Key Points
- The Jabra Evolve2 75 is the best overall headphones for Zoom meetings, offering comfort, quality audio, noise cancellation, and a retractable microphone.
- The AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) are the best headphones for iPhone and MacOS users, with active noise cancellation, adaptive audio, and seamless integration with Apple devices.
- The Pixel Buds Pro are the best Android headphones for Zoom meetings, featuring active noise cancellation and Google Assistant integration.
- The OneOdio Studio Pro-10 is the best wired budget headphones for Zoom meetings, offering high-quality sound and passive noise cancellation.
- The Skullcandy Jib True is the best wireless budget headphones for Zoom meetings, with dual-microphone technology and a unique solo mode feature.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, many people have begun working from home or attending classes remotely. Due to this situation, the number of people using Zoom and other remote meeting services has skyrocketed. In order to keep up with modern remote work culture, people need headphones that excel at handling remote meetings.
What is it that makes a pair of headphones good for remote meetings such as Zoom specifically? This varies from person to person and depends on many factors, such as:
- What device are you using to attend the meeting?
- What is your budget?
- Wired or Wireless?
- Are the headphones comfortable?
- Can the headphones block out distracting noises?
Anyone who has ever shopped for headphones will know there are a lot of options, to the point it’s overwhelming. The point of this list is to help narrow the choices down based on your specific needs and budget. Let’s take a look at some of the best headphones for Zoom meetings below!
- Best Overall: Jabra Evolve2 75
- Best for iPhone and Mac: AirPods Pro (2nd generation)
- Best for Android: Pixel Buds Pro
- Best on a Budget (Wired): OneOdio Studio Pro-10
- Best on a Budget (Wireless): Skullcandy Jib True
#1 Best Overall Headphones for Zoom Meetings: Jabra Evolve2 75
- Feature optimal voice transmission thanks to advanced 8-microphone technology
- Feature extra soft cushions
- Up to 36 hrs of battery life
- Engineered for easier connections, smoother navigation, and seamless interaction with colleagues
The Jabra Evolve2 75 is our pick for the best overall headphones for Zoom meetings. These headphones pack many features and are extremely comfortable. However, as the most premium headphones on this list, they are not cheap.
Despite the Jabra Evolve2 75‘s large price tag, we believe that they are overall the best headphones for Zoom meetings. They will also excel in usage that isn’t related to Zoom, such as music, TV, and video games. The extreme comfort will leave you never wanting to take them off!
We mentioned that the Jabra Evolve2 75 packs many features, and this is not an exaggeration. These Bluetooth headphones come equipped with quality audio, noise cancellation, a retractable microphone, and even a companion app. Furthermore, with an advertised 36 hours of battery life, they will keep you going for all of your weekly meetings. If the headphones do run out of battery, simply plug them in and continue talking at the same time!
The Jabra Evolve2 75 headphones excel at Zoom meetings due to their retractable microphone, a feature that not many have. This microphone actually has 8-microphone technology and advertises that it blocks background noise for clear conversation. For hearing, the headphones offer active noise cancellation so the distractions of your home won’t get in the way.
As previously mentioned, the headphones come with a companion app called Jabra Sound+. Jaba Sound+ is available on both iOS and Android devices, so it should work with any modern device. The companion app will allow you to connect to Alexa, locate your headphones if you lose them, update the headphones, and adjust all the sound settings you might need to fix up. There also is a desktop version of the app for MacOS and Windows called Jabra Direct.
If you have the money to spend and frequently have meetings remotely, Jabra Evolve2 75 is worth the investment. The absolute variety of features and comfort provided by these headphones will have you future-proofed for a good while.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Use these headphones for up to 36 hours without needing a charge. | These headphones are the most expensive headphones available on this list. |
| The retractable microphone with advanced 8-microphone technology ensures clarity in your Zoom meetings. | |
| An included companion app will allow you to edit how you sound directly and easily. | |
| If the headphones die during use, they can be used plugged in to continue your meeting. |
Check out the Jabra Evolve2 75 on Amazon.
