If you already have the latest and greatest smartphone, tablet, and laptop, you may be looking for the next gadget to keep these tech selections as cutting-edge as possible. A terrific pair of wireless earbuds might be missing.
Wireless earbuds harness the power of Bluetooth to establish a wire-free connection between many go-to audio-hosting peripherals. Once paired, you can use your phone, tablet, or computer to adjust volume; many earbuds even have built-in volume controls. You’ll also enjoy features like active noise-cancellation, spatial audio, and fast charging capabilities.
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Source Sony
Sony WF-1000XM5
Best overall
Top wireless earbuds
Best overall
Sony WF-1000XM5
Killer audio and ANC
$248 $300 Save $52
Sony’s flagship true wireless earbuds have been our top recommendation in the category for two years straight, and the WF-1000XM5 continue that tradition. The newest model features dedicated processors for both noise cancellation and regular audio processing while being lighter and smaller than their predecessors. But the premium quality comes with a price tag to match.
- Great audio quality
- Better comfort and fit than the last generation
- Great active noise cancellation
- Still a bulky design
- Expensive
Don’t expect Sony to sit on their laurels. As good as the Sony WF-1000XM4 were, the company has made sure to build on that with the WF-1000XM5. Considering the high price point, it’s a good thing that these earbuds are so excellent.
As is expected with this line of earbuds, the sound quality is great with its detailed and slightly bright sound signature, which still produces a warm, full, low-end. The ANC is equally impressive, offering some of the best in the business, possibly only beaten out by Bose. It’s good enough that you’ll feel comfortable skipping over-ear headphones for that next flight you have planned.
The battery life is another area in these earbuds’ favor, as it can last eight hours with the ANC on and twelve with it off. Really, there’s very little to fault with the XM5 to the point where it’s an obvious choice as the overall best earbuds available right now.
Premium pick
Denon PerL Pro
A worthy Bose competitor
$279 $349 Save $70
The Denon PerL Pro earbuds boast exceptional drivers that deliver a crisp and balanced sound. The hefty bass is impressive for everything from jazz to classical. The ANC is pretty decent, too, though Bose still wins in that category. But with their near-distortion-free high-fidelity, the trade is worth it for some.
- Gives Bose a run for their money when it comes to bass and high-fidelity
- Comfortable enough for long listening sessions
- Several codecs to choose from
- Some of the codecs may drain your phone battery
Considering the Denon PerL Pro earbuds earned our Innovation Award, it should come as no surprise that these stylish little buds are our premium pick. The overall sound is quite impressive, and it should be for $350. You’ll enjoy deep bass, competent ANC, and plenty of ways to tailor your listening experience.
For starters, they feature — and it’s a mouthful—10mm ultra-low-distortion triple-layer titanium diaphragm dynamic drivers. So, what does that mean? Basically, you’re getting some quality high-fidelity audio. When combined with the impressive list of supported codecs, you can tweak them until your heart’s, or should we say your ears’, content.
Comfort-wise, Denon provides several earbud bits, medium foam tips, and two sets of wings, to help reduce discomfort. The wings are especially nice for longer listening sessions. Battery life is also solid, with eight hours of playback and up to 24 hours with the case. That said, depending on which codec you use, the PerL Pros can suck a lot of power from some phones. However, newer phones might be fine.
Read our review
Denon PerL Pro review: A truly tailored audio experience
These excellent earbuds pack lossless audio — but there’s a catch
We wouldn’t tell audiophiles to ditch their headphone amps or anything, but the PerL Pros provide excellent sound and portability.
Best value
Nothing Ear (a)
A lot to offer
The Nothing Ear (a) earbuds offer remarkable value, delivering high-quality audio with excellent mids, highs, and an effective Bass Boost. They’re lightweight and comfortable for extended wear and even exercise. Their amazingly long battery life is equally impressive. These buds would be even better if the Nothing X app offered more settings, but they’re still a solid buy.
- Bass boost is surprisingly effective
- Long battery life and fast charge time
- Impressive mids and highs for the price
The Nothing Ear (a) earbuds shouldn’t be as good as they are, especially at this price. They’re lightweight, too, and comfortable to wear for longer periods. Take them on walks or runs because they’re splash- and dust-resistant, too. The case is one minor demerit, which feels kind of cheap — it’s only IPX2 rated and there’s no wireless charging.
