1. The quick list
2. Best overall
3. Best cheap
4. Best mid-price
5. Best battery life
6. Best noise-cancelling
7. Best AirPods
8. Best running
9. Also consider
10. How to choose
11. How we test
12. F.A.Q
13. Recent updates
14. Today's best deals
Wireless earbuds are unsurprisingly a hugely popular category of audio products, with different pairs offering different features across multiple price points.
These small, Bluetooth in-ears are now the go-to choice for many music listeners thanks to the constantly improving quality they can provide paired with the convenience of going wireless.
But it can feel like there are millions of models out there which makes it difficult to know where to focus your attention. Luckily, we have tested hundreds of true wireless earbuds over the years so you don't have to.
Sound quality and value for money are at the top of our list when testing but comfort is up there too, plus battery life, the ability to keep a stable connection and the quality of noise-cancelling (when it's available). You can learn more in our how we test section further down the page.
Every pair you see in our guide below has been tested by our team of audio experts who have over 100 years of collective reviewing experience so you can trust our buying advice.
We know the market inside out and our testing has helped uncover the best pairs across all price points. Through our reviews, you can be confident you're buying the best wireless earbuds for your particular needs.
Recent updates
22nd April: added mention of recent EarFun Air 2 review, Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 and Google Pixel Buds A-Series added to 'also consider' section
The quick list
The best wireless earbuds overall
The WF-1000XM5 are the current benchmark for wireless earbuds thanks to their fantastic blend of performance and features. As an all-round proposition, they're tough to beat.
The best cheap wireless earbuds
If you're looking for some of the cheapest five-star true wireless earbuds we've tested, then make a beeline for the Earfun Air. They deliver a great sonic performance for very little money.
The best mid-price wireless earbuds
These five-star Sonys tick multiple boxes, with good ANC, excellent sound quality, and impressive comfort levels in an attractively-priced package. A fine effort from the Japanese tech giant.
The best wireless earbuds for battery life
With ten hours of juice available per charge, the WF-C500 should be able to withstand the longest of journeys. There's no noise-cancelling on board, but the brilliant sound quality and budget price make these earbuds hard to ignore.
The best noise-cancelling wireless earbuds
These excellent noise-cancelling earbuds are Bose's finest to date. They cut out external chatter with ease which leaves you free to enjoy their comfy fit and excellent sound quality. Expensive, but worth it.
The best AirPods
The AirPods Pro 2 are Apple's finest wireless earbuds to date. They work seamlessly with your iPhone while sound quality and noise-cancelling have gone up a notch from the previous version. Apple fan? These buds are a no-brainer.
Load the next product… ↓
The best wireless earbuds for running
These JBL earbuds are both water and dustproof which makes them ideal partners for running. Their ruggedised design and stable fit mean they'll stay in place too.
![Andy Madden bio pic](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HmCq2VeeGBx9vhvZ6xScFT.jpg)
Hi. I'm Deputy Editor of What Hi-Fi? and have been testing headphones, hi-fi kit and TV/AV products for the best part of 18 years. I use wireless earbuds every day and have heard and tested hundreds of pairs over the years from a huge number of brands. Every pair on this list deserves a spot based on their all-round ability and price and I'm sure they will all bring you hours of listening enjoyment.
The best wireless earbuds overall
If you're looking for the best wireless earbuds currently on sale, look no further than the brilliant WF-1000XM5.
During testing, we found the XM5 to be comfortable and nice to use, while their noise-cancelling and call quality are up there with the competition. Looking for the clearest and most detailed sonic performance from a pair of wireless earbuds on the market right now? The WF-1000XM5 produce it.
They're not quite as rich or full in the bass as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, but in our review we said "what Sony has managed to achieve as far as clarity and detail go is really rather special". We think they're a great choice for fans of any musical genre.
Add to that an eight-hour battery life (plus 16hrs from the case), Multipoint Bluetooth (so you can connect to two devices simultaneously), excellent noise cancellation (they seem to remove an extra layer of midrange noise compared to their predecessors, the XM4) and IPX4-rated sweat resistance, and this is a solid offering across the board.
