Best wireless earbuds for phone calls in noisy environment

If you're out and about listening to headphones and someone calls, it's much more convenient to speak into your headphones than take them off and use your phone. Since almost every pair of headphones now have a microphone and controls built-in, it's easier than ever to take a phone call wherever you are. While earpiece-style Bluetooth headsets are still quite common with people who use the phone a lot, we haven't tested many, so in this article, we'll look at regular Bluetooth headphones with good microphones as well.

Keep in mind that there are some limitations to Bluetooth. This technology uses Bluetooth profiles, which are specifications for how data communicates between devices. To use your wireless headphones with full audio and mic compatibility, the headphones switch from Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), which is a basic one-way profile, to Headset Profile (HSP) or Hands-Free Profile (HFP). However, HSP and HFP have lower sound and mic quality when compared to A2DP. Unfortunately, there's no real way around this if you want to use Bluetooth headphones.

We’ve tested over 380 Bluetooth headsets; below, you’ll find our top picks for the best Bluetooth headsets for phone calls. Also, check our recommendations for the best earbuds with a mic, and the best wireless gaming headsets we've tested.

1. Type Over-ear

   Enclosure Closed-Back

   Wireless Yes

   Transducer Dynamic

   Noise Cancelling Yes

   Mic Yes

   The best Bluetooth headset we've tested is the Bose 700 Headphones Wireless. These over-ears have an integrated mic on their ear cup, ensuring that your voice sounds clear and natural. If you're talking in a noisy environment, the mic can separate your voice from moderate background sounds. Thanks to their ANC system, they do an exceptional job blocking sound like ambient chatter, which is handy if you work in a noisy office. If you need to take calls throughout the day, their battery lasts over 20 hours continuously, and their auto-off timer can help conserve battery life if you forget to turn them off.

   You can pair them with your PC and your smartphone simultaneously, and their companion app offers a graphic EQ if you want to adjust their slightly warm sound profile to suit your tastes. That said, if you're looking for headphones that are optimized for Microsoft Teams or Unified Communication (UC) software, it's worth checking out the Jabra Evolve2 85 Wireless. They're well-suited for call centers and remote work thanks to their dedicated controls for each software. However, they're expensive, and they've been back-ordered from the manufacturer for quite a while now. However, you can still find them from smaller retailers in either variant.

   See our review

2. Best Upper Mid-Range Bluetooth Headset For Phone Calls

   Type Over-ear

   Enclosure Closed-Back

   Wireless Yes

   Transducer Dynamic

   Noise Cancelling Yes

   Mic Yes

   The best upper mid-range Bluetooth headphones for phone calls are the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless. They're hybrid headphones designed for casual and gaming use, which sets them apart from other headphones on this list. However, don't let their gamer-centric features deter you: their integrated mic offers decent overall performance, so people hear you clearly. They also have an ANC system. While they don't block out as much overall sound as the Bose 700 Headphones Wireless and feel a little less premium, they can still cut down a great amount of background noise. They also last longer than the Bose and have over 34 hours of continuous playback time to last through long days at the office.

   These over-ears have a fairly versatile sound profile. Although voices can sound a bit harsh, you can finetune their sound using their companion software to finetune their sound to your liking. They come with a wireless USB dongle so you can stay connected to your PC and smartphone simultaneously. While they have a comfortable fit, you can still get more comfortable. If you care about comfort, consider the Jabra Elite 85h Wireless instead. The Jabra headphones have a lighter, more comfortable fit and are well-padded, which helps reduce fatigue over time. They also have a similar overall mic performance to the Razer, but their ANC system doesn't block out as much sound.

   See our review

3. Best Mid-Range Bluetooth Headset For Phone Calls

   Type Over-ear

   Enclosure Closed-Back

   Wireless Yes

   Transducer Dynamic

   Noise Cancelling Yes

   Mic Yes

   The best mid-range Bluetooth headphones for phone calls are the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless. At this price point, you may expect a dip in build quality or less active features from your headphones. However, the Q35 beat out all expectations and deliver a versatile overall performance worth checking out. Like most other headphones on this list, they have an integrated mic. Though it doesn't perform quite as well as the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless, it still has a good recording quality, ensuring that your voice sounds clear and free of distortion. They struggle to separate speech from ambient noise around you, so if you have an important call, it's best to do so from a quieter space.

   These over-ears have an adjustable ANC system with three modes to tackle different kinds of sound. Using the 'Transport' mode, they can cut down a great amount of background noise like ambient chatter. With their ANC on, they last over 44 hours continuously, and they support multi-device pairing, meaning you can connect them with two different devices at a time. Their bass-heavy sound profile can be nice if you want to listen to music when not on a call, but you can also adjust their sound to your liking using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets.

