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How to choose headphones in 2026

The Mars Score for headphones weights audio (45%), battery (25%), connectivity (18%) and design (12%). Audio quality includes ANC effectiveness, codec support, and driver capability — three dimensions that mature reviewers treat differently than entry-level marketing pages do.

ANC: measured numbers, not adjectives

"Best in class noise cancellation" is meaningless without dB attenuation across frequency bands. Premium over-ear models (Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, AirPods Max) deliver 25–35 dB of low-frequency attenuation. Mid-range models cluster around 15–22 dB. Read our AirPods Pro 3 vs WH-1000XM6 lab test for full curves.

Codecs: LDAC, aptX HD, LC3

If your source device is Android, LDAC (Sony) and aptX HD (Qualcomm) let you stream at 990 kbps and 576 kbps respectively — close to lossless. Apple devices are AAC-only. LC3 (the new Bluetooth LE Audio codec) is starting to show up on 2026 flagships and offers better quality at lower bitrates. Match your headphones to your source device.

Battery: the spec that everyone underestimates

A 30-hour battery sounds great in marketing but cuts to ~16 hours with ANC on, mid-volume, occasional calls. We test ANC-on real-world battery separately. See the longest-battery preset for the actually-long-lasting picks.

Multipoint: the underrated quality-of-life feature

Multipoint pairing lets one set of headphones stay connected to your laptop and phone simultaneously, switching audio automatically based on which is playing. Once you use a pair with reliable multipoint, the ones without feel broken.

How vsMars scores headphones

Mars Score for headphones is heavy on audio because everything else (price, design, even battery) becomes irrelevant if the headphones do not sound good or do not block enough noise for the listening environment you bought them for.