There's no shortage of competition at this price, including the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, AirPods Pro 2 and more recent Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4.
But for most people, most of the time, the Sonys are great all-rounders. Keep an eye out for price drops around big sales events like Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday.
Read our full Sony WF-1000XM5 review
Best cheap wireless earbuds
These true wireless earbuds aren't from what you'd consider one of the larger, heavy-hitting brands, but they are ridiculously affordable and sound great for the money too!
The Earfun Air are also packed with features. Noise-cancelling is out of the picture at this price, but there's excellent noise isolation and these well-fitting earphones are comfy to wear too. They're also waterproof to IPX7 standards (submersible in one metre of water for up to 30 mins), support virtual assistants and include Qi wireless charging.
Calls sound clear, and the battery life is seven hours from the buds and a further 28 hours from the charging case. Amazingly, we think it all feels fairly premium too. The Bluetooth 5.0 connection is solid and stable and for the money, and during testing we found the wireless earbuds offer a "grippy, energetic" sound.
If you’re after something fun-sounding that won't break the bank, the Earfun Air wireless earbuds could be just the ticket and are often found with money off. They've also been around a fair while now but we've tested the newer EarFun Air 2 and don't think they are as convincing at the money.
Read our full Earfun Air review
Best mid-price wireless earbuds
Sony's excellent true wireless earbuds slot neatly between the budget WF-C500 (no ANC, below) and premium WF-1000XM5 (above).
And we think they're brilliant options that more than justify their price tag. The buds are impressively small, and their lightweight design helps make them even more comfortable than Sony's XM4. Battery life is competitive at seven and a half hours.
They lack aptX HD and LDAC but do feature noise-cancelling tech, which the WF-C500 lack. Adaptive Sound Control automatically switches listening modes depending on your location, and Sony's DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) upscales low-res digital audio files to higher quality. A software update has seen Bluetooth Multipoint also added so you can be connected to two devices simultaneously.
We think the Sony's sound quality is superbly balanced too, with deep, detailed bass, expressive mids and engaging highs. During testing, we said, "there’s a fantastic sense of power and drive on display that grabs your attention". They're a very musical listen for the money and a clear step up from the cheaper WF-C500.
Downsides? The lack of support for aptX HD and LDAC is disappointing, and the charging case only provides one extra charge which seems a little mean. But the superb sound and great feature set make these easy to recommend as some of the best Sony headphones available.
Read our full Sony WF-C700N review
Best wireless earbuds for battery life
Think of Sony's WF-C500 as a no-frills version of the WF-1000XM5 found further up this page. They deliver a lot of what makes those true wireless earbuds a success without cutting too many corners.
They're good for running and sports, thanks to their IPX4 rating, while you also get ‘fast pair’ connectivity with Android devices and ‘swift pair’ with Windows 10 PCs.
We think the sound is nicely balanced, there's loads of mid-range detail on show and it's presented in a cohesive and more importantly, hugely enjoyable package. We said the Sonys deliver "a well-defined and easy-to-follow presentation" in our original review and we still stand by that now.
Battery life is 10 hours from the buds themselves, which is a real highlight and should be plenty for most, and the case provides another 10 hours. If you're looking for the best Bluetooth earbuds with great battery life and don't want to spend a fortune, the Sony WF-C500 should be on your shortlist.
Read our full Sony WF-C500 review
Best noise-cancelling wireless earbuds
We all know Bose knows how to make a great pair of wireless headphones and the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have to be considered its finest true wireless earbuds to date.
The Ultra provide a comfortable fit and lots of features. Bluetooth 5.3 is a big bonus, while they are also Bose's first in-ears to offer its very own spatial audio tech, Immersive Audio.
The Bose app allows you to alter the amount of noise-cancelling on offer via several customisable presets and, speaking of noise-cancelling, the new Bose are still at the top of their game. They can automatically adjust the amount of ANC on offer so your music isn’t drowned out by particularly loud noises and the effect is deeply impressive. As for sound, it's balanced, punchy and wonderfully musical – in our review, we said "there is a good sense of openness and spaciousness to the whole presentation." Call quality is good for the money too.
It's a shame there's no support for high-quality wireless audio codecs such as LDAC or aptX HD, nor is there wireless charging or Bluetooth multipoint (both of which the Sony WF-1000XM5 cater for). But we don't think this is the end of the world when you consider that these classy buds ooze such sophistication.
The Ultra actually replace the company's 2022 What Hi-Fi? Award winner – the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, so shop around and you might be able to find a big chunk of cash slashed off the older pair. It's an option worth considering.
Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review
Best AirPods
Apple's in-ear AirPods have always been decent wireless earbuds, but unremarkable. They've picked up quite a number of four-star reviews over the years. But with the AirPods Pro 2, Apple has made a pair of wireless buds that delivers the goods.
How? Noise-cancelling is better, battery life is longer, and you get new features and, more importantly, much improved sound quality. They also cost the same as the original AirPods Pro, which helps.
Fit is very good, and the tweaked design feels a lot less intrusive than some in-ears. Apple has finally added on-bud volume controls, which takes the user experience up a level too.
The noise-cancelling works a treat, while Adaptive Transparency muffles loud noises when letting in ambient sounds. And the sound quality? With weight, detail and a good dose of dynamic subtlety, they are accomplished performers who can go toe-to-toe with the best. As we said in our review, "next to the Sony and Bose rivals, Apple is now on par where it once was still playing catch up."
Read our full Apple AirPods Pro 2 review
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Granted, the AirPods won't appeal to everyone, but as an Apple user I can vouch for the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation, for their entertaining sound quality and the sheer convenience of using them with other Apple devices. Their ability to pair quickly and reliably to an iPhone or MacBook really adds to the user experience and shouldn't be underestimated. And the fact they're the best-sounding in-ear AirPods to date makes them easy to recommend.
Best wireless earbuds for running
Yes, you can get wireless earbuds not geared towards exercise that, for a similar price, deliver more detail and dynamic subtlety (look further up this list for inspiration). But, unlike these JBLs, they won’t have the finely-honed ergonomics or rugged design that's required to be hailed as ideal fitness buddies.
The Reflect Flow Pro performs well across the board within the context of best wireless earbuds for running. They're waterproof, lightweight, comfortable and include several multiple ear tip fin options. Battery life is a very decent 10 hours (or eight with ANC on) while the wireless charging case stores an extra 20 hours. They also produce a lively, detailed sound that makes them easy to recommend. During testing, we were surprised and impressed by the fact they are "more neutral sounding than many sport earbuds we’ve tested", which worked in their favour.
Read our full JBL Reflect Flow Pro review
Also consider
The best wireless earbuds alternatives we've tested:
Cambridge Audio Melomania M100: if your budget can't stretch to some of the premium models on this page but you want a step up from a budget pair, then the Melomania M100 could be worth a closer look. They boast 10 hour battery life per charge, a clear, detailed and open sound, plus effective active noise cancelling. That battery life gets boosted to 16 hours with ANC off and you even get a mix of silicone and foam tips to help you get the best seal possible.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4: Sennheiser's premium true wireless earbuds just miss out on a spot at the top of this list. It's a close call, because we think they're the company's best premium model to date. However, the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds just edge it in the noise-cancelling department, while the Sony XM5 do similar in the sound quality stakes. That's not to say the Sennheisers aren't worth your time. They sound rich and engaging, are comfortable to use over long periods and offer plenty of customisation options.
Panasonic RZ-S500W: these five-star wireless earbuds have been near the top of this list previously, but we think that newer models such as the Sony WF-C700N now have the edge. Because of their age, we have seen pairs available with a big discount which is why we think you should still consider them. They sound great, boast good noise-cancelling and responsive touch controls. The fit might not be for everyone, though.
