Technics EAH-AZ80
Battery life: Up to 7 hours | Wireless charging case: Yes | Waterproof rating: IPX4 | Drivers: 10mm | Noise-canceling: Yes
Best for:
- People who want the best combination of sound, battery life, control and ANC
- People who love touch controls
Skip if:
- You want the absolute best in any category
- You want spatial audio
The funny thing about testing earbuds is you have to consider a number of criteria—and this top overall pick isn’t really the best in any of them. Below, I have contenders for the absolute best sound, the best ANC and the most built-in features you could ask for. Despite all that, the Technics EAH-AZ80 earbuds always end up in my pocket when it’s time to head out. They may not be the “best” in any single category, but they outclass all others for the combination of features they provide.
The first thing you’ll notice about the Technics Earbuds is how comfortable they are and how well they fit into your ear canal. They slip right in and have flat, touch-sensitive pads on the outside that can be configured to do basically any command you want, from increase volume to pause. Many earbuds have some level of customizability but, Technics goes above and beyond what you normally find.
The flatness of the Technics EAH-AZ80 earbuds is attractive because it gives you a definitive place to tap the earbuds to relay commands
The sound is also quite good. You can get thumping bass and clear high notes from dubstep music without burying the vocals on a metal track. The headphones also work well for spoken-word content, like NPR or podcasts. Plus, the ANC, along with the superior isolation you get from these buds, blocks out loud ambient noise. The ANC can get overwhelmed at times when there’s too much outside noise, but it can usually recover quickly enough.
Overall, the Technics EAH-AZ80 earbuds give you the absolute best balance of features you might look for in a good set of earbuds. But there are others to consider, depending on your priorities, too.
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Best Budget Wireless Earbuds
Great Audio At An Affordable Price
Baseus Bowie MA10
Battery life: Up to 8 hours | Wireless charging case: No | Waterproof rating: IPX6 | Drivers: 13 mm (unconfirmed) | Noise-canceling: Yes
Best for:
- You want great noise canceling on budget
- You don’t want to worry about recharging your earbuds
Skip if:
- You don’t want to compromise on any features
On the lower end of the budget, I tested the Baseus Bowie MA10 earbuds, which retail at $50. As you might expect, Baseus makes some compromises to get to this price, and chief among these are sound. These earbuds lack the clarity you get from a more expensive set of buds. But they still manage to sound good, which is a delightful surprise. The buds have different EQ presets to choose from, or you can set your own. ANC is also present—that’s not always a given at this price—and it’s not bad.
The Baseus Bowie MA10 earbuds come with a lot of features packed into a low price, making it the best budget pick you can get right now.
Connectivity is another sticking point. Often during my tests, pulling the earbuds out of the case and popping them into my ears didn’t actually turn on both buds, or they didn’t connect to each other, or they didn’t connect to the phone. This wasn’t a common occurrence, but it happened enough that I noticed it. Most of the time, simply replacing the buds in the case and taking them back out solved the problem. This isn’t surprising when you’re paying $50 for earbuds—you get what you pay for, but it’s worth mentioning.
The bottom line is that if you have a very limited budget for sound, these are a great, comfortable option for long hours of listening to your music. The sound you get will suit casual listeners or teens, and ANC is rare at sub-$30 prices.
Best Wireless Earbuds For Sound
High-Quality Sound With Long Battery Life
Sony WF-1000XM5
Battery life: Up to 12 hours | Wireless charging case: Yes | Waterproof rating: IPX4 | Drivers: 8.4 mm | Noise-canceling: Yes
Best for:
- People who want very high-quality sound
- Subscriber to Tidal or Spotify
Skip if:
- You want to customize controls
- You have larger ear canals
When it comes to the absolute best sound you can find in a pair of earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds are a great option. They cost just as much as the Technics EAH-AZ80 earbuds at around $300, but offer superior sound, along with a very capable equalizer to further customize your sound. Regardless of what you’re listening to, from metal to hip hop, Sony presents a sound filled with nuances that you simply don’t hear from other earbuds.
Plus, Sony’s software is a win, starting with an equalizer with 11 presets, each of which you can further tune to your taste, and three customizable EQ options. The software also has an integrated player so you can adjust playback and scrub without leaving the app, which is a nice add-on. But unfortunately, that’s where the software superiority ends. You can’t control playback by skipping tracks or fast-forwarding at all, and you can only control volume by tapping multiple times on either bud to make the volume lower (left) or higher (right). That’s fine, but it doesn’t really allow you to change volume with anything approaching precision.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds feel comfortable to wear for long listening sessions.
The earbuds are very small and comfortable to wear for long periods of time. They can be tricky to pull out of the charging case if you have sausage fingers like mine. The case supports wireless charging, and battery life is sufficient. Sony advertises up to eight hours of sound with ANC on, which is consistent with my testing. But really, the sound and the nice software are the main selling points for these buds.
Best Noise-Canceling Wireless Earbuds
Enjoy Your Tunes In Peace
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Battery life: Up to 6 hours | Wireless charging case: No | Waterproof rating: IPX4 | Drivers: 8.4 mm | Noise-canceling: Yes
Best for:
- People who want the very best ANC
- People who love immersive audio
Skip if:
- You want wireless charging
- You value battery life
Bose has long had a reputation as the best ANC you can find in a set of headphones. The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra earbuds are a remarkable example of that reputation. The ANC of these earbuds is simply breathtaking, as any sound in your environment is just gone, with the exception of loud, sudden noises like a person sneezing. The level of quiet is almost eerie. From drowning out plane engines to eliminating noise from a TV show playing nearby, you get mostly silence, so you can enjoy your music without outside noises.
The audio is also quite good. The Bose QC Ultra earbuds come equipped with immersive audio that gives more depth to the overall sound, so you feel like the sound is around you rather than just pumping into your ears. It’s really cool technology—but all of this comes at a cost to battery life.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds feature an oval-shaped eartip for ergonomic comfort.
I wore the Bose earbuds on a long flight from Maui to Los Angeles, and they made the trip easily. However, that was with immersive audio turned off. Turning it on reduces your battery life by one-third, to about four hours. Battery life is already not great, so anything that reduces it, especially by that much, is a pretty big hit.
For the impressive ANC and sound these wireless earbuds come packed with, it’s worth sacrificing a bit. I just wish the battery lasted about 75% longer, and these buds would be nearly perfect. Read my full review of these Bose earbuds.
Best Wireless Earbuds For Travel
Tune Out The Airplane Engines
Poly Voyager Free 60+ UC
Battery life: Up to 8 hours | Wireless charging case: Yes | Waterproof rating: IP54 | Drivers: 10 mm | Noise-canceling: Yes
Best for:
- Travelers who need versatility
- People who frequently change settings
Skip if:
- You want great sound
- You want great ANC
The Poly Voyager 60+ UC have the most features to benefit frequent travelers you have seen in a set of earbuds. First and foremost, these buds come with a Bluetooth transmitter inside it’s carrying case, so you can use the included 3.5mm-to-USB-C jack (or any other USB-C cable) to plug your case in and transmit audio to your earbuds. The most common scenario is when you’re flying and the in-flight entertainment has a 3.5mm headphone jack. Instead of listening to the audio with those cheap earbuds the flight attendants give out, you can just plug in your case and transmit audio to the buds. You’ll also find a Bluetooth dongle built into the case in case you need to plug into your laptop for a more direct connection.
The case features a few different at-a-glance notifications including battery life.
As for ANC—an important feature to have when dealing with the buzz of a plane cabin—the earbuds performed pretty good but not amazing. The point of ANC is to reduce the noise around you so you can reduce the volume of what you’re listening to and preserve your hearing. In that respect, the Poly Voyager 60+ UC earbuds does the best job of all the wireless earbuds I tested.
Put simply, the Poly Voyager Free 60+ UC earbuds are built for the utmost convenience and versatility, so a road warrior can plug in anywhere, anytime and use the same earbuds each time.
