Since becoming a full-time audio writer in 2019, I’ve personally reviewed more than 160 audio products – but TechRadar’s legacy stretches much further back. Our team has been testing earbuds since 2006, and we’ve reviewed more than 300 pairs to date. Only the top performers make it onto this list, each one vetted through our detailed in-house earbuds testing process.
As we move through 2025, the majority of listeners are choosing the best wireless earbuds thanks to improved Bluetooth codecs, longer-lasting batteries, and sleeker, more comfortable designs. While this guide spotlights the highest-rated wireless options, we’ve also included a few standout wired models for those who value affordability or hi-res audio. Every pair here has been tested thoroughly by our experts for audio performance, noise cancellation, mic clarity, and battery life, so you know you’re getting quality.
Our current top pick is the Technics EAH-AZ100, offering crystal-clear call performance, immersive sound, and rare triple-device multipoint support. For under $100/£100, the Nothing Ear (a) stands out for its unbeatable balance of quality and price, while the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 recently entered this list as our top mid-range pick with energetic sound, great specs and solid ANC.
If you’re shopping on a tighter budget, head to our best budget wireless earbuds guide or take a look at our full roundup of the best wired earbuds.
Why you can trust TechRadar’s choices
We’ve tested all of the earbuds in this guide ourselves, and our audio review team is led by me, Becky Scarrott, TechRadar’s Audio Editor. I work with our Managing Editor for Entertainment, Matt Bolton, to craft our buying guides, and we have decades of combined experience in the audio tech industry,
Becky Scarrott
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.
We worked with our expert reviewers on a process that combines objective and comparative testing – including ANC performance, clarity, and battery longevity – with the all-important subjective listening experience, because you can’t judge how earbuds truly sound or feel based on numbers alone.
We evaluate these earbuds not just on audio quality, but also on comfort, useful features and connectivity, and overall value for money. We know your priorities may be slightly different to ours, so we try to include as much useful information as we can about where each pair of buds excels or has issues, so you can make up your own mind. Of course, our individual reviews have far more information in them.
Every pair of earbuds here was tested in-depth by an experienced reviewer, and we regularly scrutinize this list to make sure we think it represents the best options currently available, even if prices have changed over time.
8 August 2025
Refreshed the introduction. Switched the original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds for the newer Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) as our ‘Best for ANC’ pick. Added several new entries to our ‘Other earbuds we’ve tested’ section. Checked the whole guide for older products and made sure everything is up to date.
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 detailed sound with triple-point connectivity and now an even smaller earpiece, Technics’ follow up flagship earbuds somehow manage to better their superb initial effort
The best budget wireless earbuds
For a very affordable price, you get energetic and rich sound quality, the best active noise cancellation we’ve heard for now well under $100/£100, great features, and a cool design.
3. Cambridge Audio Melomania A100
The best mid-range earbuds
A solid pair of sleek buds that combine highly enjoyable audio, great specs and effective ANC all for a surprisingly low price – you’ll find exceptional sound-per-pound value here.
4. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
The best earbuds for noise cancellation
Bose has always done active noise cancellation very well, and the newest version of these buds are as good as you can get. They also boast device-agnostic head-tracked immersive audio and lossless support.
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.
6. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
The best earbuds for Samsung owners
A top choice for those with a new-ish Samsung Galay phone. These buds sound phenomenal, have great ANC, and deliver spatial audio. Don’t expect the AI features to wow, though.
Load the next products…
The best for battery life
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 earbuds for premium sound
Expect a high-end experience, with delightful, detailed and dynamic sound, strong noise cancellation, and a comfortable fit for long listening sessions.
The best open earbuds
Open buds don’t have the in-ear element of our other options, and these deliver sound to match regular in-ear buds, with more awareness of what’s around you. They’re comfortable and very well-priced.
10. 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Earphones
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 of 2025
Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
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
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BUY THEM IF
✅ You need the best sound around: Like their older siblings, there’s nothing artificial about the way the Technics EAH-AZ100 sound; they offer a convincingly detailed and dynamic listen whatever music we feed them.
✅ You want to switch between devices: Triple-point connectivity is a world-first in a product like this, and it’s brilliantly convenient
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌ You need earbuds that last long into the night: Even at its best, the battery life available here is nothing special, though it’s not bad.
❌ You need the ultimate in ANC: There are many less-capable noise-cancelling earbuds, but if silence is imperative look to the Bose buds at #4 on this list.
The 2025-issue Technics EAH-AZ100 buds feel premium (because they are), are packed with features, offer triple-point connectivity, a lovely small earpiece and a sound that really needs to be heard to be believed in a wireless design.
In pretty much every aspect we tested, the Technics EAH-AZ100 made a rock-solid case for themselves, solidifying Technics’ spot at the top of the wireless earbuds tree. They look excellent, their control options work flawlessly, comfort is impressive, and they sound engaging, exciting and thoroughly musical. From their thorough specification (which covers everything from adaptive ANC to Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity with LDAC compatibility) to a design that’s smaller, lighter and yet somehow no less premium in look and feel to their slightly bigger EAH-AZ80 siblings, the Technics EAH-AZ100 are ready to do battle – and for us, they win out in almost every respect.