JBL Live Pro 2 TWS: we think the JBL are another fine option for anyone looking for a pair of wireless earbuds for exercise or running. The Live Pro TWS deliver a lively, entertaining sound and they're also IPX5-rated i.e. water-resistant so they can take punishment out in the wild. Add a user-friendly app to the equation and the fact they're regularly discounted and you've got a great buy.
Sony LinkBuds: if you don't want your wireless earbuds burrowing into your ears, these clever Sonys offer something slightly different. They use a ring driver which slides into the bottom part of your ear and fires music into your ear's opening. The result is a very open and natural sound with good levels of detail. They're also comfy to use over long periods. We don't think they have the universal appeal of some of the models at the top of this page but they are an interesting alternative.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II: Yes, the QuietComfort Ultra found higher up this list are our pick of Bose's current line-up, but there's still life (and plenty of value) in this older model. They offer noise-cancelling in the same ballpark while the level of comfort (which is excellent) is virtually identical. We think the QC Ultra sound noticeably better (they sound clearer and punchier), but If you can find a good discount on this older pair, we don't think it should be ignored.
Google Pixel Buds A-Series: The AirPods Pro 2 are most likely to appeal solely to iPhone users, but what about Google Pixel owners? Well, this is where the Pixel Buds A-Series come in. They produce an impressive sound for an extremely reasonable price. We wouldn't say they're the best wireless earbuds for Android, but they're a viable alternative to some of the big hitters on the list above. They're also comfortable, easy to use and easy to pair with Android devices.
How to choose the best wireless earbuds for you
One thing you will need to bear in mind is that everyone's ears are different, which means that whether or not a pair of earbuds are comfortable tends to come down to personal preference. We can give a bit of guidance comfort once we've tested them, but there's no substitute for sliding them into your own ears. If you've got ears on the shallow side, for example, we'd go for a physically smaller or flatter earbud that won't stick out much.
After comfort, you'll want to think about when and where you're going to use them. Do they need to be water-resistant, sport-friendly earbuds or do they just need to pair to your smartphone and survive your daily commute?
Read more
Tied to this, of course, are other factors such as battery life. The best wireless earphones all have enough battery life for the average listening session but some do last longer than others. Most pairs will have a combined earbud and case battery life of 18 hours or more, though, so you shouldn't be caught out during long-haul flights, though some people might care for a longer earbud battery life for continuous listening without having to pop them into the case to charge.
It's also worth noting the number of hours you get can vary depending on what other features you have enabled and, to a certain degree the volume you listen at and the quality of the files you listen to. Don't forget that wireless earbuds come with charging cases to keep them topped up between outings.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) can increase battery drain, but we think it can come in very handy if you want a more private listening experience, and some of the top pairs we've reviewed boast excellent noise-cancelling (just bear in mind that it won't be as good as the ANC you get from a good pair of over-ear headphones). Similarly, some sound processing modes can take a little bit extra out of your battery, but these can usually be turned off.
The flip side of ANC is what a lot of brands refer to as a 'transparency mode'. This does completely the opposite and allows outside noise in, so you can hear your surroundings. We find this mode allows you to hear announcements better if you're on a train or plane, for example. Different earbuds allow for different levels of transparency so you can fine-tune for different listening situations.
We think other features you might want to consider include touch controls, which can come in handy if you want to skip tunes or change volume without having to take your phone out of your pocket. Many modern pairs also offer voice control via personal assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri.
If you're feeling a little overwhelmed by the amount of choice out there, don't be. You'll find the best true wireless earbuds to have passed through the What Hi-Fi? test rooms below. And if you want a bargain, don't forget to check out our pick of the best wireless earbuds deals too.
How we test wireless earbuds
How we test wireless earbuds
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi?
Before we start our listening tests, we first experiment with any tips provided to make sure we've got a perfect seal. This ensures that sound quality (particularly bass) isn't affected and we can also evaluate the level of comfort on offer too.
