Since the rising popularity of bluetooth earbuds, a huge variety of brands have flooded the market. There are products to cater to everybody's needs, from runners looking for the perfect way to stream their motivation mix, to commuters looking to drown out the drone of public transport with their favourite podcast. However, with such a range of features available, it's hard to know which earbuds will be the best investment for you.
Most people use their headphones every day for commuting, working out or chilling out, but how do we know which to pick? In our buying guide, we'll tackle aspects like ear tip comfort and battery life, and we cater to a range of budgets, including the most instrumental iPhone and Android compatible brands, such as Apple, Sennheiser, Samsung and Sony. All of these are available from Amazon, eBay and John Lewis!
Quick List - Top Wireless Earbuds
Cambridge Audio
A Sleek and Stylish Set With a Battery to Last
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When choosing earbuds you must consider their battery life. If you regularly use public transport and audio is the saving grace of your commute, then you'll know there's nothing worse than clocking off after a tough day at work, only to find your earbuds are out of charge.
Battery life generally ranges from 5-8 hours, plus an additional charge from their cases. The power of charging cases can vary wildly, offering between 20 to 45 hours of extra juice depending on the brand. If you're on the forgetful side, grab a pair with a combined charge of around 15 hours, which will ensure you don't end up replacing one wire for another due to a constant need to be plugged in.
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Noise cancellation (or NC) is a wonderful creation that can drown out the drone of an aeroplane engine, the clacking of train tracks, or the same old gym playlist. Contrary to its name, NC doesn't actually cancel sound, rather it listens to any 'ambient' sounds in your environment and produces the opposite sound to combat them.
The major disadvantage of NC, however, is that it tends to sap battery life, with some sources saying you can get up to 50% more juice with it turned off. Another problem is that it only really works with low-end frequencies, so, unfortunately, it won't banish those wailing babies in row 14.
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When perusing wireless earbuds of the more premium variety, you'll find the majority come with earpiece controls. This saves you having to get your phone out to perform functions such as skipping tracks, answering phone calls, or turning up and down the volume. Earbuds with these functions are great to use while you exercise, because they'll save on distractions so you can keep your focus.
A minor glitch is that sometimes these gizmos can be a little too sensitive, and can be activated by accident just as you're getting into the groove. Therefore, it's worth double-checking the reviews before purchasing the set you've got your eye on to see what other users have to say about the controls.
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Picking comfortable earbuds can be difficult if you can't try them on, but we do have some tips if you often struggle to find well-fitting ones. First and foremost, avoid universal earbuds if you do have picky ears. These are often made of plastic and go by a 'one-size-fits-all' mentality. You can also look for earbuds with customisable ear tips, as many companies offer at least a couple of different sizes of silicone tips.
Finally, if these variations of size in silicone still don't work, you can also remove the ear tips and swap them for a set made from a different material (which is far cheaper than purchasing new headphones!). We suggest foam tips, which are far more adaptable.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sony Truly Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones|WF-1000XM3 | ![]() | The Earbuds That Come With Everything | |
2 | Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch Wireless Earbuds|LI0080000EU6006 | ![]() | A Sleek and Stylish Set With a Battery to Last | |
3 | JBL Reflect Flow Sport | ![]() | Sturdy and Stable With a Mammoth Battery Life | |
4 | Apple AirPods Pro | ![]() | The Latest Apple Offering With Their Best Quality Yet | |
5 | Bose QuietComfort Wireless In-Ear Headphones | ![]() | The One With a Big Bass Sound | |
6 | Jabra Elite Active|65t | ![]() | For Those That Are Constantly on the Phone | |
7 | Apple AirPods |Generation 3 | ![]() | The Third Generation of Apple's Iconic AirPods | |
8 | Sony Truly Wireless In-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones|WF-1000X | ![]() | Golden Oldies You Can Rely on With Interchangeable Tips | |
9 | RHA Trueconnect | ![]() | If You're Worried About Comfort, Give These a Bash | |
10 | Sennheiser Momentum Wireless Earbuds | ![]() | Luxury Price From a Leading Brand |
Sony's update on their WF-1000X's takes the world of earbuds to the next level. They've improved the chip for a more secure Bluetooth connection, doubled the battery life to 6 hours (plus 18 from the case) and introduced new noise-cancelling tech that's 40% more effective than its predecessor. They look pretty slick, too.
Not to forget the impressive sound quality, which makes music sound natural, expressive and completely captivating. While the touch controls make take a little getting used to, we think that's a small price to pay for a product this special, and that's why these earbuds are our top pick!
