The best wireless headphones in Australia offer the perfect combination of convenience, style and above all, great sound quality. While there is certainly still a place for the best wired headphones, which find particular favour with audiophiles, for the most of us, a pair of wireless headphones has become practically a necessity.
It's perhaps no surprise that the majority of pairs on our list of the best headphones in Australia are wireless pairs, since their quality and reliability has continued to get better and better. That's also especially true of more affordable pairs, with many brands proving you don't need to spend several hundred dollars to pick up a decent set.
Below you'll find our current top picks for the best wireless headphones in Australia. The TechRadar team has spent hours upon hours testing all the latest pairs, and despite plenty of new models coming along since their launch, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is still our top pick. This list only concerns wireless headphones – so be sure to check out our best wireless earbuds guide if that's what you're after instead.
The quick list
Below, you’ll find a quick roundup of our top choices for the best wireless headphones in Australia. We've selected multiple pairs for different needs, and you can jump to a more detailed review of every model.
The best wireless headphones for most people
It's going to take something truly special to knock the Sony XM4s from their perch – they continue to offer fantastic value for sound quality, features and ANC – but be sure you're getting a discount before you buy them.
The best cheap wireless headphones
These were already great value when we first reviewed them, but now that they often see discounts, the WH-CH520 are by far the best bargain buy for wireless on-ear cans.
The best premium wireless headphones
These deliver awesome detail and balance, and pretty good ANC along with other smart features. As do lots of other cans here, but the PX8 look and feel a cut above.
The best cheap noise cancelling wireless headphones
Excellent battery stamina, decent noise cancellation, solid sound quality, and high-quality build… what more can you want from a pair of very affordable headphones? These are superb.
The best mid-priced wireless headphones
Great sound balance, strong detail, solid active noise cancellation, useful smart features and a very light and comfortable design make these great value.
The best wireless headphones for sound at a reasonable price
Edifier's flagship wireless planar magnetic headphones are an audiophile dream. They have great wireless features and battery life, but they do miss out on ANC. Sound quality is ace, but if you want total isolation, you should look elsewhere.
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The best headphones for noise cancellation
These have the best active noise cancellation you can get in any headphones right now, and the audio quality is exquisite too. They're pricey, but worth it.
The best wireless headphones for movies
Not the best-sounding headphones in this guide, but they're our top pick for movies because they sound great when listening in spatial audio with fantastic Dolby Atmos sound.
The best wireless headphones for big Sony fans
For a lot of people, Bluetooth headphones means Sony, and these offer its best active noise cancellation and sound, though for a slightly high price.
The best Apple wireless headphones
These are fantastic-sounding headphones with excellent features unique to iPhone, including spatial audio. But they're extremely high-priced.
Recent updates
August 20 2024 Carried out a complete overhaul of the guide by removing all wireless and true wireless earbuds, which have been moved to their own dedicated guides. Updated the remaining list of wireless headphone models to reflect recent reviews and availability in Australia. The Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 are the top pick for the best premium wireless headphones in other territories, but their lack of availability in Australia means they've been replaced by the Bowers & Wilkins Px8.
The best wireless headphones in Australia for 2024
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The best wireless headphones overall
Despite the newer WH-1000XM5 model being released, we still rate the Sony XM4 as the better-value purchase for most people, predominantly because they can now be picked up for far less than their launch price, due to that newer model being released. However, prices can regularly fluctuate, so we'd only recommend them if you can find them for around the AU$400 mark. If you can find them for less, they're a surefire winner, but if they go much above this, then we recommend you also consider the XM5s, Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless or the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e if you can find them on sale.
Like their successors, they offer tremendous noise-cancellation, supreme sound quality, a lightweight and comfortable build, and an ease of use that delivers everything you could want from a wireless set of cans.
On top of the basics, they offer multipoint pairing, DSEE Extreme upscaling, conversational awareness and auto-play/pause using a built-in sensor. They also support Sony’s 360 Reality Audio format that enables spatial audio on stereo headphones plus the LDAC codec that can send a bitrate of up to 990 kbps, but don't support aptX or aptX HD. By every possible metric, the Sony WH-1000XM4 are still a wonderful pair of wireless noise-cancelling headphones.
Read our full Sony WH-1000XM4 review
The best budget wireless headphones
If you want to go Sony for your wireless headphones but don't need, or can't stretch to, a high-priced, high-end set like the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones above, then the Sony WH-CH520 headphones are a much more affordable option packed with all the features most people will need.