Unless you prefer stellar battery life or bubble-of-silence noise-cancellation over top-tier sound quality, the EAH-AZ100 are the real deal. One other thing of note while we’re on the topic of noise cancelling: we’d advise keeping it switched on to get the best quality audio (and here we assure you, you won’t be disappointed). Switch ANC off and the punchy, beautifully-handled low frequencies somehow lose a modicum of bite and substance somehow, which is why they didn’t achieve the full five stars despite their considerable sonic talents, comfort and features.
Read our full Technics EAH-AZ100 review
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Sound quality |
Balanced, vibrant and detailed, but low frequencies do lose some substance with ANC off. |
4.5/5 |
|
Fit & comfort |
Small, light and five ear tips ensure a perfect fit, you’ll also find responsive voice and touch controls. |
5/5 |
|
Value |
Premium buds through and through with tactile materials, let down only with ANC turned off, which isn’t a deal-breaker. |
4.5/5 |
The best budget earbuds
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BUY THEM IF
✅ 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.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌ 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) rocketed the company from being an audio also-ran to ‘these are the best value buds you can get for the price’ – and that goes double following reductions in price. As an added bonus, they’re available in black, white or a fun yellow color too.
They were our top mid-range pick here for a while, but they’ve fallen in price over time, which means you can now find them for around $80/£80 and sometimes even less. That puts them in the budget category in our books, and they’re a fantastic affordable option for anyone who wants great specs, sound and ANC.
We said in our review that “for the money, Nothing has tweaked its recipe to near perfection here” – the sound is as detailed and agile as you could want from earbuds at this price, and is great fun to listen to.
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 thing missing is spatial audio, and that’s not standard on affordable buds.
The 5.5-hour battery life is the only element that’s below average, but we can totally live with that – though if you want longer, look at the Sony WF-C710N.
Read our full Nothing Ear (a) review
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Sound quality |
As meaty, fun, zealous and accurate as this money buys – even then they’re excellent value. |
4/5 |
|
Fit & comfort |
Extremely comfortable to wear in a small and pocketable design. They’re also very fun and stylish to look at. |
5/5 |
|
Value |
Solid sound-per-pound value here, especially considering you can now find them much cheaper than they were at launch. |
5/5 |
The best mid-range earbuds
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BUY THEM IF
✅ You use a high-quality audio source: With top-tier codec support and superb sound, the A100 will make your music sound excellent.
✅ You like a clean look: The slim, pocket-friendly case here won’t bulk out your clothes – sleek earbuds for a sleek outfit.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌ You want all the extras: If you’re after heart-rate monitoring or spatial audio, other earbuds offer more bells and whistles.
❌ You love bold colors: If black and white don’t excite you, you’ll find more vibrant options elsewhere at a similar price.
If you want energetic and enjoyable audio without spending a fortune, the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 earbuds are well worth your time. They offer a rare mix of premium features, long battery life and clear, detailed sound, all at a mid-range price that feels like a steal.
The Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 buds deliver impressive clarity and energy across the board, with support for high-end codecs, like LDAC and aptX Lossless. They’re tuned with real balance, avoiding the bloated bass you often get at this level. While the low-end can occasionally feel slightly separate from the mids, the overall tuning is lively and musical, with sparkling highs and an open, expressive midrange.
ANC is surprisingly capable too – not quite Bose-level, but excellent for the price, and it doesn’t interfere with the sound quality either. Battery life is another win here, offering up to 11 hours per charge with ANC off (a more-standard 6.5 hours with it on) and up to 39 hours total with the case. Fast charging via USB-C gives you over three hours of playback from a 10-minute top-up too, which is handy if you’re always on the move.
Design-wise, the A100 buds have the stem-style shape popularized by Apple, but keep things clean and compact. They’re light, comfortable and secure in the ear, with IPX5 water resistance for workouts and rain showers. The slim charging case is easy to slip into a pocket, though the buds can be slightly fiddly to remove from it. Touch controls are responsive, and Cambridge’s Melomania app adds lots of personalization – including custom EQ presets and ANC levels. One standout detail is the option to have voice feedback delivered by the actor Matt Berry. It’s niche, sure, but very fun if you’re a fan.
If you want smart, great-sounding earbuds with standout value, the Melomania A100 are some of the best around at this mid-range price. They’re not feature-stuffed like some fitness-focused rivals, and you won’t get flashy color options, but when it comes to pure audio quality and thoughtful design, they punch well above their price tag.
Read our full Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 review
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Sound quality |
Expect stunning clarity for the money here – easily the best at the level by some degree, with support for high-end codecs, too. |
4.5/5 |
|
Fit & comfort |
Solid, ergonomic, thoughtfully made with a selection of ear tips for a reliable fit and a choice of black or white designs. |
5/5 |
|
Value |
The best sound-per-pound wireless design on the market at this mid-range price. |
5/5 |
The best earbuds for noise cancellation
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BUY THEM IF
✅ You want best-in-class ANC: They deliver the most impressive bubble-of-silence noise cancellation we’ve heard in earbuds – even better than the previous model.
✅ You enjoy head-tracked, immersive audio: Choose between fixed or moving spatial sound, paired with your preferred ANC level, for a truly tailored listening experience.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌ You already own the Ultras: If wireless charging, a new color, and a slight ANC upgrade don’t excite you then you can skip this refresh.
