We all want to get the best headphones for us, but what shape they take depends on your preferences, and one of those styles may be in-ear headphones. Smaller in size and designed to fit into your ears, these headphones are ideal for anyone who wants to be as close to their music as possible while maximising portability.
The other styles you'll often run into are on-ear and over-ear headphones, but they tend to be a lot larger and bulkier. In-ear headphones can easily fit in a case in your pocket, but you would probably need a bag to carry the other two around when not using them.
The best in-ear headphones at a glance:
• Best overall in-ear headphones: Bose QuietComfort® Earbuds II - View at Bose
• Best in-ear headphone design: Apple AirPods - View at Currys
• Best noise-cancelling in-ear headphones: Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro - View at Currys
• Best battery life in-ear headphones: Sony WF-C500 - View at Amazon
Whether you want to stick to a strict budget, want a reliable pair for travel, or simply want to listen without interruption, there are plenty of budget headphones that should suit your preferred tastes.
We've selected our favourites based on factors such as comfort, design, and battery life, picking the very best in-ear headphones for any price.
Best overall in-ear headphones
Adorama
If you want a pair of in-ear headphones that excels at a little bit of everything, then you'll want to try out the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. They have solid audio quality and a respectable 6-hour battery life, but where it really shines is in the design.
The build is lightweight with a focus on comfort, so you'll rarely need to readjust them as you're walking around. Plus, thanks to the intuitive touch controls. Combine all of that with great noise cancellation, and you've got a pair of in-ear headphones that anyone can love.
Pros
- Very comfortable fit
- Simple yet useful controls
Cons
- Connection range could be a bit better
| Dimensions | 1.72 x 3.05 x 2.24 cm |
| Battery life | 6 hours |
| Charging method | Charging case, USB-C |
- Customer review: "They’re almost invisible, incredibly comfortable and make the least comfortable of journeys enjoyable. I would buy them again in a heartbeat."
Best in-ear headphone design
www.currys.co.uk
The Apple AirPods are the best in-ear headphones for those of us who want to prioritise comfort above all. The design is iconic and instantly recognisable, and we're big fans of how sleek it looks. They're a comfortable fit that doesn't hurt your ears during long sessions of listening, so if you're a fan of podcasts, these are perfect for you.
On occasion they can slip out, but that seems to be dependent on the shape of your ears, so some will have no issue with them. Even if they do fall out, they're large enough to make finding them very easy.
Pros
- Comfortable feel
- Sleek design
Cons
- Can slip out of ears on occasion
| Dimensions | 1.65 x 4.05 x 1.8 cm |
| Battery life | 5 hours |
| Charging method | Charging case |
- Customer review: "I don’t feel them in my ear, don’t fall out with which is great! I swapped my cable one for them and don’t regret it."
Best exercise in-ear headphones
www.currys.co.uk
It can feel a bit strange and awkward to get used to at first, but the large and secure design of the BEATS Powerbeats Pro is excellent. Anyone who frequents the gym knows the struggle of loose-fitting earbuds, which is why we adore these headphones so much since they stay in place so well. To further add to that, they are water and sweat resistant, so they're a surprisingly durable pair as well.
It's not just an excellent design either; the 9-hour battery life is on the upper end of playtime. As such, we also recommend this pick to anyone planning outdoor outings like a one-day hike.
Pros
- Design that stays in place
- Sweat-resistant
Cons
- Takes a bit of adjustment at first
| Dimensions | 2.3 x 5.9 x 3.8 cm |
| Battery life | 9 hours |
| Charging method | Charging case, lightning |
- Customer review: "Best sound I've had from in-ear headphones. Absolutely no slipping when running or gym workout."
Best noise-cancelling in-ear headphones
www.currys.co.uk
Cities are noisy, and nothing is more annoying than struggling to hear your audio over loud traffic as you walk around; the noise cancellation from the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro is a great way to counteract that. They also have voice detection tech, meaning that it will pick up when you're speaking and lower your volume accordingly so you can chat away and hear yourself without needing to take them out.
We also want to acknowledge the sturdy case. While most in-ear headphones that come with charging cases are well-protected, these can certainly take an extra bump or too. In fact, thanks to the IPX7 waterproofing, these are some very durable headphones.
Read our full review of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro here.
Pros
- Handy noise cancellation
- Case provides solid protection
Cons
- Not comfortable for all ear sizes
| Dimensions | 1.99 x 2.16 x 1.87 cm |
| Battery life | 5 hours |
| Charging method | Charging case, USB |
- Our review: "The overall tone is rich, clear and punchy, giving your music the respect it needs to bring out all of its colours. This is made even more impressive when coupled with the noise cancellation. Together, they silence the outside world completely, allowing you to focus in and get it done – whether ‘it’ is focusing on a work assignment, drowning out the screaming kids on the morning bus commute or hitting a deadlift PR." Tried and tested by William Lobley, Deputy Tech & Fitness Editor
Best battery life in-ear headphones
With a seriously impressive 20 hours of playtime, the Sony WF-C500 are the ultimate pick for those tired of running back and forth from charging ports. Even in the rare case that they do run low, the compact charging case is easy enough to bring with you and gives them a quick boost on the go.
While we do appreciate the small size and how it makes them so easy to fit in your pocket, they're not the most comfortable choice. That said, they do come with a few replacement heads of different sizes, so there's likely to be one more suited for your ear shape.
Read our full review of the Sony WF-C500 here.