We have to say, these are our favourite set of earbuds to look at. They're chic, sophisticated, and wouldn't look out of place whether in a business meeting or the gym. They also have crystal clear voice calls due to two advanced microphones and its Qualcomm Clear Voice Capture technology. They have 9 hours of battery life, plus 50 hours between charges!
They provide an impressive, clean and well-balanced sound, with little to no interference. Reviewers also commented on how comfy and well-fitting these are compared to other models on the market, which is because they have been crafted from 3000 pairs of ears, for the ultimate comfort and noise cancelling experience.
These earbuds are bulky, but we don't mean that in a derogatory way – they're sturdy, stable, and perfect for sports or at the gym. Away from their build, they offer great sonics, as most JBL products do, with a bass-heavy sound that's adept at getting the most out of all genres of music.
However, our favourite feature is the mammoth 10-hour battery life (with an additional 20 hours with a charging case) that should last even the longest of workout sessions.
Something that Apple doesn't normally do is listen and take on board feedback, but they have here, and it reaps rewards. They have a nice even sound, and the addition of silicone ear tips that take the comfort level right up, compared to the universal plastic option of their previous offering.
The big addition, though, is noise cancellation. They created their own in-house technology for this, and whatever they've done is easily up there with the best this kind of money can buy. They are expensive, but if you're serious about earbuds, then they're certainly worth an audition.
Bose have been around the block, and they know what they need to do when it comes to sound. Turn it up to 11, and these earbuds will comply –the sound is huge, earnest and full-bodied. They're also very comfortable because they don't burrow into the ear canal too deeply, which means you can treat yourself to those sweet melodies for long periods.
It comes with a 12 hour charing case, so you can charge on the go. These earphones are also great for the gym or outdoors, as they are sweat and weather resistant, and they also have adjustable noise cancelling, for active and passive noise cancellation.
This Danish brand is renowned for making office headsets and speakerphones, so it shouldn't come as a shock that their earbuds boast extraordinary effectiveness for calls. But that isn't the only string to their bow; they also possess great build quality and are terrifically stable in the ear, even when working out.
However, some reviewers have commented that these aren't as loud as they'd like, so you still may hear some grunts in the gym! They're also known to be a tad troublesome when pairing to the Jabra Sound+ app, which isn't great if you're a frequent user of Siri, Alexa or other intelligent assistants.
Of course we had to include the game changers themselves (well, a later version of them, anyway). Once released, these flipped the headphone game upside down, and it might be fair to say that we wouldn't even be here writing this ranking if it wasn't for these earbuds.
The 3rd generation of the original AirPods have a more superior and sophisticated sound than their predecessors, as well as fantastic wireless technology that allows you to flip between each device you're connected to effortlessly. Unfortunately, we can't completely get behind the universal plastic ear tips which are, for the majority, uncomfortable.
Sony first released these earbuds back in 2017, and the fact that they're still up there with the best in the game shows how well made they are. It also means that prices have dropped, meaning they'll be easier on the wallet. They're noise-cancelling, and come with selection of 6 ear tips that make them comfortable for almost any wearer.
Again, the negative is the small battery life, with only 3 hours per charge. They have also been known to drop connectivity every now and then, which can lead to some frustration if you use them regularly.
These are a talented (and stylish) pair of earbuds. They have a decent battery life (5 hours, +20 from the case), and a well-balanced, fine-tuned sound. But what we love is the abundance of ear tip options: 9 pairs, in all sizes. There's even the option of foam, which is known to be comfier and create a better seal from outside interference.
They do seem to have a few issues when making and receiving calls, though, as reviewers claim the microphone is too sensitive which creates an uneasy atmosphere on the phone. Secondly, connectivity can become fickle when used in very busy areas such as city centres, which is a little disappointing.
Sennheiser was slow to the mark in releasing these wireless headphones, but they're definitely worth the wait. The sonics are fantastic. They also come with fingertip controls, and a wonderful 'transparent hearing system' that lets you stay aware of everything around you if you choose to do so.
A couple of negatives though; firstly, they only last for about 4 hours on one charge (with an extra 8 from the case), which is on the lower end compared to our other options. And with a price this high, we think you should get a little more listening time for your money.
Written and researched by Lewis Clark
No. 1: Sony|Truly Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones|WF-1000XM3
No. 2: Cambridge Audio|Melomania Touch Wireless Earbuds|LI0080000EU6006
No. 3: JBL|Reflect Flow Sport
No. 4: Apple|AirPods Pro
No. 5: Bose|QuietComfort Wireless In-Ear Headphones
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