How much time have you spent in your lifetime untangling headphone wires?
Too much time, no doubt! No matter how careful you are about storing your headphones they often manage to find themselves in a horrifying mess.Â
Well, hello WIRELESS headphones!
Not a new invention by any means, but definitely one that is becoming more and more affordable for the average student. And, with technological advances in recent years, many wireless headphones now deliver sound quality to rival their wire habouring counterparts.
So, if you are ready to turn your back on those irritating wires and invest in some quality wireless headphones, we have compiled a list of the 7 Best Wireless Headphones for College Students.
In compiling this list, we have made some careful considerations specific to college students such as; affordability, sound quality, function and of course style!
The market is flooded with top quality, economical options. So, after reading our round-up, much of your decision will actually boil down to personal preference and lifestyle. We will discuss the pros and cons of our 7 choices and it will then be down to you to decide which type of wireless headphone suits your needs and lifestyle the best.
Our Top Picks:Â
If you already know what it is you are looking for when it comes to style and function, here are our top picks for listening to music, sports and gaming and communication. Skip straight to the product summary to find out more. Or continue reading to reach our low down of the 7 Best Wireless Headphones for College Students.
Best Wireless Headphone for Listening to Music
Perfect for a music loving college student the Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones have it all. From crazy colours to quick-charge features, these headphones really can’t be beaten. Tried and tested by many before, these headphones offer great sound quality and guarantee reliable, connectivity to both Apple and Android.
Best Wireless Headphones for Running and Sport
We choose the Bose SoundSport Wireless, Sweat Resistant, In-Ear Headphones.
Why? Well, where do we begin? The neck strap makes losing an earbud impossible and they are sweat and water resistant which makes them perfect for sport. Their long battery life and the fact they are made by Bose, plus their amazing affordability. All-in-all they make the perfect option for a sport-loving college student. Need we say more?
Best Wireless Headphones for Gaming
It has to be the RUNMUS Gaming Headset. At a highly affordable price you get a lot for your college bucks. Compatible with PC and all the big name consoles. They have noise cancelling and surround sound technology, you won’t be disappointed. The fierce LED feature is also a nice added touch.
Best Wireless Headphones with a Mic
The Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones WHCH710N: Wireless Bluetooth Over the Ear Headset is a great choice. It contains a microphone plus a whole load of other great features. So why just search for wireless headphones with a mic when you can get a mic, amazing sound quality and a ton of battery-life all-in-one.
1) JBL T450BT Wireless On-Ear Headphones with Built-in Remote and Microphone
These JBL on-ear wireless headphones have cushion comfort to relieve pressure on the ears. So you can listen to your tunes in comfort for longer.
The fold flat design makes them ideal for transporting in your college backpack to and from campus. Simply fold them flat and slip them in. There are protective carry cases that you may wish to consider using for added protection. However, these are sold separately so factor this in when budgeting.
The headphones charge using a micro-usb lead but connect to PCs or smartphones using bluetooth connection.
The handy feature with these headphones; they contain a built in microphone. This makes them a super choice if you plan to use them for both communication and for listening to music.
Like many headphone sets they come in black but if you want to be a little different and break the trend, they are also available in white.
2) AUKEY True Wireless Earbuds, Bluetooth 5 Headphones with Wireless Charging Case, in-Ear Detection, 30H Playtime, IPX5 Water Resistance
These tiny earbuds fit directly into your ear and deliver quality Hi-Fi sound. The bluetooth 5 connection is said to ensure a stable connection which adds to the sound quality.
With 10 hours of playback time (5 hours per earbud), the likelihood of running out of juice mid-way through a song is minimal. Also, if you have a long commute to campus one charge over the weekend should be enough to see you through the week.
The small carry case is included. It offers protection and keeps your earbuds in one place when you throw them into your bag. Not only this, the case doubles up as a wireless charging port providing you with even more charge time on-the-go.
They are water resistance meaning that you can use them even if you get caught in the rain.
Our favourite feature is the in-ear detection. The headphones work in harmony with your device. When an earbud is removed from the ear, your music or audio book is paused ensuring you do not miss a word.Â
However, earbuds aren’t for everyone, some people find it difficult to find a fit that is right for their ears. Also, with a tendency to pop out from time to time, you may find that these are not the best style of headphone for wearing during sport.
3) Bose SoundSport Wireless, Sweat Resistant, In-Ear Headphones, Black
Another in-ear headphone set now, this time from Bose, the masters of sound and audio. With the big brand name you might expect a hefty price tag but these Bose wireless headphones are actually rather affordable.
Now before you start screaming WIRELESS let me explain. These headphones wirelessly connect to devices using bluetooth but the ear pieces themselves are connected by a single wire (the neckstrap).
Don’t panic you won’t find yourself in too much of a tangle (hopefully). Plus the neck strap is actually very useful. When an earbud decides to pop out, que the handy neck strap and save yourself from crawling on your hands and knees searching for a tiny earbud in the grass.
This feature, plus the fact they are sweat and water resistant, makes these headphones ideal for use while running or hitting the gym.
They also have 6 hours of charge so unless you plan on running ultra-marathons you’ll have more than enough battery life for your workout sessions.
4) Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones WHCH710N: Wireless Bluetooth Over the Ear Headset with Mic for Phone-Call
These Sony headphones are a good all-round product. They are truly versatile and for a student, looking to enjoy music, communicate online or study in dorms without distraction. These offer it all.Â
The over-ear cushioning delivers two things. Comfort while listening to music or audio for long periods of time and also adds to the noise cancelling capabilities of this device.
The noise cancelling function is perfect if you are trying to study in a noisy student environment. It also makes listening to audio a whole lot more fun. Feel like you’re at a music concert or a movie theatre, as sounds from the outside world disappear.
The built-in microphone allows you to use them as a hands-free smartphone device or for web-calls and online classes.
The 35 hour battery life and the option to connect the wireless headphones using a cable if the bluetooth connection fails you, are two added bonuses for an already brilliant headphone set.
Finally, the inward swivel ear pieces mean that they can be packed flat into your bag for safe transport.
5) Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones – Apple W1 Headphone Chip, Class 1 Bluetooth, 40 Hours Of Listening Time
Beats by Dr Dre are a popular brand of headphones amongst music lovers. The Solo 3 model are on-ear headphones with plenty of cushioning to provide you with the comfort you deserve while listening to your tunes in exceptional quality.
They claim to hold a staggering 40 hours of battery life allowing you to use them again and again without the constant fear of them running low on battery. Plus, forgetting to charge them isn’t a complete disaster, thanks to the 5 minute quick-charge function that provides you with a full 3 hours of playback time.
They have been designed with compatibility in mind and their technology suits both Apple and Android devices. And, they allow you to receive calls from your mobile devices.
These headphones are full for neat features that make them stand out from the rest. We love the audio control buttons on the outside for the earcups. This means you don’t need to have your device in hand to alter the volume, pause or skip songs.Â
Clumsy students rest easy. The travel case is included and the headphones fold down into a more convenient shape and size perfect for safely transporting them in your bag.
One final thing we must mention, they come in an array of cool colours. So if you want to stand-out in your college lectures or find a colour to compliment your over devices, the Beats offer you plenty of choice.
6) RUNMUS Gaming Headset Xbox One Headset with 7.1 Surround Sound, PS4 Headset with Noise Canceling Mic & LED Light, Compatible with PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One Controller
If gaming is how you choose to pass your time in between studying, then you’re going to need a decent headset.
This gaming headphone set is unbeatable in price making it perfect for a college student on a budget.
The device promises compatibility with all the major gaming devices, from PC, Playstation, Switch and Xbox consoles.
The headphones feature a noise cancelling mic to drown out the background noise allowing you to communicate with other players in crystal clarity. The mic also contains a fierce looking red LED light. A fun added touch.
With surround sound, your gaming experience will feel like reality. And, the cushioned earcups will ensure comfort for those long gaming sessions that last well into the early hours of the night.
7) Sony NWWS413LM 4GB Sports Wearable MP3 Player
Now these are something special and we couldn’t leave them off our list. It’s wireless headphone set/wearable MP3 Player and perfect for the sporty students among you.
Whether its water polo, surfing or synchro-swimming that you are training for, these Sony specials are completely waterproof. They can be used in either fresh or saltwater to a depth of upto 2meters, making them perfect for surface swimming.
The main difference between these wireless headphones is the fact you don’t need to connect or be close to a device. How? I hear you ask.Â
Well these headphones actually double up as a MP3 player. They have a storage facility built in. So, listen to your favourite tunes to get you through a training session without risking your smartphone or other device from water damage.
They kindly come with multiple buds to find a comfortable fit for your ears and swimming buds to enhance your in-pool experience.
Before we wrap, we will give you a quick summary of the options in terms of style and the most important features to consider.
In-Ear Headphones:
Sometimes referred to as in-ear or earbud headphones. They fit directly into the ear. Some come with an over ear clip to hold them in place. They are generally small and easy to transport. However, every ear is different so finding the perfect fit can be hard. Therefore, unless you opt for the over ear clip or you are lucky enough to find a pair of earbuds that fit perfectly, they might not be the best option when it comes to sport.
On-Ear Headphones:
This type of headphone usually has the classic headband and the headphones sit directly on your ear. They can sometimes be a little uncomfortable after a while as they put pressure on your ears. But, they offer a good middle ground between absorbing yourself in your music and also hearing what’s going on around you.
Over-Ear Headphones:
These headphones rest over the ears and the cushion usually lies on the head and jaw bone. They offer great sound quality and the best models on the market often have noise cancelling technology. These are great for losing yourself in music or a good audio-book.
Headphones with a Mic:
These headphones come with a microphone included and are perfect if you need to talk and communicate online. Many gamers opt for this type of headphone. Not to mention the recent move to online learning, if you find your college seminars are taking place over platforms like Zoom these could make communication with your classmates much easier.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a wireless headphone set can be quite a task when there is so much out there on the market to choose from.
Our advice to you is to first think about what you’ll be using your headphones for.Â
Are you looking for the best in sound quality for listening to music? Something comfortable to kick-back with an audiobook? Maybe you need a pair to suit your sporting or gaming needs?
These are the questions you need to answer before you start your search. The rest then comes down to aesthetics and the added features that appeal to you.
If you can, get down to your local electrical store to try some on for comfort. Some stores even let you trial the sound quality by connecting to your device.
Whichever style or device you decide on we hope that our 7 Best Wireless Headphones for College Students have helped you on your way. Happy listening!