Updated Feb 15, 2024 at 12:38 pm
By Theresa Ketterling
overview 9 comments
Notlong ago, if you wanted wireless earbuds with active noise cancelling (ANC), or even just a good battery life, neckband headphones were the way to go. However, companies have been getting better and better at cramming these powerful features into ultra-compact,truly wireless earbuds.
While neckband headphones might seem outdated, they're still very popular. Many people prefer that you can put them around your neck and forget about them. You can enjoy having your music at arm's reach all day without worrying about dropping your earbuds or forgetting where you put them. Even though truly wireless technology is catching up, neckband headphones generally have better ANC, microphone, and battery performance. However, many manufacturers don't make neckband headphones anymore, and a lot of popular options have been discontinued, so you may need to find these productssecond-hand.
We've tested more than 770 headphones, and below, you'll find our recommendations for the best wireless neckband headphones. If you're looking for our top picks of other earbuds or in-ear headphones, check out our picks for thebest wireless Bluetooth earbuds and in-ears, thebest wireless Bluetooth earbuds for running and working out, and thebest noise cancelling earbuds.
-
Best Neckband Headphones
Sony WI-1000XM2 Wireless 0
Neutral Sound
7.0
Commute/Travel
7.7
Sports/Fitness
7.6
Office
7.3
Wireless Gaming
5.7
Wired Gaming
7.4
Phone Calls
7.4
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Hybrid
Noise Cancelling Yes
Mic Yes
See all our test results
The best neckband headphones we've tested are the Sony WI-1000XM2 Wireless. These headphones are the next generation of the Sony WI-1000X Wireless, offering more intuitive controls and a more flexible neckband. They feel well-built and come with a hard case to help protect them when you're out and about. Thanks to their active noise cancelling (ANC) system, they can block out a very good amount of ambient noise at the office or during a commute. Their battery lasts about eight and a half hours of continuous use, and they support multi-device pairing, so you can stay connected to your phone and PC and avoid repairing when you switch devices. Unlike truly wireless earbuds, you can plug them in and use them wired when the battery dies.
Fans of bass-heavy genres like metal may find their sound lacking in thump and rumble, but they have a very accurate mid-range response that makes them well-suited for vocal-centric content like podcasts or pop music. You can customize their sound profile with the companion app's EQ and presets. Unfortunately, their in-ear fit can be fatiguing over time. The buds can also fall out of your ear with moderate head movement, so they aren't ideal for workouts. On the plus side, they come with several differently-sized pairs of ear tips to help you get the best fit.
See our review
-
Best Budget Neckband Headphones
Beats Flex Wireless 1
Neutral Sound
6.9
Commute/Travel
7.7
Sports/Fitness
8.1
Office
7.0
Wireless Gaming
5.4
Wired Gaming
5.3
Phone Calls
6.0
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling No
Mic Yes
See all our test results
Consider the Beats Flex Wireless if you want to stick to a tighter budget. They're technically neck cable headphones that connect the earbuds with a thin, flexible cable instead of a more rigid neckband. Still, you may find this design more comfortable and easier to carry. Thanks to their W1 chip, they're also one of the best neckband earbuds for Apple users since you can seamlessly pair them with devices in your Apple ecosystem.
Their bass-heavy sound profile delivers a touch of extra thump, rumble, and boom to mixes, making them nice for genres like trap and RnB. They're also well-built and available in a few different colors, so you can find a look that matches your style. A roughly eleven-hour battery life is more than suitable for longer days on the go, too. However, they lack ANC and struggle to block out bass-range frequencies, like engine noise, during a commute. Due to their in-ear fit, they do a much better job cutting down office chatter.
See our review
-
Best Cheap Neckband Headphones
Sony WI-C310 Wireless 1
Neutral Sound
7.5
Commute/Travel
7.4
Sports/Fitness
8.0
Office
7.0
Wireless Gaming
5.4
Wired Gaming
5.3
Phone Calls
6.6
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling No
Mic Yes
See all our test results
The Sony WI-C310 Wireless are an even more affordable option. While their price can fluctuate, they're often available for significantly less than the Beats Flex Wireless. Like the Beats, these neck cable headphones have a lightweight, flexible wire connecting the earbuds, with in-line controls for calls and music. They're less comfortable and well-built than our previous pick, but you can always choose between the different ear tip sizes to find a better fit. Since they lack ANC, they can only passively block out background noises, like chatter between nearby coworkers. Still, their roughly 17 hours of continuous battery life will easily last through your workday and commute.
These headphones have a more neutral sound than the Beats', with a clearer and brighter reproduction of voices and instruments. Their sound lacks some thump and rumble, but overemphasis in the high-bass range adds warmth and body to your audio. They're still good for most music genres and vocal-centric content like podcasts. However, they don't have a companion app or features like an EQ or presets for sound customization, which is a downside if you like to tweak your headphones' sound profile to suit you.
See our review
Notable Mentions
- Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear/HD1 In-Ear Wireless: The Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear/HD1 In-Ear Wireless are neckband headphones with longer battery life than the Sony WI-1000XM2 Wireless. Their app has a parametric EQ, but they don't perform as well and are much more expensive. See our review
- Sony WI-C600N Wireless: The Sony WI-C600N Wireless are high-end neckband headphones and offer many of the same features as the Sony WI-1000XM2 Wireless. However, their six-hour continuous battery life isn't the longest, and they've been discontinued, so if you want this model, you'll likely have to buy it second-hand. See our review
Recent Updates
-
Feb 15, 2024: We've made minor updates to the text and checked that the products are in stock.
-
Dec 18, 2023: We've moved the Sony WI-C600N Wireless to the Notable Mentions as this model is no longer available new.
-
Oct 19, 2023: Confirmed accuracy and availability of picks. Some minor text edits for clarity.
-
Aug 24, 2023: We've made minor updates to the text to ensure its accuracy. There hasn't been a change in our recommendations, though.
-
Jul 04, 2023: Replaced the Sony WI-C200 with the Sony WI-C310 because the C200 are out of stock.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best neckband Bluetooth headphones andbest wireless neckband earphones to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our wireless in-ear and earbudheadphones reviews. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.
