The Best Earbuds We’ve Tested For 2025

It’s difficult to bargain a bad brace of wireless earbuds these days, and pinch changeless discounts and deals wherever you look, now is arsenic bully a clip arsenic immoderate to splurge connected nan brace you’ve been eyeing. The marketplace has travel a agelong measurement since nan early era of existent wireless earbuds erstwhile we had to woody pinch mediocre sound value and unreliable performance, each for nan liking of ditching cables. Things are overmuch different now. After respective merchandise generations of learned lessons, companies for illustration Sony, Apple, Samsung, and others are releasing their astir awesome earbuds to date. 

You tin get phenomenal sound cancellation and sound value successful nan premium tier of earbuds if you’re consenting to walk big. But those aren’t ever nan astir important criteria for everyone: possibly you’re looking for nan cleanable fittingness earbuds aliases for a group that useful conscionable arsenic good for Zoom calls arsenic for playing your favourite playlists and podcasts.

Tech companies are progressively making their earbuds activity champion pinch their ain products done exclusive features and functionality, truthful that’s different point to see arsenic you shop around. If you want a perk for illustration head-tracking spatial audio, you’ll request to usage AirPods pinch an iPhone, Samsung buds pinch a Samsung phone, and truthful on.

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The champion wide wireless earbuds

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 8 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IPX4 / Bluetooth codecs: LDAC, AAC, SBC / Multipoint: Yes / Works champion with: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Foam (XS, S, M, L)

Just for illustration their predecessors, Sony’s WF-1000XM5 earbuds person again topped our recommendations for nan wide champion noise-canceling earbuds. Thanks to their larger drivers, nan audio value is much elaborate and move than earlier while still retaining nan warmth and clarity that made nan WF-1000XM4 truthful enjoyable. Sony has besides further improved its ANC and is nearing nan aforesaid territory arsenic Bose’s QC Earbuds II. These earbuds do a terrific occupation of eliminating inheritance noise. Battery life tin agelong to 8 hours of continuous listening pinch sound cancellation turned on.

Some group recovered nan XM4 to beryllium bulky and uncomfortable, truthful this clip around, Sony has managed to shrink nan XM5 by 25 percent. Like before, nan institution includes foam-style tips that grow successful your ears to create an fantabulous seal — and now there’s a 4th (extra small) group of tips successful nan box.

On Android phones, nan 1000XM5 support Sony’s LDAC codec for higher-quality euphony playback. And they’re tin of move caput search spatial audio done supported video apps for illustration Netflix. But moreover if you’re not utilizing LDAC (or person an iPhone), these are up location pinch nan very champion audio-focused premium earbuds — including Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 4, only pinch substantially amended sound cancellation. They’re besides tin of multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, truthful you tin brace them pinch 2 devices astatine nan aforesaid time.

It’s worthy noting that location were galore reports of artillery issues pinch nan 1000XM4 complete clip arsenic those earbuds aged, but Sony claims to person rectified that problem pinch nan caller exemplary by tweaking nan charging algorithm.

Read our full WF-1000XM5 review.

The champion fund earbuds nether $100

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 5.5 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IP54 / Bluetooth codecs: LDAC, AAC, SBC / Multipoint: Yes / Works champion with: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Silicone (S, M, L)

When looking astatine Nothing’s Ear (a) earbuds, it’s easy to attraction each your attraction connected nan catchy yellowish colour aliases their fun, ace compact carrying case. But astatine their $99 price, nan company’s entry-level earbuds supply a ton of features, including progressive sound cancellation, a low-latency mode for gaming, multipoint Bluetooth pairing, and a decent IP54 particulate and h2o guidance rating. 

And nan sound value you get outperforms my accustomed expectations for this value point. They’re not rather connected par pinch Nothing’s higher-end Ears, but you do get expressive, very enjoyable audio — and you tin customize nan EQ further successful Nothing’s mobile app.

Read my afloat Nothing Ear (a) impressions.

The champion noise-canceling earbuds

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 6 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IPX4 / Bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC, aptX Adaptive / Multipoint: Yes / Works champion with: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Silicone (S, M, L)

Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are nan astir powerful noise-canceling earbuds connected nan market. Of each our apical picks, they do nan champion occupation of offering bid and quiet from nan cacophony of regular life, putting you successful a backstage bubble pinch your euphony playlists aliases favourite podcasts.

