Whether you are learning or teaching online, you need a pair of headphones (good ones). However, with so many categories of headphones on the market, it can be a daunting task to find the best headphones for online learning and teaching. Therefore, we’re here to help you pick the right headphones for your online learning and training sessions. We tested over 200 headphones (combined) for students and teachers over a period of 2 months and have finally shortlisted the best headphones out of the lot.
In this guide, we’ll list the top 4 headphones for online learning and top 2 headphones for online teaching in separate sections, review them in detail and list their pros and cons, starting with the former. We’ll also discuss different factors you should keep in mind while finding headphones for online learning and teaching. Keep reading to know more.
Roundup of the Best Headphones for Online Learning and Teaching
| Best Noise-Canceling Headphones for Online Learning | Cowin E7 |
| Best-Sounding Headphones for Online Learning and Teaching | Bose Soundlink Wireless II |
| Best Headphones for Online Learning with Maximum Battery Life | Beats Solo3 Wireless |
| Best Open-Back Headphones for Mixing | Haourlife Bone Conduction Headphones |
| Best USB Headphones for Online Teaching | KEMEILE USB Headset with Microphone Noise Cancelling and Volume Controls |
| Best Noise-Canceling Headphones for Online Teaching | Logitech H390 USB |
How to Find the Best Headphones for Online Learning and Teaching?
Here are 5 factors you should keep in mind while finding the best headphones for online learning and teaching:
Audio Quality
Most headphones with microphones (headset) provide teachers and students with 2 audio options: mono and stereo. Most teachers prefer the stereo option as they cover both ears. On the other hand, mono headphones only comprise a single speaker. Therefore, they are distracting and unsuitable for online teaching (if not learning).
Microphone Quality
Headphones with noise-cancelling microphones are most suitable for online learning and teaching. You don’t want your students to hear your family members in the background, right? Similarly, students don’t want their teachers to know what’s brewing in their background. Moreover, the noise-cancelling microphone enhances the quality of your voice being delivered to your students.
Mute Feature and Volume Controls
Headphones (with mic) comprising in-line controls, such as the Logitech H390 USB Headphones are the most suitable for online learning and teaching. Even though most teachers ensure they are not disturbed or interrupted during their lessons, emergencies arrive uninvited. Therefore, it’s always better to have the mute feature and volume controls in your hands.
Wired/Wireless
Most teachers prefer USB (wired) headphones as they can be easily plugged into the laptop and used without installing any software. Wireless/Bluetooth headphones typically have high latency (the voice transmission is delayed). Moreover, setting up the wireless headphones can be a time-taking task. Therefore, wired headphones are better for online teaching.
Weight
Headphones for online learning and teaching should be lightweight since they are worn for longer periods. It’s important to feel relaxed while delivering or taking an online lesson. Moreover, bulky headphones can distract students. Therefore, lightweight and sleek headphones are perfect for online teaching and learning.
4 Best Headphones for Online Learning – Student’s Corner
Most students use noise-canceling headphones for online learning sessions as they allow them to concentrate better. Therefore, without further ado, let’s first look at the best headphones for online learning for students.
1. Cowin E7
Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Online Learning
- Great sound quality
- Lightweight and comfortable for extended usage
- Perfect for online learning sessions
- Easily affordable
- Truly noise-cancelling; put them on, close your eyes and you’ll feel like you’ve cut off from the world
- Excellent build quality
- Available in multiple colors
- Bass is not overpowering
- Microphone does not catch the voice clearly
- Headphones can feel somewhat warm and comfortable on continuously using them for 1-2 hours during summers
The Cowin E7 Pro Headphones can be a great choice for students who are more inclined toward online learning as they are lightweight and comfortable. Secondly, they are noise-cancelling headphones; therefore, students can completely concentrate on their online learning sessions without paying heed to what’s going on around them.
We really liked the design of these headphones. The ear cups rotate to provide you with a great fit. The headband and ear cushions are very soft. However, they can become a little sticky and feel warm during the summer months. You can use the headphones with or without wires (Bluetooth and Near Field Communication (NFC)) per your convenience. Don’t worry; you won’t find any difference in the sound quality.
