The Best Wireless Earbuds
Table of Contents
Thanks to smartphones, most of us have a portable music player in our pockets every single day. Popular music streaming services, such as Spotify and Pandora, have changed the way we listen to music or podcasts, making it more convenient than ever before. But to truly get the best listening experience, you have to invest into a set of earbuds and nowadays that means wireless ones.
If you’ve already begun shopping for earbuds, you’ve probably noticed there’s a wide selection of options out there. How do you narrow down your choices and choose just one? In this article, we’ll list our top picks for the best earbuds—focusing on wireless options—and offer you plenty of information on what to consider when shopping for a pair.
1. Editors Pick: Cambridge Audio Melomania True Wireless Earbuds Pair
- Comes in 2 colours
- IPX4 water resistant
- Up to 50 hours of playtime with case recharging
- Graphene-enhanced 7mm drivers for great sound performance
- Touch sensitivity is a bit high
- Doesn't fit all ears comfortably
- Can fall out easily; not ideal for working out
- Pairing with Bluetooth isn't always consistent
- Some people have had issues with connectivity
Key Specs
Connectivity: | Wireless, Bluetooth 5.0 |
Battery Life: | Up to 9 hours (50 hours with case charging) |
Weight: | 68g |
These earbuds strikes a balance between performance and price.
These Cambridge Audio Melomania True Wireless Earbuds Pair offers up to nine hours of playback before they need to be recharged. It takes about 30 minutes to fully charge the earbuds and about two hours to charge the case. Powered by graphene-enhanced 7mm drivers, these earbuds deliver surprising performance in a small, lightweight package. They are IPX4 water resistant and feature Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.
2. Runner Up: Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
- Comes in 4 colours
- Active Noise Cancellation
- Three-mic setup for crystal clear calls
- Auto Switch makes switching devices easy
- Average sound quality
- Doesn't fit all ears comfortably
- Can fall out easily; not ideal for working out
Key Specs
Connectivity: | Wireless, Bluetooth 5.0 |
Battery Life: | Up to 5 hours (15 hours with case charging) |
Weight: | 5g |
These wireless earbuds provide rich treble and deep bass in a small package.
While we understand that most people have sound quality as their main concern, some will likely use their earbuds to make phone calls. One major weakness of many earbuds is their sound quality when it comes to taking phone calls, as their focus is typically on output rather than input. These Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 come equipped with three microphones to clearly capture what you’re saying so your voice comes through crystal clear on the other end. You also get up to 5 hours of playtime on a single charge and extend that to 15 total hours by charging the earbuds in the case.
3. Best for Active Lifestyle: Jabra Elite Active 75T True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds
- Comes in 2 colours
- 4-microphone setup
- 2-year warranty against dust and sweat
- IP57 rating—waterproof and sweatproof
- Customizable ANC and HearThrough modes
- Sensitive buttons
- Average battery life
- No wireless charging for the case
Key Specs
Connectivity: | Wireless, Bluetooth 5.0 |
Battery Life: | Up to 7.5 hours (28 hours with case charging) with ANC disabled |
Weight: | 270g |
If you’re looking for a set of earbuds as a companion to your workouts, consider these.
Designed for the active lifestyle, these Jabra Elite Active 75T True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds are one of the most comfortable earbuds on our list and have an IP57 rating so they’re fully waterproof and sweat-proof. The company is so confident in how durable they are that the Elite Active 75T is backed by a 2-year warranty against dust and sweat. Another premium feature is Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) which is customized through the Jabra app based on your listening preferences. If you have to be more aware of your surroundings, these earbuds also offer a feature called HearThrough mode which lets in ambient noise. It's also customizable based on your preferences.
When it comes to phone calls, these earbuds perform better than your average pair thanks to a 4-microphone setup. You can also use them with your favourite voice assistant, whether that’s Amazon Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. In terms of battery life, the Elite Active 75T offers up to 7.5 hours of continuous use or up to 28 hours with the charging case (with ANC turned off).
