10 Best Headphones for College Students 2026 – Expert Reviewed

Customer Review: I recently purchased the Bose QuietComfort headphones and they are exceptional. They arrived with a high quality protective case, which was a great first impression. The setup and connectivity process was simple and seamless. Downloading the Bose app and pairing the headphones took only a few minutes. Everything worked exactly as expected, which is the level of quality I associate with Bose products. The sound quality is far superior to anything I currently own. I use them both wirelessly with my phone and wired to my computer, and the audio clarity in both setups is outstanding. Music sounds rich and balanced, audiobooks are crisp, and dialogue in videos is incredibly clear. Comfort is another major strength. The size and style are perfect! I can wear these for extended periods without discomfort. The noise canceling is extremely effective, especially in environments with a lot of background noise. For anyone who can feel overwhelmed by constant sound, these make a noticeable difference. With the newer version recently released, these are currently priced at nearly half of what they were before, which makes them an even better value. For music, audiobooks, YouTube, or streaming on your phone, they are well worth the investment. There is honestly nothing about these headphones that I do not like. I would absolutely recommend them.

Customer Review: The photos on this review are of the headphones after a year of use. I think they’re still in great shape. I work in a loud machine shop. I have worn these 40 hours+ a week every week for the past year, and they are without a doubt the best option for quality sound, and long term listening. I had a pair of Sony XM5s before this. Not only did those get uncomfortable after about 5 hours, they also did not last long and broke after a couple of months. These Bose headphones are as perfect of a pair of headphones you can get these days. Battery life is great, they’re lightweight and fit well, so they stay comfortable for 10 hours of use during my shifts, and they’re durable enough to still be in great shape after the past year. Volume and noise cancelling control on the ear is convenient. BT range is great. I can walk all the way to the other end of the shop (100ft+) without losing connection. Yes, these are expensive, but they are the same, if not cheaper than others and last much longer.

Customer Review: These headphones do exactly what they’re supposed to do. The sound is clear, they’re comfortable enough for long computer sessions, and setup is simple. No fuss, no weird issues. For the price, this is a really solid, straightforward pair of headphones. You are not paying for extra features you do not need, just a simple, reliable option that works well for everyday computer use, videos, calls, and music. If you want something affordable that gets the job done, this is a great pick.

Customer Review: For a budget wired headphones, these absolutely live up to the Sony reputation and reliability. I bought them very much for the budget reason but therefore limited expectations but I was pleasantly surprised at the how clear and crisp the full audio was with just the right amount of bass suitable to those who want it or those who prefer less. The one con for me and where I see the budget aspect is the plastic headband, while it’s not out right cheap or flimsy it is still vulnerable to break if careless but it does fit comfortably for hours and folds up, plus the cord is medium length with a really thick feel that seems heavy duty. Got the no mic option but I’d assume the mic functions would be on par with the said audio clarity but they do have relatively decent amount of noise canceling without having a dedicated feature. I’d bought them also for simple everyday use for when I don’t wanna use earbuds but I’d say these would suffice as your everyday go to pair of primary headphones, wired yes but still very much worth budget friendly price. If you’re a studio pro or bass junky then these probably not best fit but I’d def recommend it for everyone else for your everyday movie or music needs.

Customer Review: Firstly, the color is soon cute, and exactly as pictured. I am so in love with the aesthetic of them. They also came fully charged, which was awesome so I got to use them immediately. Secondly, the quality is super good so far. Whether listening to podcasts, rap, or metal music, the sound quality has been perfect. They are compatible with both my switch 2 and my phone which is to be expected, but still happy there were no surprises or difficulties there. They aren’t exactly noise canceling though. When they’re on with no sound playing, other sounds are just dulled ever so slightly. When sound is playing, you can still hear people talking and other sounds like fans, but outside sounds aren’t obtrusive and are blocked fairly well. I also really like how big the ear holes in the pads are, I wasn’t expecting that. My whole ear fits inside them, which makes them super comfortable since they aren’t smooshing the tops of my ears into the arms of my glasses. It also makes them really comfortable to wear while laying down, again because they don’t smoosh my ears. I haven’t had them long enough to really put them through the paces on charging or audio hours, but I will come back to add to this review a little later to comment on that. So far, so amazingly good! Super pleased with the quality for the price I paid.

