We like Apple’s AirPods just as much as the next person, but they aren’t the only wireless earbuds worth considering. After putting hundreds of pairs through their paces, we’ve come up with this list of favorites that covers a wide range of prices and capabilities. Among our Editors’ Choice winners are the AirPods Pro 3 for iPhone users, the second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds for top-notch noise cancellation on any platform, the Sony WF-1000XM5 for audiophile-friendly sound quality, and the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 for exercise. But these aren’t the only pairs we recommend, so you should peruse all of our top picks to find the best wireless earbuds for you.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
EDITORS’ NOTE
September 26, 2025: With this update, we added the Apple AirPods Pro 3, replacing the AirPods Pro 2. We also swapped in the second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds in place of the first-generation model, the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 in place of the Sennheiser Momentum Sport, and the Technics EAH-AZ100 instead of the JLab JBuds Mini. Our remaining picks have been vetted for currency and availability. Since our last update, we reviewed and evaluated more than a dozen new earphones for potential inclusion in this roundup.
- Outstanding noise cancellation
- Superb sound quality
- Long battery life
- Built-in heart rate monitor
- Useful Live Translation capabilities
- Comfortable, secure fit
- Waterproof
The third-generation AirPods Pro deliver top-quality noise cancellation, wiping out deep, low-frequency rumble and more complex, higher-frequency sounds. Beyond the improved ANC, Apple’s Adaptive Audio mode gives you a more natural way to monitor your surroundings without letting loud noises harm your hearing. The re-tuned audio is still rich but more balanced than before, providing a first-class listening experience. In addition, they include advanced features like live language translation, heart rate monitoring, workout tracking, and a bevy of hearing health tools—all for the same price as the old model.
The AirPods Pro 3 are ideal if you’re invested in the Apple ecosystem and use an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. They’re also for those who want top-class noise cancellation, excellent sound, and long battery life paired with advanced features like heart rate monitoring and fitness tracking.
Type
In-Canal
Connection Type
Bluetooth
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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Review
- Incredibly effective noise cancellation
- Outstanding audio with rich bass and bright highs
- High-quality codec support
- Good transparency modes
- Wireless charging
- Large buds with finicky controls
- EQ options could be better
The second-gen Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds produce impressive results through a combination of calibration tests and subtle adaptive noise-cancelling tweaks. They’re even more effective against low and high frequencies than the first generation, representing some of the best ANC you can get from earbuds, along with the AirPods Pro 3. The Bose earbuds have an Active Aware mode that tamps down louder environmental noises while still allowing you to hear your surroundings. Support for the AptX Adaptive codec adds value, as does the new charging case, which can now recharge wirelessly.
If you want the most effective noise cancellation and have non-Apple devices, you should choose the second-generation QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.
Type
In-Canal
Connection Type
Bluetooth
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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) Review
- Rich bass response and crisp, detailed highs
- Adjustable in-app EQ
- Excellent noise cancellation
- Top-tier mic clarity
- Case supports wireless charging
- Hands-free Alexa and Google Assistant
- Expensive
- Some bloat in companion app
Sony’s WF-1000XM5 earphones produce superb audio and offer excellent active noise cancellation, so they sit right at the top of our list next to the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds and the AirPods Pro. What distinguishes them is a full-featured companion app with a customizable EQ, support for the high-end LDAC codec, and hybrid eartips for an edge in passive isolation. The mic array is also among the best we’ve ever tested.
The WF-1000XM5 earbuds are ideal if you want best-in-class audio quality, noise cancellation, and mic clarity. Because they work with the LDAC codec, they are particularly attractive if you’re an Android user who cares about streaming at a high bit rate.
Type
In-Canal
Connection Type
Bluetooth
Learn More
Sony WF-1000XM5 Review
- Deep and rich bass response
- Excellent noise cancellation
- Comfortable fit
- Solid battery life
Anker’s full-featured Soundcore app is part of the reason the Liberty 4 Pro earbuds make this list; we like the in-app EQ, in particular. Otherwise, these earphones deliver detailed audio and excellent active noise cancellation for the price. Android users even get support for the high-end LDAC codec. We also like the unique case design that includes digital battery life readouts.
If you like the features of Sony’s WF-1000XM5 earphones or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds but can’t justify the expense, these earbuds are a worthwhile, budget-friendly alternative with robust audio and solid ANC. Their companion app includes lots of controls that let you tailor the noise cancellation and ambient modes to your preference.
