Best Bluetooth Headphones in India
As the world shifts toward wireless technology, the audio industry is following suit, with manufacturers increasingly prioritizing wireless headphones. Bluetooth headphones, once considered a compromise in sound quality, have now evolved to deliver impressive audio fidelity without the constraints of analog connections. Advancements in codec technology, such as aptX and LDAC, have significantly reduced latency and enhanced sound reproduction, making them a viable alternative to wired options. Beyond sound quality, premium Bluetooth headphones now come equipped with a host of sophisticated features, including Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), customizable sound profiles, intuitive touch controls, and multipoint connectivity for seamless device switching. Battery life has also seen considerable improvements, with many models offering extended playback times and fast-charging capabilities. In recent years, the Indian market has witnessed a surge in Bluetooth headphone offerings, driven by increasing consumer demand and a growing ecosystem of wireless audio solutions. While early iterations of Bluetooth technology struggled with connectivity stability and compression issues, modern advancements have bridged much of the gap, with some high-end models now rivaling their wired counterparts in audio performance. To simplify your buying decision, we’ve curated a list of the best Bluetooth headphones, taking into account factors such as sound quality, features, comfort, and value for money.
- 1.
Sony WH-1000XM5
- Exceptional Active Noise Cancellation, Supremely comfortable, LDAC codec support, Great battery life, Convenient features like Multipoint and Quick Attention
- Slightly boosted bass and low mids, Less portable than before, No IP rating
The latest Sony WH-1000XM5 does more than enough to meet the lofty expectations that we’ve come to have from Sony’s flagship headphones. They are the best-in-class noise-cancelling headphones with stellar ANC performance regardless of the environment. The low-end noise-cancelling on these headphones is excellent and it easily beats rivals such as the Bose NC 700. The overhauled design is also great; both in terms of looks and comfort. The headphones come with a plethora of features, a capable microphone for calls, and great sound, making it a solid choice.
- 2.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
- Balanced and crisp sound, Classy design, Incredible battery life, aptX and aptX adaptive support
- Doesn’t fold up, ANC doesn’t match some competitors, No IP rating
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless are an extremely premium pair of wireless headphones. Its soft padded headband, plushy earcups and fabric headband look and feel fantastic. The 42 mm transducer system of these headphones creates balanced and detailed sound, without overemphasising any part of the frequency range too much. The headphone’s supporting app also has a lot of features that help tweak the headset to your preferences. These include sound modes, built-in EQ, sound personalisation, and more. Overall, these are top-tier headphones with great sound and exquisite build quality.
- 3.
Although the Apple AirPods Max are exorbitantly priced at Rs 59,900, the headphones in most ways do justify the lofty price tag. You do, however, need to own an iPhone or iPad to get the most out of these headphones. The headphones have exquisite sound quality courtesy the Apple H1 chip and commendable noise-cancelling performance. The cans do a great job of blocking out ambient sounds, especially at the lower end of the frequency spectrum. The build is sturdy, premium and looks very aesthetically pleasing as well. You also get the Spatial Audio feature that creates a surround sound effect as you move your head. The headphones provide up to 20 hours of listening time with ANC enabled. They also come with fast charging support where a mere 5 minutes of charging provides around 1.5 hours of listening time. The headphones are stored in the Apple Smart Case that also powers on and powers off the device depending on whether the cans are in it.
- 4.
The Shure AONIC 50 is capable of solid low-end noise cancellation and does enough to compete with the top two in this category. These cans also support a wide array of codecs including SBC, AAC, LDAC, aptX, aptX HD and aptX Low Latency, in comparison to the Sonys that only support the first three. Nevertheless, the sound quality on both headphones is excellent, with the Shure AONIC 50 sporting a sound profile that is slightly closer to neutral in comparison to the Sony WH-1000XM4. While this sound profile is excellent for critical listening, it may come off as a bit too restrained and controlled if you’re a casual music listener. The headphones also come with 20 hours of battery life and allow users to listen to music over a USB-C cable as well if they wish to listen to music passively instead of listening wirelessly. The Shure AONIC 50 also have a sophisticated design with premium leather earcups.
- 5.
