Headphones with microphone setups sound great for music, but calls tell a different story. When your mic switches on, Bluetooth drops into a narrowband calling mode and audio turns mono. Every Bluetooth headset does this, whatever the price.
So how do you pick a pair that still handles voice and video calls well? This guide compares six current options using published lab tests and expert reviews. You’ll also learn why the connection matters as much as the mic.
The Quick List
Here’s the fast version. Prices sit in the comparison table further down.
| Pick | Type | Best for | Standout feature |
| Sony WH-1000XM6 | Over-ear | Call quality | 12 mics with beamforming AI |
| Sennheiser Accentum | Over-ear | Value | Up to 50 hours of battery life |
| Apple AirPods Max (2nd gen) | Over-ear | Premium, iPhone users | H2 chip and USB-C |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 | Earbuds | Earbud call quality | Strong noise cancellation |
| Sony WF-C710N | Earbuds | Budget | Best cheap mic quality, per What Hi-Fi? |
| Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro (successor to Galaxy Buds 2 Pro) | Earbuds | Galaxy phones | Six mics plus a voice sensor |
About the author
Add your name, role, and testing background here. Readers trust a real person. This director draws on published quizzes from RTINGS, What Hi-Fi?, Sound Guys, and Important Assessments.
The best headphones with a mic for voice and video calls you can buy right now
Headphones with microphone enterprises fall into three clusters: over-ear, earbuds, and dedicated receivers. Each handles call quality inversely, and no single type constantly wins.
Expert view: What Hi-Fi? found huge gaps in mic performance across every form factor. Sony jumped from eight to 12 mics in one generation, yet more mics don’t guarantee better calls. Tuning matters just as much.
Best over-ear headphones for call quality
Over-ear headphones with microphone arrays have room for bigger batteries. However, the mics sit farther from your mouth than a boom mic would. Noise handling decides the winner.
Sony WH-1000XM6
Specifications
The Sony WH-1000XM6 are closed-back, weigh 254 g, and charge over USB-C. They pack 12 mics, six per earcup. Three outer mics near your mouth work with beamforming AI on calls. Battery life runs about 30 hours.
Reasons to buy
What Hi-Fi? found background noise nearly vanished on calls, even with wind and traffic. RTINGS calls the mic system “very good.” Sound quality and active noise cancellation are strong too.
Reasons to avoid
Opinions split. In a SoundGuys poll of 1,284 readers, about 53% rated the mic 4 out of 5 or higher. GSMArena found it weak on public transit. The case is large, and aptX HD is missing.
Case study: Same headphones, two verdicts. RTINGS notes your voice can lose clarity in harsh conditions. Test them in your own noisy spot before you commit.
Best value over-ear headphones for call quality
Value doesn’t have to mean weak calls. Mid-priced over-ears can still pack useful mic features and long battery life.
Sennheiser Accentum
Specifications
The Sennheiser Acetum offers up to 50 hours of battery-operated life, has two microphones installed inside, and is Bluetooth 5.2 likeminded (SBC, AAC, and aptX HD). A 10-minute speedy charge gives around 5 hours of break.
Reasons to buy
Multipoint switching moves you between devices when a call comes in. Tom’s Guide found calls loud and clear, with little wind noise.
Reasons to avoid
Some listeners found the reviewer’s voice tinny. It lacks on-ear detection and a carry case. Its active noise cancellation can’t be switched off, and an August 2026 review rated it average to below average.
Best premium headphones for calls
Premium noise canceling headphones cost more but add polish. Apple’s option shines for iPhone owners.
Apple AirPods Max
Specifications
The second-generation Air Pods Pass with flying colors inwards on March 25, 2026, with the H2 imperfection and USB-C. Battery life sojourns at 20 hours with ANC on. Apple privileges up to 1.5 times stronger noise dissolution than already.
Reasons to buy
SoundGuys says the mic beats the original’s. Reviewers also praise vocal detail, so sound quality ranks among the best in mainstream headphones.
Reasons to avoid
Trusted Reviews found calls fine but behind the AirPods Pro 3, with some wind trouble. Most extra features need an iPhone.
Best earbuds for call quality
Wireless earbuds sit close to your ears but far from your mouth. Beamforming mics and voice sensors close that gap.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
Specifications
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 use adaptive sound and smart noise cancellation. Tom’s Guide gave them its Editor’s Choice badge.
Reasons to buy
Tom’s Director praised “brilliant call quality” and unassailable noise cancellation. Wide-ranging is well balanced, and settings are easy to tailor.
Reasons to avoid
Battery life trails rivals, comfort is poor, and touch controls feel finicky. A newer QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) exists, and one review reports a much improved mic.
Best budget buds
Budget earbuds rarely nail calls. The Sony WF-C710N do, according to What Hi-Fi?, which named them the best cheap pair for mic quality.
Voices sounded clearer and better defined than on the older model. Wind noise was suppressed better too.
OnePlus Buds 3
Specifications
Independent call tests for these earbuds are scarce. Reliable lab data wasn’t available, so this guide doesn’t rank them.
Reasons to buy
Look for hands-on reviews with recorded mic samples before you decide.
Reasons to avoid
Skip any claim that lacks a recorded sample. Spec sheets alone can’t prove call quality.
