The best earbuds 2024: wireless and wired buds for all budgets

PRICE
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
Bose earbuds against a colorful background
(Image credit: Bose)

The best earbuds are essential for easy-to-fling-in-a-pocket music on the go. Podcast for a long-haul flight? Calming playlist for takeoff? Motivational soundtrack for the commute (you got this and you're doing great, by the way)? Something to throw in a gym bag and get you through that spin class? Earbuds are a top shout. The best of the bunch can immerse you in a cocoon of sound, blocking out the rest of the world. 

The big news is that Apple's launched two sets of AirPods 4 (but still no sign of the AirPods Pro 3, although your AirPods Pro 2 are getting new hearing health features). The chief difference between the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with noise cancellation? Well, the clue's in the name, but you also get wireless charging support and Apple's Adaptive Audio for your $50 extra ($129 / £129 versus $179 / £179 or thereabouts, which is around AU$100 difference, between the models). How are they? Watch this space… 

You may notice the older Sony WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds have disappeared from this list. Yes, it's the end of an era, but they're no longer readily available – and the summer 2023-issue Sony WF-1000XM5 didn't quite live up to the (huge) expectations we had on those. Instead, the Technics EAH-AZ80, have taken up residence in our top spot, for their excellent call quality, detailed audio and industry-leading triple device multipoint connectivity, which no other earbuds in this list can offer.

That said, if you're looking to keep the price down, we've got a dedicated best budget wireless earbuds guide, to give you more option no matter how deep your pockets. 

The quick list

Want to cut straight to the best earbuds around? You'll find a roundup of our top choices here. You can jump to a more in-depth write-up for each product, and see the latest deals on them.

Curated by
Senior audio staff writer Becky Scarrott, in a field
Curated by
Becky Scarrott

I've reviewed over 150 audio products since becoming a tech journalist, ranging from super-budget earbuds to high-end Hi-Res Audio music players. Before joining TechRadar, I spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing everything the world of audio had to offer; before that, I was a professional dancer. My love of music ties it all together.

Recent updates

3 September 2024
Added the 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones as our 'Best wired' pick based on our review, and recent testing of the competition.

The best earbuds of 2024

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best earbuds in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

The best earbuds overall

Technics EAH-AZ80 on white backgroundTechRadar recommends badge on a white background

(Image credit: Future)
The best earbuds for both sound and features

Specifications

Weight: 7g
Frequency response: 40-20,000Hz
Drivers: 10mm
Battery life: (Up to) 7h (earbuds); (up to) 25h (charging case)

Reasons to buy

+
Poised, revealing sound
+
Triple-point connectivity
+
Outstanding comms and comfort

Reasons to avoid

-
Noise-cancelling and battery life aren't best-in-class
-
They're not very small or light
BUY THEM IF

✅ You prefer a neutral, lifelike sound: There’s nothing artificial about the way the Technics EAH-AZ80 sound; they offer convincingly realistic and coherent listening in all circumstances.

You want to switch between devices: Triple-point connectivity is a world-first in a product like this, and it’s brilliantly convenient for those of us who surround themselves with wireless tech.

DON'T BUY THEM IF

You intend to wear your earbuds all day: Even at its best, the battery life available here is nothing special, though it's not bad.

You have a lot of external noise to block out: There are many less-capable noise-cancelling earbuds, if silence is important look to the Bose buds at #4 on this list

The Technics EAH-AZ80 buds sound fantastic and they’re packed with features. A standout is triple-point connectivity, which we found to be stable and useful, as well as Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC compatibility. And, thanks to ‘Just My Voice’ technology, these buds are far less prone to wind-noise interference than rivals. Their only minor shortcomings are battery life at only 7 hours from the buds and 25 from the case, and the ANC (which could be a tad more impressive). 

The sound they make is also accomplished – it's both swift and accurate, as well as balanced and detailed. In our review, we wrote: “The whole frequency range is really nicely balanced and coherent from top to bottom and very even-handed from the (deep, nicely textured) bass to the (clean, politely attacking) treble.” We also found the midrange to be both informative and eloquent, with high detail levels and a smooth, seamless, agile journey from ceiling to floor and back. 

