The Best Wireless Earbuds
Wireless earbuds give you the freedom to take your music and podcasts with you wherever you go. Without the messy cords, you don't have to worry about untangling cables or a wire getting caught in your zipper when using wireless earbuds. The market for wireless earbuds has exploded in recent years, and today's generation of earbuds deliver impressive sound quality and fit comfortably in your ears. We wanted to find the best of the best, so we looked for options with high-quality sound, durable constructions that can handle active lifestyles, and long-lasting batteries. While nobody has created the perfect earbuds, Apple's AirPods are pretty close, making them our favorite. The AirPods deliver excellent performance and reliability. The long battery life allows you to listen uninterrupted for up to five hours straight. Plus, you can charge your AirPods in their case, extending the battery life for up to 24 hours. If you don't have an Apple device, the Android-compatible Tozo T6 earbuds are an excellent choice. These earbuds are waterproof and deliver over six hours of playtime on a single charge. Keep reading to learn all about the other wireless earbuds that made our list.
Apple AirPods, 2nd Generation
Immersive wireless sound
There’s a good reason it’s nearly impossible to walk down a busy street without seeing several people with AirPods in their ears—Apple makes some of the best earbuds on the market. Apple didn’t invent wireless earbuds, but they did refine them and set the standard for how high-quality earbuds should perform. These earbuds have everything you need to listen to your music or podcasts, including extended battery life, wireless Siri access, and crisp, clear audio. If you’re looking for consistently reliable earbuds for your Apple devices, look no further.
Pros:
- We loved that they automatically pause audio playback when we take them out and resume playback when we put them back in.
- All you have to do is double-tap the AirPods to activate Siri, pause or play audio content, or skip tracks.
- They stay reliably connected to your device’s Bluetooth, so playback is rarely interrupted.
Cons:
- They only work with Apple devices.
TOZO T6 True Wireless Earbuds
Beautiful sound on a budget
When you buy these earbuds, you’re getting high-end quality at an affordable price. These earbuds are so light, it’s easy to forget they’re in your ears, making it easy to wear them for hours without any discomfort. Plus, the ergonomic design fits the curve of your ear, and the soft silicone tips keep the earbuds securely in place. If you enjoy deep bass and clear treble, you’ll find listening to music with these earbuds to be a pleasure. With one tap, you can play music, pause audio playback, or answer a call. With two taps, you can activate Siri or Google Assistant, and holding it down will allow you to adjust the volume. If you want great sound at a bargain price, these earbuds are worth a closer look.
Pros:
- We were impressed by how quickly these earbuds connected to our device and charged in the case.
- The tap controls work incredibly well, making it easy to pause audio playback as needed.
- These earbuds deliver loud, clear sound, making them perfect for working or traveling in noisy environments.
Cons:
- The touch controls are sometimes a bit too sensitive.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus
A wireless escape
If you’re looking for superb sound quality, these earbuds deliver. They fit snuggly in your ears, so all you hear is music. On the other hand, there may be times when you need to listen to what’s happening around you. All you have to do is switch the earbud’s setting to Ambient Aware2, and you’ll be able to hear in-flight announcements, traffic, and other sounds while continuing to listen to music or a podcast. Even better, with 11 hours of continuous playback on a single charge, you won’t have to worry about the battery going dead on you. Charging them for three minutes is enough for an hour of playback. If you’re serious about music, these may be the earbuds for you.
Pros:
- We loved that you can customize the earbuds by changing the sound profiles.
- Its long-lasting battery ensures you can listen to what you want for several hours without worrying about charging the battery.
- The ambient sound is an excellent feature for when you need to be alert to what’s going on around you.
Cons:
- The earbuds may not produce enough bass for some users.
Bose Sport Earbuds
Energize your workout
These sports earbuds allow you to work out while enjoying a premium listening experience. They feature Bose’s lifelike sound immersion, so you’ll feel like the performer is right there with you as you work to achieve your personal best. Plus, these earbuds fit securely, so you won’t have to worry about them slipping out while you’re exercising. And sweating during a workout won’t damage the earphones, since they’re wrapped in water-resistant material. If you make a lot of phone calls using your earbuds, they’ll come through loud and clear since the microphone separates your voice from the noise around you. What’s more, when you want to skip a track or turn up the volume during your workout, the touch interface makes it easy to do without missing a beat.
Pros:
- We found the swipe up and down feature an excellent way to control the earbud’s volume while listening to music or talking on the phone.
- The Bluetooth syncs quickly without any interruption when you connect the earbuds while you’re on a call.
- The earbuds stay securely in your ears and maintain a stable connection even during intense workouts.
Cons:
- They don’t have noise-canceling technology.
Beats Studio Buds
All about the sound
Sometimes you want to zone out and get away from it all; these noise-canceling earbuds by Beats are ideal for those occasions. They block unwanted background noise, leaving you to enjoy whatever you’re listening to without any distractions. And when you need to hear what’s happening around you, you can switch the earbuds from active noise-canceling to transparency mode.
If you’ve ever had problems getting earbuds to fit into your ears properly, you’re in for a treat with these earbuds. The ear tips come in three sizes, ensuring a comfortable fit and optimal acoustic seal, allowing you to enjoy the outstanding sound quality the earbuds deliver. They’re also water-resistant, so you won’t have to worry about rainy weather or sweat ruining them.
Pros:
- We loved the excellent sound quality and that the active noise-canceling effectively blocks external noise, allowing you to focus on what you’re listening to.
- The battery lasts up to eight hours during continuous play, and just five minutes of charging will provide an hour of battery life.
- It’s easy to pair the earbuds to multiple devices.
Cons:
- The case picks up smudges and fingerprints fairly easily.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep wireless earbuds from falling out of my ears?
When purchasing wireless earbuds, it’s essential to ensure they fit correctly so they stay in your ears and produce the optimal sound. Without a tight seal, noise-canceling won’t work properly. Most earbuds come with silicone ear tips in several sizes. Choose a size that’s slightly bigger than your ear to ensure a snug fit. Sometimes you can buy third-party foam ear tips to keep your earbuds from falling out. If you have one ear that’s shaped differently from another, you can try using a medium-sized ear tip in one ear and a large-sized ear tip in the other. For second-generation AirPods, you can buy third-party wingtips, also called sort fins, to secure the buds in your ears.
How do you clean wireless earbuds?
Use a damp soft, lint-free cloth (similar to what you’d use to clean your glasses or phone screen) to wipe down the earbuds and ear tips. Don’t use harsh cleaning liquids or soap to clean them. Instead, use a disinfecting wipe or isopropyl alcohol. Try not to get too much moisture inside the earbuds or any of the ports. You can use a Q-tip or toothpick to clean out the crevices.
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With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.