Our top options for the finest wireless earphones are there for a reason. They combine amazing music quality, superb Bluetooth connectivity, and a secure fit in your ears into one chic compact.
We’ve evaluated hundreds of wireless earbuds over the years, so we are aware of what to look for. By taking into account a few important elements, such as comfort, battery life, music quality, and extra features like noise cancellation, we are able to propose our top wireless headphones to you. That means there are earbuds on the list below that work well and are suitable for a variety of tastes and price ranges.
Wired headphones, which you can discover in our best wired earbuds or best over-ear headphones guides, may still be preferable if you don’t listen while moving or want audiophile-grade sound because they don’t compress or degrade audio data.
But wireless earbuds have several benefits, including attractive looks, a decent fit, convenience, and joy to use. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the top wireless earbuds that will remain in place as you commute, work, or exercise.
If you’re searching for something specific, you might also want to read our guides to the best fitness headphones and the best noise-cancelling earbuds. Alternatively, view our guide to the best headphones for a look at the top models in each category.
1.Sony WF-1000XM4
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 7.3gFrequency response: 20-40,000HzDrivers: 6mmBattery life : 8 hours (earbuds) 16 hours (charging case)
REASONS TO BUY
- +Full-bodied and eloquent sound
- +Genuinely useful features
- +Good ANC
REASONS TO AVOID
- -Average battery life
- -No aptX support
One of the greatest brands of noise-canceling wireless earbuds available today is Sony, a leader in the audio industry. The brand’s newest Sony WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds are our top pick and outperform the other earbuds on our list when it comes to ticking the most boxes, so it should come as no surprise that after a thorough testing period, we came to this conclusion.
Every time you use these wireless earphones, you’ll hear terrific, rich music. That’s in part because of their specifically created 6mm drivers, which, despite being so tiny, provide dramatic sound. The WF-1000XM4 struck us during our tests right away with its rich detail and smooth handling.
Although the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds offer the finest noise cancelling, this model will still work for most individuals who want to block out some background sounds. Second-best noise cancellation is not a huge concern when the WF-1000XM4 earbuds sound as fantastic as they do.
Along with offering outstanding music, Sony’s earbuds also deliver superb call quality, making them a fantastic option for a variety of situations, including commuting, work calls, and everything in between. These earbuds are smaller and lighter than earlier Sony versions, including the Sony WF-1000XM3, which makes them more comfortable to use for extended durations.
2.Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 9.2gFrequency response: 20-20,000HzDrivers: 5.8mmBattery life: 9 hours (earbuds) 41 hours (charging case)
REASONS TO BUY
- +45-hour total battery life
- +Incredible audio performance
- +Astounding price for the quality
REASONS TO AVOID
- -No active noise cancellation
- -Few fancy smart features
When evaluating the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus earphones, we were immediately struck by how well-balanced its battery life is. The charging case gives you a total of 45 hours of use, while the earbuds by themselves provide you nine hours. The Melomania 1 Plus offers exceptional audio quality and an app that we found to be really helpful and simple to use throughout our testing, among many other features.
These headphones are an improvement over Cambridge Audio’s Melomania 1. The Melomania 1 Plus design may be identical to that of its predecessor, but there is a noticeable improvement in the audio quality, with levels of detail and clarity that may even compete with some of the greatest over-ear headphones.
In Dai Freyr’s 10 Years, the throbbing synthesisers and tender strings perfectly balanced the baritone vocal melody over the range of frequencies. The drumming and wandering bass guitar sounded forceful and controlled when the chorus began, and the harmonised voices were rich and clear.
There is no integrated noise-cancelling technology present. Still, if you’re searching for the finest wireless earbuds, you may get a great deal on a pair that has a long battery life, good audio quality, and dependable connectivity. It’s impossible to go wrong with this set of stylish, high-quality buds.
3.Apple AirPods Pro 2
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 5.3gFrequency response: Not listedDrivers: Custom Apple designBattery life : 6 hours (earbuds) 30 hours (charging case)
REASONS TO BUY
- +Top-tier active noise cancellation
- +Great sound quality
- +Lots of very smart features for iPhone
REASONS TO AVOID
- -Average battery life
- -No lossless support
The much awaited Apple AirPods Pro 2 have arrived and take a prominent place in our list of the finest wireless earbuds because they provide excellent audio quality and genuinely outstanding ANC in a compact and lightweight design.
One of our favourite sets of wireless earbuds for iPhone owners is the original Apple AirPods Pro. With new drivers and amplifiers, the Pro 2 have undergone a considerable improvement and now provide great audio performance. Additionally, there is improved ANC on board, which, in our testing, we discovered to be right up there with the best-in-class, almost eliminating all outside noises.
