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Whether you have a phone with no audio jack or prefer the freedom of going wireless, picking the most suitable wireless earbuds is a matter of preference. If you’re looking for earphones to use at the office, noise isolation and battery life might be your top priorities; if you need in-ears for the gym, you’ll probably care more about fit and durability. There are specialized models to fit virtually every need; some are even versatile enough to keep up whether you’re running a marathon or sitting on the bus. With so many different models to choose from, where do you start?
Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless – Best Wireless Earbuds
The best wireless earbuds we’ve tested are the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless. These earbuds boast a new design and improved sound compared to their predecessor, the Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless. They have a smaller and more rounded shape, along with memory foam ear tips that help passively block out background noise. There’s also an ANC feature on hand, though you may not notice much difference with it on or off because these ear tips do such a good job passively isolating you from ambient sound. Either way, they’re a great way to focus on your tunes within noisy environments. They support Google Fast Pair, so they’re a good choice for Android users, and you can pair these buds with up to two devices at a time, which is handy if you want to stay connected to your PC and smartphone simultaneously.
The similarly priced Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless go toe-to-toe with the Sony buds in most regards, including noise cancelling. The Sony headphones do a better job blocking out treble-range sounds like an A/C hum, but the Bose fare slightly better in our real-world tests. If you consume a lot of videos, the Bose buds have a lower latency using the aptX Adaptive (low latency) codec, so you’ll encounter fewer lip-sync issues. That said, the Sony headphones deliver audio more consistently, and their mic rejects environmental noise a bit better than the Bose, so the person you’re talking to will hear you better if you’re in a busy area.
Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 True Wireless – Best Upper Mid-Range Wireless Earbuds
If you’re looking for the best wireless earbuds that are more affordable than our top pick, the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 True Wireless are great. They have superb noise isolation that does a great job blocking everything from the rumble of train engines to the high-pitched whine of a nearby A/C unit. With their ANC on, they have a continuous runtime of almost eight hours, and they’ve got a further three charges in their carrying case. Out of the box, the Jabra headphones have a mostly neutral sound profile that represents audio naturally. Vocals sound present and detailed without any honk, and kick drums are thumpy and exciting. Some users might find sibilants and cymbals a little piercing, especially compared to the relatively smooth top end of the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless. However, you can tweak their sound using their great companion app’s graphic EQ and presets.
Unfortunately, the Jabra headphones don’t support low-latency audio codecs like aptX Adaptive (low latency); if you watch a lot of videos, you might prefer the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4, as you can reduce lip-sync issues when using this codec. On the other hand, the Sennheiser headphones don’t have as good of a microphone or noise isolation as the Jabra, nor do they have any spatial audio features to match the Jabra’s Dolby Spatial Sound.
Nothing Ear Truly Wireless – Best Mid-Range Wireless Earbuds
The Nothing Ear Truly Wireless are the best pair of Bluetooth earbuds that we’ve tested at a mid-range price point. Out of the box, they have a well-balanced, neutral sound profile that suits a variety of audio, and you can use the Nothing X app to tweak up to an eight-band EQ to suit your tastes. These buds have a solid 7.5-hour battery life with another 3.7 charges in their case, though they don’t last as long as the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 True Wireless without charging. Their ANC isn’t as effective as the Jabra headphones’, but this feature does a decent job of reducing external noise to keep listeners isolated from the outside world.
These earbuds have excellent connectivity, supporting multi-device pairing and Google Fast Pair. They also work with LDAC for high-quality streaming of lossless audio. While the Nothing Ears don’t come with a spatial audio feature like Jabra’s Dolby Spatial Sound, they bring their own flair with ChatGPT integration and a Find My Earbuds function. The Nothing X app allows you to access ChatGPT’s conversation mode with earbud controls to receive answers to your questions on the fly. If you want a similarly flat sound profile with better noise cancelling and access to spatial audio, the Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless are a viable option. However, their microphone performs worse, and they cost a bit more.
Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless – Best Lower Mid-Range Wireless Earbuds
If you’re shopping in the low mid-range market, the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless are the best Bluetooth earbuds we’ve tested. They’re a relatively affordable option with numerous features like ANC and app support. Their noise isolation performance punches above their price, so they can help reduce noise during your commute or at the office. You can also choose different modes to suit different situations, including an adaptive setting to automatically adjust to the amount of noise in your environment. With ANC on, they last about eight hours of continuous use, and their case stores four extra charges. Like the previous pick, they support multi-device pairing, too.
