Whether you spend most of your days on sales calls, collaborate with remote teams through video conferences, or just need a way to tune out office chatter, having the right wireless headset can make a world of difference in your productivity and enjoyment at work.
In 2024, advancements in wireless connectivity, noise cancellation, comfort, and microphone quality have put more viable contenders on the table. With so many options to parse through before finding your best fit, I‘ve compiled this guide of my top five recommendations across a range of priorities and budgets.
Before we dive into the picks, let‘s cover what you should look for when shopping:
Key Buying Considerations for Work Headsets
Audio Quality: Clear and reliable sound is non-negotiable. Seek out a frequency response range spanning at least 20 Hz to 20 kHz for full audio reproduction. Larger drivers (40mm+) and advanced codecs like aptX HD deliver better fidelity too.
Noise Cancellation: Forblocking disruptive ambient sound, active noise cancellation (ANC) is far superior to passive isolation alone. Multiple microphone arrays enable the most advanced noise reduction for calls and media.
Comfort: If it hurts after 30 minutes or fatigues your neck, it‘ll be tough to power through 8 hours of work each day. Prioritize lightweight builds with plush padding that form a secure yet gentle fit.
Battery Life: Frequent recharging is no fun, so target at least 30 hours of runtime between charges. Quick charging support helps too for when you forget to plug in overnight.
Connectivity: Class 1 Bluetooth ensures reliable connectivity up to 800ft, while Bluetooth multipoint lets you pair two devices simultaneously. Support for advanced codecs like AAC, aptX, and aptX HD guarantees audio quality.
Voice Pickup: advanced microphone systems filter out ambient noise for clear call and voice assistant interaction. Multiple mics also enable beamforming for locked-in voice pickup and natural sounding calls.
Comfort/Design: Over-ear and on-ear wearing styles each have their pros and cons depending on your environmental needs and personal fit preferences. Similarly, snug fits isolate noise better but can cause ear fatigue over long listening periods.
Now let‘s get into this year‘s top five picks across various use cases and budgets!
1. Jabra Evolve2 75 – Best Overall
Key Features:
- Active noise cancellation (ANC) with 4-mic array
- 37 hours battery life
- Dedicated Microsoft Teams button
- Comfortable leatherette ear cushions
- Flip boom arm to mute mic
If you want a versatile headset with premium features that justify the price tag for daily work use, it doesn‘t get better than the new Jabra Evolve2 75.
It builds on Jabra‘s excellent Evolve2 65 UC from last year with upgraded design and components. The plush memory foam ear cushions form a super comfortable yet acoustically sealed fit for immersive sound and passive noise isolation.
You also get top-tier active noise cancellation powered by four microphones that detect and cancel a wide range of ambient sounds like chatter, HVAC systems and keyboard noises. This works wonders at tuning out open office environments when you need to focus.
It really pulls ahead of other headsets when it comes to call quality too thanks to an eight microphone array optimized for crystal clear voice transmission without any muted or muffled effects. Jabra designed it specifically with professional use cases in mind for conducting interviews, sales calls, conferences and more.
With 37 hours of battery life on a single charge, it keeps pace with even the longest days. Just flip up the mic boom arm to mute when stepping away or push the dedicated Microsoft Teams button to instantly answer teams calls. At this price point the Jabra Evolve2 75 sets the standard for premium work headsets.
See the Jabra Evolve2 75 on Amazon
2. Poly Voyager Focus 2 – Best for Calls & Conferencing
Key Features:
- Boomless 4-mic design
- Beamforming pickup
- On-ear controls
- Active noise cancellation
- Zoom certifed
If you take a high volume of calls and need something optimized for crystal clear voice transmission, the Poly Voyager Focus 2 belongs on your short list.
It employs a clever design sans boom arm. Instead, the headset utilizes four mics in the left earcup tuned specifically for beamforming voice pickup. This results in incredible voice isolation on calls. Even in noisy environments, the person on the other end only hears your voice coming through with outstanding clarity and no muffling.
This makes it a superb choice if you‘re frequently on conference calls, conducting interviews, or even dictating notes and voice memos. It really allows your voice to cut through while tuning out everything else around you.
With on-ear adaptive active noise canceling (ANC), it also makes it easy to zone in on conversations without pumping up the volume to dangerous levels just to overcome chatter and ambient noise.
It works seamlessly with all major conferencing platforms like Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Zoom thanks to dedicated function buttons. At $200-$250, it costs significantly less than the Jabra Evolve2 75 because it foregoes some of the more premium audio playback features in exchange for phenomenal call and voice transmission perks.
See the Poly Voyager Focus 2 on Amazon
3. EKSA H1 – Best Budget Wireless Headset
Key Features:
- 40mm graphene drivers
- Active noise cancellation
- On-ear controls
- Bluetooth 5.3
- Up to 50 hours battery life
Shopping on a tighter budget? The EKSA H1 punches way above its price point to deliver surprisingly decent audio and call quality for around $60.
Despite the low cost, it actually utilizes graphene coated drivers more commonly found in $200+ audiophile headphones. The result is great sound reproduction across bass, mids and highs that outperforms what you typically find at this price.
With a lightweight build, plush padding and freely rotating earcups, it maintains comfort even during longer listening sessions. Add in active noise cancellation, on-ear controls, and up to 50 hours of battery life, and you get tremendous value.
Just keep expectations in check relative to more expensive options – there‘s still some distortion and lack of clarity at maximum volumes. But for everyday work calls and music in moderately noisy environments, it more than gets the job done.
The bottom line is that the EKSA H1 punches way above typical budget wireless headsets while costing a fraction of premium devices. If you just need basic functionality for work calls and media without breaking the bank, it should top your list.
