Which wireless headphone brand to buy in 2025

Our unique customer survey of more than 15,000 consumers reveals the tech products that are built to last, and the ones that will conk out in a matter of years.   

In our latest analysis, we've looked at a large range of brands that offer in-ear headphones and those that make over-ear headphones.

Whatever type you want, find the headphone brands that make long-lasting and reliable products, and the ones selling you short with duff headphones destined for the bin. 

Best wireless earbuds and best wireless headphones: find out which pairs we recommend, plus top buying tips for your next purchase

Which headphone brands develop the fewest faults?

The tables below summarise this year’s results, based on wireless headphones bought in the past six years. 

The proportion faulty is the percentage of in-ear and over-ear wireless headphones that experienced a fault, and the proportion repaired is the percentage of headphones that were fixed due to the fault. 

Which? members can log in to view which headphone brands are the most and least reliable, and which our members are most satisfied with. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.

In-ear headphone brand reliability

Over-ear headphone brand reliability

Which headphone brands do owners recommend? 

As well as faults, our survey also reveals the headphone brands that real customers are most satisfied with, and which they’d recommend to a friend.

In the tables, below, see the customer score for the top brands, along with ratings for the value for money and reliability.

Which? members can log in to view which headphone brands last the longest before they need to be replaced. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.

In-ear headphone brands

Over-ear headphone brands

The three most common headphone faults

We've rounded up the most common faults that occurred across all of the wireless headphones we surveyed. The percentages below show the proportion of each fault out of those that had a problem.

1. Battery life deteriorated

In-ear: 23% 

Over-ear: 14% 

Although wireless headphones mean you don't have to worry about a troublesome cable when listening, you do have to consider battery life. 

According to our latest research, deterioration of the battery is the most common fault, accounting for nearly a quarter of issues with in-ear headphones. 

If this does happen to you, you can take advantage of replacement schemes from some manufacturers, such as Apple, Bose or Samsung. Repairing the problem should save you money by putting off your next upgrade for longer. 

2. Sound quality problems

In-ear: 11%

Over-ear: 9%

If the sound has become muffled, it's possible that the headphone's speaker has become blocked by dust or dirt. Cleaning them carefully should improve the quality again. Find out more on how to clean them safely and what techniques to avoid.

If cleaning doesn't help, it's likely there may be a problem with the internal driver. This is something that the manufacturer or an expert should investigate. First, check if the warranty is still current. 

If not, check for a brand servicing page. Note that having your wireless headphones serviced will typically involve a small fee.

3.  Became broken or damaged 

In-ear: 10%

Over-ear: 16% (headband or joints)

Headphones get a lot of wear and tear, so it is not surprising that they start to creak, deteriorate or even break over time. 

With over-ear headphones you can sometimes get a case (if one isn't supplied) to protect them while not in use. With in-ear headphones, always store them in the supplied charging case to ensure they don't get damaged. 

Most manufacturers offer replacement earbuds, ear cushions and occasionally other parts for their headphones,. Information can be found on their websites. However, after time, manufacturers may stop producing official replacement parts for older models, as newer models take their place.

Listening in noisy places? Check out our guide to finding the best noise-cancelling headphones

How we calculate the best wireless headphone brands

Which? has a wealth of information on Britain's favourite brands. Every year, we ask Which? members and members of the public to tell us about the tech they own – from how likely they would be to recommend a brand to how reliable the products are once they get them home. 

This year, 15,644 Which? members and members of the public told us about 58,586 individual products, including 3,811 in-ear wireless headphones and 2,428 over-ear wireless headphones. 

• We calculate our customer score based on whether customers would recommend each brand and their level of satisfaction.
• We also calculate which brand developed the most faults, which is based on how many faults each brand developed up to six years old. 

Our surveys, combined with our extensive lab tests, mean we can recommend the best wireless headphones to buy.