1. The quick list
2. Best overall
3. Best cheap wireless
4. Best cheap wired
5. Best battery life
6. Best build quality
7. How to choose
8. How we test
9. FAQ
The best on-ear headphones are a good middle ground between in-ears and over-ears. They don't burrow in your ears like the former in a way that some people find too invasive, and they tend to be more portable (and less hot to wear) than the latter.
As the name suggests, these unburdensome designs perch on your ears rather than covering them completely, which is a look you might prefer or find more comfortable – especially if you want headphones as opposed to earbuds for exercise.
But with their portable, lightweight designs, you could use them for pretty any activity, whether it's commuting, working, sleeping or dedicated home listening.
While every headphone maker used to have a pair of on-ear headphones in its line-up, fewer offer them today compared to the larger over-ear designs. Thankfully prominent headphone brands such as Sony, Sennheiser, AKG, Grado and new-kid-on-the-block Austrian Audio are keeping on-ears alive with a pair or two in their arsenal.
The quick list
This list is a quick breakdown of all the best on-ear headphones, complete with what they're best at and a table showing why they're worth your money. Want more detail? Click a photo of a pair and you'll head to the in-depth entry lower down, with more specs, more info on the features and more details on how they perform.
Best overall
A reasonable price, fantastically entertaining performance and sturdy build quality make the Grado SR325x the best all-rounders in our list.
Best cheap wireless
Nothing special to look at, but these are the best wireless on-ear headphones you can buy at the budget end of the market.
Best cheap wired
Wired on-ear headphones don't have to be pricey – the Grado SR80x are one of the most accessible pair we've tested, and they sound superb.
Best battery life
Despite their affordable price, the Sony WH-CH520 last for an astonishing 50 hours on a single charge. But there's more to them than just a long playtime...
Best build quality
Austrian Audio might be a relative newcomer to the world of on-ear headphones, but you'd never guess it from the Hi-X50 – build quality is second to none.
The best on-ear headphones in 2023
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
Below, you can see the best on-ear headphones currently available. Each pair has been tested by our team of product experts to ensure they perform brilliantly and provide great value, so you can trust our buying advice.
Best overall
The Prestige range of headphones has been at the core of Grado’s output since it was first introduced three decades ago. While the series has developed over the years, Grado has always done so in small evolutionary steps. The story remains the same for this new ‘x’ generation.
Put the range-topping SR325x next to its immediate predecessor (the What Hi-Fi? Award-winning SR325e), and there’s little to separate them, apart from the new flatter foam earpads, updated cable and lighter coloured stitching on the firmly padded headband. Still, the difference is in the listening: the SR325x sound notably cleaner and clearer than their predecessors.
These headphones have always been detailed and articulate performers, and that hasn’t changed, but the ‘x’ generation sounds that bit more precise and insightful.
These Grados once again prove that evolution is arguably a more reliable way of making things better than a headline-grabbing design revolution. The best just got that bit better. Still What Hi-Fi? Award winners, then.
Read our full Grado SR325x review
| Attribute | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | Driver improvements really shine through | ★★★★★ |
| Comfort | The new earpads prove divisive, but stick with them | ★★★★☆ |
| Build | Grado's winning design again proves a triumph | ★★★★☆ |
Best cheap wireless
The HD 250BT might not feature any luxury design flourishes, but they're a good-sounding, durable and truly likeable set of budget wireless on-ears.
That's not to say the spec is bare. Features include Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX Low Latency, a 25-hour battery life, app support and Sennheiser’s beloved-of-DJs transducer tech.
The build is a black plastic affair, but it is functional and solid and features the firm’s traditional S-in-a-rectangle white branding on each ear cup. Said earcups are nicely padded, although note that the headband is not particularly.
When it comes to sound, the HD 250BT sound a good deal more musically detailed, agile and rhythmically gifted across the frequencies than one might expect given the eye-popping price tag.
All in all, the HD 250BT are a superb budget buy – and a great way to experience what Sennheiser is capable of, without breaking the bank.
Read our full Sennheiser HD 250BT review
| Attribute | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | Surprisingly energetic, given the price | ★★★★★ |
| Build | A case of substance over style | ★★★★★ |
| Features | Not stacked, but they're still very capable | ★★★★★ |
Best cheap wired
The SR80 have spawned many variants within the company’s Prestige Series in the three decades since launch, and the fact that they are still a part of the all-new Prestige X Series makes them the longest-running Grado model. The all-new SR80x succeed the 2014-released, multi-What Hi-Fi? Award-winning SR80e from the previous Prestige E Series – and are Award winners themselves.
Everything we like about their predecessors – their nimble-footedness, expressive, rolling dynamics, and insight across well-defined frequencies – has been inherited, and the punch and panache that have made the Prestige models such born entertainers are very much also part of the SR80x’s sonic signature. These are far from rich or even warm in tone, but an extra generous sprinkling of refinement this time round has made their forward, clinical presentation all the more palpable.
Grado hasn’t torn up its own rulebook and revolutionised its legendary headphones, because it hasn’t needed to. But the tweaks made to the SR80x have certainly added value in the right direction. At this money, the SR80 model remains the finest in the market.
Read our full Grado SR80x review
| Attribute | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | These are punchy, musical performers | ★★★★★ |
| Comfort | The lightweight and padded headband make them very comfortable indeed | ★★★★☆ |
| Build | Much more premium than their price suggests | ★★★★☆ |
Best battery life
Sony's high-end headphones have dominated our Awards in recent years, but the brand is increasingly targeting the budget end of the market. As the WH-CH520 show, a low price doesn't have to mean scrimping on specs – these on-ears pack an incredible 50 hours of battery life, which is the best of all models in this list.