Customer Review: The BERIBES Bluetooth Headphones are a standout choice for anyone seeking high-quality audio without the premium price tag. The most impressive feature is undoubtedly the massive 65-hour playtime, which allows for over a week of casual listening on a single charge—perfect for long work weeks or travel. Sound enthusiasts will appreciate the 6 EQ modes (ranging from Rock and Pop to Vocal and Deep Bass), which let you customize the profile to match your genre of choice at the touch of a button. Despite their durable build, they are incredibly lightweight and feature soft memory-protein ear cushions, making them comfortable for all-day wear in a home office or during a commute. With a reliable Bluetooth 5.3 connection and a clear built-in microphone for calls, these headphones offer a level of versatility and performance that truly punches above their weight class. Highly recommended!!!

Customer Review: I purchased these recently while they were on sale intending to use them while I work from home and listen to music, podcasts, or take a work call. They can dually connect to both my computer and phone as I often switch between the two as I’m working. But the switch is not as great or seamless as it could be, sometimes it struggles, causing me to miss something being said at the beginning of the meeting when crossing over from one Bluetooth connection to the other. Pausing whatever device is actively playing media, then switching starting a call, or playing a video on that second device is a lot more seamless this way. Upon first use I was actually surprised by how light the headphones were and how comfortable the padding on these were, but I will say after wearing them for nearly 8 hours, I did notice a little bit of soreness around the tops of my ears but it’s nothing compared to what ear buds feel like and what other headphones feel like only 2-3 hours. I cannot really speak on the audio quality as I’m not necessarily a huge expert in that area and I’m largely deaf in one of my ears so half of this pair of headphones is pretty much usless to me… none the less, it sounds great to me, great clear, crisp audio. And I will make note that coworkers that I had to speak on the phone with many times previously and always struggled to understand, regardless of if I have the call on private mode and turned all the way up, speakerphone, or earbuds. But with taking phone calls with these headphones I do not notice this same issue. To mention being largely deaf in one of my ears, these headphones do have a noise canceling features, and although I don’t need too much help in the noise canceling area… I can attest that I feel almost completely deaf with these headphones on. Even with other noise canceling headphones, I can hear myself typing on my keyboard, or the sound of resonance of my feet hitting the ground while walking with headphones on, but I do not experience those things with these headphones at all. And so far from about a week and a half of use, the battery life has been great so far, and I am seeming to get about a day and a half (~12 to 14 hours give or take) of battery life from one charge before I get the battery low message, that is when decide to charge mine, but I’m sure you’d still have a good amount of charge left. Also, the case that these headphones come in, and are stored in, is so amazing and such good quality. I always return them to their case after I’m done using them for the day, as the case is strong is really helps keep your headphones safe and protected. I have a habit of throwing my headphones into a bag if I feel like I may want them, but in that bag is also so many other things, and I never worry about my headphones because of how sturdy and strong the case for these are.

