Hundreds of readers bought these headphones this year (and they're not from Bose, Sony, or Apple)
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There are only a few hours in the day when you won't see headphones on my head or earbuds in my ears. There's nothing like finding a great pair of headphones or earbuds; the best pair for you may take some time, significant trial-and-error, and honesty about your preferences, but once you do, you'll be inseparable.
Also: The best headphones and earbuds of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed
As ZDNET's audio editor, I take pride in our content, which not only provides you with buying advice on the most popular names in the consumer audio industry but also showcases lesser-known brands, budget options, and surprisingly impressive picks. We compiled data on the top-selling headphones, presented in order of units sold, via links from ZDNET's website (a disclaimer: Your privacy is protected; we only have access to aggregate data from our user base, and there is no way for us to identify individual people's purchases).
Here are the ZDNET readers' most-purchased headphones so far in 2026, from January through April.
ZDNET Recommends 1. CMF Buds 2 Plus
Best headphone deals of the week
- Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones (Black): $248 (save $152)
- Beats Studio Pro Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones (Black): $170 (save $181)
- Apple AirPods Max ANC Wireless Headphones (USB-C Charging, Midnight): $400 (save $150)
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones (Lunar Blue): $299 (save $130)
- Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones: $199 (save $150)
The 10 most popular headphones among ZDNET readers
Sort by All Show lessThe CMF Buds 2 Plus are among our favorite true wireless earbuds and the most-purchased headphones overall among our readers over the past year and a half. These earbuds are feature-rich and well-performing for their relatively low price point of $80. The CMF Buds 2 Plus are compatible with Sony's high-resolution LDAC Bluetooth codec, feature an IP55 dust- and water-resistant rating, and deliver impressive noise-canceling performance.
Review: CMF Buds 2 Plus
Users with Nothing phones can access Low Latency Mode for mobile gaming and ChatGPT integration with their phone's voice assistant.
1. CMF Buds 2 Plus
The CMF Buds 2 Plus are among our favorite true wireless earbuds and the most-purchased headphones overall among our readers over the past year and a half. These earbuds are feature-rich and well-performing for their relatively low price point of $80. The CMF Buds 2 Plus are compatible with Sony's high-resolution LDAC Bluetooth codec, feature an IP55 dust- and water-resistant rating, and deliver impressive noise-canceling performance.
Review: CMF Buds 2 Plus
Users with Nothing phones can access Low Latency Mode for mobile gaming and ChatGPT integration with their phone's voice assistant.
Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show lessAlongside the CMF Buds 2 Plus, the company's Headphone Pro are popular among our readers, thanks to their affordable $100 price tag and high performance. For hi-res wireless listening, these headphones support the LDAC codec for Android users, along with Google Fast Pair and Windows Swift Pair for seamless device pairing.
Review: CMF Headphone Pro
Apple users can also access the Headphone Pro's impressive audio and noise-canceling abilities, spatial audio, and Personal Sound Profile for tailored listening. Additionally, these headphones boast 50 hours of battery life, which is nearly 20 hours more than its premium competitors.
2. CMF Headphone Pro
Alongside the CMF Buds 2 Plus, the company's Headphone Pro are popular among our readers, thanks to their affordable $100 price tag and high performance. For hi-res wireless listening, these headphones support the LDAC codec for Android users, along with Google Fast Pair and Windows Swift Pair for seamless device pairing.
Review: CMF Headphone Pro
Apple users can also access the Headphone Pro's impressive audio and noise-canceling abilities, spatial audio, and Personal Sound Profile for tailored listening. Additionally, these headphones boast 50 hours of battery life, which is nearly 20 hours more than its premium competitors.
Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show lessBose's latest flagship earbuds deliver a laid-back yet premium experience, with exceptional noise cancellation and comfort, making them a solid choice for frequent flyers. They debuted with a new-and-improved spatial audio mode, wireless charging, improved voice clarity, and an upgraded Bluetooth connectivity standard.
