The best headphones, earbuds & speakers to buy in 2026

~$249

Best all-round buds right now — big ANC and battery jump — but the payoff is largely locked to iPhone.

~$300

The most technically accomplished buds of 2026; best-in-class ANC, price is the only real objection.

~$100

The value default — 80% of flagship ANC for a third of the price; constantly dips under $80.

~$120

Half the price of the flagship with comparable ANC — the sensible mid-range pick.

~$450

The category benchmark — lighter and comfier than rivals, and foldable again after the XM5 dropped it.

~$429

Still the ANC + comfort king for long flights; sound is a touch less detailed than Sony.

~$130

Basically the only genuinely good ANC pair under $150 — the honest budget answer.

~$549

Gorgeous and great-sounding, but heavy and absurd value unless you're deep in Apple's ecosystem.

~$149

The 'just buy this' portable — punchy for its size, rugged, no weak spots.

~$40

Punchy for the size, IP67 waterproof, cheap enough not to baby — the default toss-in-the-bag speaker.

~$380

Big party bass and battery; overkill (and heavy) unless you actually host outdoors.

~$279

Cheapest way into Sonos; optical-only (no HDMI) is the catch for a big-TV setup.

~$999

Best-sounding mainstream Atmos bar, now with Bluetooth; premium price and Sonos-app baggage.

~$899

Real upward-firing Atmos drivers — a genuine Sonos Arc alternative if you prefer Bose's room-fill tuning.