While you could say the Bluetooth earbuds space is thriving, you could also say the amount of variety in the market can make it confusing to decide which pair will be the best Bluetooth earbuds for you.There are plenty of high-quality options out there, with solid active noise cancellation (ANC) like the AirPods Pro 2, sound quality and designs, so for many, the decision will come down to unique features that big companies like Sony, Bose, Apple and Samsung put in their products.I've tested and reviewed dozens of sets of earbuds a year for Engadget, constantly pitting new models against the previous best across all price ranges to keep this list of the best true wireless earbuds up to date.This guide explains why my current selections for the best wireless earbuds made the cut, and offers some shopping advice in terms of everything you need to know before choosing the best true wireless earbuds for your needs.If earbuds aren’t your jam, however, you can check out our best headphones buying guide, covering our favorite wireless, over-ear headphones, noise-canceling headphones and more.Quick OverviewBest wireless earbuds overallSony WF-1000XM5More options$222 at Amazon$228 at Adorama$228 at Macy'sBest wireless earbuds for iPhoneApple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)More options$154 at Amazon$239 at Staples$250 at VerizonBest wireless earbuds for Google phonesGoogle Pixel Buds Pro 2More options$229 at Amazon$229 at GoogleBest wireless earbuds for Samsung phonesSamsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro$250 at AmazonBest budget wireless earbudsAnker Soundcore Space A40$45 at AmazonBest noise-canceling earbudsBose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling EarbudsMore options$229 at Adorama$229 at Amazon$229 at WalmartBest noise-canceling earbuds - runner upBose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024)More options$149 at Adorama$149 at Amazon$149 at WalmartBest sounding wireless earbudsSennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4More options$200 at Amazon$200 at Macy's$300 at World Wide StereoBest wireless earbuds for working outBeats Fit ProMore options$190 at Macy's$199 at Amazon$200 at AdoramaHonorable mentionSony LinkBuds SMore options$128 at Adorama$128 at Amazon$128 at Macy'sSee 5 moreTable of contentsBest wireless earbuds of 2024What to look for in wireless earbudsHow we test wireless earbuds Other wireless earbuds we testedWireless earbuds FAQsBest wireless earbudsSonyBest wireless earbuds overallSony WF-1000XM5Read our full Sony WF-1000XM5 review Battery life: 8 hours, up to 24 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes With the WF-1000XM5 flagship earbuds, Sony improves its already formidable mix of great sound, effective ANC and handy features.
These earbuds are undoubtedly the company’s best and most comfortable design of its 1000X models so far, which was one of the few remaining riddles Sony needed to solve.Sony still manages to pack in more features than anyone else too, including trademark ones like adaptive sound and Speak-to-Chat.Add in upgraded drivers, new chips, eight hours of battery life and significant improvements to sound quality and these are Sony’s best earbuds yet.
But all of the advancements come at a cost: these are also Sony’s most expensive set of wireless earbuds in the 1000X lineup.ProsExcellent sound qualityImproved designMore comfortable fitLoads of handy featuresConsMore expensiveNo battery life improvementHead tracking is Android onlySome features still need fine-tuning$222 at AmazonExplore More Buying Options$228 at Adorama$228 at Macy'sPhoto by Billy Steele / EngadgetBest wireless earbuds for iPhoneApple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)Read our full Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) review Battery life: 6 hours, up to 30 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes Apple’s second-generation AirPods Pro are a huge improvement over the previous models.These buds have improved sound quality and active noise cancellation, while maintaining all of the conveniences that make AirPods the best earbud option for iPhone, iOS and Mac.
When we reviewed them, we found the most impressive feature to be transparency mode, which is more natural sounding than any other earbuds by a mile.You can leave these in during a conversation and it’s like you’re not even wearing them.Of course, fast pairing, hands-free Siri, spatial audio, good battery life, and now, a USB-C charging case that can also power up wirelessly will also come in handy.
ProsImproved soundStellar transparency modeSolid ANCSeamless switching between Apple devicesConsSame designNew touch gesture takes practiceAverage battery lifePersonalized Spatial Audio results vary$154 at AmazonExplore More Buying Options$239 at Staples$250 at VerizonPhoto by Billy Steele / EngadgetBest wireless earbuds for Google phonesGoogle Pixel Buds Pro 2Read our full Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review Battery life: 8 hours, up to 30 hours with charging case (ANC on) | Water resistance: IP54 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes The Pixel Buds Pro 2 may be Google’s priciest earbuds, but they’re also its best.A complete redesign resulted in significantly smaller earbuds that fit more comfortably and securely.The company has also packed in a Tensor chip for the first time to handle audio and ANC signal processing.
As you might expect, these earbuds offer a hands-free channel to Gemini AI, although they’re not required to use the voice assistant.Google also revised the acoustics and drivers on the Pixel Buds Pro 2, delivering ample low-end tone when it’s needed.There are plenty of handy features too, like Conversation Detection, Hearing Wellness and Find My Device.
Spatial Audio is available at launch this time, but you can only use it with compatible video streaming apps.ProsTiny, comfy designPunchy bass, full mids, crisp highsSlightly longer battery life than predecessorConsPrice went up againSpatial audio is limited to video appsSmaller touch panel requires precision$229 at AmazonExplore More Buying Options$229 at GoogleSamsungBest wireless earbuds for Samsung phonesSamsung Galaxy Buds 3 ProRead our full Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro review Battery life: 6 hours, up to 26 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IP57 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro borrow heavily from Apple’s AirPods Pro in both looks and features, and build upon the foundation of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.However, Samsung did well to make things like Adaptive ANC and voice commands work well.
Some features like Voice Detect could still use some fine tuning, but there’s a lot to like here beyond the basic functionality.The truly surprising thing about the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is the sound quality.There is some thick, boomy bass when you need it with plenty of crisp detail to complement it.
This model really shines when you pair it with a Samsung device to unlock 24-bit HiFi streaming.There’s also a natural-sounding transparency mode that keeps you from feeling shouty during calls.ProsGreat sound qualityLoads of handy featuresComfy fitNatural ambient soundConsBattery life is shorter than some rivalsThe best features require a recent Samsung deviceCopycat designBlade lights are a gimmick$250 at AmazonPhoto by Jeff Dunn / EngadgetBest budget wireless earbudsAnker Soundcore Space A40Battery life: 10 hours, up to 50 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes The Anker Soundcore Space A40 offer the kind of features you’d expect from wireless earbuds that cost twice as much: ANC, multi-device pairing, wireless charging, IPX4 water resistance, a transparency mode, eight to ten hours of battery life and LDAC support.
When we tested them, we found their warm sound to be pleasing right out of the box, but Anker’s companion app makes it easy to customize the EQ curve if needed.And while their ANC isn’t quite as effective at reducing background noise as our top picks, it’s still effective for a noisy office or long flight.For $80 or so, this is a superb value.
– ProsAffordableGood battery lifeMultipoint connectivityTransparency ModeConsANC isn't as strong as competitors$45 at AmazonPhoto by Billy Steele / EngadgetBest noise-canceling earbudsBose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling EarbudsRead our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds review Battery life: 6 hours, up to 24 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes Since the company introduced the first model, Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds have consistently provided the best noise cancellation out of all the wireless buds we've tested.It’s not surprising that its most-recent version, the QC Ultra Earbuds, only improved in ANC performance.However, the bigger story here is that Bose finally has the audio chops to compete with the best earbuds thanks to its new Immersive Audio tech.
The feature brings spatial audio to all by not requiring specially-made content to use it.Rather than employ music and movies where the sound is coming from all directions, QC Ultra Earbuds put you in the middle of the acoustic “sweet spot” by relying heavily on virtualization.A dedicated gesture for volume controls, better-than-advertised battery life and customization settings round out the spec sheet.
ProsStellar ANCSpatial audio doesn't require special contentUpgrades with no price increaseConsEarbuds are still bigImmersive Audio significantly impacts battery lifeWireless charging costs extra$229 at AdoramaExplore More Buying Options$229 at Amazon$229 at WalmartBoseBest noise-canceling earbuds - runner upBose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024)Read our full Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review Battery life: 8.5 hours, up to 31.5 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes Before now, you had to pay around $300 if you wanted Bose-quality ANC on a set of earbuds.With the new QuietComfort Earbuds, the company packs in a lot of its best features for less money.You’ll get effective ANC, good sound quality, and features like voice controls.