❌ You need long battery life: Battery performance is fine, but rivals like the Technics EAH-AZ100 at the top of this list last significantly longer.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) are our pick for the best noise-cancelling earbuds in this guide, and for good reason. They take the place of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds that came before them and although they don’t add enough to justify an upgrade if you do already have the originals, for everyone else the second gen version is a much better proposition.
So let’s start with the ANC, because these buds are great in other ways, but it’s the bubble-of-silence ANC that sets them apart from the rest. It really is best-in-class and rivals might come close, but can’t beat them. There are also different ANC ‘modes’ to choose from too. There’s the same level of battery life here that there was with the originals, which is 6 hours from the buds and 24 hours from the case. However, Bose adds wireless charging this time, as well as a new deep plum colorway.
These buds deliver fantastic audio. In our review, we said they’re particularly suited to music lovers who want zealous audio quality as it’s powerful and booming. There are also excellent mics for call handling. As well as the ANC, another top selling point is the immersive, head-tracked audio. You get to choose whether you want your own personal surround-sound performance fixed or moving, and in conjunction with whatever level of ANC you want. They do miss a few features though, including LDAC support.
Design-wise, they’re very similar-looking to the older model. One key difference is an ’embedded ear wax guard’, which prevents any of the stuff produced naturally by our ears finding its way beyond the casework and into the driver housings. During testing, we didn’t have an issue with fit and comfort. They were stable and a fit test ensures you get the best fit and seal so ANC performs at its best. Then again, the earpieces are still on the larger side and they are rather conspicuous when worn.
They’re certainly not cheap, but then we’d never expect a bargain from Bose, especially with noise-nixing this good. Having said that, they might be expensive but they are excellent value if ANC is your top priority. They genuinely cannot be beaten.
Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) review
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Sound quality |
Immersive audio is wildly fun and engaging but even with all profiles off, the sound is zealous and powerful. |
5/5 |
|
Fit & comfort |
Maybe a little bulky for some still, but there’s a good fit test and we found them to be secure and comfortable during testing. |
4.5/5 |
|
Value |
For ANC, they’re excellent value as it’s best-in-class here. But they’re not exactly cheap. |
4.5/5 |
The best earbuds for Apple fans
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BUY THEM IF
✅ 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.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌ 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 it’s 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 buds, 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
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Sound quality |
Awesome sound quality here, if a little safe. But ANC is top notch and Spatial Audio works well. |
5/5 |
|
Fit & comfort |
A functional, easy-to-use shape. They handily come with extra ear tips, which makes them a solid choice for smaller ears. |
5/5 |
|
Value |
They’re regularly available with huge discounts, and have so many features it’s amazing – the only problem is that the features only work with Apple devices. |
4.5/5 |
The best earbuds for Samsung phone users
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BUY THEM IF
✅ You have a newer Samsung phone: To access all of the best features, you’ll need a new-ish Galaxy device.
✅ You want great, immersive sound: Audio is excellent here, as is ANC and spatial audio. You can really cocoon yourself in sound.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌ You want the best value: These buds aren’t cheap, and many of their features are only good if you have a Samsung phone as well. The Nothing Ear (a) are most of the way there for cheaper and across platform.
❌ You tend to need to replace ear tips: If you like to tinker with the fit of your buds, they may not be the safest option – they’re fiddly and delicate.
The Samsung Buds 3 Pro are our top pick if you have a Samsung phone, especially a more recent Galaxy device. The best thing about these Samsung buds is they sound stunning. Our reviewer wrote: “Frankly, these earbuds sound fantastic, with some of the best sound in any earbuds I’ve tested.” We explained in our review that you can expect both “meaty bass” and “defined treble”. Which means whatever genre of music you prefer, you should get a great audio experience here. You’ll notice the sound is incredibly immersive and that’s because the active noise cancellation is top notch, too, we called it “heavy duty and impressive” in our review. Most ambient noises, even the louder ones, are nixed thanks to the ANC tech onboard.
With ANC on, expect six hours of battery in the buds themselves and 30 hours from the case. This is decent compared to rivals – although not at all spectacular – and it’s a welcome improvement over the Samsung Buds 2 Pro. Samsung has also added a bunch of new features into these buds, including some of the brand’s AI features. But there’s a catch: you’ll need one of Samsung’s newer Galaxy devices to “unlock” many of these features. This includes the brand’s AI features, like the language interpreter, improved codec support, the voice restorer and smart dynamic ANC. We’d expect some of these features to only be available on the Galaxy, but it’s a shame ANC is limited. This means these buds only really make sense for Galaxy owners.
Design-wise, the Samsung Buds 3 Pro look very AirPods-like. That’s pretty common across all true wireless earbuds these days, but with the tip, small body and stems that point downwards, we wouldn’t blame you for mistaking them for Apple’s buds at first glance. Happily, they’re comfortable to wear for long periods and light too, so they’re unlikely to feel heavy, even after listening for hours. One design drawback is that the tips are really difficult to remove. You’re likely to get there eventually, but we’ve heard reports of people tearing the tips in an effort to switch them out.
The downside of the Samsung Buds 3 Pro is that they’re premium priced in combination with having many features limited to Samsung phones. Now, considering how good the audio is, they can still be good value – but those on other platforms would be better off with Bose’s buds, or saving and going for the Nothing Ear (a).
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro review
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Sound quality |
Sound here is excellent with a high max volume and useful EQ just adding to the magic. |
4.5/5 |
|
Fit & comfort |
A design that’s very similar to Apple. Comfortable, but really tricky to replace the ear tips. |
4/5 |
|
Value |
Not the best value for money here. Although they do make a lot of sense if you have a newer Samsung phone and want immersive audio. |
3.5/5 |
The best for battery
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BUY THEM IF
✅ 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.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌ 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). On that note, we’ve recently reviewed the newer JBL Tour Pro 3, but we think the upgrades don’t warrant the price hike, which is why the Live Beam 3 is still our pick for battery.
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
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Sound quality |
Expect big, exuberant sound that also boasts a lot of detail. |
4.5/5 |
|
Fit & comfort |
They’re comfortable to wear – though some may find they do fit far into your ear. |
4/5 |
|
Value |
The features and audio here are good for the price, but that excellent battery life makes them even more worth it. |
5/5 |
The best earbuds for supreme sound
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BUY THEM IF
✅ Audio quality is important to you: Wonderful sound with great noise cancellation; if you want one of the best listening experiences from a pair of buds, you’ll find it here.
✅ You want good travel buds: You can connect the case to any wired source, including in-flight movie systems, and it beams the sound to the buds. Convenient!
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌ You’d like to try spatial audio: The sound here is fantastic, but there’s no spatial audio. If you’ve been keen to try it, look elsewhere.
❌ You want lots of on-ear controls: You’ll have to decide if you want on-ear volume control or access to ANC options, not both.
Looking for the closest you’ll get to sonic excellence in a pair of true wireless earbuds with the key mod cons? Meet the exceptionally accomplished Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 buds. Let’s begin with the sound, which is outstanding. In every conceivable way, including musicality, balance and dynamic nuance, you’re getting best-in-class audio. As you’d expect, higher quality streams from the likes of Qobuz and Apple Music sounded exceptional, but we rate these B&W buds for making the most of every music source they can get. In our review, we wrote: “everything was served up with a flourish” whether that was high-res audio files or Spotify tracks.
Noise cancellation is at the same impeccably high standard. In our review, we wrote: “That cocooned feeling of leaving the outside world behind kicked straight in but without any sense of wind-tunnel nausea or my eardrums being unceremoniously sucked into a vacuum.” This is thanks to B&W’s accomplished audio tech, as well as an incredibly snug and comfortable fit, creating the perfect seal for the ANC to work its magic.
Another nice added feature is that the charging case can double as a wireless audio re-transmitter in aptX Adaptive transmission (up to 24-bit/96kHz quality). What this means is you can plug it into a non-Bluetooth source (most usefully an in-flight entertainment system) and the audio will be transmitted to the buds. This makes them an excellent choice for long flights.
The buds are available in several color options, all with a premium matte plastic finish that we said in our review “seems to murmur ‘I’m expensive’ when you pluck them from their small, pebble-shaped case.” As well as looking nice, they’re among the most comfortable buds we’ve ever tested. This is likely down to B&W putting in considerable efforts to redesign the Pi7 buds that came before them and the result is buds that have very well distributed weight and require zero twisting or adjusting – this is extremely rare, even with the best buds we’ve trialled.
These buds are incredibly close to perfect. Battery life is a little average at 6.5 hours from the buds and a further 13.5 hours from the case, but it’s a worthy sacrifice for everything else you get here. Which is excellent, high-quality audio in a comfortable and premium build. If audio quality is your top priority, these are the buds for you.
Read our full Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 review
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Sound quality |
Genuinely some of the best sound we’ve ever heard from wireless buds – impossible to beat. |
5/5 |
|
Fit & comfort |
A very comfortable fit that didn’t require any twisting or faffing, at least in our experience. |
5/5 |
|
Value |
You don’t get all of the bells and whistles, like hearing tests, but if sound is your priority, which it should be, the value here is great. |
4.5/5 |
The best open earbuds
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BUY THEM IF
✅ You don’t want to be cut off from the outside world: Open earbuds don’t isolate you from sounds around you, so they keep you more aware while delivering the music.
✅ You want rich sound quality too: The reason we like these open earbuds in particular is how deep and energetic the sound is – you don’t feel like the open design is holding them back for audio quality.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌ You’re on Android and aren’t tech savvy: You have to sideload the app on most Android phones, which is a bit of a pain. No problem on iPhone or Huawei phones, though (and you can use them without the app).
❌ You listen in loud environments: With no ANC and no passive sound isolation, their flip side of the coin to their awareness is that they can’t be overwhelmed by outside sounds.
Open earbuds have become very popular recently, especially if you want to stay aware of your surroundings while you’re working out or commuting. But in a fast-growing market packed with compromises, the Huawei FreeArc do manage to stand out and they’re the best-sounding open earbuds we’ve tested, which is no small achievement considering how tricky it is to deliver rich, dynamic audio without the in-ear seal you’ll find from most other buds in this guide.
