Best wireless earbuds to buy in 2024
If you're in the market for one of the best models of wireless Bluetooth earbuds of 2024, then that could mean only one thing: you care about sound quality. And I'm not afraid to admit it: anything other than buds means that I get to hear the outside world. But, at times, I'd honestly rather not. So I respect your choice.
But, let's be honest, in most cases, you'll be listening to your favorite tunes. So we're looking for buds with an exquisite soundscape too. Well, good news then: the times have changed and modern Bluetooth earbuds are capable of offering awesome sound, despite their formfactor and size.
So, what does that leave us with? Well, you'll find out on this page: presenting the best wireless earbuds that you can buy right now. All of our picks comply with the aforementioned requirements. And I've done you a solid and collected them all here for your leisurely browsing.
If you're rocking one of the best phones of 2024, then you've got to compliment it with one of the best model of Bluetooth earbuds too. Take your time and think about your choice carefully: you're, hopefully, going to be using these every day for quite a long time.
These are the best earbuds that you should buy in 2023:
Sony WF-1000XM4
If you start digging around for opinions on this model from Sony, it won't take you long to get the impression that they are simply excellent. Save for their awful name, but that's Sony logic for you! With their case, they can provide you with two full charges of listening time, amounting to 16 hours of active playback. They also have an IPX4 rating, which is enough for everyday wear (as long as you don't drop them in water).
- For more sweet details, you can check out our review of the Sony WF-1000XM4 here.
Nothing Ear (2)
Image credit — PhoneArena
Let's not beat around the bush: the Nothing Ear (2) buds look spectacular. Even years later, Nothing's transparent design is capable of winning us over, because it just looks so darn cool. But what's more? They sound great too! And we were surprised to find that out too, trust me.
The dedicated app that these work with has some great options on offer for fine-tuning your soundscape, which will be much appreciated by the audiophiles among you. For their price range, the Nothing Ear (2) outperform (and outclass) many other earbud models, which is why they've managed to climb up so high on our list.
- If you're interested in learning more, we invite you to read our Nothing Ear (2) review here.
Sony WF-C700N
You already found out what Sony is capable of from the model above, so why the inclusion of these ones? Simple: because they look way better and some people care about that. Not only that, but for the price of -1 hour of battery (as in, the total becomes 15, with the charging case) you get way more comfort too.
Sony has outright created the 700N with everyday wear in mind. But you know what? You still get excellent noise cancellation.
Sony WF-C500
Here's a cheaper alternative of the 700Ns! So you get the excellent sound, all the control in the world, some dynamic adjustments to ensure that you are hearing quality music at optimal settings, comfort and unique colors.
What's the downside? Well, it's not the battery, as it has gone up to 20 hours of total playback time (with the charging case) and these even support fast pair!
Now, the audiophiles among you can definitely spot some minor inconsistencies in the dynamic soundscape (when compared to the XM4 especially), but if you aren't listening to remasters of old prog metal albums, you will likely be completely fine with this choice.
Apple AirPods 3
Given the fact that we've got Apple to blame for kickstarting the entire wireless headphones revolution, the company better be making some awesome erbuds! And you know what? Apple dares you to call them out again with the AirPods 3. These are the latest and greatest from the Big A and they offer a wide range of options, an impressive sounscape and tons upon tons of extra features (with more coming via updates to this day).
Here's the thing: you can absolutely use these with an Android phone. Btu the real magic happens if you are an iPhone user, so take that into consideration. Oh, and the price tag too. Don't give us that look: they sound great and that's the priority here!
- If you want more juicy details, check out our Apple AirPods 3 review here!
AirPods Pro 2
So, let's make this really simple: if you are knees deep in the Apple ecosystem — which we can't blame you about at all — then there's simply no other better pair of earbuds that you can get. These unlock extra options with your iTech and offer outstanding sound quality and tuning capabilities.
That being said, they will absolutely work with your Android phone just fine... But it won't feel like a complete package.
- Want to know all the extra tidbits? Check out the review of AirPods Pro 2 here!
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Samsung's Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are probably the most accessible and fairly priced earbuds on the market. Even if you are looking for exceptional sound quality, the difference that the Buds 2 Pro offer when compared to, let's say the Sony XM4, isn't that big when you take the price difference in consideration.