The QC Ultra Earbuds are highly akin to 2022’s QC Earbuds II successful position of design, fit, and sound. Audio value is rich | and dynamic, delivering much bass listen than, say, Apple’s AirPods Pro. And by switching to a two-piece receptor extremity / stabilizer fitting process, Bose’s latest flagship buds should fresh a wider scope of ears much comfortably. The Ultra besides present a caller Immersive Audio mode, which is Bose’s return connected spatial audio.

That being said, it’s worthy noting that Bose recently announced an updated version of nan QC Ultra Earbuds, which, pinch nan thief of AI, supposedly connection improved telephone value and enhanced adaptive ANC to thief curb abrupt spikes successful noise. They’ll besides retail for nan aforesaid price arsenic nan existent exemplary and travel pinch a wireless charging lawsuit erstwhile they motorboat later this year, preventing you from having to salary other for what has fundamentally go a table-stakes feature.

Read our full QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review.

The champion earbuds for sports and moving out

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 8 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IPX4 / Bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC / Multipoint: No / Works champion with: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Silicone (XS, S, M, L, XL)

After a agelong wait, Beats yet introduced nan Powerbeats Pro 2 successful early 2025. They transportation guardant nan signature receptor hook creation of past Powerbeats earbuds, but amended upon nan original Powerbeats Pro successful respective cardinal ways. Beats added progressive sound cancellation and a natural-sounding transparency mode to nan Pro 2; nan first-generation brace lacked both. The earbuds themselves are lighter, too, and nan charging lawsuit is noticeably smaller.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 besides characteristic bosom complaint monitoring acknowledgment to built-in sensors connected each earbud. You mightiness already person a fittingness tracker, thorax strap, aliases smartwatch for this purpose, but if not, you tin usage these pinch compatible apps for illustration Nike Run Club, Runna, Ladder, Slopes, Open, Peloton, and YaoYao. The downside is that they can’t simultaneously play euphony and broadcast bosom complaint to gym equipment erstwhile paired to an iOS device, rendering nan Pro 2 a amended bosom complaint monitoring replacement for Android users than iPhone users.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 stay rated IPX4 for h2o resistance. While that’s not arsenic robust arsenic immoderate different fitness-focused buds, it should beryllium capable to past sweat and outdoor runs successful various conditions. The earbuds still connection easy-to-use beingness buttons and a dedicated measurement rocker, truthful it’s easy to power them successful nan mediate of a workout.

If you’re an iPhone owner, nan Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds see Apple-only features for illustration move caput search for spatial audio, car instrumentality switching, Find My integration, and more. For Android users, Beats has an app that packs successful a smaller subset of these functions. 

Read our full Powerbeats Pro 2 review.

The champion earbuds for iPhone owners

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 6 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IPX4 / Bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC / Multipoint: No / Works champion with: iOS, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Silicone (XS, S, M, L)

For those invested successful Apple’s ecosystem, nan second-gen AirPods Pro bring an appealing operation of top-notch sound cancellation and refined sound compared to nan original pair. As always, they besides see galore features (spatial audio, audio sharing, automatic syncing crossed iCloud devices, etc.) that make them an perfect companion to nan company’s different devices. They’re besides nan only AirPods that travel pinch different sizes of receptor tips for a customizable fresh — including an other mini option.

The AirPods Pro person a compact lawsuit that supports wireless charging. Setting them up is arsenic elemental arsenic holding nan unfastened lawsuit adjacent your iPhone. The earbuds are lightweight and fresh snugly successful astir ears. Their unit sensor pinch controls are easy to get down, and pinch nan second-gen model, Apple added swipe-based measurement controls. The AirPods Pro person traditionally classed among nan champion wireless earbuds erstwhile it comes to sound telephone quality, and nan second-gen earbuds don’t disappoint. Their ANC is improved complete nan original exemplary and is now correct up location pinch Sony, and their transparency mode has gained nan expertise to quickly damper sudden, large noises that mightiness hap astir you.

Where nan AirPods Pro guidelines retired is pinch their Apple-only features for illustration caput search for spatial audio, automatic instrumentality switching, extended Find My support, and truthful on. The charging lawsuit now features a built-in speaker and a U1 spot for pinpoint location tracking, and nan latest AirPods Pro person amended sound and sound canceling capabilities than nan original model. Plus, they clasp their heavy integration pinch Apple’s hardware ecosystem.

