While it's not hard to find a cheap pair of wireless earbuds , this is a product category where price makes a significant difference. If you're a serious music fan, you'll find it's worth paying at least a little bit extra to move up to something that delivers the kind of rich sounds and deep bass that does proper justice to what your favorite artists and audio engineers intended.
That's where premium true wireless earbuds come in. They deliver impressive sound quality and active noise cancellation to drown out the din of the outside world and let you immerse yourself in your tunes. Some even go a step further to offer advanced features like spatial audio and wireless charging, and nearly all of them have enough battery life to get you through a full day of listening and then some.
The good news is you also don't have to spend a bundle to get a quality set of true wireless earbuds. Even the most premium flagship models only top out at $300 and can often be found on sale for less, but if you're looking for more affordable options, there are plenty of those, too.
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Source Sony
Sony WF-1000XM5
Best overall
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Source: Denon
Denon PerL Pro
Premium pick
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Source: Nothing Ear (a)
Nothing Ear (a)
Best value
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Source: Sennheiser
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4
Next-level sound quality
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Source: Bose
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Best for Bose fans
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Source: Google
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Intuitive and comfortable
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Source: OnePlus
OnePlus Buds Pro 3
Stylish and solid
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Source: Jabra
Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2
Toughest earbuds
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Source: JBL
JBL Tour Pro 3
Best touchscreen model
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Source: Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
Best for Galaxy device owners
Top wireless earbuds
Best overall
Sony WF-1000XM5
Killer audio and ANC
Sony's flagship true wireless earbuds have been our top recommendation in the category for two years straight, and the WF-1000XM5 continue that tradition. The newest model features dedicated processors for both noise cancellation and regular audio processing while being lighter and smaller than their predecessors. But the premium quality comes with a price tag to match.
Pros
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Great audio quality
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Better comfort and fit than the last generation
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Great active noise cancellation
Cons
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Still a bulky design
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Expensive
Dont expect Sony to sit on its laurels. As good as the Sony WF-1000XM4 were, the company has made sure to build on that with the WF-1000XM5. Considering the high price point, it's a good thing that these earbuds are so excellent.
As expected with this line of earbuds, the sound quality is great, with a detailed and slightly bright sound signature that still produces a warm, full low-end. The ANC is equally impressive, offering some of the best in the business, possibly only beaten out by Bose. Its good enough that youll feel comfortable skipping over-ear headphones for that next flight you have planned.
The battery life is another area in these earbuds' favor, as it can last eight hours with the ANC on and twelve with it off. Theres very little to fault with the XM5s, making them an obvious choice as the best earbuds available right now.
Premium pick
Denon PerL Pro
A worthy Bose competitor
The Denon PerL Pro earbuds boast exceptional drivers that deliver a crisp and balanced sound. The hefty bass is impressive for everything from jazz to classical. The ANC is pretty decent, too, though Bose still wins in that category. But with their near-distortion-free high-fidelity, the trade is worth it for some.
Pros
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Gives Bose a run for their money when it comes to bass and high-fidelity
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Comfortable enough for long listening sessions
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Several codecs to choose from
Cons
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Some of the codecs may drain your phone battery
Considering the Denon PerL Pro earbuds earned our Innovation Award, it should come as no surprise that these stylish little buds are our premium pick. The overall sound is quite impressive, and it should be for $350. You'll enjoy deep bass, competent ANC, and plenty of ways to tailor your listening experience.
For starters, they feature and its a mouthful10mm ultra-low-distortion triple-layer titanium diaphragm dynamic drivers. So, what does that mean? Basically, youre getting some quality high-fidelity audio. When combined with the impressive list of supported codecs, you can tweak them until your hearts, or should we say your ears, content.
Comfort-wise, Denon provides several earbud bits, medium foam tips, and two sets of wings, to help reduce discomfort. The wings are especially nice for longer listening sessions. Battery life is also solid, with eight hours of playback and up to 24 hours with the case. That said, depending on which codec you use, the PerL Pros can suck a lot of power from some phones. However, newer phones might be fine.
We wouldnt tell audiophiles to ditch their headphone amps or anything, but the PerL Pros provide excellent sound and portability.
Best value
Nothing Ear (a)
A lot to offer
The Nothing Ear (a) earbuds offer remarkable value, delivering high-quality audio with excellent mids, highs, and an effective Bass Boost. They're lightweight and comfortable for extended wear and even exercise. Their amazingly long battery life is equally impressive. These buds would be even better if the Nothing X app offered more settings, but they're still a solid buy.
Pros
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Bass boost is surprisingly effective
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Long battery life and fast charge time
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Impressive mids and highs for the price
Cons
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Case feels cheap
The Nothing Ear (a) earbuds shouldnt be as good as they are, especially at this price. Theyre lightweight, too, and comfortable to wear for longer periods. Take them on walks or runs because theyre splash- and dust-resistant, too. The case is one minor demerit, which feels kind of cheap its only IPX2 rated and theres no wireless charging.
But its not all bad. With the case, youll get up to 42.5 hours of battery. Heck, even without the case, youre looking at 10 hours. If, by some chance, you do run low, a quick 10-minute charge is all you need for a full battery.
The Nothing Ear (a)'s audio performance is outstanding. From mids to highs, these yellow buds deliver clear and balanced sound across all frequencies. Plus, the Bass Boost subtly improves low frequencies without overwhelming the other ranges. Our reviewer actually liked the Bass Boost so much that they never turned it off.
Perhaps the most surprising negative about these earbuds is the Nothing X app. Sure, its user-friendly, but you cant do much with it. The EQ settings are very basic, though thankfully, the Nothing Ear (a) sounds solid without adjustment.
Next-level sound quality
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4
Sennheiser strikes back
Sennheiser never messes around when it comes to sound quality and noise cancellation, and the all-new Momentum True Wireless 4 is further proof that the top-dog audio brand isnt resting on its laurels.
Pros
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Terrific sound quality
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Comfy design
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Very good battery life
Cons
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Expensive
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No spatial audio support
We loved our time with the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3, but the German audio brand is already moving into a new generation. Enter the Momentum True Wireless 4, a brilliant example of fine-tuned audio performance meeting next-level comfort and stability.
In our ears-on testing of the True Wireless 4, we were floored by the solid balance across the highs, mids, and lows. Codec support includes AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX Adaptive/Lossless, and LC3. The True Wireless 4 even includes Adaptive ANC with three presets (Off, Anti Wind, and On) that youll be able to choose from.
Battery life is another big win for Sennheiser. The True Wireless 4 should last for up to 30 hours when you factor in charging case re-fuels. Said case can also be topped off via USB-C or wireless charging.
Best for Bose fans
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Of course there was going to be a Bose entry!
We love a solid pair of Bose earbuds or headphones, and the companys wire-free QuietComfort UItra buds are a natural evolution of the QuietComfort Earbuds II that came before them. Expect detail and immersive sound quality, strong ANC capabilities, and some cool customizations through the Bose app.
Pros
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Engaging and exceptional sound quality
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Good ANC performance
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Fit comfortably and securely
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Bose?s Immersive Audio (Gen 1) is a step in the right direction
Cons
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Pricier than competitive ANC earbuds
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No wireless charging or Bluetooth multipoint support
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are a natural evolution of the QuietComfort II Series that came before it. They are comfortable to wear and deliver some of the best audio immersion Bose has ever achieved (and the company has achieved quite a bit over the years), plus some rock-solid noise-canceling and thats just scratching the surface! We had the opportunity to go ears-on with the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, and we were floored by what we heard.
For starters, these earbuds are capable of some exceptional decibel delivery. The sound quality is brilliantly detailed, with a nice balance between treble and mid-range frequencies. And true to what weve come to expect from Bose, the low end is bold and dishes out just the right amount of bass and rumble. We were also very pleased by how effective Boses latest ANC engineering is. HVAC and plane engine noise are all but eliminated, and the earbuds do a good job at reducing higher-frequency blasts of random sound.
