There’s never been more choice when it comes to the ever-expanding world of true wireless earbuds, whether you want immersive noise cancellation for a noisy flight or something secure and durable for working out. But the sheer amount of options out there can be overwhelming, which is why we’re constantly testing the latest earbuds — from top-end Apple and Sony sets to a plethora of budget contenders — to help you make the right choice.
After months of extensive listening at home, in the gym and up in the skies, here are the five models that stand out the most to us.
The best true wireless earbuds overall: Sony WF-1000XM5
The best true wireless earbuds overall
The Sony WF-1000XM5 are a masterpiece that package intelligibly powerful ANC, superior sound and tons of features into one of the most attractive true wireless designs ever created.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 improve on everything that made the XM4 one of our top earbud picks, offering a combination of best-in-class noise cancellation, great sound quality, long battery life and plentiful features, including tight system integration with Android devices and solid iOS support that its premium rivals can’t quite match.
Few sets of earbuds are as feature-loaded as the XM5, which tout a bunch of fancy technologies to make bad recordings sound good (DSEE upscaling) and high-resolution tracks play at their best (LDAC codec support). It’s all tied together by the excellent Headphones Connect app, which works equally well on iOS and Android and offers multiple levels of equalizer and ANC customization so you can hear exactly what you want — and block out what you don’t. We found Sony’s buds to sound great for all genres of music out of the box, but we also appreciate the sheer amount of personalization on offer here.
The XM5’s noise cancellation is likewise some of the best we’ve tested, handily silencing common annoyances like loud construction, noisy trains and chatty shoppers at a supermarket. We consider it right on par with that of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 (our current noise-canceling pick), which is to say it’s excellent. When we needed to keep tabs on our surroundings during walks, the buds’ Ambient Sound mode was just as reliable as its suppressive ANC.
We’ve long been critical of how big and bulky Sony’s flagship earbuds are, something that was finally rectified with the slick-looking XM4 model. The XM5 (which come in white and black) simply improve on that foundation, making both the earbuds and the case even thinner, lighter and more comfortable. The WF-1000XM5 uphold Sony’s reputation for reliable battery life, promising up to 10 hours of endurance from the buds alone and up to 36 with the charging case. Those claims held up well in our testing — and beat out top rivals like the AirPods Pro 2 by a notable margin.
We do have some minor gripes with the XM5; Sony cut the convenient tap-to-pair NFC feature that we loved on older models, and its 360 Reality Audio isn’t as intuitive as the immersive spatial audio you get on Apple’s buds. Sony also bumped the price of the XM5 up to $300 — that brings them in line with the Bose QuietComfort 2, but also makes them much more expensive than the AirPods Pro 2 that you can almost always find for $200 these days. But if you’re not deep in the Apple world and you’re willing to splurge on the best sound, features and battery life in a pair of earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM5 are worth the premium.
Other true wireless earbuds we recommend
The best true wireless earbuds for Apple users
The AirPods Pro 2 are as good as it gets for Apple users, offering some of the best sound, controls and active noise cancellation you can find in a pair of buds.
Read our review
The best true wireless earbuds for Android users
The $199 Sony LinkBuds S offer excellent sound, strong noise cancellation and Sony’s actually smart Adaptive Sound Control to tailor performance to your surroundings. The LinkBuds S are a good buy for Android users, with support for LDAC high-res audio, and they work well with iOS too.
Read our review
The best true wireless noise-canceling earbuds
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds 2 offer the best noise cancellation you can get in earbuds, along with great sound, so if you're looking to tune out the world around you for travel, office or home without resorting to a big over-ear headphone, this is the way to go.
Read our review
The best true wireless earbuds for working out
The Beats Fit Pro are our favorite workout earbuds thanks to their secure, sweat-resistant design, AirPods Pro-level feature set and smooth compatibility with both Android and Apple devices.
Read our review
The best budget true-wireless earbuds
For those not looking to spend a ton, the EarFun Air rival the AirPods Pro on sound quality in the right environment and have a reliable microphone for taking important work calls.
Read our review
How we tested
We test every pair of wireless earbuds primarily by using them the same way an everyday consumer would. That includes using them as our main headphones for roughly a week, which gives us a sense of how well they hold up for our usual playlists and podcasts — as well as personal and work calls — in all sorts of environments that range from our home office to a crowded subway train.
When testing any pair of earbuds, we compare them against similarly priced competitors (AirPods Pro vs. the latest high-end Sony buds, for example) and note how they stack up in key metrics such as sound quality, active noise cancellation and battery life. We also factor in how well a pair of earbuds work on both iOS and Android (many buds favor one over the other) as well as important day-to-day usability things like comfort, controls and how convenient — and pocketable — the charging case is.
