Heading back to class? You’ll want awesome earphones! It’s my job to test them – here are 3 picks I most recommend
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(Image credit: Oscar Wong / Getty Images)
(Image credit: Oscar Wong / Getty Images)
It’s summertime, the sun is (hopefully) shining, and you’re having the time of your life. But it’s also approaching back to class time – andT3’s Back to Class monthwill help you find the classiest products across a wide range of categories – so it’s time to get that thinking cap on and gear up for your next term or semester.
As part of my job I review headphones for a living, so I’ve got the expertise and market knowledge to know when a product is best-of-the-best. But you’re not made of money, of course, so on this page I’ve pored over the very manybest headphonesandbest earphonesoptions to pick ones that are top quality specifically for students, not justthe best cheap headphonesgoing.
I’ve picked out a trio of headphones that I think are highly commendable: from affordable in-ears, to the best over-ears (and best-balanced price-to-performance ratio right now), and the very best active noise-cancelling (ANC) earbuds to drown out external sound. In all cases I’ve picked a far cheaper option and anAppleproduct alternative for each, so all tastes and wants are catered for.
Without further ado, here are the best three headphones and earphones options for students – whether you’re going to school, college or university – that will solve your in-ear and over-ear purchase conundrums. They’re all available for the best possible prices, too, as you can see from the shopping widgets positioned next to each product to add pricing context.
Today’s best Nothing Ear (2), Sony WH-1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 dealsSony WH-1000XM4$349.99$278ViewSee all pricesBose QuietComfort Earbuds 2$279$249ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Nothing Ear (2), Sony WH-1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 dealsSony WH-1000XM4$349.99$278ViewSee all pricesBose QuietComfort Earbuds 2$279$249ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Nothing Ear (2), Sony WH-1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 dealsSony WH-1000XM4$349.99$278ViewSee all pricesBose QuietComfort Earbuds 2$279$249ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Nothing Ear (2), Sony WH-1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 deals
Sony WH-1000XM4$349.99$278ViewSee all pricesBose QuietComfort Earbuds 2$279$249ViewSee all prices
Sony WH-1000XM4$349.99$278ViewSee all prices
Sony WH-1000XM4$349.99$278ViewSee all prices
Sony WH-1000XM4
Sony WH-1000XM4
$349.99$278View
$349.99$278
$278
See all prices
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2$279$249ViewSee all prices
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2$279$249ViewSee all prices
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
$279$249View
$279$249
$249
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
1. Best affordable in-ears: Nothing Ear (2)
(Image credit: Nothing)
(Image credit: Nothing)
An easy selection to make: Nothing’s second-gen in-earswon the 2023 T3 Awards ‘Best True Wireless Headphones’ gong. That’s because, price irrelevant, they hold their own when it comes to distinct style and distinctive audio quality, including decent active noise-cancelling (ANC) to keep the outside world at bay.
As stated in T3’sNothing Ear (2) review: “[these earbuds]build on the brand’s position as a fashionable start-up to offer a genuine knockout product. ANC earbuds don’t come more complete than this, with excellent sound quality, a top-notch app interface and great battery life.” Can’t say better than that.
But the key reason me picking these is that the price isn’t out of this world, especially compared to some ofthe best true wireless earbudsalternatives out there. Nothing makes products that are affordable, while ensuring decent longevity, and a features list that won’t let you down. I think these are well worth snapping up at this price, but if you want even more powerful ANC then look at my third pick fromBosefurther down page in this article.
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Today’s best Nothing Ear (2), JLab Go Air Pop and Apple AirPods Pro dealsJLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Earbuds$24.88$18.99ViewSee all pricesApple AirPods Pro$209.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Nothing Ear (2), JLab Go Air Pop and Apple AirPods Pro dealsJLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Earbuds$24.88$18.99ViewSee all pricesApple AirPods Pro$209.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Nothing Ear (2), JLab Go Air Pop and Apple AirPods Pro dealsJLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Earbuds$24.88$18.99ViewSee all pricesApple AirPods Pro$209.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Nothing Ear (2), JLab Go Air Pop and Apple AirPods Pro deals
JLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Earbuds$24.88$18.99ViewSee all pricesApple AirPods Pro$209.99ViewSee all prices
JLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Earbuds$24.88$18.99ViewSee all prices
JLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Earbuds$24.88$18.99ViewSee all prices
JLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Earbuds
JLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Earbuds
$24.88$18.99View
$24.88$18.99
$18.99
See all prices
Apple AirPods Pro$209.99ViewSee all prices
Apple AirPods Pro$209.99ViewSee all prices
Apple AirPods Pro
Apple AirPods Pro
$209.99View
$209.99
$209.99
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
2. Best over-ears: Sony WH-1000XM4
(Image credit: Sony)
(Image credit: Sony)
It’s testament to just how good a product these over-ears are that they still stand up today – and you’re best off saving those student pennies in buying these instead of the newer model or an alternative brand in my view. They’ll last you for years to come, too, so think of them as an investment. If you want Sony’s comfort at a cut of the price then the non-ANC WH-CH520 alternative is a good shout, too, as it’smuchcheaper.