See the EKSA H1 on Amazon
4. Apple AirPods Max – Best Premium Wireless Headset
Key Features:
- Apple H1 chip
- Spatial audio
- Long battery life
- Best-in-class ANC
- Seamless Apple device connectivity
Want the absolute best audio experience money can buy in an sleek over-ear design? Say hello to the Apple AirPods Max. They command a staggering price tag but deliver pristine sonic fidelity and premium build quality that‘s hard to beat at any price.
Sporting massive 40mm dynamic drivers housed in acoustically optimized ear cups, they reproduce spatial audio with Dolby Atmos that makes music feel multidimensional. This brings concert hall dynamics right between your ears.
You also get unmatched active noise cancellation powered by eight microphones that sample environmental sounds 200 times per second. Flip them on and it‘s like stepping into a soundproof recording studio, perfect for tuning out even the noisiest office floors.
Everything has been meticulously crafted in terms of industrial design too, from the knit mesh canopy headband that distributes weight perfectly to machined aluminum ear cup frames. While expensive, they set a benchmark for quality that lives up their premium price tag if you can swing it.
Just be aware that many bonus features require Apple devices specifically. So they make most sense for all-Apple setups rather than mixed environments. But if unmatched quality trumps platform flexibility, the AirPods Max take work audio to the next level.
See the Apple AirPods Max on Amazon
5. Bose QuietComfort 45 – Most Comfortable
Key Features:
- TriPort Arc acoustic architecture
- Plush synthetic protein leather
- 24 hour battery
- Amazing noise cancellation
- Lightweight comfy design
If all-day wearing comfort is your top priority for marathon work sessions, the Bose QuietComfort 45 should be your first stop. They live up to the QuietComfort name with a perfectly contoured lightweight design made for long-term listening.
The soft synthetic protein leather earpads hug your head without pinching while the foam cushions remain cool against skin. You barely notice them after a while thanks to one of the lightest clamping forces that still achieves a great acoustic seal. This prevents ear fatigue so you can keep them on for hours without any hotspots or discomfort.
With TriPort acoustic architecture inspired by high-end home speakers, they deliver incredible audio quality too. That combines with adjustable active noise cancellation to tune out the word around you or let ambient sound bleed in when preferred.
On-ear volume/ANC controls provide convenient access to settings without ever taking them off. If cloud-like comfort is your main priority for all-day wear, the QuietComfort 45 set the standard while sounding fantastic.
See the Bose QuietComfort 45 on Amazon
What About Neckband Style Headphones?
Up until now we‘ve focused on over-ear and on-ear wearing styles. However, neckband wireless headsets have also grown in popularity over recent years for their ultra lightweight and comfortable fit.
Rather than resting on top of your head, neckband headphones have a flexible band that wraps behind your neck. Earbuds connect via short cables to the left and right ends, which house battery, connectivity, microphone and control components.
Because they don‘t put any weight on your head or ears, they solve any comfort or fatigue issues during long listening sessions. You barely notice you have them on!
However, their small size does mean compromises in areas like battery life, sound quality and noise isolation versus larger over-ear designs. But for low profile flexibility, they strike an excellent balance.
Top neckband picks for work use include the Bose QuietComfort 20i and Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless.
Work Headset Use Cases & Buying Tips
Beyond the above top recommendations, you may be wondering about specific use cases like:
- Sales & Customer Service Calls – Look for multiple microphones to isolate voice pickup, noise cancellation to reduce background chatter, and easy access mute controls. Over-ear or neckband styles both work well.
- Video Calls & Conferencing – Beamforming microphones enhance voice transmission while active noise cancellation prevents echo and feedback. Dedicated mute buttons and conference platform integration optimize the experience.
- Remote Work & Co-Working – The ability to connect multiple devices is crucial for remote work flexibility between smartphones, tablets and computers. Prioritize range too if you‘ll be walking away from your desk frequently.
- Focus Intensive Work – Comfort and noise isolation take top priority here since you‘ll be wearing the headset for hours without interruption. Materials like memory foam and ample clamping force prevent fatigue over time.
- Music Listening – Seek out large high performance drivers, advanced Bluetooth codecs like aptX and AAC for fidelity, plus acoustic transparency modes so you can pipe in ambient sound when needed without removing the headset.
I suggest considering battery life needs too. If you‘re at your desk consistently, charging isn‘t issue and 20 hours may suffice. But if meetings frequently keep you away from USB ports, target 30+ hours for uninterrupted productivity.
Lastly, think about interoperability with other devices you own when it comes to Bluetooth profiles. Will you be pairing with just computers and smartphones? Or perhaps also tablets, phones and even Bluetooth keyboards/mice? The more flexible the connectivity, the better.
Key Takeaways: Choosing the Best Wireless Headset for Work
The right wireless headset makes a world of difference, whether you want to power through distraction-free work, conduct crisp and clear calls, or just enjoy music during the workday. Keep these buying factors in mind while assessing options:
Audio Quality – Seek out large drivers (40mm+), advanced Bluetooth codec support, spatial audio and hardware tuning tailored specifically for music over voice calls alone. These attributes take fidelity to the next level.
Microphone Quality – Multiple mics paired with noise cancellation produce the cleanest voice pickup for calls and conferences. Features like beamforming also help your voice cut through ambient noise for clarity.
Comfort – Plush padding is great, but a lighter clamping force wins for all-day comfort. Materials like memory foam that don‘t retain heat and evenly distributed weight prevent fatigue over long periods.
I hope this guide gives you a head start in finding the right voice-first headset for your needs and budget. Let me know if you have any other questions!