   See our review

4. Best Budget Bluetooth Headset For Phone Calls

   Type Over-ear

   Enclosure Closed-Back

   Wireless Yes

   Transducer Dynamic

   Noise Cancelling Yes

   Mic Yes

   The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless are the best budget Bluetooth headphones for calls. These over-ears are one of the earlier predecessors of the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless. While they lack more robust features like an EQ or companion app at this price point, and their build feels less premium, they still offer a decent mic performance that rivals their later successor. The mic can capture your voice well, so you won't have issues being understood well. It also does a solid job of separating your voice from noisy environments, though you still may want to take calls from a quiet place to ensure you're heard well.

   These comfortable over-ears have a good overall ANC system. If you need to take calls from a busy street, it struggles to block out the rumble of car engines, but it can still be a worthwhile choice for reducing office chatter. With their ANC on, they last over 32 hours continuously, and you can even use them passively in a pinch. Their excited-sound profile has a lot of extra bass, but voices still sound well-balanced and present. They don't support multi-device pairing, though.

   See our review

5. Best Bluetooth Headset For Driving

   Type Mono On-ear

   Enclosure Closed-Back

   Wireless Yes

   Transducer Dynamic

   Noise Cancelling No

   Mic Yes

   Using stereo headphones while driving can be dangerous. If you need to take calls while driving, you may want to consider a mono headset as it only covers one ear, so you hear what's happening around you. Enter the BlueParrott B450-XT Bluetooth Headset, the best headset for this use we've tested. It has a boom mic that sits close to your mouth, ensuring your voice sounds clear and natural. It also supports multi-device pairing, meaning you can stay connected to your personal and work phones simultaneously. It also lasts over 24 hours continuously, but if you aren't on a call, it goes into standby mode to conserve battery life. Its plasticky design can put pressure on the top of your ear, making it uncomfortable over time.

   If build quality is a priority or you prefer an in-ear fit, consider the Plantronics Voyager 5200 Bluetooth Headset instead. This headset has a sturdy plastic frame and three different tip sizes to help you get the best fit. It also has a flexible ear hook design that doesn't put too much pressure on your ear. However, the BlueParrott headset's mic offers a significantly better recording quality, and its continuous battery life is longer.

   See our review

6. Best Wireless Earbuds For Phone Calls

   Type In-ear

   Enclosure Closed-Back

   Wireless Yes

   Transducer Hybrid

   Noise Cancelling Yes

   Mic Yes

   If you prefer an in-ear fit, the best earbuds for phone calls with a wireless design we've tested are the Sony WI-1000XM2 Wireless. While their neckband may not be for everyone, this design helps bring the mic closer to your mouth. As a result, recorded speech sounds clear and intelligible. The mic also does a decent job separating your voice from background sound, but you'll still want to take calls from a quiet room as loud sounds can drown out your voice. They have a flexible, good build quality and come with several differently-sized ear tips to help you get the best fit.

   These buds can block out a good amount of ambient noise, like ambient chatter and the high-pitched hum of AC units. With their ANC on, their 8.6-hour continuous playback time won't last as long as similarly priced headphones like the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless. Their warm sound profile ensures that voices sound present. However, they have a dip in their sound that slightly weakens speech. On the upside, you can adjust their sound using their companion app's customization features.

   If you're looking for the best earbuds for phone calls, check out our best earbuds with a mic article!

   See our review

Notable Mentions

• Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless: The Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless are high-end headphones with a powerful noise isolation performance, which can make all the difference in a noisy office. Their overall performance is quite similar to that of the Bose 700 Headphones Wireless, but their mic doesn't perform quite as well. See our review
• Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless: The Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless are ANC headphones with 27 hours of continuous playback time and multi-device pairing. That said, they aren't as comfortable as the Bose 700 Headphones Wireless, and their mic's recording quality is worse. See our review
• Jabra Evolve2 65 Wireless: The Jabra Evolve2 65 Wireless are well-built on-ear headphones. While their mic has a better performance than the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless, they lack ANC and aren't as comfortable. See our review

Recent Updates

1. Oct 06, 2022: We've overhauled this article to better align it with user expectations. We've added the following: Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless, Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless. We've also removed the TOZO T6 Truly Wireless and cleared the Notable Mentions of picks that are out of date.

2. May 24, 2022: Article overhaul to better match picks with user expectations. Renamed BlueParrott B450-XT Bluetooth Headset pick to 'Best Bluetooth Headset For Driving'. Removed the Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018, Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless, Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless, Hyper Cloud Mix Wireless, and Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless from Notable Mentions. Added the Plantronics Voyager 5200 Bluetooth Headset and Jabra Evolve2 85 to Notable Mentions.

3. Mar 25, 2022: There have been minor changes to the text for clarity and accuracy. There hasn't been a change in our recommendations.

4. Jan 17, 2022: Checked that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock.

5. Dec 16, 2021: Checked that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock. There were no changes to recommendations.

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best Bluetooth headphones for calls and the best Bluetooth earbuds for phone calls for most people. We factor in the price (a cheaper headset wins over pricier a one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (nothing that's too hard to find or out of stock everywhere).

If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our Bluetooth headphones, ranked by how they perform for phone calls. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.

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