4. Best for Audiophiles: Sony WF-1000XM3 Truly Wireless Earbuds
- Fantastic audio quality
- Adaptive Sound Control
- Intuitive and user-friendly app
- DSEE HX upscales compressed audio
- Sensitive buttons
- No water/sweat resistance
- No wireless charging for case
Key Specs
Connectivity: | Wireless, Bluetooth 5.0 |
Battery Life: | Up to 8 hours (32 hours with case charging) with noise cancelling disabled |
Weight: | 100g |
Immerse yourself in your music with these earbuds.
On a full charge, these Sony WF-1000XM3 Truly Wireless Earbuds provide up to eight hours of listening with noise cancelling turned off. The charging case is capable of providing three additional charges for a total of up to 32 hours of playtime. If you are out of juice, a 10-minute quick charge will give you up to 90 minutes of listening time. If you wish to use noise cancellation, expect to lose about two hours of power per charge.
Contributing to sound quality is the company’s HD Noise-Cancelling Processor QN1e, which combines Digital Noise Cancellation, 24-bit Audio Signal Processing, and a Digital-to-Analog converter with a headphone amplifier to minimize distortion. In addition, these earbuds use Digital Sound Enhancement Engine HX (DSEE HX) to upscale compressed digital music files which brings them closer to the quality of High-Resolution Audio.
When using the Sony Headphones Connect app, you can take advantage of Adaptive Sound Control which will automatically detect what’s going on around you and adjust the ambient sound settings for the situation. From travelling to walking, you can customize the settings based on your preferences depending on whether or not you need to be more aware of your surroundings. These earbuds are compatible with your favourite voice assistant, including Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant.
5. Best for iPhone: Apple AirPods (2nd Generation)
- Customizable fit
- Active Noise Cancellation
- Ideal for Apple device owners
- Adaptive EQ adjusts audio to your ear
- Mic isn't the greatest quality
- Can fall out easily; not ideal for working out
Key Specs
Connectivity: | Wireless, Bluetooth 5.0 |
Battery Life: | Up to 4.5 hours (24+ hours with case charging) |
Weight: | 40g |
These earbuds delivering a rich and consistent listening experience, these earbuds automatically tune your music to the shape of your ear.
We’d be amiss not to include Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) on our list of the best earbuds. Helping contribute to clear sound is a high dynamic range amplifier which powers the speaker driver to remove background noise. The Apple-designed H1 chip employs 10 audio cores to create incredibly low audio processing latency which allows the earbuds to have real-time noise cancellation that continuously adapts to your ear to block out what’s going on around you.
You’ll get up to 4.5 hours of listening time on a single charge and more than 24 hours of total listening time with additional charges from the case. This improves slightly if you turn off ANC and Transparency. If you’re in a hurry, 5 minutes of charging will get you about an hour of listening time. These earbuds take full advantage of Apple’s Siri and any other Apple devices you may own. They’ll automatically switch seamlessly between your iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac when connected to multiple devices.
6. Best Noise Cancelling: Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Earbuds
- IPX4 rating
- Comes in 2 colours
- Transparency mode
- Compatible with Q-i certified wireless charging mat
- Expensive
- Bulky design
Key Specs
Connectivity: | Wireless, Bluetooth 5.1 |
Battery Life: | Up to 6 hours (18 hours with case charging) |
Weight: | 9g |
If you want an amazing sound for all of your music and movies, these earbuds are made exclusively for you!
Last but certainly not least — the Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Earbuds. If you need to block out your surroundings, these earbuds use exclusive acoustic architecture, Volume-optimized Active EQ, and an adjustable transparency mode to deliver top-notch sound quality. To ensure a comfortable and secure fit, these headphones include three different sizes of their StayHear silicone ear-tips. Compatible with both IOS and Android devices, you can enjoy simple touch controls, up to six hours of battery life off of one charge, and noise-rejecting microphones with these luxury earphones.
7. Best Budget Pick: EarFun Free Pro Wireless Earbuds
- IPX5 rated
- Low latency mode
- Multiple earbuds to customize fit
- 4-mic noise cancelling technology
- Lacks ANC
- No touch control to skip to previous track
Key Specs
Connectivity: | Wireless, Bluetooth 5.2 |
Battery Life: | Up to 7 hours (32 hours with case charging) |
Weight: | 4.25g |
These wireless earbuds offer surprisingly decent audio quality for the price.
