The best earbuds are essential for easy-to-fling-in-a-pocket music on the go. Podcast for a long-haul flight? Calming playlist for takeoff? Motivational soundtrack for the commute (you got this and you're doing great, by the way)? Something to throw in a gym bag and get you through that spin class? Earbuds are a top shout. The best of the bunch can immerse you in a cocoon of sound, blocking out the rest of the world.
The big news is that Apple's launched two sets of AirPods 4 (but still no sign of the AirPods Pro 3, although your AirPods Pro 2 are getting new hearing health features). The chief difference between the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with noise cancellation? Well, the clue's in the name, but you also get wireless charging support and Apple's Adaptive Audio for your $50 extra ($129 / £129 versus $179 / £179 or thereabouts, which is around AU$100 difference, between the models). How are they? Watch this space…
You may notice the older Sony WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds have disappeared from this list. Yes, it's the end of an era, but they're no longer readily available – and the summer 2023-issue Sony WF-1000XM5 didn't quite live up to the (huge) expectations we had on those. Instead, the Technics EAH-AZ80, have taken up residence in our top spot, for their excellent call quality, detailed audio and industry-leading triple device multipoint connectivity, which no other earbuds in this list can offer.
That said, if you're looking to keep the price down, we've got a dedicated best budget wireless earbuds guide, to give you more option no matter how deep your pockets.
The quick list
Want to cut straight to the best earbuds around? You'll find a roundup of our top choices here. You can jump to a more in-depth write-up for each product, and see the latest deals on them.
The best earbuds overall
Delivering supremely balanced, detailed sound with triple-point connectivity and outstanding comfort, Technics has created a fantastic pair of buds that stand out even in a saturated market.
The best mid-priced wireless earbuds
For a very affordable price, you get energetic and rich sound quality, the best active noise cancellation we've heard for under $100/£100, great features, and a cool design.
The best super-cheap earbuds
An incredibly small pair of earbuds packed with useful features and a customizable sound profile that you'd expect from a much more expensive choice.
The best earbuds for noise cancellation
Bose has always done active noise cancellation well, and these buds are effectively as good as you can get right now. They also boast beautiful sound and a secure (if chunky) in-ear fit.
Super-smart earbuds for iPhone owners
With fantastic noise cancellation, high-quality audio, an unlosable case and tons more Apple-specific features, these buds offer an unmatched experience if you're all-in on Apple.
The best earbuds for Samsung owners
If you have a Samsung phone, the spatial audio with head-tracking and end-to-end 24-bit high-res audio are great bonuses, along with great sound quality and ANC.
Load the next products…
The best for battery
Up to 12 hours from just the buds or up to 48 hours (yes, two whole days!) in total is some serious stamina. And also there's a smart screen on the case – hey, we don't make the rules!
The best wired earbuds
Years after they were first released, these 1More buds still represent excellent value and boast a rich, enjoyable listen in a premium-looking build, for a fantastic price.
The best cheap USB-C wired buds
A pair of wired buds that deliver very comfortable listening and decent sound in a sleek design – if you want to spend the minimum on wired buds, these are our pick.
The best earbuds for supreme clarity
Forget the weird '8K Sound+' marketing here – the audio quality is so, so good. They're big, but for a similar price to other premium headphones, you're getting a real step up in sound.
I've reviewed over 150 audio products since becoming a tech journalist, ranging from super-budget earbuds to high-end Hi-Res Audio music players. Before joining TechRadar, I spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing everything the world of audio had to offer; before that, I was a professional dancer. My love of music ties it all together.
Recent updates
3 September 2024
Added the 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones as our 'Best wired' pick based on our review, and recent testing of the competition.
The best earbuds of 2024
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Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best earbuds in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best earbuds overall
✅ You prefer a neutral, lifelike sound: There’s nothing artificial about the way the Technics EAH-AZ80 sound; they offer convincingly realistic and coherent listening in all circumstances.
✅ You want to switch between devices: Triple-point connectivity is a world-first in a product like this, and it’s brilliantly convenient for those of us who surround themselves with wireless tech.
❌ You intend to wear your earbuds all day: Even at its best, the battery life available here is nothing special, though it's not bad.
❌ You have a lot of external noise to block out: There are many less-capable noise-cancelling earbuds, if silence is important look to the Bose buds at #4 on this list.