In terms of design, there’s a resoundingly premium feel here and each bud feels more comfortable, stable and light (7g per earbud) than some rivals. What’s more, the accompanying charging case is an equally svelte 50g. Build quality hasn’t been compromised in order to keep the weight down either – the EAH-AZ80 feels like a product that will outlast its rivals. There are seven different earbud sizes to choose from too, which means you’re likely to get that perfect fit. 

The price of the Technics EAH-AZ80 is that of a premium product, for sure – but thankfully, so is the specification. Overall this is a pair of buds that delivers excellent sound quality, a fantastic fit, and that industry-first triple device multipoint connectivity. Add it all together, and we think they're a better-value package than the top buds from Sony or Bose.

Read our full Technics EAH-AZ80 review

The best earbuds at a mid-range price

Nothing Ear (a) held in a hand, on brown backgroundTechRadar Editor's Choice 5 star badge on a black background

(Image credit: Future)
The best earbuds for under $100 / £100

Specifications

Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 4.7g per earbud
Frequency response: Not listed
Drivers: 11mm
Battery life: 5.5 hours (buds) 24.5 hours (case)

Reasons to buy

+
Expensive, lively sound
+
Good active noise cancellation
+
Small case and great design

Reasons to avoid

-
No wireless charging
-
Average battery life
BUY THEM IF

✅ You want strong noise cancellation: At this price, this is the best noise-blocking power we've heard.

You're serious about sound: These are a fun and responsive set of buds, with wireless hi-res support via LDAC as a bonus.

DON'T BUY THEM IF

You really want spatial audio: It's not here, but the similarly priced Sony WF-C700N will give it to you.

You need a big battery life: The 5.5-hours life with ANC is not very impressive – the Sony earbuds mentioned above offer 7.5 hours.

The Nothing Ear (a) are a serious improvement from Nothing, rocketing its buds from being 'fine, but nothing special' to 'these are the best value you can get for the price'. And they're a fun yellow color while doing it!

For their sub-$100/£100 price, they're so good, and feel premium. In our review, we said compared to the similarly priced (and fantastic) Sony WF-C700N, "the Nothing earbuds look more premium and feel more foxy. Their noise cancellation is a touch more robust and the sound is every bit as energetic, detailed and zealous, and (dare we say it?) a tad more expansive to boot."

In general, we said that "for the money, Nothing has tweaked its recipe to near perfection here" – yes, you can get better sound from the Technics at #1 on the list or other more premium options, but you need to pay twice as much for a meaningful difference. 

That goes for features, too – the noise cancellation is as good as we've tested for the price, you get smart features such as wear detection to auto-pause them when you take them out, there's multi-point pairing for instant switching between devices, there's a Find My mode, there's LDAC hi-res support… the only think missing is spatial audio, and that's not usually an essential on affordable buds. The 5.5-hour battery life is the only element that's below average, but we can totally live with that.

Read our full Nothing Ear (a) review

The best budget earbuds

The JLab JBuds Mini on a patch of grassTechRadar recommends badge on a white background

(Image credit: Future)
The best earbuds on a super-low budget

Specifications

Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 3.3g per earbud, 18.5g charging case
Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz
Drivers: 6mm
Battery life (on-board): 5.5 hours

Reasons to buy

+
Incredibly small
+
Useful features like multipoint
+
Customizable sound

Reasons to avoid

-
No active noise cancellation
-
Quick charge doesn't provide much
BUY THEM IF

✅ You want a super portable option: They're teeny tiny and so is their case, if portability is a priority, get these.

You have a small budget: These buds are very cheap with plenty of features you'd expect from a pricier option.

DON'T BUY THEM IF

You value strong bass: If you love a powerful, booming soundtrack then these aren't the buds for you.

You need ANC: Noise isolation is surprisingly good, but if you want full immersion then look elsewhere.

The JLab JBuds Mini are an incredibly small, incredibly cheap pair of buds we highly recommend to anyone on a budget.

For the price, there are a lot of features here. Codec support is admittedly limited, but there's Bluetooth multi-point connectivity and the JLab app allows you to tweak some settings, while a Be Aware mode passes through your surrounding, overcoming the excellent passive noise isolation (though there's no full active noise cancellation). The buds are IP55-rated, which means they'll withstand sweaty workouts. The buds themselves bring you 5.5 hours of playback, which jumps to 20 hours overall with the charging case – which is also teeny tiny.

