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When you think about the best headphones, built-in microphones are probably low on the list of features that first come to mind. Instead, we usually focus on how our music sounds, if that battery can last through a day of Zoom meetings and how comfortable they feel.
All of these things are important, but another key feature to think about when looking for a new pair these days: the best headphones with a microphone.
Owning a great pair of headphones with a built-in mic — or several — has recently become a necessity, with virtual meetings, remote work calls and a growing number of ways we can connect with virtual assistants while working from home (not to mention gaming or live streaming).
The best microphone headphones let you communicate clearly with the people you’re interacting with, with built-in mics that pick up your voice more accurately while tuning out the excess noise around you. What that means: more focused phone calls, work calls, gameplay, and recordings.
Here, we’ve picked some of the best headphones that also happen to include their own microphones, so you can control your music, call your mom more and easily communicate wherever you’re working or traveling.
What Are the Best Headphones With a Microphone?
Battery: So long as your phone’s not dying and charged up, you can rest easy knowing that the headphones you’re using to carry on a conversation should have more than enough power to last you without needing to recharge. Today’s headphones are built to last longer, giving you a few hours of use, whether you’re chatting, streaming, or working while listening to music.
Connectivity: While the best headphones that have built-in microphones should produce solid sound, you’ll also want to make sure that your connection won’t drop out while you’re in the middle of your meeting or phone call. The headphones below should be able to maintain a strong connection between your ears (and mouth) and your device, no matter wherever you’re using them.
Bluetooth: We can’t say that we miss having to connect our headphones to our phone or laptop. These over-ear headphone models pairs all come with Bluetooth so you can quickly sync them to the device of your choice, sans wires.
Noise-Cancelling Features: The best noise-cancelling headphones aren’t just going to help you focus on your tunes, but also the person on the other end of the line. Some models also feature noise-cancelling mics that keep out excess noise when you’re talking or when you’re trying to communicate with a virtual assistant like Siri or Amazon’s Alexa.
Design: Many of today’s mic’ed-up headphones come in a few different designs, so you can easily find the right style for you and your situation.
1. Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones
There are a whole host of cool features that make these Sony headphones worth a look, from what the company calls “Speak-to-Chat,” which will turn down whatever you’re listening to if you’re trying to ask someone in real life a question, to the massive 30-hour battery life.
Of course, you can also control your tunes with these noise-cancellers by touching the ear cups to play or stop a song, or to pick up a call from a colleague or friend. Sony added four microphones to these wireless over-ear headphones, too, so they’re ideal for everything from video chats to asking Alexa if there’s rain in the forecast.
Buy Sony WH-1000XM5 $328.00
2. Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones
These Bose headphones combine versatile sound tech with a comfortable design that you can wear for workouts, work and everything in between.
The 700s can power through for 20 hours per charge, so they’re a great option for working from home or traveling without needing to find an outlet. The over-ear cups sit at a slight angle, and Bose covered them in a synthetic leather for a more wearable design. You’ll probably sound and hear better with them on your ears, too: Multiple mics work together to minimize background noise and make sure your voice is extra clear. To use them, you simply tap the cups to control calls or your music.
Of course, you won’t be using the mic all day long. The 700s are designed with music lovers in mind, too, with super strong bass and 11 different noise cancellation levels. Bose also made it easier to listen to your Spotify with these headphones’ design, too. Have an iPhone or using the headphones with a MacBook Pro? You can tap and hold the ear cup to start your Spotify stream directly from your headphones.
Buy Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones
3. Apple AirPods Max
Apple’s over-ear headphones pack active noise cancellation, spatial audio and a transparency mode — if you ever want to listen to your music while keeping an ear out for your surroundings.
The earcups feature memory foam cushions and the headband features a breathable mesh canopy, all designed with the wearer’s comfort in mind. Battery life runs up to 20 hours too and Siri’s available at all times, just in case you want to check on your notifications or answer a call.
Since their active noise cancellation is their biggest draw, it’s safe to say when you take a work call your surroundings won’t bother you — even if you’re on a plane or train. It even boasts nine microphones in total, with three microphones exclusively focusing on voice pickup.
Buy BUY NOW:
4.Shure AONIC 40
With 25 hours of battery life, adjustable noise canceling and a lightweight design, the Shure AONIC 40 are worth your buck.
They feature beamforming microphones — which can conveniently pick up your voice while blocking unwanted background noise. And, the plush earcups mean you won’t have to struggle with aches and pains around your ear as you go about your day.
Other features include an ‘Environment Mode’ for when you want to tune into your surroundings and customizable EQ so you can adjust your sound to just how you like it.
Buy Shure AONIC 40 $269.00