Best iPhone and MacOS Headphones for Zoom Meetings: AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
- Apple-designed H2 chip
- Low-distortion, custom-built driver
- Up to 2x more Active Noise Cancellation than the previous AirPods Pro
- Personalized spatial audio
- Up to 6 hours of battery life or 30 hours with the charging case
If you are heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, the best recommendation is for headphones you might already have: the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation). These headphones have a large amount of interactivity with iPhones and Mac devices giving them an edge over other headphones.
As with most Apple products, the AirPods Pro are not cheap headphones. Apple products are very premium products and their prices reflect that. These headphones specifically run on the new Apple-designed H2 chip, giving them their crisp noise and various features. The H2 chip uses algorithm-based technology to process sound and tune it to your specific ear shapes while providing lower audio distortion.
Much like the Jabra Evolve2 75 headphones, the AirPods Pro headphones offer active noise cancellation technology to limit external distractions while working. Specifically, they have a built-in feature called “adaptive audio” that will prioritize important sounds, seamlessly letting in some noises while blocking the rest out.
The AirPod Pro headphones interact closely with your existing Apple devices, allowing you to easily connect and disconnect them, check their battery, and locate them if they are ever lost. You can also access Siri through the headphones, listen to your phone’s notifications, and seamlessly switch between active devices.
Despite the high price tag of these headphones, the AirPods Pro will cover all of your needs even outside of remote work. The biggest knock against the headphones is the low battery life, only holding a 6-hour charge when blocking out external noise. The headphones can also not charge during use, so you should ensure they charge enough prior in order to make it through your calls.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The AirPods Pro has large interactivity with Apple devices, allowing for a lot of extra features. | The premium price tag may be a bit too high for some. |
| The noise-cancellation and mic quality offered by the AirPods Pro is very good. | Having other Apple devices is required to get the most out of the AirPods Pro. |
| The Adaptive Audio feature ensures you’ll never miss something important, both in the meeting and in real life. | The AirPods Pro suffers from a small battery life and is unable to be used while charging. |
| Apple’s algorithm-based technology gives each ear a personalized listening experience. |
Check out the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) on Amazon.
Best Android Headphones for Zoom Meetings: Pixel Buds Pro
- Active Noise Cancellation with Silent Seal
- Up to 11 hours of listening time
- Features Transparency mode
- Can be paired with Bluetooth 4.0+ devices
- Compatible with wireless charging (Pixel Stand or other Qi-certified chargers)
For everyone in the Android ecosystem, Google has its own answer: the Pixel Buds Pro. These headphones are very similar to the AirPods Pro we covered before, doing many of the same things for the equivalent Android devices.
Like the other two mentioned headphones so far, these ones will also cost a good bit of money. However, they will also meet much of your needs outside of Zoom calls and are pretty comfortable to wear. They also have a very small appearance when worn in-ear but still keep their on-earphone controls.
If you are using an Android device connected to these headphones, you will have access to Google Assistant, the current battery life of the device, and a feature to locate the headphones if lost. In terms of phone connectivity, these headphones offer about the same level as the AirPods Pro.
The battery life of the Pixel Buds Pro is around the same as the AirPods Pro when using the active noise cancellation feature but can be considerably longer if not using this feature. The headphones do not work when fully drained, but like the AirPods Pro, will charge very quickly in the case.
When it comes to features that will benefit your Zoom calls, the Pixel Buds Pro has pretty severe active noise cancellation technology. As these are headphones that I personally own, I was able to get a lot of first-hand experience with this technology. With the noise cancellation active, standing next to an open window during a storm would not allow us to hear the thunder or anything happening outside. These devices also do not have the algorithm features of the AirPods Pro and thus will not allow any noise when this mode is active.
The one issue that I’ve run into personally while using the Pixel Buds Pro is that they seem to decrease in quality quite drastically when using the microphone on non-Android devices, like Windows PCs. They appear to switch into a “headset” mode that drastically lowers both the input and output of the headphones, but this does not seem to happen when used with an Android phone or tablet. They also have a noticeable delay when used for things such as gaming, though this isn’t noticeable in meetings or with streaming services.