The Technics EAH-AZ80 buds sound fantastic and they’re packed with features. A standout is triple-point connectivity, which we found to be stable and useful, as well as Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC compatibility. And, thanks to ‘Just My Voice’ technology, these buds are far less prone to wind-noise interference than rivals. Their only minor shortcomings are battery life at only 7 hours from the buds and 25 from the case, and the ANC (which could be a tad more impressive).
The sound they make is also accomplished – it's both swift and accurate, as well as balanced and detailed. In our review, we wrote: “The whole frequency range is really nicely balanced and coherent from top to bottom and very even-handed from the (deep, nicely textured) bass to the (clean, politely attacking) treble.” We also found the midrange to be both informative and eloquent, with high detail levels and a smooth, seamless, agile journey from ceiling to floor and back.
In terms of design, there’s a resoundingly premium feel here and each bud feels more comfortable, stable and light (7g per earbud) than some rivals. What’s more, the accompanying charging case is an equally svelte 50g. Build quality hasn’t been compromised in order to keep the weight down either – the EAH-AZ80 feels like a product that will outlast its rivals. There are seven different earbud sizes to choose from too, which means you’re likely to get that perfect fit.
The price of the Technics EAH-AZ80 is that of a premium product, for sure – but thankfully, so is the specification. Overall this is a pair of buds that delivers excellent sound quality, a fantastic fit, and that industry-first triple device multipoint connectivity. Add it all together, and we think they're a better-value package than the top buds from Sony or Bose.
Read our full Technics EAH-AZ80 review
The best earbuds at a mid-range price
✅ You want strong noise cancellation: At this price, this is the best noise-blocking power we've heard.
✅ You're serious about sound: These are a fun and responsive set of buds, with wireless hi-res support via LDAC as a bonus.
❌ You really want spatial audio: It's not here, but the similarly priced Sony WF-C700N will give it to you.
❌ You need a big battery life: The 5.5-hours life with ANC is not very impressive – the Sony earbuds mentioned above offer 7.5 hours.
The Nothing Ear (a) are a serious improvement from Nothing, rocketing its buds from being 'fine, but nothing special' to 'these are the best value you can get for the price'. And they're a fun yellow color while doing it!
For their sub-$100/£100 price, they're so good, and feel premium. In our review, we said compared to the similarly priced (and fantastic) Sony WF-C700N, "the Nothing earbuds look more premium and feel more foxy. Their noise cancellation is a touch more robust and the sound is every bit as energetic, detailed and zealous, and (dare we say it?) a tad more expansive to boot."
In general, we said that "for the money, Nothing has tweaked its recipe to near perfection here" – yes, you can get better sound from the Technics at #1 on the list or other more premium options, but you need to pay twice as much for a meaningful difference.
That goes for features, too – the noise cancellation is as good as we've tested for the price, you get smart features such as wear detection to auto-pause them when you take them out, there's multi-point pairing for instant switching between devices, there's a Find My mode, there's LDAC hi-res support… the only think missing is spatial audio, and that's not usually an essential on affordable buds. The 5.5-hour battery life is the only element that's below average, but we can totally live with that.
Read our full Nothing Ear (a) review
The best budget earbuds
✅ You want a super portable option: They're teeny tiny and so is their case, if portability is a priority, get these.
✅ You have a small budget: These buds are very cheap with plenty of features you'd expect from a pricier option.
❌ You value strong bass: If you love a powerful, booming soundtrack then these aren't the buds for you.
❌ You need ANC: Noise isolation is surprisingly good, but if you want full immersion then look elsewhere.
The JLab JBuds Mini are an incredibly small, incredibly cheap pair of buds we highly recommend to anyone on a budget.
For the price, there are a lot of features here. Codec support is admittedly limited, but there's Bluetooth multi-point connectivity and the JLab app allows you to tweak some settings, while a Be Aware mode passes through your surrounding, overcoming the excellent passive noise isolation (though there's no full active noise cancellation). The buds are IP55-rated, which means they'll withstand sweaty workouts. The buds themselves bring you 5.5 hours of playback, which jumps to 20 hours overall with the charging case – which is also teeny tiny.
We found that the sound here is great, especially considering these are budget buds. You can tweak the sound with the app's EQ to get the balance just right for you and your preferences. During our testing, we did say that the bass could be stronger and more powerful, but they perform well overall with a sound we described as "pretty lively" in our review, with a much wider soundstage than you'd expect. In our review, we also wrote: "The JLab JBuds Mini block out sound far better than you'd anticipate given their size and price."
