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Max battery life:<\/strong> 6 hours | Water resistance:<\/strong> IPX4 | Noise cancellation:<\/strong> Yes | Multipoint:<\/strong> Yes | Included charging case:<\/strong> Yes | Waterproof:<\/strong> Yes (IPX4) | Driver size: <\/strong>Not specified<\/p>\nRead our full <\/strong>Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) review<\/strong><\/p>\nBose\u2019s Immersive Audio feature may be the headline grabber on its QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, but these also come with the company\u2019s stellar noise-canceling abilities. This model is especially adept at battling airplane noise during a flight, a task I typically rely on over-ear headphones for. The second-gen QC Ultra Earbuds are effective with human voices too, blocking that distraction better than much of the competition. But with any kind of constant roar, and many irregular sounds, these earbuds will serve you well. Plus, Bose\u2019s CustomTune tool analyzes the shape of your ears and personalizes both sound and ANC. All of this combined pushes the latest QC Ultra Earbuds to the top of our list, unseating longtime champ Sony.<\/p>\n
While the QC Ultra Earbuds offer the best pure noise-blocking performance on this list, the extra audio features mean they have less battery life than the rest of our picks. It lasts six hours with ANC on and Immersive Audio off, but turn on the latter and that number dips to four hours. And although Bose\u2019s take on spatial audio yields mixed results at times, the stock tuning is an improvement over the company\u2019s last flagship model. Thanks to small tuning tweaks, the overall sound profile is more balanced on the second-gen version as well.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Pros<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\nStronger ANC filters out more distractions<\/li>\n Enhanced call quality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\nCons<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\nBattery life isn\u2019t improved<\/li>\n Bulky design is unchanged<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Active noise cancellation<\/strong>: Yes | Wireless charging<\/strong>: Yes | Water resistance<\/strong>: IPX4 | Multipoint connectivity<\/strong>: Yes (2 devices) | Wear detection<\/strong>: Yes | Max battery life (rated)<\/strong>: 12 hrs, 24 hrs w\/ case | Codecs<\/strong>: SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | Warranty<\/strong>: 1 year<\/p>\nRead our full <\/strong>Sony WF-1000XM5 review<\/strong><\/p>\nWhile Sony has introduced the WF-1000XM6, I would argue the previous model is a more well-rounded choice. The M6 doesn\u2019t offer the ANC performance that the M5 does and the ear tips don\u2019t provide a fit that I\u2019m completely happy with. If you plan to use your earbuds for calls, the M6 isn\u2019t the best option there either.<\/p>\n
The Sony WF-1000XM5 hits on just about everything we want from a premium set of Bluetooth earbuds. Their small, rounded design should feel comfortable and secure in most ears. They\u2019re nearly unmatched at muting outside noise, thanks to a powerful ANC feature and memory foam eartips that do a remarkable job of isolating sound passively. They sound great out of the box, especially if you like a warmer profile with elevated bass, but you can easily customize the EQ curve through Sony\u2019s app, and they do well to draw out treble-range detail either way. They\u2019re also loaded with extra features, including multipoint connectivity, Google Fast Pair, LDAC and spatial audio support, the ability to swap between ANC and ambient sound (or “transparency”) modes automatically and more. The wireless charging case is conveniently tiny, while the eight- to 12-hour battery life gives little to complain about.<\/p>\n
Still, the XM5s still aren\u2019t a total slam dunk. The built-in mics aren\u2019t the clearest for phone calls. The IPX4 water-resistance rating could be higher. Some people might find the memory foam eartips a little too full-feeling. They also have a list price of $330, which is far from affordable. But no other wireless earbuds we\u2019ve tested have managed to tick so many boxes.