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The term "true wireless" might sound like sales jargon, but it's nonetheless what everyone has settled on to describe Bluetooth earphones without a connecting wire. PCMag's audio experts have been independently reviewing such models for around eight years, but the category really took off once phone manufacturers started to ditch the headphone jack. Apple's decision to do so led, of course, to its ubiquitous AirPods lineup, but there are plenty of alternatives worth exploring.
After putting hundreds of true wireless earphones through our testing, we've come up with a list that covers a wide range of prices and capabilities. Among our Editors' Choice winners are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds for unbeatable active noise cancellation (ANC), the Sony WF-1000XM5 for top-notch audio, and the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 for the exercise crowd. But each entry deserves a spot on this list, so you should peruse all of our linked, in-depth reviews. Make sure to also read to the end for some additional buying advice.
Our Top Tested Picks
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) With MagSafe Charging Case (USB‑C)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Sony WF-1000XM5
Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2
JBL Endurance Peak 3
Shure Aonic 215 (Gen 2)
JLab JBuds Mini
Nothing Ear (2024)
Sennheiser Momentum Sport
The Best Earbud Deals This Week*
- Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen With MagSafe USB-C Charging Case — $189.99 (List Price $249)
- Beats Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earbuds — $159.95 (List Price $249.95)
- Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling True Wireless Earbuds II — $189.00 (List Price $279)
- Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Wireless Earbuds (Graphite) — $79.99 (List Price $99.99)
- Beats Studio Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds — $99.95 (List Price $149.95)
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
- RELATED:
- Best Cheap True Wireless Earbuds
- Best Noise-Cancelling True Wireless Earbuds
- Best True Wireless Earbuds for Running
- Best Earbuds
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) With MagSafe Charging Case (USB‑C)
Best for iPhone Users
Why We Picked It
Apple’s flagship noise-cancelling true wireless earphones come close to besting Bose in the active noise cancellation (ANC) department and offer a much more sophisticated Adaptive Audio (transparency) mode that lets you better hear your surroundings. In addition, the second-gen AirPods Pro sound as good as ever and come with a more advanced charging case with a built-in speaker and a USB-C charging port.
Who It’s For
The AirPods Pro seamlessly integrate with Apple products, making them easier to use with your iPhone, iPad, or Mac than any other Bluetooth headphones. So although the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds hold a slight lead in noise cancellation, the second-gen AirPods Pro are still our top recommendation for Apple device users.
PROS
- Rich, well-balanced audio performance
- Excellent active noise cancellation
- Conversation Aware feature adjusts your music volume when you speak
- Charging case has a built-in speaker, USB-C port
- Seamless integration with Apple devices
CONS
- No hi-res codec support
- EQ presets aren't adjustable
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | In-Canal |
| Wireless | |
| True Wireless | |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth |
| Water/Sweat-Resistant | |
| Active Noise Cancellation |
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Best for Noise Cancellation Overall
Why We Picked It
Bose has sat near the head of the class when it comes to in-ear active noise cancellation (ANC), though Apple and Sony have given it a run for its money and many more affordable competitors from brands like Anker, Jabra, JBL, and Sennheiser aren't nearly as far behind as they once were. The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, however, set a new standard. Simply put, they deliver astoundingly effective noise cancellation against both powerful low-frequency sounds as well as higher-frequency noise. AptX Adaptive support also means that Android users have a better choice than the default SBC codec for streaming.
Who It’s For
We award products for being the best at what they do, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds deliver the best in-ear noise cancellation we've experienced. The Bose audio signature remains as sculpted as ever, but it should appeal to anyone who enjoys rich bass and bright highs.
PROS
- Best-in-class noise cancellation
- Crisp, full-bodied audio
- Active Aware feature blends noise cancellation and transparency modes
- Spatial audio support with head tracking
- Good Bluetooth codec support
CONS
- Case doesn’t support wireless charging
- No multipoint connectivity
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | In-Canal |
| Wireless | |
| True Wireless | |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth |
| Water/Sweat-Resistant | |
| Active Noise Cancellation |
Sony WF-1000XM5
Best for Audiophiles
Why We Picked It
Sony's WF-1000XM5 earphones produce superb audio and offer excellent active noise cancellation, so they sit right at the top of our list next to the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds and the AirPods Pro. What distinguishes them is a full-featured companion app with a customizable EQ, support for the high-end LDAC codec, and hybrid eartips for an edge in passive isolation. The mic array is also among the best we've ever tested.