The earbuds are smaller than typical Bose fare, which means they’re more comfortable and fit better.You’ll also enjoy well over eight hours of battery life with ANC on and an IPX4 rating that will be good enough for workouts.And if the product page is to be trusted, you can also look forward to Bose’s unique spatial audio (Immersive Audio) coming soon.
ProsGreat sound qualityEffective ANCLots of handy featuresDependable battery lifeConsNo Immersive Audio (yet)Audio and ANC sacrifices compared to the QC Ultra EarbudsNo CustomTune featurePoor call quality$149 at AdoramaExplore More Buying Options$149 at Amazon$149 at WalmartPhoto by Billy Steele / EngadgetBest sounding wireless earbudsSennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4Read our full Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review Battery life: 7 hours, up to 30 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IP54 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes Once again, Sennheiser has retained the top spot on this list in terms of pure sound quality.Sure, you’ll find better ANC performance from Bose and a longer list of features from Sony.But the Momentum True Wireless 4 has great detail and clarity.
It delivers warm, inviting sound that is enjoyable to listen to for hours on end and even though the bass is boomy when it needs to be, it never overpowers.Those pairing to Android devices can enjoy high-res audio thanks to compatibility with Snapdragon Sound, while the iPhone faithful will get the best experience with Apple Music – especially on Dolby Atmos tracks.ProsExcellent sound qualitySupport for higher-resolution audio on AndroidGood battery lifeCustomization optionsCons$50 more than previous modelNo design refreshNo spatial audio$200 at AmazonExplore More Buying Options$200 at Macy's$300 at World Wide StereoPhoto by Billy Steele / EngadgetBest wireless earbuds for working outBeats Fit ProRead our full Beats Fit Pro review Battery life: 6 hours, up to 24 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes Most of the best AirPods features in a set of workout earbuds? That’s the Beats Fit Pro.
Thanks to Apple’s H1 chip, these buds offer one-touch quick pairing, hands-free Siri and Find My tools.They’ll also allow you to use Audio Sharing with an Apple device and another set of AirPods or Beats wireless headphones for tandem listening or viewing.Balanced and punchy bass will keep the energy up during workouts while good noise cancellation, an IPX4 rating and comfy silicone ear tips make these a solid option outside of the gym too.
And there’s plenty of support for Android devices, so these aren’t just a good buy for iOS users either.ProsComfortable designGood ANCH1 chip offers quick pairing and switching between Apple devicesPlenty of Android supportConsCall quality could be better$190 at Macy'sExplore More Buying Options$199 at Amazon$200 at AdoramaSonyHonorable mentionSony LinkBuds SBattery life: 6 hours, up to 20 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes One of the biggest surprises this year wasn’t Sony’s unique open-wear LinkBuds, it was the more mainstream follow-up.With the LinkBuds S, the company debuted a more traditionally designed pair of earbuds akin to its premium WF-1000XM4, only this model is much smaller and lighter which leads to a much more comfy fit.
These tiny wireless earbuds muster some punch when it comes to sound quality too and support for high-res listening (LDAC and DSEE Extreme) are both onboard.Capable ANC lends a hand with environmental noise and transparency mode can keep you tuned in when needed.What’s more, handy Speak-to-Chat is here and Adaptive Sound Control can automatically change settings based on activity or location.
That’s a lot of premium features at a mid-range price.ProsComfortable designGood sound qualitySpeak-to-ChatAdaptive Sound ControlConsAverage battery life$128 at AdoramaExplore More Buying Options$128 at Amazon$128 at Macy'sWhat to look for in wireless earbudsWhen it comes to shopping for earphones, the first thing to consider is design or wear style.Do you prefer a semi-open fit like AirPods or do you want something that completely closes off your ears? If you’re shopping for earbuds with active noise cancellation, you'll want the latter, but a case can be made for the former if you want to wear them all day or frequent places where you need to be tuned in to the ambient sounds.
