10 Best Work Headphones 2025 in the United States

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 offer impressive features for work headphones. They deliver high-fidelity sound with a custom-built driver that provides clear high notes and rich bass, making them ideal for those who prioritize sound quality. The active noise cancellation is top-notch, effectively removing background noise, and the transparency mode allows you to stay aware of your surroundings when needed. The adaptive audio feature seamlessly blends these modes to suit different environments, adding to their versatility.

The customizable fit with four sizes of silicone tips ensures comfort for extended usage, which is beneficial for long work sessions. The earbuds are also dust, sweat, and water-resistant, enhancing their durability and usability in various conditions. The microphone quality is enhanced by voice isolation, which improves call clarity even in noisy settings, making them suitable for frequent calls and virtual meetings.

With up to 6 hours of battery life on a single charge and up to 30 hours with the charging case, the AirPods Pro 2 provide ample power for a full day’s work. Connectivity is reliable with Bluetooth 5.3, and the H2 chip ensures seamless integration with Apple devices. However, the earbuds might not be the best fit for non-Apple users due to limited compatibility with other devices. Additionally, the high price point could be a drawback for budget-conscious users. Despite these minor issues, the AirPods Pro 2 stand out as a premium choice for work headphones, particularly for those within the Apple ecosystem.

Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds offer a range of features that make them a strong contender for work headphones. The sound quality is enhanced with Personalized Spatial Audio and Adaptive EQ, providing a rich and immersive listening experience. Comfort is addressed through a redesigned contour and shorter stem, making them suitable for all-day wear. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) helps to reduce external distractions, while Adaptive Audio blends ANC with Transparency mode, allowing you to stay aware of your surroundings when needed. This is especially useful in a work environment where you might need to interact with colleagues without removing your earbuds.

The microphone quality is improved with Voice Isolation, which enhances call clarity by reducing background noise. Battery life is decent with up to 4 hours of listening time with ANC enabled and 20 hours using the charging case, though there are competitors offering longer battery life. Connectivity is seamless with Bluetooth 5.3 and intuitive pairing features, and the inclusion of a USB-C charging case adds convenience.

Durability is supported by an IP54 rating, making them resistant to dust, sweat, and water, suitable for various work conditions. However, some drawbacks include the relatively short battery life compared to other high-end earbuds and the high price point typical of Apple products. Additionally, users who prefer physical buttons might need time to adapt to the touch and voice controls. Despite these minor issues, AirPods 4 are well-suited for professionals seeking reliable and high-quality work headphones.

The Sony WH-CH720N headphones are designed to deliver a good balance of features for work use, especially if you need wireless, comfortable, and noise-canceling headphones. Weighing just 192 grams, they stand out as very lightweight, making them comfortable for long hours of wear. The noise cancellation uses Sony’s Dual Noise Sensor Technology combined with the Integrated Processor V1, which helps block out background noise effectively, great for focusing in busy environments.

Sound quality is solid, with natural vocals and clear audio that lets you hear calls or music as intended, supported by sound enhancement technology (DSEE) that improves compressed music files. For work calls, the microphones use beamforming technology to pick up your voice clearly, which is important for professional communication. Battery life is impressive, offering up to 35 hours on a single charge, and quick charging gives you about an hour of use from just 3 minutes of charging—very handy if you need a fast power boost.

Connectivity is versatile with Bluetooth and multipoint connection, allowing you to switch easily between two devices like a laptop and phone. If you want lightweight, reliable noise cancellation, and good call quality in a work headphone, the Sony WH-CH720N is a strong choice, though those looking for very high-end noise cancellation or extra rugged build might consider other models.