The Sony WH-CH520 offer strong audio for the price that we found to be really well-balanced in our review, plus tons of battery life. At such a low price, they don't have the build quality or the dynamic audio of headphones costing five times as much, but they are an excellent pair of all-rounders for a very impressive price.
Do note that these are an on-ear design as opposed to over-ear, and you will find the soundstage isn't quite as immersive as a result. There is also a greater chance of external noise creeping in, but for those who work in an office or need to stay alert at home this could be a plus point rather than a criticism. Not everyone finds these as comfortable for long periods too, since they press right on the ear's helix (the outer edge).
Sony says you can get 50 hours of battery life from a charge, and we found that to be realistic. Usefully, you can fast-charge from flat for 90 minutes of playback in just three minutes, which can be a lifesaver. Annoyingly, there's no 3.5mm audio jack for listening if you run out of charge, or to connect to a computer or plane system.
Read our full Sony WH-CH520 review
The best wireless headphones for design
If you're looking for a luxe pair of headphones that make a statement but still sound fantastic, then we recommend the Bowers & Wilkins PX8, which we called "exceptional" in our review. In fact, something magical happened when we tested them, we wrote: "To put these headphones on is to experience a pride of ownership rarely felt, even at this level."
Not only is the build fantastic, but the sound is absolutely jaw-dropping for detail, clarity, energy and agility. When compared to the best from Sony, Bose and Sennheiser we found the energy, depth and immersion of the PX8 to put them in a different league. Sonically, they're incredible.
Of course, that's not a totally fair comparison given their price. At roughly AU$1,150 they're eye-wateringly expensive – even more so than the already expensive Apple AirPods Max. In our review we explained why some of the choices here resulted in such a high price tag: "a new carbon cone 40mm drive unit replaces the bio-cellulose driver in the more affordable Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 and the die-cast aluminium arms, diamond-cut bright metal detailing and Nappa leather trim elevates the build to high-end territory." So if you want a truly premium pair of wireless headphones that sound out of this world, this is it.
Read our full Bowers & Wilkins PX8 review
The best cheap noise-cancelling wireless headphones
Among the sea of affordable, high-specced headphones now available, the Earfun Wave Pro do enough to stand out as our outright favourite. They're decidedly above average across the board, yet are priced incredibly well. They look good, they sound good, they feel good, they last forever, and they block noise well. Boxes ticked all round!
In our review, we were gobsmacked by the 80 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation turned off, and 55 hours with it on. Using the connected app, you can access some other great features, including five different ANC modes, a gaming mode to reduce latency, and customisation of the on-device controls. All that, plus Bluetooth multi-point makes for a great package.
Not that it would matter much if they didn't sound good – but they do. Bass is robust, treble is clear, and while the mids are a little more lost, the overall balance is still impressive for such affordable cans. Obviously, you're not getting audiophile-level stuff here, but you'll need to spend a load more to improve it much.
They're also made well, with none of the creaking when you move that some budget headphones give you – and the controls are easy to find and use. It's just a shame they only come in a slightly dull black colour. They look good, just not exciting for those who like a bit of personality in their headphones. But, factoring in all their talents, they're essentially the only pair anyone could ever need.
Read our full Earfun Wave Pro review
The best mid-priced wireless headphones
The Sony WH-CH720N are a straight-down-the-middle hit. They aim to offer you impressive sound, useful extra features including ANC and a comfortable and light fit – and they succeed.
The sound is extremely well-balanced, which is what we expect from Sony and has an agile touch with detail. In our review, we said "Bass is warm but level-headed, mid-range is robust and individual instruments stand out within it well, and treble has plenty of clarity to make the little details pop. An extra step of precision is definitely what you get here that most other affordable headphones won't deliver." The only limitation from the price is that it's clearly a less expansive soundstage than higher-priced headphones, but that's fair.
The noise cancellation again is a very clear step down from the Sony WH-1000XM4, but it does its job of toning down outside sounds so you don't have to crank the volume all the way up to hear anything. For other features, you've got Sony's DSEE upscaling to make lower-quality streaming tracks sound better, and 360 Reality Audio support for spatial audio. There's no higher-res LDAC wireless tech, but they do come with a wired 3.5mm cable.
The very light build is comfortable to wear, so you can really get into how enjoyable they are to listen to – though we might request a little more headband padding in the next version. They don't excel in any particular area, but they do great in all areas, and that makes them ideal for most people.
