Nowadays, true-wireless earbuds are the most likely option when considering a set of earphones. Thanks to products like the Apple AirPods and Samsung Galaxy Buds, cables and wires are no longer an impediment to our progress. It won’t be difficult for you to locate a pair that suits your needs. This is so since there are a tonne of possibilities on the market. For this reason, we tested and researched the top wireless earbuds for 2023.
Others feature an open design sans tips (which are great for persons who don’t want to have ear tips crammed in their ears and prefer to allow some sound from the outside world), while some wireless earbuds come with ear tips as standard equipment. Only “noise-isolating” earbuds with silicone or foam ear tips often enable active noise cancellation, sometimes known as noise cancelling (with a double l), a function that was formerly uncommon but is now commonplace. Additionally, many wireless earbud sets also include a wireless charging case.
Yes, the top true-wireless earbuds can be pricey, but you can get surprisingly good ones for less than $100 — or even less. We regularly update this list as new top true-wireless earbuds hit the market.
The Tech FUN recommendations for the best wireless earbuds
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
Best noise-canceling with top-notch sound
Battery Life
Rated Up to 6 Hours
Noise Canceling
Yes (ANC)
Multipoint
No
Headphone Type
Wireless Earbuds
Water-Resistant
Yes (IPX4 — Splash-Proof
In addition to being around 30% smaller than their predecessors, Bose’s second-generation QuietComfort Earbuds 2’s casing is also considerably smaller and genuinely pocketable. Thanks to Bose’s innovative CustomTune sound calibration technology, which adjusts the sound to your ears, they have the greatest noise cancellation in their class and better sound quality. Performance during voice calls is also noticeably improved over the original QuietComfort Earbuds.
The ear tips are the other significant alteration. Bose has abandoned its single-piece StayEar wing tips in favour of a two-piece Fit Kit solution that includes separate ear tips and “stability bands” in three sizes, allowing you greater freedom to get a snug fit.
The Sandstone colour will be added later in the year when the buds originally arrive in Triple Black.
Earfun Air S
Best budget noise-canceling earbuds
Battery Life
Rated up to 6 hours
Noise Canceling
Yes (ANC)
Multipoint
Yes
Headphone Type
Wireless earbuds
Water-Resistant
Yes (IPX5 — protection against low-pressure water streams)
The AirPro SV and Air Pro 2 from Earfun are still great options for affordable noise-canceling earbuds today, as we’ve previously stated. But the brand-new Earfun Air S, which will be available in 2022, could be the finest of the three thanks to multipoint Bluetooth connection, the newest Qualcomm QCC3046 SoC, and the AptX audio codec for Android and other devices that support it. It delivers surprisingly good sound for its low price and has the same 10mm wool drivers as the AirPro SV. Additionally, they function admirably as a headset for phone calls with respectable background noise suppression.
The earbuds are splashproof and can endure a prolonged stream of water because they have an IPX5 water resistance certification. When you use the quick coupon plus the CNET-exclusive discount code EFAIRS07 at Amazon’s checkout, the earbuds can be purchased for as little as $49.
Apple AirPods Pro 2
Even better Apple noise-canceling wireless earbuds
Battery Life
Rated up to 6 hours
Noise Canceling
Yes (ANC)
Multipoint
No
Headphone Type
Wireless earbuds
Water-Resistant
Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)
The new AirPods Pro (2nd generation), which are currently up for presale and will begin delivering on September 23, are powered by Apple’s new H2 processor, which, in the company’s words, offers greater processing capability while using less energy. The new processor makes it possible to produce superior sound with greater clarity and depth when paired with new low-distortion speakers. Additionally, Apple claims that the new AirPods feature “twice” the noise cancellation of the first-generation AirPods Pro. Additionally, the new AirPods increase battery life by one hour, bringing it from five to six hours when noise cancellation is turned on. Additionally, the case has a speaker that plays a sound that, should your friends decide to run away from you, aids in finding them using Find My.
Note that while Apple has discontinued the original AirPods Pro, they’ll remain on sale at discounted prices until supplies are exhausted. However, most people should get this newer model if they can afford it.
