The best wireless earbuds for 2022

Overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices when it comes to wireless earbuds? We don’t blame you — it can be a daunting task for anyone. But we’ve had the chance to audition tons of them, from the cheapest to the stratospheric, and while there’s no such thing as the best wireless earbuds for everyone, we think the Jabra Elite 7 Pro are the best all-around, with great sound, an accessible price, and a downright astonishing number of features.

But the Jabras are just the tip of the true wireless earbuds iceberg. We’ve identified models that excel at specific activities like running as well as some that are made for critical music listening.

Want a set of true wireless earbuds that are guaranteed to not break the bank? Check out the best cheap true wireless earbuds with plenty of models all under $100.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro

The best overall value

While there’s no denying that Sony’s WF-1000XM4 are fantastic, Jabra has pulled off a minor miracle with the Elite 7 Pro by creating a set of earbuds that do everything really well and cost considerably less than the XM4. They’re so good that we gave them a very rare 10/10 score.

Why are we so bullish on the Elite 7 Pro? Let’s start with comfort and fit. They’re the smallest buds Jabra has ever made, and that translates into the most comfortable buds it has ever made. We’d argue that they’re some of the most comfortable earbuds, period. The UE Fits (below) are slightly more comfortable, but they lack active noise cancellation (ANC) and many other features.

Speaking of ANC, the Elite 7 Pro are fantastic at dealing with unwanted noise. So good, in fact, that the WF-1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (see below) are only a hair better. Transparency is also very good, and you can switch between these modes almost instantly with a press of a button.

Despite not being aimed at the sporty crowd per se, the Elite 7 Pro are actually hardier than most earbuds, with an IP57 rating that makes them completely waterproof. Jabra even offers a free upgrade on its water and dust warranty, giving you two years of coverage.

Sound quality, while not as nuanced as the Master & Dynamic MW08 or the WF-1000XM4, is nonetheless superb. Bass is pronounced without being overpowering, and there’s lots of clarity and precision throughout the rest of the frequencies, so vocals are never drowned out by the beat. Lots of EQ adjustments within the Jabra Sound+ app are available if you need them.

Battery life is a very impressive 7.5 to 8 hours on a charge, even with ANC on, and the case (which can charge wirelessly) brings your total playtime to 30 hours. A fast charge of five minutes will buy you an extra hour of use if you need a quick boost.

If you spend a lot of time on Zoom or voice calls, the Elite 7 Pro could be your new best friends. Call quality is excellent, even in very noisy conditions, thanks to Jabra’s use of voice-sensing bone conduction microphones that are able to separate your voice from other sounds.

There are tons of extras too, like device location, auto-pause for music, microphone muting while on calls, and a fit test to ensure you’ve chosen the right size of silicone ear tips. When the Elite 7 Pro launched in 2021, the lacked Bluetooth Multipoint, but with a January 2022 firmware update, even this minor drawback has been addressed.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro

The best overall value

Sony WF-1000XM4

Outstanding sound and ANC

It’s hard to beat Sony’s flagship WF-1000XM4 earbuds for an overall superb listening experience. Sony has thrown the kitchen sink at these buds, making them even better than their predecessors, the WF-1000XM3. Now with proper water resistance for workouts, wireless charging, and Sony’s own LDAC Bluetooth codec for wireless hi-res audio performance, they’re the whole package.

Sound quality has always been a Sony strength, and the XM4 continue this tradition with even richer bass. There’s a warmth and resonance to the low end on these buds that benefits a variety of music genres, especially with string instrument- and drum-centric styles like jazz, classical, and even EDM. Sony made the decision to equip the XM4 with foam eartips as opposed to the usual silicone style. This increases comfort and provides an excellent and secure seal, but it also has a slight tendency to rob the high frequencies of precision. Unless you did a direct comparison with the XM3, you probably wouldn’t even notice it.