Although it might not exceed all of the other wireless earbuds in our comparison, battery life has improved noticeably, and at 6 hours from the earbuds and 30 hours from the charging case, it’s suitable for full-day listening. The casing has also been updated, and it now features a built-in speaker to help you discover it if you misplace it in addition to an IPX4 water resistant certification for mild showers and perspiration.
These earbuds aren’t inexpensive, and like with other Apple items, they work best with iPhone users. However, after making significant sonic enhancements, they rank among the finest wireless earbuds you can buy right now, rivalling several of our longtime favourites, such as the Sony WF-1000XM4, and even offering ANC to challenge Bose.
4.Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 5.5gFrequency response: 20-20,000HzDrivers: Custom Coaxial 2-wayBattery life: 5 hours (buds) 18 hours (case)
REASONS TO BUY
- +Vastly improved hi-res sound quality
- +Solid ANC
- +Classy, comfortable design and finish
REASONS TO AVOID
- -Battery life is only average
Given Samsung’s strong reputation in the smartphone and tablet markets, it has long amazed us that the Galaxy Buds the business produced fell short of expectations. However, that has just changed for the better.
Now is the time for Apple, Sony, Bose, and Sennheiser to closely examine what Samsung has accomplished with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. They are great. No, they’re extremely good.
The headline-grabber is 360 audio with optional head-tracking, allowing you to use your phone as the focal point to direct more of that new end-to-end 24-bit high-res audio to whichever ear you prefer. This feature is only available if you own a Samsung Galaxy device and have access to the Samsung Wearable companion app and home-screen widget.
Remember the rose-gold, kidney-bean-shaped Galaxy Buds Live earbuds? They are smaller, more comfy, and less haughty than these ones. These (which are not those) include a tonne of helpful features including fantastic ANC, speech detect, wearer identification, and customized on-ear controls, all of which function quite well, in addition to IPX7 water ingress protection. Overall, a strong performance from Samsung, just let down by the short five-hour battery life.
5.JLab Go Air Pop
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 7.4gFrequency response: 20Hz-20kHzDrivers: 6mmBattery life: 8 hours (earbuds) 32 hours (charging case)
REASONS TO BUY
- +Light, small, comfy design
- +Sounds great for the price
REASONS TO AVOID
- -Odd fitted charging cable
- -Not the last word in sonic brilliance
$20 / £20 / AU$49.95 for the JLab Go Air Pop is an exceptionally low price that would have been unthinkable of only a few years ago. In 2022, JLab will be offering dependable headphones at incredibly low rates. Can these cheap earphones genuinely perform their intended function?
We spent the time testing these affordable headphones and discovered that the JLab Go Air Pop are actually rather decent overall and unquestionably the best value available.
For the money, these sound fantastic. Let Her Cry by Hootie & the Blowfish and the various guitars are presented to each ear in a rather roomy, wide soundscape as well. While Prince’s signature singing style sounds a touch harsh when you listen to Kiss, you will still hear all of the bass funk in the start. The treble, which can distort even in relatively simple passages, is the main reason why it is tough to gush about the sound quality sonically, but it isn’t really the subject at hand.
The charging case’s design also did not impress us. It features a cable that emerges like a tadpole from the base. Nevertheless, it charges the earphones and ensures that you never have to scramble in the dimness for your USB charger or run out of time because you forgot to carry one.
Therefore, even though the JLab Go Air Pop won’t deliver exceptional sound or noise cancelling that can compete with the Sony WF-1000XM4, during our testing we were pleasantly surprised to discover dependable Bluetooth connectivity, incredible battery life, comfortable and lightweight earpieces, and good music on the go. It would be ungracious to want more.
You’ll discover a solid product here if your spending limit quickly runs out on non-essentials (let’s face it, truly wireless earphones are a luxury). Look at the Sony WF-C500 earphones farther down our list for another budget choice.
6.Honor Earbuds 3 Pro
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 5.1gFrequency response: 20-20,000HzDrivers: 11mmBattery life : 4 hours (earbuds with ANC) 16 hours (charging case)
REASONS TO BUY
- +Detailed, spacious and exuberant sound
- +AirPods Pro-style features for Android users
REASONS TO AVOID
- -No iOS app
The Honor Earbuds 3 Pro are among of the best wireless earphones available right now if you want an earbuds experience similar to that of Apple AirPods but don’t want to switch from your Android phone to take advantage of all the capabilities. However, since there isn’t an iOS app available here, they are a less strong option if you have an iPhone.
Whereas many other earbuds imitate the design of Apple’s best-selling products, Honor has gone one step further and copied many of their greatest qualities, significantly outperforming AirPods in one crucial area: sound. Honor has created the first coaxial dual-driver system in the world, using an 11mm dynamic driver with a separate piezoelectric ceramic tweeter in the middle.
According to our evaluation, the outcome is “a success,” making these wireless headphones some of the finest available right now. And that’s before you consider the features, which also include superb comfort, first-rate noise cancellation, and an Android app that is really well built. We also like the several Honor-specific features, such as the lightning-quick pairing with Honor-branded Android phones.
The battery life is the main drawback with this. The earbuds themselves are only capable of noise cancellation for four hours at a time, even if the charging case can provide 16 hours of noise cancellation. The rest of these earphones are great, and the pricing is reasonable as well.
FAQ ON THE BEST WIRELESS EARBUDS
What distinguishes wireless from genuine wireless?
Since the creation of Bluetooth, wireless earphones have been a thing for a time. They have a cable connecting both buds, and occasionally a band around the neck as well, while being battery-powered and not physically attached to your phone.
There is absolutely no cable with true wireless earphones. Real Wireless eliminates the chord between the earbuds, providing us true independence while wireless allows us to use headphones a few feet away from our music players. You may discover our top selections below, but if you want to go completely wireless, we also have a list of the finest true wireless headphones.
Traditional over-ear or on-ear headphones without a cable are known as wireless headphones; a headband connects the two earcups. For additional information, see the top wireless headphones.
What is the finest brand of wireless earbuds?
We have listed all of the top audio equipment and earbuds manufacturers in this guide. The ideal brand, though, will depend on what you’re searching for.
One of the top audio brands overall and one of the best wireless earbuds brands is Sony. It routinely releases products with excellent audio quality and has set the standard with outstanding true wireless earbuds year after year. The greatest wireless and truly wireless earbuds you can now purchase are the Sony WF-1000XM4 earphones.
If you want a set of high-end wireless earbuds and have a large budget, look into luxury brands like Bowers & Wilkins and Bang & Olufsen. Otherwise, Lypertek produces some of our favourite less expensive wireless earbuds if you’re searching for a set of earphones on a tight budget.
How to pick the ideal wireless earphones
How do you choose the best wireless earphones for you when there are so many options?
Obviously, cost is a major consideration. A decent set of wireless earphones is available for less than £100/$100. However, in terms of connection, build quality, and noise cancellation, you frequently do get what you pay for.
Form comes next. Are you going to use your headphones when you work out at the gym, ride your bike, or walk on the pavement? You’ll want a design that will last. Or perhaps you want something discreet and minimalist, in which case get a set of truly wireless earbuds.
The decision to go wireless, in which case there is no cord connecting your phone to your earbuds, is the most important one. The greatest truly wireless earbuds with no cords at all are available here, along with neckband-style Bluetooth earphones that include a single connection connecting each earpiece for added security.
Our selection of wireless earbuds with excellent sound quality is what we consider to be the best-sounding earphones. Although these are not the best or most affordable earbuds available, these are the ones you should take into account if you’re serious about hearing music with clarity, richness, and strong bass.
The earbuds you choose should still fit comfortably in your ears, but the models below were chosen more for their sound quality than for their noise-cancelling capabilities or other extra features like waterproofing or workout-friendly designs.
To make it simpler for you to locate the ideal wireless earbuds for you, we’ve separated our guide into a few main categories. You’ll find earbuds we’ve tested with amazing battery life above all else, as well as some of the finest affordable wireless earbuds for you to consider. These earbuds frequently have high prices to match and great sound quality.
There is a set for you in the buying advice below, regardless of whether you’re searching for a pair of inexpensive wireless earphones, earbuds you can use at the gym, or buds that deliver best-in-class, immersive sound.
You’re looking for something a little unusual with excellent sound quality. You could just need the best headphones.
How do we evaluate wireless earbuds?
Over the years, we’ve tested hundreds of wireless earbuds, giving us a unique perspective when choosing our top picks for this list.
We searched for the earphones that most closely matched the criteria mentioned above while evaluating them for our guide. We were looking for audio that is rich, crisp, and true to every genre.
We included the top earphones for noise cancellation in the area that felt like it actually worked. Although many earbuds claim to be noise-cancelling, not all of them effectively block out background noise on a daily basis in a variety of settings.
We made sure the earbuds in our top recommendations for battery life have battery life more than the typical five to six hours. Additionally, we were searching for features that would speed up charging as well as exceptional battery life increasing if they came with a charging case.
We looked for earbuds that were comfortable, had additional design features to keep them in place, such ear fins, and had a reasonable degree of water resistance so they could tolerate perspiration. Durability and a long battery life were further factors.
The cheapest buds on the market are in the last segment. Here, we sought to offer a variety of really affordable buds to provide even those on the tightest budgets alternatives, while also taking value for money into account. It makes no sense to simply have really inexpensive buds that might not perform.
In the end, we do this to assist you in finding a pair of earbuds that will make you ecstatic. We believe that this often updated buying guide will be a helpful tool in helping you and us do that.