones, in our calibrated test recordings, you can still hear keyboard clicks and other movements in our simulated office. A quick chat with a friend will be fine, but it’s not ideal if you’re hopping on and off conference calls all day at work.

1MORE SonoFlow microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

1MORE SonoFlow microphone demo (Office conditions):

1MORE SonoFlow microphone demo (Street conditions):

How does the microphone sound to you?

714 votes

The best for commuters and movie buffs is the Razer Barracuda

The Razer Barracuda X (2022) on the author's head.
The Razer Barracuda X (2022) is really comfortable and light.

Since the Opus noise canceling wireless headphones, Razer has released an onslaught of subdued lifestyle headphones. While the microphone is not our favorite, and the ear pads are a bit shallow for our liking, the Razer Barracuda sounds great for most applications. This is the headset to get if you’re a gamer who wants something that you can use just as easily on the train as you can from your at-home gaming setup, featuring a USB-C dongle for lag-free audio while gaming and Bluetooth when you’re on the go.

Unlike the more premium Razer Barracuda Pro, the Barracuda lacks active noise canceling. Don’t let that scare you away, though: the passive isolation is quite good and will quiet unpredictable sounds. What stands out about the Barracuda, though, is its long battery life. Razer’s official battery spec is 40 hours, but in our testing, it exceeded that at just shy of 60 hours.

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With so many ways to connect the Barracuda to your smartphone or gaming console, this is a highly versatile headset. Bluetooth 5.2 keeps the Barracuda tethered to your phone, and you can choose between the SBC and AAC codecs. The Razer Audio mobile app works on iOS and Android and lets you customize the EQ, adjust the microphone noise canceling, and enable low-latency mode for mobile gaming. This is a good all-around option worth your time.

The Barracuda uses an embedded microphone system, similar to what you see on consumer headsets. The result is very good, but it can’t compare to Razer’s other headsets with boom mics, including the cheaper Barracuda X (2022).

Razer Barracuda microphone sample (Ideal conditions):

Razer Barracuda microphone sample (Office conditions):

Razer Barracuda Microphone sample (Reverberant space):

How does the microphone sound to you?

1573 votes
Razer BarracudaRazer Barracuda
Razer Barracuda
Comfortable • Battery life • Sound quality
MSRP: $159.99
The Razer Barracuda is both a gaming headset and a normal pair of Bluetooth headphones.
The Razer Barracuda splits the difference between a regular pair of wireless headphones and a gaming headset. They're comfortable and offer great battery life, as well as a host of connectivity options.

The best wireless headphones under $200: Notable mentions

The Sennheiser HD 350BT next to the Sennheiser HD 450BT Bluetooth headphones to illustrate how similar the two headphones are to one another.
The HD 350BT (left) looks nearly identical to the noise canceling Sennheiser HD 450BT (right), but the former has a looser headband tension, which makes it more comfortable.

What you should know about Bluetooth headphones

The Razer Opus sits in its carrying case on white shelf
The Razer Opus comes with a 3.5mm cord, along with a USB-C to USB-A adaptor and the shortest USB-C charging cable we’ve ever seen.

There are all sorts of features to be on the lookout for when you’re shopping for Bluetooth headphones under $200. One of the most meaningful is active noise canceling (ANC), but what is it? You can dive deeper if you really want to learn the science behind it, but if you don’t feel like dusting off your old textbook and want the TL;DR version, here it is.

Tiny microphones built into the headphones pick up what’s going on around you and then play the opposite sound wave into your ear along with your music. Because the sound wave that’s produced by the headphones is basically the exact opposite of the one that’s outside of the headphones, it cancels out. Leaving you with just the blissful sound of your music. See? That wasn’t so bad. Science can be cool.

What is a Bluetooth codec? Which ones matter for your needs?

The next thing to really consider is Bluetooth codec support. Some of this depends on the device you use with your headphones, but what makes LDAC or aptX HD good? We’ve got a bit of technical jargon to go over, but we’ll try and keep it relatively short.

Best wireless headphones: A chart showing the AAC Bluetooth codec's performance on the Huawei P20 Pro, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, LG V30, and Apple iPhone 7.
The AAC codec performance varies greatly depending on what source device is being used.

LDAC is supposed to be better because it has a higher bitrate than the standard SBC codec, but our testing reveals that LDAC falls short of Hi-quality claims. aptX Adaptive, while impressive, didn’t make the splash that many hi-fi wireless audio fans hoped, but it’s still around for those interested.

AAC is a pervasive high-quality codec that performs far better on iOS than it does on Android. AAC can be good and reliable on Android, but its performance greatly depends on the hardware. If you’re in the market for headphones to use with your Google Pixel phone, maybe avoid the AirPods.

Why you should trust SoundGuys

Nothing Ear 1 earbud in ear.
We take earbuds and headphones out of the lab to test them, too.

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The best wireless headphones under $200: Frequently Asked Questions

Of course not! There are tons of great headphones at lower price points, especially if you’ve got your priorities straight.

Typically it’s easier to find a deal for products geared toward specific use cases—it’s more expensive to find the one with everything than the one for exercising or the one for remote working.

Our top pick is the Sennheiser Accentum Wireless, known for its standout audio quality. Other notable options include the Audio Technica ATH M50xBT2, Sony WH-CH710N, and Razer Barracuda.

While $200 is an investment, it’s a sweet spot in the audio world, offering quality without the ultra-premium price tag.

A range of $100 to $200 offers a balance of quality and cost. Below $100 might have compromised, while above $200 enters the premium audio space where most of what we consider to be the best headphones are found.