We'll also start with a full charge and see how accurate battery life claims are and just how it's drained during day-to-day use.
Although we have dedicated testing facilities in London, Reading and Bath, the bulk of our true wireless earbuds testing happens outside those facilities, whether that's on the street, on public transport or in our busy office.
It's only when nailing down the finer details of audio quality, we head for quieter environments where we compare the wireless earbuds we're testing to price comparable models and current class-leaders at the money. This gives us a chance to come to solid conclusions and peg each pair on sound quality.
Obviously, testing ANC wireless earbuds requires quite the opposite - here we venture outside to put noise-cancelling algorithms through their paces and also test any transparency mode to see how well it works in different environments.
We'll also test the call quality of the earbuds, to make sure the wearer can be heard in both calm and windy conditions (weather permitting, of course).
As with all headphones, we run wireless earbuds in for several hours before evaluating sound quality. We'll also download and fire up any Android/iOS apps that are available that can affect the user experience. How easy is it to use, what features does it offer, how useful are they and how well are they executed?
All our review verdicts are agreed upon by the team rather than an individual reviewer to eliminate any personal preference and to make sure we're being as thorough as possible. Neither PR companies nor our sales team have any input into our reviews at any stage of the process. We are proud of having delivered honest, unbiased reviews for decades.
F.A.Q
Which wireless earbuds have the best sound quality?
It really depends on your budget and how much you have to spend. Our entry-level pick of earbuds would be the Sony WF-C500 which are a brilliant pair of budget buds, or the next-model-up WF-C700 if active noise cancellation is a must and your budget can stretch a little further.
At the premium end of the Bluetooth earbuds market, you're spoilt for choice, though standout, class-leading models are the Sony WF-1000XM5, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and Apple AirPods Pro 2.
Are premium wireless earbuds worth it?
In our opinion, the best pairs are most definitely worth it. You get a clear step up as far as sound quality goes with more detail uncovered, even greater dynamics and a more overall polished performance. Many budget models don't have the same spread of features as more expensive designs and might be missing key things like active noise-cancelling.
What are the best earbuds for Zoom meetings?
Whether you're taking voice or video calls you want a pair of true wireless earbuds with a good microphone set-up. Some premium pairs even have special technology that helps to emphasise voices so your voice should come through even clearer. Pairs we would recommend include the Sony WF-C700N at the affordable end of the spectrum and the Sony WF-1000XM5, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and Apple AirPods Pro 2 at the more premium end.
What is the difference between cheap and expensive wireless earbuds?
The main differences tend to centre around build quality, features and performance. That's not to say you can't get cheap Bluetooth buds that don't sound great for the money or have a solid feature set, just like the Sony WF-C700N. In our testing experience, the best cheap earbuds can certainly outperform some more expensive pairs.
However, the very best expensive pairs tend to offer better build quality, higher quality components, a more sophisticated sound and even more accomplished features. Noise cancelling and call quality can be more advanced, for example, but the biggest differences are in sound quality. You can hear more detail, and experience greater dynamics and the very best pricey pairs, such as the Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer a greater level of sonic refinement.
What are the best wireless earbuds that won't fall out?
Everyone's ears are different. Which is why it can sometimes be a struggle to get the right fit. Some ears might just not suit certain designs. Assuming your wireless earbuds come with different sized ear tips we would highly recommend trying them all out and even different combinations of sizes, as a good seal can help keep the earbuds stable. Also, some earbuds, especially sportier models, can come with 'wings' or 'fins' that wrap around the earpiece and can be lodged against the upper part of your inner ear to give extra stability. Again, we'd suggest experiment with these to get the right fit for your ears.
Recent updates
- 21st March 2024: revised 'How to choose' section, added Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 as an also consider, added new F.A.Q entry
- 29th February 2024: added product galleries, added also consider section, added recent updates section, added top tip
- 18th January 2024: added more F.A.Qs, updated how to choose and how we test sections