The Best Bluetooth Headsets of 2023

Whether you’re working from home, taking calls on the go, or smashing out a few rounds of Fortnite with some buddies, a quality Bluetooth headset is a must. The specific type of headset you need, however, depends a lot on how you plan to use it.

Online gamers need great sound quality with an excellent mic, while home workers should prioritize comfort, given they may be wearing the headset for hours each day. If you spend a lot of time making and taking calls while on the move, compact models with good noise-canceling are the way to go. 

There are hundreds of models on the market, but some are dramatically better than others. We’ve tested some that promise a lot but under-deliver in vital areas like battery life or audio quality, and others that perform far better than their price point would suggest.

Factoring in each model’s feature set, value, comfort, and of course, performance, these are our current picks for the best Bluetooth headsets worth buying in 2023.

Best Bluetooth Headset: BlueParrott M300-XT

If you’re after a versatile yet affordable option, the BlueParrot M300-XT is the best Bluetooth headset for most applications at the moment. 

Its compact on-ear design makes it more than suitable for use while out and about, while at the same time remaining comfortable enough for long hours in the office or at home. It’s also reasonably durable, with an IP54 rating that ensures it’s able to handle a bit of sweat, dirt, or dust without giving up the ghost.

Battery life is rated at up to 14 hours of active talk time (not just standby), and you’ll likely get pretty close to that. In real-world terms, you can expect to only need to charge the headset a couple of times per week unless your workday sees you constantly spending hours on phone calls and Zoom meetings.

The M300-XT strikes a nice balance between affordability and quality. It won’t break the bank for most people, but it also doesn’t feel or sound like a cheap Bluetooth headset. This model has excellent audio quality, both incoming and outgoing.

It has solid noise suppression for caller and wearer alike, with two noise-cancelling mics that eliminate up to 80% of background sound. This, combined with the excellent battery life, make this the best Bluetooth headset for truckers and others whose work takes place far from a quiet office environment. 

The headset is simple to use, with a single customizable button that can be programmed to provide fast access to features like mute, speed dial, and more. Settings can be changed via the free BlueParrot app on your mobile device. 

The only real downside to M300-XT is that it can feel a bit heavy after a few hours. At just 0.7oz it’s actually very lightweight, but the single-ear design doesn’t provide much support, so the entire weight rests on your ear.

If you prefer a more even weight distribution, the B250-XTS model has an over-the-head design at a similar price point. Want noise cancelation as well? Check out the B450-XT (discussed below).

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Best Bluetooth Headset for Phone Calls: Plantronics Voyager 5200

The Plantronics Voyager 5200 is a solid all-round headset, and one of the best Bluetooth headsets for phone calls, mostly thanks to its unique wind-cancelling technology.

Like our top pick above, the Voyager 5200 is an on-ear model with a fairly compact design. It has a useful range of close to a hundred feet, and connects to any Bluetooth-enabled device like your smartphone or computer. The companion app lets you check battery life, change the ringtone, and track down a misplaced headset.

The highlight of this model is its ability to reduce wind noise in outgoing audio. While many Bluetooth headsets have some sort of noise-cancelling technology, the Voyager’s specifically limits wind, traffic, and other background noise, making it a better bet for taking calls outside. 

The downside of that fancy noise cancellation, though, is the effect it has on battery life: the runtime is only around half as long as the BlueParrot model above. At around seven hours of talk time, most people will still get through a full workday while using it, but ultimately you’ll still have to charge it more often.

Given that, it may be worth grabbing a charging case, an inexpensive backup battery option that provides two extra full charges while doubling as a desktop docking station and a protective travel case.

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Best Bluetooth Gaming Headset: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless

Good Bluetooth gaming headsets are rather rare, as most major manufacturers opt for more reliable connectivity technologies. For the gamers out there, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is a fantastic high-end option, with a choice of two connection types: wireless lossless audio via a dedicated base station (more on this below) or Bluetooth 5.0. 

Audio quality with these cans is extremely good, particularly their 360-degree surround-sound performance that feels truly immersive. There’s a slight bass boost by default, which can be tweaked in the EQ as needed, but in general both the frequency response and fidelity is right up there.

