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There are a number of wireless earbud options available these days, but more and more people are wrapping their headphones around their neck with a neckband headset.
As the name suggests, the best neckband headphones combine the compact benefit of earbuds with the ease and security of a neckband. They’re comfortable enough to wear all day, and great for work and calls too — with neckband headphones, the built-in mics are closer to your mouth with no worries about the earbuds fading out or falling out.
The best neckband headphones are excellent for exercise too, as a regular set of buds can slip off your ears and quickly disappear under the treadmill, or worse, get lost in a pile of leaves when you’re outside jogging. Having them tethered to a neckband keeps them connected at all times so you can move freely and focus on getting a good workout.
How Do Neckband Headphones Work?
Here’s what you need to know when looking for a neckband headset online, plus how these neckband headphones work.
Neckband:Fit and comfort are a major factor first and foremost. The best neckband headphones eliminate the headaches that can come from wearing traditional headphones over the head all day — or the stuffiness that comes from the bulky earpads.
Still, you’ll want to consider how the neckband headsets are made — and whether the band itself is adjustable. If a band is too big, it can slip off or get twisted around as you move, pulling awkwardly on your ears. Too small may be uncomfortable and limiting (the neckband is supposed to hang around your neck and over your collarbone, not be tight like a choker).
For the most part, all the neckband headphones we tested were super comfortable, and were built to be flexible and have some bend to them, sometimes foldable enough to tuck away in a pocket. They shouldn’t weigh down on your collarbone either, so keep it light, around 24 grams.
Sound: These aren’t all necessarily noise cancelling, but even the ones that aren’t, still do a fine job of sealing off your ears from outside distractions. This sets the stage for great sound and instrument separation, allowing you to hear the sonic details in each song.
Microphones: Listening to music and podcasts might be what you’re primarily thinking of with a headset, but don’t forget about speaking too. This is what you’ll be taking phone calls through when it’s on, so a set should have at least a couple sensitive mics inside to capture your voice with clarity. Taking incoming calls usually can be done with one touch, or sometimes no touch at all, simply by saying “answer.”
Connection: Bluetooth 5.2 is the latest Bluetooth standard, but even 5.0 holds strong and can let you wander up to 131 feet away from the source device, sometimes as far as 800 feet. Getting your neckband set up for the first time should be quick too, as most pop right up for pairing on your phone by holding down the power button for a few seconds. After that, your device should remember it forever and pair up swiftly, and most everything can be controllable right from the headset.
Battery: Since they’re still pretty small, charging up shouldn’t take too long, and the battery will generally last a while, especially in standby. Around 10 hours of playtime when fully charged is a safe bet, and up to a few days in sleep mode.
Waterproof: A headset that’s resistant to water, sweat and dust lets you wear it without worrying about potential damage. An IPX5 rating offers good protection from raindrops, while anything higher like an IPX8 is fully submergible.
What Are the Best Neckband Headsets?
We found the best neckband headphones, speakers and headsets from brands like Sony, Jabra and more. Here are our top picks to buy online.
