{"id":25872,"date":"2024-07-03T09:00:09","date_gmt":"2024-07-03T09:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/52299dcd-39b7-3f30-8524-2c7d79d13daa12"},"modified":"2024-07-03T09:00:09","modified_gmt":"2024-07-03T09:00:09","slug":"the-best-wireless-earbuds-for-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.worldtechguide.net\/the-best-wireless-earbuds-for-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"The best wireless earbuds for 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"
New Bluetooth earbuds are arriving nearly every week nowadays, and while all of that variety can be good for your wallet, deciding which pair is best can also be tricky. After considering things like active noise cancellation (ANC), sound quality and design, the next deliberation is over unique features that big companies like Sony, Bose, Apple and Samsung put in their products. I test dozens of sets of earbuds a year for Engadget, constantly pitting new models against the previous best across all price ranges<\/span> to keep this list of the best true wireless earbuds up to date. This guide explains why my current selections for the best wireless earbuds made the cut, and offers some shopping advice in terms of everything you need to know before choosing the best true wireless earbuds for your needs.<\/p>\n Photo by Billy Steele \/ Engadget<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Read our full <\/strong>Sony WF-1000XM5 review<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Battery life:<\/strong> 8 hours, up to 24 hours with charging case | Water resistance:<\/strong> IPX4 | Noise cancellation:<\/strong> Yes | Multipoint:<\/strong> Yes<\/p>\n With the WF-1000XM5<\/span> flagship earbuds, Sony improves its already formidable mix of great sound, effective ANC and handy features. These earbuds are undoubtedly the company\u2019s best and most comfortable design of its 1000X models so far, which was one of the few remaining riddles Sony needed to solve. Sony still manages to pack in more features than anyone else too, including trademark ones like adaptive sound and Speak-to-Chat. Add in upgraded drivers, new chips, eight hours of battery life and significant improvements to sound quality and these are Sony\u2019s best earbuds yet. But all of the advancements come at a cost: these are also Sony\u2019s most expensive set of wireless earbuds in the 1000X lineup.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $278 at Adorama<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Photo by Billy Steele \/ Engadget<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Read our full <\/strong>Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) review<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Battery life:<\/strong> 6 hours, up to 30 hours with charging case | Water resistance:<\/strong> IPX4 | Noise cancellation:<\/strong> Yes | Multipoint:<\/strong> Yes<\/p>\n Apple\u2019s second-generation AirPods Pro<\/span> are a huge improvement over the previous models. These buds have improved sound quality and active noise cancellation, while maintaining all of the conveniences that make AirPods the best earbud option for iPhone, iOS and Mac. When we reviewed them, we found the most impressive feature to be transparency mode, which is more natural sounding than any other earbuds by a mile. You can leave these in during a conversation and it\u2019s like you\u2019re not even wearing them. Of course, fast pairing, hands-free Siri, spatial audio, good battery life, and now, a USB-C charging case that can also power up wirelessly will also come in handy.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $130 at Amazon<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Photo by Billy Steele \/ Engadget<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Read our full <\/strong>Google Pixel Buds Pro review<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Battery life:<\/strong> 11 hours, up to 31 hours with charging case | Water resistance:<\/strong> IPX4 | Noise cancellation:<\/strong> Yes | Multipoint:<\/strong> Yes<\/p>\n Google has hit its stride when it comes to true wireless earbuds. Every new model the company introduces is an improvement after its first attempt failed to impress. With the Pixel Buds Pro<\/span>, Google offers deep, punchy bass, solid ANC performance, reliable touch controls and wireless charging, all in an IPX4-rated package that will be great for Android users. Plus, there are added convenience features for Android and Pixel devices including Google Translate Conversation Mode.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $185 at Amazon<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Photo by Jeff Dunn \/ Engadget<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Battery life:<\/strong> 10 hours, up to 50 hours with charging case | Water resistance:<\/strong> IPX4 | Noise cancellation:<\/strong> Yes | Multipoint:<\/strong> Yes<\/p>\n The Anker Soundcore Space A40<\/span> offer the kind of features you\u2019d expect from wireless earbuds that cost twice as much: ANC, multi-device pairing, wireless charging, IPX4 water resistance, a transparency mode, eight to ten hours of battery life and LDAC support. When we tested them, we found their warm sound to be pleasing right out of the box, but Anker\u2019s companion app makes it easy to customize the EQ curve if needed. And while their ANC isn\u2019t quite as effective at reducing background noise as our top picks, it\u2019s still effective for a noisy office or long flight. For $80 or so, this is a superb value. \u2013 Jeff Dunn, Senior Commerce Writer<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $59 at Amazon<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Photo by Billy Steele \/ Engadget<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Read our full <\/strong>Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds review<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Battery life:<\/strong> 6 hours, up to 24 hours with charging case | Water resistance:<\/strong> IPX4 | Noise cancellation:<\/strong> Yes | Multipoint:<\/strong> Yes<\/p>\n Since the company introduced the first model, Bose\u2019s QuietComfort Earbuds<\/span> have consistently provided the best noise cancellation out of all the wireless buds we’ve tested. It\u2019s not surprising that its most-recent version, the QC Ultra Earbuds, only improved in ANC performance. However, the bigger story here is that Bose finally has the audio chops to compete with the best earbuds thanks to its new Immersive Audio tech. The feature brings spatial audio to all by not requiring specially-made content to use it. Rather than employ music and movies where the sound is coming from all directions, QC Ultra Earbuds put you in the middle of the acoustic \u201csweet spot\u201d by relying heavily on virtualization. A dedicated gesture for volume controls, better-than-advertised battery life and customization settings round out the spec sheet.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $299 at Adorama<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Photo by Billy Steele \/ Engadget<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Read our full <\/strong>Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Battery life:<\/strong> 7 hours, up to 30 hours with charging case | Water resistance:<\/strong> IP54 | Noise cancellation:<\/strong> Yes | Multipoint:<\/strong> Yes<\/p>\n Once again, Sennheiser has retained the top spot on this list in terms of pure sound quality. Sure, you\u2019ll find better ANC performance from Bose and a longer list of features from Sony. But the Momentum True Wireless 4<\/span> has great detail and clarity. It delivers warm, inviting sound that is enjoyable to listen to for hours on end and even though the bass is boomy when it needs to be, it never overpowers. Those pairing to Android devices can enjoy high-res audio thanks to compatibility with Snapdragon Sound, while the iPhone faithful will get the best experience with Apple Music \u2013 especially on Dolby Atmos tracks.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $244 at Amazon<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Photo by Billy Steele \/ Engadget<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Read our full <\/strong>Beats Fit Pro review<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Battery life:<\/strong> 6 hours, up to 24 hours with charging case | Water resistance:<\/strong> IPX4 | Noise cancellation:<\/strong> Yes | Multipoint:<\/strong> Yes<\/p>\n Most of the best AirPods features in a set of workout earbuds<\/span>? That\u2019s the Beats Fit Pro<\/span>. Thanks to Apple\u2019s H1 chip, these buds offer one-touch quick pairing, hands-free Siri and Find My tools. They\u2019ll also allow you to use Audio Sharing with an Apple device and another set of AirPods or Beats wireless headphones for tandem listening or viewing. Balanced and punchy bass will keep the energy up during workouts while good noise cancellation, an IPX4 rating and comfy silicone ear tips make these a solid option outside of the gym too. And there\u2019s plenty of support for Android devices, so these aren\u2019t just a good buy for iOS users either.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $180 at B&H Photo<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Sony<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Battery life:<\/strong> 6 hours, up to 20 hours with charging case | Water resistance:<\/strong> IPX4 | Noise cancellation:<\/strong> Yes | Multipoint:<\/strong> Yes<\/p>\n One of the biggest surprises this year wasn\u2019t Sony\u2019s unique open-wear LinkBuds, it was the more mainstream follow-up. With the LinkBuds S<\/span>, the company debuted a more traditionally designed pair of earbuds akin to its premium WF-1000XM4, only this model is much smaller and lighter which leads to a much more comfy fit. These tiny wireless earbuds muster some punch when it comes to sound quality too and support for high-res listening (LDAC and DSEE Extreme) are both onboard. Capable ANC lends a hand with environmental noise and transparency mode can keep you tuned in when needed. What\u2019s more, handy Speak-to-Chat is here and Adaptive Sound Control can automatically change settings based on activity or location. That\u2019s a lot of premium features at a mid-range price.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $128 at Amazon<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n When it comes to shopping for earbuds, the first thing to consider is design or wear style. Do you prefer a semi-open fit like AirPods<\/span> or do you want something that completely closes off your ears? If you\u2019re shopping for earbuds with active noise cancellation, you’ll want the latter, but a case can be made for the former if you want to wear them all day or frequent places where you need to be tuned in to the ambient sounds. The overall shape of earbuds can determine whether you get a comfortable fit, so can the size and weight, so you\u2019ll want to consider all that before deciding. And remember: audio companies aren\u2019t perfect, so despite lots of research, the earbud shape they decided on may not fit you well. Don\u2019t be afraid to return ill-fitting earbuds for something that\u2019s more comfortable.<\/p>\n As wireless earbuds have become the norm, they\u2019re now more reliable for basic things like consistent Bluetooth connectivity. Companies are still in a race to pack as much as they can into increasingly smaller designs. This typically means a longer list of features on the more premium sets of earbuds with basic functionality on the cheapest models. Carefully consider what you can\u2019t live without when selecting your next earbuds, and make sure key items like automatic pausing and multipoint connectivity are on the spec sheet. You\u2019ll also want to investigate the volume controls as you\u2019ll often have to sacrifice access to something else to make that adjustment via on-board taps or swipes.<\/p>\n When it comes to battery life, the average set of earbuds lasts about five hours on a single charge. You can find sets that last longer, but this is likely enough to get you through a work day if you\u2019re docking the buds during lunch or the occasional meeting. You\u2019ll want to check on how many extra charges are available via the case and if it supports wireless charging.<\/p>\n Companies will also make lofty claims about call quality on wireless earbuds. Despite lots of promises, the reality is most earbuds still leave you sounding like you\u2019re on speakerphone. There are some sets that deliver, but don\u2019t get your hopes up unless reviews confirm the claims.<\/p>\n Sound can be subjective, so we recommend trying before you buy if at all possible. We understand this isn\u2019t easy at a time when we\u2019re doing most of our shopping online. But trying on a set of earbuds and listening to them for a few minutes can save you from an expensive case of buyer’s remorse. If a store doesn\u2019t allow a quick demo, most retailers have return policies that will let you take earbuds back you don\u2019t like. Of course, you have to be willing to temporarily part with funds in order to do this.<\/p>\n We also recommend paying attention to things like Spatial Audio<\/span>, Dolby Atmos, 360 Reality Audio and other immersive formats. Not all earbuds support them, so you\u2019ll want to make sure a perspective pair does if that sort of thing excites you.<\/p>\n The primary way we test earbuds is to wear them as much as possible. We prefer to do this over a one- to two-week period, but sometimes embargoes don\u2019t allow it. During this time, we listen to a mix of music and podcasts, while also using the earbuds to take both voice and video calls. Since battery life for earbuds is typically less than a full day, we drain the battery with looping music and the volume set at a comfortable level (usually around 75 percent).<\/p>\n To judge audio quality, we listen to a range of genres, noting any differences in the sound profile across the styles. We also test at both low and high volumes to check for consistency in the tuning. To assess call quality, we\u2019ll record audio samples with the earbuds\u2019 microphones as well as have third parties call us.<\/p>\n When it comes to features, we do a thorough review of companion apps, testing each feature as we work through the software. Any holdovers from previous models are double checked for improvements or regression. If the earbuds we\u2019re testing are an updated version of a previous model, we\u2019ll spend time getting reacquainted with the older buds. Ditto for the closest competition for each new set of earbuds that we review.<\/p>\n I really like the overall shape of the Momentum Sport<\/span> earbuds. They\u2019re more comfortable than the Momentum True Wireless 4 and fit in my ears better. What\u2019s more, the body temperature and heart rate sensors work well, sending those stats to a variety of apps. However, that sport-tracking feature works best with Polar\u2019s app and devices, so there\u2019s that consideration. Also, the audio quality and ANC performance isn\u2019t as good as the MTW4, and these earbuds are pricey.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a lot to like about the Solo Buds<\/span> for $80. For me, the primary perk is they\u2019re very comfortable to wear for long periods of time thanks to some thoughtful design considerations. You only get the basics here in terms of features and, as expected, the overall sound quality isn\u2019t as good as the pricier models in the Beats lineup. You will get 18 hours of battery life though, since the company nixed the battery in the case and beefed up the listening time in the buds themselves.<\/p>\n Bose created something very unique for this set of earbuds<\/span> that allows you to stay in-tune with the world while listening to audio content. The clip-on design is very comfortable, but sound quality suffers due to the open-type fit, especially when it comes to bass and spatial audio.<\/p>\n These stick buds<\/span> have a compact design that\u2019s comfortable to wear and the warm sound profile is great at times. However, overall audio performance is inconsistent and there\u2019s no automatic pausing.<\/p>\n Retooled audio, better ambient sound mode and reliable multipoint Bluetooth are the best things the MW09<\/span> has to offer. They\u2019re expensive though, and you can find better ANC performance elsewhere.<\/p>\n Updates to sound, ANC and battery life top the spec sheet here<\/span>, and the new clear color option has some throwback energy I love. But there are some basic features missing, and Beats doesn\u2019t come close to Apple\u2019s natural audio quality in transparency mode.<\/p>\n These Table of contents<\/h2>\n
Best wireless earbuds<\/h2>\n
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What to look for in wireless earbuds<\/h2>\n
How we test wireless Bluetooth earbuds<\/h2>\n
Other wireless Bluetooth earbuds we tested<\/h2>\n
Sennheiser Momentum Sport<\/h3>\n
Beats Solo Buds<\/h3>\n
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds<\/h3>\n
Audio-Technica ATH-TWX7<\/h3>\n
Master & Dynamic MW09<\/h3>\n
Beats Studio Buds +<\/h3>\n
JBL Tour Pro 2<\/h3>\n