The JLab JBuds Mini are extremely small and so is their charging case. They come with a keyring attachment, which is really handy considering they're so tiny and may prevent them from getting lost, especially if you're likely to throw them into your bag. We highly rated the fit of these buds in our review. We wrote: "They fit snugly in your ears and even during a run, there was no wobble factor here." Not only do they fit well, they're very comfortable.
Read our full JLab JBuds Mini review
The best earbuds for noise cancellation
✅ Noise cancellation really matters to you: If there’s one thing the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II do really well, it’s noise cancellation.
✅ You want beautifully balanced sound: Whatever CustomTune is actually doing in the ear, it’s working remarkably well. The sound is very well balanced.
❌ You’re on a tight budget: It’s easy to argue that the ANC and sound performance of the QCE II are well worth every penny, but these are expensive earbuds.
❌ You’d prefer high-definition wireless sound quality: With support for just low-definition wireless codecs, the QCE II may not be for audiophiles.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are our favorite noise-cancelling earbuds. Yes, even though the newer Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have essentially superseded them – because the new buds are only a marginal step up for the core sound and ANC quality, and we're fans of the better value you'll now get from these (just slightly) older QCE II buds.
The ANC is supremely effective here, thanks to what Bose calls CustomTune, which uses an audio signal – picked up by a mic inside each bud – to automatically calibrate ANC and sound frequency to suit your ear. Unfortunately there’s no wireless charging or multi-point connectivity (there isn't in the newer set either, which is an oversight from Bose), and battery life is acceptable rather than excellent, at 6 hours or up to 24 hours in total, using the case.
Happily, Bose's ANC improvements aren’t at the expense of sound quality, and whatever the CustomTune tech is doing behind-the-scenes here made these buds an extremely enjoyable listen during our testing. In our review, we wrote: "We can’t stress this enough – the sound is very well balanced, with a heck of a lot of details and textures coming through.” If you’d still like to tweak the audio output, you can via the EQ in the Bose app.
Design-wise, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are 30% smaller than previous generations with a more compact and lighter charging case. However, we did find the fit took some getting used to and is unlikely to suit everyone at first.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are Bose earbuds, which means they're typically on the expensive side. But if you can afford them, these are arguably the best noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds you can get today.
To save money on Bose products, check out our Bose discount codes.
Read our full Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 review
The best earbuds for Apple fans
✅ You want great sound: These sound superb and shut out the real world so well – and the spatial audio is best-in-class too.
✅ You've got all manner of Apple things: If you've got an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac and so on, then you'll really get the benefit from the seamless switching.
❌ You want big battery life: There's nothing wrong with the battery life here, but it's very much average in the buds – though the amount from the case is good.
❌ You don't have an iPhone: Android users won't get anywhere near the full experience, because a lot of setup and control options are done in iOS' Settings app.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are excellent earbuds that have a strong claim to be the best option for Apple lovers. One of the top features here is the active noise cancellation, which competes with the Bose option above for effectiveness at blocking out almost all external noises (though we rate the Bose slightly higher). The Adaptive Transparency Mode is also a nice trick, adjusting its blocking of outside sounds on the fly. In terms of battery, you get six hours with ANC on and 30 hours with the case too – and that case is IPX4 water resistant and has a speaker and wireless tracking chip, so if you lose it your phone can literally point you towards it, or it can be found by the 'Find My' network.
Audio performance is great, and is vastly improved over the original AirPods Pro. There’s rich sound across genres, and a wide and expansive soundstage, bookended by deep-yet-controlled bass and clear, elevated treble. There's lots of detail, and it's energetic too – if we were to criticize it, we might say it's a little too forward compared to the more natural and neutral sound of the Technics at the top of this list. Spatial audio is a very impressive trick of these buds too, especially with movies – it really feels like you're sitting in a home theater rather than having sound pumped directly into your years.
The crucial part for why you'd choose these over other options, though, is the extra features they include for those with lots of Apple gear. On top of the Find My support, they switch between your Apple devices seamlessly, they can share audio with other AirPods or Beats headphones, they offer personalized audio tweaks, and even optimized battery charging to help make sure they last longer. But to access all of this, you must use them with iPhone. With anything else, you're looking at basic 'they play music and you can switch between noise cancellation and Transparency' functionality.
