Here’s my testing criteria: First, mostly working remotely, noise-cancellation is a nonnegotiable. Whether I’m in a café or the office or just on my couch, I need to cut the background noise. Next, fit. Comfort is key. While working out in over-the-ear headphones isn’t ideal, I don’t want them flying off my head. I also need them to be comfortable enough to wear for hours and for the battery to last even longer.
Then there is the obvious: How do they sound? Ultimately, headphones are made for listening to music, podcasts, movies, and everything else in between. Clarity is key, but so is a good bass and adjustable sound settings and the ability to use them for calls. Lastly, the aesthetic. Whether or not they’ll ruin an outfit or make it better is also a plus.