The overall shape of earbuds can determine whether you get a comfortable fit, so can the size and weight, so you’ll want to consider all that before deciding.And remember: audio companies aren’t perfect, so despite lots of research, the earbud shape they decided on may not fit you well.Don’t be afraid to return ill-fitting earbuds for something that’s more comfortable.As wireless earbuds have become the norm, they’re now more reliable for basic things like consistent Bluetooth connectivity.
Companies are still in a race to pack as much as they can into increasingly smaller designs.This typically means a longer list of features on the more premium sets of earbuds with basic functionality on the cheapest models.Carefully consider what you can’t live without when selecting your next earbuds, and make sure key items like automatic pausing and multipoint connectivity are on the spec sheet.
You’ll also want to investigate the volume and touch controls as you’ll often have to sacrifice access to something else to make that adjustment via on-board taps or swipes.Some earbuds even offer app settings to tweak the audio profiles or firmware updates to improve performance over time.For those in the Apple ecosystem, features like auto-pairing with devices, especially with AirPods Pro 2, can be an added advantage, while Android users may want to look for models that offer similar cross-device functionality.When it comes to battery life, the average set of earbuds lasts about five hours on a single charge.You can find sets that last longer, but this is likely enough to get you through a work day if you’re docking the buds during lunch or the occasional meeting.
You’ll want to check on how many extra charges are available via the case and if it supports wireless charging.Companies will also make lofty claims about call quality on wireless earbuds.Despite lots of promises, the reality is most earbuds still leave you sounding like you’re on speakerphone.There are some sets that deliver, but don’t get your hopes up unless reviews confirm the claims.Sound can be subjective, so we recommend trying before you buy if at all possible.
This is especially true if you're an audiophile.We understand this isn’t easy when most of us do a lot of shopping online, but trying on a set of earbuds and listening to them for a few minutes can save you from an expensive case of buyer's remorse.If a store doesn’t allow a quick demo, most retailers have return policies that will let you take earbuds back you don’t like.
Of course, you have to be willing to temporarily part with funds in order to do this.We also recommend paying attention to things like Spatial Audio, Dolby Atmos, 360 Reality Audio and other immersive formats.Not all earbuds support them, so you’ll want to make sure a perspective pair does if that sort of thing excites you, especially if you plan to use them for playback of high-quality audio.How we test wireless Bluetooth earbudsThe primary way we test earbuds is to wear them as much as possible.We prefer to do this over a one- to two-week period, but sometimes embargoes don’t allow it.
During this time, we listen to a mix of music and podcasts, while also using the earbuds to take both voice and video calls.Since battery life for earbuds is typically less than a full day, we drain the battery with looping music and the volume set at a comfortable level (usually around 75 percent).To judge audio quality, we listen to a range of genres, noting any differences in the sound profile across the styles.We also test at both low and high volumes to check for consistency in the tuning.
To assess call quality, we’ll record audio samples with the earbuds’ microphones as well as have third parties call us.When it comes to features, we do a thorough review of companion apps, testing each feature as we work through the software.Any holdovers from previous models are double checked for improvements or regression.If the earbuds we’re testing are an updated version of a previous model, we’ll spend time getting reacquainted with the older buds.
Ditto for the closest competition for each new set of earbuds that we review.Other wireless Bluetooth earbuds we testedSamsung Galaxy Buds 3The Galaxy Buds 3 combine ANC with an open-type design, which renders the noise-blocking abilities of the earbuds mostly useless.Still, there’s great low-end tone with ample bass when a track demands it.There are also lots of handy features, most of which require a Samsung phone.
But at this price, there are better options from Google, Beats and SonySennheiser Momentum SportI really like the overall shape of the Momentum Sport earbuds.They’re more comfortable than the Momentum True Wireless 4 and fit in my ears better.What’s more, the body temperature and heart rate sensors work well, sending those stats to a variety of apps.