They have a warm default sound profile, with cozy-sounding vocals and lead instruments. Their companion app includes a graphic EQ and presets if you prefer a different sound, but unlike the Nothing Ear Truly Wireless, they don’t come with extra features like ChatGPT integration. They also aren’t the best option for workouts since they don’t have stability fins and aren’t very stable, so they may slip out of place if you move your head around a lot. The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC Truly Wireless are a good alternative if you want similarly performing buds with a slightly different shape. Compared to the Space A40’s rounded look, the Liberty 4 have a more traditional stem design that some users may find preferable. The Liberty 4 also bring a touch more bass, though this muddies their reproduction of vocals and instruments a bit.
JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless – Best Budget Wireless Earbuds
The JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless are the best Bluetooth earbuds in the budget category that we’ve tested. These earbuds are decently comfortable and have a good build quality. With a battery life of just over eight hours, they’ll last the workday without needing a top-up, and their IP54 rating against dust and water exposure makes them well-suited for weekends on the go. Unlike the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, they don’t have an ANC system and won’t cut out the deep rumble from bus and plane engines, though they do a better job at isolating you from office-type noise, like background chit-chat or whiny A/C units.
They have an excited, V-shaped sound profile, but their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you fine-tune their sound. That said, while the integrated mic’s recording quality is decent, it does a sub-par job of separating your voice from background noise. The JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless do a better job in this regard, and their integrated mic has a very good recording quality, which makes them a better fit for taking calls. While they also have a more balanced bass and better controls, their fit isn’t as comfortable or stable as the Vibe Buds, and they have a slightly shorter continuous battery life.
JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless – Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds
The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless are the best cheap Bluetooth earbuds we’ve tested. Thanks to their good build quality and surprisingly long continuous battery life of around nine hours, they’re worth checking out. Their carrying case also holds three additional charges if you need it. They can passively block out a satisfactory amount of ambient noise like office chatter; however, only rely on them if you’re looking to cut down sounds like the rumble of bus engines, as they’re less effective at tackling bass-range noise.
Using the ‘JLab Signature’ EQ, they have a bass-rich sound profile that delivers a bump of extra punch and boom to mixes. The extra bass doesn’t overwhelm vocals and lead instruments, so they’re still versatile enough for most types of audio content. They also don’t come with a companion app, meaning that the only EQ options you have are the three EQ presets built into the earbuds, which gives you significantly less control over the audio than the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless. However, they last longer than the JBL on a single charge.
Nothing Ear (a) Truly Wireless – Best Sounding Wireless Earbuds
The Nothing Ear (a) Truly Wireless are the best buds for sound quality that we’ve tested. They are a great choice for listening to a variety of genres, thanks to their neutral sound. Whether you’re listening to bass-heavy genres like EDM or vocal-centric content like folk, these buds reproduce voices and lead instruments with great clarity and accuracy. If you want to switch up their sound, their app has a simplified graphic EQ and presets. To facilitate your listening experience, these buds are comfortable, come with multiple silicone tips, and have a 5.5-hour battery life. They also have decent ANC and support Sony’s LDAC Bluetooth codec, so you can enjoy high-quality audio.
The close relative of the Nothing Ear (a), the Nothing Ear Truly Wireless sound similar and come with a few more features, including an eight-band EQ and longer battery life, albeit at a steeper price. If you need some extra bass in your buds and you’re willing to sacrifice some comfort and money, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 sound warm out of the box and can be EQ’d even further for that extra thump.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless – Best iOS Wireless Earbuds
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Truly Wireless are the best earbuds for iOS. These earbuds have a premium build and comfortable design similar to other Apple products. They also come with many Apple-exclusive features, like an H2 chip for easy pairing with iOS devices and virtual surround sound via Apple Music to help improve your soundstage experience. They have a well-balanced sound right out of the box. However, their sound customization options are only available on iOS, unlike the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless, which have a companion app that’s fully featured on both Android and iOS. That means they’re not the best choice for users who listen on multiple platforms.
Their ANC feature does a great job of blocking noise in the bass and mid-range. There’s a ‘Transparency’ mode for when you want to hear your surroundings, but otherwise, you can’t adjust the ANC. With ANC on, these earbuds last six hours off a single charge, and their case holds four extra charges, so you can always top it up. If you find the in-ear fit of these buds uncomfortable, the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation Truly Wireless have similar features and also work seamlessly in the Apple ecosystem. However, the AirPods 4 ANC don’t support Apple’s new Hearing Test and Hearing Aid functionality (currently limited to certain countries) like the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation).