Top 9 Wireless Earbuds — Expert Picks for Every Need

It’s tough to find bad wireless earbuds today. With deals everywhere, now’s a great time to buy that pair you’ve been wanting.

Wireless earbuds have evolved dramatically. In the early days, we accepted poor sound and unreliable connections just to go cable-free. Not anymore.

Companies like Sony, Apple, and Samsung now offer their best earbuds ever. They’ve learned from each generation of products.

Premium earbuds deliver amazing noise cancellation and sound quality if you’re willing to pay more. But these features aren’t everyone’s priority.

You might need perfect workout earbuds instead. Or perhaps you want a set that handles both Zoom calls and entertainment equally well.

Remember that brands now design their earbuds to work best with their own devices. For example:

• AirPods provide head-tracking spatial audio only with iPhones
• Samsung buds offer exclusive features with Samsung phones
• Other brands follow similar patterns

Consider what devices you already own when shopping for new earbuds.

What I’m Looking For

How We Test Wireless Earbuds

We spend many hours testing earbuds in various situations. Our testing process includes:

• Quiet listening sessions to evaluate sound quality and detail
• Real-world tests on subways, busy streets, and cafes
• Connection strength tests in challenging environments
• Voice call quality checks with honest feedback from friends
• Cross-platform testing to see how earbuds work with different devices

Good Sound

Sound preferences vary from person to person. Some want powerful bass, while others prefer clarity.

I focus on dynamics, clear vocals, and well-separated instruments. Great earbuds reveal subtle details in your favorite songs.

Active Noise Cancellation

Once a luxury, noise cancellation is now standard in many earbuds. It helps you focus at work or rest while traveling.

Some people dislike the “plugged up” feeling and prefer open-style earbuds that maintain awareness of surroundings.

Comfort

Earbuds are useless if they hurt your ears. Comfort is personal since everyone’s ears differ.

Most earbuds come with several tip sizes. Some use silicone, others use foam, or both.

Try different sizes in each ear. You might need a larger tip in one ear than the other.

Long Battery Life

Most earbuds last 5-6 hours with noise cancellation turned on. The charging case makes this shorter battery life manageable.

Simply return earbuds to their case for a quick charge when needed.

Water Resistance

Look for at least IPX4 water resistance. This protects against rain and sweat.

Even if you don’t plan to exercise with your earbuds, this feature helps them survive daily hazards.

The Best Overall Wireless Earbuds: Sony WF-1000XM5

Sony’s WF-1000XM5 earbuds remain our top pick for noise-canceling earbuds. Their larger drivers deliver more detailed and dynamic sound than before.

These earbuds maintain the warmth and clarity that made the previous model so enjoyable. Sony has improved the noise cancellation to rival Bose’s QC Earbuds II.

Background noise disappears effectively with these earbuds. You can listen for up to eight hours with noise cancellation on.

The XM5 is 25% smaller than the previous model, addressing comfort complaints. Sony includes four sizes of foam tips that expand for an excellent seal.

Android users benefit from LDAC codec support for higher-quality audio. The earbuds also offer dynamic head tracking for spatial audio in apps like Netflix.

Even iPhone users will appreciate the premium sound quality, comparable to Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 4. The XM5 also supports multipoint for connecting to two devices at once.

Sony claims to have fixed the battery issues that plagued the previous model by improving the charging algorithm.

The Best Noise-Canceling Earbuds: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer the strongest noise cancellation available. They block out daily noise better than any competitor.

These earbuds create a private listening bubble for your music and podcasts. The design resembles the 2022 QC Earbuds II model.

Sound quality is rich and dynamic. They deliver more bass than Apple’s AirPods Pro.

The new two-piece design separates ear tips from stabilizers. This helps them fit more ear shapes comfortably.

Bose has added Immersive Audio mode. This feature is their version of spatial audio technology.

The Best Earbuds for Sports and Working Out: Beats Powerbeats Pro 2

Beats finally released the Powerbeats Pro 2 in early 2025. They keep the signature ear hook design while improving on the original model.

The Pro 2 adds active noise cancellation and a natural-sounding transparency mode. Both features were missing from the first generation.

These earbuds are lighter than before, and the charging case is noticeably smaller. The built-in heart rate sensors work with apps like Nike Run Club, Peloton, and more.

