I tested over 50 wireless earbuds from Apple, Sony, Bose, Beats and more. These were the best
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All my recommendations are wireless, portable and come with a small charging case.
I am constantly evaluating earbuds and have tested more than 50 different models for this guide. I rely on wireless earbuds daily to block out subway noise, listen to podcasts, handle work calls, and play music during workouts; I always keep a pair in my backpack or pocket.
With such a vast array of choices, determining which model best fits your specific needs can be challenging. Below, I have compiled the top wireless earbuds for various lifestyles and budgets to help you find the right match.
Best for iPhone
Apple AirPods Pro 3
$199.00
$249.00
Amazon
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Best for Android
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
$undefined
$229.00
Amazon
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Best budget
Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
$79.99
$99.99
Amazon
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Best for fitness
Beats Powerbeats Fit
$undefined
$199.95
Amazon
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Best open ear
Shokz OpenFit 2
$undefined
$179.95
Amazon
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After testing dozens of earbuds, my top selections come from brands including Apple, Google, Beats, Bose and Shokz. Every item on this list was a sample I requested from the manufacturers for testing purposes. You can find essential specifications like battery life and IP ratings within the “What to know” dropdown.
In May, I updated this list following my evaluation of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 come in one color: white.
If you use an iPhone, these are the earbuds to choose. They offer comfort, impressive sound quality and effective noise cancellation. They are also well-suited for almost any activity, including outdoor runs and gym sessions.
With noise cancellation enabled, gym chatter and music fade away instantly, in my experience. When transparency mode is active, I can hear my surroundings clearly, which is ideal for outdoor running.
The buds feature excellent on-ear controls, such as a swipe gesture on the stem to adjust volume. They also include integrated heart rate sensors, allowing you to start a workout on your iPhone and track your heart rate and calories burned directly through your AirPods Pro 3 — no separate fitness tracker needed.
They ship with five sizes of ear tips, providing more options than most brands to help you achieve a comfortable fit.
If this sounds appealing but you dislike rubber ear tips, consider the Apple AirPods 4 ANC instead. They offer similarly high-quality sound and call performance but feel more open since they lack rubber tips. However, the noise cancellation is less powerful than that of the AirPods Pro 3, in my experience.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 come in four colors, including peony (pictured).
Anyone using an Android phone who wants a versatile pair of earbuds should consider these latest Google Pixel buds. The updated design features a mini wing-tip stabilizer in each ear that fits snugly, ensuring they remain stable and secure during exercise. “They are comfortable and don’t hurt the inside of my ear within an hour of wearing them,” says NBC Select commerce editor Cory Fernandez.
The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds come in five colors, including navy (pictured).
You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to get feature-rich earbuds; these include active noise cancellation, transparency mode, Bluetooth multipoint and wireless charging, all for under $100. They are comfortable, sound surprisingly good and hold their own against much more expensive models. The only drawback is the noise cancellation — it is decent, but not particularly effective against the sounds of planes, trains or cars.
The Liberty 4 NC is not the brand’s newest model, and while I would love to recommend the newer Anker Soundcore Liberty 5, which are excellent, they cost $130, which I don’t classify as “budget.”
These are among the most affordable wireless earbuds that still provide a stable Bluetooth connection, surprisingly good sound quality and a convenient charging case. The earbuds and case offer a combined battery life of roughly 32 hours, and the case features an integrated cable for easy recharging. If you buy the earbuds from the brand’s website, you can select from 13 bright and earth-tone color options.
They lack active noise cancellation or transparency modes, and the app is somewhat underwhelming, but these are reasonable trade-offs for such a low price.
Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Earbuds come in four colors, including white (pictured).
If your primary goal is to silence background noise like the hum of a plane cabin, rattling train cars or office chatter, these earbuds are the right choice. They offer the best noise cancellation of any earbud I have tested, period. Furthermore, they sound fantastic, providing detailed instrumentation in music and clear audio for TV shows and movies.
They are quite large, however — I don’t find them particularly comfortable for fitness or exercise. They are also expensive at $300. If you are willing to compromise slightly on noise cancellation, consider the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds as a more affordable alternative.
Beats Powerbeats Fit are available in four colors, including black (pictured), gray, pink and orange.
The previous Beats Fit Pro were my go-to workout headphones for years, and the updated version, these Beats Powerbeats Fit, introduce a few minor improvements while retaining everything I loved about the originals.
The buds utilize a wing-tip design that creates a secure fit in your ear — mine stay in place during runs, bike rides and gym sessions. They are small and relatively lightweight compared to other earbuds on this list, and they are especially compact when compared to sportier, full ear-hook models like the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2.
Both earbuds feature physical button controls that are simple to operate, even when I am wearing thick gloves during a winter run. You can press either button to stop, start and skip tracks, and holding the button toggles between noise cancellation and transparency mode. They pair easily with both iPhones and Android phones
Shokz Openfit 2 headphones come in two colors: black (pictured) and beige.
Open earbuds sit on the outside of your ear rather than inside the ear canal. I use them for bike rides, while NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson uses them for runs and races like the New York City Marathon — it makes it easier to stay aware of nearby cars, bikes and pedestrians.
While I am partial to the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, I admit that the more versatile option for daily use is the Shokz OpenFit 2. They are compact and comfortable, offer great sound quality (for open earbuds) and fit into a relatively pocketable charging case. However, as with any pair of open earbuds, don’t expect them to block out noisy neighbors while you are at the gym.
The Shokz OpenFit 2 do not support wireless charging. If that is a vital feature for you, choose the Shokz OpenFit 2+ instead.
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds come in six colors, including some two-tone variants.
A newer category of open earbuds is the clip-on style. These wrap around your outer ear like an ear cuff, leaving your ear canal open and the top of your ears clear for accessories like glasses and hats.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are among the best clip-on earbuds I have tested (with a price tag to match). They might not look very secure at first glance, but after multiple 5Ks and 15-plus-mile bike rides, they have proven to be some of the most secure open earbuds available. They are also comfortable, lightweight and unobtrusive — I wore them for an entire day and forgot they were on my ears multiple times.
Clip-on earbuds don’t offer the best sound quality — the speakers are positioned further from your ears. While audio quality on the Ultra Open Earbuds is good, call quality is not great. You can learn more in my Bose Ultra Open Earbuds review.
If you aren’t completely convinced by clip-on earbuds, consider trying the Anker Soundcore C40i, JLab Flex Open or Soundpeats Pop Clip earbuds instead — they are all significantly cheaper but share a similar shape and size to the Ultra Open.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 come in four colors, black, sand (pictured), purple and orange.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are among the most secure workout headphones I have ever tested. The earhook design and overall fit take a moment to adjust, but once they are in place, they are rock solid and do not budge regardless of my activity.
The earbuds feature noise cancellation and transparency modes, on-ear media and volume controls, a wireless charging case and work well on both iPhone and Android devices. They also include built-in heart rate sensors in each earbud, and while they can be a bit finicky to sync, they are a nice addition if you don’t already use a fitness tracker or smart ring. You can read more in my Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review.
My previous earhook pick, the JBL Endurance Peak 3, remains a great option if you are looking for something simple, secure and more affordable.
For $30, I was surprised by the quality of these earbuds. They feature a large ear hook design that wraps around the back of your ears — I found them to be tight and comfortable, but not so snug that I couldn’t hear traffic or other runners nearby. Plus, they offer a transparency mode and customizable settings through the JLab app.
I think these are best as a secondary pair of earbuds to use specifically for working out or going for a run. You can be a little more carefree with a $30 pair of earbuds than a $300 pair.
Sony WF-1000XM6: These Sony earbuds are some of the best-sounding options on the market, featuring impressive noise cancellation and transparency modes, plus a highly customizable app. The $330 price tag is very steep, however, especially when compared to the equally excellent Apple AirPods Pro 3 and Google Pixel Buds Pro 2.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro: If you love your Samsung smartphone, these Samsung earbuds are also worth considering. They are comfortable and sound excellent, similar to the Apple AirPods Pro 3 and Google Pixel Buds Pro 2. They are also IP57 dust and water resistant — that is a much higher rating than most of their competitors.
Shokz OpenDots One: These clip-on earbuds are a worthwhile alternative to the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. They are comfortable, reliable and cost less. I did prefer the on-ear controls and overall fit and finish of the Bose, however.
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2: The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 are one of the best open-ear headphones for outdoor fitness activity: full stop. I recommend the Shokz OpenFit 2 above because they are a bit more versatile and convenient due to their smaller size and portable charging case. But if you are a runner or cyclist looking for headphones optimized for those activities, these are what you should get.
Anker Soundcore Liberty 5: The Liberty 5 earbuds are newer than the Liberty 4 NC, with longer battery life (up to 12 hours) and better dust and water resistance (IP55). But they are $130, and on sale for less of a discount than the Liberty 4 NC typically are.
I am constantly testing new earbuds by incorporating them into my daily routine. That includes office work, video calls, subway commutes, outdoor runs, indoor gym time and watching videos on my phone, tablet or laptop. While using earbuds, I pay close attention to the following factors:
Comfort: A pair of earbuds is only useful if you feel comfortable wearing them for hours at a time. I wore earbuds for upwards of 3 hours to get a feel for long-term comfort. I also tried different-sized ear tips to find my ideal fit. Everyone’s ears are a little different. If the earbuds don’t fit comfortably right out the box, try different eartips to get a more comfortable fit.
Noise cancellation: I used each pair of earbuds for my office commute on the NYC subway. I also used them in-office to block out background noise and conversations.
Sound quality: I listened to the same music playlist with each pair of earbuds to identify differences in sound quality and instrumentation.
Ease of use: When trying earbuds, I used the on-ear controls to take calls, play media and more. I also downloaded each brand’s mobile app, noting how easy it was to use and the utility offered. Some earbuds let you connect to multiple devices at the same time, this is called Bluetooth multipoint — I tried this feature with my phone, tablet and laptop when available.
Battery life: I tried each pair of earbuds for at least a week. Throughout that period, I paid attention to how many times I needed to charge them.
There are hundreds of wireless earbuds on the market. Some can look almost identical, but they can vary wildly in features and price. Below are a few factors to keep in mind while shopping for a new pair.
Not all wireless earbuds play nice with both Apple and Android devices. If you use Apple AirPods on an Android device, for example, most of their features will be difficult or impossible to use. Earbuds that work well on both platforms tend to have useful standalone apps that can help control noise cancellation, audio equalization and more.
Noise cancelling and transparency modes are both useful features that add versatility to any pair of earbuds. Noise cancelling blocks outside sound, while transparency mode lets sound in so you can better hear the noise around you, a useful safety feature for activities like outdoor running. Cheaper earbuds (under $100) may have one or both built-in, but generally don’t perform as well as pricier options (under $250).
Water and dust resistance is indicated by an earbud’s IP (ingress protection) rating. IP ratings are denoted with two numbers, for example, IP55. The first digit represents intrusion protection against dust and debris. The second digit denotes moisture protection.
If you want to wear your earbuds in wet and rainy conditions, get a pair with a higher IP rating, they are less likely to malfunction in bad weather.
I am a reporter at NBC Selected who covers technology and fitness including stories on fitness trackers, over-ear headphones and point-and-shoot cameras. I’ve been testing earbuds and headphones for years — I try new models constantly, comparing them against previous versions and similar competitors. For a varied perspective, everybody has different ears, after all, I also spoke with other NBC Select staffers about their experience using wireless earbuds.