While we werent completely sold on Boses Immersive Audio feature, the companys stab at spatial audio is a first try at tech we can only imagine Bose will improve down the line. For the time being though, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are fantastic as they are, and we cant wait to see what new features and tweaks may be added through future firmware.
Intuitive and comfortable
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Google's best buds
Google's Pixel Buds Pro 2 are a worthy successor to an already solid pair of earbuds. They offer a better fit, improved ANC, and stellar battery lifeup to eight hours of listening on a single charge, with ANC on. They also come smaller and lighter and have a comfortable fit that makes it easier to put them into your ears and keep them there. The best part? They stick close enough to the $200 mark to deliver good bang for your buck.
Pros
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Great ANC and a solid transparency mode
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Spatial audio is a nice bonus
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Excellent battery life
Cons
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No high-bitrate codec support
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Connectivity issues when using multipoint
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Gemini Live features are of dubious value
Google came in strong with its first set of "pro" earbuds last year, the Pixel Buds Pro , and now it's delivering an encore with a second-generation model that makes some nice leaps forward.
Most significantly, the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 improves on one of the biggest complaints about the originals: the fit. They're not only smaller, but Google has added a new wing that makes sure they stay in your ear, even during vigorous workouts. We found it much easier to get a good fit with the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and never once worried they might fall out.
In a sea of more mundane greys, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 also stand out with some unique colors. You can still opt for the more muted porcelain and hazel if your tastes run that way, but the wintergreen and peony (pictured above) really pop in a fun and vibrant way. It's a personal stylistic choice, but Google is one of the few wireless earbud makers that really leans into the color spectrum.
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 also takes ANC up a healthy notch, filtering out more noise in the highs and mids. The original Pixel Buds Pro were competent in that department certainly acceptable for earbuds in their price range but this year's model dials that up to "good." The ANC doesn't rival that of flagships from Sony or Bose, but we found it was more than adequate to ensure we could enjoy our music without household distractions.
The passthrough transparency mode also ensures that important stuff gets through without weakening your tunes, and the ANC and transparency modes don't impact the excellent battery life; we got eight hours of listening time with ANC on, which should be more than enough for most folks. You can push it to 12 hours if you forego ANC, but that shouldn't be necessary, as you can be up and listening again after only 15 minutes in the charging case.
As for the sound quality, Google has refined the sound signature this year to provide a more balanced sound stage, moving away from the more exaggerated V-shaped curve of the originals, which put too much emphasis on treble and bass.
This won't be everyone's cup of tea, and the more nuanced low-end won't appeal to heavy bass-heads out of the box, but the good news is that we found it easy to adjust to our liking, thanks to a one-click heavy bass preset and five-band EQ in the companion app.
Stylish and solid
OnePlus Buds Pro 3
Affordable earbuds with few flaws
OnePlus has shaken up the headphone market again with the new OnePlus Buds Pro 3, which check all the right boxes for affordability, sound quality, design, and comfort. There are some tradeoffs here, mainly in ANC and battery life, but they're reasonable considering the remarkably affordable price tag.
Pros
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Excellent audio out of the box
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Solid and comfortable design
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Great value for the price
Cons
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Middling ANC
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Battery life could be better
We were very impressed with the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, which not only hit all the right notes for a set of earbuds in this price range, but exceeded our expectations in a few areas. We experienced excellent sound right out of the box without playing with EQ settings, which suggests they won't need much tweaking for most folks. That said, there's a six-band EQ with five presets in the comparison app for those with more eclectic tastes.
While the AirPods-inspired design won't be for everyone, the earbuds have a lightweight and secure fit that we found comfortable to wear for extended periods. They're well-built, as is the case, the latter of which also features a grippy exterior to help you keep a hold on it.
While you can find wireless earbuds with better ANC, even in this price range, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 still provides solid noise cancellation that's good enough for most settings; it was sufficient to filter out the droning from a loud generator.
Similarly, the battery life isn't best-in-class, with only around 56 hours of listening time with ANC on, but you can extend that to ten hours if you disable it. The charging case also delivers an additional 33 hours of listening time and supports wireless charging for easier top-ups.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 deliver nearly everything you could want from true wireless earbuds in this price range. There aren't any meaningful downsides unless you're not a fan of the design, or you often work in an unusually noisy environment and need better ANC.
Toughest earbuds
Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2
An IP68 rating means these buds are waterproof
Were sad to learn that Jabra wont be making consumer tech devices anymore, though the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 earbuds are a more than fitting swan song. Bringing the best of the brands ingenuity to the table, the Elite 8 Active are tough as nails, sound amazing, and deliver some truly exceptional ANC performance.
Pros
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Military-tested and certified earbuds
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Strong ANC and sound quality
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Very good battery life
Cons
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Big button controls can put pressure on inner ear
Its not too often that were able to call out a pair of earbuds for ruggedness and durability, but the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 arent your average pair of buds! Not only are the earbuds IP68 rated, but the charging case also manages to score an IP54, when most earbud charging cases offer zero dirt and water protection. And thanks to a MIL-STD-810H certification, you can proudly say that your Elite 8 Active Gen 2 buds are military tested.
As far as noise canceling goes, both the onboard ANC system and ambient features work very well. In fact, our reviewer was so comfortable with using Jabras ambient listening mode (HearThrough), the occasional interruption of farm equipment noise was his only cue that he was even wearing earbuds! Nothing says long-lasting fit and comfort like forgetting youre even wearing earbuds in the first place. We thought the overall sound quality was great too, delivering a solid blend of highs, mids, and lows.
In terms of battery life, you can expect up to 14 playback hours from a fully-charged set of buds. When you include a fully-charged case, youre looking at up to 56 hours with both buds and case topped off.
Best touchscreen model
JBL Tour Pro 3
Adjust playback, listening profiles, and more without pulling out your phone
JBL has pulled a neat trick by adding a touchscreen to its wireless earbuds, and its Tour Pro 3 are the latest premium addition to that lineup. They don't come cheap, but for the price, you also get great audio and ANC with solid call quality, 40-hour battery life, and the ability to tweak the EQ and other features without pulling out your smartphone.
Pros
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Outstanding audio quality and ANC
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Can be operated without a phone
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40-hour battery life
Cons
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Expensive
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Bulky charging case
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Touchscreen controls are awkward and slow
Now for something completely different. JBL's Tour Pro 3 earbuds are the latest entry in the audio brand's lineup of wireless headphones that incorporate touchscreens into their cases. It's more than just a pretty face, too. The display on the outside of the JBL Tour Pro 3 is entirely interactive, so you can control many of the earbuds' functions without needing a companion phone app (although that's still an option).
It was JBL's that introduced the idea of melding a touchscreen with a charging case last year, and while the company has branched out by adding the same technology to the more affordable Live Beam 3 , it's the JBL Tour Pro 3 that is a direct successor to the originals.
While the display is a unique touch, the good news is that it's more than a mere gimmick, and these earbuds have plenty to offer, even if you don't care about the screen. In addition to a comfortable fit, they offer great sound and most of the features you'd expect from a premium set of earbuds. The hybrid dual-driver delivers impressive bass that doesn't overwhelm the highs, which is par for the course for a set of JBL headphones.
There's also a customizable EQ with excellent presets, and that's where the touchscreen case comes in, as you won't need to fumble with a phone app to tweak the sound. Still, they're so well-tuned that you probably won't need to do that often; we found ourselves occasionally kicking in the bass preset for tracks that needed that extra low-end, but most of the time, you can probably live without the EQ.
The battery life is also outstanding, promising up to eight hours of listening with ANC enabled or 11 hours with it off, plus three more full charges from the case. This should give you no problem hitting 32 hours with ANC, which you'll likely want to use most of the time, as it's pretty great.
However, we should be clear that, while these are a solid set of earbuds with great features, make no mistake that you're paying a premium for the touchscreen case, as the sound quality and ANC still don't compare to similarly-priced flagship buds, like Sony's XM5s or Bose's QC Ultras.
Best for Galaxy device owners
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
A fitting extension to your Galaxy ecosystem
We all have our favorite brands, so we know what its like to try and switch over to a new device family entirely. It stinks, which is why were glad that brands like Samsung choose to make accessories like earbuds a natural addition to your Samsung device collection. Thanks to numerous features and customizations your Galaxy phone or tablet will give you access to, youll be able to fine-tune the Buds 3 Pro to your hearts content.
Pros
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Excellent sound quality
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Fits naturally into a larger Galaxy ecosystem
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Good ANC and great customization options
Cons
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Finicky touch controls
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Not the strongest ear tips
Not only are the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro some of the best noise-canceling buds on the market, but they might be the best ANC buds for Samsung Galaxy device owners. This is because a lot of the Buds 3 Pro features and customizations are smoothly and naturally integrated into the Galaxy Wearable app; you can use this software to customize everything from button mapping and equalizer presets to noise-canceling capabilities.
Opting out of the "one size fits all" ANC approach, youll even be able to calibrate exactly how much sound the Buds 3 Pro filters in and out of the drivers.
At first glance, the Buds 3 Pro look a lot like Apples AirPods Pro. This isnt necessarily a bad thing, and if you go with the silver color option, the metallic finish and LED trimming allows the Buds 3 Pro to truly stand out. In our hands-on testing of these earbuds, we were taken aback by the sound quality; to the point that we went ahead and proclaimed the Buds 3 Pro beat out the AirPods Pro 2 for audio fidelity. Still, we ran into a couple of snags we felt worth mentioning.
For one, the ear tips tend to show signs of wear and tear rather quickly. We also feel that the touch controls are a not-so-pleasant match for the earbud blades. Often, we found ourselves accidentally changing volume levels when simply trying to adjust the earbuds. This isnt a big-enough issue though to keep Samsungs latest and greatest off this list.
Noise-cancelling headphones vs. earbuds
As great as modern ANC earbuds are, over-ear headphones still have the advantage simply because they block out more sound by covering your ears entirely instead of just plugging in your ear canals. They also pack in larger drivers that can deliver more nuanced sound and have room for much larger batteries. Plus, many folks find it more comfortable to have something around their ears rather than inside them.
However, they tend to be pricier than comparable ANC earbuds and are certainly not as portable nor as comfortable to wear especially when doing workouts or traveling around town.
The best wireless earbuds know no limits
When it comes to wireless earbuds, there's certainly no shortage of options on the market, but the best models will always rise to the surface. Therefore, wed like to draw your attention to our favorite wire-free buds of 2024: Sonys incredible WF-1000XM5.
Delivering some of the most precise and engaging performance weve heard from a pair of wireless buds when it comes to sound quality and noise-canceling the XM5s are also capable of lasting a long time on a full charge (up to eight hours with ANC enabled) and can be calibrated and further fine-tuned via the Sony Headphones Connect app.
If you dont mind spending a little more, the Denon PerL Pro (our premium pick) is one of the best sets of buds in the business for high-fidelity sound thanks to its open-armed support of advanced audio codecs like aptX Adaptive, SBC, and AAC. These Denon in-ears sound amazing, though the main downside is that the battery life is only around six hours on a full charge (with ANC enabled).
What if youre looking to save a few bucks on a great set of buds? We urge you to consider our best value pick, the Nothing Ear (a). These $100 buds deliver impressive audio and noise-canceling, as well as one of the best companion apps an audio product has ever been graced with.
Sony WF-1000XM5
The Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds are one of our favorite options for cable-free in-ears. Get ready for rich and detailed sound quality, powerful ANC performance, and a host of in-app customizations and extra features!