Who It’s For
The WF-1000XM5 earbuds are for those who want best-in-class noise cancellation, audio quality, and mic clarity. Because they work with the LDAC codec, they are particularly attractive to Android users who care about streaming at a high bit rate.
PROS
- Rich bass response and crisp, detailed highs
- Adjustable in-app EQ
- Excellent noise cancellation
- Top-tier mic clarity
- Case supports wireless charging
- Hands-free Alexa and Google Assistant
CONS
- Expensive
- Some bloat in companion app
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | In-Canal |
| Wireless | |
| True Wireless | |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth |
| Water/Sweat-Resistant | |
| Active Noise Cancellation |
Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Best Noise Cancellation Under $100
Why We Picked It
Anker’s full-featured Soundcore app is part of the reason the Liberty 4 NC earbuds make this list; we like the in-app EQ, in particular. Otherwise, these earphones deliver detailed audio and excellent active noise cancellation for the price. Android users even get support for the high-end LDAC codec.
Who It’s For
If you like the features of Sony's WF-1000XM5 earphones or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds but can't justify the expense, these earbuds are a worthwhile, budget-friendly alternative with robust audio. Their companion app includes lots of controls that let you tailor the noise cancellation and ambient modes to your preference.
PROS
- Potent bass depth with bright highs
- Commendable noise cancellation for the price
- LDAC support for Android users
- Capable companion app includes EQ
CONS
- Default sound signature has noticeable sculpting
- Average water-resistance rating
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | In-Canal |
| Wireless | |
| True Wireless | |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth |
| Water/Sweat-Resistant | |
| Active Noise Cancellation |
Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2
Best Noise Cancellation for Runners
Why We Picked It
Jabra's Elite 8 Active Gen 2 earphones offer enjoyable sound, top-tier ANC, and an excellent app with EQ and transparency mode adjustments. All that would be enough to secure them a spot on our list, but they also sport a fully dustproof and waterproof IP68 rating. We're huge fans of the charging case, too: It carries an IP54 rating and can transmit Bluetooth LE audio to the earphones from practically any source with a 3.5mm or USB-C output.
Who It’s For
If you want to listen to music while you work out in wet conditions, the Elite 8 Active Gen 2 earbuds are about as good as it gets. They're competitive across the board and their push-button controls make them reliable to operate.
PROS
- Deep bass and detailed highs
- Excellent noise cancellation against lows
- App includes adjustable EQ and controls
- Fully dustproof and waterproof
- Water-resistant charging case can stream audio
CONS
- Noise cancellation is sometimes inconsistent
- App buries some features
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | In-Canal |
| Wireless | |
| True Wireless | |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth |
| Water/Sweat-Resistant | |
| Active Noise Cancellation |
JBL Endurance Peak 3
Most Secure Fit
Why We Picked It
The IP68-rated JBL Endurance Peak 3 earphones are tough enough to withstand even the most intense workouts and deliver punchy bass to keep you motivated. Moreover, their wraparound fit keeps them stable in all situations. Other highlights include up to 10 hours of battery life and a slick companion app with an adjustable EQ. We just wish the massive case was easier to open.
Who It’s For
Runners and others who exercise in inclement conditions should feel safe using these earbuds without worry. They also sound good enough that you won't mind using them for more casual listening.
PROS
- Powerful, bass-forward sound signature
- Fully waterproof, dust-tight design
- Highly adjustable and effective in-app EQ
- Strong battery life
CONS
- Massive, hard-to-open charging case
- Annoying auto-off function
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | In-Canal |
| Wireless | |
| True Wireless | |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth |
| Water/Sweat-Resistant | |
| Active Noise Cancellation |
Shure Aonic 215 (Gen 2)
Best for Adjustable EQ
Why We Picked It
The Shure Aonic 215 earbuds are chunky and perhaps not the most stylish, but we can't deny the versatility of their drivers. The Shure app provides a fantastic, adjustable EQ and you can easily hear how changes affect the sound—something that's not always a guarantee with competitors. Another cool feature is that you can use a cable accessory to turn the Aonic 215s into wired earphones. That makes them one of the most innovative options on our list.
Who It’s For
If you like to fine-tune your audio experience, the Shure Aonic 215 earphones are an ideal option because of the aforementioned in-app EQ. It lets you adjust specific frequencies, then tweak the bandwidth and gain with a high degree of precision. No other companion app we’ve tested offers anything close to this level of granularity. The high-quality drivers are receptive to changes and produce excellent sound, in turn.
PROS
- Accurate audio performance with rich lows and clear highs
- Class-leading EQ
- Customizable controls
- Water-resistant design
CONS
- Expensive
- Bulky build and case
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | In-Canal |
| Wireless | |
| True Wireless | |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth |
| Water/Sweat-Resistant | |
| Active Noise Cancellation |
JLab JBuds Mini
Best for Under $50
Why We Picked It
At just $39.99, the JLab JBuds Mini are a bargain. They produce spirited sound, have an IP55 rating against dust and water ingress, and even offer a quality transparency mode. Moreover, they bundle a full-featured companion app that lets you tweak the audio signature and customize the on-ear controls. SBC-only audio isn't a concern at this price.
Who It’s For
If you want to spend as little as possible on a pair of true wireless earphones, the JBuds Mini are what you should look at first. These earphones are also particularly suitable if you have smaller ears thanks to their compact design.
PROS
- Affordable
- Sculpted sound with rich bass and bright highs
- App lets you adjust EQ, on-ear controls
- Water- and dust-resistant design
- Clear mics and quality transparency mode
CONS
- Tiny charging case is difficult to open
- Support for only the SBC codec
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | In-Canal |
| Wireless | |
| True Wireless | |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth |
| Water/Sweat-Resistant | |
| Active Noise Cancellation |
Nothing Ear (2024)
Most Stylish
Why We Picked It
With a transparent design, the Nothing Ear earphones look classy and produce accurate sound. They also offer competitive active noise cancellation, a quality array of Bluetooth codecs (including AAC and LDAC), and decent mics. Other highlights include a pinch-to-speak ChatGPT feature, a slick companion app with an adjustable EQ, and a transparent, IP55-rated charging case that matches the earpieces.
Who It’s For
If you use a Nothing Phone, the Ear earbuds have a complementary design that really ties things together. And even if you don't, they simply look cool, sound articulate, and cancel noise effectively for the price.
PROS
- Excellent audio with rich lows and detailed highs
- App includes a custom EQ and useful presets
- Broad Bluetooth codec support
- Cool transparent design
- Dust- and water-resistant case
CONS
- Case is prone to scratches and cracks
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | In-Canal |
| Wireless | |
| True Wireless | |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth |
| Water/Sweat-Resistant | |
| Active Noise Cancellation |
Sennheiser Momentum Sport
Best for Heart Rate Tracking
Why We Picked It
Aside from delivering rich, bass-forward audio, the Sennheiser Momentum Sport earphones include biometric sensors that can measure your heart rate and body temperature. Other exercise-focused features include a generous set of semi-open eartips and stability earfins, tap-based controls (you can operate just about any function by tapping on the skin around your ear), an IP55 durability rating, and a powerful transparency mode for hearing your environment. A sleek app with an adjustable EQ rounds out the experience.
Who It's For
If you want to record basic health data without wearing a fitness tracker, these earphones can take those measurements reliably. Sure, they cost a lot, but few other models we've tested have the same functionality.
PROS
- Biometric sensors measure your heart rate and body temperature
- Powerful audio
- Excellent fit security
- Versatile controls
- Customizable EQ
CONS
- Expensive
- Noise cancellation isn't quite on par for the price
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | In-Canal |
| Wireless | |
| True Wireless | |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth |
| Water/Sweat-Resistant | |
| Active Noise Cancellation |
What Should You Know About Bluetooth Earphones?
True wireless earphones have overcome their shaky beginnings, which were marred by dropped connections, poor audio quality, and short battery life. In fact, many of today's options sound quite good.
Even if you subscribe to a high-res streaming service, your playback device and earphones determine the quality of that stream. All true wireless earphones connect over Bluetooth, which is fundamentally a lossy standard that can't support all of the data in a high-res or lossless stream. Thus, the signal undergoes compression during the transmission process.
Bluetooth codecs determine exactly how that happens. The most basic and universal Bluetooth codec is SBC. It's nearly everywhere, but it's also the lowest quality. Depending on your device, look for earphones that support AptX, AAC, LDAC, or other high-end codecs. We list codec support in each of our reviews, and our guide to Bluetooth codecs helps make the distinctions clearer.
It's also a good idea to stick with models that support Bluetooth 5.2, 5.3, or 5.4 so you can take advantage of all the latest stability and efficiency advances.