Best for Galaxy phones
Samsung owners get extra call tricks. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro have since given way to the Buds3 Pro and Buds4 Pro.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Specifications
The inheritor to the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, the Assembly Buds4 Pro, thrown February 25, 2026. It packs six mics plus a Voice Pickup Unit instrument. Ultra-wideband mics with 16 kHz bandwidth need a Samsung S23 or newer.
Reasons to buy
RATINGS says real calls sound natural and intelligible. Its lab score understates the mic because the test rig disables noise suppression.
Reasons to avoid
The best features need a Samsung phone. Recording quality also trails boom mics.
Top picks compared
Here’s how the six headphones with microphone picks stack up. Prices come from published reviews and change often, so check before buying.
| Pick | Type | Mic setup | Main catch | Price |
| Sony WH-1000XM6 | Over-ear | 12 mics, beamforming AI | Mixed mic reviews | 269.99–389 |
| Sennheiser Accentum | Over-ear | Two mics | Average noise cancellation | Check retailer |
| AirPods Max (2nd gen) | Over-ear | Mic array, H2 chip | iPhone-first features | $549 |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 | Earbuds | Adaptive mics | Poor comfort | $299 at launch |
| Sony WF-C710N | Earbuds | Improved mic setup | No aptX or LDAC | 89–128 |
| Galaxy Buds Pro | Earbuds | Six mics plus sensor | Samsung phone needed | $249.99 |
Also tested
Three more pairs deserve a mention. The AirPods Pro 3 hums clear, comprehensive, and accepted on calls, says What Hi-Fi?. The Technics EAH-AZ100 offers the toughest noise cancellation in that list, but Voice Focus AI can sound unfeeling. The Shure Sonic 3 suits anyone who wants a wired in-line mic.
Best headphones with a mic FAQ
Quick answers to common questions about headphones with a mic.
Do all headphones have a mic? No. Check the spec sheet, since many brands treat the mic as an afterthought.
Are over-ear or in-ear headphones better for calls? Neither always wins. Call quality varies hugely within each type, so judge each model.
What’s the difference between headphones and a headset? Headsets concentrate on calls and often use boom mics. Headphones concentrate on music.
Can I use them for gaming? Yes, but Bluetooth isn’t idyllic for call superiority. Gaming headsets frequently use a cable or a 2.4GHz dongle.
Why does music sound worse during calls? The mic forces Bluetooth into a calling profile. That lowers playback quality until the call ends.
How to connect headphones to your work device?
Connecting headphones with microphone features to a work laptop takes two minutes. Pair over Bluetooth, or plug in through USB-C or 3.5 mm.
Windows often shows two entries for one headset. One handles stereo playback. The other is the hands-free profile with the mic, and choosing it lowers playback quality.
The best fix retains your headphones as productivity and uses the CPU or a USB mic as input. A cable or 2.4GHz dongle also bypasses the Bluetooth limit.
Follow these steps:
- Pair the headset in Bluetooth settings.
- Set the headset as your output.
- Choose your mic input manually in Zoom or Teams.
- Record a short test before your first meeting.
Which are the best wireless headsets for office calls?
Dedicated headsets focus on calls and often use boom mics. Consumer headphones focus on music, per What Hi-Fi?.
Look for Microsoft Teams or Zoom certification. Yealink representations appear in one review site’s tests, so prove certification on Microsoft’s and Zoom’s endorsed lists before buying.
How to choose the best headphones with a mic for voice and video calls for you
Bluetooth mic bandwidth decides how natural you sound. Older calling profiles sample around 8 kHz, which sounds like a phone line. Wideband mSBC reaches 16 kHz sampling, roughly a 7 kHz range.
LC3 super-wideband, part of LE Audio, reaches 14 kHz, but both ends must support it. Codecs like aptX, LDAC, and AAC only apply to playback, not the mic.
Mic count doesn’t equal quality either. Lab rigs can even switch off noise suppression, which hides real-world results. Trust recorded call samples over spec sheets.
Check these before buying:
- Ecosystem fit, such as iPhone or Galaxy features
- Earbud fit and seal
- Wind mesh over the outer mics
- Battery life during calls, not just music
Useful tip: Use Bluetooth headphones alongside your laptop microphone when clarity of sound is really important. Example: A hybrid employee uses the headphones as a receiver and laptop microphone as a transmitter for the best sound quality possible. Mistakes made are buying by microphone count, ignoring limits of the ecosystem, and not making the test call.
How we test the best headphones with a mic for voice and video calls
This guide compares published tests of headphones with microphone features from named outlets. It doesn’t claim original lab measurements.
Try a five-minute test yourself. Record a voice memo in a quiet room, near a fan, and outdoors. Then call a friend and ask how you sound.
Meet the testing team
Add real bios for your editors and testers here. Include their headphone testing experience.
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Sources
RTINGS, What Hi-Fi?, SoundGuys, Trusted Reviews, Tom’s Guide, GSMArena, Apple Newsroom, Recording Now, and TestMyAudio.
Conclusion
Headphones with microphone choices come down to your setup and your surroundings. The Sony WH-1000XM6 leads the over-ears for calls, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 and Galaxy Buds Pro suit earbud fans.
Remember the Bluetooth limit. A laptop mic or a cable keeps sound quality high. Test any pair before your first big meeting, and you’ll sound as good as you hear.
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