Another reason why the Cowin E7 Pro headphones can be a great pick for you if you are a student is the extended battery life. The built-in 750 mAh battery allows you to use the headphones on the Bluetooth or active noise control (ANC) mode for up to 30 hours, without breaks.
Overall, the Cowin E7 Pro Headphones are excellent for online learning. They are affordable and good quality headphones. What’s even better? The headphones are available in 6 different colors!
Read the Full Cowin E7 Pro Review
2. Bose Soundlink Wireless II
Best-Sounding Headphone for Online Learning and Teaching
- Comfortable and lightweight; you can wear the headphones the entire day without feeling anything heavy on your head
- Stylish and durable; sleek appearance
- Good battery life
- Easily affordable
- Excellent sound quality; crisp highs, clear mids and crunchy bass
- Fit perfectly around your head
- Come with a carry case
- Well-balanced sound; no distortion during online learning sessions
- Can pair with 2 devices at one time
- Missing noise-cancellation functionality
- Very expensive
The Bose Soundlink Wireless Headphones can also be a great pick for both students and teachers. Firstly, they are convenient to use and their wireless functionality makes them a great choice for online learning. Secondly, they are extremely lightweight (lighter than Cowin E7), so you won’t feel like you’ve got something really heavy on your head. Thirdly, they are the best-sounding headphones for online learning on the market. Irrespective of the volume, you can enjoy crystal-clear sound.
Another interesting feature of these headphones is the ability to switch between 2 devices. You can connect the headphones to your laptop as well as your smartphone. If you have questions for your instructor/teacher, simply switch on the microphone using the advanced microphone system.
The headphones can last up to 15 hours in a single charge; so you don’t need to worry about them discharging in the middle of an online classroom lesson. All in all, the Bose Soundlink Wireless Headphones II are suitable for online learning; however, the only thing that we feel is missing is the noise-cancelling functionality.
View on Amazon: Bose Soundlink Wireless Headphones II
3. Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones
Best Headphones for Online Learning With Maximum Battery Life
- Easy to connect and pair with multiple devices
- Comfortable and lightweight
- Sounds great; clear and crisp sound
- Excellent battery life; 5-minute charging can provide up to 3 hours of battery life
- Available in a plethora of colors
- Sleek, streamlined design
- Not 100% noise-canceling
- Very expensive
If the battery life of the online learning headphones is your primary purchase criteria, we recommend you purchase the Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones. You’ll be stunned to know that the headphones provide up to 40 hours of battery life in a single charge. Not only this but mere 5 minutes of charging can give you up to 3 hours of battery life. Can you believe it? We’re not kidding; we’ve tried these headphones not once but thrice.
The headphones are compatible with both Android and iOS devices. After testing both the Cowin E7 and Bose Soundlink headphones, we felt that the Beats Solo 3 headphones are the best-performing headphones so far. They can also be a great pick for regular use.
The cushioned ear cups and headband enhance the comfort provided by the headphones and make them perfect for extended usage (most online learning sessions are long and tiring). When not using the headphones, you can fold them and put them in their carry case.
View on Amazon: Beats Solo 3 Headphones
4. Haourlife Bone Conduction Headphones
Best Headphones for Online Learning for Kids
- Ultra light
- Superb battery life
- Decent sound quality
- Produce great and strong bass
- Can get loud
- IP7 sweat-proof and waterproof
- Great price for the quality of craftsmanship
- Maintains reliable Bluetooth connection
- Buttons are too small
Haourlife Bone Conduction Headphones are our choice for the most comfortable headphones for learning. They are of memory titanium alloy, which you can bend in any direction, and it will instantly return to its original shape, eliminating any concerns about the headset being broken.
They are impressively lightweight. The pairing has no problems, and the sound quality is excellent. Even long phone conversations or meetings won’t drain the battery. These headphones are so comfortable that they sit almost unnoticed when wearing them. The sound quality is very clear for something that doesn’t go in the ear. You can hear every detail of the powerful bass and crisp highs.
