The very best wi-fi earbuds for 2024

When you may say the Bluetooth earbuds house is flourishing, you can additionally say the quantity of selection available in the market could make it complicated to determine which pair would be the finest Bluetooth earbuds for you. There are many high-quality choices on the market, with stable lively noise cancellation (ANC) just like the AirPods Professional 2, sound high quality and designs, so for a lot of, the choice will come right down to distinctive options that huge firms like Sony, Bose, Apple and Samsung put of their merchandise.

I’ve examined and reviewed dozens of units of earbuds a 12 months for Engadget, always pitting new fashions in opposition to the earlier finest throughout all price ranges to maintain this checklist of the most effective true wi-fi earbuds updated. This information explains why my present picks for the most effective wi-fi earbuds made the lower, and affords some procuring recommendation by way of all the pieces you could know earlier than selecting the most effective true wi-fi earbuds on your wants.

If earbuds aren’t your jam, nonetheless, you possibly can take a look at our best headphones buying guide, masking our favourite wi-fi, over-ear headphones, noise-canceling headphones and extra.

Desk of contents

Finest wi-fi earbuds

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Learn our full Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) review

Battery life: 6 hours, as much as 30 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Sure | Multipoint: Sure

Apple’s second-generation AirPods Pro are an enormous enchancment over the earlier fashions. These buds have improved sound high quality and lively noise cancellation, whereas sustaining the entire conveniences that make AirPods the most effective earbud possibility for iPhone, iOS and Mac. Once we reviewed them, we discovered essentially the most spectacular characteristic to be transparency mode, which is extra pure sounding than every other earbuds by a mile. You’ll be able to go away these in throughout a dialog and it’s such as you’re not even sporting them. In fact, quick pairing, hands-free Siri, spatial audio, good battery life, and now, a USB-C charging case that may additionally energy up wirelessly will even turn out to be useful.

Execs

• Improved sound
• Stellar transparency mode
• Strong ANC
• Seamless switching between Apple gadgets

Cons

• Identical design
• New contact gesture takes follow
• Common battery life
• Customized Spatial Audio outcomes differ

$154 at Amazon

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Learn our full Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review

Battery life: 8 hours, as much as 30 hours with charging case (ANC on) | Water resistance: IP54 | Noise cancellation: Sure | Multipoint: Sure

The Pixel Buds Professional 2 could also be Google’s priciest earbuds, however they’re additionally its finest. A whole redesign resulted in considerably smaller earbuds that match extra comfortably and securely. The corporate has additionally packed in a Tensor chip for the primary time to deal with audio and ANC sign processing. As you would possibly count on, these earbuds supply a hands-free channel to Gemini AI, though they’re not required to make use of the voice assistant.

Google additionally revised the acoustics and drivers on the Pixel Buds Professional 2, delivering ample low-end tone when it’s wanted. There are many useful options too, like Dialog Detection, Listening to Wellness and Discover My System. Spatial Audio is accessible at launch this time, however you possibly can solely use it with suitable video streaming apps.

Execs

• Tiny, comfortable design
• Punchy bass, full mids, crisp highs
• Barely longer battery life than predecessor

Cons

• Worth went up once more
• Spatial audio is proscribed to video apps
• Smaller contact panel requires precision

$229 at Amazon

Samsung

Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro review

Battery life: 6 hours, as much as 26 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IP57 | Noise cancellation: Sure | Multipoint: Sure

The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro borrow closely from Apple’s AirPods Professional in each seems to be and options, and construct upon the muse of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Professional. Nonetheless, Samsung did nicely to make issues like Adaptive ANC and voice instructions work nicely. Some options like Voice Detect may nonetheless use some superb tuning, however there’s quite a bit to love right here past the essential performance.

The actually shocking factor in regards to the Galaxy Buds 3 Professional is the sound high quality. There’s some thick, boomy bass once you want it with loads of crisp element to enhance it. This mannequin actually shines once you pair it with a Samsung system to unlock 24-bit HiFi streaming. There’s additionally a natural-sounding transparency mode that retains you from feeling shouty throughout calls.

