Headphones and earphones buying guide

There are three types of noise-cancelling headphones: active noise-cancelling, adaptive noise-cancelling and passive noise cancelling. 

• Active noise-cancelling headphones, also called ANC headphones, have a small microphone that picks up on the noise around you and creates an opposite sound wave to cancel out that external noise.
• Adaptive noise-cancelling headphones work the same way as active noise-cancelling options but here, they digitally adapt to the surroundings to manage the noise around you. 
• Passive noise-cancelling is when noise is blocked because of the fit of the headphones - for example, earbuds sitting in your ear canal, or over-the-ear headphones shielding your ears from noise.
   

If you hate wires, they're for you. Moreover, many true wireless headphones pause automatically when not in use, or adapt to when you're speaking. Some have access to voice assistants like Siri, Alexa and Google, so you adjust the volume, manage music and look up directions on the go, while lots include an integrated microphone for hands-free calls. Most true wireless headphones come with fast charging feature, so you won't have to worry about spending hours when the the battery has run out.

Wireless headphones or earphones use the bluetooth technology to connect with your phone. To use them, you have to enable the bluetooth on your mobile device and pair the device.

You can use your bluetooth headphones on a plane. To use them safely, switch your device to airplane mode. Then manually turn on the bluetooth to connect it to your earphones or headphones.

Lightweight sports headphones free you up to move more, and are often sweatproof or waterproof. Some use bone conduction, delivering sound directly to your inner ear rather than past your eardrum. These are ideal running headphones as you can listen to music, but still hear passing cars or people. Alternatively, true wireless headphones sit separately in the ear canal and are ultra-lightweight.

If you work from shared spaces and want to block out any noise around you, noise-cancelling headphones are best as they allow you to be completely immersed in your work. If you're on frequent video calls, choose headsets with a good quality microphone.

Headphones with active noise-cancellation help you create the right environment to stay focused. Go for sleek and comfortable designs so that you can wear them for a longer period.

Dedicated gaming headsets are designed with gamers in mind. They have crystal clear audio quality and built in microphones for seamless chats during game-play.