If you’re looking for earbuds, you probably want ones that are truly wireless. We used to be tied down by wires and cables that could get caught on something and fall out of our ears. Now, we can listen to music and podcasts by simply putting the earbuds in our ears and going about our day. You can even use just one so you can use your other ear. When it comes to choosing what kind of earbuds you want, there are a lot of options. That’s why we tested and research for the best wireless earbuds for 2023.
The market has come a long way since the early days of true wireless earbuds, when we had to deal with mediocre sound quality and unreliable performance just to get rid of the cables. Things have changed a lot. Companies like Sony, Apple, Samsung, and others have learned from past mistakes and are now putting out their best earbuds to date.
If you’re willing to spend a lot of money, you can get great noise cancellation and sound quality from the best earbuds. But those aren’t always the most important things for everyone. Maybe you’re looking for the best earbuds for working out or a set that works just as well for Zoom calls as it does for playing your favorite playlists and podcasts. Tech companies are adding more and more features and functions to their earbuds that only work with their own products. This is another thing to think about as you shop around.
The best wireless earbuds in 2023
1. Sony WF-1000XM4
Sony’s WF-1000XM4 are the best overall wireless earbuds you can buy, but they are expensive. They have great active noise cancellation and sound that is warm and clear. Even though the ANC isn’t quite as good as Bose’s newer QC Earbuds II, it’s still a powerful pair of headphones. With noise cancellation turned on, their long battery life lets you listen for up to eight hours straight, which is longer than any of Sony’s top competitors.
The WF-1000XM4s look high-end with a matte black (or light gray) and rose gold design. Most earbuds come with standard silicone ear tips, but Sony’s come with foam tips that expand in your ears to make a good seal. This, along with the noise cancellation, does a great job of shutting out the outside world. Since Sony’s ear tips are on the bigger side, they may not be the most comfortable for everyone. If you can, try them out for yourself.
2. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
The second-generation Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are about 30% smaller than their first-generation counterparts. Their case is also about 40% smaller, making it easy to carry in your pocket. They have the best noise cancellation in their class and better sound thanks to Bose’s new CustomTune system, which adjusts the sound to your ears. Voice calling is also a lot better than it was with the first set of QuietComfort Earbuds.
The ear tips are the other big change. Bose has replaced its one-piece StayEar wing tips with a two-piece Fit Kit system with separate ear tips and “stability bands” in three sizes. This gives you more options for a secure fit and tight seal.
3. Earfun Air S
We’ve recommended Earfun’s AirPro SV and Air Pro 2 as good choices for noise-canceling earbuds on a budget. But the new Earfun Air S for 2022 may be the best of the three. It has multipoint Bluetooth pairing, the latest Qualcomm QCC3046 SoC (system on a chip), and the AptX audio codec for Android and other devices that support it. It has the same 10mm wool drivers as the AirPro SV, and for its low price, it sounds surprisingly good. They also work well as headsets for making calls, and they do a good job of cutting out background noise.
The buds have an IPX5 rating for water resistance, which means they can handle splashes and a steady spray of water. Note that the earbuds can be bought for as little as $49 if you use the coupon code EFAIRS07 at Amazon’s checkout.
4. Jabra Elite 3
Sometimes the basics are all you need, and that’s where the Jabra Elite 3 earbuds stand out as one of best earbuds under $100. Their sound puts more emphasis on the bass, but it still sounds well-balanced and clear for this price range.
The earbuds can play music for up to seven hours straight, and the small case can hold three more charges. Their big buttons are easy to use, and the earbuds are rated IP55, which means they can stand up to dust and water.
The Elite 3s don’t have the multipoint feature that Jabra has been known for for a long time, which is the main thing you give up for the price. However, unlike older models, either earbud can be used alone in mono mode, which is an improvement. They are also very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. You don’t get features like active noise cancellation or wireless charging, but the Elite 3s are reliable and have a strong Bluetooth signal. They’re a great deal for the price.
5. Beats Fit Pro
The Powerbeats Pro, which have been the best fitness earbuds for a long time, have finally been beaten. And it’s only right that Beats’ latest earbuds are better. The Powerbeats have ear hooks, but the Beats Fit Pro have wing tips that keep them in your ears even during the most intense workouts. Because of this, these earbuds are much smaller, and their carrying case is thankfully much easier to handle. Because these earbuds magnetically attach to the case, you don’t have to worry about one or both of them not charging in the case, which was a common problem with the Powerbeats Pro.