We found that the sound here is great, especially considering these are budget buds. You can tweak the sound with the app's EQ to get the balance just right for you and your preferences. During our testing, we did say that the bass could be stronger and more powerful, but they perform well overall with a sound we described as "pretty lively" in our review, with a much wider soundstage than you'd expect. In our review, we also wrote: "The JLab JBuds Mini block out sound far better than you'd anticipate given their size and price."

The JLab JBuds Mini are extremely small and so is their charging case. They come with a keyring attachment, which is really handy considering they're so tiny and may prevent them from getting lost, especially if you're likely to throw them into your bag. We highly rated the fit of these buds in our review. We wrote: "They fit snugly in your ears and even during a run, there was no wobble factor here." Not only do they fit well, they're very comfortable. 

Read our full JLab JBuds Mini review

The best earbuds for noise cancellation

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 inside open caseTechRadar Editor's Choice 5 star badge on a black background

(Image credit: TechRadar)
The best earbuds for stopping outside sounds

Specifications

Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 6.2g (per bud); 59.8g (charging case)
Frequency response: Not specified
Drivers: 9.3mm full-range dynamic drivers
Battery life: 6 hours (buds); 3 extra (charging case)

Reasons to buy

+
Smaller, more comfortable design
+
Best-in-class noise cancellation
+
Natural and well-balanced sound

Reasons to avoid

-
Call quality could be better
-
No support for high-def wireless codecs
-
No wireless charging
BUY THEM IF

✅ Noise cancellation really matters to you: If there’s one thing the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II do really well, it’s noise cancellation.

You want beautifully balanced sound: Whatever CustomTune is actually doing in the ear, it’s working remarkably well. The sound is very well balanced.

DON'T BUY THEM IF

You’re on a tight budget: It’s easy to argue that the ANC and sound performance of the QCE II are well worth every penny, but these are expensive earbuds.

You’d prefer high-definition wireless sound quality: With support for just low-definition wireless codecs, the QCE II may not be for audiophiles. 

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are our favorite noise-cancelling earbuds. Yes, even though the newer Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have essentially superseded them – because the new buds are only a marginal step up for the core sound and ANC quality, and we're fans of the better value you'll now get from these (just slightly) older QCE II buds.

The ANC is supremely effective here, thanks to what Bose calls CustomTune, which uses an audio signal – picked up by a mic inside each bud – to automatically calibrate ANC and sound frequency to suit your ear. Unfortunately there’s no wireless charging or multi-point connectivity (there isn't in the newer set either, which is an oversight from Bose), and battery life is acceptable rather than excellent, at 6 hours or up to 24 hours in total, using the case. 

Happily, Bose's ANC improvements aren’t at the expense of sound quality, and whatever the CustomTune tech is doing behind-the-scenes here made these buds an extremely enjoyable listen during our testing. In our review, we wrote: "We can’t stress this enough – the sound is very well balanced, with a heck of a lot of details and textures coming through.” If you’d still like to tweak the audio output, you can via the EQ in the Bose app. 

Design-wise, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are 30% smaller than previous generations with a more compact and lighter charging case. However, we did find the fit took some getting used to and is unlikely to suit everyone at first. 

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are Bose earbuds, which means they're typically on the expensive side. But if you can afford them, these are arguably the best noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds you can get today. 

To save money on Bose products, check out our Bose discount codes

Read our full Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 review

The best earbuds for Apple fans

AirPods Pro 2 in useTechRadar recommends badge on a white background

(Image credit: TechRadar)
The best earbuds if you're all-in on Apple

Specifications

Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 5.3g
Frequency response: Not listed
Drivers: Custom Apple design
Battery life : 6 hours (earbuds) 30 hours (charging case)

Reasons to buy

+
Fantastic active noise cancellation
+
Very strong audio quality
+
Great features when used with iPhone

Reasons to avoid

-
Average battery life
-
No lossless support
-
Lacking features on Android
BUY THEM IF

✅ You want great sound: These sound superb and shut out the real world so well – and the spatial audio is best-in-class too.

