The best headphones, earbuds & speakers to buy in 2026

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

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

The value default — most of a flagship's noise cancelling for a fraction of the price, and it's frequently discounted.

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

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

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

One of the very few genuinely good noise-cancelling headphones at a budget price — the honest budget answer.

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

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

The pocket speaker, now IP68 waterproof and drop-proof and a little louder than before; tap two together for stereo.

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

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

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

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

Tiny noise-cancelling sleep buds that cut snoring, traffic and pet noise; the catch is about 8 to 10 hours a charge on default settings, so charge them before every sleep.

A cart speaker that also reads out distances to the green when he presses the remote. The catch: the distances come through the Bushnell Golf app, so his phone has to be paired.

BlueParrott's newest trucker headset: AI mics that cut cab noise, ANC in the ear cup and a battery that lasts days; it's a one-ear headset built for calls, not music.