Ultimately, we highly recommend the Pixel Buds Pro with one major caveat: only if you use an Android device for your meetings. If you primarily use Apple products or a PC, consider our other options!
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The Pixel Buds Pro has large interactivity with Android devices, allowing for a lot of extra features. | When used on a device other than Android, the device has some pretty severe quality issues and delays. |
| The design of the Pixel Buds Pro is sleek and subtle. | The Pixel Buds Pro suffers from a small battery life and is unable to be used while charging. |
| The active noise cancellation offered by the Pixel Buds Pro is absurdly powerful. | The active noise cancellation being absurdly powerful is both a blessing and a curse, as you can easily miss important things around you. |
Check out the Pixel Buds Pro on Amazon.
Best Wired Budget Headphones for Zoom Meetings: OneOdio Studio Pro-10
- Hi-res studio monitor and mixing DJ stereo
- 50mm Neodymium drivers
- 1/4 to 3.5mm audio jack for AMP computer recording
- Comes in various colors
The OneOdio Studio Pro-10 headphones are from a brand that you have likely never heard of, but they are the best wired headphones for Zoom meetings on a budget. Despite the affordable price, the headphones themselves are still very high quality. They may not impress the biggest of audiophiles, but during my time owning these headphones, I have been thoroughly impressed and would buy them again.
Right off the bat, these are wired headphones, but OneOdio does offer a wireless variant. I specifically own the wired variant of these headphones, but the reviews for the wireless variant seem equally positive.
To begin, the OneOdio Studio Pro-10 headphones are very aesthetically appealing. They come in various colors and also have a vinyl-like design on the ear. They are comfortable to wear, though may get a little annoying after extended periods of time. The coiled cord that comes with the headphones can plug in on either side of the headphones and feels just the proper length for use with PCs, though potentially a bit long if plugged into mobile devices.
While advertised as headphones for “DJs,” these headphones have been perfect for every part of my day-to-day life, including work meetings and entertainment purposes. They offer very high quality sound and decent bass output. When using the OneOdio Studio Pro-10 over Zoom, the conversations consistently sound smooth and no audio is ever lost. Despite officially ‘lacking’ active noise cancellation, there is still a good degree of muting external noises when wearing these headphones securely around your ears.
The largest flaw for Zoom usage is that these headphones do not have a built-in microphone. Due to the wired and cheap nature of these headphones, this is an entirely understandable omission. To deal with this omission, simply pair the headphones with the external microphone of your choice, or even just your webcam’s microphone.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Deceptively cheap, the OneOdio Studio Pro-10 still offers a lot of quality. | The lack of a built-in microphone means you’ll need to find an external one. |
| The included chord is very long and can be used on either side of the headphones. | The headphones can be a bit uncomfortable after long usage. |
| The various colors offered allow for some personal choice. | The OneOdio Studio Pro-10 headphones do not have active noise cancellation, but still block out a decent bit of noise via passive noise cancellation. |
Check out the OneOdio Studio Pro-10 on Amazon.
Best Wireless Budget Headphones for Zoom Meetings: Skullcandy Jib True
- Comes with dual-microphone technology
- Long-lasting battery
- Safe for outdoor use
- 1-year US warranty
The Skullcandy Jib True headphones are very cheap and very effective at what they do, making them our recommendation for wireless budget headphones to use with Zoom. The Skullcandy brand has existed for a long time, and you have likely seen its famous skull logo in stores. Unfortunately, the headphones do have the skull logo prominently displayed on them, which may not be the most serious look for your Zoom meetings. Fortunately, most people will probably not notice or care!
The headphones come with multiple features, albeit not as many as the more expensive options that we have covered. These Bluetooth headphones will last you slightly less time than the AirPods Pro, only boasting a 4-hour audio time. If they run out of juice, however, simply place them back in the case for charging much like the AirPods Pro and Pixel Buds Pro.
One of the neatest features of these headphones is that they have a feature called “solo mode,” which allows you to use a singular earbud separately from the other. With this feature enabled, you can keep one ear open for whatever you need to hear.
