I tested three popular headphone brands – the cheapest one surprised me the most

IF YOU have been searching for a new pair of headphones this year, look no further.

Good headphones are imperative if you’re a lover of music, podcasts, and movies.

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And if you travel often, or are on zoom calls frequently, then high-quality headphones are essential.

Some also come with important features you may need like noise cancellation – if you work in a loud office, you know what I’m talking about.

But it can get overwhelming to find the right pair for your specific wants and needs when there are so many options out there.

For this reason, The US Sun has compiled a list of headphones – that I personally tried – to accommodate different budgets and lifestyles.

Best for value

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I was surprised when I first tried on the 1MORE SonoFlow Wireless Active Noise Cancelling Headphones – in a good way.

The over-the-ear headphones don’t seem like the sturdiest at first glance (because they are mostly made of plastic) but that just made them lightweight and super comfortable to wear.

It also features a faux leather headband that almost melts to the touch because it’s so soft.

Located on the right earcup are the headphones controls, including the power button and the noise-cancellation and volume-control buttons.

This made the headphones super easy to use, as you don’t need to tinker with your phone when listening to music.

Its noise cancellation feature also stood out to me – it doesn’t cancel the noise completely, but enough that it gets the job done.

And for a retail price of $99, the sound quality was pretty good when paired with my iPhone. Though it promises to be even better when used with Android devices thanks to its audio codec.

1More offers 70 hours of playback with active noise cancellation turned off, and 50 hours with it on.

A five-minute charge also promises a full five hours of playback.

All in all, if you’re looking for quality headphones at a more affordable price, this is the option for you.

• 1MORE SonoFlow Wireless Headphones, $99.99 at Amazon – buy now

Best for gym

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I’ve been a fan of Beats headphones pretty much since they came out, so when I was offered the chance to try the company’s Studio3 Wireless headphones, I had high hopes.

And while the gadget, which features around 22 hours of run time on a single charge, didn’t disappoint, I’m not sure I would use them outside of the gym.

Upon unpacking the headphones, they instantly look and feel high-end with a sleek matte appearance and hard plastic and metal frame.

However, when I tried them on, the earcups felt kind of tight and my head hurt a little after wearing them for a long time – of course, this will vary with everyone.

But that’s why I didn’t foresee these headphones being my go-to work headphones; for shorter periods of time like the gym, they’re great.

That said, the sound quality is what you would expect from Beats A.K.A. it’s good – but if you’re looking for the best bass headphones in the world, these are probably not for you.

As far as ANC goes, they are better than 1More’s but not by a lot when you consider the hefty price tag of $349.95 on Apple’s website.

Thankfully, the headphones are available for a lot less at places like Walmart, which makes for a solid deal on an overall good pair of headphones.

• Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones, $249.95 at Walmart – buy now

Best Overall

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No headphone released has excited me more over the past few years than Apple’s AirPods Max

And sure enough, the over-the-ear headphones did not disappoint me.

The headset, which features anodized aluminum over the earcups, is fantastic in both design and build.

And while some people don’t prefer the woven ear pads and the canopy-like headband, it makes the product feel less rigid to me.

Now, let me add that I haven’t tried every single pair of headphones on this planet, but out of the ones I have tried, the AirPods easily sound the best.

The ANC is also top-notch to the point I feel frightened to turn it on when I’m walking home alone. It’s that quiet.

An easy-to-use control center can be found on the right earcup, and the headphones automatically pause music when you take them off, and resume when you put them back on.

The only thing I will say about the headphones is, I wish they would stay charged longer. This is likely due to the headphones not having a power button.

Instead, they resume a low power mode when you place them in their case. If you don’t place them in their case, they remain on and the battery drains.

Charging aside, the Apple AirPods Max, for me, is the crème de la crème and worth the hefty price tag of $549.

• Apple AirPods Max, $549 at Apple – buy now