You've got all manner of Apple things: If you've got an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac and so on, then you'll really get the benefit from the seamless switching.

DON'T BUY THEM IF

You want big battery life: There's nothing wrong with the battery life here, but it's very much average in the buds – though the amount from the case is good.

You don't have an iPhone: Android users won't get anywhere near the full experience, because a lot of setup and control options are done in iOS' Settings app.

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are excellent earbuds that have a strong claim to be the best option for Apple lovers. One of the top features here is the active noise cancellation, which competes with the Bose option above for effectiveness at blocking out almost all external noises (though we rate the Bose slightly higher). The Adaptive Transparency Mode is also a nice trick, adjusting its blocking of outside sounds on the fly. In terms of battery, you get six hours with ANC on and 30 hours with the case too – and that case is IPX4 water resistant and has a speaker and wireless tracking chip, so if you lose it your phone can literally point you towards it, or it can be found by the 'Find My' network.

Audio performance is great, and is vastly improved over the original AirPods Pro. There’s rich sound across genres, and a wide and expansive soundstage, bookended by deep-yet-controlled bass and clear, elevated treble. There's lots of detail, and it's energetic too – if we were to criticize it, we might say it's a little too forward compared to the more natural and neutral sound of the Technics at the top of this list. Spatial audio is a very impressive trick of these buds too, especially with movies – it really feels like you're sitting in a home theater rather than having sound pumped directly into your years.

The crucial part for why you'd choose these over other options, though, is the extra features they include for those with lots of Apple gear. On top of the Find My support, they switch between your Apple devices seamlessly, they can share audio with other AirPods or Beats headphones, they offer personalized audio tweaks, and even optimized battery charging to help make sure they last longer. But to access all of this, you must use them with iPhone. With anything else, you're looking at basic 'they play music and you can switch between noise cancellation and Transparency' functionality.

They're excellent all-rounder, and during sales events are regularly available for a little less than the premium competition – who would think Apple would be the more budget option, eh?

Read our full Apple AirPods Pro 2 review

The best earbuds for Samsung phone users

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro held in a hand on white backgroundTechRadar recommends logo on a dark blue background

(Image credit: TechRadar)
The best earbuds if you love Samsung's phones

Specifications

Weight: 5.5g
Frequency response: 20-20,000Hz
Drivers: Custom Coaxial 2-way
Battery life: 5 hours (buds) 18 hours (case)

Reasons to buy

+
Vastly improved hi-res sound quality
+
Solid ANC
+
Classy, comfortable design and finish

Reasons to avoid

-
Battery life is only average
BUY THEM IF

✅ You own a Samsung Galaxy smartphone: A no-brainer. The Buds 2 Pro present themselves on your Galaxy device for easy pairing and give you handy home-screen widgets.

You want Samsung's best sound-per-pound audio quality: We didn't expect to enjoy Samsung's immersive, expressive, head-tracked 24-bit audio as much as we did. 

DON'T BUY THEM IF

You want a long battery life: Five hours with ANC activated is behind most of the competition here. 

You own an iPhone: With no iOS app to control their functions, you're far better off with something else. 

Samsung has a formidable reputation in the smartphone market, but its Galaxy Buds never quite hit a home run. That changed with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. These earbuds are packed full of useful perks, including excellent ANC, voice detect, wearer detection and customizable on-ear controls – all of which work very well indeed – plus IPX7 water ingress protection. This would have been an almost perfect list of specs, marred only by the disappointing five-hour battery life. 

The headline-grabbing feature, if you own a Samsung Galaxy device, is spatial audio with optional head-tracking, thus allowing you to use your phone as the focal point to direct more of that new end-to-end 24-bit high-res audio to whichever ear you prefer. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro sport a two-way driver design, with a 10mm woofer and 5.4mm tweeter in each earbud. It's a formidable improvement on Samsung's previous earbud releases. 

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are refreshingly smaller and lighter than most rivals – and a huge improvement over previous Galaxy buds (remember the jewels and kidney bean shaped buds? These are nothing like those and we're happy about it). The result is a stylish, minimalist, secure and ergonomic look and fit that almost feels as if you're not wearing earbuds at all – or at least that was our experience during testing. 