To ensure peak clarity in your voice, these headphones both have a built-in microphone. With the dual-microphone technology, when using both headphones, your voice should come across crystal clear to the others in the meeting. When only using one headphone in solo mode, you have the option of which one you want to use!
One of the negative aspects of these budget headphones is that they have a particularly annoying low-battery indicator, taking priority over whatever you may need to hear. Some reviews also say that the headphones are not immediately comfortable and will take some time to get used to.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Deceptively cheap, the Skullcandy Jib True still offers a lot of quality. | The childish appearance of Skullcandy branding might not be welcome in some workspaces. |
| The dual-microphone technology ensures your voice is very clear and also gives some freedom in opting to wear only one headphone. | These have the lowest battery life of the headphones mentioned here. |
| The battery indicator is very obnoxious and distracting. | |
| For some people, these headphones may be lacking in the comfort department. |
Check out the Skullcandy Jib True on Amazon.
How to Pick the Best Headphones for Zoom Meetings: Step-By-Step
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©YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV/Shutterstock.com
In our coverage of the various microphones in this list, we talked about a lot of different topics. All of the different topics are important factors in determining which headphones work the best for you. You should consider the following factors when choosing your headphones:
- Connected Devices
- Battery Life
- Budget
- Comfort
- Noise Cancellation
- Wired/Wireless
Let’s quickly review these criteria in more detail, and discuss which headphones excel in which criteria.
Connected Devices
What device you are going to be using for your Zoom meetings is an important factor when choosing a headphone. If using Apple devices, we highly recommend the AirPods Pro. We recommend Pixel Buds Pro if you use an Android device. Finally, if you’re not specifically going to be using either of these, then the best advice would be to choose one of the other options.
Battery Life
Battery life is an important factor when determining which headphones to get for Zoom meetings as your team will not appreciate you having to leave because your headphones died. The largest battery option covered here would be the OneOdio Studio Pro-10 due to its wired nature. If you want a wireless device with a large battery, the winner would be the Jabra Evolve2 75, which sports a battery life of 36 hours and can charge during use as a last resort.
Budget
If you are shopping on a low budget, we recommend either the wired OneOdio Studio Pro-10 or the wireless Skullcandy Jib True headphones. Despite being cheap, both of these headphones have very high-quality sound and can go head-to-head with other major brands.
Comfort
When it comes to comfort, the by and far winner is the Jabra Evolve2 75. The comfort of these headphones is a large selling point and almost justifies the massive price these headphones cost.
Noise Cancellation
Noise cancellation is a double-edged sword. Enabling this setting ensures that you aren’t interrupted or distracted during the work day, but if it is too powerful, it can also make you miss something important. If you do not believe anything is important enough to interrupt your work, the Pixel Buds Pro will make you completely oblivious to the outside world. If you have children or pets and need to be able to hear something important, we recommend the other options.
Wired/Wireless
If using mobile devices for your Zoom call, most do not offer a 3.5ml headphone jack anymore without the use of dongles, so wireless is recommended. If using a PC, ensure your PC has Bluetooth capabilities before attempting to purchase a wireless headset.
What to Know Before Buying Headphones for Zoom Meetings
Different headphones offer different quality audio and microphones if one is even included. Some headphones will even come with software to manually adjust how you sound to others, while others will require the use of external software such as Windows Sound Manager. It is always recommended to check with coworkers to ensure you sound good and nothing needs to be adjusted.
An important thing to note about the options we provided is that while they are all good at Zoom meetings, they also excel at most other things that you would use headphones for. We recommend investing in quality headphones as they will be worn a lot and for various different things. Having a good pair of headphones is never a waste of money.
Using Headphones for Zoom: What It’s Like
If you’ve ever tried to talk in a Zoom meeting without headphones, you have likely been told by coworkers that they can hear themselves through the echo of your microphone. It is also likely that you struggle to hear everything when not using headphones. Using headphones for Zoom meetings is doing both yourself and your coworkers a favor and raising the quality of discussion.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Julio Ricco/Shutterstock.com.
