Best Headphones Under $500 in 2026

The 42mm HD-600-inspired dynamic driver delivers a refined, audiophile-grade sound signature, while the 57-hour battery life with ANC active sets a new endurance benchmark. Hybrid adaptive noise cancellation and Bluetooth 6.0 with Auracast provide future-proofed connectivity and effective isolation in variable environments. These headphones are best for discerning music listeners and frequent travelers who prioritize marathon battery life and detailed, spacious audio over a budget price.

With 30-hour battery life, lossless LDAC streaming, and spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, the Sonos Ace delivers high-resolution immersion through its 40mm dynamic drivers. Its ability to instantly swap Dolby Atmos audio from a Sonos soundbar and plush memory foam ear cushions set it apart as a home-theater companion. These are best for Sonos ecosystem users splitting time between living room sessions and flights, valuing seamless TV-to-headphone transitions over commuter-grade noise cancellation.

Its 120-hour music battery life and ClearVoice microphone array with adaptive ANC and six mics ensure all-day call clarity in noisy offices. The foldable 220g design and dual-device connectivity, combined with a 360-degree busy light, make it a discreet productivity tool for UC workflows. Best for call center agents and hybrid workers who need 25 hours of talk time and consistent voice isolation during consecutive video meetings.

The included Smart Tx transmitter enables lossless audio from any source via USB-C or 3.5mm, bypassing Bluetooth compression for studio-quality sound through its 40mm drivers and built-in DAC. JBL Spatial 360 with head tracking creates a fixed, realistic soundstage from stereo content, while the 8-mic adaptive ANC system delivers 70 hours of playback. These headphones are best for frequent travelers and commuters who want a single device to deliver immersive entertainment and clear calls from in-flight systems, laptops, and phones.

Its 110-hour battery and 22-hour talk time pair with adaptive ANC and a six-mic ClearVoice system that uses deep learning to isolate speech in noisy offices. The headset folds flat at just 180g, adds a 360-degree busy light, and connects to two devices simultaneously via Bluetooth 5.3. It’s ideal for hybrid workers and call center agents who need all-day call reliability without frequent charging.

With a QN3 HD processor and 12-microphone array featuring Auto NC Optimizer, it delivers adaptive noise cancellation and 30-hour battery life, while a 3-minute quick charge yields 3 hours of playback. Carbon-fiber 40mm drivers support LDAC and DSEE Extreme upscaling for studio-quality Hi-Res audio. These headphones are ideal for frequent travelers and remote workers who need top-tier call clarity and continuous noise cancellation throughout the day.