Execs

• Nice sound high quality
• A great deal of useful options
• Comfortable match
• Pure ambient sound

Cons

• Battery life is shorter than some rivals
• The very best options require a current Samsung system
• Copycat design
• Blade lights are a gimmick

$250 at Amazon

Picture by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

Battery life: 10 hours, as much as 50 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Sure | Multipoint: Sure

The Anker Soundcore Space A40 supply the type of options you’d count on from wi-fi earbuds that value twice as a lot: ANC, multi-device pairing, wi-fi charging, IPX4 water resistance, a transparency mode, eight to 10 hours of battery life and LDAC help. Once we examined them, we discovered their heat sound to be pleasing proper out of the field, however Anker’s companion app makes it simple to customise the EQ curve if wanted. And whereas their ANC isn’t fairly as efficient at decreasing background noise as our prime picks, it’s nonetheless efficient for a loud workplace or lengthy flight. For $80 or so, this can be a excellent worth. – Jeff Dunn, Senior Commerce Author

Execs

• Inexpensive
• Good battery life
• Multipoint connectivity
• Transparency Mode

Cons

• ANC is not as robust as opponents

$45 at Amazon

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Learn our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds review

Battery life: 6 hours, as much as 24 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Sure | Multipoint: Sure

For the reason that firm launched the primary mannequin, Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds have persistently offered the most effective noise cancellation out of all of the wi-fi buds we have examined. It’s not shocking that its most-recent model, the QC Extremely Earbuds, solely improved in ANC efficiency. Nonetheless, the larger story right here is that Bose lastly has the audio chops to compete with the most effective earbuds because of its new Immersive Audio tech. The characteristic brings spatial audio to all by not requiring specially-made content material to make use of it. Relatively than make use of music and films the place the sound is coming from all instructions, QC Extremely Earbuds put you in the midst of the acoustic “candy spot” by relying closely on virtualization. A devoted gesture for quantity controls, better-than-advertised battery life and customization settings spherical out the spec sheet.

Execs

• Stellar ANC
• Spatial audio would not require particular content material
• Upgrades with no value enhance

Cons

• Earbuds are nonetheless huge
• Immersive Audio considerably impacts battery life
• Wi-fi charging prices further

$229 at Adorama

Bose

Learn our full Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review

Battery life: 8.5 hours, as much as 31.5 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Sure | Multipoint: Sure

Prior to now, you needed to pay round $300 if you happen to wished Bose-quality ANC on a set of earbuds. With the brand new QuietComfort Earbuds, the corporate packs in loads of its finest options for much less cash. You’ll get efficient ANC, good sound high quality, and options like voice controls.

The earbuds are smaller than typical Bose fare, which implies they’re extra comfy and match higher. You’ll additionally take pleasure in nicely over eight hours of battery life with ANC on and an IPX4 score that will probably be adequate for exercises. And if the product web page is to be trusted, you may as well look ahead to Bose’s distinctive spatial audio (Immersive Audio) coming quickly.

Execs

• Nice sound high quality
• Efficient ANC
• Numerous useful options
• Reliable battery life

Cons

• No Immersive Audio (but)
• Audio and ANC sacrifices in comparison with the QC Extremely Earbuds
• No CustomTune characteristic
• Poor name high quality

$149 at Adorama

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Learn our full Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review

Battery life: 7 hours, as much as 30 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IP54 | Noise cancellation: Sure | Multipoint: Sure

As soon as once more, Sennheiser has retained the highest spot on this checklist by way of pure sound high quality. Positive, you’ll discover higher ANC efficiency from Bose and an extended checklist of options from Sony. However the Momentum True Wireless 4 has nice element and readability. It delivers heat, inviting sound that’s pleasurable to hearken to for hours on finish and regardless that the bass is boomy when it must be, it by no means overpowers. These pairing to Android gadgets can take pleasure in high-res audio because of compatibility with Snapdragon Sound, whereas the iPhone devoted will get the most effective expertise with Apple Music – particularly on Dolby Atmos tracks.

