The best Bluetooth headsets feature crisp, smooth audio and robust battery life — and, like all Bluetooth devices, they should be elegantly designed and portable without a mess of moving parts and sloppy wires. But that’s not all you should consider when shopping for a Bluetooth headset. Multi-device compatibility, light weight, and stylish appearance all play a part, and that’s what our best overall pick, the Sennheiser Presence-UC, offers. To help you sort through the laundry list of options, we’ve rounded up the best Bluetooth headsets available in 2021.
For more information on headsets, check out our listings of the best wireless headphones for 2021 and the best gaming headsets for 2021.
Best Bluetooth headsets at a glance:
- Best overall Bluetooth headset: Sennheiser Presence-UC
- Best for the fashion-conscious: Jabra Stealth Professional
- Best budget Bluetooth headset: New Bee Bluetooth Earpiece V5.0
- Best for the great outdoors: Jabra Steel
- Best for home use: Plantronics Voyager Focus UC
The best overall Bluetooth headset: Sennheiser Presence-UC
Why you should buy this: With impressive battery life, attractive design, and top audio quality, this is the Bluetooth headset to beat.
Who it’s for: Businesses and those willing to spend extra for the best.
Why we picked the Sennheiser Presence-UC: When buying an audio product, consider an established name in the sound world — like Sennheiser. Sennheiser has long been a dominant force in both consumer and pro audio, and for a good reason. The Presence is a sleek device, but great for businesses and professionals because it connects to two mobile phones, or a cell phone and PC, for seamless transitions between connected devices.
The design combines black and silver with a Micro USB port for charging and an LED light on the back. It features an ear hook like most Bluetooth headsets, but unlike others, that ear hook is removable and can attach as needed. The device uses Bluetooth 4.0 and implements Sennheiser’s SpeakFocus tech, designed to enhance voice clarity in all scenarios.
The Sennheiser Presence-UC also uses the company’s WindSafe tech, so it eliminates — you guessed it — wind noise. Plus, Sennheiser says it will run for 10 hours on a single charge.
The best for the fashion-conscious: Jabra Stealth UC Professional
Why you should buy this: The Jabra Stealth UC Professional is probably the best-looking device on this list.
Who it’s for: Those who care about how they look.
Why we picked the Jabra Stealth Professional: The Jabra Stealth Professional aims to be sleek and stylish while offering excellent functionality. The Stealth UC Professional is perhaps most notable because of its design — it’s the most elegant headset on the list, thanks to its sleek arm and discreet earpiece. It’s a bit more costly than some of the other options presented, but Jabra Stealth Professional comes with the Jabra Assist App to walk you through setup and monitor the headset’s battery life.
The Jabra Stealth Professional offers a range of critical features. Jabra’s Noise Blackout technology promises clear calls with no background noise, as well as offering Siri and Google Now voice assistants at the press of a button. The device offers Jabra’s Micropower battery, which helps give it its six-hour battery life.
The best budget Bluetooth headset: New Bee Bluetooth Earpiece V5.0 Wireless Handsfree Headset
Why you should buy this: With noise-canceling that enhances call clarity and a 60-day standby mode for better battery life, this is an excellent headset for its price.
Who it’s for: Those who want quality at a low price.
Why we picked the New Bee Bluetooth Earpiece V5.0: The New Bee Bluetooth Earpiece V5.0 is the ideal Bluetooth headset for those looking for something portable and affordable. The device sports a fairly conventional design, but you get a wide variety of features, including voice control for Siri, Google Assistant, and other voice assistants and CSR Bluetooth for compatibility across many devices. New Bee says the Bluetooth Earpiece V5.0 should last up to 24 hours on a single charge and a standby mode of up to 60 days.
The Bluetooth Earpiece V5.0 lacks IP water- and dust-resistance ratings, so exercise caution when using the headset in the rain. The ultralight and minimal design allow the Bluetooth Earpiece V5.0 to rest comfortably in your ears, and the different-sized ear tips included in the box make the fit perfect.
The best for the great outdoors: Jabra Steel
Why you should buy this: With a rugged design that’s dust-, water-, and shock-resistant, this is the most robust headset on the list.
Who it’s for: Those who work outdoors or in noisy or wet environments.
Why we picked Jabra Steel: Jabra Steel has a straightforward, rugged design. It’s 2.5 inches long with an optional ear hook to hold it in place. It scores an IP54 rating, which means it can handle rain and dusty environments, making it ideal for anyone working outdoors. There are extra-large buttons so you can operate it efficiently, even with gloves on, and it supports voice commands for hands-free operation through your phone’s voice assistant.
Pairing via NFC is easy, and you can connect two devices simultaneously. The Jabra Steel also boasts aggressive noise cancellation, which is great for loud environments. The audio quality is pleasant, and you get a reasonable six hours of talk time when fully charged.
The best for home or office use: Plantronics Voyager Focus UC
Why you should buy this: With on-ear buttons and featuring a secure, natural headphone design, this headset will help you manage your business at home.
Who it’s for: Those who want a headset for home or office use only.
Why we picked the Plantronics Voyager Focus UC: Sometimes you’re not looking for a headset to use on the go — you need something to use at home or at the office. This dual utility is where the Plantronics Voyager Focus UC excels. While somewhat larger than the other headsets on this list, the device is the most comfortable by far, and it features call control buttons right on its ear. You’ll also get noise-canceling capabilities, ensuring the person on the other line can always hear you.
Other features of the Plantronics Voyager Focus UC include a respectable 12-hour battery life along with a dynamic mute alert that tells you when your microphone is on or off, plus the ability to quickly and easily customize the headset with the Plantronics Hub for mobile and desktop.
How we choose the best Bluetooth headsets
The Digital Trends team loves to stay current with the newest technology, and in recent years, that’s resulted in focusing a lot of attention on Bluetooth headsets. We test products thoroughly and know the ins and outs of audio specifications, the latest design trends, and how Bluetooth functions. We’ve committed many hours to review hundreds of headsets to determine the best one for each category.
With technology changing so rapidly, we cannot promise that the headsets in our roundup are still going to be the top choices five years from now or even next year. Bluetooth sound, audio, and device capabilities are improving every day. That said, based on current technology, these headsets are the best options available.
Is now a good time to buy?
Now is as good of a time as any to buy a Bluetooth headset. While it seems like most companies have slowed down a little in releasing headsets, if you’re in the market for one, there is no reason not to buy one right now.
Even for those on a tight budget for a Bluetooth headset that they won’t use often, there are still so many choices out there. When deciding what headset is right for you, you’ll want to consider some different metrics, and one that many people forget is the design. Keep in mind that this is a device you’re going to wear on your head, so in addition to functionality, you don’t want it to look obnoxious or feel uncomfortable.
The average person can go through most of their lives without a Bluetooth headset because wired or wireless earbuds tend to work well for most apps most of the time. That said, a Bluetooth headset can come in handy at various points — whether for work or fun.