Other true wireless earbuds we tested
Beats Studio Buds Plus
$170 From $130 at Amazon
The Beats Studio Buds Plus offer very good sound quality and ANC as well as a standout transparent color option, and they’re one of the few Apple-made buds that work equally well across iOS and Android. At their discounted price, they make for a strong AirPods Pro alternative — particularly for non-iPhone folks — but they’re held back by a lack of wireless charging and many of the other marquee features you’ll find on Apple’s premium buds.
JBL Tour Pro 2
$250 at JBL
You certainly won’t find many pairs of earbuds like the JBL Tour Pro 2, which pack a full LCD screen right on the case for doing things like changing sound profiles and checking battery life on the fly. They’re a fun throwback to the iPod days that make it easier to keep your phone in your pocket, and their great sound quality and ANC prove they’re more than just a gimmick. It’s tough to choose these over the sleeker AirPods Pro 2 or Sony WF-1000XM5 in the $250-and-up price range, but those compelled by the Tour Pro 2’s unique selling point will find plenty to like.
Amazon Echo Buds (2023)
$50 $35 at Amazon
The latest Amazon Echo Buds offer surprisingly good sound and comfort for $35, and their seamless Alexa integration is great for folks who are deep into the Amazon ecosystem. However, competing budget buds like the EarFun Air Pro 3 get you much more — including active noise cancellation — for a similar price.
Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro
$170 $80 at Amazon
The Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro are Hi-Res certified and support the LDAC standard, making them a worthy consideration for folks who use high-resolution music services such as Tidal and Qobuz. They’re also competitively priced. However, we didn’t get the best battery life from these buds, and we think the Sony WF-1000XM4 are a better high-end option thanks to their superb noise cancellation.
Anker Soundcore Life P2
Currently unavailable at Amazon
We generally love Anker products and really wanted to recommend this pair of affordable earbuds, but after hours of testing, we simply couldn’t in good conscience. The Soundcore Life 2 earbuds fell just a bit short in all of the most important categories. The sound quality isn’t exactly bad and it was generally well-balanced with decent range.
When you compare them to other earbuds in the category, though, they just weren’t quality enough to stack up against some of the best in the category, namely the Earfun Air. With only two microphones dedicated to noise canceling and 6 hours of battery life, we found that they fell just short of earning an enthusiastic recommendation. They’re good earbuds for the price, but they fell short of being considered the best.
Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation)
$250 at Target
The first generation AirPods Pro had a long reign as our top earbuds pick for Apple users, thanks to their great sound, noise cancellation and seamless connectivity with iPhones, iPads and Macs. But the newer Beats Fit Pro do all of that with a sportier design and more comfortable and secure fit, and the 2nd generation AirPods Pro add useful touch controls and improve on the sound quality and case design.
Apple AirPods (3rd generation)
$169 (with Lightning case) or $179 (with Magsafe case) at Apple
The AirPods 3 — Apple’s take on a traditional earbud without a foam or silicone tip — are a nice improvement over the previous-gen model, delivering better sound quality and borrowing some AirPods Pro features including Spatial Audio and Adaptive EQ. They also deliver six hours of listening playback, which is pretty strong over any other AirPods model. You can get them with a wired charging case, or wireless for another $10. But unless you really don’t like an earbud that seals, whether for situational awareness or comfort reason, we’d recommend springing for the Beats Fit Pro or snagging the AirPods Pro on sale.
Beats Powerbeats Pro
$250 From $160 at Amazon
The Powerbeats Pro enjoyed a long reign as our favorite workout earbuds, largely thanks to their comfortable earhook design that kept them secure in our ears during intensive exercise. They also sound fantastic, with the satisfying bass you expect from Beats, and pair effortlessly to Apple devices. The Powerbeats Pro are still a good buy if you prefer workout buds that wrap around your ears, but we think the smaller Beats Fit Pro offer better control and are just as secure (and even more comfortable) for both workout and everyday use.
Beats Studio Buds
$150 From $80 at Amazon
The Beats Studio Buds were once our top pick for comfort, thanks to a low profile design that we enjoyed wearing for hours on end. They’re also built to fast-pair to both iOS and Android devices, which is a unique perk for a pair of Apple-made buds. There’s a lot to like here for the price, but the Beats Fit Pro offer even better comfort and features for those willing to pay up.
Belkin SoundForm Freedom True Wireless
$120 From $27 at Amazon
The Belkin SoundForm Freedom True are among the few third-party earbuds that support Apple’s Find My app for tracking down your lost buds. They sound good and have good battery life. But they’re an older model, don’t pair as smoothly to iPhones as Apple’s own earbuds, and Android users are better off with a host of other newer options.
