Just a few short years ago, Apple’s AirPods may have started the wire-free trend, but now days it’s difficult to find an in-ear Bluetooth headphone that isn’t a pair of truly wireless earbuds in the AirPods design. Now that the trend has taken hold, you can buy earbuds to suit every taste, need, and budget, including noise-canceling devices to help you block out the outside world, sport-focused models that can withstand perspiration, and high-end ones made to satisfy audiophiles who enjoy high-resolution listening.
The best true wireless earbuds overall: Beats Fit Pro
Beats Fit Pro
The best true wireless earbuds overall
In addition to performing everything the AirPods Pro do, the Beats Fit Pro also does it in a more fashionable, secure, and comfortable manner. With a more generally compatible USB-C charging case and Android support through the Beats app, they’re not only wonderful for Apple users, but also make a great workout headset and are now our favorite true-wireless earbuds overall.
The Beats Fit Pro deliver exceptional fit and comfort in keeping with its reputation. They are more compact than the tethered Beats Powerbeats Pro but felt just as secure throughout exercises. These rubber-coated buds have a wingtip design that holds them in place during demanding sports and provide some additional support for your inner ear without feeling obtrusive or heavy.
The full AirPods experience is available when using them with an iPhone or other Apple devices. This includes an Ear Tip Fit Test to determine the best seal, active noise cancellation (ANC), a Transparency mode to amplify outside sounds, Adaptive EQ, Spatial Audio, instant pairing with Apple devices, and the ability to control Siri hands-free.
On the other hand, the Fit Pro are also really amazing if you’re using an Android device, unlike the AirPods Pro. Nearly all of the Fit Pro’s essential functionality, including as changing music settings, adjusting the controls, and running an ear tip fit test, can be accessed via the Beats app for Android. Android users will have to do without a few conveniences (you can’t monitor your missing earphones with Find My or swap between linked devices automatically), but for a set of Apple headphones, there is a surprising degree of parity between the two operating systems.
The Fit Pro’s battery life is also among the best of any Apple headphones we’ve tried; with ANC on, it lasts for about 7 hours continuously, and with typical on-and-off use, it lasts for roughly three days before needing to be recharged. This beats the six hours and ten minutes we received from the AirPods 3 and the five hours we observed from the AirPods Pro.
Other true wireless earbuds we recommend
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
The AirPods Pro 2 are as good as it gets for Apple users, offering some of the best sound, controls and active noise cancellation you can find in a pair of buds. Existing AirPods Pro owners don’t need to rush out and upgrade, but everyone else is in for a treat.
Sony LinkBuds S
The $199 Sony LinkBuds S offer excellent sound, strong noise cancellation and Sony’s actually smart Adaptive Sound Control to tailor performance to your surroundings. The LinkBuds S are a good buy for Android users, with support for LDAC high-res audio, and they work well with iOS too.
EarFun Air
For those not looking to spend a ton, the EarFun Air rival the AirPods Pro on sound quality in the right environment and have a reliable microphone for taking important work calls.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds 2 offer the best noise cancellation you can get in earbuds, along with great sound, so if you’re looking to tune out the world around you for travel, office or home without resorting to a big over-ear headphone, this is the way to go.