The Sony Headphones app gives you deep control over all settings, like EQ, ANC, transparency, and touch controls, and includes an option to customize both the earbuds and your music apps (like Tidal, Deezer, and Amazon Music) for use with Sony’s 360 Reality Audio (360RA) immersive music format.

Active noise cancellation is superb, as is transparency mode, but Sony throws in a cool new feature: Voice sensing. Simply start talking and the XM4 will automatically shift into transparency while dropping the volume of your tunes. Speaking of, well, speaking, the WF-1000XM4 are some of the few true wireless earbuds that give you hands-free voice access to your choice of Google Assistant (Android only) or Amazon Alexa (iOS and Android).

Battery life, at eight hours of playtime with ANC turned on and 12 hours when it’s off, is excellent, although total playtime — at 24 hours — is pretty standard. A fast charge will get you an additional hour for just five minutes of charging.

Our only critiques of the WF-1000XM4 are small: Their size and shape might simply be too big to fit some ears, and we wish Sony had included simultaneous wireless connections via Bluetooth Multipoint. If this feature matters to you, check out the Jabra Elite 7 Pro, Elite 7 Active, and both Technics EAH-AZ60 and AZ40 models, below.

Sony WF-1000XM4

Outstanding sound and ANC

Soundcore Life P3

The best budget earbuds

Anker’s Soundcore brand continues to wow us with its wireless earbuds. They always deliver exceptional value for the price and these are no exception.

For well less than $100, they pack virtually every feature you could ask for: Wireless charging, ANC, transparency mode, adjustable EQ and controls, and excellent IPX5 protection from sweat and water.

And yes, we think they sound great. There’s plenty of bass for those who love to feel every beat, yet the midranges and high frequencies remain balanced and clear. You won’t find the same precision and detail as you would on pricier earbuds, but that’s to be expected. These are not the earbuds you buy for critical listening – they’re the ones you buy for a go-anywhere enjoyable sound that works with just about any genre you care to stream.

Even battery life earns our respect: You get a claimed seven hours of life per charge with ANC and transparency turned off, and a total of 35 hours when you include the charging case. Those numbers drop to six hours/30 hours respectively when you engage ANC or transparency — but that’s still more than you’ll get from Apple’s AirPods Pro, which cost more than double what you’ll pay for the Life P3.

The only downsides to the Life P3 are their lack of wear sensors (which you can get in the step-up Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro) and call quality that is only so-so, and best kept to indoor calls. But these are small critiques of what are otherwise superb and affordable wireless buds.

Soundcore Life P3

The best budget earbuds

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

The best noise cancellation, period

If you know anything about Bose, you know that noise cancellation is kind of the company’s calling card. Bose was the first to debut the technology in a set of headphones, and we’ve been waiting patiently for what we knew would one day come: A set of Bose Bluetooth earbuds that could perform the same magic.

It took a few years, but make no mistake: The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are exactly what we were hoping for. Their ANC is the new best in class for a set of true wireless earbuds, beating out even the venerable AirPods Pro because of their uncanny ability to mute both low- and high-frequency sounds — something that most ANC products struggle to do.

They’re also no slouches in the sound quality department. For this price, you should expect excellent audio, and the QuietComfort Earbuds deliver. Our reviewer gushed over their ability to produce “a generous helping of detail, lightning-fast transient response, and punchy bass that can start and stop on a dime.” Call quality, as you might predict, is enterprise-grade. These are the buds you want if phone calls are an important part of your day.

Battery life is on the lower end of the true wireless spectrum: Six hours per charge, with an additional 12 hours in the wireless charging case. You can quick-charge the earbuds, which earns an extra two hours after 15 minutes.

The shape of the QuietComfort Earbuds may be their most controversial quality. They’re big — especially when compared to the Elite 7 Pro or AirPods Pro — as is their charging case. And, they use a silicone ear tip with an integrated earfin for greater stability. Not everyone is going to like how that feels, and there’s no way to remove it. You do, however, get used to them with time.

Like the WF-1000XM4, there is no Bluetooth multipoint pairing. On a less expensive set of earbuds, or perhaps a set that isn’t as clearly targeted to travelers as the QuietComfort Earbuds, we might look the other way on this oversight, but we think it’s a missed opportunity.

These caveats aside, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are easily some of the best true wireless buds you can buy, and a must-have for those who crave quiet.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

The best noise cancellation, period

Master & Dynamic MW08

The best sound for audiophiles

Master & Dynamic (M&D) has been making awesome true wireless earbuds for several years, and its latest model, the MW08, are seriously great buds for sound quality.

We were huge fans of their predecessors, the MW07 Plus, and the MW08 are even better. Battery life is now around 12 hours on a single charge if you disable active noise cancellation (ANC), and their slick, stainless steel charging case packs an additional 30 hours — that’s near the very top for true wireless earbuds.

The buds themselves are compact and comfortable, and M&D has used ceramic and aluminum parts to give the MW08 a luxurious, high-end look and feel.

We weren’t especially impressed with their noise-canceling chops — you’ll get superior ANC from the Jabra Elite 85t, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, and Sony WF-1000XM4 — but when it comes to sound quality, we think the MW08 are the current cream of the crop.

With a superbly tight bass response, incredibly detailed midranges, and crystal-clear highs, these are the earbuds for those who want a true wireless way to sit back and explore their favorite tracks with stunning fidelity.

Because of their vented design, which lets a little air circulate through the sound tubes, they possess an open airiness that produces a much wider soundstage than earbuds that use a fully closed architecture.

The physical controls are highly intuitive and give you access to every feature you could want, from volume adjustments and triggering your phone’s voice assistant to managing phone calls.

Speaking of calls, the MW08 are some of the best earbuds we’ve found for call quality. They avoid the compression of your voice normally associated with earbud calls and do an admirable job of canceling out background sounds.

$299 is certainly a high price to pay, but if you want a set of true wireless earbuds that don’t compromise on sound quality, style, or battery life, you can’t go wrong with the Master & Dynamic MW08.

Looking for something with a similar profile for sound quality, but at a lower price? The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 sound almost as good, plus they’re smaller and offer a better fit, and they have wireless charging — something you’ll have to pay $50 more for on the MW08.

Master & Dynamic MW08

The best sound for audiophiles

Nuheara IQbuds2 Max

The best for hearing enhancement

Hearing aids are notoriously expensive and they’re only now being fitted with extra features like being able to listen to music. That’s what makes the Nuheara IQbuds2 Max so interesting. They’re essentially high-end true wireless earbuds, like many of the others on this list, but they pack hearing aid-inspired technology too.

This unique combination makes them the ideal companions for folks who need a little help hearing in situations like crowded restaurants or busy offices, but whose hearing loss isn’t severe enough to warrant actual hearing aids. Yes, they’re the most expensive earbuds on this list, but they’re still hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, less than hearing aids.

This hearing-enhancement tech is fully customizable inside the IQbuds app, giving you options like Focus, which targets just the sounds coming from in front of you, or World EQ, which lets you pick the specific frequencies that you need help with.

These features arguably make the IQbuds2 Max the best transparency mode earbuds on the planet. But their active noise cancellation is also amazing — as good or better than anything made by Sony or Apple. Only Bose gives the IQbuds 2 Max real competition in this area. They’re also fantastic for phone calls.

We found the sound quality on the IQbuds2 Max to be equally impressive, but the lack of an adjustable EQ means that there’s no way to tweak the sound if it’s not to your liking.

You’ll also have to forego some newer features like wireless charging, quick-charging, USB-C compatibility, and the ability to use just one earbud at a time, but if you value the hearing enhancements, we doubt these will be deal-breakers. You should also be OK with only getting five hours of use on a single charge.

Nuheara IQbuds2 Max

The best for hearing enhancement

Apple AirPods Pro

The best for Apple fans

The first and second-gen AirPods quickly became the poster children for the true wireless earbuds revolution thanks to their iconic design, ease of use, and tight integration with the iPhone and other iOS devices. But they’re far from perfect. Middling sound quality and no sweat or water resistance have been among the top criticisms.

That’s why the AirPods Pro are so welcome: They address both of these concerns, and up the ante even further by adding active noise cancellation, an in-ear design that’s more snug and secure, and an intelligent EQ system that automatically adjusts to each user’s ears. We were frankly blown away by both the improvement in sound quality and the effectiveness of Apple’s noise-canceling tech.

Meanwhile, all of the features that Apple fans have come to rely on, like Siri connectivity, intuitive touch controls, and sensors that recognize when the buds are in or out of your ears to pause and play sound automatically, are all preserved. Battery life is unchanged at five hours of music streaming per charge — a number that is less impressive now than it once was — but you get a wireless charging case that would normally cost you $50 more than the price of a regular set of AirPods.

Another plus for iPhone and Apple TV 4K owners: The latest versions of iOS and tvOS have enabled head-tracking spatial audio on the AirPods Pro, making movies with surround sound soundtracks an even more immersive experience.

If you’re an Apple fan, there’s a lot here to love except perhaps the price. Apple debuted the AirPods Pro at $249, putting them in the upper end of the true wireless earbud market.

Really like the Apple AirPods Pro but would prefer to spend a little less? Here are the best AirPods Pro alternatives.

Apple AirPods Pro

The best for Apple fans

Technics EAH-AZ60

The best sound and ANC for under $250

For the price, we are hard-pressed to think of a set of earbuds that offer a better combination of sound quality and ANC performance than the Technics EAH-AZ60 — they are superb. But the best part is that these qualities are really just the starting point for a set of buds that might fly under a lot of people’s radars.

They’re very small and ergonomically shaped — a big improvement over the older AZ70 — and we’d argue they’re almost as comfortable as the Jabra Elite 7 Pro, which is saying something. The AZ60s lack some of Jabra’s features, like full waterproofing (the AZ60s are sweat- and splash-proof), wireless charging, and wear sensors, but they justify their higher price through their amazing sound, and absolutely killer noise cancellation and transparency modes.

Like the WF-1000XM4, they support Sony’s LDAC Bluetooth codec, which will give you as close to lossless, hi-res audio as you can get right now in a set of wireless buds (as long as your Android phone supports it). Android users also get the option of hands-free access to Amazon Alexa, which is a helpful feature.

Battery life is very good at seven hours per charge and they’ll last for a total of 24 to 25 hours when you include their charging case. But my favorite feature is Technics’ inclusion of Bluetooth multipoint on the EAH-AZ60 — which lets you stay connected to two devices at once — perfect for those of us who need to juggle Zoom calls on our computers and voice calls on our phones.

If you like the idea of wireless hi-res audio via the LDAC codec, the 1More Evo are an excellent alternative, at a significantly lower price. They can’t quite match the AZ60’s ANC performance, but given how they sound, you may not care.

Technics EAH-AZ60

The best sound and ANC for under $250

Final Audio ZE3000

The best sound for under $200

With features like ANC, transparency mode, wear sensors, and wireless charging now showing up on wireless earbuds for as little as $100, can we really justify recommending a set that has none of these options, yet still cost $149? Yes, as long as that set is the Final Audio ZE3000.

The ZE3000 may lack a lot of bells and whistles — in fact, they’re missing just about every feature we can think of – but they excel in one area that matters above all else for music lovers: Sound quality. With an impressive amount of accuracy and detail, these earbuds offer the best sound quality you’ll find under the $200 mark, and we’d argue they even hold their own against many models that are more expensive than that.

The ZE3000 have a warm but still very balanced EQ that lets each frequency come through clearly and distortion-free, which provides the perfect sonic platform for a huge array of music genres. We think they perform their best with jazz, classical, and vocals-intensive tracks, but their energetic mids and highs make them just as enjoyable for pop, rock, and EDM.

Bass is beautifully balanced with the rest of the frequency spectrum, but this is one area where some folks may find the ZE3000 lacking — if you want chest-pounding low-end, you should consider the Technics EAH-AZ40 instead.