The soundstage on these is surprisingly wide for open buds with depth and clarity. Music sounds crisp and full of energy, particularly in quiet settings, where you can properly appreciate the tuning and detail. It genuinely surprised us how immersive the experience was during our testing. At times, we forgot we were listening to open earbuds entirely, which is just about the highest compliment we can give.
These buds also get high marks for comfort and security. Open designs can be fiddly, but the FreeArc buds sit snugly just outside the ear canal and barely moved during workouts when we tested them. The buds themselves are IP57-rated, which means they’ll handle rain, dust, and sweat without trouble – although the charging case doesn’t share that durability. And while the 7 hours of battery life per charge is solid, the 23 hour total with the case is a little underwhelming compared to some rivals.
There are a few other caveats here too. If you have an Android phone then installing the companion app can be frustrating because you have to sideload it. And while these earbuds sound excellent, they don’t offer ANC, which some competitors are starting to include even in open designs. That means noisy environments can drown out the audio a bit – it’s a trade-off.
Even so, these are minor complaints. Given the sound quality, comfort and price, the Huawei FreeArc easily earn their place as our top open earbud pick.
Read our full Huawei FreeArc review
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Sound quality |
The best-sounding open earbuds we’ve had the pleasure of testing so far. A great soundstage, though some rivals now do ANC. |
5/5 |
|
Fit & comfort |
Designed to be lightweight and comfortable, whether you’re just walking or working out. |
4/5 |
|
Value |
Great sound, especially for an open design, at a decent price point. |
4.5/5 |
The best wired earbuds
Image 1 of 3
BUY THEM IF
✅ 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.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌ 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-AZ100 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. It’s worth mentioning here that we think if you have the money and want to stick with wired, the excellent FiiO FH19 are our latest recommendation – but you’ll need deep pockets
Read our full 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Earphones review
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Sound quality |
Sound quality is balanced, warm and detailed. Solid quality for the price. |
4/5 |
|
Fit & comfort |
A fairly comfortable design that sticks out a little, but should suit most people. |
4/5 |
|
Value |
Already good value, but as they’re getting old now you’ll find them significantly reduced, so they’re even easier to recommend. |
5/5 |
The best cheap USB C earbuds
Image 1 of 3
BUY THEM IF
✅ 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.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌ 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 for that.
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
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Sound quality |
Expect solid all-round audio here, which is good for the price and design – though it does sound a little thin at times. |
3.5/5 |
|
Fit & comfort |
A sleek design that doesn’t sacrifice comfort. Expect some cable noise though, which can be frustrating. |
4/5 |
|
Value |
You get all the essentials here. Decent sound, a clean look and clear mic at a pretty low price. |
4.5/5 |
The best earbuds: score comparison table
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Sound quality |
Fit & comfort |
Value |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Technics EAH-AZ100 |
5/5 |
5/5 |
4.5/5 |
|
Nothing Ear (a) |
4/5 |
5/5 |
5/5 |
|
Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 |
4.5/5 |
5/5 |
5/5 |
|
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Genn 5) |
5/5 |
4.5/5 |
4.5/5 |
|
Apple AirPods Pro 2 |
5/5 |
5/5 |
4.5/5 |
|
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro |
4.5/5 |
4/5 |
3.5/5 |
|
JBL Live Beam 3 |
4.5/5 |
4/5 |
5/5 |
|
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 |
5/5 |
5/5 |
4.5/5 |
|
Huawei FreeArc |
5/5 |
4/5 |
4.5/5 |
|
1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones |
4/5 |
4/5 |
5/5 |
|
Skullcandy Set USB-C |
3.5/5 |
4/5 |
4.5/5 |
Other earbuds we’ve tested
AceFast AceFit Pro: The AceFit Pro aren’t bad open earbuds. The almost-in-ear fit was secure during testing and we liked the design. But the open earbuds space is becoming increasingly competitive, so there just weren’t enough reasons to buy them over rivals. But do take a look at our AceFast AceFit Pro review if you’ve been in the market for a pair of open buds.
Activo Q1 hybrid IEM headphones: Part of the Astell & Kern high-end audio brand, these Activo buds are a fantastic option for audiophiles, but are a little specialist for this guide. If audio quality is a top priority for you, and you don’t mind paying for it, read our Activo Q1 hybrid IEM headphones review.
Activo Volcano: From Astell & Kern’s lifestyle sub-brand, these wired IEMs offer punchy bass, versatile connectivity, and a premium build – all at a price that’s surprisingly accessible (by A&K standards, anyway). While audiophiles might crave more refinement, the sound quality is solid for casual listening. For most people, they’re well worth a look – check out our Active Volcano review for the full breakdown.
AKG N5: You’ll get great-sounding audio here, as well as top features and a USB-C dongle in the case – very handy and flexible. But it’s hard to recommend strongly them because they feel a little too expensive compared to rivals and the battery life is disappointing. Read our full AKG N5 review to find out more.
Anker Soundcore AeroClip: Another strong contender for the best open earbuds pick. These Anker buds clip around your ear rather than sitting in or over it. We were impressed by both the sound quality and the fit, and while we think the Huawei FreeArc in the list are better value overall, this are our favorite affordable clip earbuds at the time of their release. Still, they’re well worth a look, check out our full Anker Soundcore AeroClip review for all the details.
Anker Soundcore C40i: If you’re looking for a decent pair of open earbuds, you’ll get an impressive bass response, easy-to-use app and customizabe controls here. But, as you’ll see in our Anker Soundcore C40i review, they’re ultimately let down by disappointing battery life, a fit that’s fine but not exactly comfortable and the fact you’ll need to tweak the sound before you start listening.
Anker SoundCore Liberty 5: These earbuds pack a punch with big bass, customizable sound, and a stacked feature set – all at a fair price. But fussy touch controls, a bland design, and average ANC hold them back. A solid option, but in a crowded field, they don’t quite rise to the top. Read our full Anker SoundCore Liberty 5 review to find out more.
Apple AirPods 4: We’ve reviewed Apple’s cheaper AirPods 4, and found them to be… fine. They have fun and full audio quality, improved comfort, and great spatial audio – but they’re lacking in detail and are a bit too expensive for their quality level. We explore it in-depth in our full AirPods 4 review.
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation: As we said in our AirPods 4 with ANC review these are the best open-ear buds for iPhones. The noise cancellation is impressive despite the lack of a full ear seal, and they deliver a fun, detailed sound. Spatial audio is excellent, they’re ultra-light, and battery life exceeds Apple’s (admittedly underwhelming) promise. But here’s the catch: you can get the AirPods Pro 2 for the same price regularly, and they’re better.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024): Our full Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review raves about the noise cancellation and general sound quality here. The only drawbacks being the chunky case and lack of higher-res codecs. They may be a better option to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds for sheer bang-for-buck – if you want the best ANC for a mid-range price, consider these.
Bowers & Wilkins Pi6: There’s little wrong with these B&W buds – they sound great and have a lovely build – but it’s all about the competition, as there are similar options at the same price in this guide with more features and better connectivity. Read our Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 review.
Earfun Air 2 NC: These Earfun earbuds deliver punchy bass and customizable, effective ANC at a low price. But take a look at our Earfun Air 2 NC review to see why we think they were a little weak on sound, which means we’d continue to recommend the Sony WF-C510 buds above as our best cheap option.
Edifier LolliClip: If you like the idea of open earbuds but you’re not sure which to choose, these clip-on buds are a fun option. You get impressive sound and even some noise-cancelling. As you’ll see in our Edifier LolliClip review, they also stand out with health-tracking features, like heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring. They fall short on EQ settings and app support, but overall they’re a unique alternative.
Edifier Stax Spirit S10: These buds sound fantastic and fit well. So why didn’t they make the list? Well, as you’ll see in our Edifier Stax Spirit S10 review, we experienced some odd pairing problems during our testing and the battery life is disappointing, too.
Final Audio ZE3000 SV: We liked the design of these buds. They’re compact, light and comfortable. But although we liked the sound for its balance and detail, it’s overall lacklustre and just not up to the standard of rivals in this guide. Do read our full Final Audio ZE3000 SV review to find out more.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: As you’ll find in our Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review, these tiny buds deliver a solid choice of noise-cancelling and transparency modes, decent sound and an impressive battery life. But the fit wasn’t up to standard, and for a similar price you can find rival buds that perform better in almost every way.
Happy Plugs Clip: As we found in our full Happy Plugs Clip review, these open earbuds missed the mark. While the charging case is sleek and the design initially impressed us, the audio quality is underwhelming, features are lacking, and the fit proved impractical during testing. With competition heating up in the open earbud space, these just don’t make the cut.
JLab Go Pop ANC: For a very cheap pair of buds that also (surprisingly!) deliver ANC, these from JLab are a great option. Take a look at our JLab Go Pop ANC review to find out why we rate them so highly.
LG xboom Buds: We really wanted to like these buds and granted in our LG xboom Buds review we did highlight that the LG app is nice, ANC is decent, and bass is, well, very bassy. But otherwise, there’s not much going for them and you can do better for the price.
Noble FoKus Rex5: There’s a great standard of build and finish here, as well as great specs. But these bold buds don’t quite nail everything in the way they need to for their high asking price. Still, do take a look at our Noble FoKus Rex5 review if you’re tempted by buds with a unique look to them.
Nothing Ear: The big sibling of the Nothing Ear (a) are very good, but they cost dangerously close to the cheaper (a) version and don’t stand out as being dramatically better. Read our full Nothing Ear review for more, but we think the cheaper version nailed the price-to-performance ratio.
Nothing Ear Open: Open-ear buds are a big trend, but sadly Nothing hasn’t hit the mark in the same way its other earbuds do. The fit and sound just aren’t right, as our Nothing Ear Open review digs into.
OnePlus Buds 4: ANC is excellent here. Not quite Bose levels, but up there. We also rated the light design and the sound is bassy. But other than that, they’re a bit of a letdown. The app isn’t as slick as it should be, the controls are fiddly and they’re more expensive than the previous version. Read our OnePlus Buds 4 review for the full story.
OnePlus Buds Pro 3: Read our OnePlus Buds Pro 3 review to learn all of the ways OnePlus’ latest buds improve on the Pro 2s. They’re packed with features, sound superb (especially for the price) and have a great battery life. But they can’t compete with some of the similarly-priced buds in this guide. Some core features, like ANC and voice commands, fell short and we’re not convinced the design will have mass appeal.
OpenRock S: If you’re after open earbuds that are stable, easy to use and offer solid battery life, the OpenRock S deliver on those basics. But as we noted in our full OpenRock S review, they fall short in key areas – the maximum volume is low, and the case is bulky. They’re decent for the price, but with competition ramping up fast, it’s worth shopping around if your budget allows.
Shure SE215: As you’ll see in our Shure SE215 review, these Shure wired earbuds are a very strong choice, with impressive bass. They might not beat the 1More buds in the list above in every respect for overall bang-for-buck, but if noise isolation is a priority, we’d recommend taking a look at them as alternatives.
Sony MDR-EX15AP: We recently tested these colorful wired earbuds, which are incredibly cheap. But, as you’ll see from our Sony MDR-EX15AP review, that’s really the only thing they have going for them. We say: spend a little more and you’ll be much more satisfied.
Sony WF-1000XM5: Unfortunately, these Sony buds didn’t perform as well as we’d have liked. But, the recent WH-1000XM6 leaks lead us to believe that the WF-1000XM6s can’t be far away, and we’ve even compiled a list of 6 upgrades we want to see in Sony’s new flagship buds, whenever they do arrive…
Sony WF-C510: These Sony buds were our best budget pick before they were replaced by the Nothing Ear (a). As you’ll see from our Sony WF-C510 review, they’re still a solid affordable option, offering clear sound support for Sony’s 360 Reality Audio, and an impressive 11 hours of battery life. However, with no ANC on board, the Ear (a) just edge them out overall – but the Sony are cheaper, so if you want something even lower-priced, we love them.
Sony WF-C710N: If you’re in the market for affordable buds, take a look at our Sony WF-C710N review because they’re a solid choice. ANC is the star of the show here – especially considering the price – but everything else is done well too. They’re not perfect, on-ear controls don’t always work well and the new colorway can look a bit cheap, but they almost made this guide.
Meet the team
Our audio tech team put hundreds of pairs to the test in a range of environments in order to determine if they’re worth recommending or not. How do we know what to look for? Because we’ve collectively got years (make that decades) of experience reviewing all sorts of headphones, from expensive, noise-cancelling buds that block out the world to budget earbuds that are cheap and cheerful.
Becky Scarrott
Becky Scarrott is the Audio Editor at TechRadar. She first joined the TechRadar audio team in 2022 as a Senior Staff Writer and has focused on all things audio and hi-fi since. Before joining the team, she worked for more than three years at What Hi-Fi? where she tested all of the latest audio tech devices, from affordable earbuds to high-end sound systems. Becky also has an MA in journalism.
Matt Bolton
Matt Bolton is the Managing Editor for Entertainment at TechRadar. In this role, he heads up the site’s movie and TV show coverage. He also oversees everything we write about headphones, soundbars, speakers and televisions. Matt has more than 10 years of experience in tech journalism before joining the team at TechRadar. He was the editor of T3 magazine and has written for MacLife, PC Gamer, Digital Camera World, Edge, PC Plus, MacFormat and many more.
Simon Lucas
Simon Lucas has been working as a tech journalist for more than 20 years. Throughout that time he’s written about many different devices and industries with a focus on the audio and video tech that makes up your home entertainment system. Before going freelance, Simon was editor of What Hi-Fi? magazine and whathifi.com. He’s also written for Wired, Metro, the Guardian, HiFi+, GQ and more.
Harry is one of TechRadar’s Reviews Staff Writers. During his time on the team, he has reviewed all sorts of devices, covering everything from fun party speakers to the best portable battery packs. He particularly enjoys testing audio tech and gaming devices. Before joining the TechRadar team, Harry worked as a journalist covering innovation and sustainability.
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 – the B&W Pi8 above are proof of that. 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.
Are earbuds waterproof?
Some are, but not all of them. Always check the IP rating. Many modern earbuds are water- and sweat-resistant to a point, which means they’re fine for workouts or getting caught in the rain but wouldn’t survive a dip in a pool.
Look for ratings like IPX4 (mostly splash-resistant) or IPX7 (can survive full submersion) in our best waterproof headphones guide if you need something more rugged. Just remember that even waterproof buds often have cases that aren’t water-resistant.
Do earbuds emit radiation?
Sort of. But it’s very low-level and considered completely safe. Wireless earbuds use Bluetooth, which is a wireless technology that emits non-ionizing radiation (that’s the same type used in Wi-Fi and mobile phones).
There’s currently no solid evidence that Bluetooth radiation from earbuds is harmful and it’s far below the safety limits set by global health organizations.
What earbuds have the best bass?
If you love deep, punchy bass, then look for models specifically tuned for low-end performance. We commented on the solid bass from the Technics EAH-AZ100, Apple AirPods Pro 2, Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and JBL Live Beam 3 buds above, so take your pick depending on your other preferences.
If bass is a priority, then we’d also recommend that you look for earbuds that let you adjust EQ settings in their companion apps. That way you can dial in the exact sort of thump you want.
Do earbuds damage hearing?
Well, they can if you were to listen at high volumes for a very long time. Prolonged exposure to loud audio in any form is one of the leading causes of hearing loss, especially if you were to use earbuds that sit close to your ear canal.
However, it’s worth mentioning that using noise-cancelling earbuds can actually help protect your ears, because you won’t need to crank up the volume to block out the world quite as much, and they can stop loud outside sounds from damaging your ears.
A good rule we’ve heard experts recommend is to listen at around 60% volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time – though most earbuds here, you probably won’t need the volume that high.
Do earbuds have microphones?
Yes, most modern earbuds – especially most of the wireless ones we’re recommending here – come with built-in microphones.
But don’t be spooked. These microphones are essential for phone calls, controlling voice assistants and even for effective noise cancellation. Because they listen for exterior sounds, like traffic or voices, and help the earbuds create an “anti-noise” signal to cancel it out before it reaches your ears. The more mics (and the smarter the tech to go with them), the better the noise-blocking tends to be.
How long should earbuds last?
That depends on how you use and care for them. As a general rule, most earbuds will give you two to three years of solid performance before the battery life starts to decline.
Taking care of the battery (not letting them fully run out of power, not leaving them in extreme heat) can help them last longer. Even once the battery starts to go, it usually just means a shorter total playing time, not that they stop working suddenly.
Wired earbuds can last much longer, sometimes even a decade or more, as long as you don’t break the cable.
In both wired and wireless cases, however, water and/or sweat can be the silent killer. If you wear earbuds to the gym that don’t promise any waterproofing, sweat may get in and damage them.
Which earbuds have the longest battery life?
Some of the best performers in our guide above include the JBL Live Beam 3 and Cambridge Melomania A100.
But you’ll want to look for the amount of battery you get from the buds themselves in a single charge as well as the amount you get from the case. Because some of the buds listed here deliver a relatively short amount of time from the buds, but hours and hours from the case.
For example, the Nothing Ear (a) only give you 5.5 hours from the buds, but 24.5 hours from the case. If you have an opportunity to stop listening and charge them, that shorter bud battery life won’t be an issue.
But if you want guaranteed all-day-wear, the JBL Live Beam 3 offer an impressive 12 hours from the buds and 48 hours in total, including the case.
How we test the best earbuds
Why you can trust TechRadar
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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.
Features: 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.
Audio: 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.
Comfort: 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.
Value: 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.
Comparison: 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.
Sound quality testing: 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.
Microphone quality testing: 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
8 August 2025
Refreshed the introduction. Switched the original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds for the newer Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) as our ‘Best for ANC’ pick. Added several new entries to our ‘Other earbuds we’ve tested’ section. Checked the whole guide for older products and made sure everything is up to date.
3 July 2025
Expanded the introduction with more information about our testing. Updated the Nothing Ear (a) entry to be our ‘best budget’ pick, based on long-term changes to its price. Added the Cambridge Melomania A100 as our new ‘best mid-range’ choice, following its recent review. Updated all of our entries to reflect the market in 2025, and added scorecards to each, so readers can see how they compare at a glance. Added several new entries into our FAQs section. Added some recently reviewed earbuds into our list of other products we’ve tested.
1 June 2025
Swapped the Shokz OpenFit for the Huawei FreeArc as our ‘best open earbuds’ pick, based on recent testing. Added several new options we’ve reviewed this month into our list of other earbuds we’ve tested, including the AKG N5 and OpenRock S.
1 May 2025
Added the Shokz OpenFit as our ‘best open earbuds’ pick. Updated the ‘also consider’ section to include several of the earbuds we’ve tested recently that are great but don’t quite make the cut for this guide.
3 April 2025
Rewrote the introduction and included a mention to the upcoming Sony WF-C710N, which we’re currently reviewing. Added the LG xboom Buds to our ‘also consider’ section.
7 March 2025
Refreshed and tightened up the introduction. Edited the ‘also consider’ section to condense down our recommendations.
10 February 2024
Checked all recent reviews against the options on this list, and updated the list of other earbuds we’ve tested we’ve recently.
9 January 2024
Replaced the Technics EAH-AZ80 with the Technics EAH-AZ100 in the top spot in this guide. Rewrote the intro to reflect this and added other options to our ‘also consider’ section
19 December 2024
Checked all entries against our latest reviews, and updated the ‘Also Consider’ section with recent reviews of earbuds that didn’t make onto our curated list.
21 November 2024
Added the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds in as our ‘best for ANC’ pick, removing the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 that are currently out of stock in most places so not worth recommending.
7 November 2024
Refreshed the introduction. Added new images to each entry to give readers a better look at the devices. Itemized our ‘how we test’ section to add more clarity about our reviewing process. Added a ‘meet the team’ section to give you an insight into our combined tech knowledge and expertise. Added news and suggestions to several of our entries, like the JBL Tour Pro 3 in our JBL Live Beam 3 entry. Added some extra recommendations into our ‘also consider’ section, like the Edifier Stax Spirit S10.
11 October 2024
Swapped the JLab JBuds Mini for the Sony WF-C510 as our ‘best budget’ pick. Switched the Samsung Buds 2 Pro for the Samsung Buds 3 Pro based on our review as our ‘best for Samsung’ choice. Swapped the Final Audio ZE8000 Mk2 out for the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 in our ‘best for sound’ category. Added several recent reviews to our ‘Also consider’ section, including AirPods 4 and OnePlus Buds Pro 3.
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.
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.
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becky.scarrott@futurenet.com (Becky Scarrott)
