1. The quick list
2. Best overall
3. Best value
4. Best for iPhones
5. Best for ANC
6. Best for sound
7. Best mid-price
8. Best AirPods alternative
9. Best for Samsung
10. Best for durability
11. Best for running
12. Best under $100
13. Specs compared
14. Also tested
15. FAQ
16. How to choose
17. How we test
Whether you want the best wireless earbuds for listening to music in the highest quality possible or seek a model with the best in class ANC, we're here to help.
I've listened to all of the wireless earbuds in this buying guide, and the Sony WF-C700N are the best value option for most people. These buds offer great sound quality and strong noise-canceling performance. Despite the entry-level price, they support the same Sony Headphone app as found on its high-end models and have many of the same features.
To get even better performance with near CD-quality lossless audio sound quality, I recommend the Sony WF-1000XM5 or the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4. Both are premium noise-canceling wireless earbuds with support for high-resolution audio to deliver the best sound quality over Bluetooth. I've been blown away by the capabilities of both models, so if you care about sound quality these are these are the models to go for. Additionally, both have made made big improvements to comfort and are suitable for all-day wear, allowing you to listen to the best sound for longer.
Lastly, for the very best noise-canceling wireless earbuds experience the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds deliver total silence and are my top ANC recommendation.
All the models ranked here have been extensively reviewed by experts with more than 30 years of experience testing all kinds of audio products. Read on to discover the best wireless earbuds to undergo our rigorous review routine.
About the author
Hi, I'm Lee and I cover all things audio for Tom's Guide, including maintaining the best wireless earbuds, best headphones, best Bluetooth speakers, and best soundbars buying guides. I have been testing and writing about audio products for more than 30 years. I've spent hundreds of hours on listening tests as an audio expert for Which? and Hi-Fi Choice magazines over the years, and more than 50 hours listening to these wireless earbuds in different scenarios to find my top recommendations. I love finding the best products for all kinds of audio fans that offer the best balance of sound and features for a particular need and price point, so you can rest assured that there's a model here that's perfect for your pocket.
Recent updates
Recent updates
May 29, 2024: Added gallery images to each of the main reviews of the buying guide to show how the earbuds look when worn during our testing. Also updated intro and 'about the author' section to demonstrate audio experience, authority, and trust of the buying guide writer.
The Quick List
Sony's latest flagship wireless earbuds updated the incredibly popular WF-1000XM4 in July 2023. The new version builds on the strengths of their predecessor but come in a smaller and lighter design with strong ANC, outstanding sound, and one of the best user experiences around.
The Sony WF-C700N may be an entry-level set of ANC wireless earbuds, but they offer similar features and a brand experience that matches much or what makes the company's flagship WF-1000XM5 the best wireless earbuds overall.
Apple's flagship AirPods Pro 2 were updated to a charging case with a USB-C port in September 2023, and continue to take performance to the next level for iOS users thanks to a raft of personalized audio enhancements.
Read more below
Bose leads the way when it comes to the best noise-canceling tech. As the flagship model they offer unrivaled ANC performance from a pair of wireless earbuds, and include Bose's innovative Immersive Audio tech. Not everything hits the mark though, and this flagship model misses out on some popular features found on rivals.
Sennheiser's newest flagship beefs up performance with a retuned sound signature and wider Bluetooth support to make them one of the most futureproof wireless earbuds around. Comfort levels are high as is the price, but these next-gen buds are worth the extra outlay.
If sound quality is your top priority then these buds have all the right credentials. Listening to music was a joy during my tests, and the strong battery life and high comfort levels mean you can listen for longer.
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The Jabra Elite 10 are priced the same as the AirPods Pro 2. They come with plenty of similar features and are platform agnostic, meaning features are fully supported on both Android and iOS devices. When it comes to sound quality and ANC performance, these Jabra earbuds stood up well against the top-ranking wireless earbud right now.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are Samsung’s long-running flagship offering strong features and ANC performance that holds its own against the category best. Launched in 2022, the revamped design provides good comfort levels and passive noise isolation over its predecessor. They're also available in three color options including graphite, white and eye-catching Bora purple.
Jabra’s Elite 8 Active are built like tanks and use military-grade materials for unbreakable protection. They combine much of what makes the company’s Elite 10 flagship earbuds so successful, while offering the strongest protection from water and dirt ingress of any pair of wireless earbuds we've tried.
The Beats Fit Pro have maintained their position at the top of the best wireless earbuds for active lifestyles since they launched in 2021. They continue to impress with their amazing sound quality, great fit and durability, and are the ones to beat when it comes to life on the go.