But it’s not all bad. With the case, you’ll get up to 42.5 hours of battery. Heck, even without the case, you’re looking at 10 hours. If, by some chance, you do run low, a quick 10-minute charge is all you need for a full battery.
The Nothing Ear (a)’s audio performance is outstanding. From mids to highs, these yellow buds deliver clear and balanced sound across all frequencies. Plus, the Bass Boost subtly improves low frequencies without overwhelming the other ranges. Our reviewer actually liked the Bass Boost so much that they never turned it off.
Read our review
Nothing Ear (a) review: A sound investment
Battery life is simply not a concern with these earbuds
Perhaps the most surprising negative about these earbuds is the Nothing X app. Sure, it’s user-friendly, but you can’t do much with it. The EQ settings are very basic, though thankfully, the Nothing Ear (a) sounds solid without adjustment.
Next-level sound quality
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4
Sennheiser strikes back
Sennheiser never messes around when it comes to sound quality and noise cancellation, and the all-new Momentum True Wireless 4 is further proof that the top-dog audio brand isn’t resting on its laurels.
- Terrific sound quality
- Comfy design
- Very good battery life
- Expensive
- No spatial audio support
We loved our time with the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3, but the German audio brand is already moving into a new generation. Enter the Momentum True Wireless 4, a brilliant example of fine-tuned audio performance meeting next-level comfort and stability.
In our ears-on testing of the True Wireless 4, we were floored by the solid balance across the highs, mids, and lows. Codec support includes AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX Adaptive/Lossless, and LC3. The True Wireless 4 even includes Adaptive ANC with three presets (Off, Anti Wind, and On) that you’ll be able to choose from.
Read Our Review
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review: Premium and practically future-proof
Sennheiser’s flagship earbuds get even better, but they’re still pricy
Battery life is another big win for Sennheiser. The True Wireless 4 should last for up to 30 hours when you factor in charging case re-fuels. Said case can also be topped off via USB-C or wireless charging.
Intuitive and comfortable
Google Pixel Buds Pro
Google’s best buds
$140 $200 Save $60
The Google Pixel Buds have a lot to offer, including great audio and ANC. Battery life is also a benefit, as the buds offer up to seven hours of listening. The best part is that everything comes in at a reasonable $200 price tag. What’s not to love?
- Good audio with ample bass
- Competent ANC and a great transparency mode
- Great touch controls
- No high-bitrate codec support
- Can be tricky to get out of the case
With full and satisfying audio, ANC, and a great transparency mode, the Google Pixel Buds Pro deliver a premium earbud experience in ways Google’s past attempts couldn’t. Packed with useful features like the always-on “Hey Google” detection, Bluetooth multipoint, and marathon battery life, the Pixel Buds Pro don’t have any glaring weaknesses. While the Pixel Buds Pro did launch without a customizable equalizer, five-band EQ eventually made its way to the Pixel Buds app, addressing a considerable flaw the buds suffered at launch. Google even ironed out the connectivity issues that plagued the past couple of pairs released.
They don’t have the very best audio quality or ANC money can buy, but strong fundamentals, batteries that can go for up to seven hours (with ANC) on a single charge, and a hassle-free experience might be worth the premium.
Read our review
Google Pixel Buds Pro review: Fourth time’s the charm
It only took five years, but Google finally got it right
So if you’re an Android user with $200 to spend on earbuds, the Pixel Buds Pro are a great pick. The buds fit might feel odd for some, but you get used to it rather quickly.
Stylish and solid
OnePlus Buds Pro 2
Look at that lovely green
$130 $180 Save $50
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are a bit more expensive than the first generation was, but the AirPods-like stem-style buds have better sound quality and battery life. They’re also available in a lovely green color.
- Strong, bassy audio
- Very good call quality
- Multipoint connectivity and Fast Pair support
- Middling ANC
- Battery life could be better
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are a tame upgrade over the first-generation OnePlus Buds Pro, but the newer set features better sound and slightly improved battery life. The audio here is full and bouncy with lots of bass, but not too much. The call quality is also great.