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Pros<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\nStrong, customizable audio quality<\/li>\n Should be comfortable to most<\/li>\n Loads of handy bonus features<\/li>\n Stellar noise isolation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\nCons<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\nExpensive<\/li>\n Memory foam eartips aren’t for everyone<\/li>\n No battery life improvement over predecessor<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Active noise cancellation<\/strong>: Yes | Wireless charging<\/strong>: Yes | Water resistance<\/strong>: IPX4 | Multipoint connectivity<\/strong>: Yes (2 devices) | Wear detection<\/strong>: No | Max battery life (rated)<\/strong>: 10 hrs, 50 hrs w\/ case | Codecs<\/strong>: SBC, AAC, LDAC | Warranty<\/strong>: 18 months<\/p>\nRead our guide to the <\/strong>best budget wireless earbuds<\/strong><\/p>\nIf you don\u2019t have hundreds to spend, our favorite wireless earbuds in the budget bracket are the Anker Soundcore Space A40. Frequently priced between $45 and $60, this pair has the kind of features we\u2019d expect from earbuds that cost twice as much: genuinely powerful ANC, multipoint connectivity, wireless charging, a solid eight to ten hours of battery life, LDAC support, decent (if not great) IPX4 water resistance and a usable ambient sound mode. They don\u2019t have the most resolving or detail-rich sound of the box, unsurprisingly, but their warm profile offers pleasant, thumpy bass without totally blowing out the low-end. If you want to add more treble presence, you can customize the EQ through a clean and easy-to-read companion app. The actual earpieces are small, round and comfortable as well.<\/p>\n
The main trade-off is call quality, as the built-in mic can lose your voice in noisy environments and doesn\u2019t handle sibilant sounds very well. There\u2019s no wear detection either, so your music won\u2019t auto-pause when you remove an earbud. They also don\u2019t support Google\u2019s Fast Pair tech, though the earbuds should remember your device and automatically reconnect after you pair them for the first time. But for the price point, it\u2019s hard to complain.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Pros<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\nExcellent ANC for the price<\/li>\n Warm, pleasant sound<\/li>\n Comfortable and compact<\/li>\n Good battery life<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\nCons<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\nNo automatic wear detection<\/li>\n Mediocre call quality<\/li>\n Doesn’t sound as detailed as higher-end options (as expected)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Billy Steele for Engadget<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Active noise cancellation<\/strong>: Yes | Wireless charging<\/strong>: Yes | Water resistance<\/strong>: No IPX rating | Multipoint connectivity<\/strong>: Yes (2 devices) | Wear detection<\/strong>: No | Max battery life (rated)<\/strong>: 7 hrs, 47 hrs w\/ case | Codecs<\/strong>: SBC, AAC, LDAC, aptX Adaptive | Warranty<\/strong>: 1 year<\/p>\nRead our full <\/strong>Noble FoKus Rex5 review<\/strong><\/p>\nDetermining which set of headphones has the \u201cbest\u201d sound quality is a fool\u2019s errand \u2014 at the end of the day, it\u2019ll always come down to personal taste. But if we had to pick one pair we\u2019ve <\/em>particularly enjoyed for music, it\u2019d be the Noble FoKus Rex5. Its unique five-driver design helps it draw out a remarkable level of detail and properly separate the instrumentation in any given track. It\u2019s a balanced sound profile, with tight but not overindulgent bass, a natural-sounding midrange and relaxed highs that don\u2019t fatigue over time. The soundstage is wider than most true wireless earbuds we\u2019ve tested, while support for LDAC and aptX Adaptive only assist with detail retrieval. You can set a personal EQ if you need it, but we\u2019ve found the stock tuning to suit any genre well by default.<\/p>\nThe FoKus Rex5 supports ANC and multipoint connectivity, while its IEM-style, metal-and-acrylic housing fits comfortably in the ear. But you\u2019d buy it for the sound quality first and foremost: Noise cancellation isn\u2019t on Sony\u2019s level, the ultra-green finish isn\u2019t for everyone, the five- to seven-hour battery life isn\u2019t ideal and there\u2019s no auto-pausing when you remove an earbud. Most prohibitively, these things are damn expensive at $449. If you want something a little<\/em> less pricey, the Technics AZ100 and Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 are compelling (if bassier) options as well. But for self-proclaimed audiophiles with cash to burn, the FoKus Rex5 are a treat.