Review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
We awarded the QC Ultra Earbuds 2 a ZDNET Editors' Choice award last October, thanks to their impressive AI-powered noise processing, software-ecosystem agnosticism, stable fit, and powerful noise cancellation.
3. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
Bose's latest flagship earbuds deliver a laid-back yet premium experience, with exceptional noise cancellation and comfort, making them a solid choice for frequent flyers. They debuted with a new-and-improved spatial audio mode, wireless charging, improved voice clarity, and an upgraded Bluetooth connectivity standard.
Review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
We awarded the QC Ultra Earbuds 2 a ZDNET Editors' Choice award last October, thanks to their impressive AI-powered noise processing, software-ecosystem agnosticism, stable fit, and powerful noise cancellation.
Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show lessThese simple wired Sony earbuds sport 9mm neodymium drivers for clear, detailed sound, a low 16 ohm impedance for easy driving, and an attached microphone for improved voice clarity during phone calls.
Despite their $35 price tag, these earbuds' wires can be fragile and brittle, but with good care, they can last a few years.
4. Sony MDREX155AP
These simple wired Sony earbuds sport 9mm neodymium drivers for clear, detailed sound, a low 16 ohm impedance for easy driving, and an attached microphone for improved voice clarity during phone calls.
Despite their $35 price tag, these earbuds' wires can be fragile and brittle, but with good care, they can last a few years.
Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show lessThese Soundcore sleep earbuds promise effective noise cancellation, extensive, barely-there comfort, and intuitive features to help you fall asleep and wake up refreshed. Our testing revealed that these earbuds excel in comfort after a few nights of wear, but fall short at masking loud environmental noise.
Review: Soundcore Sleep A30
Still, if you want sleep earbuds that play binaural beats ideal for deep sleep, mask some external noise, and have smart features personalized for your nighttime routine, the Soundcore Sleep A30 can help.
5. Soundcore Sleep A30
These Soundcore sleep earbuds promise effective noise cancellation, extensive, barely-there comfort, and intuitive features to help you fall asleep and wake up refreshed. Our testing revealed that these earbuds excel in comfort after a few nights of wear, but fall short at masking loud environmental noise.
Review: Soundcore Sleep A30
Still, if you want sleep earbuds that play binaural beats ideal for deep sleep, mask some external noise, and have smart features personalized for your nighttime routine, the Soundcore Sleep A30 can help.
Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show lessBose's midrange QuietComfort Headphones succeed the QC45, continuing to deliver a simple, reliable Bose experience with little fanfare and extra hassle. The QuietComfort Headphones feature a 3.5mm jack for wired listening, ANC and Aware audio modes, and 24 hours of playtime.
Review: Bose QuietComfort Headphones
These headphones don't do much other than deliver comfortable, dependable audio and noise cancellation, two things Bose does best.
6. Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Bose's midrange QuietComfort Headphones succeed the QC45, continuing to deliver a simple, reliable Bose experience with little fanfare and extra hassle. The QuietComfort Headphones feature a 3.5mm jack for wired listening, ANC and Aware audio modes, and 24 hours of playtime.
Review: Bose QuietComfort Headphones
These headphones don't do much other than deliver comfortable, dependable audio and noise cancellation, two things Bose does best.
Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show lessSoundcore's Sleep A20 earbuds are designed to wear while you sleep, providing comfort and ambient noise for side sleepers. However, we recommend these sleep earbuds to people who need ambient noise to fall asleep, rather than those looking to block out external noises.
Review: Soundcore Sleep A20
Connection type BluetoothHeadphone type In-earANC, PNC or other Passive noise cancelingBattery life Up to 14 hours7. Soundcore Sleep A20
Soundcore's Sleep A20 earbuds are designed to wear while you sleep, providing comfort and ambient noise for side sleepers. However, we recommend these sleep earbuds to people who need ambient noise to fall asleep, rather than those looking to block out external noises.