Beats Fit Pro
Best wireless sports earbuds for everyday use
Battery Life
Rated up to 6 hours
Noise Canceling
Yes (ANC)
Multipoint
No
Headphone Type
Wireless earbuds
Water-Resistant
Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)
Following the release of the third-generation AirPods, Apple has released yet another new pair of earphones, this time from Beats, a division of Apple’s parent company. Although the $200 Beats Fit Pro are technically not AirPods, they have the same technological foundation as the AirPods Pro. The Beats Fit Pro has Apple’s H1 processor and has most of the capabilities of the AirPods Pro, including active noise cancellation, spatial audio, and Adaptive EQ, in contrast to Beats’ older and less priced Studio Buds. They are, in my opinion, the AirPods for sports you have always desired. And for certain individuals, they could even outperform the AirPods Pro.
Sony WF-1000XM4
Excellent all-around wireless earbuds
Battery Life
Rated up to 30 hours
Noise Canceling
Yes
Multipoint
Yes
Headphone Type
Over-ear wireless headphones
Water-Resistant
No IP rating
No earbuds are perfect, of course, and not everybody will love the fit of the Sony WF-1000XM4 buds or be able to afford their high price. But if you’re looking for great-sounding earbuds with active noise cancellation, solid voice-calling capabilities and good battery life, these buds check all the boxes.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Best Samsung wireless earbuds
Battery Life
Rated Up to 8 Hours
Noise Canceling
Yes (ANC)
Multipoint
No
Headphone Type
Wireless Earbuds
Water-Resistant
Yes (IP57 – Can Be Submerged for 30 Minutes Up to 1 Meter)
If you possess a Galaxy handset and have the proper setup, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offer enhanced noise cancellation along with excellent sound and voice calling capabilities. They also allow high-resolution wireless audio streaming. The fact that they have a new design and are smaller in size, which allows them to suit more ears, may be their largest improvement. The main downside to these products, aside from their fairly expensive price, is that several of their major capabilities are only compatible with Samsung Galaxy handsets.
Earfun Air Pro 2
Excellent value wireless earbuds
Battery Life
Rated up to 7 hours
Noise Canceling
Yes (ANC)
Multipoint
No
Headphone Type
Wireless earbuds
Water-Resistant
Yes (IPX5 — protection against low-pressure water streams)
The Earfun Air Pro 2’s sound is outstanding for its rather low price, with overall well-balanced sound, great clarity, and strong bass performance. It also has reliable active noise cancellation. Although some of Earfun’s buds have a little too much treble push, sometimes known as “presence boost,” they generally manage to avoid that. Compared to the original Air Pro, they certainly sound better.
At this price, you don’t frequently find earbuds with added features like an ear-detection sensor (your music pauses when you remove the buds out of your ears) and a case with USB-C and wireless charging. They include Bluetooth 5.2, an IPX5 designation for water resistance, and up to seven hours of battery life at moderate volume settings on a single charge, though you’ll likely get closer to six hours with noise cancelling enabled.
Additionally, there is a transparency setting that allows in ambient sound. It really sounds rather natural and is more similar to the great transparency mode of the AirPods Pro than I had anticipated. Unfortunately, there isn’t a companion app that you can use to modify the firmware or adjust the sound.
The Air Pro 2’s three microphones per earbud, which Earfun touts as voice calling capabilities, worked well during calls, but they didn’t eliminate background noise as well as the recently released Soundpeats T3, which are also excellent for the money ($40). The Earfun Air Pro 2 has greater noise-cancelling and transparency modes, while the Soundpeats T3 is better for calls even if it lacks the ear-detection sensor. Additionally, the Earfun Air Pro 2 buds produce superior audio that is richer and more dynamic. Also take notice that by using the immediate discount on the product page, you may save $20 right now at Amazon.
