These iClever Q950s might be the best kid headphones I’ve ever tried

Headphones that are specifically labeled for children tend to feature a ton of drawbacks, especially when it comes to sound quality. That said, why we recommend specific kid headphones is because most of the ones we test feature volume limiters designed to protect little ears from future hearing damage or loss.

With that in mind, the iClever Q950 might be the best kid headphones I’ve ever tested. They’re comfortable and sound amazing for kids’ cans. No, they won’t replace the best headphones for adults, but a kid won’t complain, and even most grown-ups will enjoy listening to this set. Read my full iClever Q950 review to find out why.

iClever Q950 review: Specs

iClever Q950 review: Price & availability

The iClever Q950 cost $69 at Amazon, but we’ve seen them a bit lower at $59 during sales events. Even at full price, these are pretty good value for money.

The Q950 competes with other iClever offerings like its colorful Auraa headphones ($39) and the Puro Sound Lab BT2200s ($99) or the extremely low-cost $20 JBL Junior 320s. I don’t think you’d go wrong with the other options, especially if you’re trying to save a buck, but personally, I’d recommend the Q950 as the middle ground. Plus, they sound better than the other offerings.

iClever Q950 review: Design

Compared to most kid headphones, the iClever Q950 look more sophisticated while also clearly being made for children.

Compared to the usual grays, blacks and whites that make up adult headphones, the Q950 are quite colorful but not quite as garish as they could be. Largely that has to do with the bright blue or purple hues. The holders have a pleasant metallic sheen.

Outside of colors, these are pretty durable headphones; I performed a couple of drop tests and twisted the headphones around a few times and never felt afraid that I was about to break them, though I’m sure an enterprising tot could destroy them.

They’re over-ear headphones with extendable ears that fold in, but can also turn out to lay flat if you want. They won’t disappear, but it gives you some flexibility, especially when trying to store them in a backpack. For extra protection, the Q950 does come with a bulky carry case that can hold charging wires and the 3.5mm wire. The case isn’t as bag-friendly, but you can stuff some Pokémon cards in there if you want.

Comfort

With comfort in mind, one of my personal bugaboos with over-ear headphones is the headband. If I notice the band during a listening session, it becomes grating. I never noticed it with the Q950, which is one of the highest compliments I can pay.

Despite my adult ears, the ear cups didn’t squish them, and they fully cover a kid's ears, meaning there isn’t sound leakage. I was able to wear the iClever headphones for a full workday without noticing them.

At 9.9 ounces (238 grams), these are some of the heaviest kid headphones I’ve tested. As an adult, I didn’t find the weight uncomfortable, but while 8 or 9 ounces isn’t much for grown-ups, it does add up for your kid.

My son tried the headphones, and he didn’t find them uncomfortable, but he has complimented lighter headphones like the JBL Junior 320 when we’ve had them before. In comparison, those headphones only weigh 4 ounces, less than half the weight of the Q950.

Connectivity

The iClever Q950 comes with both wired and Bluetooth connectivity. I’m a big proponent of 3.5mm wired connections when they’re available. These headphones come with a 3.5mm wire that sends the audio pretty cleanly. I can’t tell how they’ll hold up in the long run but for now it seems pretty sturdy.

Q950 features Bluetooth version 6.0; the most recent version which offers better connection stability and reduced power consumption. This is a huge get for headphones meant for kids. Not every headset has this version, including major releases from this year, like Apple’s AirPods Max 2, which still use version 5.3.

I was able to cleanly connect to an iPad mini and my Galaxy S26 Ultra with no noticeable dips or drops. That’s all you need, especially if you’re on a road trip and using movies on the tablet to distract.

iClever Q950 review: Sound quality

As mentioned up top, the Q950 headphones might be the best-sounding kids headphones that I’ve tested to date. Now with that praise, if you’re dropping down from a high-end set like the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 or the Sony WH-1000XM6, then you’ll notice a huge difference.

But compared to other kid headphones, the Q950 have an open, warm sound. The trebles and mids are clean without losing depth, meaning you should hear what the music is meant to sound like. Conversations in podcasts have a warmth that I found pleasant.

The bass is surprisingly punchy. No, you won’t mistake these cans for a set of Bowers drivers. But as someone who grew up on a steady diet of Paul Oakenfold passed through terrible headphones and winMX, the Q950 are pretty decent.

It’s honestly surprising how good these sound. I doubt it’ll turn your kid into an audiophile straight away, but they’ll be able to appreciate what they’re hearing, especially as they start playing their own music.

iClever Q950 review: ANC

Unfortunately, there is one big flaw you should know. Most kid headphones now feature active noise cancelling, which is marketed as a way to keep your kids from turning the sound up when outside noises get too loud. The Q950 does feature an 80 dB volume cap, which is good. However, I found that the ANC actively made the sound worse, flattening it or making it feel too quiet. It’s a surprising flaw for such a prominent feature.

As an example, I was listening to a podcast and decided to try out ANC while my partner was in a meeting. Tapping the button suddenly felt like I’d been sucked into an aural void, and I thought I’d accidentally hit a half-mute button I didn’t know existed. Music felt similarly pillowed.

Normally when I use ANC, like on the JBL Tour One M3, it just deadens outside noise. I don’t think I’ve ever felt the feature fundamentally change the sound of what I was actively hearing. It’s not necessary to use ANC, but if you or your child is bothered by too much outside stimulation, this is a significant drawback to the Q950.

iClever Q950 review: What the kids are saying?

My son tried out the Q950 over a couple different sessions with an iPad mini, once on a road trip and once at home. He liked that the headphones were comfortable, though he initially thought they were the iClever Auraas, and at first glance they do look similar.

He didn’t have much to say about the sound, though he said he liked it. He doesn’t really care about ANC, but he did say he never had to turn up the audio even despite a nagging little sister.

iClever Q950 review: Verdict

The bar can be pretty low for kid headphones when it comes to audio quality and iClever Q950 clears that bar with flying colors. Honestly, you could buy a set for yourself, and I don’t know that you’d be disappointed.

The weight and ANC are potential problems, but if your child isn’t bothered by headphone weight and doesn’t use ANC, these are good headphones. Plus, at $69, they won’t break the bank, making them one of the best pairs of kid headphones you can buy.