The successors to the acclaimed Sony WH-1000XM3, the Sony Mark 4s come with improved noise cancellation and sound quality, making them one of the most remarkable pairs of noise-cancelling headphones on the market. Even though the newer model features the same 40mm drivers and the QN1 processor that was present in the WH-1000XM3, with some tweaks to the algorithm the sonic signature has been changed from the consumer-friendly bass bias in the Mark 3 to a sound signature that is much closer to neutral in the new Mark 4. The ANC performance of the Sony WH-1000XM4 has also improved considerably in comparison to its already stellar predecessor. The cans come with a battery life of 30 hours and also have quick charge to top your headphones off in a pinch. You also get touch controls that allow you to control music playback and calls. Additionally, the headphones come with premium features such as wear detection and quick attention mode.
- 6.
Although the Bose NC 700 comes up a bit short when it comes to ANC performance and sound quality in comparison to the Sony WH-1000XM4, they’re still a solid pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Featuring a whopping eight microphones, six of which deliver Bose’s signature noise cancelling, the NC 700 also allows granular control over the noise cancellation levels by letting users toggle between 11 adjustable ANC levels. Albeit the ANC does alter the sound quality significantly in the lows, it still doesn’t sound unpleasant. Additionally, the Bose NC 700 also comes with a sleek and modern design, making other over-ears look rather dated. You can also use these headphones with the Bose Music app for enhanced functionality. Within the app, you get more granular control over noise cancellation, you can switch between different sources, and more. The NC 700 also comes with multipoint connection, allowing users to connect these headphones to two devices simultaneously.
- 7.
The V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless Codex is one of the most robust headphones available in the market since they are put through rigorous MIL-STD-810G military-level testing. They’re also versatile when it comes to sound since they support AAC and aptX and also allow for hi-res wired listening apart from wireless listening. However, their battery life is a tad lacklustre compared to most other headphones on this list, coming in at only 14 hours. If you’re an audiophile, you’ll be glad to know that these headphones also come packing an integrated amp/DAC and 50mm dual-diaphragm drivers. The resulting sound profile is energetic, punchy and detailed, and will complement most genres of music well. The headphones are available in three colours – Rose Gold, Matte Black, and Matte White. You get button controls on these that allow you to pause/play music, adjust volume, answer calls, and more. The headphones also have a stylish design and a sturdy build.
- 8.
Sony WF-1000XM4
- Impressive sound quality, LDAC codec supported, Sony Headphones Connect app is fantastic, Excellent ANC performance, IPX4 water resistance
- No multipoint connectivity, Bulky earbuds
The Sony WF-1000XM4 is simply the best noise-cancelling truly wireless earphones money can buy. It has dethroned the Sony WF-1000XM3 to take up this spot which shows Sony’s prowess in this area. Apart from excellent ANC performance, you get impressive sound quality with LDAC codec, excellent app support, great battery life and microphone performance, and so much more. The only two drawbacks are the missing multipoint connectivity support and the fit. For users with smaller ears especially, you may not get a snug fit from these earbuds since they are pretty hefty and stick out from the ears considerably.
- 9.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds extends the company’s solid noise-cancelling legacy from their on-ear and over-headphones to in-ear headphones. The earbuds have impressive ANC and detailed sound quality, as one would expect from this company. The bass is a bit on the higher side, still, the mids and the highs have plenty of detail and there’s very little masking in the other frequencies due to the bass. The build quality is solid as well and users get a total of 18 hours of battery life from both the buds and the charging case. The earbuds are also supremely comfortable to wear over long periods and can easily be used when exercising due to the secure fit and extendable ear fins. They come equipped with touch controls to control music playback and handle calls. The buds are also rated IPX4 so they can survive sweat and splashes of water without a problem.
- 10.
The Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 earbuds mark the culmination of Jabra’s consumer audio line, offering robust features that cater to both audiophiles and casual listeners. With a semi-open design and IP57 rating, they ensure comfort and durability. The standout Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) effectively minimizes ambient noise, enhancing the listening experience. A notable innovation is the LE Audio smart case, which functions as a Bluetooth transmitter, allowing direct connections to various audio sources.
Satvik Pandey
Satvik Pandey, is a self-professed Steve Jobs (not Apple) fanboy, a science & tech writer, and a sports addict. At Digit, he works as a Deputy Features Editor, and manages the daily functioning of the magazine. He also reviews audio-products (speakers, headphones, soundbars, etc.), smartwatches, projectors, and everything else that he can get his hands on. A media and communications graduate, Satvik is also an avid shutterbug, and when he's not working or gaming, he can be found fiddling with any camera he can get his hands on and helping produce videos – which means he spends an awful amount of time in our studio. His game of choice is Counter-Strike, and he's still attempting to turn pro. He can talk your ear off about the game, and we'd strongly advise you to steer clear of the topic unless you too are a CS junkie. View Full Profile