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Pros<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\nDetailed, immersive sound<\/li>\n Comfortable fit<\/li>\n Custom audio profiles that save directly to the buds<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\nCons<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\nVery expensive<\/li>\n Just one color and it’s not for everyone<\/li>\n Subpar ANC performance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Valentina Palladino for Engadget<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Active noise cancellation<\/strong>: Yes | Wireless charging<\/strong>: No | Water resistance<\/strong>: IPX4 | Multipoint connectivity<\/strong>: No | Wear detection<\/strong>: Yes | Max battery life (rated)<\/strong>: 6 hrs, 24 hrs w\/ case | Codecs<\/strong>: SBC, AAC | Warranty<\/strong>: 1 year<\/p>\nRead our full <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nMost of our picks above will work just fine in the gym, but if you\u2019re buying a pair for workouts first and foremost, try the . Yes, we\u2019re recommending a set of Apple-made earbuds in an Android buying guide. But while this pair works best<\/em> with iPhones, most of their AirPods-style features are also available on Android through the . You can pair them with one tap through a pop-up card, view a map with their last known location, swap between ANC and ambient sound modes from the home screen, remap controls and check their battery level from the notification tray. There\u2019s no hi-res codec support, but in general the drop-off from iOS to Android isn\u2019t as great here as it is with a pair of AirPods.<\/p>\nThe main reason we recommend the Powerbeats Fit is their lightweight design, which is equipped with bendy silicone fins that keep the earbuds secure in place while you\u2019re moving around. It\u2019s extremely similar to the previous , though the fins on this new iteration are a bit softer and more flexible, which makes them a little comfier. They also come with an extra small set of tips in the box. Their IPX4 water-resistance rating isn\u2019t the best, but it should be enough for all but the sweatiest gymgoers. (Just don\u2019t use them in the pool.) We also like that the Powerbeats Fit uses physical buttons to adjust volume or skip tracks, since touch controls can feel finicky when you\u2019re trying to keep up with a workout. Their punchy sound is well-suited to the gym too, with a noticeable but not overwhelming push in the bass and treble. It\u2019s not one for purists, but it\u2019s energetic.<\/p>\n
If you aren\u2019t specifically looking for workout earbuds, you can still do better. The Powerbeats Fit still lack wireless charging and multipoint connectivity, and there\u2019s no way to customize the EQ if you don\u2019t like the default sound. Their built-in mics aren\u2019t anything special for phone calls, and the six-hour battery life is just passable. Plus, while the ANC mode is useful enough for tamping down the noise of a gym, it\u2019s a clear step down from the best options on the market. If you can find the older Beats Fit Pro at a significantly lower price, those may still be a better value, since the changes here are fairly minimal \u2014 though the new model does come with a smaller charging case alongside the redesigned wingtips.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll also note the , another recent Beats model which has an around-the-ear hook design that some might prefer, a more advanced Apple H2 chip (the Powerbeats Fit uses the older H1) and a modicum of heart rate tracking. That one is priced $50 higher, though.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Pros<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\nSecure fit for workouts with flexible wingtips<\/li>\n Punchy sound is well-suited to the gym<\/li>\n Physical control buttons<\/li>\n Smaller charging case than previous Beats Fit Pro<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\nCons<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\nNo wireless charging or multipoint connectivity<\/li>\n Six-hour battery with ANC could be better<\/li>\n ANC isn’t fine but nothing special<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Active noise cancellation<\/strong>: Yes | Wireless charging<\/strong>: Yes | Water resistance<\/strong>: IP54 (IPX4 for case) | Multipoint connectivity<\/strong>: Yes (2 devices) | Wear detection<\/strong>: Yes | Max battery life (rated)<\/strong>: 12 hrs, 48 hrs w\/ case | Codecs<\/strong>: SBC, AAC | Warranty<\/strong>: 1 year<\/p>\nRead our full <\/strong>Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Pixel Buds Pro 2 are explicitly designed to work in harmony with other Pixel devices, so