Today’s best Sony WH-1000XM4, Sony WH-CH520 and Apple AirPods Max dealsSony WH-1000XM4$349.99$278ViewSee all pricesSony WH-CH520$59.99$48.99ViewSee all pricesApple Airpods Max$549$479ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Sony WH-1000XM4, Sony WH-CH520 and Apple AirPods Max dealsSony WH-1000XM4$349.99$278ViewSee all pricesSony WH-CH520$59.99$48.99ViewSee all pricesApple Airpods Max$549$479ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Sony WH-1000XM4, Sony WH-CH520 and Apple AirPods Max dealsSony WH-1000XM4$349.99$278ViewSee all pricesSony WH-CH520$59.99$48.99ViewSee all pricesApple Airpods Max$549$479ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Sony WH-1000XM4, Sony WH-CH520 and Apple AirPods Max deals
Sony WH-1000XM4$349.99$278ViewSee all pricesSony WH-CH520$59.99$48.99ViewSee all pricesApple Airpods Max$549$479ViewSee all prices
Sony WH-1000XM4$349.99$278ViewSee all prices
Sony WH-1000XM4$349.99$278ViewSee all prices
Sony WH-1000XM4
Sony WH-1000XM4
$349.99$278View
$349.99$278
$278
See all prices
Sony WH-CH520$59.99$48.99ViewSee all prices
Sony WH-CH520$59.99$48.99ViewSee all prices
Sony WH-CH520
Sony WH-CH520
$59.99$48.99View
$59.99$48.99
$48.99
See all prices
Apple Airpods Max$549$479ViewSee all prices
Apple Airpods Max$549$479ViewSee all prices
Apple Airpods Max
Apple Airpods Max
$549$479View
$549$479
$479
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
3. Best noise-cancelling: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
(Image credit: Bose)
(Image credit: Bose)
While I’m obviously not suggesting that you’re going to spend all your time in class wearing headphones, there will still be those times when you want peace and quiet, or to just get lost in a world of your favourite tunes, podcasts or audiobooks so you can focus on study. Which is where the most powerful active noise-cancelling (ANC) comes into play.
That’s why this Bose product is the only selection I could consider making: because the QuietComfort Earbuds 2, which won the2023 T3 Awards gong for Best Noise Cancelling Headphones, are second to none when it comes to making the outside world’s sounds obsolete. That’s the foremost reason to consider buying these earbuds.
In T3’sBose QC Earbuds II review, we described the in-ears as having “noise-cancelling that’s out of this world”, continuing that the ‘buds are “in a league of their own”. Bose makes Sony eat its own hat when it comes to ANC, really, so if you’re looking for a sound experience that’s like floating in a vacuum, this is the pick for you (but the cheaperSony WF-1000XM4will be in with a shout for many people, given the even lower price).
Today’s best Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, EarFun Air, Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-1000XM4 dealsBose QuietComfort Earbuds 2$279$249ViewSee all pricesEarFun Air$65.99$49.99ViewSee all pricesApple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation$199ViewSee all pricesSony WF-1000XM4 Wireless Earbuds$278ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, EarFun Air, Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-1000XM4 dealsBose QuietComfort Earbuds 2$279$249ViewSee all pricesEarFun Air$65.99$49.99ViewSee all pricesApple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation$199ViewSee all pricesSony WF-1000XM4 Wireless Earbuds$278ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, EarFun Air, Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-1000XM4 dealsBose QuietComfort Earbuds 2$279$249ViewSee all pricesEarFun Air$65.99$49.99ViewSee all pricesApple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation$199ViewSee all pricesSony WF-1000XM4 Wireless Earbuds$278ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, EarFun Air, Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-1000XM4 deals
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2$279$249ViewSee all pricesEarFun Air$65.99$49.99ViewSee all pricesApple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation$199ViewSee all pricesSony WF-1000XM4 Wireless Earbuds$278ViewSee all prices
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2$279$249ViewSee all prices
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2$279$249ViewSee all prices
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
$279$249View
$279$249
$249
See all prices
EarFun Air$65.99$49.99ViewSee all prices
EarFun Air$65.99$49.99ViewSee all prices
EarFun Air
EarFun Air
$65.99$49.99View
$65.99$49.99
$49.99
See all prices
Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation$199ViewSee all prices
Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation$199ViewSee all prices
Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation
Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation
$199View
$199
$199
See all prices
Sony WF-1000XM4 Wireless Earbuds$278ViewSee all prices
Sony WF-1000XM4 Wireless Earbuds$278ViewSee all prices
Sony WF-1000XM4 Wireless Earbuds
Sony WF-1000XM4 Wireless Earbuds
$278View
$278
$278
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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