These EarFun Free Pro Wireless Earbuds deliver quality sound, wide connectivity, and ENC technology at half the price of other popular models. They weigh in at an astonishing 0.15 ounces and use an ergonomic design to help them sit comfortably in your ears all day long. Equipped with the latest Bluetooth 5.2 tech, these lightweight earbuds can connect to any Bluetooth-enabled Android, IOS, or Windows device. Dual composite dynamic drivers provide you with balanced, crystal-clear sound, and high-resolution bass, too. Love talking on the phone? These earbuds use a four-microphone array and anti-noise technology to block out any background noise up to 28dB to make your voice 3X clearer.8. Also Consider: 1MORE ColorBuds True Wireless Earbuds
- IPX5 rating
- Comes in 3 colours
- Lightweight and portable
- Infrared sensor for smart playback
- Minimal bass
- Limited touch button controls
Key Specs
Connectivity: | Wireless, Bluetooth 5.0 |
Battery Life: | 22 hours with case charging |
Weight: | 40g |
With hassle-free pairing and a streamlined design, this versatile set of earbuds can be used at the gym, at work, or while relaxing at home.
Although from a lesser-known brand, these 1MORE ColorBuds True Wireless Earbuds deliver some top-notch sound quality without breaking the bank. Built with a full-range balanced armature, these comfortable earbuds produce high-definition and sensitive sounds that may surprise you. Its pocket-sized charging case makes for easy transportation while its ergonomic design gives you an earbud that sits comfortably in your ear. In addition, by combining four powerful microphones with cVc 8.0 Environmental Noise Cancelling technology, your phone calls will sound as clear as day.
How to Choose the Right Earbuds
If you’ve already spent some time shopping for earbuds, it’s understandable if you’ve come away overwhelmed with all the different options and myriad of specifications being listed as features. Below, you’ll find some factors to consider to help you choose the right earbuds for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wireless Earbuds
The growing popularity of wireless earbuds means there are plenty of options to choose from, with prices ranging from extremely affordable to eye-popping expensive. Looking for more? Check out some of the frequently asked questions from our readers.
Would you like Active Noise Cancellation?
Think about the environment you’ll most often use your earbuds. If you want to block out the world around you so that you’re fully immersed in your tunes, you’ll want a pair of earbuds equipped with Active Noise Cancellation. This technology helps block out ambient noise, so you can focus solely on your music.
How much battery life do you need?
As you can tell, even from our recommendations, the battery life for earbuds can vary wildly. If you know you’ll need to go an extended period of time before charging, make sure you get an option that will last you the entire day. For some, charging in the case is convenient, but not everyone may want to carry their case with them. Also, make sure to check the claims of how much battery life you could get from a few minutes of charging—if that’s important to you.
Do you make a lot of phone calls?
It’s not a focal point for a lot of shoppers, but for those who make or receive plenty of phone calls, you may want a pair of earbuds that focuses on microphone audio quality. Truth be told, some of the best-sounding earbuds come with a below-average microphone. Keep that in mind if the input is more important than the output.
Love to use a Voice Assistant?
If you’re constantly asking Alexa, Siri or your Google Assistant questions throughout the day or prefer voice-activated commands to control your smartphone, you’ll want a pair of earbuds that are compatible with your favourite voice assistant. Most premium recommendations will be compatible, but it’s always worth double-checking.
What about water resistance?
If you’re primarily using your earbuds as a companion for trips to the gym, make sure you’re getting an option that is water and sweat-resistant. Look for the IP rating to determine just how durable they are. The first number in the rating specifies dust resistance on a scale of 0 to 6, while the second number is water resistance, on a 0 to 7 scale. If you see an X after the IP, it means the earbuds are not resistant to dust. We recommend a minimum rating of 4 for water resistance if you’re planning to come in any contact with water or sweat.
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