In contrast to the Powerbeats Pro, the Fit Pros have noise cancellation built in. In this way, they are the same as the AirPods Pro, so you won’t be distracted while you work out. When you do want to be aware of what’s going on around you, the transparency mode sounds just as natural and clear as it does on the AirPod Pros.
See Also; Galaxy Buds 2 vs Buds 2 Pro: What’s the difference?
6. Apple AirPods Pro 2
The new AirPods Pro (2nd generation) can be preordered now and will ship on September 23. They are powered by Apple’s new H2 chip, which Apple says gives them more processing power while using less energy. When the new chip is combined with the new low-distortion drivers, the sound is clearer and has more depth.
Apple says that the new AirPods have “double” the noise cancellation of the original AirPods Pro. Also, the new AirPods have an extra hour of battery life, so they can be used for six hours instead of five. Plus, the case has a speaker that makes a sound that helps you find your friends using Find My if they try to hide.
Even though Apple has stopped making the original AirPods Pro, you can still buy them at a discount until they’re gone. But if they can afford it, most people should get this newer model instead.
6. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro from Samsung sound great, and that’s before you use the extra 24-bit audio support. Compared to the first Pros, these are smaller, lighter, and don’t stick out of your ears. They also sound almost as good as the Sennheisers, which are another of our favorite earbud picks.
Like the AirPods Pro for Apple devices, the Buds 2 Pro have features that only work with Samsung devices, such as head tracking for spatial audio and automatic switching between Samsung devices. The Buds 2 Pro have an IPX7 rating against water and sweat, making them even more durable than the AirPods. The charging case is small and can be used to charge the buds wirelessly.
7. Google Pixel Buds Pro
With the Pixel Buds Pro, Google has finally made a good pair of wireless earbuds. They are much better than the second-generation Pixel Buds because they block out noise very well, have good sound quality, and fit comfortably. Most importantly, they don’t have any of the problems with connectivity and audio dropouts that plagued Google’s earlier headphones.
Instead, the Pixel Buds Pro always give a great listening experience and last a long time on a single charge. They also support multipoint Bluetooth, so you can connect Google’s best headphones to two devices at once. It is a very useful feature that Apple, Bose, Samsung, and Sony haven’t added to their earbuds yet.
Pixel phone owners get perks like easier settings (the Pixel Buds controls are built right into the phone settings), and Google plans to add head tracking spatial audio support to the Pixel Buds Pro later this year. Only Pixel devices will be able to use that trick.
8. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds have great sound quality, better noise cancellation and voice calling, and a smaller, more refined design with fins to keep them in place (so the earbuds stay in your ears more securely). They are some of the best new true-wireless earbuds for 2022. They are also one of the best true wireless earbuds overall, giving the Sony WF-1000XM4 a run for its money. Take a look at our review of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3.
Unlike previous versions, these earbuds can be bought with wing tips that help keep them in your ears. That could come in handy when running or going to the gym. Sennheiser’s mobile app lets you change the EQ in a lot of ways, and the Momentum True Wireless 3s work with a variety of Bluetooth codecs, such as AAC, SBC, AptX, and AptX Adaptive.
9. Apple AirPods (third generation)
The third-generation AirPods from Apple have a new look and stems that are shorter than the first model. But even though the mics are now farther from your mouth, they still work very well for calls, and the bigger improvements to sound quality and fit/comfort make it worth upgrading to the so-called AirPods 3.
Apple has also added new features that were only available on the AirPods Pro before, such as head tracking spatial audio and a deeper integration of Find My to help you find your lost buds. And Apple’s MagSafe wireless charging system works better with the case now. The AirPods are still made of hard plastic and come in one size that fits most ears. You should try them on first to make sure they fit your ears. But if they are, these are by a wide margin Apple’s best regular AirPods yet.
See Also; Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Review: Simply Stellar
10. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX
The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX buds are the best true-wireless earbuds the company has made so far. They have a comfortable, secure fit (except for people with really small ears), great sound, good noise cancellation, and better voice-calling performance than B&O’s EQ buds. This is because they have three microphones in each earbud, which help reduce background noise while picking up your voice. Even though most people can’t afford them, they might be the best earbuds with stems out there. They sound better than the AirPods Pro and have better clarity, deeper bass, and more accurate sound.
The battery life is rated at 6 hours at a moderate volume level with noise cancellation on, and there are an extra 14 hours of power in the brushed aluminum charging case (wireless charging is supported). The buds have an IP57 rating, which means that they can stand up to water and dust. They have Bluetooth 5.2 and multipoint Bluetooth pairing, so you can connect to two devices, like a computer and a phone, at the same time. You can use a single bud on its own, and the earbuds have sensors that detect when they are in your ears. When you take them out, the music stops.
The earbuds support AptX Adaptive for devices like Android smartphones that support Bluetooth streaming with the AptX HD audio codec (AAC is also supported). They come in both the gold tone shown and a color called “graphite.”
11. Sony LinkBuds
Each of Sony’s LinkBuds has a hole in the middle that makes them look different. This design, which is surprisingly comfortable, is meant to let in noise from outside and keep you aware of your surroundings at all times. But this also means that the LinkBuds won’t be for everyone, especially people who like to listen to music while blocking out the rest of the world.
But the best thing about the LinkBuds is not how they look or fit, but how well they work for voice calls. Sony changed how its voice isolation algorithms work for these earbuds. As a result, the LinkBuds have better call quality than the flagship 1000XM4s and almost all of their competitors, except for the AirPods. The LinkBuds are a good choice if you want something you can put in your ears during the workday.
12. Master & Dynamic MW08
The MW07 and MW07 Plus were the first truly wireless headphones from Master & Dynamic. They had great sound, but they didn’t have many features and weren’t very good for making calls. The 2021 MW08 has a lot of improvements, like a solid noise canceling system and better call quality. Also, the battery life is very good (up to 12 hours with noise canceling off).
These buds might not fit everyone’s ears perfectly, but they have a unique look, great sound, and a great listening experience if you can get a good seal (I was able to get a secure fit with the largest tip). They sound more like headphones for audiophiles, with a smooth, well-balanced sound and clear bass.
13. Razer Hammerhead True Wireless
For the price, the Hammerhead True Wireless earbuds have good sound quality and can block out noise. But the low latency gaming mode that cuts response time down to 60ms is probably just as important to serious mobile gamers.
There’s also the Chroma. The first Hammerhead True Wireless didn’t have RGB lights on each earbud, but these ones do. It’s an effect that draws attention, but it does use up a little bit of battery life. The Razer mobile app for the earbuds lets you change how the controls work and make a lot of EQ changes. The Hammerhead True Wireless earbuds have average battery life, and their “transparency mode” is just okay. However, if you like Razer gear, you can now show off the brand while playing your favorite mobile games at the coffee shop.
14. Nothing Ear 1
The first earbuds from Nothing have a unique look, even if they sometimes have more bugs than we’d like and don’t block out noise as well as other headphones. When put next to earbuds from more well-known brands, the Ear 1’s semi-translucent design and unique charging case will stand out. And at $99, you don’t have to break the bank to get that extra style. This price may also make it easier to look past the places where Nothing’s first pair of earbuds fell short.
15. UE Fits
In 60 seconds, they take the shape of your ears. That’s pretty much all you need to know about why the UE Fits are the best wireless earbuds for getting the right fit. You won’t do much better unless you go to an audiologist and have IEMs made just for you.
But the Fits are worth it only if you have trouble keeping other headphones in your ears. If you’ve tried everything, including memory foam tips, you should definitely try these. The feeling of molding is very different from what you’ll get from other earbuds. This is because the tips warm up in your ears as they change shape.
See Also; AirPods Pro 2 — The Top 5 Rumored Upgrades
FAQs
Wireless vs. true wireless: Are they different?
Before the AirPods, wireless earbuds had a cord connecting the two buds. They were wireless because they could stream music over Bluetooth and didn’t have a cord that you had to plug into your device. Some companies, like Beats, still make those kinds of wireless earbuds. Some people like having a cord that lets the buds hang around their neck when they’re not in use.
Real wireless earbuds don’t have a wire connecting them. They don’t have any cords and can connect to each other wirelessly to make a stereo pair. They are sometimes called TWS, which is the initials of their name (true-wireless stereo).
Which brand wireless earbuds are the best?
Best Wireless Earbuds for 2023: Top Picks for Every Listener
- Sony WF-1000XM4.
- Bose The QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are the best noise-cancelling headphones with the best sound.
- Earfun Air S. Best budget noise-canceling earbuds. …
- Apple AirPods Pro 2. Even better Apple noise-canceling wireless earbuds.
How do I clean my wireless earbuds?
Use a slightly damp, soft, dry, lint-free cloth (like the kind you use to clean your glasses or your phone’s screen) to clean the buds and the ear tips. Don’t use soap or other harsh cleaning products. You can use a wipe with 70% isopropyl alcohol or a Clorox disinfecting wipe, but don’t get too much water in the ports or inside the buds. For small cracks, you can use a toothpick or a Q-tip with a bit of alcohol on it. Don’t soak the Q-tip in too much alcohol. Lastly, let the buds dry for a few minutes so that any water will evaporate.