Bose Sport Open Earbuds
Currently unavailable at Bose
The Bose Sport Open Earbuds are the most unique workout earbuds we’ve tested, with an open design that pumps out quality audio while leaving your actual ears free to better hear your surroundings while you’re out on a run. While the Sport Open Earbuds deliver big for their very specific audience — people who want exercise buds that don’t actually go in your ears — their rigid design and lack of a charging case makes them a tough sell for most folks.
Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2
$399 From $328 at Amazon; $399 $329 at Bowers & Wilkins
This latest update to the audiophile brand’s flagship earbud looks great, fits comfortably and sounds fantastic, with deep bass, smooth mids, and plenty of high end clarity — subtle sound quality improvements to its already high-performance predecessor. It supports the highest-quality aptX Bluetooth support if you’re using an Android mobile or Windows machine, and a cool travel-friendly case doubles as a transmitter if you need to interface with older gear — like a plane’s in-flight entertainment system. Given the price, however, it isn’t for everyone so we’d suggest it mostly for discerning audiophiles on the go.
Denon Perl Pro
$349 at Amazon
Denon’s flagship true wireless earbuds pack a ton of under-the-hood smarts, with Apple-style fit testing, multipoint support, aptX support for high resolution Bluetooth audio, custom EQ tailored for the user and an app that gives you simple to use fine control of almost every feature from transparency mode levels to touch control options. It’s a compelling package, and they sound very good out of the box. That said, repeatedly running the custom EQ didn’t get us better sound than the flat setting, noise canceling was about on par with other flagships and they are bulky by comparison. Unless you really want specific support for aptX in a high-end earbud or enjoy the extra configuration options, we’d suggest saving $100 and going for the AirPods Pro or Sony WF-1000XM5.
EarFun Air Pro
Currently unavailable at Amazon
You would think that the Earfun Air Pro buds would be better than their predecessors because they have “Pro” in the name — but you’d be wrong. They do technically have some better capabilities such as active noise canceling, three microphones per earpiece instead of just two, and a new 10mm driver, all of which is supposed to provide better sound quality than the original Earfun Air models. They also have the same level of battery life and generally the same sound. Heck, we can barely tell the difference between the two.
When it comes down to it, though, the original Earfun Air edges out this model in terms of sound, waterproofing and wireless charging to boot. You won’t be upset if you buy the Earfun Air Pro earbuds — they are some of the best available for this price — but we think you’ll feel slightly happier jamming out to the EarFun Air.
EarFun Free Earbuds
$39 From $30 at Amazon
Not all EarFun earbuds are created equal. The Earfun Free has decent sound quality and a reasonable 6 hours of battery life with 24 extra hours available in the charging case. But we found that sound quality and comfort were not as nice as the higher priced counterparts.
All of the Earfun earbuds we tested consistently ranked among some of our favorite budget earbuds, but we think the slight improvement in sound quality and comfort in the other models mean you should choose the EarFun Air instead.
Edifier NeoBuds Pro 2
$130 at Amazon
The updated version of Edifier’s budget-minded full-featured NeoBuds design, the Pro 2 offers solid performance in a lightweight, comfortable package — it’s what you’d expect from Edifier. Noise canceling is effective if not quite on par with flagships from Sony, Bose or Apple, while the dual drivers (a dynamic driver for low frequencies paired with a balanced armature unit for highs) give you good sound quality. They support high-quality formats including LDAC and AAC and even Apple-style head tracking. For fun, you can even change the color of the charging LED on the case. The app is a little clunky, and the build quality plasticky, but if you’re looking for high end features — especially high-res audio format support — at a relatively low price they are worth a listen. Otherwise you can spend a bit less and still get great standard features from EarFun, or a bit more and step up to a big-brand flagship.
Google Pixel Buds A-Series
$100 at Best Buy
The Google Pixel Buds A-Series hold their own against the more expensive AirPods and Galaxy Buds 2 in terms of sound quality, comfort and battery life, all within an attractive and low-profile design. They also have some very useful Google Assistant controls, which allow you to do everything from play a specific song to translate an entire sentence using your voice alone.
Unfortunately, those Assistant tricks are exclusive to Android users, as there’s no Pixel Buds app for the iPhone — they’re just another pair of generic Bluetooth headphones so far as the iPhone can tell. It’s also worth noting that the Pixel Buds A-Series’ charging case — which comes in white across all models — is highly susceptible to smudges and scuffs. Its highly magnetic design also got stuck to other metal objects in our pockets, causing the buds to accidentally slip out on more than one occasion. But if the case isn’t a deal breaker for you, the $100 Buds A are about as good as you can get at this price if you’re on Android.
Jabra Elite 4
$100 $70 at Jabra
TheJabra Elite 4are some of the best sub-$100 earbuds we’ve tested, offering excellent sound, comfort and noise canceling for the price. However, unless style is your priority, we think the cheaper and more feature-packed EarFun Air Pro 3 is the better budget pick for most people.
Jabra Elite 4 Active
$120 From $65 at Amazon; $120 $80 at Best Buy
The Jabra Elite 4 Active are one of many good workout earbuds Jabra offers, with excellent sound, a great fit and solid active noise cancellation and a useful HearThrough ambient mode for amplifying your surroundings. We still prefer the overall performance and simpler controls of the Jabra Elite Active 75t, but the Elite 4 Active are worth considering if you’re on a budget or prefer the design.
Jabra Elite 7 Pro
From $61 at Amazon
The Jabra Elite 7 Pro earbuds deliver strong sound quality, decent active noise cancellation and reliable physical controls. At their current discounted price they are a good value, but we much prefer the Jabra Elite 85t or Jabra Elite Active 75t, which offers better ANC in addition to the same basic features.
Jabra Elite Active 75t
$200 $159 at Amazon
The Jabra Elite Active 75t — our former pick as the best workout earbuds (we now recommend our overall favorites, the Beats Fit Pro, for that application) — are secure, comfortable and durable enough for high-intensity training and have enough battery life to get you through a long day at the gym. They aren’t quite as good as the Beats across the board, but they’re a very capable pair or true wireless headphones that come in a bit cheaper than the Beats and are a great choice if you like the Jabra look and feel.
Jabra Elite 85t
From $100 at Amazon
The Jabra Elite 85t offers good overall sound and tons of customization via Jabra’s excellent Sound+ app, including 11 levels of active noise cancellation. However, the Elite 85t’s design is a little bulky for our liking, and its semi-open design (which is great for situational awareness while exercising outdoors) makes its ANC less pronounced than on Elite Active 75t.
JLab JBuds Air ANC True Wireless
$70 at Target
You’re not going to find anything groundbreaking in these ‘buds, but for most people, that’s probably just fine. The sound quality is middle of the road out of the box, with an active bass boost option and decent EQ modes when you click a button on the earbuds.
The battery life is also weak at just three hours — but, on the bright side, they offer good sound isolation from the wind and are rated at IP55 for dust- and water-resistance, which make them a solid choice as budget workout earphones.
Microsoft Surface Earbuds
$200 at Amazon
The Surface Earbuds performed well in our testing and real-world usage. You’ll get stable connectivity, a unique circular disc-like design, and eight hours of battery life. But for $200, you’re going to be left wanting more, especially when you compare them with our top picks. Microsoft super fans who use the 365 suite daily will be impressed by dictation and other integrated features.
Nothing Ear (2)
$149 at Amazon
TheNothing Ear (2)are seriously impressive for the price, and have a slick translucent design that’s unlike that of any earbuds we’ve tested. For $149, you’re getting great audio quality, dependable noise cancellation and a robust companion app. However, its battery life is well behind the competition and its iOS support is lacking, making these earbuds best suited for Android users who want something a little outside the norm.
OnePlus Buds Z2
$100 $70 at Amazon
The OnePlus Buds Z2 offer a lot for under $100, including impressive active noise cancellation, an IPX4 waterproof case and a robust companion app with lots of sound customization features. However, we found its audio quality and battery life to be just OK, and many of its key features are limited to those with OnePlus phones.
Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds (2021)
$130 at Razer
If you really want wireless earbuds that have RGB lighting, the Razer Hammerhead are about the only game in town. These earbuds offer decent sound quality and battery life for the price, but we found the controls to be finicky, and the audio to be not quite on par with our favorites from Apple, Sony, Samsung and others.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
From $72 (Renewed) at Amazon
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro offer up a ton of great software features that let Android users fine-tune the audio and customize the controls on their Samsung devices, and deliver some very solid noise cancellation.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
$110 at Samsung
While the company has since introduced newer versions of the Galaxy Buds, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 are among the best-looking and most comfortable buds we’ve tested, have strong battery life and offer good sound quality. We found the touch controls overly sensitive in our testing, however, and the noise-cancellation can’t compete with newer models. While they’re worth considering still at their heavily discounted price if you’re an Android user on a budget, overall we think you can do better for your money.
Samsung Galaxy Buds+
From $123 at Amazon
If you want a pair of true wireless earbuds that won’t break the bank, Samsung has you covered with the Galaxy Buds+. These lasted 11 hours on one charge — that’s six more hours than AirPods Pro and two more hours than Powerbeats Pro. That long runtime is paired with an equalizer in the companion app for iOS or Android, so you can up the bass or increase high tones as you see fit, which means you’ll get good sound quality that holds its own against more expensive options.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live
$150 $98 at Amazon
The Galaxy Buds Live were a former recommendation for the most comfortable earbuds, and they still largely live up our original assessment, with a unique bean-shaped design that’s ergonomic and easy to forget about during long hours of listening to music and podcasts. However, newer models are more comfortable and sound better, and noise-canceling technology has improved markedly. We suggest looking at the superior Galaxy Buds Pro, but the Buds Live are worth considering if you’re on a tighter budget.
Skullcandy Dime 2
$30 From $22 at Amazon
If you’re looking to spend as little as possible for a pair of wireless earbuds, theSkullcandy Dime 2are surprisingly good for less than $30. These buds have a comfortable design, plenty of color options, decent audio for the price and even feature Tile tracking support — something you won’t find on much more expensive options. We still think the EarFun Air are the better budget option for folks willing to spend closer to $50, but the Dime 2 are a great choice if you’re on an extra tight budget.
SkullCandy Sesh True Wireless
From $34 at Amazon
Unfortunately, the Skullcandy Sesh True Wireless earbuds were a disappointment. The sound was fine — not terrible — but lacked bass on some of our favorite dance and disco songs. The highs were also a little too overwhelming, creating an overall lack of balance in sound quality. Poor battery life and poor call quality make matters worse, and though sometimes you can justify lack of performance when a headphone looks cool (an area where Skullcandy typically excels), these earbuds are small and unobtrusive, and far from a fashion statement.
Sony WF-1000XM4 Earbuds
From $148 at Amazon
Sony’s WF-1000XM4 buds block out noise in a way that few other earbuds can match — only bested by the new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2. They sound great as well, with Sony’s typical well-balanced sound. A nicely designed, easy-to-use mobile app lets you fine tune ANC performance, EQ and more to let you tailor the sound to your personal taste.
Sony WF-1000XM3 Earbuds
From $85 at Amazon
A former top pick among true wireless headphones, the Sony WF-1000XM3s are still available, but newer designs are better. The XM3s are large and heavy compared to newer earbuds like our current recommendations, That said, the sound quality is still good, with a wide soundstage and an app for customization.
Technics EAH-AZ60M2
$250 $173 at B+H
The Technics EAH-AZ60M2 is an impressive set of audiophile-friendly true-wireless earbuds. They have great sound quality with support for high-resolution audio, nicely implemented three-device multipoint pairing (most competitors offer two point), a well-designed app and reasonable battery life, all of which impressed us during our testing of the EAH-AZ60M2s. Still, in this price range, mainstream offerings are more compelling for the majority of buyers, mostly for OS integration and better noise canceling, and audiophiles into what Technics have to offer may want to step up to the EAH-AZ80 for better bass for about $50 to $100 more.
Technics EAH-AZ80
$300 $253 at Amazon
The EAH-AZ80, Technics’ flagship true-wireless in-ear headphones, have a bigger driver (10mm) than the EAH-AZ60M2, have fantastic sound quality with even better bass extension and solidity and plenty of detail and spaciousness, plus quite good noise-canceling, and — like their slightly cheaper siblings — they can pair with three devices at once for easy multipoint switching. There’s even a well-laid-out app that lets you fine-tune effectively, set up LDAC support on Android and Sony devices if you’re into high-res and has basically all the high-end features you might want. It’s a great choice for audiophiles and likely worth the slight premium over the AZ60M2. That said, at this price, it’s really hard to beat the great sound, noise cancellation and — most importantly — tight OS integration offered by mainstream flagships like Apple’s AirPods Pro, which the vast majority of Apple users are going to find more satisfying in day-to-day use, or the impressive noise cancellation and all-around feature set of Sony’s WF-1000MX5 for everyone else.
UE Drops
Currently unavailable at Ultimate Ears
The latest from the custom-headphone specialists at Ultimate Ears, UE Drops take most of the annoyance out of the process of getting a custom fit by letting you take your own ear impressions at home. The procedure is simple and quick, and the results are impressive. Our test pair sounds great, fits comfortably and securely, and delivers a lot of the modern earbud features you know and love. There’s no ANC, though, and limited app features, so while the Drops are cheaper than most custom models, given how good today’s flagship true wireless models from Apple and Sony are, most potential buyer will find these too pricey.