As for Bluetooth pairing, nothing is easier than connecting AirPods with an iOS device. All of the models in Apple's lineup (as well as some from Beats) have a special H2 (or older H1 or W1) chip that enables seamless, instantaneous pairing. Other wireless earphones can be relatively simple to connect through your phone's Bluetooth settings menu or the device maker's associated app.
Which Brand Is Best for True Wireless Earbuds?
No one specific brand makes the best (or worst) true wireless earbuds overall, but if there's one complication many models share, it's the on-ear control department. You might often find that it's too easy to accidentally pause music, skip a track, or summon a voice assistant when you merely mean to take an earpiece out or adjust it slightly. There's not a lot of real estate on most of the earpieces we test, so the outer panel area is often touch-sensitive.
Newer models manage to strike a balance between operability and layout. Some use physical buttons to control playback, call management, track navigation, and volume. Others cleverly divide controls between the two earpieces via touch panels—tapping the left earpiece, for instance, skips a track backward, whereas tapping the right one skips forward. Despite needing to do a little more thinking before you tap, eventually, the division of controls between the two earpieces should become intuitive. Look for earphones that let you customize the on-ear controls to your preference.
Do Wireless Earbuds Have Good Battery Life?
Battery life is the Achilles' heel of the true wireless category. It's a miracle that these tiny in-ear devices can contain a battery at all, let alone one large enough to provide hours of entertainment. Typical battery life estimates (and keep in mind your results vary based on typical volume levels) top out around six hours. Such minuscule devices can't provide unending playback time, particularly with power-sapping features such as ANC.
The necessary solution that (nearly) all of these designs share is a charging case. The cases protect the earpieces, keep the earbuds together when you aren't using them, and charge their batteries. Most cases carry at least two extra full charges, so you can recharge your earphones on the go. Therefore, you can get roughly between 20 and 30 hours of battery life without an outlet. We expect battery life to become less of an issue in the future.
What Should You Do If You Lose an Earbud?
This is, understandably, a concern of many potential true wireless users. Allow us to allay your fears—we can say that after many years of testing, you have to try pretty hard to lose one earpiece. First off, just about every model we've tested offers a secure in-ear fit without sacrificing comfort. Most of the earpieces are larger than typical in-ear monitors (IEMs) and aren't likely to fall out even during exercise.
As for simply misplacing an earpiece when it's not in use, this also seems unlikely. The charging case is intrinsically tied to the experience—like hanging up the phone or turning off the TV when you're finished watching—you automatically reach for the case to stow and charge the earphones when you are done using them. You're far more likely to misplace the whole thing—the case with both earpieces inside—than you are to misplace one earpiece.
If you do somehow lose one earpiece only, however, plenty of companies like Apple will gladly sell you an extra one à la carte for less than the price of a new full set. If losing an earpiece still seems like something you can imagine happening to you, it's worth researching whether the model you're interested in offers this option.
And if you do lose the entire case, several manufacturers build in either location- or audio-based detection features to help you locate it.
What Are the Best True Wireless Earbuds for Working Out?
Surprisingly, many of these wire-free models are durable enough for the gym—and can get wet—even though each earpiece has an exposed charging contact. The IP rating tells us what to expect. Some workout-friendly earphones have only an IPX4 rating, which means they can withstand sweat but not exposure to faucet pressure for cleaning. Others have an IPX7 (or higher) rating, which means you can rinse or dunk them with no real consequence.
If durability and a true waterproof design are your main priorities, you might have needed to sacrifice some user-friendly features or opt for a traditional neckband-style wireless design in the past, but that's no longer the case. Fully waterproof entries from Jabra and JBL, for instance, even offer ANC.
For more, see the best true wireless earbuds for running.
True Wireless Apps and Noise Cancellation
Many of the models we test come with companion apps that smooth out the setup process and unlock additional settings. For example, some let you set auto-off timers, disable voice prompts, and control playback. Others feature an adjustable EQ and let you toggle ambient listening modes that reveal the world around you.
In addition to companion apps, ANC is an increasingly popular feature. The best noise-cancelling models from Apple, Bose, and Sony tend to cost more than others, though they are still relatively affordable compared with top-notch, over-ear ANC headphones.
What Are the Best Cheap True Wireless Earbuds?
True wireless earphones have all but completely replaced tethered wireless earphones and you can now find a good pair for less than $50 or under $100, though performance, of course, improves drastically with our higher-priced recommendations. The very best models here cost $300 and up.
For more, check out five easy tips to extend the life of your headphones and eight ways you're using your headphones wrong.