The retractable mic tucks back into the headset when not in use, and is right up there with the best gaming microphones, headset or otherwise. Optimized for speech, it has impressive clarity and noise reduction that does a good job of cutting out background sound.

The headset comes with a high-end base station, which uses the 2.4Ghz wireless band to provide ultra-low latency wireless audio and up to 40 feet of range. Put simply, this means you get quality wireless audio without any detectable lag. 

You can plug two devices at once into the base station’s USB C ports, and it has both optical and analog outputs so you can drive amps and speakers as well as your headset. There’s also an OLED display and control wheel on the front for switching devices, altering EQ, and balancing chat and game volume.

Two batteries ship with the headphones, and you’re able to charge one in the base station while using the other. Expect 20+ hours from one battery, and you get eight seconds to swap them over before the headset loses power. Effectively, this provides near-endless battery life for most people.

There’s also a USB C port hidden behind one of the magnetic earcups, for when you need to charge while away from the base station.

The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless does have standard Bluetooth 5.0 as well, and connects easily to most Bluetooth-enabled devices. Most people will use this for mobile devices like phones and tablets, and opt for the base station’s 2.4GHz/wired combo for their computers and consoles to eliminate lag.

So, why is this our pick for the best Bluetooth gaming headset, given that most people won’t use the Bluetooth aspect while they’re gaming? Because it provides a Bluetooth-like experience (wireless connectivity with a ~40 foot range), without the delay or connectivity issues that plague many Bluetooth gaming headsets.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless isn’t a cheap headset, but for serious gamers, it’s well worth the upgrade.

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Best Noise-Canceling Bluetooth Headset: BlueParrott B450-XT

The BlueParrot B450-XT is the best Bluetooth headset for noisy environments like offices and call centers. With exceptional battery life (up to 24 hours of talk time), it could easily last an entire work week depending on your usage. The wireless range of up to 300 feet means you can keep your conversation going while you head to the break room for a coffee. 

The B450-XT’s impressive noise reduction technology is designed to cancel up to 96% of background sound. This is on the outgoing audio end, meaning the person you’re talking to shouldn’t be disturbed by your loud surroundings. Because this headset only has an ear cup on one side, though, it’s not as effective at blocking background noise for the wearer.

If you want both, you’re better off with an upgrade like the SteelSeries Arctis Pro (see above), or the Plantronics Voyager Focus UC below. 

This headset is quite comfortable, with a supportive over-the-head design, padded headband, and cushioned earcups. It should also hold up well over time, with a durable design and IP54-rated protection against dust and moisture.

The only real downside is that, as mentioned, the headset only has a single earpiece. This is the preferred design for most situations, as it allows you to be aware of your surroundings while talking on the phone, but it’s not ideal if you want to listen to music or play games.

If you prefer headphone-style headsets, BlueParrot offers the S450-XT, or you could opt for the Plantronics model below. 

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Best Bluetooth Headset for Working from Home: Plantronics Voyager Focus UC

Working from home? The Plantronics Voyager Focus UC is a great option. It’s comfortable, has excellent voice quality, and provides up to 12 hours of active talk time on one charge. Oh, and it’s designed for use with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other remote-working essentials. 

This is a headphone-style headset, meaning it has audio in both ears. This can be a liability when you’re in the office or taking a walk, but it’s ideal when working from the comfort of your own home. The Focus UC is great for taking calls, listening to music, or even casual gaming after work is done for the day. 

If you have kiddos running around or other household distractions, active noise cancelling (ANC) technology will help you focus, while noise-cancelling microphones help to reduce background sound levels. Your co-workers will thank you! 

The downside of this set is its durability. Several components are plastic, and can become brittle over time. Given the moderately high price, we’d have hoped for a better build quality. We also have a dedicated article on the best headsets for working from home, if you’re looking for something a little different.

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🎧 Looking for something else to put in or on your ears? Check out our picks for noise-canceling headphones and earbuds, the best options for making calls, USB headsets, and more.

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Main image via fizkes/Shutterstock.com, product images via Amazon