Type
In-Ear, In-Canal
Connection Type
Bluetooth
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Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro Review
- Class-leading audio response
- Good battery life
- Solid build quality
- Well-designed app
- Can’t be used for swimming
- Thin bass
The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 fit securely, let you hear your surroundings while exercising, and have much better audio quality than their predecessors. They blend bone conduction and conventional speaker technology into a hybrid earphone that produces cleaner, louder audio. They also offer great battery life.
Fitness enthusiasts who need to remain aware of their environment during a workout will appreciate the OpenRun Pro 2’s open design, good sound, and secure fit.
Type
Bone conduction
Connection Type
Bluetooth
Learn More
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Review
- Bass-forward audio
- Secure and comfortable fit
- Seamless iOS integration
- Accurate heart rate monitoring
- Solid battery life
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earphones are focused on fitness and offer well-rounded features, such as noise cancellation, wireless charging, and heart rate monitoring. They can withstand sweaty workouts and deliver punchy bass to keep you motivated. Moreover, their over-ear hooks keep them stable whether you’re jogging or cycling. Other highlights include up to 10 hours of battery life and native integration with Apple’s iPhone.
Runners and others who exercise should feel safe using these earbuds without worry. They also sound good enough that you won’t mind using them for more casual listening.
Type
In-Canal
Connection Type
Bluetooth
Learn More
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Review
- Well-tuned audio
- Good noise cancellation
- Wireless charging
- Long battery life
- Multipoint Bluetooth pairing
- Noise cancellation isn’t the best Bose offers
- Bulky earpieces
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds dial back the intensity of the noise cancellation to a degree when compared with Bose’s top-of-the-line product, but they still deliver the Bose signature sound in a compelling package with long battery life at a much lower price point.
People who want the Bose sound but don’t necessarily need the absolute best noise cancellation will appreciate this affordable set of earbuds.
Type
In-Canal
Connection Type
Bluetooth
Learn More
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) Review
- Superb audio quality
- Effective noise cancellation
- High-res codec support
- Customizable controls
The Technics EAH-AZ100 earphones improve upon their predecessors in almost every way. New driver technology boosts audio quality and puts them near the top of the pack in terms of accuracy and warmth. They also feature better tuning that helps the mics cancel more environmental sound, taking them to Bose-levels of noise reduction. We also like the customizable touch controls, high-quality LC3 and LDAC codec support, IPX4 rating, and 10-hour battery life with ANC on.
The Technics EAH-AZ100 earphones are a good choice if you prioritize audio quality over other considerations. They also offer good noise cancellation and great battery life.
Type
In-Canal
Connection Type
Bluetooth
Learn More
Technics EAH-AZ100 Review
- Excellent audio quality
- Subtle design
- Comfortable and secure fit
- Good codec support
- Just average battery life
- Can be tricky to position correctly
The Sony LinkBuds Open have an open design that lets you remain aware of your environment while you enjoy your favorite tunes. They are compact, fit securely, and deliver surprisingly rich audio. Moreover, they support a good mix of Bluetooth codecs and work with an adjustable EQ.
The LinkBuds Open are best for times when you want or need to hear your surroundings for safety concerns or other reasons while still enjoying your music. In that respect, they are more comfortable and sound better than much of the competition.
Type
Open-style earbuds
Connection Type
Bluetooth
Learn More
Sony LinkBuds Open Review
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The Best Wireless Earbuds for 2025
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Buying Guide: The Best Wireless Earbuds for 2025
What Should You Know About Bluetooth Earphones?
Wireless earphones have overcome their shaky beginnings, which were marred by dropped connections, poor audio quality, and short battery life. In fact, many of today’s options sound quite good.
Even if you subscribe to a high-res streaming service, your playback device and earphones determine the quality of that stream. All wireless earphones connect over Bluetooth, which is fundamentally a lossy standard that can’t support all of the data in a high-res or lossless stream. Thus, the signal undergoes compression during the transmission process.
Bluetooth codecs determine exactly how that happens. The most basic and universal Bluetooth codec is SBC. It’s nearly everywhere, but it’s also of the lowest quality. Depending on your device, look for earphones that support AptX, AAC, L3C, LDAC, or other high-end codecs. We list codec support in each of our reviews, and our guide to Bluetooth codecs helps make the distinctions clearer.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 (Credit: Eric Zeman)
It’s also a good idea to stick with models that support Bluetooth 5.3, 5.4, or 6.0 to take advantage of the latest stability and efficiency advances.
Nothing is easier for Bluetooth pairing than connecting AirPods with an iOS device. All of Apple’s models (as well as some from Beats) have a special H2 (or older H1 or W1) chip that enables seamless, instantaneous pairing. Other wireless earphones can be relatively simple to connect through your phone’s Bluetooth settings menu or the device maker’s associated app.
Which Brand Is Best for Wireless Earbuds?
No one specific brand makes the best (or worst) wireless earbuds overall, but if there’s one complication many models share, it’s the on-ear control department. You might often find it’s too easy to accidentally pause music, skip a track, or summon a voice assistant when you merely mean to take an earpiece out or adjust it slightly. There’s not a lot of real estate on most of the earpieces we test, so the outer panel area is often touch-sensitive.
Newer models manage to strike a balance between operability and layout. Some use physical buttons to control playback, call management, track navigation, and volume. Others cleverly divide controls between the two earpieces via touch panels—tapping the left earpiece, for instance, skips a track backward, whereas tapping the right one skips forward. Despite needing to do a little more thinking before you tap, eventually, the division of controls between the two earpieces should become intuitive. Look for earphones that let you customize the on-ear controls to your preference.
Sony WF-1000XM5 (Credit: Tim Gideon)
Do Wireless Earbuds Have Good Battery Life?
Battery life is the Achilles’ heel of the wireless category. It’s a miracle that these tiny in-ear devices can contain a battery at all, let alone one large enough to provide hours of entertainment. Typical battery life estimates (and keep in mind your results vary based on typical volume levels) top out around eight hours, though many are limited to six. Such minuscule devices can’t provide unending playback time, particularly with power-sapping features such as ANC.
The necessary solution that (nearly) all of these designs share is a charging case. The cases protect the earpieces, keep the earbuds together when you aren’t using them, and charge their batteries. Most cases carry at least two extra full charges, so you can recharge your earphones on the go. Therefore, you can get roughly between 20 and 30 hours of battery life without an outlet. We expect battery life to become less of an issue in the future.
What Should You Do If You Lose an Earbud?
Understandably, many potential wireless users are concerned about this. Allow us to allay your fears—we can say that after many years of testing, you have to try pretty hard to lose one earpiece. First off, just about every model we’ve tested provides a secure in-ear fit without sacrificing comfort. Most of the earpieces are larger than typical in-ear monitors (IEMs) and aren’t likely to fall out even during exercise.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra EarBuds (2nd Gen) (Credit: Christian de Looper)
As for simply misplacing an earpiece when it’s not in use, this also seems unlikely. The charging case is intrinsically tied to the experience, like hanging up the phone or turning off the TV when you’re finished watching—you automatically reach for the case to stow and charge the earphones when you are done using them. You’re far more likely to misplace the whole thing—the case with both earpieces inside—than you are to misplace one earpiece.
If you somehow lose only one earpiece, however, plenty of companies like Apple will gladly sell you an extra one à la carte for less than the price of a new full set. If losing an earpiece still seems like something you can imagine happening to you, it’s worth researching whether the model you’re interested in provides this option. If you lose the entire case, several manufacturers build in location-based or audio-based detection features to help you locate it.
What Are the Best Wireless Earbuds for Working Out?
Surprisingly, many of these wire-free models are durable enough for the gym and can get wet, even though each earpiece has an exposed charging contact. The IP rating tells us what to expect. Some workout-friendly earphones have only an IPX4 rating, which means they can withstand sweat but not exposure to faucet pressure for cleaning. Others have an IPX7 (or higher) rating, which means you can rinse or dunk them with no real consequence.
Recommended by Our Editors
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 (Credit: Christian de Looper)
If durability and a true waterproof design are your main priorities, you might have needed to sacrifice some user-friendly features or opt for a traditional neckband-style wireless design in the past, but that’s no longer the case. Fully waterproof entries from JBL, for instance, even have ANC.
For more, see the best wireless earbuds for running.
Apps and Noise Cancellation
Many of the models we test come with companion apps that smooth out the setup process and unlock additional settings. For example, some let you set auto-off timers, turn off voice prompts, and control playback. Others feature an adjustable EQ and let you toggle ambient listening modes that reveal the world around you.
ANC is an increasingly popular feature. The best noise-cancelling models from Apple, Bose, and Sony tend to cost more than others, though they are still relatively affordable compared with top-notch, over-ear ANC headphones.
What Are the Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds?
Wireless earphones have all but completely replaced tethered wireless earphones, and you can now find a good pair for under $100. Of course, performance improves drastically with our higher-priced recommendations. The very best models here cost $300 and up.
For more, check out five easy tips to extend the life of your headphones and eight ways you’re using your headphones wrong.
