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The 8 Best True Wireless Earbuds - Spring 2023 Reviews

Updated
Best True Wireless Earbuds

Truly wireless earbuds are fairly new in the headphones market. While there were several models made by lesser-known brands for a couple of years, they didn't become immensely popular until Apple released the first AirPods in late 2016. Since then, almost every company has thrown its hat in the ring. What used to be a relatively expensive product that lacked features is now available at every price point, with a performance that can match regular Bluetooth in-ears. While truly wireless headphones can't quite match the battery life of larger Bluetooth headphones, most popular options come with a charging case to extend their overall battery life while away from a charger.

We've tested over 165 pairs of truly wireless earbuds and in-ear headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best options. They tend to cost more than ordinary earbuds, so check out our picks for the best cheap earbuds if you're looking for something more budget-friendly. You can also take a look at the best in-ears and earbuds, the best earbuds for iPhone, and the best wireless earbuds for more options.


  1. Best True Wireless Earbuds

    The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are the best true wireless earbuds we've tested. These premium buds are the next generation of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless and have a less bulky design than their predecessor, which makes them very comfortable for long listening sessions. Although they're still a bit larger than other picks on this list, their build holds an outstanding noise cancelling (ANC) system. Whether traveling by bus or working at the office, these buds can block out a lot of noise, meaning you can focus on your audio. They last roughly 6.7 hours continuously, and their carrying case supplies an additional three charges if you need it.

    Their sound has more bass than what we measured as the shape of our test rig's ear canals impacts their bass delivery. However, subjectively, you can expect more boom, which muddies and clutters vocals and instruments. If you prefer a different sound, their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you fine-tune their sound. Unfortunately, despite their high-end price, they don't support multi-device pairing, so you can only connect them with one device at a time.

    See our review

  2. Best Upper Mid-Range True Wireless Earbuds

    The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless are a great option if you're looking for cheaper earbuds but still want a premium experience. These earbuds are better built than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless and offer a few features for iOS that you might appreciate if you're an iPhone or MacBook user. Their H2 chip helps with easy pairing to Apple devices, and they support Spatial Audio, a surround sound feature meant to create a more immersive listening experience with compatible content.

    Their adaptive EQ results in a somewhat warm sound profile, so your audio has a bit of extra boom and cozy-sounding vocals and instruments. Unlike the previous pick, they don't have an app with sound customization features like an EQ. Their ANC feature isn't as effective as the Boses', so they block out less ambient sound overall, but it offers an excellent overall performance with a wide range of noise, including rumbling bus and plane engines. The earbuds last just under six hours of continuous use with ANC on and come with a case that holds four extra charges. They have a comfortable fit for most people, but you might find they wiggle out of your ears after a while and require repositioning.

    See our review

  3. Best Mid-Range True Wireless Earbuds

    For something a bit more reasonably priced, consider the Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless. These earbuds have a less comfortable fit for most and aren't as well-built as the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation), but they still offer a great all-around performance. Their ANC feature has a similarly excellent performance, so they can help reduce distracting background conversations at the office or rumbling engines during your commute. They support multi-device pairing, which is nice if you switch between your phone and computer. Unlike the Bose or Apple, they come in multiple bright colors like coral and lemongrass.

    They have a slightly v-shaped sound profile that adds rumble and punch in the bass range and brightness to vocals and instruments. You might find sibilants like cymbals a bit piercing, but they work with an app with a graphic EQ, presets, and sound customization. These earbuds are less stable and comfortable compared to the previous two picks. The buds have a bulky design, and if you don't get a good fit, they can pop out of your ears. That said, they come with a few differently-sized ear tips to help with getting a good fit. They have a solid 7.6-hour continuous battery life, with their case supplying almost two extra charges.

    See our review

  4. Best Lower Mid-Range True Wireless Earbuds

    If you're looking for affordable earbuds, you might want to start your search in the lower mid-range with the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless. These earbuds don't have a virtual surround sound feature. Their warm sound profile lacks thump and rumble, making them less well-suited for bass-heavy music. However, it's well-balanced enough for a variety of genres, and if you prefer a different sound, you can use the app's graphic EQ and presets for sound customization. They support LDAC, Sony's codec for hi-res audio via Bluetooth.

    They also have an adaptive ANC system meant to adjust to the noise around you. It does a fantastic job of blocking out ambient sound and isolates from bass-range noise like rumbling engines more effectively than the Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless. The earbuds last more than eight hours of continuous use with ANC on, and they come with a case that holds an additional four charges.

    See our review

  5. Best Budget True Wireless Earbuds

    For truly wireless earbuds that won't break the bank, check out the Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless. These well-built earbuds stand out from the crowd as their carrying case holds more than 12 extra charges. Although one charge lasts just over seven hours, their total battery life nears almost 100 hours, which is practically unheard of for truly wireless buds. They also enter a standby mode to help conserve battery life if you forget to turn them off. Also, while they don't have an ANC system, they do a good job of passively isolating you from office-type noise like ambient chatter and humming A/C units.

    They come with a selection of differently-sized ear tips and stability fins, and they're decently comfortable once you find a good fit. Their sound profile is also well-balanced, with some extra bass that lends more thump and rumble to mixes. Unfortunately, unlike the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, they aren't compatible with the Anker Soundcore app. They also don't come with any sound customization features like an EQ or presets to help you fine-tune their sound.

    See our review

  6. Best Truly Wireless Earbuds Under $25

    The best wireless earbuds under $25 we've tested are the JLab Audio Go Air POP True Wireless. These cheap earbuds don't have stand-out features like the Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless' extremely long battery life, and like the previous pick, they don't have an EQ for sound customization. You can cycle through a few EQ presets with the onboard controls. With the default EQ setting, they have a bass-rich sound that adds punch and boom to your audio without overwhelming instruments and vocals.

    They're well-built and rated IPX4 for resistance against light water exposure. Their stable fit makes them a solid inexpensive choice for the gym. They don't have ANC and don't passively isolate from as much noise as the Anker, but they do a decent job of blocking out ambient sound. They have a long nine-hour continuous battery life, meaning they can last through a workday or long flight, and their case holds three extra charges. The case's charging cable is built into it, which can be convenient but also means that you need to replace the earbuds if the cable gets damaged.

    See our review

  7. Best Sounding True Wireless Earbuds

    The Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless are the best-sounding true wireless earbuds we've tested. Compared to the similarly priced Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, these buds have a very flat sound profile by default, so you can expect a neutral sound without having to play around with settings. There's just enough bass to give your mixes thump, punch, and boom, while vocals and lead instruments sound clear and accurate. You can customize them to your liking using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets if you prefer a different sound. The app also offers 'MySound', a feature that allows the headphones to optimize their sound to your unique hearing characteristics.

    These buds have a comfortable fit suitable for long listening sessions and are well-built. They last over eight hours continuously too, and their carrying case holds an additional three charges, which is handy in a pinch. Although they have an ANC system, it doesn't offer a better noise isolation performance compared to their passive capabilities. They can still block a decent amount of sound, like ambient chatter.

    See our review

  8. Best Truly Wireless Earbuds For Running

    The Jaybird Vista 2 Truly Wireless are the best Βluetooth earbuds for running we've tested. Unlike other picks on this list, these buds have a rugged and sturdy build, rated IP68, meaning they're fully dust-tight and protected from water immersion, making them a solid choice for tough hikes and outdoor activity. They're also very comfortable and have a stable in-ear fit, so they won't move around or fall out during a run. The case is also rated IP54 for dust and water resistance, so you can toss it in a bag without worrying about dirt or rain damaging your headphones.

    These earbuds have a well-balanced default sound profile that you can customize with a parametric EQ and presets in the headphones' companion app. While their roughly five hours of continuous battery life is a bit short for a 9-5 workday, it'll last through most workouts, and their case holds a few extra charges. Unfortunately, even though they have an ANC feature, it doesn't offer a very good noise isolation performance, so they aren't ideal if you want to isolate yourself from noise at the gym. That may not be an issue if you run outside since it makes it a little easier to stay aware of your surroundings.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless: The Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless are high-end earbuds packed with features, like a very good ANC, over 10 hours of continuous battery life, and sound customization features via their companion app. However, their sound profile isn't as balanced as the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless. See our review
  • Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless: The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro Truly Wireless are sleek in-ears with a great noise isolation performance. However, their 4.7-hour continuous battery life is shorter than the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless, and they don't feel as well-built. See our review
  • Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Truly Wireless: The Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Truly Wireless are earbuds with an adaptive EQ feature, which adjusts their sound to how they fit your ears. However, not everyone will find their earbud shape comfortable or stable since they don't fit deeply into your ears. They won't block out much ambient noise compared to traditional in-ears like the Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless. See our review
  • Anker SoundCore Life P3 Truly Wireless: The Anker SoundCore Life P3 Truly Wireless are slightly more affordable than the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless without sacrificing features like a high-powered ANC and companion app support. However, the A40 still have a better overall noise isolation performance, and they support multi-device pairing. See our review
  • Beats Powerbeats Pro Truly Wireless: The Beats Powerbeats Pro Truly Wireless are sports-oriented buds with ear hooks to hold the headphones in place while you're running. They have an H1 chip, so you can quickly pair them with Apple devices, but their sound isn't as customizable as the Jaybird Vista 2 Truly Wireless. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Feb 10, 2023: Checked that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock.

  2. Dec 09, 2022: We've overhauled this article to better align it with user expectations. We've removed the following picks: the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless. We added the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless, Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless, Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, and JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless.

  3. Jun 22, 2022: We've rehauled this article to create better recommendations. Added the Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless as 'Best Sounding True Wireless Earbuds' and removed the Beats Powerbeats Pro Wireless. Removed the Skullcandy Dime True Wireless, Skullcandy Sesh Truly Wireless, Jabra Elite Active 65t Truly Wireless, Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless, Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Truly Wireless, Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless, Anker SoundCore Life P2 Truly Wireless, and Samsung Galaxy Buds Live from Notable Mentions.

  4. Apr 20, 2022: Checked that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock.

  5. Feb 22, 2022: Checked our picks for availability and product accuracy. There hasn't been a change in our recommendations.

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best earbuds buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for truly wireless headphones. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.

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