they\u2019re worth considering if you\u2019re a dedicated fan of Google\u2019s phones. They come with a host of useful bonus features, from remote ringing and a \u201cconversation detection\u201d mode to a customizable EQ and automatic switching between devices paired to your Google account. (You also get hands-free access to Google\u2019s Gemini AI bot, though we wouldn\u2019t call that essential.) You can still access most of the Pixel Buds\u2019 perks on other Android devices by downloading a separate app, but all of the functionality is baked into Pixel phones natively. This means you can manage the earbuds, check battery status and the like right from your device\u2019s settings menus. It\u2019s similar to how Apple integrates AirPods with iOS.<\/p>\n
The earbuds themselves are perfectly competent beyond that, with a tiny yet comfortable design, decent ANC for the price, eight-ish hours of battery life, adequate call quality and an enjoyable sound with punchy bass and extended treble. That said, you\u2019ll still get richer audio quality and more robust noise cancellation from our Sony and Noble picks above, so those who aren\u2019t all-in on Google hardware can feel free to look elsewhere. More recently, Google released the more affordable \u2014 at $129, but it misses out on a bunch of features included with the Pixel Buds Pro 2, including wireless charging, longer battery life, onboard volume controls, support and more.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Pros<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\nTight integration with Pixel phones<\/li>\n Tiny, comfy design<\/li>\n Agreeable sound<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\nCons<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\nSmaller touch panels require precision<\/li>\n ANC isn’t on par with Sony WF-1000XM5<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Active noise cancellation<\/strong>: Yes | Wireless charging<\/strong>: Yes | Water resistance<\/strong>: IP57 | Multipoint connectivity<\/strong>: No | Wear detection<\/strong>: Yes | Max battery life (rated)<\/strong>: 7 hrs, 30 hrs w\/ case | Codecs<\/strong>: SBC, AAC, SSC, SSC-UHQ | Warranty<\/strong>: 1 year<\/p>\nRead our full <\/strong>Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro review<\/strong><\/p>\nAlong those lines, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are to Galaxy phones what the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are to Pixel phones. Using them with a Samsung handset unlocks a few ecosystem-specific perks, including the hi-res Samsung Seamless codec, a real-time translation tool and a \u201cGame Mode\u201d that reduces latency. That\u2019s on top of features like spatial audio, a graphic EQ, a lost device finder, adaptive ANC, simplified voice commands and automatic switching between Samsung devices.<\/p>\n
This kind of walled garden approach is frustrating; remember when you could plug your headphones into any device and it\u2019d work the same way every time? But, as with the Pixel Buds and AirPods, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are undeniably convenient if you\u2019ve already bought into their chosen platform.<\/p>\n
The rest of the package gets more right than wrong, though there are some issues worth calling out. The stem-style design pretty much rips off the AirPods Pro \u2014 this is particularly evident with the white finish \u2014 but adds weird, unnecessary LED strips down the stems. It\u2019s comfortable, but Samsung isn\u2019t beating the copycat allegations here. The ANC isn\u2019t on par with the Sony XM5s either, and the six-hour battery life is shorter than many other premium pairs. There\u2019s also no hi-res codec support with non-Samsung phones. On the plus side, the ambient sound mode works well. And most importantly, these things sound excellent out of the box, with full, meaty bass complemented by amply detailed highs and upper-mids.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s worth noting that Samsung froze shipments of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro right around launch due to quality control concerns (mainly regarding the stock eartips), but those look to have been resolved, and we haven\u2019t seen anything out of the ordinary with our review unit.