With an IPX4 rating and seven hours of battery life (35 in total), the ZE3000 can join you on any adventure, and in quiet environments they have stellar call quality. As long as you can forgive their lack of other features, these earbuds will reward you with fabulous sound for the money.

Final Audio ZE3000

The best sound for under $200

Jabra Elite 7 Active

The best for sports and athletes

Jabra keeps knocking it out of the park when it comes to fully-featured true wireless earbuds that are priced well below the competition. The Elite 7 Active are an ideal choice for fitness buffs who don’t want to compromise on any aspect of the true wireless experience. As such, these buds possess nearly every feature of the Elite 7 Pro, plus a special rubberized outer coating that keeps the earbuds locked into place, without the use of ear hooks or ear wings/fins.

Sound quality is very good, with plenty of low-end bass for powering your workouts. Equally good are Jabra’s ANC and transparency modes which you can toggle between very quickly with a press of a button. Speaking of buttons, the Elite 7 Active’s physical controls are among the best you can get: Easy to use, precise, and totally customizable within the Jabra Sound+ app. You can even press them while wearing gloves — something that touch controls rarely offer.

Battery life is an excellent eight hours per charge and you’ll get up to 30 hours of time with the included charging case’s capacity. A five-minute quick charge adds another hour of life if you need it. Within the Sound+ app, you’ll find loads of customizations. A full equalizer with presets lets you adjust the sound profile, there’s a fit-test to make sure you’ve selected the right size of ear-tips, and you can adjust the ANC calibration to suit your specific hearing and preferences.

The only thing the Elite 7 Active were missing was Bluetooth multipoint, but as of a January 2022 firmware update, that too has been added.

Jabra Elite 7 Active

The best for sports and athletes

Apple AirPods (3rd gen)

The best semi-open fit earbuds

If you love the comfortable fit and easy simplicity of Apple’s original AirPods, you owe it to yourself to consider getting the 3rd-gen AirPods, which you’ll sometimes see listed as AirPods 3. The new design takes some of the best features of the AirPods Pro, like a more secure fit, better sound quality, and physical pinch controls on the stems, while keeping the semi-open shape that AirPods fans have enjoyed for years.

The AirPods 3 come with wireless charging as a standard feature (it used to be a $50 upgrade on the second-gen units) and the case is compatible with both Qi-standard chargers as well as Apple’s MagSafe chargers. Battery life has also been improved, with six hours per charge and 30 hours of total play time with the case — giving these AirPods the best stamina of any of Apple’s iconic white buds.

Like the other AirPods models, the 3rd gen have wear sensors that can auto-pause your tunes when you remove a bud, plus Apple has added head-tracking spatial audio, a feature that was previously reserved for the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. The feature only works with Dolby Atmos Music and multichannel movies from select streaming apps like Apple Music and Apple TV+, but it’s a fun and very immersive way to enjoy movies and music.

But the big upgrade for AirPods fans is the third-gen’s sound quality. It’s a big leap from the first and second-gen products, and when you’re in a quiet room, they can sound every bit as good as the more expensive AirPods Pro. The new buds also get an IPX4 rating for water resistance, something that previous AirPods lacked. When combined with the AirPods 3’s more secure fit, they’re now a gym-ready companion.

Apple AirPods (3rd gen)

The best semi-open fit earbuds

Sony LinkBuds

The best for staying aware of your surroundings

Wireless earbuds are great for sound quality and for blocking out the outside world, especially when they’re equipped with ANC — like the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds or the Technics EAH-AZ60. But these models are so good at blocking noise, they need a transparency mode so that you can hear what’s going on when you need to. Since constantly switching between ANC and transparency can be a hassle, if you need to stay aware of the real world while you listen to music or make calls, the Sony LinkBuds are a truly unique and effective solution.

Using a special speaker design that has a hole right through its middle, the LinkBuds block no sound at all. This lets you wear them continuously throughout your day as you switch between video calls, listening to music, or talking to those around you, all without needing to reach for a button.