The battery life is excellent, same can be said about ANC and they are IPX7 resistant too, for extra protection.
- Want us to spill the beans? We already have right here, in our Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
"I just want a pair of earbuds that sound great, last a long time and I can use daily, without thinking about it too much (or spending too much."
Did you heavily resonate with the statemetn above? Then just get the Galaxy Buds 2. This is the perfect package in terms of a price-to-performance ratio. Battery life? Exceptional. Protection? Yes. ANC? Absolutely. AKG-tuned sound? Yes.
- But you can also learn all about what that means here, in our review of the Galaxy Buds 2.
Huawei FreeBuds 5
Image credit — PhoneArena
I mean, what other top-of-the-line model of wireless earbuds come in a metallic egg, right? But like with many things in life, with Huawei's FreeBuds 5, it's what on the inside that counts. And these? These will grab attention for sure, if not thanks to their design, then thanks to the impressive soundscape they offer.
The FreeBuds 5 also come with tones of extra features too and — despite the entire Huawei situation — aren't that difficult to come around in the US or EU. Just keep in mind: an "interesting" design approach means that they might not fit everybody out there.
- If this sparked your interest, our review of the FreeBuds 5 is available right here.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
If you want to stand out, then these are a top-pick. But wait, who cares about that? These offer truly exceptional sound! And given that Sennheiser makes them, it would only make sense for that to be the case. For the price, you also get adaptive ANC, an IPX4 rating and up to 28 hours of playback time. Oh, and wireless charging! If sound quality is a priority for you, then make sure to check these out before making the final call.
Bose QuietComfort II Earbuds
Now, this is a pair of high-end earbuds. These come with seamless navigation enabled through touch panels, an IPX4 rating and — of course — awesome sound. Now, that being said, 12 hours of playback time, which falls down to just 6 without the case, is a total bummer. Not only that, but their design is... Unique. Check out a few pics online to ensure that the size doesn't bother you. But hey — the pair is Qi compatible, so that's nice!
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS5TWBK
A solid pair of earbuds from another legendary brand, with another insane name. Well, at least they sound absolutely amazing, especially if you are into low-end heavy, bassy tunes. If that sounds great to you, then you should know that these buds are utter champs in the battery department: 45 hours of playback time with the case, 15 on a single charge. That's simply nuts!
What key features should you consider when shopping for wireless earbuds?
Image credit — PhoneArena
Budget
With that in mind, we've included options for any budget in this article, so whether you want a convenient pair for a low price that will get the job done, or you can can afford something more premium - you'll surely find the best wireless earbuds for yourself.
Compatibility
Comfort
A downside of not having rubber ear tips is usually less passive noise isolation. As there are no tips to seal your ear, your music may bleed out, and outside noise - come in. But even so, if comfort matters, earphones without rubber ear tips are good to consider.
Battery life
We've included such noise cancelling wireless earbuds in our list, with both many hours of battery life, and the option of wireless charging.
Water resistance
Once again, we've included the IP ratings in our picks, where applicable. And the good news is that most people likely won't need to worry about those, yet even still - most modern earbuds have water resistance (usually just the earbuds, not the actual case, so protect it either way).
Noise cancellation (ANC)
If you want to block the noise around you while listening to your music, you'll want to make sure that you've chosen earbuds with active noise cancellation. They're not all equal in how strong the ANC gets, but certain popular brands like Sony, Samsung and Apple are usually considered among the best, and are a safe bet.
Virtual assistants
Spatial Audio or Dolby Atmos support
If you choose earbuds that support those, you can expect wider and bigger, more immersive sound when enabling the features. For many users, they can make movie watching and music listening a better, more exciting experience. Obviously, though, if you want the flattest possible sound for listening to jazz or classical music accurately, you won't need those features.
Microphone quality
Sound quality
The majority of consumers to prefer the bassier earbuds that make music more exciting (usually at the cost of clarity in the mids), and the good news is - most earbuds, even the cheapest ones, lean in that direction. If you want flat, studio-grade sound for critical listening, however, you will need to be prepared to spend more on a premium set of wireless earbuds.
Things that are NOT allowed: