Music is a significant part of the teenage phase, and so are the best headphones for teens. We bet you agree! However, finding the right headphones for teenagers can be a daunting task.
For teenagers, headphones aren’t merely an accessory. They are an extension of their personality, their means to cut off from their surroundings, and their passport to sonic landscapes. Therefore, if you are looking for headphones for teenagers, it’s important to focus on a mix of great style, the utmost comfort, affordability, and stellar sound quality.
Look no further; we are here to help. We assessed and evaluated a variety of headphones to find the best ones for teenage audiophiles. We also included some music-crazy teens in our team to make the review process more relevant to the headphones’ category.
In this detailed guide, we’ll discuss how to find the right headphones for teens, list (and review) some of the best options on the market, and answer some common questions about them. Read on to know more.
| Overall Best Headphones for Teens | rockpapa Comfort Kids Headphones |
| Best Wireless Headphones for Teens | BRNEWO Wireless Bluetooth Headphones |
| Best Headphones for Teenage Girls | TOKANI Kids Headphones |
| Best Headphones for Teenage Boys | AILIHEN MS300 Wired Headphones |
| Most Affordable Headphones for Teens | ELECDER i37 Headphones |
| Best Bone Conduction Headphones for Teens | OUFUNI Bone Conduction Headphones |
How to Find the Right Headphones for Teens?
Here’s a quick checklist of factors you must consider when finding headphones for teenagers!
1. Sound Quality
Teens Prefer Clear and Detailed Sound
Teenagers (especially audiophiles) listen to a variety of music genres and watch movies/videos. Therefore, they prefer headphones with clear and detailed sound.
For example, many teens who are also fans of metal and rock music prefer headphones that deliver clear vocals, background elements, and instrument separation.
Teens Love Bass-Heavy Tracks
Similarly, teens who prefer bass-heavy music (pop, EDM, hip-hop, etc.), prefer headphones with excellent bass response. However, it’s important to ensure the headphones deliver balanced bass, without overpowering the mids and highs.
Teens (Who Are Also Gamers) Like Headphones With Good Soundstage
Teens who are also gaming enthusiasts prefer headphones with a wide soundstage as they accurately pinpoint the directionality of different sounds and ensure an immersive sound experience.
2. Comfort and Fit
Most teens prefer lightweight over-ear headphones (those with memory foam ear cushions, swiveling ear cups and an adjustable headband) over on-ear/in-ear headphones. They consider the former more comfortable, especially for extended use, as they comprise large ear cups and cover the ears completely.
However, there’s also a section of teenagers who prefer in-ear headphones or earbuds due to their compact size and lightweight design.
3. Durability
Given that teenagers might not always handle their headphones with care, we recommend buying durable and sturdy headphones with the ability to withstand rough usage and extreme weather conditions.
Many teenagers use headphones during workout sessions or outdoor activities. Therefore, they prefer headphones with IPX4 rating or above.
4. Design and Style
As already mentioned above, headphones also double up as fashion accessories for teenagers. Therefore, when looking for the best headphones for teens, ensure you buy those with great aesthetic appeal.
Some teens prefer bold and eye-catching designs, while others prefer minimalistic yet sleek-looking headphones. You can find a multitude of options on the market in terms of design and style (from aesthetic headphones to retro headphones).
5. Customization Options
Another important factor to consider when looking for the best headphones for teenagers is the customization option.
Many teengers prefer headphones with customizable or interchangeable elements such as ear cup plates and headbands. They leverage the customizability option to add logos to their headphones or change their headphones’ color/design.
Some teens also prefer headphones with LED lights or additional accessories, such as the cat ears in cat-ear headphones.
6. Portability
Teenagers who are on the go prefer portable headphones, such as those that can be folded and placed in a carry case. Portable headphones are easy to store and carry.
7. Wired vs. Wireless
Both wired and wireless headphones come with pros and cons for teenagers. However, per our experience, most teenagers prefer wireless headphones due to the freedom and convenience provided by their wire-free design, modern features such as integration of voice assistants and touch controls, and stylish look.
For majority teens, convenience and style overpower all the benefits of wired headphones (no signal latency, no battery issues, etc.)
However, it’s important to understand the requirements of the teen in question to pick the right type of headphones for them.
8. Volume Limiting
Continued exposure to high volumes can lead to ear damage in teens. Therefore, we highly recommend buying headphones with volume-limiting features.
Research by the American Osteopathic Association states that:
Today, 1 in 5 teens experience some form of hearing loss. This rate is about 30% higher than it was 20 years ago. Many experts believe the escalation is due, in part, to increased use of headphones.
Per another research by BMJ Global Health:
More than 1 billion teens and young people are potentially at risk of hearing loss because of their use of headphones and earbuds and attendance at loud music venues.
Some headphones and earbuds come with built-in volume limiters that do not allow sound to cross a specific volume (e.g., 80 dB) considered safe for the ears.
Top 6 Headphones for Teenagers
1. rockpapa Comfort Headphones
Overall Best Headphones for Teens
- Great sound quality
- Durable and sturdy
- Comfortable for extended use
- Provide a great fit
- Adjustable headband
- Available in multiple colors
- Pocket-friendly price
- Tangle-free wire
- No control buttons on the headphones or wire
- No volume-limiting feature
Out of all the headphones we assessed and evaluated for teens, the rockpapa Comfort Kids Headphones impressed us the most. By now you know teenagers prefer headphones with a stylish look, comfortable design, and great sound quality. This is where the rockpapa Comfort Kids Headphones for School perfectly fit the picture.
These headphones deliver clear and crisp sound. We did not experience any lag or audio distortion with these headphones. They comprise 40 mm built-in drivers. Therefore, they deliver excellent bass performance (pretty balanced since these headphones are designed for kids and teens).
In terms of comfort and fit, the rockpapa Comfort Kids Headphones deserve a 10/10. No exaggerations here! These headphones come with extremely soft ear cushions and a well-padded and adjustable headband. Therefore, they are highly suitable for teenagers who spend most of their days wearing headphones. We did not experience an iota of discomfort with these headphones.
Another notable aspect of the rockpapa Comfort Kids Headphones is their availability in multiple colors. Yes, that’s something our teens love! We were delighted to find that these headphones come in seven different colors: Black, Blue, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, and Red. Most of these colors look eye-catching and vibrant.
Overall, the rockpapa Comfort Kids Headphones look great and sound good too. Their sound quality may not be comparable to They are affordable, and can also make a great gift for teens. These headphones are wired and universally compatible with a host of devices, such as smartphones, laptops, PCs, and more. However, they do not come with noise cancelation features.
View on Amazon: rockpapa Comfort Kids Headphones
2. BRNEWO Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
Best Wireless Headphones for Teens
- Fantastic sound performance
- Can be used as wired or wireless headphones
- Easy to set up and use
- Look simple yet stylish
- Excellent battery life
- Durable and sturdy
- Comfortable for extended use
- No volume-limiting feature
As previously mentioned, teens mostly prefer wireless headphones because of the freedom of movement and convenience they offer. Therefore, we now want to introduce our topmost choice for wireless headphones for teens — the BRNEWO Wireless Bluetooth Headphones.
In terms of driver size (40 mm), these headphones are similar to the rockpapa Comfort Kids Headphones. Therefore, they sound fantastic. We tested these headphones with different music genres (especially pop music as it’s popular among teens) and they sounded perfect each time. Overall, the BRNEWO Wireless Bluetooth Headphones deliver bass, crisp highs, and balanced mids. We were really impressed by the clarity of the vocals and instrument separation.
In terms of design and look, these headphones also deserve 10/10. They look sleek and minimalistic, yet stylish and functional. BRNEWO Wireless Bluetooth Headphones are available in three colors: Black, Grey, and Red.
To evaluate the comfort and fit offered by these headphones, we used them over extended periods in different weather conditions. Honestly, they did not disappoint even once. Their memory protein ear cushions are soft and breathable; they didn’t even bother us with any sweat issues amid extreme humidity. Yes, that’s right. Moreover, the BRNEWO Wireless Bluetooth Headphones come with a padded and adjustable headband to ensure they fit perfectly on different head and ear sizes. Overall, these headphones are durable and lightweight; teens will love them!
Since they are wireless, their battery life is also a critical consideration. For the first full charge, the BRNEWO Wireless Bluetooth Headphones only required about three hours. And, once fully charged, they delivered non-stop music for about a full day (24 hours), without any hiccups. Impressive indeed.
Overall, the BRNEWO Wireless Bluetooth Headphones can be a perfect choice for teens looking for wireless headphones with great build quality, stellar sound performance, decent look and affordable price. Trust us, these headphones are fantastic for their super-affordable price. Teens can use them for casual listening, workout sessions, travel, and more. These headphones also come with intuitive controls on the ear cups and a noise-reducing built-in microphone for great call quality. We did not experience any major issues with these headphones, except a very minor lag when using Bluetooth.
View on Amazon: BRNEWO Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
3. TOKANI Kids Headphones
Best Headphones for Teenage Girls
- Decent sound quality
- Eye-catching cat-ear design
- Attractive LED lights
- Easy to set up and use
- Built-in microphone
- Can we used as wired or wireless headphones
- Also comprises TF card and FM radio modes
- Lightweight and comfortable for continuous use
- Durable and sturdy
- Come with volume-limiting feature
- Foldable design
- Extremely budget-friendly
- Great battery life
Cat-ear headphones are popular among teens these days. These headphones comprise cat ears on the headband and LED lights, and are especially preferred by teen girls. There’s no dearth of cat-ear headphones on the market today. Therefore, it took us quite a while to find the best cat-ear headphones for teenages. And, here we are, with our top pick — the TOKANI Kids Headphones.
These headphones deliver decent sound quality. Their sound performance is not exceptional but their volume-limiting feature is an icing on the cake. The built-in volume limiter ensures both kids and teens avoid loud volumes.
The most eye-catching elements of the TOKANI Kids Headphones are their cat-ear design and LED lights. You can switch off the lights per your convenience. Overall, these headphones look sleek and stylish. They are available in five color combinations: Pink, Purple, New Pink, New Purple, and Pure Black.
In terms of comfort, these headphones feel lightweight and are comfortable for extended use. Many teen girls who are also gamers use these headphones for long gaming sessions. They come with soft and generously-padded ear cups to ensure maximum comfort. They also comprise an adjustable headband to ensure a perfect fit.
Another notable feature of these headphones is their foldable and storage-friendly design. Therefore, you can carry them wherever you want.
You can use the TOKANI Kids Headphones as both wired and wireless headphones. You can connect them to your device’s 3.5 mm jack or use Bluetooth to stream music wirelessly. In terms of battery life, these headphones do a fairly decent job. During our detailed evaluation, they took about two hours for a full charge. Once fully charged, they worked for about nine hours without any breaks.
Overall, the TOKANI Kids Headphones are decent headphones for teen girls. They can make a great birthday or Christmas present too. From their sound quality to their cat-ear design, we liked pretty much everything about these headphones. Even though their sound performance is not as powerful as the rockpapa Comfort Kids Headphones and BRNEWO Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, it’s fairly decent for their affordable price. These headphones also have a built-in microphone for receiving calls, in-game conversations, and more.
View on Amazon: TOKANI Kids Headphones
4. AILIHEN MS300 Wired Headphones
Best Headphones for Teenage Boys
- Good sound quality
- Attractive design; eye-catching shiny look
- Durable and sturdy
- Easy to set up and use
- Provide great comfort and fit
- Adjustable headband
- Foldable and portable
- Tangle-free and tear-resistant nylon wire
- Budget-friendly price
- Available in multiple colors
- No volume-limiting feature
Even though most headphones for teens on our list look aesthetically appealing and stylish, the AILIHEN MS300 Wired Headphones stood out from the rest when we first saw them. There’s something special about the lustrous and shiny look of these headphones that draws and compels you to pick them. Moreover, teenage boys are these headphones’ biggest fans. We found that during our detailed evaluation!
The sound performance delivered by these headphones was great. We found the right balance of lows, mids, and highs when playing different music genres with these headphones. The bass was neither overpowering, nor dull. It stood out slightly but did not sound harsh. Therefore, it’s perfect for teens who typically prefer bass-heavy tracks!
As already mentioned, the AILIHEN MS300 Wired Headphones come with a unique and eye-catching design, which is both functional and stylish. They are protected by an advanced surface coating for enhanced durability and sturdiness. This coating also provides them with a shiny look. The outer surface of the ear cups comprise a grooved pattern that resembles vinyl records. Doesn’t that sound interesting? Moreover, these headphones are available in eight color combinations: Blue, Pink, Purple, Violet, Blue Green, Indigo, Lime Green, and Purple Pink.
Other notable design features of these headphones include a durable 59-inch nylon cable, electroplated gold plug and foldable body.
In terms of comfort and fit, the AILIHEN MS300 Wired Headphones are as comfortable as all the other headphones for teens on our last. Thanks to their adjustable headband, they can easily fit both kids and teens. These on-ear headphones comprise soft and breathable leather ear pads to reduce pressure on the ears.
Overall, the AILIHEN MS300 Wired Headphones can be a great buy for teenage boys who care about the headphones’ design and look over everything else. These headphones come with universal compatibility as they are wired and comprise button-based controls on the wire. We did not experience any issues while listening to non-stop music with these headphones.
View on Amazon: AILIHEN MS300 Wired Headphones
5. ELECDER i37 Headphones
Most Affordable Headphones for Teens
- Good sound performance
- Extremely affordable price
- Comfortable and durable
- Lightweight and portable
- Versatile wired headphones
- Available in multiple color combinations
- Tangle-free wire
- No remote or button controls for volume
- No volume-limiting feature
Wondering why we have a separate category for budget-friendly headphones for teenagers when all the options on our list are already so affordable. Well, because we were thrilled to find an extremely budget-friendly option among all the affordable headphones here. The ELECDER i37 Headphones are indeed the most price-friendly headphones for teens on the market right now.
We were surprised at the sound quality of these headphones. For their budget-friendly price, they sound pretty good. However, these headphones do not comprise volume controls. The overall sound delivered by these headphones was clear and crisp; decent bass but nothing extraordinary in terms of bass or treble performance.
In terms of design and comfort, we will give these headphones 9 on 10. The ELECDER i37 Headphones look vibrant and stylish, and are available in eight color combinations. They comprise well-padded ear cups that sit snugly on the ears and provide the utmost comfort. These headphones also comprise a flexible and adjustable headband to ensure a perfect fit.
For their price, the ELECDER i37 Headphones are pretty durable and sturdy. They comprise a premium-quality tangle-free nylon wire. We subjected the wire to a lot of rough usage and it did not concede whatsoever. Impressive indeed!
Overall, the ELECDER i37 Headphones are an excellent budget option for teens. They sound good, look great, and feel durable too. Since they are wired headphones and come with a 3.5 mm jack, they can be used with a wide range of devices, such as smartphones, laptops, PCs, Kindles, and so on. Teens can also use them as travel headphones; thanks to their foldable and portable design.
View on Amazon: ELECDER i37 Headphones
6. OUFUNI Bone Conduction Headphones
Best Bone Conduction Headphones for Teens
- Excellent sound quality
- Durable and sturdy
- Unique open-air design
- Lightweight and comfortable for extended use
- Great battery life
- Sweatproof and waterproof
- Easy to set up and use
- Pocket-friendly price
Bone conduction headphones are a new innovation in the audio space. Unlike traditional headphones, these headphones are worn on the cheek bones and propagate sound vibrations from your skull to the inner ears. Since they are not worn on or inside the ears, bone conduction headphones can be a safe choice for kids and teens.
Out of all the bone conduction headphones on the market, we found the OUFUNI Bone Conduction Headphones to be the most suitable for teens. These headphones are also one of the most budget-friendly bone conduction headphones.
They’re packed with cool features without making your wallet cry. The new model comes with this awesome noise-canceling chip built right in. So, you can jam to your favorite songs, and they sound really loud and clear no matter where you are.
What’s great about these headphones is that they’re not just for gym-goers or runners; they’re also perfect for teens who prefer simple outdoor sports, such as tennis and badminton. And if you wear glasses, no worries! These headphones have a bendy frame that doesn’t get in the way of your specs. So, you can wear them all day long and feel just fine.
| Teens with up to 10-inch arc length distance between their two ears can easily wear these headphones. |
Here’s where they really shine – listening to people talk. Whether it’s an audiobook, a video call with friends, a Netflix episode or podcast, these headphones are perfect. You know how sometimes it’s annoying when you can’t hear anything around you because your ears are covered? Well, that’s not a problem with these. Plus, if you need to chat with someone nearby, you can do it without that weird feeling of having your ears blocked.
But let’s keep it real – if you’re all about that bass, these might not hit the spot when you’re listening to music. The sound can feel a bit thin, and the bass is kind of missing. Therefore, these headphones may not be a great buy for teens with an affinity for bass-heavy music.
Overall, the OUFUNI Bone Conduction Headphones pair up with your phone like a dream, the sound is super clear, they’re comfy, and the battery lasts ages. For the price, these headphones are a total steal!
View on Amazon: OUFUNI Bone Conduction Headphones
Frequently Asked Questions About Headphones for Teens
Both over-ear and in-ear headphones are suitable for teenagers. The choice really depends on the teenager’s preference. While in-ear headphones are more compact and portable, and suitable for physical activities, over-ear headphones are more comfortable for extended use and provide better noise isolation.
Per research conducted by the World Health Organization, the daily recommended safe volume level is below 85 dB for a maximum of eight hours. The same applies to teenagers.
Teenagers should ideally adhere to a volume range of 60 to 85 dB for safe listening experience.
Noise-canceling headphones come with both advantages and disadvantages for teengers (which is also why we didn’t add “noise cancelation” as a factor to consider when buying headphones for teens).
Advantages of noise-canceling headphones for teenagers:
– Can help in enhancing concentration and focus by blocking out external noise during teenagers’ study sessions
– Can significantly reduce the ambient noise of crowds and engines when listening to music or podcasts while traveling
– Can prevent ear damage by minimizing the need to increase volume in noisy surroundings
Disadvantages of noise-canceling headphones for teenagers:
– Can isolate teenagers’ from their surroundings; this can be dangerous if they are cycling or walking in traffic
– May require teenagers to regularly charge their wireless headphones as noise-canceling features are typically battery-consuming
Final Thoughts
As a teenager, making life choices is not always easy. The same applies to choosing the right headphones. From sound quality to volume limiting; there is a lot to choose. However, the key is to find the perfect balance between budget, safety, functionality, and quality.
Therefore, whether you are a teenager looking for the best headphones to suit your style and music taste, or someone looking for headphones for teens; carefully consider the factors listed in the guide to make an informed purchase.
Per our experience and evaluation, the rockpapa Comfort Headphones are the overall best headphones for teens. As their name suggests, these headphones are supremely comfortable, deliver excellent sound quality, look chic and stylish, and are super affordable. You don’t need to think twice before picking them!
Issac Thomas commented
Great Review! I appreciated your in-depth analysis of the headphones features.