For Android users, the heart rate feature works perfectly. iOS users face limitations – the earbuds can’t play music and send heart rate data to gym equipment at the same time.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 have an IPX4 water resistance rating. This protects against sweat and rain during workouts.

Physical buttons and a volume rocker make these easy to control while exercising. No need to fiddle with touch controls mid-workout.

iPhone owners get special features like dynamic head tracking, auto device switching, and Find My integration. Android users can access some features through the Beats app.

The Best Earbuds for iPhone Owners: Apple AirPods Pro (Second-Gen) with USB-C Charging Case

The second-gen AirPods Pro offer excellent noise cancellation and better sound than the original. They’re perfect for Apple users.

These earbuds include many Apple-exclusive features. Spatial audio, automatic device syncing, and audio sharing work seamlessly with Apple devices.

Unlike other AirPods, the Pro model comes with four different ear tip sizes. This helps you find the perfect fit.

The compact case supports wireless charging. Setup is simple—just hold the open case near your iPhone.

These lightweight earbuds fit comfortably in most ears. Controls are easy to use with pinch gestures and new volume swipes.

AirPods Pro excel at voice call quality. Their noise cancellation now rivals Sony’s, and transparency mode can reduce sudden loud noises.

Apple-only features include head tracking, automatic device switching, and extensive Find My support. The case has a built-in speaker and precise location tracking.

In fall 2024, Apple added impressive hearing health features. The AirPods Pro can now:

• Serve as clinical-grade hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss
• Protect your hearing in loud environments
• Provide hearing tests to assess your hearing ability

The Best Earbuds for Samsung Galaxy Phone Owners: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 Pro now use stems like AirPods, abandoning their previous discreet design. This may look boring but improves comfort and stability.

Sound quality has improved from the already excellent Buds 2 Pro. These earbuds rival Sennheiser and Technics in audio fidelity.

Call quality stands out as exceptional with these earbuds. Voice commands work without wake phrases—just say “volume up” or “next song.”

The main drawback is the lack of multipoint connectivity. You can’t connect to two devices at once.

Like Apple, Samsung prefers to automatically switch between its own devices. Some users might find this limitation a dealbreaker.

The Best Earbuds for Google Pixel Phone Owners: Google Pixel Buds Pro 2

Google fixed most problems from the original Pixel Buds Pro. The Pro 2 earbuds are much smaller and lighter.

A small nub on each bud keeps them secure during running or exercise. Google’s noise cancellation has improved but still trails behind Bose.

The transparency mode ranks among the best available. It delivers crisp, natural sound from your surroundings when needed.

These earbuds support multipoint connections to multiple devices. Battery life exceeds most competitors at 8 hours with ANC on.

Pixel phone owners get special features like:

• Conversations with Google’s Gemini AI while your phone stays in your pocket
• Head-tracking spatial audio
• Clear Calling technology

For Pixel users, these earbuds offer major improvements in a much smaller package.

The Best Earbuds If You Own Both Apple and Android Devices: Beats Studio Buds Plus

Beats Studio Buds Plus improve on the 2021 original model. They offer stronger noise cancellation, better transparency mode, and longer battery life.

The translucent color option looks incredibly stylish with its ’90s vibe. These tiny earbuds rank among the most comfortable available today.

These earbuds use a special chip that works equally well with iOS and Android. They support both Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find My Device services.

You get simple one-tap pairing on both operating systems. However, Apple users miss out on some features like audio sharing and head tracking.

The lack of wireless charging and ear detection sensors is disappointing at this price point. Still, these are excellent for users who switch between Apple and Android devices.

The Best Earbuds for Sound Quality: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4

Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless earbuds have always sounded amazing. Previous models suffered from bugs and battery problems.

The fourth-generation model finally fixes these issues. It delivers tremendous, detailed sound quality that outshines most competitors.

These earbuds can’t match Apple, Sony, or Bose in noise cancellation. But for pure sound quality, they won’t disappoint.

Optional wing tips help keep them secure during workouts. The Sennheiser app lets you customize the sound with detailed EQ settings.

These earbuds support multiple Bluetooth codecs including AAC, SBC, AptX, and AptX Adaptive. They’re also ready for future LE Audio and Auracast technologies.