This article was originally published on Mashable for an American audience and has been modified for the UK audience.

Every Android smartphone includes earphones for you to enjoy your preferred music or podcasts right away, but they are seldom remarkable. This is just a reality. The wise choice is to invest in a separate set of headphones or earphones that meet your requirements, provided you understand the type you need.

Consider when you will be using your headphones. For example, do you intend to eliminate background noise during your daily commute? Are you searching for a pair that excels while jogging or exercising at the gym? Or do you simply wish to unwind at home, enjoying music through your headphones, possibly even as you sleep?

These types of inquiries will assist you in discovering the ideal wireless headphones for your Android device. To simplify the process, we’ve compiled a brief guide and collected some of the top headphones and earbuds for Android devices.

What is Android?

Often recognized as the alternative operating system to Apple’s iOS, Google-owned Android is an open-source platform — meaning (in contrast to Apple) developers and tech companies can utilize and enhance it. It’s utilized on numerous non-Apple phones and tablets, including products made by Samsung and Google itself. Over 3 billion individuals actively engage with Android devices.

What characteristics make headphones suitable for Android users?

It makes sense that headphones produced by companies like Google and Samsung will synchronize beautifully with Android devices. Generally, seek out headphones with compatibility for Android-specific features, like Google Fast Pair and Google Assistant. Most quality Bluetooth headphones provide access to a voice assistant, such as Alexa, Google Assistant, or Samsung’s Bixby. You simply need to configure the headphones to your chosen version — in this instance, Google Assistant. Be cautious of headphones that support only one voice assistant (some have Alexa integrated).

What capabilities does Google Assistant have?

Once you’ve configured Google Assistant on your headphones and Android device, it proves to be extremely useful. You can request specific songs — as well as manage all playback functions — make calls and send messages, set up schedules and alarms, perform general searches, and check news or weather updates. Some Android devices also support Google’s Gemini Live AI chatbot — a more advanced option compared to Google Assistant. Gemini Live can engage in actual, real-time conversations.

What does Google Fast Pair do?

This Google-specific feature removes the hassle of navigating through menus to connect Bluetooth devices. Your Android device employs Bluetooth Low Energy and location technology to instantly identify any nearby Bluetooth devices. A prompt will automatically appear on your device asking if you wish to connect. Fast Pair devices can also link with your Google account and provide personalized attributes.

Are inexpensive headphones worthwhile?

The straightforward answer is, not generally. If you’re aiming to save some money, you might as well stick with the pair that comes with your Android smartphone. This is truly only a sensible strategy if you have a tendency to misplace headphones, because — in the end — the standard-issue headphones are never that impressive. If you frequently enjoy music or podcasts, it’s certainly worth investing in a pricier set that offers more beneficial features like active noise cancellation or companion applications.

What are the finest headphones for Android?

To assist you in finding something compatible with your Android device, we have identified a range of your best options. We’ve conducted the research, reviewed online feedback, and compiled a list of the best