The 7 Best True Wireless Earbuds - Spring 2024 Reviews

The Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless are the best true wireless earbuds we've tested. These high-end buds are the next generation of the Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless and have improved overall performance. They use memory foam ear tips alongside their active noise cancelling (ANC) system to reduce a significant amount of ambient sound. The ear tips do most of the heavy lifting for those high-pitched noises like chatty neighbors and dish clatter, as the ANC mostly targets bass-range noise like bus rumbles or a clothes dryer.

With the ANC on, they last well over eight hours continuously, and their case holds a couple of extra charges if needed. Out of the box, their warm sound profile adds a touch of extra boom to mixes without overwhelming vocals and instruments, plus they support 3D audio with compatible sources. You can also finetune their sound using their app's graphic EQ and presets. These buds support LDAC, which is Sony's proprietary codec for streaming Hi-Res audio, and multi-device pairing. Unfortunately, not everyone will find their fit comfortable, especially if you have small ear canals.

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless are a great option if you're looking for premium buds at a slightly lower price point. While they don't have sound customization features like the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless, they 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 warm sound profile, so your audio has a bit of extra boom and cozy-sounding vocals and instruments. They don't block out as much ambient noise as the Sony, but their ANC still offers 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 with 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.

Consider the Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless for something more reasonably priced. These earbuds have a less secure fit for most and aren't as well-built as the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless, but they still offer a great all-around performance. Their ANC feature does an excellent job of reducing noise like rumbling engines during your commute. They also support multi-device pairing, meaning you can stay connected with your phone and computer simultaneously.

They come in more colors than the Apple, so you can choose bright options like 'Coral' and 'Lemongrass.' Their V-shaped sound profile adds rumble and punch to your audio and keeps instruments and vocals clear and bright. You can also customize the sound with an in-app graphic EQ and presets. They include some features unique to the brand, like access to Google Translate for live translation. However, these buds aren't as stable for most, and some features, like spatial audio with head tracking, remain exclusive to those with newer Google Pixel phones.

If you're willing to spend a little more, the Jabra Elite 10 True Wireless offer a more comfortable fit and better stability, making them less likely to slip out of your ears during workouts. While their ANC feature blocks out less noise, their built-in mic handles noise better, so they work for phone calls in noisy environments more effectively than the Google earbuds.

If you're looking for affordable earbuds, the lower mid-range Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless are a great model for starting your search. 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 various 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 to adjust to the noise around you. It does a fantastic job of blocking out ambient sound and filters out low-pitched 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 have a case that holds an additional four charges.

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC True Wireless offer a similar performance but feature a stem design that protrudes from your ear, providing more stability. They have a bassier sound profile than the Space A40, which will suit fans of EDM and hip-hop, while their mic has a better recording quality. However, the Space A40 provide greater attenuation against bass range noise, and it's easier to achieve a consistent sound delivery with them.

Check out the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless for wireless earbuds at an affordable price. Unlike many budget-friendly options, they have a companion app, which gives you more control over their performance. The sound adds some extra thump in the bass and a bit of brightness to sibilants (S and T sounds) and harmonics in your audio. You can change the tuning to your taste by using the companion app's parametric EQ and presets. Besides the app's EQ, the feature is pretty spartan, so if you care about multi-device pairing or LDAC support, consider the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless instead.

The buds are decently secure and lightweight, with a durable IP54 rating against dust and water. Their long battery life of more than eight hours can get you through a workday's worth of continuous playback. The passive isolation can block a small amount of low-pitched rumbles and a good amount of chatter, but they don't have ANC, so look at our lower mid-range pick to filter low-pitched noise. Their mic sounds decent in a quiet environment but struggles to separate noise from speech. For a slightly better mic, the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless handle noise better. They have a lot of similarities, although these have a somewhat shorter continuous battery life and one less charge stored in the case. However, they do have a lid.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless are the best noise cancelling earbuds we've tested. Both the Bose and the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless are premium earbuds, but if you want something that suppresses a range of ambient noise, the Bose are the best pick. While the Sony reduce more noise overall, this is largely due to their memory foam ear tip design, which significantly contributes to their passive isolating capabilities. On the other hand, the Bose use shallower silicone ear tips, which put less pressure on your ear canals. Their ANC handily tackles bus rumbles, street traffic, and high-pitched fans. The buds boast a respectable seven hours of continuous playback with ANC on, and you get three extra charges from the case.

They have a relatively neutral sound profile that's less bass-heavy than the Sony but still provide plenty of thump and rumble. They feature the same CustomTune technology as the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless, which adapts the sound profile and noise isolation performance to the shape of your ears. However, this newest generation includes features like Immersive Audio—a spatial audio technology that uses head-tracking to create a more immersive, 3D sound. That said, their integrated mic's noise-handling performance is poor, and they lack Bluetooth multi-device pairing, so you'll have to manually pair and unpair devices if you want to switch audio sources.

Lace up your sneakers and grab the Beats Powerbeats Pro Truly Wireless for the best truly wireless earbuds for running we've tested. They come gym-ready with secure and malleable over-ear hooks, so you won't have to worry about them falling out. Their IPX4 rating can handle some splashes of water, and their long battery life means you can go to the gym several times or wear them through a marathon without needing a recharge. If you're caught with a low battery, they also have a quick charge function, although they use a Lightning cable, which is inconvenient for some people.

If you have an iOS device, the buds use an H1 chip to optimize your connection, and after your workout, you can seamlessly switch to your Apple device or computer. They have the right amount of boom and thump, with clear lead instruments and a warmer top-end that veils sibilant sounds like S and T, which works great for rock and dance music.

If you prefer to hear your environment to run safely, the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds Truly Wireless are uniquely designed to clip onto the bottom of your ears. As a result, your ear canals stay open for greater awareness of your surroundings than the Beats. The Bose's innovative design is very stable for workouts and has an IPX4 rating. Unfortunately, like most open-fits, they don't have much bass on tap, and while they sound great for your favorite podcast, you might miss the extra thump in your music compared to the more balanced sound of the Beats.

For more options to keep up with your runs, check out the best wireless earbuds for running and working out.