The noise-canceling boom microphone on this headset is ideal for online lectures, meetings, and other settings. It is also waterproof up to an IPX7 standard, so you may wear it for activities both indoors and outside without worrying about getting wet.
In conclusion, Haourlife Bone Conduction Headphones are an inexpensive way to test out the advantages of bone-conduction headphones. They are comfortable and stylish and sweat and waterproof, so you can use them without worrying about damaging them.
View on Amazon: Haourlife Bone Conduction Headphones
2 Top Headphones for Online Teaching – Educator/Teacher’s Corner
Headphones for online teaching are one of the most essential equipment for teachers. Out of all the headphones we tested, we found only these 2 to be the most useful and easy to use.
1. KEMEILE USB Headset with Microphone Noise Cancelling and Volume Controls
Best USB Headphones for Online Teaching
- Good quality sound
- Comfortable and quiet
- Stylish color combination
- Thick ear padding to ensure the utmost comfort
- Bendable and rotatable microphone arm
- Plug-and-play operation
- Voice recognition microphone ideal for online learning
- We did not experience any issues with this headset
The KEMEILE USB Headset with Microphone Noise Cancelling and Volume Controls is the best USB Headphones for online teaching per our evaluation. It is very convenient to use as you can move the microphone in any direction rather than being restricted to a simple pivot. Everybody in your online teaching class will be able to hear you clearly; thanks to the super flexible and high-quality microphone of this headset.
Additionally, this headset effectively muffles outside noise to provide crystal-clear acoustics. You can use the buttons to adjust the volume, silence the device, and answer incoming calls.The ear cups are well-padded, the cord is lengthy, and the sound is excellent. The headset effectively blocks outside noise which is essential for online teaching. You can wear these headsets for an extended period as they are very comfortable.
In conclusion, if you are looking for a good set of USB headphones for online teaching, the KEMEILE USB Headset with Microphone Noise Cancelling and Volume Controls fits the bill effectively. It provides great noise cancelation, and you will love that you can adjust the volume and mute it right on the wire.
View on Amazon: KEMEILE USB Headset with Microphone Noise Cancelling and Volume Controls
2. Logitech H390 USB
Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Online Teaching
- Excellent noise-cancellation provided by the microphone
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Adjustable microphone with a variety of in-line controls
- No software installation required
- Build quality of the headphones is appalling
- Easy to use
- Great audio quality
- Can keep slipping if the headphones don’t fit properly around your head
Yes, that’s right. Even though Mpow 071 comes with a good noise-cancelling microphone, the functionality and voice-quality provided by the microphone of Logitech H390 is somewhat better. All you need to do is simply plug in the headphones and use them with your PC or Mac; no software installation required.
The convenient in-line controls allow you to monitor the volume and mute/unmute the microphone per your convenience. The headphones are also lighter than Mpow 071 and more padded. It was really difficult to pick the best headphones for online teaching out of the 2.
All in all, the sound quality is very good, the over-the-ear design is comfortable, the microphone is noise-cancelling and adjustable, and the wire is 7.4-foot long for your convenience (you can move around with the headphones) during the online teaching session (we know it’s not easy to sit for hours together).
View on Amazon: Logitech H390 USB
Final Thoughts
Before you enroll yourself for an online learning or teaching program, ensure you have the necessary equipment (especially the best headphones for online teaching/learning) for a great experience, especially if the learning sessions are going to be live sessions. For us, the best headphones for online learning are Bose Soundlink Wireless II and the best headphones for online teaching are Logitech H390 USB.
The Bose Soundlink Wireless II Headphones can easily pair with 2 devices at a time, are comfortable and lightweight, and have an excellent battery life. However, they are much more expensive than the other headphones for online learning on our list. Nevertheless, they are value for money and you won’t regret spending a large sum on them.
Similarly, for teaching purposes, the Logitech H390 USB Headphones can be a great buy as they are easy to use, budget-friendly and come with noise-cancelling microphones that improve your voice quality manifold.
We hope you found our guide on the best headphones for online learning and teaching useful. If there are any other headphones you are using currently for both online learning or teaching, and feel that they should make it to our list, please feel free to share your suggestions in the comment section below. Also, if you have any queries, feel free to let us know.