Best Wireless Earbuds For Exercise
A Sweat Resistant Pair
Jabra Elite 8 Active
Battery life: Up to 8 hours | Wireless charging case: Yes | Waterproof rating: IP68 MIL-STD 810H | Drivers: 6 mm | Noise-canceling: Yes
Best for:
- People who set out to utterly destroy their earbuds, but don’t want to be able to do so
- People who work out
Skip if:
- You don’t treat your earbuds like a soccer ball
Some will say that if you want a set of earbuds for working out, you need buds that are going to be sweatproof and maybe rainproof, just in case. Then you have the Jabra 8 Active, which Jabra claims is the toughest set of earbuds in the world. Jabra might just be right about that, because not only are these earbuds rated IP68 for water- and dust-resistance, but they are also shock-resistant and survive HACT testing, which dunks the earbuds in salty water for 10 to 15 cycles. Just in case you’re not convinced, Jabra also backs up these earbuds with a full 2-year warranty against water, dust and sweat damage.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active earbuds offer a military grade durability—and it’s the one of the few on the market with this feature.
Because these earbuds are designed to survive just about anything, you can treat them as such, making them great for those that go the extra mile during their daily fitness routine. That they’re comfortable means you can wear them for extended periods, say, practicing for a marathon, without any discomfort, too. The physical buttons on the earbuds ensure that you’re able to control them even if your hands are wet or sweaty, which I felt was another plus.
The charging case (which supports wireless charging, by the way) is slim and should fit very nicely into a pocket or gym bag. The battery life, based on my testing, is long enough to withstand any workout. So if you’re looking for a pair of buds that works as hard as you do, the Jabra Elite 8 Active buds are up to the task.
Best Midrange Wireless Earbuds
Great For Android Users
Oneplus Buds 3
Battery life: Up to 44 hours (including case) | Wireless charging case: No | Waterproof rating: IP55 | Drivers: 10.4 mm | Noise-canceling: Yes
Best for:
- Oneplus phone owners
- People looking for solid midrange earbuds
Skip if:
- You’re not fond of the earbud-and-stem design
- You want wireless charging
The battle for the mid-range earbuds is fierce; earbuds that sit in the $80 to $100 range can have a number of surprising features that you might not expect to see in the double-digit range. The Oneplus Buds 3 are one of the brand’s TWS (True Wireless Stereo) earbuds, and they bring to the party really good sound and intuitive controls.
Right off the bat, it’s hard not to see a direct one-to-one comparison between the Oneplus Buds 3 and AirPods Pro. They have the same earbud-and-stem design and feature many of the same software tricks. The main difference is that these buds are less than half the cost of Apple’s.
The Oneplus Buds 3 feature a AirPods-like design with a fun blue color.
The sound is quite good, with balanced audio across the spectrum. You can hear a lot of thump in the bass without drowning out mid-range or high frequencies. You won’t get as nuanced a sound as you will if you spend more, but for $100 the sound suffices for most needs.
And if you have a Oneplus device (such as the Oneplus Open, our best smartphone pick), then you’ll find very customizable controls in your Bluetooth settings (exactly like Apple’s AirPods in a striking coincidence). Additionally, like the AirPods, the Oneplus Buds allow you to adjust volume by swiping up and down on the stems of the earbuds. It’s an intuitive and natural gesture that you miss when you don’t have it.
Best Apple Wireless Earbuds
Buds Built For The Apple Family
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
Battery life: Up to 6 hours | Wireless charging case: Yes | Waterproof rating: IPX4 | Drivers: 11 mm | Noise-canceling: Yes
Best for:
- Listening to any audio from any Apple device
- Enjoying your audio using adaptive EQ
Skip if:
- You’re not an Apple computer or mobile device user
If you’re an Apple device user, the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) take your audio listening to a new, realistic and immersive level. Not to be confused with the AirPods 2 (an updated version of the lower cost and less technologically advanced AirPods), the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) are Apple’s premium wireless earbuds. Here’s a summary of my findings from my comprehensive review of the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) earbuds.
Not only does the sound impress, but the auto-pairing and auto-switching feature (between Macs, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch) makes it easy to switch between devices in real time. I could easily begin watching a movie on my iPad, switch to the iPhone when I received an incoming call and then switch back again automatically.
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) offer touch controls, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, plus a bunch of other useful features.
Unlike other wireless earbuds which have a separate app, you control the AirPods Pro earbuds through your Apple device’s operating system. From an iPhone or iPad, for example, simply access Control Center and press down on the AirPods button to make product-specific controls appear on-screen to adjust volume or turn on/off noise cancellation and spatial audio.
Best Open Ear Wireless Earbuds
Hear Your Surroundings During Your Daily Jog
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
Battery life: Up to 7.5 hours | Wireless charging case: No | Waterproof rating: IPX4 | Drivers: 12 mm (unconfirmed) | Noise-canceling: No
Best for:
- Those who want to stay aware of their surroundings
- Want great sound
Skip if:
- You have sensory issues and don’t like clips on your ears
- You want any noise cancellation
Not everyone wants noise isolation and ANC. When you’re fully immersed, it’s easy to tune out the world around you, which can be dangerous. If you’re active and you’re out moving around, jogging, walking or riding a bike, it’s good to stay aware of your surroundings, both from a traffic standpoint and from a “don’t trust those around you” standpoint. To that end, you can get a set of open earbuds that make no effort to drown out the noise around you.
Ironically, one of the best sets you can buy comes from the same company that took our Best ANC slot: Bose. The Bose Open Ultra earbuds have a fantastic sound and allow in outside noises. Bose, it seems, is not just interested in canceling sound but also in delivering great sound. But these buds are not for everyone.
Notably, the buds actually clip onto your ear helix, rather than getting inserted into your ears. To say this is a polarizing design is an understatement. You may not like the sensation of having an earbud clamped onto your ear. If I’m being perfectly honest, it takes quite a bit of getting used to and if you wear the buds for a long time, they can get uncomfortable. But if you can set aside comfort, the sound is well worth it.
Other Wireless Earbuds We Tested
While our selected winners rose to the top of the heap, these are the runners-up for the best wireless earbuds.
Denon PerL Pro Earbuds ($342 at Amazon): I have to tell you, these earbuds are really close to taking Technic’s top spot on this list, but two things allowed the Technics to push past them. The first is design. If you’re someone who doesn’t mind having earbuds the size of quarters in your ears, get these. The second is ANC. The ANC on the Technics is quite good, while the Denons don’t quite measure up.
The Denon PerL Pro Earbuds feature some of the best audio quality on the market.
Samsung Galaxy Buds FE ($80 at Samsung): For the price, the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE have no right to sound as good as they do. But doing so cost Samsung in other areas. There are two or three other considerations at this price that have become more common that Samsung left out. The two big ones are a lack of wireless charging and a very low IP rating.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE come in two different colors and feature a small charging case.
Beats Fit Pro ($160 at Amazon): For Apple users, these earbuds not only offer useful features like iOS integration, but they also provide a good overall listening experience. The downside: you can’t manually adjust the spatial audio and noise cancellation, as you can with many other earbuds I tested. The charging case does not have wireless charging, and it is a bit large and feels cheaply made.
Offering some of the unique features of the Apple AirPods, the Beats Fit Pro work nicely with any computer or mobile device.
Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 ($287 at Amazon): Though these expensive earbuds look stylish and have good audio quality, I think our winners offer better features for the price. But for someone looking for a great listening experience from a well-known audio brand, these won’t disappoint.
Bowers & Wilkins knows how to make a gorgeous set of earbuds.
Google Pixel Buds Pro ($140 at Amazon): Since these Google earbuds are optimized for use with an Android smartphone, I tested them with a Google Pixel 6a. They paired instantly and automatically with the phone and produced rich and immersive audio. The noise cancellation works well, and when I spoke, the noise cancellation feature automatically deactivated, so I could chat with people at will.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro work great with any Google Pixel smartphone or any Android-based mobile device for that matter.
Marshall Motif II ANC ($199 at Amazon): The Motif II ANC earbuds sound pretty great, and packs punchy basses and high trebles for an enjoyable listening experience. But upon further testing, the noise canceling and construction could be improved.