Execs

• Wonderful sound high quality
• Help for higher-resolution audio on Android
• Good battery life
• Customization choices

Cons

• $50 greater than earlier mannequin
• No design refresh
• No spatial audio

$200 at Amazon

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Learn our full Beats Fit Pro review

Battery life: 6 hours, as much as 24 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Sure | Multipoint: Sure

Many of the finest AirPods options in a set of workout earbuds? That’s the Beats Fit Pro. Due to Apple’s H1 chip, these buds supply one-touch fast pairing, hands-free Siri and Discover My instruments. They’ll additionally will let you use Audio Sharing with an Apple system and one other set of AirPods or Beats wi-fi headphones for tandem listening or viewing. Balanced and punchy bass will preserve the power up throughout exercises whereas good noise cancellation, an IPX4 score and comfortable silicone ear ideas make these a stable possibility exterior of the health club too. And there’s loads of help for Android gadgets, so these aren’t only a good purchase for iOS customers both.

Execs

• Snug design
• Good ANC
• H1 chip affords fast pairing and switching between Apple gadgets
• Loads of Android help

Cons

• Name high quality might be higher

$190 at Macy’s

Sony

Battery life: 6 hours, as much as 20 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Sure | Multipoint: Sure

One of many largest surprises this 12 months wasn’t Sony’s distinctive open-wear LinkBuds, it was the extra mainstream follow-up. With the LinkBuds S, the corporate debuted a extra historically designed pair of earbuds akin to its premium WF-1000XM4, solely this mannequin is far smaller and lighter which ends up in a way more comfortable match. These tiny wi-fi earbuds muster some punch in terms of sound high quality too and help for high-res listening (LDAC and DSEE Excessive) are each onboard. Succesful ANC lends a hand with environmental noise and transparency mode can preserve you tuned in when wanted. What’s extra, useful Communicate-to-Chat is right here and Adaptive Sound Management can robotically change settings based mostly on exercise or location. That’s loads of premium options at a mid-range value.

Execs

• Snug design
• Good sound high quality
• Communicate-to-Chat
• Adaptive Sound Management

$128 at Adorama

What to search for in wi-fi earbuds

Relating to looking for earphones, the very first thing to think about is design or put on model. Do you like a semi-open match like AirPods or would you like one thing that utterly closes off your ears? If you happen to’re looking for earbuds with lively noise cancellation, you may need the latter, however a case may be made for the previous if you wish to put on all of them day or frequent locations the place you could be tuned in to the ambient sounds. The general form of earbuds can decide whether or not you get a cushty match, so can the dimensions and weight, so that you’ll need to contemplate all that earlier than deciding. And bear in mind: audio firms aren’t excellent, so regardless of numerous analysis, the earbud form they selected might not fit your needs nicely. Don’t be afraid to return ill-fitting earbuds for one thing that’s extra comfy.

As wi-fi earbuds have change into the norm, they’re now extra dependable for staple items like constant Bluetooth connectivity. Corporations are nonetheless in a race to pack as a lot as they’ll into more and more smaller designs. This usually means an extended checklist of options on the extra premium units of earbuds with fundamental performance on the most affordable fashions. Rigorously contemplate what you possibly can’t dwell with out when choosing your subsequent earbuds, and ensure key objects like automated pausing and multipoint connectivity are on the spec sheet. You’ll additionally need to examine the quantity and contact controls as you’ll usually must sacrifice entry to one thing else to make that adjustment by way of on-board faucets or swipes. Some earbuds even supply app settings to tweak the audio profiles or firmware updates to enhance efficiency over time.

For these within the Apple ecosystem, options like auto-pairing with gadgets, particularly with AirPods Professional 2, may be an added benefit, whereas Android customers might need to search for fashions that provide related cross-device performance.

Relating to battery life, the common set of earbuds lasts about 5 hours on a single cost. You could find units that last more, however that is seemingly sufficient to get you thru a piece day if you happen to’re docking the buds throughout lunch or the occasional assembly. You’ll need to examine on what number of further prices can be found by way of the case and if it helps wi-fi charging.

Corporations will even make lofty claims about name high quality on wi-fi earbuds. Regardless of numerous guarantees, the truth is most earbuds nonetheless go away you sounding such as you’re on speakerphone. There are some units that ship, however don’t get your hopes up except opinions affirm the claims.

Sound may be subjective, so we advocate making an attempt before you purchase if in any respect doable. That is very true if you happen to’re an audiophile. We perceive this isn’t simple when most of us do loads of procuring on-line, however making an attempt on a set of earbuds and listening to them for a couple of minutes can prevent from an costly case of purchaser’s regret. If a retailer doesn’t permit a fast demo, most retailers have return insurance policies that can allow you to take earbuds again you don’t like. In fact, it’s important to be prepared to briefly half with funds so as to do that.

We additionally advocate being attentive to issues like Spatial Audio, Dolby Atmos, 360 Actuality Audio and different immersive codecs. Not all earbuds help them, so that you’ll need to ensure a perspective pair does if that type of factor excites you, particularly if you happen to plan to make use of them for playback of high-quality audio.

How we check wi-fi Bluetooth earbuds

The first approach we check earbuds is to put on them as a lot as doable. We desire to do that over a one- to two-week interval, however typically embargoes don’t permit it. Throughout this time, we hearken to a mixture of music and podcasts, whereas additionally utilizing the earbuds to take each voice and video calls. Since battery life for earbuds is usually lower than a full day, we drain the battery with looping music and the quantity set at a cushty stage (often round 75 %).

To guage audio high quality, we hearken to a spread of genres, noting any variations within the sound profile throughout the types. We additionally check at each high and low volumes to examine for consistency within the tuning. To evaluate name high quality, we’ll file audio samples with the earbuds’ microphones in addition to have third events name us.

Relating to options, we do an intensive evaluation of companion apps, testing every characteristic as we work by the software program. Any holdovers from earlier fashions are double checked for enhancements or regression. If the earbuds we’re testing are an up to date model of a earlier mannequin, we’ll spend time getting reacquainted with the older buds. Ditto for the closest competitors for every new set of earbuds that we evaluation.

Different wi-fi Bluetooth earbuds we examined

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3

The Galaxy Buds 3 mix ANC with an open-type design, which renders the noise-blocking talents of the earbuds principally ineffective. Nonetheless, there’s nice low-end tone with ample bass when a observe calls for it. There are additionally numerous useful options, most of which require a Samsung cellphone. However at this value, there are higher choices from Google, Beats and Sony

Sennheiser Momentum Sport

I actually like the general form of the Momentum Sport earbuds. They’re extra comfy than the Momentum True Wi-fi 4 and slot in my ears higher. What’s extra, the physique temperature and coronary heart price sensors work nicely, sending these stats to quite a lot of apps. Nonetheless, that sport-tracking characteristic works finest with Polar’s app and gadgets, so there’s that consideration. Additionally, the audio high quality and ANC efficiency isn’t pretty much as good because the MTW4, and these earbuds are dear.

Beats Solo Buds

There’s quite a bit to love in regards to the Solo Buds for $80. For me, the first perk is that they’re very comfy to put on for lengthy durations of time because of some considerate design issues. You solely get the fundamentals right here by way of options and, as anticipated, the general sound high quality isn’t pretty much as good because the pricier fashions within the Beats lineup. You’ll get 18 hours of battery life although, because the firm nixed the battery within the case and beefed up the listening time within the buds themselves.

Bose Extremely Open Earbuds

Bose created one thing very distinctive for this set of earbuds that means that you can keep in-tune with the world whereas listening to audio content material. The clip-on design could be very comfy, however sound high quality suffers because of the open-type match, particularly in terms of bass and spatial audio.

Audio-Technica ATH-TWX7

These stick buds have a compact design that’s comfy to put on and the nice and cozy sound profile is nice at occasions. Nonetheless, total audio efficiency is inconsistent and there’s no automated pausing.

Grasp & Dynamic MW09

Retooled audio, higher ambient sound mode and dependable multipoint Bluetooth are the most effective issues the MW09 has to supply. They’re costly although, and you will discover higher ANC efficiency elsewhere.

Beats Studio Buds +

Updates to sound, ANC and battery life prime the spec sheet here, and the brand new clear shade possibility has some throwback power I really like. However there are some fundamental options lacking, and Beats doesn’t come near Apple’s pure audio high quality in transparency mode.

JBL Tour Professional 2

These earbuds are feature-packed, together with a touchscreen “sensible case.” They aren’t essentially the most constant by way of total efficiency although, and I’m not satisfied that case gives loads of utility simply but.

Wi-fi earbud FAQs

What is taken into account good battery life for true wi-fi earbuds?

Most wi-fi earbuds will final 5 hours on a single cost, at least. You could find some pairs which have even higher battery life, lasting between six and eight hours earlier than they want extra juice. All the finest wi-fi earbuds include a charging case, which is able to present extra hours of battery life — however you may must return every bud to the case so as to cost them up.

Is sound high quality higher on headphones or earbuds?

Evaluating sound high quality on earbuds and headphones is a bit like evaluating apples and oranges. There are loads of variables to think about and the variations in parts make a direct comparability troublesome. Personally, I desire the audio high quality from over-ear headphones, however I can let you know the sound from earbuds like Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 3 can also be excellent.

Which wi-fi earbuds have the longest battery life?

With new fashions popping out on a regular basis, monitoring the hours of battery life for every this may be troublesome to maintain tabs on. The longest-lasting earbuds we’ve reviewed are Audio-Technica’s ATH-CKS5TW. The corporate states they final 15 hours, however the app was nonetheless exhibiting 40 % at that mark throughout our exams. The one draw back is these earbuds debuted in 2019 and each know-how and options have improved since. When it comes to present fashions, Master & Dynamic’s MW08 affords 12 hours of use on a cost with ANC off (10 with ANC on) and JBL has a number of choices with 10-hour batteries.

What wi-fi earbuds are waterproof?

There are many choices nowadays in terms of elevated water resistance. To find out the extent of safety, you’ll need to search for an IP (ingress safety) score. The primary quantity signifies intrusion safety from issues like mud. The second quantity is the extent of moisture safety and also you’ll need to ensure that determine is 7 or larger. At this water-resistance score, earbuds can stand up to full immersion for as much as half-hour in depths as much as one meter (3.28 toes). If both of the IP numbers is an X, meaning it doesn’t have any particular safety. For instance, a pair of wi-fi earbuds which might be IPX7 wouldn’t be constructed to keep away from mud intrusion, however they might be okay if you happen to dropped them in shallow water.

Which earbuds keep in ears the most effective?

A safe match can differ wildly from individual to individual. All of our ears are completely different, so audio firms are designing their merchandise to suit the most individuals they’ll with a single form. For this reason AirPods will simply fall out for some however keep put for others. Design touches like wing ideas or fins usually come on health fashions and people parts will help preserve issues in place. You’ll seemingly simply must strive earbuds on, and in the event that they don’t match nicely return them.

What wi-fi earbuds work with PS5?

PlayStation 5 doesn’t help Bluetooth audio with out an adapter or dongle. Even Sony’s own gaming headsets include a transmitter that connects to the console. There are common choices that will let you use any headphones, headset or earbuds with a PS5. Upon getting one, plug it right into a USB port on the console and pair your earbuds with it.

Latest updates

July 2024: Up to date our checklist to incorporate the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional.