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It’s 2024 and we are way over the wired headsets now. With wireless technology and active noise canceling the earbuds have come a long way. Since the famous Air Pods launched the earbuds became the next generation of wireless audio. But since then many earbuds have been launched which are much more prominent in audio and wearable tech.
Here we review the best wireless earbuds Reddit has recommended. It’s a daunting task to find the best wireless earbuds that suit a specific requirement. Wireless earbuds have properties of awareness and also ANC features. However, there are instances where both of these features are needed. Therefore choosing the best is a bit of an impossible task in nature to defer from one individual to another.
Best Wireless Earbuds
1
SONY WF-1000MX5
Performance
The Sony WF-1000XM5 truly wireless earbuds impress with their overall performance, building upon the success of their predecessor. The earbuds feature two new processors – the Integrated Processor V2 and the HD Noise Canceling Processor QN2e, elevating the active noise-canceling (ANC) capabilities. With six microphones, including new dual feedback mics for monitoring low-frequency noise, the ANC attenuates over 30dB of low-frequency outside noise, making them an excellent choice for daily commuting and busy environments.
The 8.4mm dynamic drivers, upgraded from the previous 6mm drivers, contribute to a balanced and detailed sound profile. While the emphasis on lower frequencies caters to workouts, the Headphones Connect app allows users to create custom EQ profiles, offering flexibility for various listening preferences. The soundstage is noticeably wider, enhancing the listening experience, especially for genres where instrument separation is crucial.
The touch control improvements, combined with the dedicated pairing button and Bluetooth 5.3 support, provide a seamless and responsive user experience. The ability to connect to two devices simultaneously through Bluetooth multipoint adds convenience for users with multiple devices, ensuring a smooth transition between devices without lag or connection drops.
Noise Cancellation
Sony has significantly improved the active noise-canceling performance in the WF-1000XM5, making them one of the top choices in the market. The combination of advanced processors, six microphones, and enhanced ear tips results in impressive noise reduction. The ANC attenuates over 30dB of low-frequency outside noise, complemented by the updated foam ear tips that provide better isolation, reducing noise by up to 15dB in the low end and up to 50dB for sounds above 1kHz.
A standout feature is the effectiveness in windy conditions. The microphones on the WF-1000XM5 address wind noise, ensuring a distortion-free experience even in breezy outdoor situations. The ability to toggle between ANC and Ambient Sound mode by tapping the left earbud adds versatility, allowing users to stay aware of their surroundings when needed.
The Headphones Connect app further enhances the noise-canceling experience, offering customization options for ambient sound levels.
Battery Life
Sony has maintained a commendable battery life in the WF-1000XM5, ensuring users can enjoy extended listening sessions without frequent charging. The earbuds themselves last up to 8 hours of continuous playback, and with the charging case providing three additional charge cycles, the total battery life extends to an impressive 24 hours. In real-world testing, the WF-1000XM5 surpassed expectations, lasting 9 hours and 32 minutes on a single charge.
Overview
Priced at $299.99, the Sony WF-1000XM5 stands out with enhanced comfort, advanced ANC, and up to 24 hours of battery life. A top-tier choice, the 25% smaller design and 20% weight reduction address comfort concerns. User-friendly controls, customizable EQ, and upgraded 8.4mm drivers enhance the experience.
In a competitive market, the WF-1000XM5 excels in ANC and software support. Upgrading depends on comfort preferences. Compared to AirPods Pro, Sony leads in noise reduction and Android compatibility, while Apple users may prefer AirPods Pro for comfort and seamless integration. The WF-1000XM5 justifies its premium for top-notch features.
Best Sounding Wireless Earbuds
2
SENNHEISER MOMENTUM 3
Design
The MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 (MTW3) is an impressive pair of earbuds that come in a stylish tweed-covered case with a convenient USB-C charging connection. The earbuds provide a comfortable fit with their silicone ear tips and wings, ensuring they stay securely in place during various activities. Despite its slightly chunky design, the MTW3 feels solid and well-built, and the waterproofing adds an extra layer of durability. Whether you’re going for a walk, commuting, or working in the office, these earbuds offer a reliable and enjoyable audio experience.
Noise Cancellation
Sennheiser has incorporated a unique active noise canceling (ANC) feature into the MTW3, giving users the ability to toggle it on and off as needed. Additionally, the earbuds come equipped with an Anti Wind mode, which has shown to be effective in windy conditions when compared to using just the regular Adaptive Noise Canceling. This Anti Wind mode is designed to provide an improved experience during blustery days, ensuring clearer audio even in challenging outdoor environments.
The MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 impressively achieves noise cancellation through both its secure in-ear fit and active noise canceling (ANC) technology. The passive isolation is remarkable, providing over 45dB of attenuation around 10kHz and exhibiting comprehensive isolation, especially in the crucial 1kHz range where many environmental sounds are present. Unlike some other earbuds that struggle to block low-frequency sounds, the MTW3 handles the lows effectively.
The ANC referred to as “Adaptive Noise Cancelling” in the Smart Control app, performs exceptionally well, with a slight dip around 400Hz but consistently providing 20dB to 30dB of cancellation from 1000Hz and below. This combination of passive and active noise canceling makes the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 an excellent choice for those seeking a truly immersive and uninterrupted audio experience.
Sound and Performance
The MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 offers a pleasant frequency response overall, with an emphasis on bass and midrange sounds, while the treble takes a slightly subdued position. The treble region from 2.5-10kHz is under-emphasized compared to our preferred balance, which may result in a stronger focus on lows and mids in the audio playback. While the earbuds can be used for phone calls, their performance in this area is just decent.
Voices are captured with some under-emphasis in both high and low frequencies. In noisy environments, such as an office or a busy street, the MTW3 effectively filters out the lows but may allow certain high-frequency sounds, like keystrokes and car noises, to come through, creating a slight noise haze during calls. Despite this, the earbuds still provide an enjoyable audio experience, especially for those who appreciate a bass and midrange-forward sound signature.
Battery Life
In extensive battery testing, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 showcased its endurance, lasting an impressive 5 hours and 33 minutes on a single charge. This duration is considered reasonably good, providing users with ample listening time before needing to recharge.
To extend the earbuds’ battery life further, the included charging case offers an additional three full charges, totaling up to 22 hours of playback on the go. This feature ensures that users can enjoy their favorite music or podcasts throughout the day without worrying about running out of power.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 | Best Wireless Earbuds Reddit
Best Value Wireless Earbuds
3
SAMSUNG GALAXY BUDS2 PRO
Design
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro is designed with a unique roundness, the same as the Galaxy Bud’s traditional design. The material is a matte rubber texture that covers the outside of the earbuds, which has a smooth and premium feel while the inside in-ear part is plastic. The buds are designed for excellent waterproof capabilities with an IPX7 rating.
As with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, in terms of an active lifestyle, such as running, the earbuds will not be ideal as they may not be the perfect fit. The silicon ear tips come in 11 mm, 13 mm, and 15 mm sizes. However, the comfort of the earbuds can be reliable once they become familiar.
A huge letdown can be expected from the charging case, as it is also made from the same material as the earbuds, it can be scratched and soaked in dust, which can be picked up from pockets and in general use. The build of the case is strong and the magnets in place have a good attraction.
Performance and sound
The partnership with AKG which is also owned by Samsung has generated a quality-sounding pair of earbuds from the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro. The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro tends to perform more in sub-bass frequencies. The earbuds also have 360 audio, which can be accessed under the in-app settings.
You can expect more bass frequencies and for certain tracks, this may not be ideal, but in our testing and regular use, we found that this does not bother us as the soundstage and slight adjustment of the EQ Can provide great sound quality in the app.
