Best wireless headphones UK 2026: tier list (S–D)

The best wireless and noise-cancelling headphones in the UK for 2026, ranked S to D. Tiers follow What Hi-Fi? listening tests, RTINGS and SoundGuys lab measurements, and current UK prices (updated 2026-10-10). Earbuds are a separate category. Links go to brand stores.

Last updated 10/10/2026

S

(£303–£399)

Tier S (£303–£399). Premium standouts.

Sony WH-1000XM6

~£319 · flagship

• +What Hi-Fi? and SoundGuys both pick it as the best overall wireless headphone
• +Detailed, open sound and ANC close to Bose Quiet mode
• +Folds flat, with LDAC, LC3 and strong call quality
• −No aptX, and no audio over USB-C

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

~£303 · flagship

• +What Hi-Fi?’s best noise-cancellers; SoundGuys’ travel pick
• +RTINGS calls the fit amazingly comfortable, with deep cups
• +Lossless USB-C and aptX Adaptive
• −Sony and Sennheiser sound more detailed and dynamic
• −Wired listening still uses the battery

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Sennheiser HDB 630

~£399 · audiophile

• +More natural, dynamic sound than the Sony WH-1000XM6
• +USB-C dongle lifts Bluetooth quality, including on iPhone
• +Up to 60 hours, and it works wired over USB-C or 3.5mm
• −ANC is good rather than Bose- or Sony-level
• −Plain design, and wired listening needs battery

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

A

(£192–£999)

Tier A (£192–£999). Best picks.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3

~£399 · flagship

• +What Hi-Fi? puts the sound on level terms with the XM6
• +aptX Lossless and a lighter, better-finished build
• +Often the cheapest of the £399 flagships when Amazon discounts it
• −ANC trails Sony and Bose
• −Does not fold away

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Apple AirPods Max 2

~£499 · Apple

• +Best fit if you live on iPhone: Adaptive Audio, spatial audio, Live Translation
• +What Hi-Fi? notes a smoother, more open sound than the first Max
• +ANC handles Tube rumble without crushing the music
• −Four stars: less insight and punch than Sony, B&W or Sennheiser
• −20-hour battery and 386g, and it still does not fold

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Sony WH-1000XM5

~£192 · previous flagship

• +What Hi-Fi? still recommends it when the XM6 is too much money
• +Regularly discounted to about half its £380 launch price
• +Still ahead of the Momentum 4 and older Bose QuietComfort on their tests
• −XM6 is more detailed, folds, and cancels more noise
• −Does not fold flat

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Focal Bathys Mg

~£999 · high-end

• +What Hi-Fi? five stars: more refinement than the original Bathys
• +Built-in DAC for wired listening up to 24-bit/192kHz
• +Noise cancelling up with the better flagships
• −£999, and about 100g heavier than the Sony XM6
• −No touch controls or wearer detection

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Sony WH-1000XM4C

~£219 · midrange

• +What Hi-Fi? five stars for musical, balanced sound
• +SoundGuys measures ANC at 8.7/10, ahead of most over-ears
• +Folds for travel, with Bluetooth 6.0 and LDAC
• −27-hour battery is short for the class
• −No aptX and no IP rating

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless

~£329 · flagship

• +What Hi-Fi? five stars: rich, refined, detailed midrange
• +SoundGuys 8.6/10, with ANC much improved over the Momentum 4
• +50+ hour battery that you can replace yourself
• −ANC still a step behind Sony, Bose and AirPods Max 2
• −Does not fold away completely

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

B

(£89–£399)

Tier B (£89–£399). Strong alternatives.

Sonos Ace Ultra

~£399 · flagship

• +Richer sound and much better ANC than the three-star Sonos Ace
• +Links audio from current Sonos speakers and soundbars
• +35 hours with ANC, and aptX, which the Sony XM6 skips
• −What Hi-Fi? four stars: less precise than the XM6 and HDB 630
• −Same £399 as the headphones that beat it

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

~£188 · previous flagship

• +What Hi-Fi? still lists it: competitive sound and effective ANC
• +60-hour battery, twice the Sony flagship claim
• +Now sells well below its £300 launch price
• −HDB 630 is clearly ahead on detail and dynamics
• −Plain look compared with older Momentum models

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT

~£123 · no ANC

• +Cleaner, more insightful sound than other wireless pairs near this price
• +Comfortable, and it sounds even better on the cable
• +Puts sound quality ahead of features, which is rare at this price
• −No ANC, no multipoint, and only the SBC codec
• −Leaner bass than Sony’s cheap ANC pairs

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Sony WH-CH720N

~£89 · budget ANC

• +Five-star sound and usable ANC for under £100
• +Up to 50 hours with ANC off
• +Nothing else What Hi-Fi? has tested near this price has beaten it
• −Bass is enthusiastic, and ANC is not XM6-grade
• −No carry case and it does not fold

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Sennheiser Accentum Plus

~£140 · midrange

• +SoundGuys rates the Accentum line as the best wireless pair under $200
• +Long battery and a more useful EQ than most cheap ANC sets
• +Usually sells well below its £200 launch price
• −ANC cuts low rumble, then falls behind Sony and Bose
• −What Hi-Fi? prefers the Hi-X25BT when sound matters more than features

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Sony WH-CH730N

~£99 · budget

• +What Hi-Fi? five stars for clear, entertaining sound
• +Folds, with about 50 hours of battery and multipoint
• +SoundGuys measures about 79% of outside noise blocked
• −ANC struggles with voices, per What Hi-Fi? and SoundGuys
• −Needs some EQ tweaking to sound its best

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Technics EAH-A1000

~£399 · flagship

• +Refined, spacious sound with low distortion
• +Comfortable, foldable build and strong battery
• +T3 gives it five stars for sound and comfort
• −What Hi-Fi? four stars: less rhythmic drive than the XM6 and HDB 630
• −Bulky cups, and ANC trails Sony

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

C

(£30–£474)

Tier C (£30–£474). Good value (with caveats).

JBL Live 780NC

~£144 · budget

• +What Hi-Fi? four stars: smooth, solid, detailed
• +Premium-feeling, comfortable build
• +Long battery, with LDAC
• −Bass is overly rich
• −Sony’s five-star WH-CH730N costs less

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Sony 1000X The Collexion

~£474 · flagship

• +Premium build and great ANC and call quality
• +Spacious, detailed sound, per What Hi-Fi?
• −What Hi-Fi? four stars and SoundGuys 7.9/10 at a flagship-plus price
• −24-hour battery with ANC, no USB-C audio, and SoundGuys’ first unit failed

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Philips TAH8000E

~£114 · budget

• +What Hi-Fi? four stars, with clear mids and treble
• +Good noise cancelling and a folding design
• +Up to 50 hours with ANC, plus LDAC and LC3
• −Overzealous bass
• −Smooth rather than exciting next to the Sony WH-CH720N and WH-CH730N

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Sony WH-CH520

~£30 · budget

• +What Hi-Fi?’s best cheap wireless headphone, five stars at £49
• +Often under £40 in sales
• +50-hour battery and a useful Sony app
• −No ANC, and dynamics fall off against anything above £80
• −Light, plasticky build

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Grado GW100x

~£228 · open-back

• +What Hi-Fi? still recommends them for private listening at home
• +Open, lively Grado sound without a cable
• −Open-back: people around you hear your music, and you hear them
• −No ANC, and a poor fit for commuting

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Nothing Headphone (1)

~£169 · midrange

• +Distinctive design and physical controls
• +Up to 35 hours with ANC, 80 without
• +Clear, detailed, full-bodied sound
• −What Hi-Fi? three stars: cheaper rivals are more entertaining
• −Fit is not always secure

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Soundcore Space 2

~£130 · budget

• +SoundGuys’ budget travel pick for battery and ANC
• +50 hours with ANC on, and good call quality
• +Usually well under £150
• −What Hi-Fi? two stars: flat dynamics and timing
• −Better-sounding pairs cost about the same

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

D

(£114–£200)

Tier D (£114–£200). Avoid for most.

Sony ULT Wear

~£114 · bass-first

• +Big bass on demand, and up to 30 hours with noise cancelling
• −What Hi-Fi? calls the tuning inadvisable next to the Award-winning CH720N
• −You pay more than the CH720N for a less balanced sound

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Sonos Ace

~£200 · previous gen

• +Comfortable build, and it still links to a Sonos system
• +Usually discounted well below the Ace Ultra
• −What Hi-Fi? three stars: safe, undynamic sound against Sony and Bose
• −The discounted Sony WH-1000XM5 and Momentum 4 sound better for similar money

Pros & consSpecsOfficialAmazon

Swipe each tier row sideways to see every headphone in it. Tier price ranges are estimated typical UK prices for headphones in that row (lowest–highest), not live retailer quotes. Plus/minus bullets are editorial; tap Specs on a headphone for its full spec sheet.