They're excellent all-rounder, and during sales events are regularly available for a little less than the premium competition – who would think Apple would be the more budget option, eh?
Read our full Apple AirPods Pro 2 review
The best earbuds for Samsung phone users
✅ You own a Samsung Galaxy smartphone: A no-brainer. The Buds 2 Pro present themselves on your Galaxy device for easy pairing and give you handy home-screen widgets.
✅ You want Samsung's best sound-per-pound audio quality: We didn't expect to enjoy Samsung's immersive, expressive, head-tracked 24-bit audio as much as we did.
❌ You want a long battery life: Five hours with ANC activated is behind most of the competition here.
❌ You own an iPhone: With no iOS app to control their functions, you're far better off with something else.
Samsung has a formidable reputation in the smartphone market, but its Galaxy Buds never quite hit a home run. That changed with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. These earbuds are packed full of useful perks, including excellent ANC, voice detect, wearer detection and customizable on-ear controls – all of which work very well indeed – plus IPX7 water ingress protection. This would have been an almost perfect list of specs, marred only by the disappointing five-hour battery life.
The headline-grabbing feature, if you own a Samsung Galaxy device, is spatial audio with optional head-tracking, thus allowing you to use your phone as the focal point to direct more of that new end-to-end 24-bit high-res audio to whichever ear you prefer. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro sport a two-way driver design, with a 10mm woofer and 5.4mm tweeter in each earbud. It's a formidable improvement on Samsung's previous earbud releases.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are refreshingly smaller and lighter than most rivals – and a huge improvement over previous Galaxy buds (remember the jewels and kidney bean shaped buds? These are nothing like those and we're happy about it). The result is a stylish, minimalist, secure and ergonomic look and fit that almost feels as if you're not wearing earbuds at all – or at least that was our experience during testing.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro squeeze an incredible amount in here for only mid-range money. There are a few minor things lacking, (the ability to tweak ANC in increments on a slider in the app would be lovely), but forgive this and it's hard to quibble with the sound-per-pound value.
Read our full Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review
The best for battery
✅ You take long road trips
The class-leading maximum battery life of 48 hours is akin to two whole days of playback. During testing, these claims proved genuine too (and the case doesn't drain it!)
✅ You like to wear your heart on your sleeve
You can upload a photo of your beloved right there on the case – and when you open the box, it flips the other way up so everyone will still see it properly too.
❌ You want top-tier spatial audio
There are three immersive profiles here (movies, music and gaming), but, sadly, each one is a shade off a fully immersive, Dolby Atmos-type presentation
❌ You desire comprehensive on-ear functionality
Here, you have to select two out of three options for on-ear controls – volume, playback and ANC. You can't have all three.
Here's a feature that no other option within this list offers: a color touchscreen screen on the case. It's a lot of fun – you can select a lock-screen wallpaper from any of the photos on your smartphone, and the image even flips so it stays the right way up when you snap open the case – but that isn't why the JBL Live Beam 3 are in this roundup.
No, the real star here, aside from the vastly improved audio quality over the older and slightly disappointing JBL Tour Pro 2, is the stamina. The battery life is nothing short of excellent at up to 12 hours from the earbuds alone, minus noise cancellation, or 10 hours with it engaged (and nearer nine with adaptive ANC on).
The case also delivers three further charges – we've tested it and the screen doesn't drain it – taking your total audio playback time up to a class-leading 48 hours. To put that into perspective, Apple's priciest Pro-suffixed AirPods offer 5.5 hours with its top-tier Spatial Audio deployed, or a maximum of 30 hours including the case. Big difference in those figures, no?
The JBL Live Beam 3 also boast great value when it comes to the feature set, including a few novel bits and pieces you don't find elsewhere – including "Personi-Fi", which is basically hearing test of each ear to better tailor the sound to your liking.
OK, the spatial audio profiles aren't going to knock your socks off. JBL has offered a total of three immersive soundscapes for music, movies and games, but if you're imagining sonic articles darting past you in a three-dimensional space you'll be disappointed. Also the ANC is good rather than excellent and the on-ear controls work well but involve a compromise. Look past these minor snafus and you'll find the fit is great, the battery is seemingly never-ending and, honestly, the sound is refreshingly good for bass and detail. View the screen as a lovely extra for the money and you won't go far wrong.
Read our full JBL Live Beam 3 review
The best wired earbuds
✅ You want a solid pair of buds: With great sound and a quality built for a low price, these are reliable and worth every penny.