But there's a lot more to them than marathon battery life. The build, while a little plasticky, is solid enough to endure, and they're very comfortable (though as with any headphones at this price, they do start to heat your ears after a while).
They work with the standard Bluetooth codecs, and you can control them using Sony's superb app.
Sonically speaking, they're balanced, informative and enjoyable. True, they're not the most expressive at the low end, but the bass is solid, deep and properly controlled at the leading edges, which helps the WH-CH520 to express rhythms confidently. Midrange lacks a little clarity, but for the price it's informative and actually rather elegant. At the top of the frequency range, they balance brightness with substance well, so treble sounds have a little body to go along with their shine. There could be more detail, and dynamically they are a little inhibited, but given the price – and the battery life – we'll happily forgive them.
Read the full Sony WH-CH520 review
| Attribute | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | Balanced and engaging | ★★★★★ |
| Features | 50 hours of battery life – stunning | ★★★★★ |
| Comfort | Lightweight plus padding = great comfort | ★★★★★ |
Best build quality
Austrian Audio may not be the most interesting of names for a new hi-fi manufacturer, but the people behind it are ex-AKG employees and some of the most experienced in the industry. And that maturity shines through in its Hi-X50 on-ear headphones.
They're beautifully built, with an extensive use of metal in the headphone band. Add to that the folding hinges and mounting brackets, and you got a pair of cans that feel much sturdier and well built than their more plasticky rivals.
You can replace certain components too (like the headband cushioning and memory foam earpads), if they wear out due to wear and tear. Which is not only great for the user, as it'll save a fortune on buying new headphones, it's also better for the environment.
On the sound side, they do tend to favour analysis over enthusiasm, but it never tips over into unemotional or clinical territory. If you want to hear deep into the recording and track subtle instrumental strands, these cans do it better than almost anything else we’ve heard at this level (certainly if we stick to closed-back rivals).
At this price, there’s little to criticise when it comes to dynamic expression and low-frequency punch either. The Hi-X50 simply get on with the job with little fuss.
If you’re looking for well-designed wired on-ear headphones for portable or domestic use, these Austrian Audios should be right at the top of your shortlist.
Read our full Austrian Audio Hi-X50 review
| Attribute | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | Even-handed, without favouring any part of the frequency range | ★★★★★ |
| Comfort | Light and easy to ignore (in a good way) | ★★★★☆ |
| Build | Superb, and with swappable components | ★★★★★ |
How to choose
What to look for in on-ear headphones
When choosing the best on-ear headphones, you'll want to ask yourself what features are important to you. Is Bluetooth wireless headphones a must? Do you want active noise cancellation too?
Then there's the question of what style you are after. Open-backed pairs deliver wonderfully open sounds, but they leak the music like nobody's business and are therefore often limited to at-home use only. Closed-backed pairs don't leak sound much and are therefore more commute-friendly and won't annoy people around you.
You should also consider how portable they are. Most pairs can physically fold up to fit in a pocket or small bag, and some are so light you could forget you have them on you. We'd always suggest checking out the fit in a shop if you can – not least if you're looking for on-ear headphones to workout in.
Finally, you need to decide on a budget. Thankfully, our pick of the best on-ear headphones contains something for everyone...
How we test
How we test headphones
We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Reading and Bath, where our team of experienced, in-house reviewers test the majority of hi-fi and AV kit that passes through our door.
Of course, testing on-ear headphones doesn't often require such facilities. What is important in our headphones reviewing process is that each pair is compared to the best in its price and style class – whether that's one standout pair or a few we favour the highest among the 100+ pairs we listen to each year for reviews and What Hi-Fi? Awards judging. As What Hi-Fi? is all about comparative testing, we keep class-leading products in our stockrooms so we can always compare new products to ones we know and love, allowing us to gauge how good a pair is in the context of the wider market.
We are always impartial and make sure we hear every product at their very best, so we'll try plenty of different types of music and give them plenty of listening time (and time to run in), while the wired headphones that might warrant being used with a DAC are tested with a suitable one. It's not just about sound quality, of course. If a pair has active noise cancellation, we'll ensure part of our testing involves using them in different environments. And comfort, battery life and portability are all considered too to help form overall ratings.
All review verdicts are agreed upon by the team rather than an individual reviewer to eliminate any personal preference and to make sure we're being as thorough as possible, too. What Hi-Fi? is proud to have delivered honest, unbiased reviews for decades.
You can read more about how we test and review products on What Hi-Fi? here.
FAQ
What's the difference between on-ear and over-ear headphones?
They often look similar, but over-ear headphones cover the whole ear, whereas on-ears sit against the ear.
What is better, in-ear or on-ear headphones?
It depends on your preference, and where you'll be wearing them. With their small size, in-ears are great for commuting, but some people find them too intrusive. Whereas on-ears are better for home listening, especially if they are open-backed and hence leak sound.
Are over-ear or on-ear headphones better for noise cancelling?
Typically, over-ear headphones are better for noise cancelling. Because they cover the whole ear, they already have a passive 'noise isolating' effect – i.e. they block the wearer off from the outside world. Therefore any active noise cancellation will seem much more effective because outside sounds have already been made to sound less loud.
Useful links
- Our pick of the best wireless headphones you can buy
- Prefer over-ears? Here are the best over-ear headphones on the market
- And the best in-ear headphones for those after earbuds
