Our Experts
- Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
What to consider
Budget
The quality of value-priced headphones continues to improve, so you can find good affordable kids’ headphones for less than $50, but there are some premium models that cost $100 or more.
Fit
It’s key that the headphones you buy fit your child’s ears well. They should offer a comfortable fit that’s snug yet not too snug. A lot of kids’ headphones are on-ear models, which are more compact.
Durability
You want headphones that hold up well over time, so look for models that we note have sturdy build quality.
Wireless or wired?
Wireless headphones are the way to go, but if you’re traveling on a plane and want your child to be able to plug into an in-flight entertainment, look for a model that also has a cord you can plug into the headphone for wired use.
Return policy
It’s critical to buy your headphones at a retailer that has a good return policy, in case you have buyer’s remorse.
What are the best headphones for kids?
Over the years I’ve tested hundreds of headphones, and most of them work just fine for kids. But when parents are looking for headphones for their children, especially younger ones (under 11 years old), they tend to look for more compact models, and also headphones that don’t cost too much. Additionally, some parents look for headphones that have a volume limiter to protect their child’s hearing. But you can also set volume restrictions in the settings of a smartphone or tablet, so it’s not an essential feature to have in a kids’ headphone.
Having four kids myself, I’ve had them try out a lot headphones. As one might expect, as they got older, they were drawn to name brands like Apple, Beats, Bose and Sony. But spending over $100 on a pair of headphones for a younger kid is probably overkill, which is why I’ve picked several models that cost less than $50, including the Soundcore by Anker H30i and the Sony CH-520, which list for $60 but often go on sale for closer to $40.
Most of the headphones on the list are wireless headphones. Some of those have a wired option (if you want your child to be able to tap into an in-flight entertainment system, make sure the headphones you buy have a wired option), but not all do. I’ve also included one headphone that is wired-only.
Best kids’ headphones of 2024
Well-designed wireless kids’ headphones with volume limiter
Skullcandy Grom Wireless
Best new cheap on-ear headphones
Sony CH-520
Budget ANC on-ear headphones for kids
JLab Studio ANC
Best cheap kids’ headphones for plane travel
JVC Flats
Budget on-ear multipoint headphones
Creative Sound Blaster Jam V2
Other kids’ headphones we tested
Puro Sound Labs BT2200: Puro Labs has long been a leader in kids’ headphones as all its kids’ headphones include a volume limiter. While the BT2200s have a somewhat generic design, they’re built sturdily and offer decent performance and sound. They’re just a little bulky and a tad expensive at $99. The company also sells a $30 on-ear model with a volume limiter that isn’t as durable.
Belkin SoundForm Mini: Available in four color options, the SoundForm Mini are in many ways your typical pair of budget on-ear headphones for kids. But they’re decent-enough looking, reasonably comfortable (don’t expect supersoft ear pads, however) and sound OK. While they charge via Micro-USB instead of USB-C (that’s less than ideal), they have good battery life — up to 30 hours — and their volume is capped at 85db to protect your youngster’s ears. A charging cable and headphone cord are included for wired listening.
Factors to consider when choosing kids’ headphones
Budget
Before anything else, you’ll want to figure out how much you’re willing to spend on new kids’ headphones. The quality of value-priced headphones continues to improve, so you can find good affordable kids’ headphones for less than $50. The premium models, which offer better build quality and sometimes extra features such as noise canceling, tend to cost $100 or more.
Fit (comfort)
It’s key that the headphones you buy fit your child’s ears well. They should offer a comfortable fit that’s snug yet not too snug. A lot of kids’ headphones are on-ear models, which are more compact.
Durability
You want headphones that hold up well over time, so look for models that we note have sturdy build quality.
Wireless or wired?
Wireless headphones are the way to go, but if you’re traveling on a plane and want your child to be able to plug into an in-flight entertainment, look for a model that also has a cord you can plug into the headphone jack for wired use.
Return policy
It’s critical to buy your headphones at a retailer that has a good return policy, in case you have buyer’s remorse.