However, that sport-tracking feature works best with Polar’s app and devices, so there’s that consideration.Also, the audio quality and ANC performance isn’t as good as the MTW4, and these earbuds are pricey.Beats Solo BudsThere’s a lot to like about the Solo Buds for $80.For me, the primary perk is they’re very comfortable to wear for long periods of time thanks to some thoughtful design considerations.
You only get the basics here in terms of features and, as expected, the overall sound quality isn’t as good as the pricier models in the Beats lineup.You will get 18 hours of battery life though, since the company nixed the battery in the case and beefed up the listening time in the buds themselves.Bose Ultra Open EarbudsBose created something very unique for this set of earbuds that allows you to stay in-tune with the world while listening to audio content.The clip-on design is very comfortable, but sound quality suffers due to the open-type fit, especially when it comes to bass and spatial audio.Audio-Technica ATH-TWX7These stick buds have a compact design that’s comfortable to wear and the warm sound profile is great at times.
However, overall audio performance is inconsistent and there’s no automatic pausing.Master & Dynamic MW09Retooled audio, better ambient sound mode and reliable multipoint Bluetooth are the best things the MW09 has to offer.They’re expensive though, and you can find better ANC performance elsewhere.Beats Studio Buds +Updates to sound, ANC and battery life top the spec sheet here, and the new clear color option has some throwback energy I love.But there are some basic features missing, and Beats doesn’t come close to Apple’s natural audio quality in transparency mode.JBL Tour Pro 2These earbuds are feature-packed, including a touchscreen “smart case.” They aren’t the most consistent in terms of overall performance though, and I’m not convinced that case provides a lot of utility just yet.Wireless earbud FAQsWhat is considered good battery life for true wireless earbuds?Most wireless earbuds will last five hours on a single charge, at the least.
You can find some pairs that have even better battery life, lasting between six and eight hours before they need more juice.All of the best wireless earbuds come with a charging case, which will provide additional hours of battery life — but you'll have to return each bud to the case in order to charge them up.Is sound quality better on headphones or earbuds?Comparing sound quality on earbuds and headphones is a bit like comparing apples and oranges.There are a lot of variables to consider and the differences in components make a direct comparison difficult.
Personally, I prefer the audio quality from over-ear headphones, but I can tell you the sound from earbuds like Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 3 is also outstanding.Which wireless earbuds have the longest battery life?With new models coming out all the time, tracking the hours of battery life for each this can be difficult to keep tabs on.The longest-lasting earbuds we’ve reviewed are Audio-Technica’s ATH-CKS5TW.The company states they last 15 hours, but the app was still showing 40 percent at that mark during our tests.
The only downside is these earbuds debuted in 2019 and both technology and features have improved since.In terms of current models, Master & Dynamic’s MW08 offers 12 hours of use on a charge with ANC off (10 with ANC on) and JBL has multiple options with 10-hour batteries.What wireless earbuds are waterproof?There are plenty of options these days when it comes to increased water resistance.To determine the level of protection, you’ll want to look for an IP (ingress protection) rating.
The first number indicates intrusion protection from things like dust.The second number is the level of moisture protection and you’ll want to make sure that figure is 7 or higher.At this water-resistance rating, earbuds can withstand full immersion for up to 30 minutes in depths up to one meter (3.28 feet).
If either of the IP numbers is an X, that means it doesn’t have any special protection.For example, a pair of wireless earbuds that are IPX7 wouldn’t be built to avoid dust intrusion, but they would be ok if you dropped them in shallow water.Which earbuds stay in ears the best?A secure fit can vary wildly from person to person.All of our ears are different, so audio companies are designing their products to fit the most people they can with a single shape.
This is why AirPods will easily fall out for some but stay put for others.Design touches like wing tips or fins typically come on fitness models and those elements can help keep things in place.You’ll likely just have to try earbuds on, and if they don’t fit well return them.What wireless earbuds work with PS5?PlayStation 5 doesn’t support Bluetooth audio without an adapter or dongle.
Even Sony’s own gaming headsets come with a transmitter that connects to the console.There are universal options that allow you to use any headphones, headset or earbuds with a PS5.Once you have one, plug it into a USB port on the console and pair your earbuds with it.Recent updatesJuly 2024: Updated our list to include the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.