These $99 buds carry a wider feature set than most luxury competitors. On the list: adaptive ANC, hi-fi audio streaming, and multiple wireless technologies for seamless connectivity with OnePlus and third-party Android devices.
The best wireless earbuds to buy right now
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Best wireless earbuds overall
While the Sony WF-1000XM4 was a top-ranking model in this best wireless earbuds for several years and continues to be on sale via Sony's store and online retailers, the popular model has been outperformed by the new Sony WF-1000XM5 flagship. The latest model arrived in July 2023 and demonstrates how Sony's XM-series earbuds go from strength to strength with each new generation.
As the latest flagship, the WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds are smaller and lighter, yet they're equipped with some of the strongest features and performance I've ever seen from a pair of 'buds. They have some of the most dynamic and engaging sound we've heard, and their noise-canceling performance easily matches that of the Apple AirPods Pro 2 and get close to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (both listed below).
Battery life hasn't been stepped up over their XM4 predecessor. But at 8 hours with ANC enabled, these top-tier Sony wireless earbuds still outperform close rivals and have some of the highest battery life of any set of more recently launched earbuds. There's LDAC support for high-quality music streams over Bluetooth, adaptive listening mode that applies ANC or Transparency mode depending on your activity or the environment, Google and Alexa digital assistant support, and full EQ customization. Call quality is greatly improved, thanks to a new noise reduction engine with AI that's able to make voices clear even in noisy surroundings. Ultimately, these are Sony's best-ever buds and the best wireless earbuds overall right now.
- Read the full Sony WF-1000XM5 review
Best wireless earbuds for value
Sony's WF-C700N integrates robust ANC and come with decent battery life for a great value price. Sound quality is powerful with Sony’s impressive sound signature at the forefront, alongside proprietary technologies like 360 Reality Audio immersive spatial audio, and DSEE Extreme upscaling that uses AI to bring a sound quality boost to low-quality audio files.
The adaptive ANC technology built in to the WF-C700N is remarkable at the entry-level price. As with the flagship WF-1000XM5, it learns your behavior and tweaks noise neutralization to your environment. During our testing, low- and mid-frequency sounds went unnoticed around the house and out and about, reducing background sounds to silence. Call quality was also high and the mics silenced most background interference for clear-sounding phone conversations, making the WF-C700N a versatile option with few rivals at the price.
- Read the full Sony WF-C700N review
Best wireless earbuds for iPhone owners
Although updated to the AirPods Pro 2 USB-C in September 2023, we've been consistently impressed by the 2nd Generation model since they arrived in September 2022. There are plenty of reasons why the AirPods Pro 2 continue to beat most other wireless earbuds, and they are without doubt the best wireless earbuds for iPhone users. As the most versatile model for all kinds of lifestyles, the AirPods Pro 2 take performance to the next level. Externally, they look extremely similar to the first generation, but battery life has increased to give 6 hours on a single charge from the earbuds and up to 30 hours from the wireless charging case.
Designed for iPhone owners looking for a more tailored listening experience, we think the AirPods Pro 2 are the pinnacle of Apple technology. While testing them out for all kinds of active lifestyle activities, we found that the fit had been improved to the point where they're a viable option for the best sports headphones, and suitable for runners and gym workouts alike. Not only are the earbuds IPX4-rated for protection from sweat and light showers, but now too is the charging case itself.
On the audio front, Apple's H2 chip with custom amp and driver delivers impressive low and high frequencies, and you can use the iPhone's TrueDepth camera to create a personalized spatial audio sound for one of the best Dolby Atmos music experiences of any pair of earbuds. Noise cancelation is the best we’ve experienced from the AirPods Pro series so far.
- Read the full Apple AirPods Pro 2 review
Best wireless earbuds for noise cancelation
We've been blown away by the noise canceling capabilities of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds since they arrived in late 2023. We thought nothing could top the ANC of their predecessor and still available Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2, but the QC Ultra Earbuds raise the ANC game and are a brilliant follow up.
Sound quality is great, and Bluetooth streaming includes aptX Adaptive support to for compatibility with high-performance audio codecs. The strength of the noise cancelation is second to none, and we liked that you can customize sound profiles with 10 different degrees of isolation as presets that balance ANC and awareness depending on your activity. Additionally, the Ultra's Aware transparency passthrough mode sounds highly natural, while ActiveSense automatically lowers ambient sounds when loud noise is detected.
As with the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, the Ultra Earbuds have Bose's new immersive audio tech for a 3D sound experience no matter what you're listening to. Sadly though some features are MIA, and there's no wireless charging or multipoint connectivity on board.
- Read the full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review
Best wireless earbuds for sound
The price tag may have increased by $50 for the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 compared to their predecessor, but you get an up tick in performance and the strongest Bluetooth and audio codec support of any pair of earbuds around at the moment. Sound quality is outstanding, and I loved Sennheiser's tweaked sound signature that delivered even more detail across the entire frequency range. They rival the top-ranking Sony — check out my Sony WF-1000XM5 vs Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 face-off — with a sound balance that gives vocals an extra sense of presence, but not in an overly forward way. Everything sounds perfectly balanced and just right.
Although not quite up to the standards to rival the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds in terms of their ANC performance, the Sennheiser's block out sounds effectively enough and have a useful transparency mode. Features like ear fit test and sound personalization mode are reliable tools to help your get the best fit and sound that's just right for you, and Sennheiser's mic array makes them a practical calling headset.
Ultimately, these are a strong contender for the best wireless earbuds overall, but despite the slightly increased battery life over the TW3 they still fall short on playback time compared to rivals at the price.
- Read the full Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review
Best mid-price
If it's the best sound quality you're after then Cambridge Audio's Melomania M100 wireless earbuds rank among the best around. Their attractive mid-market price makes them a strong alternative to many of the models ranked above, but they're out performed in terms of noise canceling and adaptive audio features.
They have a remarkable Hi-Fi pedigree and as such they major on sound quality with the latest codecs including aptX Lossless and aptX Adaptive support. The M100s have a powerful yet well-balanced sound with deep, controlled bass, natural vocals, and impressive treble clarity. Their ANC performance is good rather than remarkable, and I was still able to hear some externals sounds during my testing.
Battery life lives up to expectations though and holds up to 10 hours of playback from just a single charge with ANC activated, making them longer lasting than several more expensive models.
- Read the full Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 review
Best AirPods alternative
Jabra’s flagship Elite 10 are a more affordable option compared to rival wireless earbud flagships from the likes of Bose and Sony. In fact, when it comes to sound quality and ANC performance, these Jabra earbuds stood up well in our Sony WF-1000XM5 face-off. They sport upscale features in a luxe design that’s comfortable to wear for longer listening periods, and although not quite everything hits the flagship mark in terms of battery life and a lack of extensive special features compared to the top ranking models, the Elite 10 deserve a place in the best wireless earbuds.
Active noise canceling is double that of its predecessor, and the Elite 10 carries Jabra’s own spatial sound tech with Dolby head tracking to deliver strong sound with great bass and detailed highs straight out of the box. There’s a multi-band EQ control, and although there’s no aptX or LDAC support for faster data transfers over Bluetooth, they're competitively priced and their overall performance makes them a strong option at the price.
- Read the full Jabra Elite 10 review
Best wireless earbuds for Samsung
Samsung's Galaxy Buds 2 Pro set out to rival the AirPods Pro 2, at least for Galaxy owners. During our testing we found the sound alone makes the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro worth the investment, giving listeners a high quality audio experience and compelling 3D sound with precise head tracking. Samsung’s ANC holds its own against the category leaders and blocks out close to 90% of ambient noise. The updated design also provides improved comfort and noise isolation.
We found these buds operated well across all Bluetooth-enabled devices, but Galaxy smartphone owners get to enjoy cool features like Easy Pairing and compatibility with Samsung's Scalable Codec. It’s upsetting that Bixby (Samsung's voice assistant) doesn’t perform up to its potential, though the mediocre battery life with ANC on is a greater disappointment. Since our review, Galaxy smartphone and Buds 2 Pro owners now get 360-degree audio recording, too.
Take a look at our Samsung promo codes for the latest discounts from Samsung.
- Read the full Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review
Best wireless earbuds for durability
Jabra’s Elite 8 Active are made from military-grade materials for unbreakable protection. They're the most durable wireless earbuds we’ve ever seen. They combine much of what makes the company’s Elite 10 flagship earbuds so successful, while being perfectly suited to fitness fans with IP68-rated earbuds, offering the strongest water and dirt ingress protection of any pair of wireless earbuds. Even the changing case is IP54-rated.
With powerful 6mm dynamic drivers, Jabra’s sound signature will put a spring in your step to jumpstart workouts. Adaptive active noise cancelation, spatial audio, and battery life are some of the best we’ve encountered from a pair of wireless earbuds built for active lifestyles, and the Elite 8 Active wireless earbuds benefit from solid feature support across both iOS and Android devices.
- Read the full Jabra Elite 8 Active review