How we test headphones and earbuds
We test headphones and earbuds based on six key criteria. These criteria include design, sound quality, noise-canceling performance, voice-calling performance, features and value.
- Design: Evaluating design, we assess not only how comfortable the headphones and earbuds fit (their ergonomics) but their build quality and how well the controls are implemented. When it comes to earbuds, we also look at water- and dust-resistance ratings.
- Sound quality: We evaluate sound quality by listening to a set playlist of music tracks and comparing the earbuds to top competing products in their price range. Sonic traits such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range and how natural the headphones sound are key factors in our assessment.
- Noise-canceling performance: If the headphones we’re testing feature active noise canceling (ANC), we evaluate ANC performance by wearing the headphones in the same spot indoors near a noisy HVAC unit to see how well they do at muffling lower frequencies. Then we head out to the streets of New York to test the headphones in a real-world environment, where we see how they muffle not only street noise but people’s voices.
- Extra features: Some great-sounding noise-canceling headphones and earbuds aren’t loaded with features, but we do take into account what extra features are on board. These include everything from quick-access awareness to transparency modes (your music pauses and the headphones open up to the outside world so you can have a conversation) to special sound modes to ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off your ears. We also take a look at the companion app for the headphones if there is one and how user-friendly it is.
- Voice-calling: When we test voice-calling performance, we make calls in the noisy streets of New York and evaluate how well the headphones or earbuds reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear our voices.
- Value: We determine value after evaluating the strength of the headphones and earbuds against all these criteria and what they’re able to deliver compared to other models in their price class.
Best kids’ headphones FAQ
Should I buy a kids’ headphone with a volume limiter?
A volume limiter in a headphone sets a top-end volume that’s in the safe hearing zone to help protect your child’s ears. You can also limit the volume on many smartphones or tablets, including iPhones and iPads, so having a volume limiter in the headphones themselves isn’t essential. But some parents don’t want to bother digging into the settings menus on their devices to set a volume limit and would prefer having it built into the headphones.
Should I get on-ear or over-ear kids’ headphones?
The majority of kids’ headphones tend to be more compact on-ear models. On-ear headphones are typically not as comfortable as over-ear headphones (also called around-ear headphones), but on-ear headphones can be better for younger kids with smaller heads. Smaller headphones are also more travel friendly.
What about earbuds for my child?
In-ear headphones can potentially be more harmful to your child’s ears than on-ear or over-ear headphones (if played at high volumes). While children sometimes use AirPods and other in-ear buds, it’s safer to use an on-ear or over-ear headphone from a hearing health standpoint. That said, when it comes to kids’ hearing, you should be careful to keep the volume of any headphones they use at a safe level.
Ahead of New 2024 Models, Apple’s 12.9-Inch M1 iPad Pro Is Almost $400 Off
If you want a tablet with serious power, the Apple iPad Pro is one of the best tablets you can choose. The M2 model is the latest in Apple’s high-end tablet lineup, and there are rumors of new 2024 iPad models on the horizon, but the 2021 iPad Pro still has a lot going for it, especially when you can find one at a discounted price.
Woot is currently offering $389 off the 12.9-inch model with cellular connectivity and 128GB of storage, a price that means you only have to pay $810 to pick one of these things up This deal is available for another week or so but there’s always a chance it may sell out before then. With that in mind, we’d recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.
Despite being a generation old, this 2021 iPad Pro still comes packed with advanced hardware that makes it one of the fastest and most advanced tablets out there. It features a stunning 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED display, which boasts 1,600 nits of peak brightness, a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and supports Apple’s True Tone technology, making it a great pick for digital artists or other creatives.
Internally, it’s equipped with Apple’s powerful M1 chip, as well as 8GB of RAM and Wi-Fi 6 support for lightning-fast performance. Plus the 12-megapixel front camera automatically keeps you centered, which makes it great for video calls and virtual meetings. It averages around 10 hours of battery life on a single charge and uses a USB-C charger, so you don’t have to worry about keeping an Apple Lightning cable on hand.
