The best wireless earbuds

Samsung is hardly a newcomer to personal audio. But even so, they exceeded our expectations, especially where its audio drivers are concerned. Now, for this list, we’ve given the Galaxy Buds2 Pro our ‘best overall wireless earbuds’ rating. But, they’re also a contender the for best noise cancellation recommendation too. The only reason these don’t feature twice in this list is that they’re over twice the price of our favourite noise-cancellation earbuds. If you have the cash to throw at these Samsungs and want amazing performance and top-notch ANC, you’ll get the best-performing earbuds you can buy. 

When we reviewed the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, we found that they delivered a wide frequency range, enriched with nice deep bass from built-in woofers. The sound quality is second to none across multiple genres. To cap it all, they’re stylish and reliable, with responsive accurate touch controls. There’s a microphone for your voice calls, plus Samsung builds quality. Reassuringly expensive - and worth every penny.

Top of any runner’s list when buying earbuds is stability. Thankfully, long-time audio experts Bose have created their aptly-named Sport Earbuds. You can expect the signature Bose soundstage and classy build quality, but the key to its success is in the water-resistant (AKA sweat-proof) design and interchangeable buds so that you can fine-tune the fit. Once you’ve done that, these are going nowhere - except wherever you go, firmly but comfortably in place as you run. 

There’s even a ‘Find My Bud’ app in case you do drop one as you’re getting your running kit on. Touch control and the ability to make calls make this an excellent wireless headphone choice for runners or anyone doing more active exercise as you can still take or make those calls easily.

The gym is going to be a punishing environment for any pair of headphones. Gymgoers need them to cope with a wide range of movements, resist sweat, and be comfy. There’s also a variety of ambient noises to deal with, like clanking weights or the whirr of a treadmill.  As we found when we reviewed the Jabra Elite 7 Active earbuds, they’re something of a game-changer where all of these issues are concerned.

Designed for high-energy activities, the Jabra Elite 7s have a special grippy coating to keep them in place, plus waterproof internals to protect from sweat. They fit snugly with plenty of opportunities for fine-tuning. They also sound great with more than respectable battery life between charges.

The LinkBuds S earbuds are a super-solid addition to Sony’s range of headphones. Despite their robust build, they’re our pick for pure comfort. Each bud has a subtle tactile finish to it – making them easy to handle without dropping. The key feature though is that they come with a great range of ear tips for various sizes of ear canals. You’ll find enough options here to guarantee a balance between firmness and cushioning. 

Coupled with the LinkBuds S fit is their remarkable lightness. You’ll know you’re wearing them, but without that pressure feeling that can occur over time with other earbuds. That said, if you’re planning on jogging we’d recommend the Jabra or Bose options above. Being so light and designed for comfort rather than stability, these earbuds are a tad less secure than others for exercise.

Our in-depth review of the LinkBuds S earbuds revealed a bright yet punchy sound we’d expect from Sony - made even better by the snug fit. So, no matter where you go, you can expect to comfortably enjoy your music that much longer.

We don’t come across that many earbuds that claim to cancel up to 42dB of noise. The 1MORE Aero wireless earbuds employ their own QuietMax ANC technology that does just that. It’s fully adaptive, so the earbuds will intelligently monitor your surroundings and adjust the cancellation effect on the fly. 

The addition of various high-tech sound options only adds to the clarity of the sound through these understated little wonders. Firstly, a spatial audio algorithm tracks your head movement and ensures the sound is always centred around you. Secondly, Smart Loudness Technology will balance frequencies that tend to get overcooked (or drop out) at various volume levels. As we found in our in-depth 1MORE Aero Wireless Earbuds review, they pack quite a bit of punch when it comes to bass too.

To top it all, you have a total of six built-in microphones. The system will filter your voice from the ambient sounds for improved call clarity - so, even the person you’re calling will benefit from the impressive noise-handling of these earbuds.

Apart from the fact that AirPods will only work with Apple devices, they can also prove a little pricey for some. But there is an alternative thanks to Anker. For starters, opting for the white colour scheme on their Soundcore Life P2s will echo AirPods quite effectively.

Reliable and with brilliant sound quality, these headphones are more of an all-rounder. Connection is quick and simple and they stay put throughout any physical activities. A single charge gives you seven hours of playback and up to 40 with the charging case. If you're in a rush, you can use the Fast Charge feature - simply charge for ten minutes and get an hour of playback. They're ideal for the gym as they block out ambient noise and they don't cost the earth.

The rather empty-sounding Nothing company is anything but. It specialises in simple stripped-down gear that delivers clear and distinct functionality. The Nothing Ear (stick) earbuds are designed to be extremely lightweight - each bud is a feather-light 4.4gm. As for function, it’s all about clarity. The drivers in these are an impressive 12.6mm which means they’re able to render some of the subtleties in sound that other earbuds can’t. They’ll even automatically boost the bass if your wearing position changes to always deliver a full range of sound.

But all of this audio goodness is heading in one direction: clear voice calls. Nothing’s Clear Voice technology and three high-definition mics will isolate your voice from your surroundings, including crowd noise and wind. They are excellent all-rounders too, with excellent battery life and decent performance for music listeners. There most certainly is something ‘ear’ for you.

The rather empty-sounding Nothing company is anything but. It specialises in simple stripped-down gear that delivers clear and distinct functionality. The Nothing Ear (stick) earbuds are designed to be extremely lightweight - each bud is a feather-light 4.4gm. As for function, it’s all about clarity. The drivers in these are an impressive 12.6mm Soundcore by Anker’s second appearance in our list, the Sport X10 headphones are as much a style statement as they are a hardened gym buddy. Engineered to be a highly stable addition to your gym routine, these have it all - IPX7 waterproofing, sweat corrosion resistance, eight-hour battery life, and extra bass for workout motivation. 

But that’s not the stand-out feature here. As fellow sporty types will know, not all earbuds will actually stay in place during all of your activities. Additions like wingtips or silicone buds just don’t cut it for some wearers. The ear hooks on the Sport X10s are rotatable up to 210 degrees which means you can fine-tune the fit for maximum comfort and stability.

Anything bearing the Marshall name has a lot to live up to, and these Motif earphones most certainly do. Not every piece of serious audio kit delivers on the reputation of the logo they’ve put onto the case, but the soundstage that these monographed beauties deliver is astounding. They don’t overcook the bass either, the impressive drivers do all the hard work on their own. They’re branded as A.N.C for good reason too, as they’re engineered to give you undisturbed clarity when listening to music.

When we reviewed the Marshall Motif ANC Earphones, one slight (and we mean slight) negative is the four-ish hours of battery life when using their full ANC capabilities. But that’s an understandable trade-off for all of that active sound processing. That said, don’t forget that the case can top this up by an extra 20 hours.