Last year, Apple besides rolled retired an awesome group of proceeding wellness features for nan second-gen AirPods Pro. They’re now capable to service arsenic clinical-grade proceeding immunodeficiency for group pinch mild to mean proceeding nonaccomplishment and protect your proceeding successful large environments; you tin moreover return a proceeding trial to measure your ain level of proceeding loss.

Read our original AirPods Pro (second-gen) review.

The champion earbuds for Samsung Galaxy telephone owners

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 6 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IP57 / Bluetooth codecs: Samsung seamless, AAC, SBC / Multipoint: No / Works champion with: Android, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Silicone (S, M, L)

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 Pro ditch nan company’s much discreet designs of nan past for a stemmed style that’s akin to AirPods and immoderate number of different wireless earbuds. Boring? Maybe, but acknowledgment to that change, I’ve recovered them to beryllium much comfortable and supply amended stableness than nan Buds 2 Pro. The sound value is moreover amended than earlier — and it was already excellent. These are correct up location pinch Sennheiser and Technics from an audio fidelity standpoint.

The Buds 3 Pro are besides a standout performer erstwhile it comes to telephone quality. And my favourite point astir these earbuds are nan hands-free sound commands that don’t require you to opportunity immoderate circumstantial aftermath building beforehand. You tin conscionable opportunity “volume up” and / aliases “next song,” and it happens.

But they’re not perfect: nan Buds 3 Pro deficiency multipoint connectivity, truthful they can’t link to 2 devices astatine nan aforesaid time. Just for illustration Apple, Samsung prefers to automatically hop betwixt products wrong its ain walled plot ecosystem. Some group mightiness see this a dealbreaker, but I’ve still enjoyed nan earbuds plentifulness without it.

Read our afloat Galaxy Buds 3 Pro review.

The champion earbuds for Google Pixel telephone owners

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 8 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IP54 / Bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC / Multipoint: Yes / Works champion with: Android, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Silicone (XS, S, M, L)

With nan Pixel Buds Pro 2, Google has addressed astir of nan downsides of nan original pair. They’re acold smaller and lighter than nan chunky first-gen Pixel Buds Pro. And there’s a mini nub connected nan buds to thief fastener them successful spot moreover during intensive activities for illustration moving aliases exercise.

Google’s progressive sound cancellation still isn’t connected nan aforesaid tier arsenic Bose, but nan transparency mode connected nan Buds Pro 2 is among nan very champion you’ll find. It offers a crisp, earthy passthrough for nan extracurricular world erstwhile needed. Multipoint support is included, and Google’s latest earbuds eke retired awesome artillery life that surpasses astir competitors.

Got a Pixel phone? With nan Pixel Buds Pro 2, you tin person lengthy conversations pinch Google’s Gemini AI while your telephone stays successful your pocket. Features for illustration head-tracking spatial audio and Clear Calling are besides exclusive to those wrong nan Pixel ecosystem. If that’s you, nan Pixel Buds Pro 2 are a large measurement up from nan erstwhile buds successful a overmuch smaller package.

Read our afloat Pixel Buds Pro 2 review.

The champion earbuds if you ain some Apple and Android devices

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 6 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IPX4 / Bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC / Multipoint: No / Works champion with: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Silicone (XS, S, M, L)

Beats’ Studio Buds Plus are an upgraded, better-performing revision of nan Studio Buds released successful 2021. This time, nan institution has made nan sound cancellation much powerful while besides improving nan value of nan transparency mode and extending artillery life. If you’re going for style points, it doesn’t get overmuch cooler than nan translucent colour option. These earbuds are very mini and rank up pinch nan champion successful position of wide comfort.

What’s absorbing astir nan Studio Buds Plus is that they usage a proprietary spot that allows them to support autochthonal package features connected some iOS and Android. Plenty of earbuds connection companion apps connected each platform, but successful nan lawsuit of nan Beats, they activity pinch some Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find My Device. You besides get elemental one-tap pairing, nary matter which operating strategy you’re using.

The drawback to this dual-ecosystem life is that Apple customers don’t get all nan accustomed bells and whistles that travel pinch AirPods aliases moreover nan Beats Powerbeats Pro 2; you suffer retired connected audio sharing, caput search spatial audio, and different tricks. Wireless charging and an receptor discovery sensor (for auto-pause erstwhile a bud is removed) are besides MIA, which stings a spot considering nan price.