The second-generation Apple Pencil, which can help you unlock the full potential of this tablet, is also on sale for just $79 right now, which saves you $50 compared to the usual price. And if the iPad Pro isn’t for you, we’re rounding up the best iPad deals this side of Christmas including sales on the iPad Air, iPad Mini and entry-level iPad.
The Google Pixel 7 Pro Is Down to Just $513 at Amazon if You Act Quickly Enough
Google’s Pixel 7 Pro may not be the latest model on the market any more, but this previous-gen flagship phone is still one of the best Android phones out there, especially when you get the chance to pick one up at a discount. It’s already more cost-effective to choose the Pixel 7 Pro over the Pixel 8 Pro, but Amazon has slashed the price of the base model by over $385 to boot.
All of this means that you can pick a Google Pixel 7 Pro up for just $513 right now, but you’ll only get that special price on the obsidian (black) color. Other colors are available but you’ll pay a little more to get your hands on one of those. We also don’t know how long this price will stick around so keep that in mind when you’re planning your purchase, too.
The Pixel 7 Pro is a great option for fans of Android or anyone using the Google ecosystem. It even won an Editors’ Choice Award last year. This 5G phone has a 6.7-inch OLED screen and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. It also runs on a powerful Google Tensor G2 chip, which still delivers top-notch performance.
As for photos and videos, you’ll have a lot to work with — the Pixel 7 Pro has a 50-megapixel wide camera, along with a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 48-megapixel telephoto lens and a 10.8-megapixel front-facing camera. Plus, there are plenty of special features for editing including Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Real Tone and more.
This is a great price on a popular phone but if you’re interested in seeing what discounts you can score on other popular brands, be sure to check out our roundup of the best phone deals currently available.
Weird Roku Alert? Here’s How to Say No to New Terms
Did you get a pop-up message when you queued up your Roku device? The company has been notifying customers about changes to its dispute resolution terms. While some users received emails informing them of the update, others discovered it upon opening up Roku TVs or media players and found themselves blocked from using the hardware — until they agreed to the new terms.
Roku’s latest dispute resolution policy went into effect on Feb. 20, 2024. The terms address how you can resolve disputes with Roku through arbitration instead of filing a lawsuit. Roku didn’t specify what has changed in the terms this go-round, but said in a statement, “Like many companies, Roku updates its terms of service from time to time. When we do, we take steps to make sure customers are informed of the change.”
There’s a way for customers to opt out of the new terms, but the process isn’t instant and can’t be done digitally. Rather, you will have to use snail mail to decline the agreement.
We’ve outlined the steps below. While you may not be able to use your Roku devices until you’ve accepted the terms, note that even after you used your device to agree, you’ll still be able to opt out using this method.
According to Roku’s terms, you have 30 days to opt out (presumably, the countdown began on Feb. 20), but it must be done in writing.
- Mail your letter to: General Counsel, Roku Inc., 1701 Junction Court, Suite 100, San Jose, CA 95112
- Include the name of each customer opting out and their contact information
- Provide specific product models, software, or services used
- If available, include the email address used to set up your Roku account “and, if applicable, a copy of your purchase receipt.”
You Can Finally Disable Read Receipts for DMs on Instagram. Here’s How
Instagram said it’s expanding your control over direct messages, including the ability to edit already sent messages and pin important conversations to the top of your DMs. But the new feature I’m most excited about is that you can finally toggle off read receipts — meaning other users won’t know whether you’ve read their messages.
The purpose of read receipts is to let the people you talk to know when you’ve read their messages, and vice versa. But there are haters, including myself, who aren’t big fans of the feature: I don’t always want others to know if I’ve read their message, especially if I’m busy and forget to respond or simply need more time to come up with a reply. For other folks, it sparks anxiety or stress if they know that someone has read their message and not responded.
And so for a plethora of reasons, you too may not be fond of read receipts, and if you aren’t, you can finally disable them on Instagram, thanks to the new updates pushed this week. Here’s how.
For more, check out the feature you need to disable to stop app tracking on your iPhone and how to turn off NameDrop on iOS.
How to disable read receipts on Instagram
Whether you’re on iOS or Android, open the Instagram app and go to your profile, which you can access by tapping the profile icon on the bottom-right of the navigation bar. Once you’re on your profile, hit the three-dash menu and go into Settings and privacy. Next, scroll down and go into Messages and story replies under How others can interact with you. Finally, go into Show read receipts and toggle off Read receipts.
Once it’s toggled off, nobody you send a direct message to on Instagram will be able to see whether or not you’ve read their message. Instead, the message will just show as sent. And it’s also important to note that disabling read receipts for yourself will also disable read receipts on the other end, meaning you won’t know if someone reads a message you send them, which will show simply as sent, even if they’ve read it.
If you want to disable read receipts for only a specific person and not everyone you talk to, go into your DMs, go into a conversation, tap the other person’s name at the top of the chat, hit Privacy & security and toggle off Read receipts.
For more, check out the hidden setting that lets you fix blurry videos on Instagram.
Score a 4-Pack of Apple AirTags for Under $80 at Amazon
Misplacing your keys or losing your wallet can be a hassle, but modern technology has come up with ways to help us keep track of our most essential items, so you’re not scrambling to find what you need as you’re heading out the door. Investing in Apple’s AirTags can help ensure that you need never go hunting around the house last-minute for anything ever again.
AirTags are some of our favorite item trackers and now you can pick up a pack of four for just $79. That’s $20 off the usual $99 asking price and just $4 more than the all-time lowest price we’ve seen for the set. There are no coupons or discount codes, but we don’t know how long we should expect this deal to last, which means placing an order sooner rather than later is the best way to go.
Apple’s AirTag trackers work seamlessly with your iPhone and the Find My app, with a simple one-tap pairing process. You can then throw a tracker into a pocket as it is, or grab an AirTag accessory to clip them to keys, hook them onto a bag, stick them to your bike or attach them to anything else you want to keep tabs on.
Once set up, the AirTags will show up in the Find My app and display your items on a map so you can easily find them. If an item is in your vicinity, you can use the app to play a sound on the AirTag’s tiny speaker to help you find it and use the Precision Finding feature to be guided to your lost possession. This is handy if you’re just looking for your keys or wallet around the house, for example. If you lose an item farther afield, you can put it in Lost Mode, which will then ping you if the AirTag is detected on the Find My network and allow you to add a message and include your phone number or email address.
Read more: Got Apple AirTags? 5 Unexpected Places to Put Them
Each AirTag is powered by a CR2032 coin battery, four of which are included with your purchase. The batteries last around a year before you need to replace them. AirTags are IP67 water- and dust-resistant too, so you don’t have to worry about them getting damaged if exposed to the elements.
For more savings on top-rated Apple products, check out our roundups of Apple Watch deals, MacBook deals and iPhone deals currently available.
A Record $12.5 Billion Lost to Internet Crime in 2023
American consumers and businesses lost a record $12.5 billion to internet crimes in 2023, according to an annual report from the FBI.
Last year’s loss total marks a 22% jump from 2022. Meanwhile, the number of complaints covered in the 2023 Internet Crime Report rose nearly 10% to more than 880,000. In the report, the FBI stressed that the numbers are probably on the low side, given that many internet crimes still go unreported.
Investment scams again accounted for the largest percentage of internet crime last year, with related losses jumping 38% to $4.57 billion. And the majority of the losses from those scams — which ask for an up-front investment with the promise of big returns that never actually materialize — involved cryptocurrency, the FBI said. Crypto-related investment scam losses jumped 53% $3.94 billion in 2023.
Business-email compromise crimes, where criminals usually compromise a legitimate business account, then use it to trick people into handing over money or information, ranked second again last year with reported losses of $2.9 billion.
Losses from tech support scams, where targets are often duped into believing that their computer is full of malware or that their antivirus or other software licenses have expired, rose 15% to nearly $1 billion, while reported losses related to ransomware complaints jumped 74% to $59.6 million.
How to Watch the 2024 Oscars Without Cable
Sunday’s Oscars ceremony will bring out people passionate about the films of 2023, whether they’re big fans of Barbie, can’t stop thinking about Anatomy of a Fall, or insist that movies don’t get any better than Oppenheimer.
Hosted for a fourth time by Jimmy Kimmel, the Oscars will honor flicks like Christopher Nolan’s film about J. Robert Oppenheimer, which collected the most nominations out of the bunch — 13. The next most-nominated flick is Yorgos Lanthimos’ dark comedy Poor Things, with 11 nods, followed by Martin Scorsese’s epic drama Killers of the Flower Moon, with 10.
The 96th Academy Awards will feature musical performances for each of the five nominees for best original song, including the Ryan Gosling-sung power ballad I’m Just Ken. In other Barbie-related news, there’s a nearly-five-minute-long Oscars promo you can watch right now that features Kimmel and members of the Barbie cast.
Stay tuned for how to watch the Oscars, whether or not you have cable. If you want to watch and stream the nominated flicks, here’s a roundup for that.
How to watch the Oscars
The 96th Academy Awards will air on ABC on Sunday, March 10, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
You Can Grab Microsoft Office Pro for Just $56 Right Now
It’s difficult to really get work done these days without using the Microsoft Office suite of apps, but Microsoft software can be so expensive that some might resort to doing a monthly subscription instead. Thankfully, there are other ways to get your hands on Microsoft Office without a monthly subscription if you know where to look. And right now, you need look no further.
StackSocial is offering a massive discount that knocks Microsoft’s Office Professional 2021 price down to just $56, so long as you remember to enter the discount code ENJOY20 when checking out. Keep in mind that we don’t know how long this offer will last, so we recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later.
It’s also important to note that this deal is for the Windows version, so those who live in the Apple world will need to look elsewhere. And if this deal is still more costly than what you’d like to pay, you could always grab the Office Pro Plus 2019 version instead.
StackSocial’s deal is a great bargain when compared with the online Microsoft 365 subscription suite, which starts at $7 a month or $70 a year for individuals. There’s a free online version of Microsoft Office that you can use as well, but it isn’t nearly as feature-complete. (Separately — and notably — Apple users should be aware that Outlook is now a free app for the Mac.)
Now, a deal this good comes with some caveats. First, the code provided can be used one time for a single computer, so you won’t be able to install it on multiple machines in your home, and if your current computer happens to die, you could run into a snag when trying to transfer it. Likewise, you’re passing up on other benefits you’d get as a 365 subscriber. You won’t get any OneDrive Cloud Storage, nor will you get the fancy new cloud-based AI features like Microsoft Copilot. While the apps should continue to work as long as your computer does, Microsoft’s support for this version of Office ends on Oct. 13, 2026.
To that last point: Though this is listed as a “lifetime license” — that is, the lifetime of the computer you installed it on — it’s worth noting there’s always a risk that Microsoft could terminate the license. Versions of StackSocial’s deal have been running for more than a year; the one we bought in early 2022, for instance, still works fine.
Sling TV Adds Free Video Games for All Users
Sling TV, the live TV streaming service, announced the launch of 10 free video games for Amazon Fire TV and Android TV. The company introduced Sling Arcade on Wednesday, sharing in a press release that the gaming experience is for all customers with Sling Freestream or a paid Sling subscription.
Simply open the app, choose a game and use your remote control to play games, including Tetris, Centipede, Solitaire Clash, Neon Rider, Wheel of Fortune, Sweet Sugar or Pixel Dash. Though you can enjoy gameplay on full screen, one of Arcade’s features is the option to play picture-in-picture while watching something else. Sling plans to add more supported devices and bulk up its game lineup in the coming months. You can look out for new releases ahead of major television events.
Sling TV offers multiple options for live TV streaming, including its free platform, Sling Freestream, and three paid tiers. Sling Orange and Sling Blue start at $40 per month, and Sling Orange & Blue costs $60 a month.
Sling isn’t the first streaming service to fold video game access into its app. Netflix first launched its slate of mobile games in 2021, and has grown its suite to more than 70 titles. For now, you can only play on mobile iOS or Android devices, but the streamer has been testing out gameplay on TVs, PCs and Macs. Selections include branded releases tied to Netflix original shows such as Stranger Things, and licensed franchise titles like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.