Noise-cancelling
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro is popular for its ANC performance. The technology behind active noise cancelling in the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro is a combination of isolation and ANC to assess the environment around you. However, slight miscalculations can be expected and certain uneven, attenuation frequencies can be heard. As with most earbuds, a good in-ear fit will be the key to decent active noise cancellation therefore when choosing your ear tip size, the app will assist you.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro lasted around five hours with constant listening and active noise cancellation. Compared to Sony and most of the brands the battery life may not be the ideal expected range.
Overview
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro can be a good value purchase when considering good-sounding earbuds and ANC. Certainly, Samsung has managed to elevate the technology from Samsung Galaxy Buds2 into the Pros. If you are on a Samsung device, there is no better recommendation than the Galaxy Buds2 Pro.
Best iOS Wireless Earbuds
3
APPLE AIRPODS PRO (2nd Gen)
Design
In terms of design, the Apple AirPods Pro is one of the smoothly designed earbuds with a proper fit as far as earbuds are concerned. The casing of the AirPods now has a built-in speaker, which emits a sound for it to be located via the Find-My app and an alert tone when the battery is low or when paired to the device. You can silence these sounds in the case through iPhone settings.
Compared to the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation comes with a lower IPX4 rating, however, this can withstand normal splashes or small rain. The iconic stem design has been a frustrating element for users who are engaged in an active lifestyle. As masks became the new normal the air buds tend to fling along with the mask when removed accidentally because of the stem.
Other earbuds manufacturers have given a proper fit that snuggles in the ear perfectly without any extruding parts. Much of the fit comes from the silicon tips and if the proper pair of silicone tips are selected then it vastly contributes to ANC.
Performance and sound
The sound is crisp and has great quality. The AirPods Pro 2nd Generation will provide you with quality sound as long as you have a good fit in the ear. The AirPods Pro 2nd Generation has a slight emphasis on the sub-bass frequencies. The lows and mids have not changed in the 2nd generation. Crisp tones are slightly admissible in the air pods and we would’ve liked it if it had a bit more emphasis on this as well.
Noise-cancelling
Noise-canceling has been leveled up from the AirPods Pro and now it’s excellent producing some of the best ANC in the market. The AirPods Pro 2nd Generation can be used in any environment in commute, train, etc. As with most earbuds, the ANC quality depends on the fit of the earbuds. Ear tips may vary for each and the simple test for the fit can be done through an iOS device.
Battery Life
The battery life of the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation is 5 hours and 30 minutes maximum in our test and the charging case provided extra 24 hours of listening time. Recharging remains convenient with plenty of options such as Qi, Magsafe, Apple Watch charging mat, and the lightning cable. However, there can be significant improvements in battery life considering the competition from other manufacturers.
Overview
If you are an iOS user then choosing the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation is an easy decision as the connectivity it offers cannot be matched. In terms of overall quality the earbuds have improved significantly from their predecessor and users can expect great sound quality and top ANC from the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation.
Popular Android Wireless Earbuds
4
GOOGLE PIXEL BUDS PRO
Design
The Google Pixel Buds Pro comes with three sizes of ear tips, which are measured 11 mm, 12 mm, and 13 mm. In terms of its overall design the Google Pixel Buds Pro is a quiet comfortable fit in your ear with its 6 mm diameter nozzle, which provides a good seal, combined with the ear tip and the earbuds snuggle in your ear without any extruding parts.
It has a general IPX4 rating and can be exposed to slight rain and splashes. However, for an active lifestyle, such as running and jogging, these may not be ideal earbuds as they tend to loosen with motion. The predecessor Google Pixel Buds feature ear wings that made sure they were an exact fit.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro case has a white matte design with a black finish inside. The case has an IPX2 rating, which gives a good seal in small rains and splashes. The Google Pixel Buds Pro case is one of the most stylish earbud cases that we have tested.
Sound and Performance
With a slight emphasis on the bass and treble the Google Pixel Buds Pro tends to provide an extra ‘oomph’ in soundtracks. This emphasis slightly irritates when calling and on some tracks as well.
The louder bass comes off with almost every track that we manage to play in the Google Pixel Buds Pro. The vocals are clear, and the slight treble and the bass provide support to the track. The customizability and the volume EQ are not supported in the sound quality of the Google Pixel Buds Pro. Therefore, the stock quality may be the best that you may experience in these earbuds.
Noise Cancellation
This is the first introduction of Google Pixel Buds Pro in the ANC category. The dedicated vents help to release unnecessary pressure in your ear, which happens with active noise cancellation. There are instances where uneven filtering and isolation can be noticed, and this can be highly notable in traffic or when there’s a noisier background.
However, when music is playing, there’s no notable difference in terms of high-end ANC earbuds. With three sizes of ear tips, you can get a good seal in your ear and optimize your fit which provides a good active noise cancellation seal. You can also use third-party memory foam tips that might increase the quality of noise cancellation in these earbuds.
Battery Life
In our battery testing, the Google Pixel Buds Pro lasted around seven hours and 15 minutes with a single charge and this is considered a great battery life when considering the market options. It also provides good value for what you pay and with the case providing 13 hours of extra battery life, the Google Pixel Buds Pro can be a definite pick as far as battery life is concerned.
Overview
If you are an Android user, then the Google Pixel Buds Pro can be a priority pick with great fit, active noise cancellation, and the advantage of Google features. With the integration of Android, these earbuds are head-to-head with the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro.
Best Budget Wireless Earbuds
5
TOZO T12
Design
Crafted predominantly from plastic, the build quality meets the expectations one would have for earbuds in this range. While not exuding a luxurious feel, both the earbuds and the charging case feel sturdy and well-constructed.
What sets the TOZO T12 apart is its IPX8 water resistance rating, a feature that allows the earbuds to be fully submerged in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. This capability offers peace of mind to users who want to use their earbuds during intense workouts or outdoor activities without worrying about water damage.
One of the standout features of the TOZO T12 is the addition of an LED display on the charging case, providing users with a quick and convenient way to check the battery percentage. This feature eliminates the need to rely solely on a mobile app or guesswork to determine the remaining battery life, ensuring that users can plan their listening sessions accordingly.
Noise Cancellation
In the realm of affordable earbuds, the TOZO T12 boasts exceptional isolation performance, outperforming many competitors in its price range. The six included ear tips allow users to achieve a secure fit, resulting in minimal external noise seeping through when wearing these earbuds. Remarkably, the TOZO T12 can reduce high frequencies by up to an impressive 95% in perceived loudness, providing users with an immersive and undisturbed listening experience.
Sound and Performance
Where the TOZO T12 truly distinguishes itself is in its handling of low frequencies, an area where many headphones tend to falter. Even at the lowest frequencies of audible sound, the TOZO T12 manages to deliver a notable reduction in loudness, ensuring a balanced and clear sound profile.
In particular, the TOZO T12 excels in frequencies below 100Hz, enhancing tracks with robust sub-bass elements. This quality is especially evident during chorus sections where deep sub-bass lines are prominent. However, it’s worth noting that for some listeners, the bass may become overpowering during such moments.
When it comes to the midrange and treble frequencies, the TOZO T12 continues to impress, especially considering its budget-friendly price point. By adjusting the equalizer within their music player to decrease sub-bass frequencies, users can attain superb sound quality from the TOZO T12, ensuring an enjoyable listening experience across a wide range of genres.
Battery Life
According to TOZO’s official claims, the TOZO T12 boasts an impressive battery life, with the earbuds lasting up to 11 hours on a single charge, and a total of 48 hours when considering the charging case’s capacity. However, our comprehensive testing of the TOZO T12 yielded slightly different results, revealing that the earbuds lasted approximately 5 hours and 58 minutes on a single charge. While this may appear to fall short of the manufacturer’s stated duration, it is essential to note that a 5-hour and 58-minute battery life is actually quite typical for true wireless earbuds, even for more expensive models.