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro squeeze an incredible amount in here for only mid-range money. There are a few minor things lacking, (the ability to tweak ANC in increments on a slider in the app would be lovely), but forgive this and it's hard to quibble with the sound-per-pound value. 

Read our full Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review

The best for battery

JBL Live Beam 3 held in a hand with red fingernailsTechRadar recommends badge on a white background

(Image credit: Future)
Screen time, and the battery lasts a long time

Specifications

Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 5g per earbud
Frequency response: 20Hz - 40kHz
Drivers: 10mm Dynamic
Battery life: 12 hours (buds) up to 48 hour total

Reasons to buy

+
Vastly improved audio
+
Screen does more – including lock-screen images
+
Excellent battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
Somewhat weak spatial audio profiles
-
ANC is good, but beaten by class-leaders
BUY THEM IF

✅ You take long road trips
The class-leading maximum battery life of 48 hours is akin to two whole days of playback. During testing, these claims proved genuine too (and the case doesn't drain it!) 

You like to wear your heart on your sleeve
You can upload a photo of your beloved right there on the case – and when you open the box, it flips the other way up so everyone will still see it properly too. 

DON'T BUY THEM IF

You want top-tier spatial audio
There are three immersive profiles here (movies, music and gaming), but, sadly, each one is a shade off a fully immersive, Dolby Atmos-type presentation

You desire comprehensive on-ear functionality
Here, you have to select two out of three options for on-ear controls – volume, playback and ANC. You can't have all three. 

Here's a feature that no other option within this list offers: a color touchscreen screen on the case. It's a lot of fun – you can select a lock-screen wallpaper from any of the photos on your smartphone, and the image even flips so it stays the right way up when you snap open the case – but that isn't why the JBL Live Beam 3 are in this roundup. 

No, the real star here, aside from the vastly improved audio quality over the older and slightly disappointing JBL Tour Pro 2, is the stamina. The battery life is nothing short of excellent at up to 12 hours from the earbuds alone, minus noise cancellation, or 10 hours with it engaged (and nearer nine with adaptive ANC on). 

The case also delivers three further charges – we've tested it and the screen doesn't drain it – taking your total audio playback time up to a class-leading 48 hours. To put that into perspective, Apple's priciest Pro-suffixed AirPods offer 5.5 hours with its top-tier Spatial Audio deployed, or a maximum of 30 hours including the case. Big difference in those figures, no? 

The JBL Live Beam 3 also boast great value when it comes to the feature set, including a few novel bits and pieces you don't find elsewhere – including "Personi-Fi", which is basically hearing test of each ear to better tailor the sound to your liking. 

OK, the spatial audio profiles aren't going to knock your socks off. JBL has offered a total of three immersive soundscapes for music, movies and games, but if you're imagining sonic articles darting past you in a three-dimensional space you'll be disappointed. Also the ANC is good rather than excellent and the on-ear controls work well but involve a compromise. Look past these minor snafus and you'll find the fit is great, the battery is seemingly never-ending and, honestly, the sound is refreshingly good for bass and detail. View the screen as a lovely extra for the money and you won't go far wrong. 

Read our full JBL Live Beam 3 review

The best wired earbuds

Someone holding the 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Earphones.

(Image credit: Future)
The best wired earbuds for most people

Specifications

Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 18g
Frequency response: 20-40,000 Hz
Drivers: 2x balanced armature, 1x dynamic driver
Battery life: N/A

Reasons to buy

+
Lush sound quality
+
Excellent build and design
+
Unmatched value

Reasons to avoid

-
Rubber cable catches on itself
-
Plastic remote feels cheap
BUY THEM IF

✅ You want a solid pair of buds: With great sound and a quality built for a low price, these are reliable and worth every penny.

Looks matter: We love the rose gold accents on these earbuds and their cool, angular design.

DON'T BUY THEM IF

You want to connect to a USB-C phone: These are 3.5mm jack headphones – consider the SoundMagic E80D instead.

You like a premium experience: They look, feel and sound more premium than they should, but the remote and cable need improving.