Customer Review: **Disclaimer: I bought mine used like new through Amazon I originally purchased the Sony XM5 because they were soooo highly rated in every article I read. I returned the XM5, got the XM4 and am so much happier. I’ll compare the XM4 to the XM5, Apple AirPods Max, and Bose QuietComfort 45 – just to help anyone choosing between them.** Noise Cancellation (4.5/5): the noise cancellation on the XM4 is crazy, almost comparable to the Apple AirPods Max. I gave the XM4 a 4.5 because I still think the Apple AirPods Max have the best noise cancellation, but the Sony XM4 is very close. I also like the fact that you can turn noise cancelling on/off with a button – which is a feature not available with the Bose QuietComfort 45. The noise cancellation is much better than the XM5 and less finicky. An issue with the XM5 is that the noise cancelling would just randomly turn on/off. Like if I paused a video for a little too long, the noise cancellation would just turn off. Overall, I wouldn’t say I it blocks out all sound, but it’s close. I can hear the sound of people talking and music, but it’s quieter and I can’t make out the words. I definitely can’t have a conversation with them on. Also, the XM4 will pick up on when you’re talking to people and turn the noise cancelling off for you – but it does make a little announcement when it does that may be annoying or disruptive. **Edit Nov. 2025 (re Noise Cancellation): Sooo, when I first wrote the review, I didn’t mention there is an app (“Sound Connect”) where you pair your XM4 (and XM5) headphones and can adjust some settings. I wrote my review based on how the headphones performed without the app (with their default settings). But, with the app, you can adjust the noise cancellation, ambient sound control, adaptive sound control, noise cancelling optimizer, speak-to-chat, 360 audio, etc. After adjusting the settings on my XM4s, I was able to fix some of the issues I mentioned in my original review – like, I turned off the the adaptive sound control and announcements for noise cancelling. I did use the app with the XM5s but it never fixed a lot of the issues I had. The app is kind of… meh. It’s user friendly in the way it looks (like I think everything is pretty easy to find), but it doesn’t really explain what anything means/does. Also, sometimes the noise cancelling setting just randomly changes anyways, which is a little annoying (like the app really wants noise cancelling ON, even if you don’t).** Sound Quality (4/5): the sound quality is great. Way better than the XM5, not as great as the Apple AirPods Max. I think the Apple headphones are just a little crisper. I think it’s cool that you can turn 360 sound on, but tbh I never really use it (XM5 also has this feature). The sound is clear, and I haven’t experienced any malfunctions/issues with the noise. When I had the XM5, they would just randomly sound muffled (like I was underwater) and, when that wasn’t happening, the sound quality was mediocre.** Comfort (5/5): the XM4s are REALLY comfy. I wear glasses with plastic frames and a lot of headphones just don’t work and are really uncomfy. The Apple AirPods Max were really uncomfortable with my glasses. Obviously, an easy solution is to just wear contacts, but I hate wearing my contacts for long periods of time – especially, when I study/do work. The XM5 were also pretty comfortable, but wouldn’t stay fixed when I adjusted them – they would slip and I would need to readjust them a lot. The XM4 completely cover my ear and the ear pads are soft. They don’t squeeze my head the way other headphones do and they don’t hurt any part of my ear. I will say that the headband part that rests on top of my head does kind of hurt my head after wearing them for almost 10 hours. Also, I have TMJ so sometimes wearing the headphones does cause my TMJ to flare up and I’ll switch to earbuds. But, I think overall these are the most comfortable headphones I have tried.** Product Quality (3.5/5): let’s be honest, they’re plastic and they feel plastic. They don’t feel like super high quality, but let me tell you that they feel way better quality than the XM5 – those felt like a barbie toy. I think the XM4 are sturdy and pretty durable. The Apple AirPods Max are also plastic, but do feel a little more high quality – but also, nothing spectacular.** Aesthetic (3.5/5): If the aesthetic is important to you, I would say they look fine. They’re a little bulky, but not terrible. Not as sleek as some others, but they don’t look ridiculous. If you’re really against a bulky look, then they may not be a great aesthetic match for you. I was worried they would be really clunky, but after getting them and wearing them for a bit, I really don’t think they look bad.** Connectivity (4/5): I only have Apple devices (iPhone, MacBook, etc.) and I think the connectivity is great with these products! When I got the XM5, they had so many connection issues. I wasn’t able to connect them to my laptop, they wouldn’t stay connected to my devices – it was a mess. I was really worried I would have the same issues with the XM4, but I have had no problems so far. I will say it was a little odd to have have to download the Sony Connect app and manage the headphone through that platform, but it’s user friendly and it’s kind of nice to have a control for them (it’s almost like a remote).** Battery Life (5/5): The battery life is insane. I’ve had them for 8 days and have not charged them yet – they still have about 40% charge left. They will turn off automatically to save battery life if you don’t use them for a certain amount of time, which I personally like. OVERALL (4.5/5): I think the XM4 are great headphones for a better price than the Apple AirPods Max. The Bose are apparently really similar, but I’ve never personally tried them. The XM4 is MUCH better than the XM5 in terms of quality and price. They’re comfy, great noise cancellation and sound quality, and have great battery life. EDIT 11/6/25: I have these headphones over 2 years later and still use them almost everyday. They are still in great condition (almost the same as when I bought them) – they still look, sound, and operate great. I only really use them at work, when I’m doing chores, or going on a walk (not working out or anything) and I store them in their case – but STILL, some headphones die before they even hit a year. The only thing I’ve noticed is that the part where you can adjust the headband size has gotten a little weaker, but not by much – so I have to readjust them every so often, but this isn’t that big of an issue for me.

Customer Review: These are actually really nice headphones, especially for being 30$. They’re super soft and comfy, and the old pair I had lasted two years of being thrown at a wall, so they’re definitely durable. Great sound quality too! They don’t actively noise cancel, but they naturally block out most noise! A full battery charge lasts more than five hours straight!

Customer Review: Super easy to pair to phone Higher quality than I expected for the price I only use in the gym for an hour twice a week and so far zero complaints. Note: I’m not a sound snob I just don’t want to have to listen to the music in the gym. I think the sound quality is decent.

Customer Review: Firstly, the color is soon cute, and exactly as pictured. I am so in love with the aesthetic of them. They also came fully charged, which was awesome so I got to use them immediately. Secondly, the quality is super good so far. Whether listening to podcasts, rap, or metal music, the sound quality has been perfect. They are compatible with both my switch 2 and my phone which is to be expected, but still happy there were no surprises or difficulties there. They aren’t exactly noise canceling though. When they’re on with no sound playing, other sounds are just dulled ever so slightly. When sound is playing, you can still hear people talking and other sounds like fans, but outside sounds aren’t obtrusive and are blocked fairly well. I also really like how big the ear holes in the pads are, I wasn’t expecting that. My whole ear fits inside them, which makes them super comfortable since they aren’t smooshing the tops of my ears into the arms of my glasses. It also makes them really comfortable to wear while laying down, again because they don’t smoosh my ears. I haven’t had them long enough to really put them through the paces on charging or audio hours, but I will come back to add to this review a little later to comment on that. So far, so amazingly good! Super pleased with the quality for the price I paid.

Customer Review: The BERIBES Bluetooth Headphones are a standout choice for anyone seeking high-quality audio without the premium price tag. The most impressive feature is undoubtedly the massive 65-hour playtime, which allows for over a week of casual listening on a single charge—perfect for long work weeks or travel. Sound enthusiasts will appreciate the 6 EQ modes (ranging from Rock and Pop to Vocal and Deep Bass), which let you customize the profile to match your genre of choice at the touch of a button. Despite their durable build, they are incredibly lightweight and feature soft memory-protein ear cushions, making them comfortable for all-day wear in a home office or during a commute. With a reliable Bluetooth 5.3 connection and a clear built-in microphone for calls, these headphones offer a level of versatility and performance that truly punches above their weight class. Highly recommended!!!

Customer Review: They work fine and to me? Well! It’s a good sound quality and look cool, I thought for a moment, because when I saw that the box that was small they were so small and cot scam, but nope, they cans fold and they look like the ones from the image, but I’ll rate this 5 stars

Customer Review: The headphones look “cute”, they are turquoise! 😊. The cord length is substantial to use while I’m on my treadmill and the CD player is “attached” to the front of the treadmill. The sound is FABULOUS and CLEAR when attached to CD. It fits well over the ears and is light weight. An excellent purchase.

Customer Review: I am very very impressed with these headphones. I previously had a pair of beat’s studio pro headphone’s which are known for their bass and sound quality, but the ear pieces hurt my ears and I couldn’t wear them for very long. So, I was looking for something that would be lightweight, have quality sound, and at a decent price. After reading reviews, I went with this set, and purchased the cream color. Best decision!! They came with a lovely carrying bag, and they fold up nicely. They are super lightweight – the lightest headphones I’ve ever owned. I think as long as you’re gentle with them and handle them with care, they should last long time. The ear piece padding is very soft and comfortable, fitting completely around my ears instead of sitting on top of them. Love that. They’re easily adjustable as well. I’m actually really impressed with the sound quality too. I thought—for $30—the quality might not be that great, but I was proved wrong. They have nice bass and a very crisp sound and pick up on all the fine details. And coming from having the beats studios, this is a great alternative—in my opinion. Haven’t had to charge them yet, been using them straight out of the box for a couple weeks, so the battery life seems to be good just from the base charge that they came with. Also been able to answer phone calls while having them on, and the sound quality is great. Easy to connect to your phone too. Great ease of use, great quality and craftsmanship, and great value for the price. Highly recommend these!! 🙂

Customer Review: These headphones are great for the price. The sound is awesome and the volume can get very loud great for blocking out noise. The quality is amazing and the headphones are so comfy I fall asleep using them and I barely notice them super light. The battery lasts forever I have charged them maybe twice since purchasing and I purchased a couple of months before writing this. I have used the headphones for whole days and if starting from 100% battery they will be at like 90% the next day. Charges super fast and way better than my earbuds that I still use but these have become my primary listening device. If you are thinking about purchasing do not wait these are just perfect. They are basically those good headphones worth hundreds made affordable.

Customer Review: These were bought for replacement headphones for an assisted listening system in a church. We bought two of these and two low price Sony headsets which were three times the cost and put all four in service. I gave these 5-stars because at around $5.00 per headset they work just fine for what they are intended and could be affordably replaced if they get dirty or damaged. They do not sound bad but are not audiophile quality by any means. They work fine for the assisted listening receivers. The ear cushions are foam so you cannot clean them and if multiple people are using them you need to keep an eye on them and replace when needed. We hand out the two Sony’s (which can be wiped down) first then these so with the minimal usage, they should last a very long time making them a good long term investment and at the low cost we are not going to feel bad if we have to replace one.

Customer Review: Our teenage son always seems to somehow ‘confiscate’ and then proceed to break and/or lose every set of earbud-type earphones in our house, including mine that came with my iPod. So, he has now been relegated to only owning the least expensive kind I can find for him (even if that means pink ones, lol). So, after perusing Amazon, I bought these headphones for him because 1) they were so inexpensive, 2) the reviews were pretty good, and 3) did I mention they were so inexpensive? Well, when they arrived, I opened them up to check them out and make sure they worked and such. I was impressed and I really liked them. But when I gave them to my son, I quickly learned that, according to my son, over-the-head type “headphones” (as opposed to the in-ear or ear bud type) are so “80’s” and “uncool looking”. Was I angry at him for basically calling me “old and uncool” for liking these headphones? No way!! This was my perfect solution to keep him from “borrowing” and then losing/breaking MY headphones. Besides, I never really liked the ones that go into the ears anyhow. So now these are mine! For what it’s worth, I feel neither “old” nor “uncool” while wearing them. I promise!! *They fit great, they are snug but not TOO snug. If I was into jogging and/or some other type of strenuous exercise, I don’t think I would have any trouble keeping them in place on my ears/head (I swim for exercise so obviously I can’t wear them for that, lol). *The quality of sound is fantastic to me – although I’m not really an “audio snob”. *They are extremely adjustable on both sides although I happen to use them on the smallest setting without needing to make them any bigger. *They are lightweight, as stated in the description, but not in a ‘flimsy’ kind of way. I don’t think they are any more or less breakable than any other kind of similar headphones (yes, I did go through many sets of headphones like these during the 1980’s). Since I don’t expect to be rough with them at all, I am hoping they last me quite awhile. If not, and they do somehow break, at least I wouldn’t feel *too* bad only being out a few dollars. I would ABSOLUTELY order these again and highly recommend them to anyone looking for inexpensive, but nice, headphones. They are perfect for this “uncool” mom. 🙂 ***UPDATE*** June, 2015: Well it’s been nearly two years and I’ve gone through about three pairs of these headphones (and I’m going to order a few more after I write this – now that they have pretty color options). Not one pair has broken yet, they just seem to get lost somehow (in our house, we joke that when things go missing it’s because unicorns come and eat them). I’m glad they have color options now and I would still absolutely recommend these inexpensive, and nice, headphones.

Customer Review: I am very satisfied with the LORELEI X6 Over-Ear Headphones with Microphone, Lightweight Foldable & Portable Stereo Bass Headphones with 1.45M No-Tangle, Wired Headphones for Smartphone Tablet MP3 / 4 (Space Black). I needed a pair of headphones to plug in to my new used electric baby grand piano that my brother gave to me. My daughter, also a pianist, and her seven children live with my husband and me, and I can never find the time to play the old upright that’s gathering dust in the music room. During the day I’m too busy with the demands of a large crazy household. At night, the little ones are sleeping. With my new electric piano and a pair of headphones, that won’t be a problem any more! I also wanted headphones that were sturdy and inexpensive, as I plan to allow the children to use the piano. I’d like the headphones to be somewhat noise-cancelling, so I can concentrate, but not terribly noise-cancelling. I need to be able to respond if someone starts to cry. These headphones are just about perfect! They were only $12.99 at the time of my purchase, although that might have been a Black Friday sale price. They can be adjusted to fit the little ones and the not-so-little ones. The sound I hear is perfect. And the best part, for me anyway, is the company name! It’s my name! Yes, my name is Lorelei! By the way, about half of the video reviewers pronounced it wrong. Lorelei is a German name, and that is the German spelling, so ei makes the long I sound. Lorelei rhymes with butterfly. Now my headphones have my name printed on them! I think they will remain my favorite brand from now on! My biggest question though is what does x6 mean? I tried googling it, but found no definitive answer. I think I read somewhere it’s because they have six wires inside? Who knows. But I usually try to explain strange terms in a product listing, and I can’t explain this one. Otherwise, the headphones are great!

Customer Review: Best inexpensive Head Phones audio is as great 😃 as a TV audio with a tier higher specs