Read our review
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 review: Powerful sound at a reasonable price
Not a huge upgrade, but the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are easy to like
Battery life is just okay at six hours on a charge, and ANC isn’t quite top of the line, but with a fun sound and a good feature set, these are easy earbuds to like at $179. If you’re into stem-style earbuds, the Buds Pro 2 have plenty to offer.
Superb sound
Jabra Elite 10
Dynamic audio in a beautiful design
$200 $250 Save $50
Get the Jabra signature sound with the Jabra Elite 10 earbuds. Featuring 10mm precision-engineered drivers, the earbuds bring Dolby Atmos like you’ve never heard before. Combined with Dolby Head Tracking spatial audio, you can truly immerse yourself in music and videos. The IP57-rated buds feature an above-average ANC system and multipoint connectivity via Bluetooth 5.3, but the battery at 6 hours (with ANC) could be better.
- Superb spatial audio
- IP57-rated protection
- Strong connectivity
- Unreliable mics
- No hi-res codecs
Launched in August 2023, the latest musical offering from Jabra, the Elite 10, brings a lot to the plate. It has some of the best spatial audio tech in the market, using Dolby Head Tracking. When you combine that with the excellent Dolby Atmos decoding, music and videos come alive in your ears. The 10mm drivers don’t promise anything outstanding in the frequency response, but working in tandem with the amps, they do a great job of reproducing the Jabra signature sound that most people will love.
Read our review
Jabra Elite 10 earbuds review: Comfort is king
These earbuds are great for when comfort is a priority
Jabra made these earbuds beautifully, with a premium look and finish that justifies the high price. That design does more than just look pretty — it also protects the buds with IP57-rated water and dust resistance. Inside, they carry a superb ANC solution and a 6-hour battery that is arguably all you may need daily. The Bluetooth 5.3 does an excellent job with multipoint connectivity. However, it falls short in the codec department.
Best with touchscreen capabilities
JBL Tour Pro 2
For those who want a unique feature
With a built-in touchscreen that lets you access player controls and settings without reaching for your phone, the JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds are certainly in a class of their own. Sonically, the buds sound great while also offering top-notch ANC and a long battery life. Unfortunately, they can be a bit pricey, and the multi-point connectivity could be better.
- Highly functional touchscreen case
- Exceptional active noise cancellation
- Great audio quality
- Expensive compared to comparable earbuds
- Multipoint connectivity is not fully baked
- Audio codecs are somewhat limiting
The JBL Tour Pro 2 are not cheap. But they may be the only pair of earbuds out there right now with a touchscreen on the charging case that allows you to interact with the earbuds in a way that won’t require you to pull your phone out, whether it’s answering calls or changing settings, like ANC.
As far as sound quality goes, these skew neutral, so they sound technically very good and lend themselves to all genres of music, but don’t have the most exciting sound out there. However, JBL has thoughtfully included its Personi-Fi feature, which creates a personalized EQ profile catered to your hearing.
Read our review
JBL Tour Pro 2 review: Smart earbuds, smart case
No gimmicks here, the case should be a template for premium buds going forward
If you care about ANC — and you should — it’s exceptionally executed, easily blocking out ambient noise. If you care about lossless audio, things are a little less impressive, as there’s no support for LDAC or AptX. Multipoint connectivity is a bit underwhelming as well. At least they’re pretty comfortable to use.
The best wireless earbuds you can buy
We love wireless earbuds because these tiny sound titans are one of the best ways to experience your favorite playlists, podcasts, movies, and TV shows. And most earbud fans are truly going to dig the Sony WF-1000XM5. The sound quality on these buds is undeniable, and Sony went to great lengths to make its flagship buds more comfortable than its XM4s.
For the best money can buy, though, there are the Denon PerL Pro earbuds. This premium pick delivers amazing audio, particularly at the low end. And even at low (or high) volumes, music sounds clear and distortion-free.
Still, not everyone can afford a $350 purchase, which is why the Nothing (a) earbuds are the ideal value option. They sound incredible and offer some of the best battery life in this price range.
Best overall
Sony WF-1000XM5
Killer audio and ANC
$248 $300 Save $52
Sony’s flagship true wireless earbuds have been our top recommendation in the category for two years straight, and the WF-1000XM5 continue that tradition. The newest model features dedicated processors for both noise cancellation and regular audio processing while being lighter and smaller than their predecessors. But the premium quality comes with a price tag to match.