We first tested the 1More Triple Driver earphones way back in 2017. However, the world of wired earbuds tends to move slowly than true wireless these days, which means they're still our top recommendation for most people looking for a reliable, great-looking wired option with an enjoyable sound at a great value, low price. That's why they're also still our #1 pick in our best wired earbuds guide.

The audio quality here can be beaten – you'll find better from many rivals, especially the Technics EAH-AZ80 at #1 in this list – but you have to pay a lot more for it. These 1More buds bring you bold and enjoyable sound, especially considering their low price and small size. In our 1MORE Triple Driver earphones review, we wrote: "Music is exquisitely detailed with a good sense of space." Even more than seven years on, after testing many more earbuds, that rings true. It's also worth noting that, although there's no active noise cancellation, the earbuds do manage to create a decent seal, which leads to a pleasing amount of noise isolation. 

The earbuds are made from aluminum and have some rose gold accents with an interesting, slightly angled design, which we think combine to give the buds a much more premium aesthetic than you'd guess from their price tag. They come with a selection of foam and silicone ear tips, which should help most people get a snug fit that's comfortable enough for long periods of listening. The only thing we noted during testing is they did stick out a little from our ears. Their cable is wrapped in fabric for extra durability but the small three-button remote that's attached to it felt a little more cheap and plastic than we'd have liked.

With a bold, balanced and detailed sound, superb build quality for the price and reliable, wired design, we think the 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Earphones represent great value – despite the fact they're much older than rivals in this list.

Read our full 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Earphones review

The best cheap USB-C earbuds

Skullcandy Set USB-C earbuds on grey surfaceTechRadar recommends logo on a dark blue background

(Image credit: Future)
The best cheap USB-C earbuds

Specifications

Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 0.53oz / 15g
Frequency response: 20Hz-20KHz
Drivers: 9mm dynamic
Battery life: N/A

Reasons to buy

+
Decent sound quality for the price
+
Comfortable listening for long sessions
+
Sleek design

Reasons to avoid

-
No volume buttons on controller
-
Cable noise a tad disruptive
-
Doesn’t deliver the most full-sounding audio
BUY THEM IF

✅ You crave comfort: These earbuds were easy to wear all day during our testing and stayed in our ears securely.

You want understated style: Expect a sleek and minimal design with a range of different color options to choose from.

DON'T BUY THEM IF

You like to have control: The controller on the buds is limited and doesn't have volume up/down buttons, not ideal for walking.

You want excellent sound: There's decent sound for the price here, but no bassy depths or sonic details – you'd need to pay more (we like the SoundMagic E11D).

If you're looking for a pair of wired USB-C earbuds, this set from Skullcandy may not offer the best high-end sonic experience compared to other options in this list, but they're a stylish and reliable choice – especially considering they're incredibly affordable at $31.99/£29.99 (about AU $50). We tested even cheaper USB-C buds, and this are basically as cheap as we'd recommend going – especially if you can find them on sale. 

In our review we made it clear that these buds "don't whip up top-drawer sound", especially where detail and dynamism are concerned. That being said, sound quality is decent, especially considering their price. Similarly-priced budget buds that we're reviewed sound and feel much more cheap and tinny in comparison.

As you'd expect, there's no active noise cancellation for this price. But thanks to good included ear tips, they have a "noise-isolating fit". This won't reduce all ambient noise, but it does do a decent job at keeping you focused on your music regardless of your surroundings. These ear tips come in three different sizes, which meant in our review we wrote that the buds are "very pleasant to wear", even for long periods of time.

As well as feeling good, we liked how the buds look too. In our review we said: "They sport a sleek, curved look, and come in four snazzy colorways." They also have an IPX4 water-resistant rating, which means they're rain- and sweatproof. The only notable frustrating design feature is there are no volume up/down buttons on their controller, which feels limiting. 

These aren't the best buds in our guide, far from it – but they're comfortable, they sound solid and they look good. If that's all you ask, enjoy.