Review: Soundcore Sleep A20
Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show lessThe WH-1000XM5 aren't Sony's newest premium headphones, but they're far from archaic. They promise 30 hours of playtime, LDAC codec support, DSEE Extreme audio quality upscaling, and wired listening via 3.5mm jack. A recent firmware update brings LE Audio and Auracast, Gemini Live, and head tracking over LE Audio to the XM5, meaning Sony isn't phasing out its software support anytime soon.
Also: Your Sony headphones just got a useful Bluetooth upgrade with the latest software patch
If you want access to Sony's premium features in an over-ear form factor without spending $460 for the latest generation, the WH-1000XM5 are still a worthy choice.
Design 8 Comfort 9 Noise-canceling 8 Sound 9 Battery life 7 Water-Resistant No IP ratingHeadphone Type Over-ear wireless headphonesMultipoint YesNoise Canceling Yes (ANC)Battery Life Rated up to 32 hours8. Sony WH-1000XM5
4.1 / 5 ScoreThe WH-1000XM5 aren't Sony's newest premium headphones, but they're far from archaic. They promise 30 hours of playtime, LDAC codec support, DSEE Extreme audio quality upscaling, and wired listening via 3.5mm jack. A recent firmware update brings LE Audio and Auracast, Gemini Live, and head tracking over LE Audio to the XM5, meaning Sony isn't phasing out its software support anytime soon.
Also: Your Sony headphones just got a useful Bluetooth upgrade with the latest software patch
If you want access to Sony's premium features in an over-ear form factor without spending $460 for the latest generation, the WH-1000XM5 are still a worthy choice.
Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show lessShokz's flagship open-ear bone conduction headphones are among the best for individuals who want to stay aware of their surroundings while exercising. They feature a lightweight design, 12-hour battery life, and an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance.
Review: Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
Many open-ear headphones sacrifice sound for their open and light form factor, but Shokz's sound profile is highly impressive for an open-ear headphone.
9. Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
Shokz's flagship open-ear bone conduction headphones are among the best for individuals who want to stay aware of their surroundings while exercising. They feature a lightweight design, 12-hour battery life, and an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance.
Review: Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
Many open-ear headphones sacrifice sound for their open and light form factor, but Shokz's sound profile is highly impressive for an open-ear headphone.
Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show lessOpen-ear earbuds let you stay aware of your surroundings without compromising your audio, which can be especially useful for hiking, walking, biking, or running outdoors. The Soundcore AeroFit Pro offer a true wireless and corded experience, depending on your preference.
Review: Soundcore AeroFit Pro
Additionally, an IPX5 durability rating makes them sweatproof, LDAC support is on deck for hi-res wireless listening, and 14 hours of continuous playtime means they can last all day.
10. Soundcore AeroFit Pro
Open-ear earbuds let you stay aware of your surroundings without compromising your audio, which can be especially useful for hiking, walking, biking, or running outdoors. The Soundcore AeroFit Pro offer a true wireless and corded experience, depending on your preference.
Review: Soundcore AeroFit Pro
Additionally, an IPX5 durability rating makes them sweatproof, LDAC support is on deck for hi-res wireless listening, and 14 hours of continuous playtime means they can last all day.
Read More Show Expert Take Show lessZDNET’s Headphones Guide
Headphones & Earbuds Roundups- Best headphones overall
- Best headphones for sleeping
- Best noise canceling earbuds
- Best bone conduction headphones
- Best music headphones
- Best Airpods
- Best over ear headphones
- Best cheap headphones
- Best earbuds under $50
- Best wired earbuds
- Soundcore Sleep A10 earbuds review
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra 45 review
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones review
- Sonos Ace review
- Marshall Motif ANC review
- Apple AirPods 3 vs AirPods Pro
- Galaxy Buds 3 pro vs AirPods Pro 2
- Beats Studio Buds vs Apple AirPods Pro 2
- Sony WF-1000XM5 vs AirPods Pro 2
- Pixel Buds Pro 2 vs Pro
- How to clean and sanitize your AirPods
- How to connect Bluetooth headphones to a Mac
- How to reset AirPods
- How do noise canceling headphones work?
- How to set up your AirPods Pro 2nd Gen
- Earbuds vs headphones: How to choose
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