Despite this unusual design, the LinkBuds sound surprisingly good — like the earbud equivalent of a set of open-back headphones. As long as you’re in a relatively quiet location, they’re fun and well-balanced, for a wide variety of genres, though bass lovers may want to consider one of our other picks.

They’re very light, and as long as you don’t have tiny ears, they fit comfortably for hours at a time. Don’t think of them as workout partners, though. They have IPX4 water protection, but we found they simply don’t fit securely enough for running or other high-impact activities.

Sony has also added in some fun extras: Wake-word access to Amazon Alexa, auto-muting when the buds detect that you’re speaking, and the ability to tap on your cheek instead of the earbuds to control things like play/pause and call answer/end.

The LinkBuds certainly aren’t for everyone, but they’re perfect for those who want to use earbuds without blocking out the world.

Sony LinkBuds

The best for staying aware of your surroundings

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2

The best for Android fans

Taking over from the now-discontinued Galaxy Buds+, the Galaxy Buds 2 represent a near-perfect balance of features and price. Coming in well under the $200 mark, they nonetheless deliver a compelling feature set with wireless charging, active noise cancellation and transparency, good battery life, and very satisfying sound.

Unlike previous Galaxy Buds, which tended to be on the large side, the Galaxy Buds 2 are now small enough to provide almost everyone with a comfortable and secure fit. Our reviewer went so far as to say that they are “among the most comfortable wireless earbuds I’ve worn.” High praise indeed.

Battery life is a very respectable five hours per charge with ANC on and 7.5 hours if turn it off. That’s in line with Jabra’s Elite 75t, which cost roughly the same, and it handily beats the AirPods Pro which top out at five hours without ANC. Add in the Buds 2 charging case’s capacity and your total listening time will be 20 hours (ANC on) or 29 hours (ANC off).

Speaking of ANC, it works very nicely. It’s not quite up to the level offered by Sony’s WF-1000XM4, or the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, but considering how pricey those buds are, we’re willing to cut Samsung some slack here. Transparency mode is similar: More than adequate for the occasional conversation or increasing your awareness of your surroundings, but you won’t exactly forget you’re wearing earbuds.

Sound quality might be a subjective area, but we think the Galaxy Buds 2 will satisfy all but the fussiest listeners. Its punchy sound signature can be tweaked with five EQ presets within the Galaxy Wearables app, which you can also use to perform a fit test, find your missing buds, or customize the touch controls. Unfortunately, the Wearables app is Android-only, which is why we simply can’t recommend the Galaxy Buds 2 for iPhone users.

But this brings us to the only real drawback to the Buds 2: The touch controls. Our reviewer found it was nearly impossible to avoid unwanted taps or commands when inserting or adjusting the buds in his ears, which resulted in considerable frustration. You may not be bothered by this, but if you are, you can always disable the touch controls in the app. This one caveat notwithstanding, the Galaxy Buds 2 are a great set of earbuds for the Android crowd.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2

The best for Android fans

HyperX Cloud Mix

The best for gamers

With the comfort and convenience of wireless earbuds, you’d think they’d be a natural choice for gamers, but most gamers stay as far away from wireless headphones and earbuds as they can.

Why? It turns out that Bluetooth connections introduce an unacceptable amount of lag — the delay between when an in-game sound is generated (like a foot-fall or a rifle shot) and when you actually hear it. It’s a big enough problem that many serious gamers consider it a liability that can harm their results.

That’s where the HyperX Cloud Mix Buds find their niche. They’re Bluetooth wireless earbuds that work like any other set of wireless buds on this list. They connect to your phone or laptop and let you listen to music and take calls. But they also have a feature you won’t find on the other models listed here: They come with a special USB adapter that provides a nearly lag-free wireless connection for those times when the game is afoot, and you’re playing for keeps.

