Earbuds & AirPods
Earbuds go by many different names, including earphones, in-ear headphones, in-ear monitors or simply buds. They also come in all shapes and sizes and can be both wired or wireless, with some variations. Probably the most widely known (and worn) earbuds are the AirPods, which Apple launched in 2016.
Compared to over-ear and on-ear headphones, they offer a more compact, lightweight design that’s easier to set up and store. Earbuds are often cheaper too (usually), and have better stability. Being small does have its disadvantages - namely with sound quality, which can’t match wired headphones - but every music lover should own at least one pair all the same.
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Latest about Earbuds & Airpods
The best earbuds 2024
By Becky Scarrott last updated
Our pick of the best earbuds, including wired, wireless and true wireless devices.
This viral thread about AirPods Pro 2 as hearing aids shows how good they are – and why Apple should take a lesson from its own Beats division
By Carrie Marshall published
Hearing aid mode is excellent, but a few cosmetic options would be nice – and it's an issue Beats already fixed.
The best earbuds for small ears 2024
By Becky Scarrott last updated
My pick of the best earbuds for those with a smaller ear canal, tragus or concha, however much you're able to spend.
The best budget wireless earbuds 2024
By Becky Scarrott last updated
Updated The best budget wireless earbuds you can buy today, with options from Sony, Nothing, EarFun, JLab and more.
I thought the Apple AirPods Pro 2 were perfect – LG proved me wrong
By Max Langridge published
I pitted the LG ToneFree T90S wireless earbuds against my trusted and 'perfect' Apple AirPods Pro 2. The results shocked me.
Activo Q1 are the inexpensive wired earbuds made for our favorite budget hi-res audio player
By Becky Scarrott published
The Activo P1 hi-res audio player stunned us for value when it arrived in July, and now it's got a set of IEMs designed for it.
Nothing Ear (open) review: One issue upsets Nothing’s first-draft open-ear headphones
By Tom Bedford published
The Nothing Ear (open) shows British audio company Nothing venture into the open ear headphone space, but this feels like a first-draft gadget that needs to be returned to the drawing board.
The best wired earbuds 2024, from cheap USB-C to audiophile-grade IEMs – all tested by TechRadar
By Matt Bolton last updated
Still craving a reliable connection, high-end audio, and no battery life anxiety? Here are the best wired earbuds you can buy today.
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