The best earbuds 2024: top buds for all budgets
The best earbuds are essential for easy-to-fling-in-a-pocket music on the go. Podcast for a long-haul flight? Calming playlist for takeoff? Motivational soundtrack for the commute (you got this and you’re doing great, by the way)? Something to throw in a gym bag and get you through that spin class? Earbuds are a top shout. The best of the bunch can immerse you in a cocoon of sound, blocking out the rest of the world.
These days, you don’t need to sacrifice battery life, extra perks or sound performance to get that tiny-case form factor either. We’ve tested literally hundreds of pairs and we know what we’re looking at – and listening to.
You may notice the older Sony WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds have disappeared from this list. Yes, it’s the end of an era, but they’re no longer readily available – and the summer 2023-issue Sony WF-1000XM5 didn’t quite live up to the (huge) expectations we had on those. Instead, the Technics EAH-AZ80, have taken up residence in our top spot, for their excellent call quality, detailed audio and industry-leading triple device multipoint connectivity, which no other earbuds in this list can offer.
That said, if you’re looking to keep the price down, we’ve got a dedicated best budget wireless earbuds guide, to give you more option no matter how deep your pockets.
The quick list
Want to cut straight to the best earbuds around? You’ll find a roundup of our top choices here. You can jump to a more in-depth write-up for each product, and see the latest deals on them.
The best earbuds overall
Delivering supremely balanced, detailed sound with triple-point connectivity and outstanding comfort, Technics has created a fantastic pair of buds that stand out even in a saturated market.
Read more below
The best mid-priced wireless earbuds
For a very affordable price, you get energetic and rich sound quality, the best active noise cancellation we’ve heard for under $100/£100, great features, and a cool design.
Read more below
The best super-cheap earbuds
At this price, JLab’s given us a phenomenally good value pair of wireless earbuds that tick all the right boxes, with solid audio and a light but durable design with small, comfortable earpieces.
Read more below
4. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
The best earbuds for noise cancellation
Bose has always done active noise cancellation well, and these buds are effectively as good as you can get right now. They also boast beautiful sound and a secure (if chunky) in-ear fit.
Read more below
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.
Read more below
6. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
The best earbuds for Samsung owners
If you have a Samsung phone, the spatial audio with head-tracking and end-to-end 24-bit high-res audio are great bonuses, along with great sound quality and ANC.
Read more below
Load the next products…
The best for battery
Up to 12 hours from just the buds or up to 48 hours (yes, two whole days!) in total is some serious stamina. And also there’s a smart screen on the case – hey, we don’t make the rules!
Read more below
The best cheap USB-C wired
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.
Read more below
The best earbuds for supreme clarity
Forget the weird ‘8K Sound+’ marketing here – the audio quality is so, so good. They’re big, but for a similar price to other premium headphones, you’re getting a real step up in sound.
Read more below
Best earbuds for working out
Very secure, very comfortable, and with great smart features on both iOS and Android. You get solid noise cancellation, fun sound, and even spatial audio when used with iPhone.
Read more below
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.
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 for an iPhone.
The best earbuds of 2024
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Below you’ll find full write-ups for each of the best earbuds in our list. We’ve tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best earbuds overall
BUY THEM IF
✅ You prefer a neutral, lifelike sound: There’s nothing artificial about the way the Technics EAH-AZ80 sound; they offer convincingly realistic and coherent listening in all circumstances.
✅ You want to switch between devices: Triple-point connectivity is a world-first in a product like this, and it’s brilliantly convenient for those of us who surround themselves with wireless tech.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌ You intend to wear your earbuds all day: Even at its best, the battery life available here is nothing special, though it’s not bad.
❌ You have a lot of external noise to block out: There are many less-capable noise-cancelling earbuds, if silence is important look to the Bose buds at #4 on this list.
The Technics EAH-AZ80 buds sound fantastic and they’re packed with features. A standout is triple-point connectivity, which we found to be stable and useful, as well as Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC compatibility. And, thanks to ‘Just My Voice’ technology, these buds are far less prone to wind-noise interference than rivals. Their only minor shortcomings are battery life at only 7 hours from the buds and 25 from the case, and the ANC (which could be a tad more impressive).
The sound they make is also accomplished – it’s both swift and accurate, as well as balanced and detailed. In our review, we wrote: “The whole frequency range is really nicely balanced and coherent from top to bottom and very even-handed from the (deep, nicely textured) bass to the (clean, politely attacking) treble.” We also found the midrange to be both informative and eloquent, with high detail levels and a smooth, seamless, agile journey from ceiling to floor and back.
In terms of design, there’s a resoundingly premium feel here and each bud feels more comfortable, stable and light (7g per earbud) than some rivals. What’s more, the accompanying charging case is an equally svelte 50g. Build quality hasn’t been compromised in order to keep the weight down either – the EAH-AZ80 feels like a product that will outlast its rivals. There are seven different earbud sizes to choose from too, which means you’re likely to get that perfect fit.
The price of the Technics EAH-AZ80 is that of a premium product, for sure – but thankfully, so is the specification. Overall this is a pair of buds that delivers excellent sound quality, a fantastic fit, and that industry-first triple device multipoint connectivity. Add it all together, and we think they’re a better-value package than the top buds from Sony or Bose.
Read our full Technics EAH-AZ80 review
The best earbuds at a mid-range price
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) are a serious improvement from Nothing, rocketing its buds from being ‘fine, but nothing special’ to ‘these are the best value you can get for the price’. And they’re a fun yellow color while doing it!
For their sub-$100/£100 price, they’re so good, and feel premium. In our review, we said compared to the similarly priced (and fantastic) Sony WF-C700N, “the Nothing earbuds look more premium and feel more foxy. Their noise cancellation is a touch more robust and the sound is every bit as energetic, detailed and zealous, and (dare we say it?) a tad more expansive to boot.”
In general, we said that “for the money, Nothing has tweaked its recipe to near perfection here” – yes, you can get better sound from the Technics at #1 on the list or other more premium options, but you need to pay twice as much for a meaningful difference.
That goes for features, too – the noise cancellation is as good as we’ve tested for the price, you get smart features such as wear detection to auto-pause them when you take them out, there’s multi-point pairing for instant switching between devices, there’s a Find My mode, there’s LDAC hi-res support… the only think missing is spatial audio, and that’s not usually an essential on affordable buds. The 5.5-hour battery life is the only element that’s below average, but we can totally live with that.
Read our full Nothing Ear (a) review
The best budget earbuds
BUY THEM IF
✅ Your budget maxes out at $20 / £20 / AU$50 and you want true wireless: The JLab Go Air Pop are an incredibly affordable set of buds that boast features and sound no other solution to date has managed at this level.
✅ You prioritize a long battery life: 32 hours of playtime, for $20. Let that sink in, while remembering the AirPods Pro will only give you a maximum of 30 hours of listening time.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌ You want full app support: They do amazing things without a companion app (on-ear volume control, EQ, etc.) but if you want a visual cue of their battery life, no dice.
❌ You want top quality sound and have the budget: If sound quality is top of your list and you can spend a little more, do that. This isn’t audiophile territory.
The JLab Go Air Pop buds prove it’s possible to purchase a fantastic set of true wireless earbuds on a tight budget. They boast reliable Bluetooth connectivity and top battery life (eight hours from the earbuds and a whopping 32 hours from the buds and the case combined) plus on-device volume controls that work better than rivals more than double the price, and a triple tap to pick from three different EQ profiles.
Any meaningful sound comparison between these cheap in-ears and class-leading products at 10 times the price really isn’t fair, is it? But these JLab buds easily beat everything else in their price range for sound, features, build quality and reliability. Vocals are relatively well handled through the upper mids, the bass is sensibly refined, and the soundstage is surprisingly expansive.
Design-wise, they’re lightweight at just 3.7g per earbud and incredibly small with three different types of eartips, which means they should suit almost everyone and we certainly found them incredibly comfortable to wear during our testing.
Again, no they don’t beat flagship propositions from the likes of Sony, Apple, or Technics. But they do punch well above their weight. The JLab Go Air Pop sound far better than you’d expect for their nominal ticket price tag and pack in some excellent features that make them fantastic value for money.
Read our full JLab Go Air Pop review
The best earbuds for noise cancellation
BUY THEM IF
✅ Noise cancellation really matters to you: If there’s one thing the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II do really well, it’s noise cancellation.
✅ You want beautifully balanced sound: Whatever CustomTune is actually doing in the ear, it’s working remarkably well. The sound is very well balanced.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌ You’re on a tight budget: It’s easy to argue that the ANC and sound performance of the QCE II are well worth every penny, but these are expensive earbuds.
❌ You’d prefer high-definition wireless sound quality: With support for just low-definition wireless codecs, the QCE II may not be for audiophiles.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are our favorite noise-cancelling earbuds. Yes, even though the newer Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have essentially superseded them – because the new buds are only a marginal step up for the core sound and ANC quality, and we’re fans of the better value you’ll now get from these (just slightly) older QCE II buds.
The ANC is supremely effective here, thanks to what Bose calls CustomTune, which uses an audio signal – picked up by a mic inside each bud – to automatically calibrate ANC and sound frequency to suit your ear. Unfortunately there’s no wireless charging or multi-point connectivity (there isn’t in the newer set either, which is an oversight from Bose), and battery life is acceptable rather than excellent, at 6 hours or up to 24 hours in total, using the case.
Happily, Bose’s ANC improvements aren’t at the expense of sound quality, and whatever the CustomTune tech is doing behind-the-scenes here made these buds an extremely enjoyable listen during our testing. In our review, we wrote: “We can’t stress this enough – the sound is very well balanced, with a heck of a lot of details and textures coming through.” If you’d still like to tweak the audio output, you can via the EQ in the Bose app.
Design-wise, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are 30% smaller than previous generations with a more compact and lighter charging case. However, we did find the fit took some getting used to and is unlikely to suit everyone at first.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are Bose earbuds, which means they’re typically on the expensive side. But if you can afford them, these are arguably the best noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds you can get today.
Read our full Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 review
The best earbuds for Apple fans
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 is vastly improved over the original AirPods Pro. There’s rich sound across genres, and a wide and expansive soundstage, bookended by deep-yet-controlled bass and clear, elevated treble. There’s lots of detail, and it’s energetic too – if we were to criticize it, we might say it’s a little too forward compared to the more natural and neutral sound of the Technics at the top of this list. Spatial audio is a very impressive trick of these buds too, especially with movies – it really feels like you’re sitting in a home theater rather than having sound pumped directly into your years.
The crucial part for why you’d choose these over other options, though, is the extra features they include for those with lots of Apple gear. On top of the Find My support, they switch between your Apple devices seamlessly, they can share audio with other AirPods or Beats headphones, they offer personalized audio tweaks, and even optimized battery charging to help make sure they last longer. But to access all of this, you must use them with iPhone. With anything else, you’re looking at basic ‘they play music and you can switch between noise cancellation and Transparency’ functionality.
They’re excellent all-rounder, and during sales events are regularly available for a little less than the premium competition – who would think Apple would be the more budget option, eh?
Read our full Apple AirPods Pro 2 review
The best earbuds for Samsung phone users
BUY THEM IF
✅ You own a Samsung Galaxy smartphone: A no-brainer. The Buds 2 Pro present themselves on your Galaxy device for easy pairing and give you handy home-screen widgets.
✅ You want Samsung’s best sound-per-pound audio quality: We didn’t expect to enjoy Samsung’s immersive, expressive, head-tracked 24-bit audio as much as we did.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌ You want a long battery life: Five hours with ANC activated is behind most of the competition here.
❌ You own an iPhone: With no iOS app to control their functions, you’re far better off with something else.
Samsung has a formidable reputation in the smartphone market, but its Galaxy Buds never quite hit a home run. That changed with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. These earbuds are packed full of useful perks, including excellent ANC, voice detect, wearer detection and customizable on-ear controls – all of which work very well indeed – plus IPX7 water ingress protection. This would have been an almost perfect list of specs, marred only by the disappointing five-hour battery life.
The headline-grabbing feature, if you own a Samsung Galaxy device, is spatial audio with optional head-tracking, thus allowing you to use your phone as the focal point to direct more of that new end-to-end 24-bit high-res audio to whichever ear you prefer. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro sport a two-way driver design, with a 10mm woofer and 5.4mm tweeter in each earbud. It’s a formidable improvement on Samsung’s previous earbud releases.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are refreshingly smaller and lighter than most rivals – and a huge improvement over previous Galaxy buds (remember the jewels and kidney bean shaped buds? These are nothing like those and we’re happy about it). The result is a stylish, minimalist, secure and ergonomic look and fit that almost feels as if you’re not wearing earbuds at all – or at least that was our experience during testing.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro squeeze an incredible amount in here for only mid-range money. There are a few minor things lacking, (the ability to tweak ANC in increments on a slider in the app would be lovely), but forgive this and it’s hard to quibble with the sound-per-pound value.
Read our full Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review
The best for battery
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).
The case also delivers three further charges – we’ve tested it and the screen doesn’t drain it – taking your total audio playback time up to a class-leading 48 hours. To put that into perspective, Apple’s priciest Pro-suffixed AirPods offer 5.5 hours with its top-tier Spatial Audio deployed, or a maximum of 30 hours including the case. Big difference in those figures, no?
The JBL Live Beam 3 also boast great value when it comes to the feature set, including a few novel bits and pieces you don’t find elsewhere – including “Personi-Fi”, which is basically hearing test of each ear to better tailor the sound to your liking.
OK, the spatial audio profiles aren’t going to knock your socks off. JBL has offered a total of three immersive soundscapes for music, movies and games, but if you’re imagining sonic articles darting past you in a three-dimensional space you’ll be disappointed. Also the ANC is good rather than excellent and the on-ear controls work well but involve a compromise. Look past these minor snafus and you’ll find the fit is great, the battery is seemingly never-ending and, honestly, the sound is refreshingly good for bass and detail. View the screen as a lovely extra for the money and you won’t go far wrong.
Read our full JBL Live Beam 3 review
The best cheap USB-C earbuds
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 (we like the SoundMagic E11D).
If you’re looking for a pair of wired USB-C earbuds, this set from Skullcandy may not offer the best high-end sonic experience compared to other options in this list, but they’re a stylish and reliable choice – especially considering they’re incredibly affordable at $31.99/£29.99 (about AU $50). We tested even cheaper USB-C buds, and this are basically as cheap as we’d recommend going – especially if you can find them on sale.
In our review we made it clear that these buds “don’t whip up top-drawer sound”, especially where detail and dynamism are concerned. That being said, sound quality is decent, especially considering their price. Similarly-priced budget buds that we’re reviewed sound and feel much more cheap and tinny in comparison.
As you’d expect, there’s no active noise cancellation for this price. But thanks to good included ear tips, they have a “noise-isolating fit”. This won’t reduce all ambient noise, but it does do a decent job at keeping you focused on your music regardless of your surroundings. These ear tips come in three different sizes, which meant in our review we wrote that the buds are “very pleasant to wear”, even for long periods of time.
As well as feeling good, we liked how the buds look too. In our review we said: “They sport a sleek, curved look, and come in four snazzy colorways.” They also have an IPX4 water-resistant rating, which means they’re rain- and sweatproof. The only notable frustrating design feature is there are no volume up/down buttons on their controller, which feels limiting.
These aren’t the best buds in our guide, far from it – but they’re comfortable, they sound solid and they look good. If that’s all you ask, enjoy.
Read our full Skullcandy Set USB-C review
The best earbuds for supreme sound
BUY THEM IF
✅ You want the best sound quality in a wireless design: This is among the most detailed and just best audio you can buy in a set of truly wireless buds – and the ANC is surprisingly good too.
✅ You pay for a proper music subscription: With aptX Adaptive and Snapdragon Sound onboard, you’re going to want to pay for a decent Tidal, Qobuz or Apple Music subscription to get the goods here.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌ You like an all-singing, all-dancing app: The companion app is a clear area for improvement with these Final buds compared to slicker competition.
❌ You want small earbuds to slip in a pocket: These earbuds are a fair bit larger than many of the current heavy-hitters.
OK, if ever the term “8K Sound+” could apply to something you hear rather than see, that is what you’ll get with these earbuds. We’re not saying we approve of the term used by Final, but nevertheless you should know that the sound quality here is excellent. You’re getting a zealous, expansive, and glorious soundstage that has us living happily in our heads, and forgetting the cost.