Read our full Skullcandy Set USB-C review

The best earbuds for supreme sound

Final ZE8000 MK2 held in a hand, in their case, outsideTechRadar recommends logo on a dark blue background

Final ZE8000 MK2 earbuds in their case, held in a hand (Image credit: Future)
The best earbuds for audiophiles at a reasonable price

Specifications

Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 104g total
Frequency response: Not listed
Drivers: 13mm
Battery life (on-board): 5hrs (earbuds), 15hrs (case)

Reasons to buy

+
Multi-layered, spacious sound
+
Lossless audio support that works
+
Refreshingly effective ANC

Reasons to avoid

-
Battery life is so-so
-
Slightly disappointing app
-
They're big and unusual-looking
BUY THEM IF

✅ You want the best sound quality in a wireless design: This is among the most detailed and just best audio you can buy in a set of truly wireless buds – and the ANC is surprisingly good too. 

You pay for a proper music subscription: With aptX Adaptive and Snapdragon Sound onboard, you're going to want to pay for a decent Tidal, Qobuz or Apple Music subscription to get the goods here. 

DON'T BUY THEM IF

You like an all-singing, all-dancing app: The companion app is a clear area for improvement with these Final buds compared to slicker competition.

You want small earbuds to slip in a pocket: These earbuds are a fair bit larger than many of the current heavy-hitters.

OK, if ever the term "8K Sound+" could apply to something you hear rather than see, that is what you'll get with these earbuds. We're not saying we approve of the term used by Final, but nevertheless you should know that the sound quality here is excellent. You're getting a zealous, expansive, and glorious soundstage that has us living happily in our heads, and forgetting the cost. 

So why the less than perfect star rating? These excellent earbuds are marred only by a slightly disappointing battery life (which is five hours tops or 15 including the case, but closer to four when you deploy 8K Sound+) plus an app that supplies the basics rather than the premium, all-seeing all-dancing experience you might expect at this level.

The four noise cancellation modes and volume step optimizer (which gives you better precision when tweaking the volume level) work very well indeed and add value, plus there's a four-band EQ tab, but forget hearing tests, spatial audio support, wearer detection or the option to customize the on-ear controls – and in our tests, we sometimes found the app a little unreliable in that it failed to fire up or chose not to recognise the earbuds it was connected to. 

Then again, we keep coming back to their sound. Honestly, the sound is among the best we've ever heard in a true wireless design, and at a price comparable to the best buds from Sony and Bose, despite sounding clearly better. The lack of features (and the large size) may not be for everyone, but if you value music above all else, you must consider them.

Read our full Final ZE8000 MK2 review

Other earbuds to consider

There are several other earbuds we've reviewed recently that didn't quite make the cut for our guide. First up there's the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, a pair of earbuds that perform well, but launched with some quality issues that need addressing, and really have the biggest issue that the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are still around and available for about $110 / £110, which is why the older model will remain our top pick for Samsung owners. They're half the price, and nearly as good. We also tested the Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2, a fairly average pair of buds which don't make the cut because they're just not up to the audio or fit standards that we've become accustomed to.

Earlier this year, we also reviewed the Creative Aurvana Ace 2 and the Motorola Moto Buds Plus – but neither of them made this list. Why? Well, although the sound quality was very good indeed, we had issues with the Creative's noise-cancellation (which involved a somewhat painful high-pitched noise on occasion) and although we also liked the Moto Buds Plus for sound, they're let down by a lack of iOS app and the omission of any IP rating for water ingress. 

You might be surprised that the Sony WF-1000XM5 aren't on this list. They're very nice earbuds, but they don't sound as good and aren't as well-featured as the Technics we rate as number one, but cost the same. They also don't block noise as well as the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, so they don't stand out on that front. For Apple owners in particular, the AirPods Pro 2 are cheaper, have better features, have better noise cancellation, and sound excellent. As we said in our full Sony WF-1000XM5 review, they're not bad earbuds by any stretch of the imagination, but they're not quite good enough to push out anything on this hotly contested list.

How to choose the best earbuds

Two important things to consider when you’re choosing new earbuds is what you want to listen to and where you want to listen to it. 

For example, if you like fairly quiet music and want to listen on the bus or train, you'll need effective noise cancellation. 

If you're looking for a pair of the best running headphones, you should look for IPX4 water-resistance so they can withstand sweat and rain. Some of the top waterproof earbuds can even be used for swimming. The best bone-conducting headphones are popular for fitness fans too, because they don't block outside sounds.

If you're going to be wearing your earbuds for long periods, then comfort and weight are a top priority.