Jabra Elite 7 Pro
Best Jabra true-wireless earbuds
Battery Life
Rated Up to 8 Hours
Noise Canceling
Yes (ANC)
Multipoint
Yes
Headphone Type
Wireless Earbuds
Water-Resistant
Yes (IP57 — Can be Submerged for 30 Minutes Up to 1 Meter)
The Elite 7 Pros are Jabra’s top-of-the-line earbuds in its new range and measure 16% smaller than the Elite 75t. They feature the company’s new MultiSensor Voice technology, which includes a bone-conduction sensor, four microphones, and intelligent algorithms to deliver new “ground-breaking call quality,” according to Jabra. Although the functionality of voice calling falls short of expectations, Jabra has upgraded the software of the earbuds, enabling multipoint Bluetooth pairing and somewhat enhancing sound quality, noise cancellation, and headset performance. They took some time to become great friends in general, but they have.
These include Bluetooth 5.2, Jabra’s HearThrough transparency mode, and customizable active noise cancellation. The overall battery life is stated at 35 hours, with up to nine hours of playtime at moderate volume settings and nearly three further charges in the charging case. Wireless charging is possible with the charging case.
The earbuds can be immersed in up to 1 metre of water thanks to their IP57 rating. You may also utilise either bud separately in a mono mode if you choose to use only one.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
With stabilising fins and a smaller, more elegant appearance, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds offer great sound, enhanced noise cancellation, and voice calling capabilities (so the earbuds stay in your ears more securely). For 2022, they rank among the finest new true-wireless earbuds. They are also among the top true wireless earbuds overall, competing with the Sony WF-1000XM4 in terms of quality.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX
The Beoplay EX headphones from Bang & Olufsen are the brand’s greatest true-wireless earbuds to date. With three microphones in each earbud, they help with background noise reduction while picking up your voice. They have a comfortable, secure fit (except perhaps for those with really small ears), excellent build quality, great sound, good noise cancelling, and improved voice-calling performance over B&O’s EQ buds. They’re undoubtedly the best earbuds available with stems, and they sound better than the AirPods Pro with better clarity, deeper, more powerful bass, and richer, more accurate sound, while being out of most people’s pricing budget.
There is an additional 14 hours of battery life in the brushed aluminium charging case, and the battery life is rated at 6 hours at moderate volume settings with noise cancelling enabled (wireless charging is supported). The earbuds feature an IP57 water resistance rating, making them dust and waterproof. They have multipoint Bluetooth connection and Bluetooth 5.2, allowing you to simultaneously connect to two devices, such as a PC and a smartphone. The earbuds contain ear-detection sensors so that your music pauses when you take them out of your ears, and each bud may be used individually.
The buds support AptX Adaptive for devices like Android smartphones that support Bluetooth streaming with the AptX HD audio codec (AAC is also supported). They’re available in the gold tone pictured as well as a graphite color.
Sony LinkBuds S
Compact Sony wireless earbuds with big sound
Battery Life
Rated up to 9 hours
Noise Canceling
Yes (ANC)
Multipoint
No
Headphone Type
Wireless Earbuds
Water-Resistant
Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)
The LinkBuds S are conventional noise-isolating earbuds with tips you jam in your ears, as opposed to the “open” LinkBuds. They have Sony’s V1 CPU and are smaller and lighter than Sony’s flagship WF-1000M4. While they don’t quite match the WF-1000XM4’s sound and noise cancellation, they come close and are less expensive. For individuals who can handle bigger headphones like the WF-1000XM4 but want 80 to 85% of those headphones’ features and performance for $80 less, there are the Sony buds.
Google Pixel Buds Pro
Google’s first earphones with active noise cancellation are the Pixel Buds Pro. While it’s great that they now have a function that many true-wireless earbuds have long had, what really distinguishes the Pixel Buds Pro and makes them worthwhile of consideration — especially for Android users — is their distinctive appearance and excellent fit. That helps them function better in terms of sound quality and noise cancellation. Even though they weren’t nearly the best for voice calls, they worked nicely as a headset. Spatial audio and a five-band equalisation are two capabilities that aren’t there at launch but will be added later in 2022, according to Google.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
Best value Samsung wireless earbuds
Battery Life
Rated up to 8 hours
Noise Canceling
Yes (ANC)
Multipoint
No
Headphone Type
Wireless earbuds
Water-Resistant
Yes (IPX7 — can be submerged for 30 minutes up to 1 meter)
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, which come in four different colour options, are more similar to the more recent Galaxy Buds Pro and Galaxy Buds Live, all of which feature enticing glossy curved shapes and the same little charging case as this latest edition. The Buds 2 are really a more palatable alternative to the somewhat better-sounding Buds Pro due to their fit and design, which are 15% smaller and 20% lighter than the Buds Plus.
The Buds 2 include active noise cancellation, much as the Buds Pro. With the exception of the Buds Live, which have an open design and no ear tips, all the most recent Galaxy Buds models now offer some sort of active noise cancellation. The Buds Live are more similar to the Buds 2 in my opinion because they hardly protrude from your ears and are quite covert, even if the Buds 2 appear to be smaller copies of the Buds Pro. They take up less wind noise as well since they are curved and rest more flush on your ears.
AirPods 3rd Generation
Best open wireless earbuds
Battery Life
Rated up to 6 hours
Noise Canceling
No
Multipoint
No
Headphone Type
Wireless earbuds
Water-Resistant
Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)
If you take one look at the third-generation AirPods ($179), you’ll likely say to yourself, “Those look like the AirPods Pro sans ear tips.” You would not be mistaken. The AirPods 3 are designed like the AirPods Pro and share their shorter stems and pinch controls, however they are more fraternal than identical twins. The major difference is in the sound quality, which has significantly increased, aside from the design update, which should suit most ears better than the AirPods 2nd Generation (albeit not extremely small ears). The AirPods 3 have a longer battery life and are certified water-resistant.
Master & Dynamic MW08
Best wireless earbuds from a brand you might not know
Battery Life
Rated up to 12 hours
Noise Canceling
Yes (ANC)
Multipoint
Yes
Headphone Type
Wireless earbuds
Water-Resistant
Yes (IPX5 — protection against low-pressure water streams)
The older Master & Dynamic MW07 and MW07 Plus had excellent sound for fully wireless, but they lacked a few functions and weren’t the best for making calls. The 2021 MW08 features a number of noteworthy upgrades, such as the inclusion of reliable noise cancellation and call quality. The battery life is likewise excellent (up to 12 hours with noise cancelling off).
These earbuds may not fit everyone’s ears evenly, but if you can establish a tight seal, they offer a distinctive design, superb quality, and a fantastic listening experience (I was able to get a secure fit with the largest tip). They produce music with a more audiophile sound profile, including well-defined bass and a sound that is balanced and smooth.
Like its predecessors, the MW08 comes with a stylish stainless-steel charging case (USB-C) that is more substantial than the average earbud case while being smaller. The cases that come with the black and blue variants have matte finishes I prefer, and you also receive a second pouch for storage (yes, the charging case can get scratched up if you leave it in a bag).
JBL Live Pro 2
New AirPods Pro alternative for less
Battery Life
Rated up to 10 hours
Noise Canceling
Yes (Adaptive)
Multipoint
Yes
Headphone Type
Wireless earbuds
Water-Resistant
Yes (IPX5 — protection against low-pressure water streams)
JBL has released some nice true-wireless earphones over the years, but none that particularly intrigued me. With the launch of the new Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 buds from the Samsung-owned company, that has finally changed. Both pairs of buds—the Live Pro 2 have stems, while the Live Free 2 have a pill-shaped design—offer a secure fit, powerful noise cancellation, excellent sound quality, and voice-calling performance, in addition to a full range of features like multipoint Bluetooth pairing, an IPX5 splash-proof rating, and wireless charging.
The same six microphones, oval silicon tips, oval tubes, and 11mm drivers are included in both the Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2. The stemless Live Free 2 is rated for up to seven hours, whereas the Live Pro 2 is rated for ten hours. Aside from design, this is the main distinction between the two buds. There are four different colour possibilities for the Live Pro 2.
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