Headphones

We’ve tested different types of headphones in a range of styles to find which perform best and which are most comfortable and durable.

Our assessment covers:

• Sound quality
• Comfort
• Noise cancelling (if any)
• Durability
• Sound leaking.

See headphones reviews

Is it time to upgrade your headphones or get an extra set? Our expert recommendations help you find the right ones, looking at the different types, features, performance and budget.

Headphones are essential for enjoying your audio without disturbing others, and great for keeping you entertained on the go or staying motivated while you exercise or work. But how do you choose the right set?

Read our buying guide to explore the different types of headphones and their features. We discuss style and comfort, connection type, noise cancelling, sound leaking, battery life, controls, water resistance and more.

Read headphones buying guide

Suunto Wing 2 headphones review

The Suunto Wing 2 bone conduction headphones have 'turn & brake' lighting, head-nod controls and a mini power bank. Read our full review to see how useful these features are and whether the Wing 2 deliver solid sound performance and battery life.

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JBL Soundgear Sense headphones review

The JBL Soundgear Sense let you stay tuned into your environment while listening to audio. Read our expert review to see if they’re the best open-ear headphones yet and whether their sound quality rivals over- and in-ear styles.

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Bone conduction headphones: cheap vs premium

Bone conduction headphones are great if you want to listen to audio while staying aware of your surroundings. But is it worth spending hundreds or will a cheap set perform sufficiently well? Read our comparison of the Shokz OpenRun Pro and the Lenovo X3 Pro.

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Which headphone brands offer parts and repairs?

When buying expensive headphones, you’ll want to know you can replace a lost earbud or worn-out ear cushions. Find out which, of 27 headphone manufacturers, offer parts and servicing outside of warranty.

We ask thousands of Consumer members about their products to find out which brands are most reliable and satisfying to own. The results are available to members and Digital Pass holders.

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If you're looking for other tech gadgets to keep you entertained and connected, we've also tested WiFi & Bluetooth speakers, smartwatches & fitness trackers and mobile phones.

Many things can ruin a shopping experience – a pushy salesperson, the product you wanted not being in stock or having to pay more than you intended. We asked consumers to tell us who they think are the best and worst retailers.

Find out which are the best and worst shops in New Zealand for buying tech gadgets, appliances, tools and more.

We get five expert testers to wear each pair of headphones and listen to a range of music genres and a podcast. They assess sound quality, noise cancelling, sound leaking, comfort and durability.

Learn about our headphones test