While wired headphones are making a bit of a comeback at the minute (be honest, who saw that coming?), wireless earbuds are still the most popular kind of headphones out there. And if you’re here, you’re probably looking for the best wireless earbuds you can get your mitts on at the moment. So, we’ve put together a few of our faves from the likes of Sony, Bose and Apple down below. Read on and get your ears around this…
Best noise cancelling earbuds
Model: Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)
Why we love them: Select Immersion Mode on your commute, and you’ll be able to block out the racket in your train carriage and be completely immersed in your new audiobook. Then, when you get to the office, switch to Aware Mode for a quick chat with the team while you grab a coffee. All without taking them out.
Best earbuds for sound quality & music
Model: Sony WF-1000XM5
Why we love them: Each bud is fitted with a Dynamic Driver X. These sound epic and pump out crystal clear sound with almost zero distortion. Which means you’ll hear beats and lyrics exactly how the band planned in the studio.
Best earbuds for iPhone
Model: Apple AirPods Pro 3
Why we love them: Ai is everywhere at the moment. And now it’s in your AirPods. Use the Live Translation feature on Apple Intelligence, and you’ll understand the local lingo on your summer hols, no problem. That goes for whether you’re ordering something tasty or asking for directions when you get lost. Because you know as well as us. That’ll happen. Again.
Best earbuds for Android
Model: Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro
Why we love them: When you want to go completely hands-free, well, you can! The buds are designed to pick up on any big movements. Nod your head to answer a call. Or shake it to get rid of a notification that’s just popped up. Pressing buttons is sooo old-school.
Best earbuds for fitness & the gym
Model: Beats Powerbeats Fit
Why we love them: The IPX4 sweat and water resistance means they’ll easily handle a full-on, sweaty workout. While secure-fit wingtips stay sitting firmly in your ear. Even when you’re about to smash your personal best on the treadmill. Usain who?
Best gaming earbuds
Model: SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds
Why we love them: How does 360° spatial audio sound? It’ll be your secret weapon on the battlefield, letting you pinpoint gunshots and hear other players creeping around nearby. They shouldn’t get the drop on you now!
Best earbuds for phone calls
Model: Nothing Ear (a)
Why we love them: The AI-powered Clear Voice tech has your back whenever you hop on a call. It keeps your voice front and centre while you natter. And there’s no need to shout. Your mate will still be able to hear every word when you’re strolling down a noisy street.
Best budget earbuds
Model: Belkin SoundForm Bolt
Why we love them: Shelling out a load of cash on a set of buds isn’t necessary nowadays. Belkin’s Bolt earphones will cost you less than twenty quid. Now that’s value for your dosh.
Top wireless earphones by brand
If you like the sound of a specific brand, here are some of our standout picks from Sony, Bose and more…
Best JBL earbuds
Model: JBL Live Beam 3
Why we love them: You don’t have to fish your phone out of your jeans to switch up the settings. There’s a 1.45” touchscreen on the charging case here, letting you turn up the volume with a quick swipe. And you can even play sound engineer and tweak the EQ to match your favourite genres if you fancy it.
Best Sony earbuds
Model: Sony LinkBuds Open
Why we love them: Unlike a lot of buds these days, these sport a fully open design. So, you’ll always hear what’s going on around you – even when you’re rocking out to big, chugging guitar riffs. Just maybe don’t do that while you cross the road.
Best Soundcore earbuds
Model: Soundcore R50i NC
Why we love it: If you want more bass – and who doesn’t – you’re in luck. The built-in BassUp tech makes the low-end sound seriously punchy. Pair that with a set of 10mm drivers and you won’t miss a word of the chorus, with clear, crisp audio on every track.
Best Bose earbuds
Model: Bose QuietComfort
Why we love them: With up to 8.5 hours of juice on a single charge, you won’t have to press pause on your playlist anytime soon. If you do run out though, you’re sorted. There’s an extra 2.5 hours of battery from the charging case itself, letting you top up to 100% when you’re on the go.
FAQs
Do all earbuds fit all phones?
Yes, most wireless earbuds will work with any smartphone that supports Bluetooth (and almost all of them do). Some features might be exclusive to certain operating systems or brands though. AirPods come with extra bells and whistles on Apple devices, while Samsung Galaxy buds work best with Samsung phones.
What are the best wireless earbuds for small ears?
We’d go for the Sony WF-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Pro 3. Both are super comfortable. And because they come with different ear tip sizes, it’s easy to create a secure fit.
How do wireless earbuds work?
Wireless earbuds connect to your phone, tablet or laptop using Bluetooth technology. Sound is sent wirelessly from your device to the buds, which lets you listen to music, make calls and watch videos. And you can do it all without a pesky cable getting in the way.
Do Samsung earbuds work with iPhone?
Samsung earbuds will work with your iPhone. You can hook them up via Bluetooth just like any other wireless earbuds. While the basic features are all there, you might not be able to use some of the more advanced Samsung-exclusive settings. For that, you’ll need a compatible Galaxy device.
Need more advice?
We’ve got even more top audio tips you’ll definitely want to listen to. When it’s time to block out the noise, here’s how to choose the best noise-cancelling headphones. And if you like a jog or gym sesh, we’ve rounded up the best running headphones and sport earbuds around.