Pros
- Superb battery life
- Compact size
Cons
- Not always the most comfortable
| Dimensions | 8 x 5 x 5 cm |
| Battery life | 20 hours |
| Charging method | Charging case, USB |
- Our review: "If you value convenience and ease of use when it comes to choosing your earbuds, then the Sony WF-C500 is absolutely a top contender. While it boasts about its comfort-focused design and tries to maintain good audio quality in a smaller size, I believe the real strength of the Sony WF-C500 is in its hands-free experience. These are the perfect pair of earbuds for someone who is busy and sociable, letting them make plenty of calls a day without having to stress about battery life, but they're not the best for quieter souls who want music for their ventures outdoors." Tried and tested by Kyle Purves, Tech Product Writer for What's The Best
Best in-ear headphones for travel
Also sporting an impressive battery life, the JBL Wave are our pick for the best in-ear headphones for travelling. They're more comfortable than the prior entry, giving them that slight edge that makes them preferable for train and plane rides. We're also big fans of how they charge in just 2 hours, so you're never left stranded without music for long.
As with most JBL headphones, the audio quality is brilliant, especially when it comes to bass. Our only real complaint is the lack of colour choices, but white and black match with just about anything.
Pros
- Great audio quality
- Quick to charge
Cons
- Limited colour choice
| Dimensions | 13.33 x 0.79 x 4.22 cm |
| Battery life | 20 hours |
| Charging method | Charging case, USB-C |
- Customer review: "Have been using these for a month now. Pretty good quality. I used them during workouts for music and while travelling for podcasts. Works brilliantly with the voice isolation mode on iPhone too."
Best ultra-budget headphones
Now for something a bit different; Sony In-Ear wired headphones. As a wired pair, they feature all the ups and downs you would expect. The most notable, of course, is the fantastic price point. We won't pretend that these sport audio quality like the rest of our list, but they are more than respectable for such a true budget-friendly pick. They're also surprisingly comfortable despite their simple appearance.
Due to the nature of wires, you will find they get tangled frequently. Although finding a way to connect them to modern phones can be a pain, if you can stomach it, you can reap the benefit of not worrying about a battery life restricting you.
Even if you prefer a different design, we think these are more than worth it to have just as a backup emergency pair.
Pros
- Amazing value
- No battery life to worry about
Cons
- Audio quality is outclassed
| Dimensions | 1 x 1 x 1 cm |
| Battery life | N/A |
| Charging method | N/A |
- Customer review: "Obviously at this price point, you're not going to get perfect sound reproduction, but they are perfectly acceptable for everyday use."
Best Apple in-ear headphones
Apple's 3rd generation of AirPods brings an air of excellence to in-ear headphone designs. Even without noise cancellation, it sports an impressive volume capable of blocking out most background chatter, so these are another great pick for a commute. They also sport some pretty solid playtime, especially when paired with the charging case.
Perhaps the only notable downside of these headphones is that they have a tendency to slip out during fast movement, so consider which gym activities you do with them.
Read our full review of the Apple AirPods here.
Pros
- Great battery life and playtime
- Impressive volume even without it having noise cancellation
Cons
- Often moves around in ears
| Dimensions | 1.92 x 1.82 x 3.08 cm |
| Battery life | 6 hours alone, 30 hours with case |
| Charging method | Charging case |
- Our review: "Clean and tonally balanced even at monumental volumes, despite lacking any form of noise-cancelling or isolation, I have adorned my AirPods in practically every busy environment you could possibly imagine; bustling trains, heaving gyms and in shoulder-to-shoulder gridlock at the supermarket - Apple's AirPods don't struggle for a second in blocking out these bothersome background sounds." Tried and tested by Ryan Houghton, Tech Product Writer for What's The Best
Best sweatproof in-ear headphones
The Soundcore Sport X10 earbuds are another fantastic choice for those wanting in-ear headphones for a workout or gym session. They have been designed with being sweatproof as a priority, and the wrap-around design ensures they won't fall off even during a sprint on the treadmill.
Read our full review of the Soundcore Sport X10 earbuds here.
Pros
- Fantastic and stable fit
- Brilliant sweatproof design
Cons
- Case itself doesn't feel particularly strong
| Dimensions | 6.4 x 3 x 4.1 cm |
| Battery life | Up to 32 hours of playtime |
| Charging method | Charging case |
- Our review: "What makes these earbuds stand out for me is the playback time – 8 hours on one use, plus three full charges from the case. It feels really comforting knowing that I can do a long journey, like catching a train, onto a four-hour flight and then an airport transfer on the other side all on one charge. With extra juice in the case as backup." Tried and tested by Natalie Corner, Deputy Commercial Content Editor for What's The Best, Yours, Mother&Baby, Heat and Closer
In-ear headphones vs earbuds?
The differences between these two used to be more notable, with earbuds not necessarily being made to fit in-ear and generally a little more comfortable. Nowadays, however, the two terms are mostly interchangeable, and chances are if you like earbuds, you'll enjoy using in-ear headphones.
Wired vs Wireless?
Most modern in-ear headphones are wireless, and that comes with plenty of handy upsides. They're a lot more portable, you don't need to worry about them getting tangled, and the audio quality tends to be a bit better overall. However, there are still a few solid wired options out there. If you don't want to think about battery life or get annoyed at a wireless connection dropping in and out, then you may favour wired headphones. Best of all, wired in-ear headphones tend to be significantly more affordable than wireless ones.
How to clean in-ear headphones?
Since these headphones are designed to go in your ears, they will end up getting waxy. In order to remove that wax, you're going to want to use a small brush in order to brush it away and then wipe it down to the best of your ability. If you use a damp cloth, make sure it is only damp and not wet, as you don't want to damage your headphones.
Kyle Purves is a Tech Product Writer for What’s The Best, with an avid interest in all things gaming and tech.
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