How we test headphones at ZDNET in 2026

A report from Zdnet outlines how its reviewers test headphones and earbuds by using them in everyday life, often receiving review units before public availability and conducting long-term assessments to determine which features excel and which fall flat. The site labels a device ZDNET Recommended when it is above average in at least one testing category, then adds it to buying guides tailored to specific purposes; metrics are treated equally, and reviews note when a product may not serve certain readers.

Key testing factors include comfort and design, with reviewers wearing devices for hours to assess fit and durability; noise cancellation, tested in environments such as grocery stores, offices, trains, planes, gyms, and coffee shops; and sound quality, evaluated across transparency and noise-canceling modes, multiple devices and streaming services, and both wireless and wired use.

Battery life is measured objectively while using all features and can vary with volume, noise-canceling, call use, and device settings.