While wired headphones may be having a moment, wireless earbuds are still the most popular type of headphones. There is a huge range of earbuds, from specific ones to suit your phone to earbuds to help you sleep. So we’ve put together a list of the best wireless earbuds for you to choose from, including some favourites from brands like Sony, Bose and Apple.
Best noise cancelling earbuds
Model: Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)
Why we love them: Select Immersion Mode on your commute, and you’ll be able to block out the racket in your train carriage and be completely immersed in your new audiobook. Then, when you get to the office, switch to Aware Mode for a quick chat with the team while you grab a coffee. All without taking them out.
Shop all noise cancelling earbuds.
Best earbuds for sound quality & music
Model: Sony WF-1000XM5
Why we love them: Each bud is fitted with a Dynamic Driver X. These sound epic and pump out crystal-clear sound with almost zero distortion. Which means you’ll hear beats and lyrics exactly how the band planned in the studio.
Shop all Sony wireless earbuds.
Best earbuds for Android
Model: Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro
Why we love them: When you want to go completely hands-free, well, you can! The buds are designed to pick up on any big movements. Nod your head to answer a call. Or shake it to get rid of a notification that’s just popped up. Pressing buttons is sooo old-school.
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Best earbuds for iPhone
Model: Apple AirPods Pro 3
Why we love them: AI is everywhere at the moment. And now it’s in your AirPods. Use the Live Translation feature on Apple Intelligence, and you’ll understand the local lingo on your summer hols, no problem. That goes for whether you’re ordering something tasty or asking for directions when you get lost. Because you know as well as we do. That’ll happen. Again.
Shop all AirPods.
Best earbuds for fitness & the gym
Model: Beats Powerbeats Fit
Why we love them: The IPX4 sweat and water resistance means they’ll easily handle a full-on, sweaty workout. While secure-fit wingtips stay sitting firmly in your ear. Even when you’re about to smash your personal best on the treadmill. Usain who?
Shop all sports earbuds.
Best gaming earbuds
Model: SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds
Why we love them: These earbuds work across all consoles and have both active noise cancellation and 360° Spatial Audio so you’ll be fully immersed in your game. If you’re playing on Xbox, they even come with 100+ different Audio Presets so you can find the perfect calibration for your game genre.
Shop all SteelSeries gaming earbuds.
Best earbuds for phone calls
Model: Sony WF-1000XM6
Why we love them: Powered by AI, these earbuds are fantastic for phone calls and video calls. They have advanced voice pickup technology with passive noise isolation, so you’ll be heard clearly, and active noise cancellation puts the world on mute. Don’t worry about your connection dropping, as they have an improved antenna for a stronger, more stable connection.
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Best bone conducting headphones
Model: Shokz OpenMove Headphones
Why we love them: While not technically earbuds, bone conduction headphones deserve an inclusion here. The Shokz OpenMove sit outside your ears but still give you a surround sound and have a vocal boost, which is great for podcasts. They have up to 6 hours of battery life and thanks to their IP55 resistance, they are excellent for exercise.
Shop all bone conduction earbuds.
Best earbuds for sleep
Model: Anker Soundcore Sleep A20
Why we love them: If you have trouble drifting off to sleep, these could be a game-changer, as not only do they have a 4-point noise masking system to block noise, but they also track your sleep positions and movement to give you insights into your sleep. The Soundcore app lets you set alarms or times for your earbuds and choose relaxing noise to fall asleep to. You can get up to 14 hours of battery life in Sleep Mode and up to 80 hours with the charging case. They are super soft and have a 3D ergonomic shape, so they are really comfortable while you sleep, even if you sleep on your side.
Shop all Soundcore earbuds.
Best budget earbuds
Model: Skullcandy Smokin' Buds
Why we love them: If you want budget-friendly buds, the Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds pack an aural punch for under €30. They have a comfortable ergonomic design, so they fit snug in your ear, and their EQ modes give you the perfect sound for everything from podcasts to movies. They’re also IPX4 water- and sweat-resistant, so you don’t have to work out in silence.
Shop all Skullcandy earbuds.
Top wireless earphones by brand
If you like the sound of a specific brand, here are some of our standout picks from JBL, Sony and Bose.
Best JBL earbuds
Model: JBL Tune Beam 2
Why we love them: Immerse yourself in sound with these earbuds. They have Adaptive Noise Cancelling, so you can block the world out or block some of the world out but still know what’s happening around you with Ambient Aware. Power through a season of your favourite podcast in one charge, as they have up to 10 hours of battery life or 40 hours with the charging case.
Shop all JBL earbuds.
Best Sony earbuds
Model: Sony LinkBuds Open
Why we love them: Unlike a lot of buds these days, these sport a fully open design. So, you’ll always hear what’s going on around you – even when you’re rocking out to big, chugging guitar riffs. Just maybe don’t do that while you cross the road.
Shop all Sony earbuds.
Best Bose earbuds
Model: Bose QuietComfort
Why we love them: With up to 8.5 hours of juice on a single charge, you won’t have to press pause on your playlist anytime soon. If you do run out, though, you’re sorted. There’s an extra 2.5 hours of battery from the charging case itself, letting you top up to 100% when you’re on the go.
Shop all Bose earbuds.
Need more advice?
If you’re still not sure whether to go with headphones or earbuds, check out how to choose the best headphones for you or browse our audio buying guide.
FAQs
Do all earbuds fit all phones?
Yes, most wireless earbuds will work with any smartphone that supports Bluetooth (and almost all of them do). Some features might be exclusive to certain operating systems or brands though. AirPods come with extra bells and whistles on Apple devices, while Samsung Galaxy buds work best with Samsung phones.
What are the best wireless earbuds for small ears?
For small ears, we’d go for the Sony WF-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Pro 3. Both are super comfortable. And because they come with different ear tip sizes, it’s easy to create a secure fit.
What are bone conducting headphones?
Bone conducting headphones rest over your ears and transmit sound to your inner ear/cochlea by creating vibrations against the bones of your face and jaw. There’s less pressure on your eardrum and, because they sit outside your ears, they let ambient sound in.
How do wireless earbuds work?
Wireless earbuds connect to your phone, tablet or laptop using Bluetooth technology. Sound is sent wirelessly from your device to the buds, which lets you listen to music, make calls and watch videos. And you can do it all without a pesky cable getting in the way.
Do Samsung earbuds work with iPhone?
Samsung earbuds will work with your iPhone. You can hook them up via Bluetooth just like any other wireless earbuds. While the basic features are all there, you might not be able to use some of the more advanced Samsung-exclusive settings. For that, you’ll need a compatible Galaxy device.
