2025 Wireless Audio Showdown: Hottest New Earbuds & Headphones (and 2026’s Next Big Things)
Sony WH-1000XM6 over-ear headphones, launched mid-2024 and priced around $449, feature a 12-microphone adaptive ANC system, about 30 hours of battery with ANC, a foldable design, a 30mm carbon-fiber Soft Edge driver, LDAC, Bluetooth LE Audio with Auracast, and Speak-To-Chat. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones introduce Bose Immersive Audio with head tracking, offer up to 24 hours of battery with Immersive Audio off (about 18 hours with it on), have a $429 MSRP, and provide customizable ANC with a microphone array. Apple AirPods Max remain a premium over-ear option at $549 and 385 g, featuring Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking