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Pros<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\nTight integration with Samsung phones<\/li>\n Great audio quality<\/li>\n Comfy fit<\/li>\n Natural ambient sound<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\nCons<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\nNeed a Samsung phone to get the most out of them<\/li>\n Battery life is shorter than some rivals<\/li>\n Copycat design with gimmicky LED lights<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhat to look for in wireless earbuds for Android devices<\/h2>\n\n\nPhoto by Jeff Dunn \/ Engadget<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFor the most part, the features you want from a set of \u201cAndroid earbuds\u201d are the same as what you want from any headphones. Great sound quality, a comfortable fit and sufficient battery life are still the foundations. Adequate water resistance is good for workouts, and nobody wants a crummy mic for making calls. Once you approach the $100 range, features like active noise cancellation (ANC), wireless charging, an ambient sound mode (which lets you better hear outside noise without turning off your music) and multipoint connectivity (the ability to pair with multiple devices simultaneously) should be expected.<\/p>\n
For Android devices specifically, there are a few extras to consider. A dedicated app that makes it easy to switch sound modes, customize the audio profile, locate your earbuds if they ever get misplaced or adjust other settings is strongly preferred. Features like Google Fast Pair or NFC-based pairing, which can help you avoid having to dig through your Bluetooth menu to connect your earbuds for the first time, are also nice perks. Some Android devices can also utilize higher-quality Bluetooth codecs such as aptX Adaptive or Sony\u2019s LDAC \u2014 these aren\u2019t nearly as important to audio quality as the actual architecture of your earbuds, but they can help wring out a little more detail if the buds are capable enough and you\u2019re streaming lossless files. AptX Adaptive can also help reduce latency, which is good for streaming video or gaming.<\/p>\n
Diversity is Android\u2019s greatest strength, but it also means that some wireless earbuds play nicer with certain devices, typically those made by the same company. Recent Samsung earbuds, for instance, come with a few perks that are only available if you use a Galaxy phone. We have a couple of recommendations related to this idea above.<\/p>\n
How we test Android earbuds<\/h2>\n\n\nPhoto by Billy Steele\/Engadget<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe best way to test earphones is simply to wear them as much as possible, so that\u2019s what we do. We typically do this over a one- to two-week period, though embargo times occasionally force us to finish our review process a bit faster. We listen to a test playlist that includes several musical genres and podcasts, paying close attention to how each pair approaches the bass, mid and treble frequencies to get an accurate sense of its sound profile. We also test at high and low volumes to check for consistency in the tuning. We do not have access to a dummy head to take more objective measurements, but we\u2019ll sometimes look to sites like Rtings<\/em>, SoundGuys<\/em> and others that do just to ensure our impressions are not wildly off-base. If a model supports custom EQ, we\u2019ll tinker with that and use the available EQ presets to see if one sounds dramatically better than the others \u2014 though in general we base most of our impressions on the stock tuning each pair uses by default.<\/p>\nTo assess microphone quality, we record our own audio samples and take multiple calls with a partner both indoors and outside. For battery life, we play our test playlist on a loop with the volume around 75 percent and measure how long it takes for each set to drain. Where applicable, we do a thorough review of a pair\u2019s companion app and test each available feature. While comfort is ultimately subjective, we take note of how secure each pair feels while we\u2019re on the move. We also use certain pairs in especially crowded public spaces to get a better sense of their passive and active noise cancellation, as well as their ability to maintain a consistent Bluetooth connection.<\/p>\n
Recent updates<\/h2>\n February 2026:<\/strong> Updated to include new top picks.<\/p>\nNovember 2025<\/strong>: The lightly updated Beats Powerbeats Fit replace the older Beats Fit Pro as our top pick for working out. We\u2019ve also noted the new Google Pixel Buds 2a as a cheaper alternative to the Pixel Buds Pro 2, which remain our recommendation for Pixel phone users.<\/p>\nAugust 2025<\/strong>: We\u2019ve taken another sweep to ensure our advice is still up-to-date.<\/p>\n
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