So why the less than perfect star rating? These excellent earbuds are marred only by a slightly disappointing battery life (which is five hours tops or 15 including the case, but closer to four when you deploy 8K Sound+) plus an app that supplies the basics rather than the premium, all-seeing all-dancing experience you might expect at this level.
The four noise cancellation modes and volume step optimizer (which gives you better precision when tweaking the volume level) work very well indeed and add value, plus there’s a four-band EQ tab, but forget hearing tests, spatial audio support, wearer detection or the option to customize the on-ear controls – and in our tests, we sometimes found the app a little unreliable in that it failed to fire up or chose not to recognise the earbuds it was connected to.
Then again, we keep coming back to their sound. Honestly, the sound is among the best we’ve ever heard in a true wireless design, and at a price comparable to the best buds from Sony and Bose, despite sounding clearly better. The lack of features (and the large size) may not be for everyone, but if you value music above all else, you must consider them.
Read our full Final ZE8000 MK2 review
The best earbuds for working out
BUY THEM IF
✅ You don’t want to miss out on features: There’s ANC, there’s spatial audio with Apple devices, there’s fast pairing with iOS or Android, there’s Apple Find My support.
✅ You want a rock solid fit in a smaller bud: The in-ear fit combined with a fin, and a fairly light bud overall, means that once these are in, they don’t come out unless you want them to.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌ You need best-in-class noise cancellation: They have it, and it works fine, but you can tell it’s from buds that are a few years old now.
❌ You want high-quality sound: Again, they sound absolutely fine, but the likes of Apple’s own AirPods Pro 2 or other premium buds are a clear step up.
When it comes to earbuds especially for working out, there’s a shift in importance. Sound quality and other features are still a big factor, but none of it matters if the earbuds don’t stay in your ears when you’re mid-run, mid-row or mid-set.
Beats Fit Pro were released in 2021, and so are beginning to show their age compared to the wider earbuds competition – for a little more money you can step up to the more premium buds here, which will offer you better sound quality and noise cancellation – but we still really rate them for how they balance a secure fit with the sound and features.
The design has both an in-ear tip plus a fin that fits against the arches of your ear, connected to a reasonably small and light but, which means they hold in place absolutely securely. They’re extremely hard to dislodge accidentally, and their on-device buttons are easy to push without loosening the fit.
They also have smart features for both Apple and Android – on both platforms, you get fast pairing and music playback. On Android, you also have the Beats app, which enables you to customize the controls, check the battery easily, and take a fit test to make sure you’re getting the best from the ANC. On Apple, they offer spatial audio, auto-switching between devices, and audio sharing with other Beats or AirPods.
The IPX4 rating means they should resist sweat, though this won’t make them the most resistant to accidental drops in water or wearing our in heavy rain – if you need something more hardcore, check out the Jabra Elite 7 Active.
Read our full Beats Fit Pro review
Other earbuds to consider
There’s a fresh debutante in this list – namely the JBL Live Beam 3! Truly, these things go on and on for battery life, but it’s a fine return to form from JBL in how its earbuds sound too.
Other than that, we recently reviewed the Creative Aurvana Ace 2 and the Motorola Moto Buds Plus – but neither of them made this list. Why? Well, although the sound quality was very good indeed, we had issues with the Creative’s noise-cancellation (which involved a somewhat painful high-pitched noise on occasion) and although we also liked the Moto Buds Plus for sound, they’re let down by a lack of iOS app and the omission of any IP rating for water ingress.
We also recently tested the Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 true wireless earbuds. The all-new Melomania M100 have a more ergonomic design than predecessors, great ANC and an engaging sound – you can also get Matt Berry to give you voice prompts! Who could resist? Well, they come at a higher price than the previous models we loved so much, but lack certain features we expect from more premium buds (including spatial audio) and have a pretty chunky case. We think they’re fantastic, as our Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 review attests, but they haven’t quite edged out our choices in this list.
We’ve also recently tested the OnePlus Buds 3, which we decided are a solid and fairly-affordable pair of wireless earbuds that tick a lot of boxes for those looking for good features, a sleek design and impressive ANC. If you’re lucky enough to get these with a OnePlus phone or tablet, you should be happy with the pairing and special features, but our OnePlus Buds 3 review explains why we don’t like them quite enough to make them a broad recommendation over the hot competition.
