Buying gifts for your dad can be a real hassle, especially wireless earbuds and headphones.
Naturally, not all dads have the same needs for wireless audio. Dads have different head shapes and ear sizes! This Father’s Day, we've rounded up the best wireless earbuds and headphones for every type of dad out there. While some are going to be a good fit for anyone, and others focus on more specific use cases, we've tested all of these so you know they're the very best.
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For dads who travel
The Bose QC45 are the quintessential pair of “dad” headphones. These lightweight wireless headphones feature top-tier active noise cancellation (ANC) that fight off even the mightiest of jet engines. While they aren't the best-sounding ANC headphones you can get, they’re still pretty good. They also have physical button controls, which means your dad won’t need to fiddle with gestures. As an all-arounder, the QC45's weight, comfort, foldable design, and features are an easy win.
If you’re comfortable spending a bit more for a more advanced pair of headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM4 and new WH-1000XM5 sound better, have more effective ANC, and longer battery life, but your dad may not be a fan of the touch-based controls.
For dads on Android
If your dad isn’t going to switch from Android to iPhone any time soon, the least you can do is give them the best audio experience. Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro are the closest you can get to the experience of AirPods Pro on Samsung Galaxy devices. While they work well with any phone, certain features like fast pairing and built-in software setting controls are only for Galaxy devices. They also support Samsung’s “Scaleable Codec” when used with a Galaxy device, providing higher audio quality compared to AAC and SBC. Throw in features like great ANC and audio quality to boot and you have a winning pair.
For gym-loving dads
Regardless of what mobile platform your dad uses, the Beats Fit Pro are an excellent choice if they work out often and need a secure fit in their ear, IPX4 water resistance, and strong ANC. For iOS users, the Beats Fit Pro feature the Apple H1 chip which provides quick pairing and syncing across all Apple devices. The case lacks wireless charging but uses USB-C instead of Lightning — hurray for Android users! Beats also has a proper Android app, allowing users to update the firmware and customize the Fit Pro as easily as they could on iOS.
For dads working from home or the office
While Shokz’s bone conduction headphones are beloved by enthusiast runners, cyclists, and swimmers, the headphones are also great for working professionals as well. The Shokz Opencomm features a boom microphone for incredible call quality, and unlike traditional headphones, the headset doesn't cover or insert into your ears, which makes them great for wearing all day. It also doesn’t sacrifice on durability compared to Shokz’s fitness-focused headsets, with IP55 dust and water resistance.
I recommended the Opencomm to my dad a few months ago as he was recovering from surgery and needed to take calls in bed for a few weeks. He loves the headset and uses it whenever he needs to be fully aware of gus surroundings — like working from home.
If your dad works in an office building or prefers ANC, the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 are another good option. These have the stellar comfort, sound quality, and ANC, but they do have one great office feature: multipoint support. They can fast pair to Windows machines, and maintain a connection to your smartphone. If you’re watching a video on your work PC and get a call, the headphones should pause your video so you can pick up the call on your phone. Their trademark rotatable dials for ANC and volume control also provide quick, analog access to transparency mode whenever you need to talk to someone.
For dads who need simplicity
There’s a lot to love about the Jabra Elite 4 Active. For starters, they retail for only $120 (and can normally be found for less on sale). That price gets you pretty good ANC, a stellar fit, and great sound quality. These wireless earbuds cover the basics exceptionally well. Their touch gestures are easy to learn and the app can mostly be ignored if you like how they sound out of the box. These are a great starter option that won’t break the bank.
Apple’s entry-level wireless earbuds offer an open-style experience for more awareness of the outside world. They sound great and support spatial audio for both video playback and Apple Music. If your dad doesn’t care for ANC, or is settling their way into the Apple ecosystem, then AirPods 3 are a good choice, too.
For dads who wanna be fancy
There's nothing wrong with a dad who appreciates the finer things in life. The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX ANC headphones feature memory foam ear cups wrapped in lambskin and metal finishes all over for excellent comfort and looks. 40mm drivers power an excellent sound experience, and support for AptX Adaptive promises terrific audio quality on Android phones. Of course, everything about them better be great if you’re dropping $500 on dad’s gift.
AirPods Max are a great cherry on top if your dad’s all-in on the Apple ecosystem. These premium cans have an all-metal construction and some of the most impressively engineered acoustics found in any wireless headphone. While its "smart" case is questionable, and they fall on the heavier side compared to competitors, the overall experience here for Apple users is practically unmatched.
For dads who are audiophiles
Calling any wireless product “audiophile grade” is a bit gauche, and flat-out blasphemous to many actual audiophiles who refuse to give up music over the wire. However, I think Sennheiser’s Momentum 3 True Wireless sound good enough to be pleasing to the most particular listeners.
The Momentum 3 don’t sound boring by any means, but they’re aimed at a good balance of accuracy. They also support AptX Adaptive for higher bitrates on Android. If you have a dad who prizes their record collection and stereo setup, these wireless earbuds will ensure they’ll have a listening experience that still preserves the intent of the artist, even if wireless never fully lives up to their exacting standards.