Read our afloat Beats Studio Buds Plus review.

The champion earbuds for sound quality

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 7.5 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IP54 / Bluetooth codecs: AptX Adaptive, AptX, AAC, SBC / Multipoint: Yes / Works champion with: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Silicone (XS, S, M, L)

Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless earbuds person ever sounded fantastic; that’s ne'er been nan issue. But erstwhile models successful nan bid person been tainted a spot by bugs, unsteady performance, and artillery reliability problems. The fourth-gen brace yet gets that portion correct while continuing to connection tremendous, elaborate sound value that stands supra astir each competitors. They’re a joyousness to perceive to. The progressive sound cancellation can’t compete pinch nan likes of Apple, Sony, and Bose, but if you attraction much astir lush, intricate sound, nan MTW4 won’t disappoint successful nan slightest.

These earbuds travel pinch optional helping tips to thief support them securely locked successful your ears. That could beryllium adjuvant for moving aliases erstwhile hitting nan gym. Sennheiser allows for plentifulness of EQ customization utilizing its mobile app, and nan Momentum True Wireless 4 support a scope of Bluetooth codecs, including AAC, SBC, AptX, and AptX Adaptive. Sennheiser has besides promised that they’re LE Audio and Auracast-ready for erstwhile those features go much widespread.

Read our full Momentum True Wireless 4 review.

The champion earbuds for sound calls connected iPhone

Noise cancellation: Optional / Battery life: 5 hours / Water resistance: IP54 / Bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC / Multipoint: No / Works champion with: iOS, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: None

Apple’s AirPods 4 travel successful 2 different versions, pinch a higher-priced action that includes progressive sound cancellation and wireless charging. But sound value is identical connected some sets, and arsenic as important successful this lawsuit is that nan aforesaid tin beryllium said of sound telephone clarity.

On nan AirPods 4, there’s a caller “voice isolation” characteristic — enabled by default — that uses instrumentality learning some connected nan earbuds and your iPhone to destruct distracting inheritance sound connected your extremity truthful that you travel done intelligibly to whoever you’re speaking with.

Overall telephone value is fantabulous pinch nan AirPods 4. And beyond that, compared to nan third-gen model, you tin expect upgraded audio value (with richer bass), caller ways of interacting pinch Siri done caput movements, and yes… there’s a USB-C connector connected nan included charging case, arsenic opposed to a Lightning port.

The AirPods still person a one-size-fits-most difficult integrative shape factor, truthful I urge trying them earlier committing to a purchase. However, Apple says it utilized much than 50 cardinal information points to further refine nan contours and wide stableness of its latest earbuds. So, if erstwhile models worked good for you, these look for illustration a safe bet. The only mobility is whether you consciousness for illustration spending a small much to summation ANC, a transparency mode, wireless charging, and a built-in speaker for Find My location tracking.

Read our afloat AirPods 4 review.

The champion earbuds for sound calls connected Android

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 6 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IP57 / Bluetooth codecs: Samsung seamless, AAC, SBC / Multipoint: No / Works champion with: Android, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Silicone (S, M, L)

Sony’s unconventional LinkBuds were our longtime prime for nan clearest sound calls connected Android, but we haven’t had nan chance to reappraisal their successors. For now, nan aforementioned Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are an easy-to-recommend choice. The built-in “voice pickup unit” detects nan activity of your rima to thief isolate your sound from inheritance sound and support conversations clear.

The Buds 3 Pro person proven dependable for maine during video chats connected Google Meet, and group person been capable to perceive maine without issue, moreover erstwhile I’m answering a speedy telephone connected nan street.

Read our full Galaxy Buds 3 Pro review.

What’s coming next

• Google’s adjacent Pixel arena is scheduled for August 20th. We’re expecting it to chiefly attraction connected nan company’s forthcoming Pixel 10 series and nan Pixel Watch 4; however, a caller leak besides indicates we mightiness spot nan preamble of nan Pixel Buds 2A, Google’s adjacent brace of budget-friendly earbuds. Not overmuch is known beyond nan name, but fixed nan Pixel Buds A-Series launched measurement backmost successful 2021, a replacement this autumn wouldn’t beryllium surprising.

Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge isolated from wherever specified

Update, August 6th: Updated to bespeak existent pricing / readiness and mention nan Pixel Buds 2A. Brandon Widder besides contributed to this post.