Top choices in headphones and earbuds for making calls
Many people aren’t just looking for a headphone that’s comfortable to wear and sounds good. It’s also got to be top-notch for making voice calls. Plenty are OK at communications, but the best Bluetooth headphones for calls are able to reduce ambient sounds around you even in noisy environments, which allows people to hear your voice and not all that extra chatter and background noise. These are four of CNET’s top picks for great wireless headphones and earbuds.
For more reviews of personal technology products, visit CNET.com. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstand
ing)
The good: The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are very comfortable, have excellent noise canceling and work really well as a headset for making calls. They sound better than the Quiet Comfort 35 II, are loaded with features, including the option for hands-free Alexa and Bose AR. Noise-canceling levels are adjustable, they work without power; USB-C charging; transparency mode.
The bad: $50 to $100 more than their closest competitors; QuietComfort 35 II is slightly more comfortable; battery life isn’t as good as the of some competitors; the accompanying mobile app isn’t fully baked.
The cost: $399.00 to $399.99
The bottom line: While not a quantum leap forward over the QC35 IIs, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 offer slightly better noise canceling, sound and call quality.
Jabra Elite 75t
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excel
lent)
The good: Sound better than the AirPods Pro, with better clarity and tighter bass. Better fit and smaller size than previous models. 7.5-hour battery life between charges. USB-C charging.
The bad: Rival models from Apple and Anker have better call quality. No wireless charging. The cost: $179.99
The bottom line: While not quite as good as the AirPods Pro in some areas, the Jabra Elite Pro offer better sound and battery life at a lower price.
Jabra Elite 85h
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent) The good: The Jabra Elite 85h offers impressive noise-canceling performance, strong sound and excellent battery life with USB-C charging. They’re comfortable to wear and are loaded with convenience features, including one-button access to Google Assistant, Alexa and Siri voice assistants. It delivers best-in-class call quality with a customizable sidetone option.
The bad: A little heavier than their Bose and Sony competitors, they’re not quite as comfortable. May not fit large heads.
The cost: $246.24 to $299.99
The bottom line: The Jabra Elite 85h is a good alternative to Bose and Sony noise-canceling models for slightly less money, particularly if you value call quality.
Apple AirPods Pro
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstand
ing)
The good: The AirPods Pro have an ultracompact, lightweight, noise-isolating and sweatproof design that fits more ears securely and delivers better bass and overall sound than the original AirPods. Their active noise-canceling significantly reduces ambient noise, and they have a transparency mode to let in sound. Headset performance when making calls is top-notch. Case supports wireless charging, and replacement ear tips are dirt cheap.
The bad: The sound quality is good, but some competitors sound better. It’s unclear if these have better long-term battery life than the original AirPods.
The cost: $249.00 to $249.99
The bottom line: While they don’t quite take the crown for best-in-class sound quality, the AirPods Pro are great true wireless headphones that exceed the standard AirPods in nearly every way.