Hola! Since you’re here, it’s crystal clear that you are looking for a headphone which will provide you with a silent surrounding for your fast-paced work and provide you with an ideal space to work your codes and do the magic.
I’m not a programmer but my friends are. And hearing their complaints and frustrations about not being able to find the perfect headphones which will provide them with the perfect work experience has made me sit down to write this article.

7 Best Headphones for Programmers in 2023:
1. Sony WH – 1000XM5
This is an excellent headphone for programmers, with an auto noise cancelling optimizer which lets the user make crystal clear hands-free calls along with many more fantastic controls for easier operation of headphones along with working.
It has several processors and microphones to give the best noise-cancelling effects. Its fast charging feature gives you 3 hours of charge on 3 minutes of charging. This headphone has an industry-leading noise cancellation feature which keeps out more high and mid-frequency sounds.
Features:
- It has industry-leading noise cancellation with two processors in eight microphones.
- It is a new integrated processor V1 which acts as a catalyst for the HD noise cancelling processor QN 1.
- It has precise voice pick-up technology and advanced audio signal processing which helps make crystal-clear hands-free calling via the headphone.
- It can be paired with two Bluetooth devices at the same time.
- It is lightweight and has a beautiful finish with newly developed soft-fit leather.
- It has touch controls on the earcups and adaptive sound controls along with a protective case to save space.
- It supports fast charging and has 30 hours of battery life.
Specs/ Features:
Color: Black
Headphones Form Factor: Over Ear
Connector Type: Wireless
Cable Feature: Without Cable
Connectivity Technology: Wireless
Headphones Jack: 3.5 mm Jack
Item Weight: 250.05 grams
Accessibility: User-Friendly
Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.5 x 2.9″
Noise Control: Active Noise Cancellation
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent noise-cancellation technology that blocks out ambient sounds for better concentration.
- Long battery life of up to 30 hours with quick charging.
- Comfortable and lightweight design that makes them ideal for extended wear.
Cons
- The touch controls can be overly sensitive, making it easy to accidentally trigger certain features.
- The headphones are quite pricey, which may not be affordable for all programmers.
- The microphone quality may not be as good as some other headphones in the same price range.
2. Sony WH – 1000xM4
This is a premium noise-cancelling headphone with a mic and Alexa built-in to support multi-activity while working. It has superior call quality which has precise voice pick up and combines 5 built-in microphones to produce advanced audio signal processing. It is also excellent for listening to music as the digital sound enhancement engine with edge AI elevates the experience. 10 minutes of charging gives 5 hours of playback leading to non-stop headphone listening. It also helps you achieve your goals as a programmer as it has adaptive sound controls and smart listening along with ambient sound control.
Features:
- It is premium noise cancelling with dual noise sensor technology.
- It is 30 hours of battery life with quick charging.
- The speak-to-chat technology automatically reduces volume during conversations.
- It is accompanied by wearing detection which causes playback when the headphone is removed from the ears.
- Touch sensors present is used to control music tracks, control volume, activate your Voice Assistant and answer phone calls.
- It has ambient sound control and quick attention mode.
Specs/ Features:
Color: Black
Headphones Form Factor: Over Ear
Connector Type: Wireless, Bluetooth 5.0
Cable Feature: Without Cable
Connectivity Technology: Wireless, Bluetooth 5.0
Item Weight: 255.15 grams
Accessibility: User-Friendly
Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.2 x 3.1″
Microphone: Yes
Noise Control: Active Noise Cancellation
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent noise-cancellation technology
- Long battery life of up to 30 hours with quick charging.
- Comfortable and lightweight design that makes them ideal for extended wear.
Cons
- The touch controls can be overly sensitive, making it easy to accidentally trigger certain features.
- The headphones are quite pricey, which may not be affordable for all programmers.
- Not-so-good quality sound
3. Bose QuietComfort 45
This is an over-ear headphone. It is wireless and has Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity. This headphone from Bose comes in matte style in white and black colour. It has different noise cancellation modes for different environments to adjust outside noise. It is made of lightweight material for premium comfort and proprietary acoustic technology for deep, clear audio. It produces high-fidelity audio for longer listening. The hidden microphones help in measuring, comparing, and reacting to outside noise to set the noise cancellation mode.