If you like buds with a rich sound profile, then you should check out the Audio Technica TH-TWX7, which we also put through their paces recently. They lean towards the bassy side and have a solid app that lets you tweak plenty of features to enhance your music even more. But between the annoying touch controls and mediocre battery life we highlighted in our Audio Technica TH-TWX7, they’re not breaking into this list.
How to choose the best earbuds
Two important things to consider when you’re choosing new earbuds is what you want to listen to and where you want to listen to it.
For example, if you like fairly quiet music and want to listen on the bus or train, you’ll need effective noise cancellation.
If you’re looking for a pair of the best running headphones, you should look for IPX4 water-resistance so they can withstand sweat and rain. Some of the top waterproof earbuds can even be used for swimming. The best bone-conducting headphones are popular for fitness fans too, because they don’t block outside sounds.
If you’re going to be wearing your earbuds for long periods, then comfort and weight are a top priority.
We’ve included both wired and wireless earbuds on this list, but you don’t have to compromise on audio quality by going wire-free. Our current favorite true wireless earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM4 combine class-leading sound with high quality noise cancellation tech.
If you do opt for wireless or true wireless earbuds, make sure the battery life is up to scratch, otherwise you may find yourself caught short without any music in the middle of your commute.
The best earbuds for you should sound good to your ears. Which means if you’re a dedicated audiophile, look for buds that support Hi-Res Audio codecs, like LDAC and aptX HD Bluetooth for stellar connectivity.
We also recommend you consider your budget. If you want cheap earbuds you may have to sacrifice features, like ANC or a long battery life. It’s all about weighing up what’s more important to you.
Finally, the brand you choose will depend on what you’re looking for – but we’re careful with our lists. That means all of the earbuds and in-ear headphones above come from brands we trust. Still, if you’re not sure where to start looking, respected brands like Sony, Apple, Cambridge Audio, Jabra, and Nura are good places to start.
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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.
One of these is the features – whether they compare well to other earbuds in the same price for elements such as connection options, smart app controls, active noise cancellation and battery life. We test all these features in different ways. We try the active noise cancellation in different real-world environments, and we check battery life by running them down and tracking the timing.
Most importantly, we also want to be sure the sound is excellent, with clarity and a decent level of bass. We listen to music from a range of sources, from social apps and YouTube, to lower-quality streams from the likes of Spotify, to high-quality files from streamers such as Apple Music and Tidal. We’ll listen to a range of genres, and we’ll use a mix of new music and tracks we’ve known for years and in which we can hear all the subtle differences.
Next is comfort and wearability. You need to know you’ll be able to pop the best in-ear buds in your ears for hours at a time, so they have to feel secure and comfortable. Some seem naturally designed for a snug fit, others come with different silicone tip options to help you get the fit just right. In terms of design, we also look for compact buds, those that don’t stick out of your ear too much and (in the case of true wireless designs) earbuds that come with a small charging case for slipping into a backpack, handbag or even a pocket.
And when we’ve tested all this, we judge them on their value, which essentially means how all of the above balances against their price, and the price of other earbuds.
At the time of writing, we’re beginning a new testing procedure for earbuds to enable us to add more direct comparison between buds, to make it easier for you to choose which one will suit you best. We’ll re-test our current favorite earbuds using the new system, and we’ll use it for reviews in the future. You can read the full information about how we test earbuds at TechRadar at that link, but the crucial part is that we’re adding certain specific and repeatable tests that all of our reviews can use, so we know we’re getting a fair and even comparison between earbuds.
The major part of this is a particular playlist that will be used for sound-quality testing, from a specific source device and music service. Our reviewers will also test other songs and sound sources, but this playlist provide a baseline comparison, and you can copy the playlist to make your own comparisons, if you like.
We’ll also test the microphone quality for picking up speech by recording us talking, and we’ll make those recordings available to hear on the site, so you can compare them yourselves, if you want. And we’ll detail exactly how long the battery lasts in real-world use, and provide that information for easy comparison too, in tables. At the moment, we’re still working on gathering this information, so please bear with us – an even better buying guide is coming!
Latest updates to the best earbuds
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, for an iPhone.
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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