A small switch on the adapter lets you seamlessly move between that dedicated wireless link and a normal Bluetooth connection, so convenience is still maintained. The Mix Buds may not have advanced features like ANC or wireless charging, and bass response can’t quite compare to the best full-size gaming headphones, but you do get a strong set of EQ adjustments and DTS:X surround sound processing.

When you take that into consideration, with their 30-hour total battery life and dedicated wireless connection for gaming, the HyperX Cloud Mix Buds start to look like a great option for gamers who also want to take their tunes on the road.

HyperX Cloud Mix

The best for gamers

Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW

The biggest bass and battery life

The Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW are big and chunky and so is their charging case, but if size and style aren’t major concerns for you, these earbuds are chock-full of rewards and come at an unbeatable price.

Let’s start with their battery life. With ANC turned off, the earbuds will last for 20 hours before dying — a huge leap over the previous battery life king, the JVC HA-XC90T, which maxed out at 15 hours. Better yet, when you add in the case’s capacity, it takes you to an enormous 50 hours. Yup, more than two full days of continuous use before you need to go in search of a charging cable.

Sound quality is also superb, as you might expect from a brand with Audio-Technica’s reputation. In particular, bass heads will revel in the absolutely monstrous low-end that these earbuds can pump out. This isn’t just bass you hear — you feel it too. If it’s too much, there’s plenty of control within the companion app, where you can also adjust the control buttons to suit your tastes.

ANC is excellent, with the ability to hush most unwanted outside sounds, and the transparency mode will help you keep tabs on what’s going on around you if you need it. Calling on the CKS50 is equally good, but we recommend you look for quieter places for your chats to get the best sound quality for your callers.

These earbuds aren’t perfect — there’s no wireless charging and no wear sensors for auto-pause, but these are small omissions that are easily compensated for by the CKS50’s many positive attributes, and their terrific price.

Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW

The biggest bass and battery life

UE Fits

A custom-molding process guarantees a good fit

Some folks have a really hard time finding a set of wireless earbuds that fit their ears. Regardless of the number of included ear tips, comfort and security prove elusive. But the UE Fits might just be the answer if this has been your experience.

Ultimate Ears (UE) has dipped into its extensive experience of providing custom-fit wired earbuds for audio professionals in order to create a product that does the same thing — at a fraction of the price – for the rest of us. No trips to the audiologist and no waiting for molds to be created.

Instead, the UE Fits use a combination of UV light and heat to turn a blank set of silicone ear tips into moldable inserts that fully conform to the shape of your outer ear in just a few minutes. The result is a set of earbuds that fit like a glove and stay securely in place no matter what you do.

Unfortunately, most of the price of the UE Fits has gone into the customization process. They are otherwise fairly basic. You won’t find ANC, wireless charging, transparency mode, or any other extras. But sound quality and call quality are both good, and battery life, at six hours per charge is perfectly serviceable.

We don’t necessarily recommend the UE Fits for everyone, but for those who simply can’t find a comfortable fit with off-the-shelf products, these could be the perfect solution.

UE Fits

A custom-molding process guarantees a good fit

Research and buying tips

Can wireless earbuds connect to a PC?

Yes, as long as the PC has Bluetooth. Some have Bluetooth by default, but if yours doesn’t, you can add it with an affordable USB adapter.

Can wireless earbuds be used on airplanes?

Yes. You can enable most devices’ Bluetooth radio while in airplane mode.

Can wireless earbuds connect to game consoles?

Yes, but the details are a bit different for each console:

Can wireless earbuds connect to a TV?

Only if your TV has Bluetooth transmission, or via an external device like this.

Are wireless earbuds better than wired?

Not usually for sound quality, but they are for convenience, especially now that many phone makers have stopped including a headphone jack.

Do wireless earbuds always have a charging case?

Not always, but the vast majority do come with a charging case. If they don’t come with a case, we strongly recommend you don’t buy them.

Are wireless earbuds good for working out?

Yes, they are awesome for workouts, as long as they have waterproofing or an IP rating and fit snugly in your ears.

Editors’ Recommendations