The Marshall Motif II ANC earbuds feature a sleek case and have great audio.
Master & Dynamic MW08 Sport ($297 at Amazon): Simply put, everything about these earbuds is elegant. They’re accented with shatter-resistant sapphire glass and the charging case has a Kevlar coating. Unfortunately, these earbuds lack spatial audio support. While they sound good, the MW08 Sport aren’t as impressive as our other winners.
The Master & Dynamic MW08 Sport earbuds look stunning and sound great, but are among the priciest ones you can buy.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 ($280 at Best Buy): You get premium-quality audio and a premium feel with these earbuds–but it comes at a high price. The earbuds offer everything you’d expect, but they’re not superior to lower or equally priced competitors.
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds offer noise cancellation, wireless charging, IPX4 water resistance and more.
- Forbes Vetted contributors Adam Doud and Jason R. Rich spent months testing over 20 different wireless earbuds in a wide range of settings and situations.
- Rich and Doud each have over a decade’s worth of industry experience and regularly review the latest phones, tablets and laptops.
- This story and its updates are overseen by tech editor Rebecca Isaacs, who has been covering consumer tech for over four years.
- We consulted singer, songwriter and multi-platinum music producer Drew Ryan Scott and Gabe Lopez, Hollywood-based music producer, singer and songwriter. They provided guidance on the most important features to consider when choosing wireless earbuds and how different features like tk affect your listening experience.
- We frequently update this guide as new earbuds are released. It was last updated in May 2024 by tech writer Alex Garrett to provide guidance on how to shop for the best wireless earbuds.
How I Tested The Best Wireless Earbuds
With a stockpile of wireless earbuds to review, I put each of them through a series of real-world listening tests.
To test noise cancellation, I listened to music while standing at a busy city intersection. I sampled the same pop music from Katy Perry, Harry Styles and Charlie Puth, as I stood amidst noisy traffic and crowds. I chose these pop artists because their highly produced music typically has rich harmonies and vocals panning between the left and right audio channels. It’s also in Dolby Atmos, which lets compatible earbuds take full advantage of spatial audio with head tracking to make it sound like the audio surrounds you.
I tested the earbuds at home while watching TV, using them during an episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to see how they dealt with dialogue, sound effects and music. My expectations were high: I wanted the best earbuds to make me feel like I was in the middle of an action sequence—not just passively watching and listening to it.
To see how well the various earbuds performed during phone calls and around ambient and wind noise, I took them outside and noted whether I could clearly hear and converse with someone without the earbuds picking up unwanted background noise.
I tested the earbuds for comfort and fit while working out.
What To Consider When Shopping For Wireless Earbuds
With so many options on the market and dozens of specs to decipher, it can be hard to find the best wireless earbuds for you. Below, we provided a brief guide on the most important factors to look for.
Consider your budget and the features that matter most to you. Wireless earbuds range in price from as little as $50 to $300 or more. Typically, the higher the price tag, the more premium features you’ll get including better overall sound and noise cancellation. However, you can still find a quality pair that provides good sound in the $100 to $200 range, so don’t feel like you need to overspend to get a decent pair of buds.
Wireless earbuds should fit securely in your ear while still feeling comfortable. The seal determines how well the noise cancellation will work; a loose earbud won’t cancel out noise as much as a secure one. Make sure your buds fit securely or at least come with a variety of tips so you can pick the ones that fit you best.
Most wireless earbuds have an average battery life of five to eight hours, although some earbud cases also come with wireless charging, so you can power up while on the go. Whether you’re considering wireless earbuds for work, travel or exercise, make sure the pair you choose has enough battery life to fit your needs.
What Are The #1 Wireless Earbuds?
In terms of overall performance, our pick for the #1 wireless earbuds overall are the Technics EAH-AZ80. They perform extremely well in every category, from sound quality to noise cancellation and additional features. If you want maximum value for your dollar, this is where you’re going to find it.
However, if your sole priority is sound quality, we recommend the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds. Based on our testing, they offer the most superior sound and a customizable capable equalizer.