✅ Looks matter: We love the rose gold accents on these earbuds and their cool, angular design.
❌ You want to connect to a USB-C phone: These are 3.5mm jack headphones – consider the SoundMagic E80D instead.
❌ You like a premium experience: They look, feel and sound more premium than they should, but the remote and cable need improving.
We first tested the 1More Triple Driver earphones way back in 2017. However, the world of wired earbuds tends to move slowly than true wireless these days, which means they're still our top recommendation for most people looking for a reliable, great-looking wired option with an enjoyable sound at a great value, low price. That's why they're also still our #1 pick in our best wired earbuds guide.
The audio quality here can be beaten – you'll find better from many rivals, especially the Technics EAH-AZ80 at #1 in this list – but you have to pay a lot more for it. These 1More buds bring you bold and enjoyable sound, especially considering their low price and small size. In our 1MORE Triple Driver earphones review, we wrote: "Music is exquisitely detailed with a good sense of space." Even more than seven years on, after testing many more earbuds, that rings true. It's also worth noting that, although there's no active noise cancellation, the earbuds do manage to create a decent seal, which leads to a pleasing amount of noise isolation.
The earbuds are made from aluminum and have some rose gold accents with an interesting, slightly angled design, which we think combine to give the buds a much more premium aesthetic than you'd guess from their price tag. They come with a selection of foam and silicone ear tips, which should help most people get a snug fit that's comfortable enough for long periods of listening. The only thing we noted during testing is they did stick out a little from our ears. Their cable is wrapped in fabric for extra durability but the small three-button remote that's attached to it felt a little more cheap and plastic than we'd have liked.
With a bold, balanced and detailed sound, superb build quality for the price and reliable, wired design, we think the 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Earphones represent great value – despite the fact they're much older than rivals in this list.
Read our full 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Earphones review
The best cheap USB-C earbuds
✅ You crave comfort: These earbuds were easy to wear all day during our testing and stayed in our ears securely.
✅ You want understated style: Expect a sleek and minimal design with a range of different color options to choose from.
❌ You like to have control: The controller on the buds is limited and doesn't have volume up/down buttons, not ideal for walking.
❌ You want excellent sound: There's decent sound for the price here, but no bassy depths or sonic details – you'd need to pay more (we like the SoundMagic E11D).
If you're looking for a pair of wired USB-C earbuds, this set from Skullcandy may not offer the best high-end sonic experience compared to other options in this list, but they're a stylish and reliable choice – especially considering they're incredibly affordable at $31.99/£29.99 (about AU $50). We tested even cheaper USB-C buds, and this are basically as cheap as we'd recommend going – especially if you can find them on sale.
In our review we made it clear that these buds "don't whip up top-drawer sound", especially where detail and dynamism are concerned. That being said, sound quality is decent, especially considering their price. Similarly-priced budget buds that we're reviewed sound and feel much more cheap and tinny in comparison.
As you'd expect, there's no active noise cancellation for this price. But thanks to good included ear tips, they have a "noise-isolating fit". This won't reduce all ambient noise, but it does do a decent job at keeping you focused on your music regardless of your surroundings. These ear tips come in three different sizes, which meant in our review we wrote that the buds are "very pleasant to wear", even for long periods of time.
As well as feeling good, we liked how the buds look too. In our review we said: "They sport a sleek, curved look, and come in four snazzy colorways." They also have an IPX4 water-resistant rating, which means they're rain- and sweatproof. The only notable frustrating design feature is there are no volume up/down buttons on their controller, which feels limiting.
These aren't the best buds in our guide, far from it – but they're comfortable, they sound solid and they look good. If that's all you ask, enjoy.
Read our full Skullcandy Set USB-C review
The best earbuds for supreme sound
✅ You want the best sound quality in a wireless design: This is among the most detailed and just best audio you can buy in a set of truly wireless buds – and the ANC is surprisingly good too.
✅ You pay for a proper music subscription: With aptX Adaptive and Snapdragon Sound onboard, you're going to want to pay for a decent Tidal, Qobuz or Apple Music subscription to get the goods here.
❌ You like an all-singing, all-dancing app: The companion app is a clear area for improvement with these Final buds compared to slicker competition.
❌ You want small earbuds to slip in a pocket: These earbuds are a fair bit larger than many of the current heavy-hitters.
OK, if ever the term "8K Sound+" could apply to something you hear rather than see, that is what you'll get with these earbuds. We're not saying we approve of the term used by Final, but nevertheless you should know that the sound quality here is excellent. You're getting a zealous, expansive, and glorious soundstage that has us living happily in our heads, and forgetting the cost.
So why the less than perfect star rating? These excellent earbuds are marred only by a slightly disappointing battery life (which is five hours tops or 15 including the case, but closer to four when you deploy 8K Sound+) plus an app that supplies the basics rather than the premium, all-seeing all-dancing experience you might expect at this level.
The four noise cancellation modes and volume step optimizer (which gives you better precision when tweaking the volume level) work very well indeed and add value, plus there's a four-band EQ tab, but forget hearing tests, spatial audio support, wearer detection or the option to customize the on-ear controls – and in our tests, we sometimes found the app a little unreliable in that it failed to fire up or chose not to recognise the earbuds it was connected to.
Then again, we keep coming back to their sound. Honestly, the sound is among the best we've ever heard in a true wireless design, and at a price comparable to the best buds from Sony and Bose, despite sounding clearly better. The lack of features (and the large size) may not be for everyone, but if you value music above all else, you must consider them.
Read our full Final ZE8000 MK2 review
Other earbuds to consider
There are several other earbuds we've reviewed recently that didn't quite make the cut for our guide. First up there's the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, a pair of earbuds that perform well, but launched with some quality issues that need addressing, and really have the biggest issue that the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are still around and available for about $110 / £110, which is why the older model will remain our top pick for Samsung owners. They're half the price, and nearly as good. We also tested the Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2, a fairly average pair of buds which don't make the cut because they're just not up to the audio or fit standards that we've become accustomed to.
Earlier this year, we also reviewed the Creative Aurvana Ace 2 and the Motorola Moto Buds Plus – but neither of them made this list. Why? Well, although the sound quality was very good indeed, we had issues with the Creative's noise-cancellation (which involved a somewhat painful high-pitched noise on occasion) and although we also liked the Moto Buds Plus for sound, they're let down by a lack of iOS app and the omission of any IP rating for water ingress.
You might be surprised that the Sony WF-1000XM5 aren't on this list. They're very nice earbuds, but they don't sound as good and aren't as well-featured as the Technics we rate as number one, but cost the same. They also don't block noise as well as the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, so they don't stand out on that front. For Apple owners in particular, the AirPods Pro 2 are cheaper, have better features, have better noise cancellation, and sound excellent. As we said in our full Sony WF-1000XM5 review, they're not bad earbuds by any stretch of the imagination, but they're not quite good enough to push out anything on this hotly contested list.
How to choose the best earbuds
Two important things to consider when you’re choosing new earbuds is what you want to listen to and where you want to listen to it.
For example, if you like fairly quiet music and want to listen on the bus or train, you'll need effective noise cancellation.
If you're looking for a pair of the best running headphones, you should look for IPX4 water-resistance so they can withstand sweat and rain. Some of the top waterproof earbuds can even be used for swimming. The best bone-conducting headphones are popular for fitness fans too, because they don't block outside sounds.
If you're going to be wearing your earbuds for long periods, then comfort and weight are a top priority.
We’ve included both wired and wireless earbuds on this list, but you don't have to compromise on audio quality by going wire-free. Our current favorite true wireless earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM4 combine class-leading sound with high quality noise cancellation tech.
If you do opt for wireless or true wireless earbuds, make sure the battery life is up to scratch, otherwise you may find yourself caught short without any music in the middle of your commute.
The best earbuds for you should sound good to your ears. Which means if you're a dedicated audiophile, look for buds that support Hi-Res Audio codecs, like LDAC and aptX HD Bluetooth for stellar connectivity.
We also recommend you consider your budget. If you want cheap earbuds you may have to sacrifice features, like ANC or a long battery life. It’s all about weighing up what’s more important to you.
Finally, the brand you choose will depend on what you're looking for – but we're careful with our lists. That means all of the earbuds and in-ear headphones above come from brands we trust. Still, if you're not sure where to start looking, respected brands like Sony, Apple, Cambridge Audio, Jabra, and Nura are good places to start.
How we test the best earbuds
☑️ More than 2,400 audio reviews
☑️ 15 years of product testing
☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech
We've tested each of the top earbuds in this guide to make sure they tick some key boxes, which are reflected in our full review.
One of these is the features – whether they compare well to other earbuds in the same price for elements such as connection options, smart app controls, active noise cancellation and battery life. We test all these features in different ways. We try the active noise cancellation in different real-world environments, and we check battery life by running them down and tracking the timing.
Most importantly, we also want to be sure the sound is excellent, with clarity and a decent level of bass. We listen to music from a range of sources, from social apps and YouTube, to lower-quality streams from the likes of Spotify, to high-quality files from streamers such as Apple Music and Tidal. We'll listen to a range of genres, and we'll use a mix of new music and tracks we've known for years and in which we can hear all the subtle differences.
Next is comfort and wearability. You need to know you'll be able to pop the best in-ear buds in your ears for hours at a time, so they have to feel secure and comfortable. Some seem naturally designed for a snug fit, others come with different silicone tip options to help you get the fit just right. In terms of design, we also look for compact buds, those that don't stick out of your ear too much and (in the case of true wireless designs) earbuds that come with a small charging case for slipping into a backpack, handbag or even a pocket.
And when we've tested all this, we judge them on their value, which essentially means how all of the above balances against their price, and the price of other earbuds.
At the time of writing, we're beginning a new testing procedure for earbuds to enable us to add more direct comparison between buds, to make it easier for you to choose which one will suit you best. We'll re-test our current favorite earbuds using the new system, and we'll use it for reviews in the future. You can read the full information about how we test earbuds at TechRadar at that link, but the crucial part is that we're adding certain specific and repeatable tests that all of our reviews can use, so we know we're getting a fair and even comparison between earbuds.
The major part of this is a particular playlist that will be used for sound-quality testing, from a specific source device and music service. Our reviewers will also test other songs and sound sources, but this playlist provide a baseline comparison, and you can copy the playlist to make your own comparisons, if you like.
We'll also test the microphone quality for picking up speech by recording us talking, and we'll make those recordings available to hear on the site, so you can compare them yourselves, if you want. And we'll detail exactly how long the battery lasts in real-world use, and provide that information for easy comparison too, in tables. At the moment, we're still working on gathering this information, so please bear with us – an even better buying guide is coming!
Latest updates to the best earbuds
3 September 2024
Added the 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones as our 'Best wired' pick based on our review, and recent testing of the competition.
30 July 2024
Added the JLab JBuds Mini as the best super-cheap option, and updated the 'Also Consider' section with information on the latest products that didn't make it into this list.
See more updates…
1 July 2024
Added the JBL Lve Beam 3 as our top choice for battery life, thanks to their 48-hour total. Removed the older 1More Triple Driver wired set, since the Skullcandy Set USB-C occupy that wired space extremely well, if you're looking for something inexpensive and wired.
7 June 2024
We added the Skullcandy Set USB-C wired earbuds as the best super-cheap wired buds that we'd actually recommend buying, based on testing of several big-name budget options.
9 May 2024
Swapped the Sony WF-C700N for the Nothing Ear (a) as the best mid-range option. They're extremely close in quality, but the Nothing's slightly better noise cancellation and hi-res support just win out.
8 April 2024
Considered adding the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 to this guide, but after discussing with the team, we've decided that while these 2024-issue earbuds are very good indeed, other products narrowly edge them in each key aspect (ie. sound, ANC, battery life, feature set) – so there's no clear reason for their inclusion. Updated the intro here to reflect the WF-1000XM4 being no longer readily available, hence their departure from this list, and explained why the Technics EAH-AZ80 are now our top pick. Added new links to the buying guides to better direct readers.
19 March 2024
Removed the Sony WH-1000XM4 due to stock running out at last. Technics EAH-AZ80 moved to number 1, Sony WH-C700N moved to number 2, JLab Go Air Pop moved to number 3.
8 February 2024
Added the Beats Fit Pro as our best workout buds, reflecting what's in our dedicated guide.
22 January 2024
Added Final ZE8000 MK2, and removed the now-discontinued Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus. Updated all copy throughout.
10 November 2023
Added more information about how we test, and added a link to our Black Friday earbuds deals coverage.
8 October 2023
Checked all entries against current reviews to ensure list is relevant.
6 September 2023
Refreshed entries to reflect current prices/value ahead of sales events later in the year.
30 August 2023
Changed the main image.
24 August 2023
Rewrote each product entry to summarize the features, sound quality, design and value of each review, including adding in 'buy it if' and 'don't buy it if' boxouts.
