Thanks to their lightweight form factor, wireless earbuds are a great option for enjoying music or taking calls on the go. Their smaller size makes them convenient to use, and they can be neatly tucked away inside a pocket or bag when not in use. In addition, most pairs come with a charging case, which is handy for keeping battery levels topped up.
Sony WF-1000XM5 Noise Canceling Earbuds
Soundpeats Air4 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds FE
Beats Fit Pro
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
The Best Earbuds Overall:Sony WF-1000XM5
If you want a great pair of wireless earbuds that does everything well, theSony WF-1000XM5is the one for you. These wireless noise canceling earbuds come with Alexa built-in and are packed to the rafters with features like AI-powered Adaptive Sound Control for an optimized listening experience wherever you are.
Besides the high-quality audio you’d expect from Sony, AI noise reduction means that call quality is crystal clear. Handy features like the Speak-to-Chat function (which pauses your music as soon as you start talking) make them versatile for on-the-go use, and a multipoint connection facility means it’s easy to switch between connected devices on the fly.
Battery life is excellent, with eight hours of use from the buds and another 16 hours from the charging case. And a water resistance rating of IPX4 means that you’re able to happily sweat with these at the gym or enjoy that run in the rain without risking any damage to them.
With their premium price, the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds offer premium features. You get excellent audio quality on top of first-class ANC in a lightweight and compact design.
The Best Budget Earbuds:SoundPEATS Air4 Pro
We were impressed with theSoundPEATS Air4 Prowhen wereviewedthem earlier this year. Despite its price tag, the features offered here are nothing short of incredible, giving the Air4 Pro one of the best price-to-performance ratios of any wireless earbuds.
The wireless performance is flawless. They offer adaptive noise cancelation with 3 different modes, a multipoint connection, and an 88ms low-latency gaming mode if you want to indulge in mobile gaming on the go. You can customize the EQ using the SoundPEATS app to get your desired balance.
They offer IPX4 water resistance and wind-noise resistance, and the overall sound quality is excellent, especially for the price. If you’re working with a limited budget and want the best you may get for the least amount of money, the Air4 Pro will not disappoint.
An affordable alternative to some of the more premium earbuds, the SoundPEATS Air4 Pro offers excellent value for money. With ANC, multipoint connection, customizable EQ settings, and decent battery life, they’re unbeatable for the price point.
The Best Earbuds for Phone Calls:Samsung Galaxy Buds FE
Boasting a superior mic quality and battery life compared to the Galaxy Buds 2, theSamsung Galaxy Buds FEis a great choice of wireless earbuds for making and taking calls. But it’s not just the improved mic that makes them ideal for conversations on the move; it’s the array of voice chat-friendly features on board.
Active noise cancelation makes hearing your friends and colleagues easy wherever you are, and the Auto Switch feature makes switching between connected devices a breeze. And with the interpreter feature on your Galaxy phone, you’re able to even speak to someone in another language, with real-time translations through your Galaxy Buds FE.
Voice assistant compatibility makes the Galaxy Buds FE ideal for keeping up with your busy lifestyle and scheduling calls and appointments. A new wingtip design means these buds are comfortable to wear for long stretches, and decent battery life means you’ll be exhausted from all the chat long before they will.
The Galaxy Buds FE are a well-priced set of quality earbuds perfect for Android users. They offer clear voice calls and punchy audio with strong bass. The battery life is long, and the effective ANC blocks out most unwanted background noise.
The Best Earbuds for Working Out:Beats Fit Pro
Wireless earbuds are great for working out. However, you’ll want some that not only sound great but also stay put. In addition, they need to offer a decent amount of sweat protection while you’re chasing those PBs. So, the next time you head to the gym, you might want to take a pair ofBeats Fit Prowith you.
With flexible, secure-fit wingtips, these IPX4 earbuds will stick to the sweatiest inner ears. They feature Spatial Audio with dynamic head-tracking, Active Noise Cancelation, and Automatic Switching—all of which add to the immersion factor when you want to stay in the zone and focus on your playlists.
Battery life is around 6 hours (without the case), but unless you’re a marathon runner, there should be plenty to carry you through even the most grueling workouts. With ten different color tones to choose from, you may add a little flair to your workouts, too.
With quality ANC to rival Airpods Pro 2nd Gens, Beats Fit Pro offers a good alternative at a lower price. Bass quality is as resonating as always, but there are improvements in the mids and highs, meaning the audio quality surpasses previous Beats earbuds.
The Best Noise-Cancelling Earbuds:Bose QuietComfort Ultra
If premium sound quality and noise cancelation are must-have features for your wireless earbuds, then theBose QuietComfort Ultrais an excellent cost-be-damned choice. Combining spatial audio with world-class noise cancelation (using Bose’s CustomTune technology) gives you a tailored audio experience that analyzes each ear and adapts the ANC for an individual fit.
The call quality here is impressive, too, with noise-rejecting microphones working hard to filter out any background noise, boosting the clarity of your voice chats. Three ANC modes (Quiet, Aware, and Immersion) are available, and further customization is offered courtesy of the Bose app, where you’re able to noodle with the EQ, custom modes, and shortcuts of all paired devices.
The QuietComfort Ultra includes nine different sizes of ear tips, so you won’t struggle to find the best fit. Their IPX4 sweat and water-resistance rating makes them practical for all-weather wear. They may cost a pretty penny, but the Quiet Comfort Ultra represents the ultimate in noise canceling earbuds.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultras excel in the field of active noise cancelation. But you also get clear conversations even with noisy backgrounds and Immersive Audio for a spatial listening experience.
Q: Which is better, earbuds or over-ear headphones?
This mostly comes down to personal preference. Generally speaking, over-ear headphones offer a better-quality audio experience as the speakers tend to be more powerful. Their ANC capabilities outperform those of wireless earbuds. They also offer a much better battery life.
However, wireless earbuds are cheaper and more portable and can make your head less hot while wearing them.
Q: How do I make earbuds more comfortable?
Earbuds have the disadvantage of becoming uncomfortable to wear over longer periods. However, you can mitigate your discomfort by checking that you have the right size ear tips attached to your ears and repositioning them inside your ear.
Your earbuds should sit snugly within the bowl of your ear without moving around too much, and if fitted properly, you should feel minimal pressure while wearing them.
Q: What is active noise cancelation, and do I need it in my earbuds?
Active noise cancelation blocks out ambient noise while listening to music or taking calls with your earbuds. It also enables you to listen at a lower volume.
This feature can provide you with a richer and more immersive audio experience. However, if you engage ANC, you need to be careful in your surroundings, as the usual ambient sound that may alert you to danger will not be audible.