Features:
- It has TriPort acoustic architecture depth and fullness to the audio and maintains balance performance at any volume keeping bass consistent when turned down.
- It has 24 hours of battery life after a single charge. 15 minutes of charge for the first three hours of playtime.
- Can be used even in wired mode.
- It is quite an aware mode.
- It charges via a USB C cable.
Specs/ Features:
Earpiece Design: Over-Ear (Circumaural)
Active Noise Cancellation: Yes
Connectivity: Wireless Connectivity
Dimensions Headphones: 7.25 x 6 x 3″ / 18.41 x 15.2 x 7.6 cm
Weight Headphones: 8.5 oz / 241 g
Maximum Paired Devices: 2
Battery: Lithium-Ion
Runtime: 24 Hours (BT+ANC)
Color: White
Water Resistance: Resistant
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Advanced noise-cancellation technology blocks out even more noise than the previous model.
- Sleek and stylish design with soft ear cushions for added comfort.
- The headphones come with a variety of accessories, including a carrying case, charging cable, and audio cable.
Cons
- The battery life is only up to 24 hours, which may not be sufficient for some users.
- The price point is quite high, which may not be suitable for budget-conscious programmers.
- The headphones are a bit heavier than some other models, which may cause discomfort during extended wear.
4. Edifier STAX Spirit S3
This produces Hi-Res certified audio with a cleaner sound and greater resolution. It produces an ultra-wide range of frequency responses from 10 Hertz to 40 kilohertz. It is an over-ear wireless headphone without cable. It is a pretty good effective area of 10 meters. It is an excellent battery life provided by the high-performance built-in battery. The crystal-clear voice audio makes perfect phone calls.
Features:
- It is a light weighted over here planner magnetic headphone.
- It has 80 hours of battery life and a 1500 mAh battery.
- It can be paired with two different Bluetooth devices effortlessly switching between music gaming or phone calls.
- It is Equal Mass Diaphragm technology.
- It is Fluxor Magnetic Array Structure, Fazor Combined Acoustic Components and Uniforms Diaphragms.
Specs/ Features:
Color: Black
Connectivity Technology: Wireless
Headphones Form Factor: Over Ear
Item Weight: 0.73 lbs
Frequency Response: 20Hz~40KHz
Dimensions: 12.48 x 11.06 x 6.97 inches
Accessibility: Easy to use
Battery Capacity: 1500mAh
Fully Charged: 1.5hrs
Playtime: 80hrs.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Unique and innovative design that features an electrostatic driver for exceptional sound quality.
- Lightweight and comfortable, making them ideal for extended wear.
- The headphones come with a variety of accessories, including a carrying case, charging cable, and audio cable.
Cons
- The noise-cancellation technology may not be as advanced as some other models.
- The headphones are quite expensive, which may not be affordable for all programmers.
- The electrostatic driver may require a dedicated amplifier, which may be an additional expense for some users.
5. Sound core by Anker Life Q35
These are wireless over-ear headphones and come in three different colours: black, white, and blue. It is a budget-friendly headphone for programmers and provides them with the needed features to work in a quiet and peaceful space. Is multi-mode for noise cancelling including transport outdoor and indoor modes which can be switched on according to the requirement of the environment you are in. It is accompanied by Hi-Res audio.
Features:
- It supports the NFC connection.
- It is 40 hours of playtime.
- It supports LDAC technology which transfers 3x more data than other Bluetooth codecs.
- It provides multimode noise cancelling with 2 microphones on each ear cup.
- It is active noise cancellation.
Specs/ Features:
Color: Blue, Black and White
Headphones Form Factor: Over Ear
Connector Type: Wireles
Weight: 272.16 Grams
Product Dimensions: 19.5 x 18 x 7.8 cm; 272.16 Grams
Batteries: 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)
Microphone Form Factor: With microphone
Battery Average Life: 50 Hours
Cable Feature: Without Cable
Connector Type: Wireless
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The affordable price point makes them accessible to most programmers.
- Advanced noise-cancellation technology blocks out ambient sounds for better concentration.
- The headphones feature touch controls for easy navigation and convenience.
Cons
- The battery life is only up to 40 hours, which may not be sufficient for some users.
- The headphones are a bit heavy, which may cause discomfort during extended wear.
- The build quality may not be as durable as some other headphones in the same price range.
6. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
This is the over-ear triple back headphone which produces astonishing sound and powerful noise cancelling. It helps you make any place into an instant Home Office and lets you listen to music make phone calls or get your work done in any environment. You can also speak in calls using this headphone in a severely crowded area as this headphone has superior adaptive make for why speak up. Also having built-in Alexa enables many different functions at once.
Features:
- It is touch controls and built-in Alexa and Google assistance.
- It supports Bose music app.
- It is 20 hours of battery life.
- It has a hidden microphone and superior noise cancelling.
- Pairs with Bose Soundbar.
Specs/ Features:
Microphones: 8 total microphones
Ear cushions: Soft foam covered in protein leather
Earcup covers: Finished with special anti-stick coating for touch gestures
Dimensions: 8″ H x 6.5″ W x 2″
Weight: 0.56 lbs
Accessibiliy: Easy to use
Touch: Volume, skip track, phone calls, customizable shortcut
Buttons: VPA (Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa)*, Bluetooth, Controllable Noise Cancelling
Voice-enabled VPA: Amazon Alexa
Bluetooth range: Up to 33 ft (10 m)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Advanced noise-cancellation technology blocks out even more noise than the previous model.
- Sleek and stylish design with comfortable ear cushions.
- The headphones feature touch controls for easy navigation and convenience.
Cons
- The price point is quite high, which may not be suitable for budget-conscious programmers.
- The battery life is only up to 20 hours, which may not be sufficient for some users.
- The headphones may not fit all head sizes comfortably.
7. Philips SHP9600
This headphone has open back design and spacious sound. It is placed over-ear and has wired connectivity technology. It connects to any source you want it to including phone and headphone AMP. It has a perfectly turned 50mm driver which provides crisp bass and balanced mid-range. It provides super comfortability and durability.
Features:
- It has 50mm neodymium drivers, 3m removable cable and an open back design.
- It is double layered headband cushion.
- It connects with a smart device home setup TV or laptop and has a 6.3 – 2.3mm jack adapter.
- It is 32 Ohm impedance and 50mm speaker diameter.
- It has an open acoustic system and a dynamic driver type.
Specs/ Features:
Impedance: 32 Ohm
Speaker diameter: 50 mm
Sensitivity: 102 dB (1K Hz)
Color: Black
Wearing style: Headband
Ear fitting: Over-ear
Gross weight: 2.27 kg
Product dimensions: 10 cm x 20.1 cm x 17.2 cm
Maximum power input: 200 mW
Distortion (THD): < 0.1% THD
Acoustic system: Open
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Affordable price point
- The headphones feature an open-back design for improved sound quality.
- The headphones are lightweight and comfortable, making them ideal for extended wear.
Cons
- The noise-cancellation technology is not advanced
- The headphones are not foldable, which may make them less portable.
- The build quality may not be as durable as some other headphones in the same price range.
Things Programmers Should Look For Before Buying Their Headphones
- The noise cancelling feature.
- The number of modes in noise cancelling.
- The number of microphones present and the voice pickup quality.
- The battery life and the charging time.
- The headphone size and weight.
FAQs
Is it necessary to buy noise-cancelling headphones for programmers?
Yes, since programmers need a quiet space to work noise cancelling headphones provides the needed environment.
Which are the best noise cancelling headphones?
The Sony and Bose headphones are the best for this purpose.
Should my headphones have different modes of noise cancellation?
Having different modes of noise cancellation helps pick up the amount of environmental noise as per your requirement when outside of the house.
Final Words
So, programmers, last but not least do look at the list of things you should notice before buying a headphone. If you are on a budget, you could go for Anker Life headphones. If you have a bigger budget then going for Sony and Bose headphones would be the best. On the other hand, headphones with different noise cancelling modes lets in noise at certain levels.