GoKawiilIt'd be great if there were one pair of headphones or earbuds that worked for everything. Sure, the best headphones can often work at least reasonably well in every situation, but some are better suited for certain tasks than others. Comfortable over-ears perfect for long listening sessions probably aren't great for the gym, for instance. I make a real effort to keep tech clutter to a minimum, but with headphones and earbuds, I've come to the conclusion that everyone needs exactly three pairs.
Before I get to the whys and whats of the three, we'd like to get your thoughts. What's your pick for the best headphone and earbud of 2026?
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Here's my reasoning for no less than three pairs of headphones and/or earbuds. First, there are the everyday earbuds. These are the ones that can slide into your smallest bag or your pocket and travel everywhere with you -- on your commute, on your errands and on shopping trips.
Second, there are the over-ear, luxury headphones. These need to have that heady combo of great noise cancellation, audio quality and battery life, combined with a level of comfort that means you could easily wear them for an entire long-haul travel day.
Finally, if you're serious about fitness, you need dedicated workout headphones. Could you wear either of the above pairs to go on a long run? Sure, and plenty of people do. But for the sake of longevity and your sanity, having a sweat-proof, durable pair of headphones that won't budge may save your sanity in the short term and save you money in the long run.
If you're trying to make one pair of headphones work in every scenario, you might feel frustrated that none are able to truly deliver the experience you want across the board. This is where my theory comes into play. It really doesn't matter which headphones you choose for each of these purposes, but I do believe they are distinct categories with little crossover.
And what are my big three? They may not be the same as yours but these are the headphones I absolutely can't live without right now.
My everyday earbuds: OnePlus Buds 3
The OnePlus Buds 3 are always in my pocket or my bag. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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