We’ve included both wired and wireless earbuds on this list, but you don't have to compromise on audio quality by going wire-free. Our current favorite true wireless earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM4 combine class-leading sound with high quality noise cancellation tech.

If you do opt for wireless or true wireless earbuds, make sure the battery life is up to scratch, otherwise you may find yourself caught short without any music in the middle of your commute. 

The best earbuds for you should sound good to your ears. Which means if you're a dedicated audiophile, look for buds that support Hi-Res Audio codecs, like LDAC and aptX HD Bluetooth for stellar connectivity. 

We also recommend you consider your budget. If you want cheap earbuds you may have to sacrifice features, like ANC or a long battery life. It’s all about weighing up what’s more important to you. 

Finally, the brand you choose will depend on what you're looking for – but we're careful with our lists. That means all of the earbuds and in-ear headphones above come from brands we trust. Still, if you're not sure where to start looking, respected brands like Sony, Apple, Cambridge Audio, Jabra, and Nura are good places to start.

How we test the best earbuds

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We've tested each of the top earbuds in this guide to make sure they tick some key boxes, which are reflected in our full review.

One of these is the features – whether they compare well to other earbuds in the same price for elements such as connection options, smart app controls, active noise cancellation and battery life. We test all these features in different ways. We try the active noise cancellation in different real-world environments, and we check battery life by running them down and tracking the timing.

Most importantly, we also want to be sure the sound is excellent, with clarity and a decent level of bass. We listen to music from a range of sources, from social apps and YouTube, to lower-quality streams from the likes of Spotify, to high-quality files from streamers such as Apple Music and Tidal. We'll listen to a range of genres, and we'll use a mix of new music and tracks we've known for years and in which we can hear all the subtle differences.

Next is comfort and wearability. You need to know you'll be able to pop the best in-ear buds in your ears for hours at a time, so they have to feel secure and comfortable. Some seem naturally designed for a snug fit, others come with different silicone tip options to help you get the fit just right. In terms of design, we also look for compact buds, those that don't stick out of your ear too much and (in the case of true wireless designs) earbuds that come with a small charging case for slipping into a backpack, handbag or even a pocket. 

And when we've tested all this, we judge them on their value, which essentially means how all of the above balances against their price, and the price of other earbuds.

At the time of writing, we're beginning a new testing procedure for earbuds to enable us to add more direct comparison between buds, to make it easier for you to choose which one will suit you best. We'll re-test our current favorite earbuds using the new system, and we'll use it for reviews in the future. You can read the full information about how we test earbuds at TechRadar at that link, but the crucial part is that we're adding certain specific and repeatable tests that all of our reviews can use, so we know we're getting a fair and even comparison between earbuds.

The major part of this is a particular playlist that will be used for sound-quality testing, from a specific source device and music service. Our reviewers will also test other songs and sound sources, but this playlist provide a baseline comparison, and you can copy the playlist to make your own comparisons, if you like.

We'll also test the microphone quality for picking up speech by recording us talking, and we'll make those recordings available to hear on the site, so you can compare them yourselves, if you want. And we'll detail exactly how long the battery lasts in real-world use, and provide that information for easy comparison too, in tables. At the moment, we're still working on gathering this information, so please bear with us – an even better buying guide is coming!

Latest updates to the best earbuds

3 September 2024
Added the 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones as our 'Best wired' pick based on our review, and recent testing of the competition.

30 July 2024
Added the JLab JBuds Mini as the best super-cheap option, and updated the 'Also Consider' section with information on the latest products that didn't make it into this list.

Becky Scarrott
Audio Editor

Becky became Audio Editor at TechRadar in 2024, but joined the team in 2022 as Senior Staff Writer, focusing on all things hi-fi. Before this, she spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing and reviewing everything from wallet-friendly wireless earbuds to huge high-end sound systems. Prior to gaining her MA in Journalism in 2018, Becky freelanced as an arts critic alongside a 22-year career as a professional dancer and aerialist – any love of dance starts with a love of music. Becky has previously contributed to Stuff, FourFourTwo and The Stage. When not writing, she can still be found throwing shapes in a dance studio, these days with varying degrees of success.  

With contributions from