Read our full Sony WH-CH720N review
The best planar magnetic wireless headphones
When it comes to sound, these Edifiers absolutely excel, thanks in no small part to their planar magnetic drivers, which offer more precise and dynamic sound than standard drivers. What makes them that bit more impressive is that, despite planar magnetic drivers being rare, you almost certainly won't find another pair for the AU$300 price Edifier would love for you to part with. The only slight niggle is that you don't have noise cancellation, but a quick glance at the star-rating above proves how we feel about these regardless.
And it's not just about the sound. As stamina claims go, 80 hours is impressively insatiable in almost any arena, but particularly concerning wireless headphones – and we actually gleaned just over 90 hours from these in practice.
These headphones are very easy to pair, very quick on the uptake where the app is concerned, and easy to use, too. Multipoint? You got it; you'll happily be chopping and changing betwixt phone and laptop all the livelong day. They're comfortable for all that time, too – we said in our review that their "headband is nicely padded over the crown, which makes these cans feel well weighted and good for longer listening sessions".
But aside from lacking ANC, you're also not getting an ambient awareness mode here, no auto-off functionality, and the Edifier Connect app is fine, but that's as far as it goes. They're not the smartest on the block, but they sound so good.
Read our full Edifier Stax Spirit S3 review
The best wireless headphones for active noise cancellation
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are easily the best headphones from the audio pioneer yet – they sound incredible, they've got useful app-powered features, they have a premium and comfortable design, and their noise cancellation is the best we've ever heard. They cost more than most of the headphones here, but we reckon they're worth every cent.
Let's be clear about the active noise cancellation: it's absolutely a clear level above the competition, turning cities silent in a way we've never heard before (so to speak). It makes it basically impossible to hear anything going on your own house even, or the office, or the bus. We found it did have some trouble with extremely loud noises causing it to glitch a little, but that was so rare (during a plane take-off, only for a few seconds, and when next to the engine of a bus struggling up a hill) that we don't really mind.
The sound quality is also the best we've ever heard from Bose, delivering a truly thrilling level of energy and dynamic range. It's so detailed, so poised, so lively, and so layered, from its (really very deep) bass to its clear and well-honed treble. And that's all with the noise cancellation turned on, so not even the 'purest' sound they can do. With Snapdragon Sound for high-res and a wired connection (though no USB-C audio, sadly), they can do higher-quality audio too, wired or wireless.
The Bose app enables you to make custom noise cancellation modes (dialling it from 1-10) to switch between, which is easy and really useful in our experience. You can also tweak the EQ, but you won't need to.
These are an obvious audio improvement on anything that costs less than them, and even sound a little better than the AirPods Max, which cost more – though the spatial audio on the Bose is only 'okay' (it's nice with movies, we turned it off with music), while the spatial audio on AirPods Max with Dolby Atmos on Apple devices is 'wow', as is the Dolby Atmos soundstage you're offered when watching movies using the Sonos Ace.
The only straight-up disappointment is the battery life. At 24 hours, they're lower than anything else here – lower than the 30 hours of the Sony headphones, and much lower than the 80 hours of the Edifier Stax Spirit S3. But with sound this good, we forgive them. Just remember to turn on their auto-off feature.
To save some money on Bose products, check out our Bose discount codes.
Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review
The best wireless headphones for movies
The long-awaited Sonos Ace over-ear headphones are our top pick for movies. But, to be honest, we weren't huge fans of the sound overall during our testing. We found that the Sonos Ace are behind rivals in certain respects, especially when it comes to expansive, expressive music reproduction.
However, for powerful and cinematic sound and listening in spatial audio from your Sonos soundbar, they're unbeatable. They're part of our new favourite home cinema setup – especially if you're a movie lover but don't want to wake the house up every time you put on a film. The features on offer here are also impressive, especially if High-Res Audio is a priority for you, including aptX Adaptive, Snapdragon Sound and USB-C lossless options.
Design-wise, Sonos speakers always look slick, minimal and high-end and the brand's first foray into headphones is no exception. In our review, we wrote that these wireless headphones have a classy, premium design and look "simple, elegant and thoughtful". They were comfortable to wear for the most part with a plush headband and earcups. However, it's worth pointing out that some glasses-wearing testers struggled for long-term comfort.
So although the Sonos Ace headphones are incredibly impressive, we'd only really recommend them if you don't wear glasses and plan on pairing them with a Sonos soundbar. They're not the best-sounding headphones in this guide, but they're the best headphones for movie lovers, hands-down.
Read our full Sonos Ace review
The best high-end Sony wireless headphones
The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are among the best wireless headphones we've ever tested – but their high price means we think there are better-value options in some cases.
Their predecessors, the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, are at the top of our list because we think the specs and the price will suit anyone looking for a high-end pair of headphones. But the XM5s do offer a more lightweight wireless design, new drivers for improved sound, a whole array of microphones for better call quality and super-fast charging. There's also beefier processing for the noise cancellation, which was already superb. It's beaten by the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, but basically nothing else beats these.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones give you exactly what they promise and then some thanks to their exceptional noise cancellation and cutting-edge codec support, which delivers even higher quality audio in compatible apps.
The drivers in these models are smaller than before at 30mm, but the soundstage remains spacious and gives all elements of a mix room to breathe and shine. We were happy to find that there’s very little sound leakage, too, even when you’re listening to loud music. We sat next to a colleague in the office with the volume at full, and they didn't hear anything – that's an improvement over the previous model.
The issue is really just the price – they cost a lot more than the WH-1000XM4, but the differences are not totally night and day. You also get better features and sound quality from the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless at the same price (the Sony are better for ANC). It's also a shame they no longer have a folding design for travelling, though that's not a dealbreaker for most. We love these a lot, we just think other headphones squeak out more value.
Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review
The best wireless headphones for Apple fans
There's a lot to love about the Apple AirPods Max. The things we rated highest during our use of them includes extremely detailed and well-balanced sound, very impressive active noise cancellation, and an iconic look that's become one of the most knocked-off on the market (but you can always tell the originals).
However, while their exceptional audio performance, fantastic spatial audio for movies, and strong ANC continue to impress us to this day, their high price and their lack of support for Hi-Res Audio codecs or a standard 3.5mm jack are definitely an issue at this point, especially for hardcore audiophiles. They're also pretty heavy, and use a good clamping force to spread that weight around your head. This works fairly well, but isn't to everyone's taste – especially those with smaller heads and glasses, in our experience giving them to a few people.
These headphones are squarely targeted at people already bought into the Apple ecosystem, as they're packed with smart features for iOS users (including that astounding Dolby Atmos spatial audio, plus "Find My" support if you misplace them) and come in an unmistakably Apple design. And, bear in mind, they still sound fantastic.
For Android users, however, the AirPods Max don't have the same features as on iOS, so we can't justify the high price of these headphones if you won't be connecting them to Apple hardware. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are what you want instead. And may be what a lot of Apple users want too, considering their lower price than the AirPods Max.
However if you use Apple products daily, are happy to spend generously on a new pair of Bluetooth headphones with all kinds of extra tricks to use with that Apple gear, and you don't mind lacking hi-res audio, AirPods Max are a very nice package.
Read our full Apple AirPods Max review
More wireless headphones to consider
Two recent reviews that narrowly failed to make this list include the JLab JBuds Lux (which aren't buds, despite the name) and the Beats Solo 4. The JLab option are affordable over-ears that sadly were a little too bass-heavy to truly wow us for the money, despite an excellent build quality. The Beats Solo 4, meanwhile, performed well in certain areas but were hard to recommend in others. Ultimately, their middling sound quality for the money, lack of true multi-point pairing or noise cancellation and imperfect comfort levels are all clear issues – but you can read our Beats Solo 4 review or our JLab JBuds Lux review for our considered, in-depth analysis.
In other wireless headphones news, the Edifier Stax Spirit S3 will soon to be superseded by a Spirit S5 (no, there's not been an S4 iteration!) and we're working on our review right now, so keep your eyes peeled. The Sennheiser HD 620S has also just reviewed really well if you're on the lookout for a wired option.
The Earfun Wave Pro are also a relatively new and affordable set of headphones headphones with active noise cancellation, and they were serious contenders for this list. They sit in a slightly awkward price gap between the Sony WH-CH520 and the Sony WH-CH720N, although Earfun products are usually available with discounts once they've launched. We'll keep an eye on prices, and if the price drops closer to the Sony WH-CH520, they could well become our new budget choice, given that they offer good active noise cancellation, solid sound, excellent battery life, and even hi-res wireless audio sport. Read our full Earfun Wave Pro review for more.
Speaking of affordable noise-cancelling headphones, we also took at a look at the Edifier W820NB Plus. These are packed with features, and seriously impressed us when it comes to the spec list – but the music quality just isn't there, and for the same price as the Earfun Wave Pro, they're a clear step down. Read our Edifier W820NB Plus review if you want to know more about them, though.
At the higher end, the Sennheiser Accentum Plus are a great-performing pair of headphones, with two problems: the Sony WH-1000XM4, and the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. The Sony headphones are usually the same price as the Accentum, and they're still our number one pick, so… that's tough. And the Momentum 4 Wireless are often only a small amount more expensive than the Accentum Plus, but offer a stronger feature list, so are arguably better value. However, the Accentum Plus are definitely another option that could make it into this list if prices change, shifting their value. Definitely read our in-depth Sennheiser Accentum Plus review.
How to choose the best wireless headphones
We've tested dozens if not hundreds of wireless headphones, looking at various elements of what makes up the best wireless headphones.
First of all, we considered different styles. We appreciated the importance of some people preferring over-ear compared to in-ear, as well as looked at different ways of connecting the devices, whether that's via a truly wireless connection or with a neckband.
From there, it was important to consider price. While, generally, the more you pay, the better the sound quality, not everyone can (or wants to) spend hundreds on the latest earphones with the best audio experience. Instead, we evaluated what was best here, while ensuring all the entries offered clear and crisp sound at all times.
It's worth considering if you want any additional features too. Many people may just want great sound and a comfy fit, but others may prefer to see voice assistant integration or noise cancellation. There's not much point in spending extra on a set of features you'll never use, or seeking out voice assistant support for a service you don't use.
Audiophiles may also wish to pay attention to wireless headphones that support Hi-Res Audio codecs like LDAC and aptX HD Bluetooth too for superior connectivity.
Ultimately, it's important to find a good balance of features so that you spend the right amount for you, while also getting the style and audio performance you appreciate most.
Wireless vs true wireless: what's the difference?
Wireless headphones are traditional over-ear or on-ear headphones without the wire – the two earcups are connected by a headband.
Wireless earbuds have existed for a while now, basically since Bluetooth was invented. Though battery-powered and not physically connected to your phone, they have a cord connecting both buds – and sometimes a band around the neck too. Check out the best wireless earbuds for more.
True wireless earbuds have no cord whatsoever. While wireless allows us to wear headphones a few feet away from our music players, True Wireless cuts the cord between the earbuds, giving us true freedom. If you're looking to go full wireless, we also have a round-up of the best true wireless headphones.
Are wired headphones better than wireless?
While you're generally going to get better sound quality out of wired headphones, there have been so many advances in audio tech in the recent years that you're likely not going to notice the difference.
We still recommend for audiophiles to opt for wired headphones, but as for everyone else, it's really down to personal preference. Wireless headphones can be a bit more convenient, as there's no tangled cords involved, and if you get a good quality pair, you not going to miss out when it comes to sound quality,
What are the best headphones I can buy right now?
There's really no one answer to this. While we've ranked headphones in this list, it ultimately comes down to your preferences, style and budget.
We've given the Sony WH-1000XM5's the top spot for over-ear headphones because they perform beautifully and have a stack of features including a decent battery life and noise cancellation. They're definitely a well rounded set of headphones, but you might find another on this list that better suits your needs.
Consider the design of your headphones – do you want something in-ear, over-ear or even on-ear? How will you use them and what falls into your budget? These are all important things to consider, and will help you find the best headphones for your personal needs.
Which brand is best for wireless headphones?
There's no one perfect brand for wireless headphones as you can see above. It all depends on what you need most from your wireless headphones. If you're looking for solid all-rounders, Sony are a great bet if you can afford them, while Bose often have the edge with noise-cancellation quality. That's before you consider if you need the best wireless headphones for running, listening, or something different.
That's why it's important to do your research and think about what is most important to you.
How we tested the best wireless headphones
We've tested every pair of the best wireless headphones on this list and to include them here, we were looking for each device to tick a number of key boxes.
The first, of course, is Bluetooth connectivity. But as well as offering wireless sound, we also tested for stable and reliable connections – there's nothing worse than losing a track just as it reaches the good bit.
Next up, we wanted to ensure the headphones were designed with wearability and style in mind. We tested how comfortable they were for long periods of time and assessed their looks, too, from minimal to suitably stylish.
Audio performance was a key consideration. Gone are the days of wireless headphones lacking in sound quality, so we made sure every pair of Bluetooth headphones on this list offered clear, powerful sound.
We also considered additional features, too, like AI assistant integration and noise cancellation. Not all of the headphones in this list have extras like these, but it certainly makes some devices more appealing than others – especially if you have a big budget.
Speaking of budget, we also considered whether the wireless headphones in this list were good value for money. This didn't mean we only wanted to include budget headphones, but wanted to ensure all of the devices that we added in this guide did match up to their price tag – even if it was a big one.
- On a budget? Read our guide to the best cheap headphones
