Thanks to their portable and convenient design, earbuds and in-ear headphones can be excellent daily options. However, they generally don't have the best microphone quality, especially when relying on a Bluetooth connection. In comparison, Bluetooth headsets designed for phone calls may have better microphones, but they often only have one earbud, making them less than ideal for listening to music during your daily commute or at work. Luckily, there are more and more earbuds on the market that strike a balance between call quality and casual versatility, which is great if you work from home or take calls on the go.
We've tested over 360 pairs of earbuds and in-ear headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best earbuds with a mic. If you're looking for our top picks for other earbuds and in-ear headphones, check our recommendations for the best in-ear headphones, the best true wireless earbuds, and the best Bluetooth headsets for phone calls.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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Best Earbuds With A Mic
WirelessTruly WirelessNoise HandlingRecording QualitySports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyThe Sony WF-1000XM6 are the best earbuds with a mic we've tested. Their integrated mic has good noise handling and captures your voice with more detail and clarity than the previous-generation Sony WF-1000XM5, so you're easier to understand in moderately busy places like cafes and offices. They're also strong daily drivers, with outstanding noise isolation that will serve you well on buses and trains. They also come with a companion app that offers a graphic EQ, presets, and lots of ways to customize the buds' features.
These earbuds also support Bluetooth multi-device pairing with up to two devices, which is handy if you regularly switch between your phone and laptop. That said, the bulkier design may not suit everyone, and particularly loud noises, such as passing trains, can trigger the mic's noise gate, making your voice much harder to understand. Their continuous battery life is over eight hours, with two extra charges in the case. That's more than enough for a long workday. If you need lower latency for gaming while on a Discord call, the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds feature a USB-C dongle that allows you to connect to phones, computers, and PlayStation consoles for reduced delay. However, they can't remain connected to three devices at once and can't block out noise as well as the Sony can.
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Best Mid-Range Earbuds With A Mic
WirelessTruly WirelessNoise HandlingRecording QualitySports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyIf you're happy to sacrifice top-tier ANC performance to save a little money, the Nothing Ear are well worth checking out. Their integrated mic has good noise handling, so your voice stays easy to follow in noisy public places. Your voice doesn't sound especially natural, but it still comes through clearly enough for calls. Their ANC isn't class-leading, but it still does a decent job of cutting down office chatter and low-pitched environmental noise, which can make it easier to focus on your conversation. They can't compete with the Sony WF-1000XM6 for use on planes or trains, but they're good enough for your home office.
The Nothing are also comfortable, stable earbuds with useful everyday features, like Bluetooth multi-device pairing, adjustable ANC, and a companion app with a comprehensive EQ. You also get 7.5 hours of continuous battery life and nearly four extra charges from the case. That said, they don't have an auto-off timer, so you'll want to put them back in the case when you're done using them.
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Best Budget Earphone With A Mic
WirelessTruly WirelessNoise HandlingRecording QualitySports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyIf you're a budget shopper, the best earphones with mic capabilities are the CMF Buds Pro 2. While they don't last as long off a single charge as the more expensive Nothing Ear, in most other respects, the two pairs of buds offer pretty similar performance. The CMF's mic thins your voice out a bit more than the Nothing's, but there's enough mid-range to keep your voice intelligible. The CMF's mic also has decent noise handling, so people will understand you even if you're taking a call in a noisy office.
It's worth noting that out of the box, the CMF have a very bass-heavy sound. Fortunately, you can tune down their low-end with the OS-agnostic phone app. Still, if you prefer a more balanced default sound, the Nothing are better. But the CMF are comfortable and equipped with a very good ANC system that actually surpasses the Nothing's. It's not as good as the Sony WF-1000XM6's ANC system, but it's enough to tune out chatty coworkers. In use, we did find the CMF's touch controls a bit fussy, but the case has a nifty control dial that serves as an additional configurable control input.
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Best Cheap Earbuds With A Mic
WirelessTruly WirelessNoise HandlingRecording QualitySports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyIf you're on a budget, the best earbuds with microphone capabilities are the Anker Soundcore P31i. You'll want to make sure you catch them on sale, as at full price, the CMF Buds Pro 2 offer slightly better value. But sales are frequent, and unlike many cheaper buds that skip extra features, these come with an ANC system. The system isn't as strong as the CMF's, but it makes the Anker more versatile in noisy environments like shared offices than most budget pairs.
Their built-in mic has reasonable recording quality and great noise handling, so your voice sounds natural enough and stays understandable even when there's a lot going on around you. That said, the plastic construction feels a bit cheap for everyday use. They also come with a warm default sound profile and an in-app graphic EQ with presets if you want to tweak the tuning. They'll last over seven hours off a single charge, and the case holds four extra charges. And unlike many budget picks, they also support Bluetooth multi-device pairing, which makes them easier to use across a phone and a laptop.
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Best Wired Earbuds With A Mic
WirelessNoNoise HandlingRecording QualityCommute/TravelSports/FitnessOfficeWireless GamingSee all our test resultsWired GamingIf clean call quality matters more to you than extra features, wired earbuds are a sensible option. They aren't as convenient as truly wireless models like the CMF Buds Pro 2, and they usually skip perks like ANC and sound customization, but their in-line microphones have a real advantage: they sit closer to your mouth. That makes it easier for the mic to pick up your voice and reduce some of the surrounding noise. The Apple EarPods are a good example. They're a much simpler and older design than the other buds here, but their mic still does a very good job of making your voice sound clear and easy to understand.
But as mentioned, there's no ANC. That makes them a bit less useful if you often take calls while out and about or in a noisy shared office. Still, their default sound is balanced, though there's a roll-off in the bass that's typical of open-fit earbuds. Their wired design also means you don't get nifty extras like a companion app to customize their sound to your preferences. Still, their universal fit may be more comfortable for some people than a deeper in-ear seal.
Notable Mentions
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Apple AirPods Pro 3:
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are earbuds intended for use within the Apple ecosystem. By default, they're less customizable than most flagship earbuds like the Sony WF-1000XM6, and they can't be modified on Android devices without the use of a third-party application. However, their microphone system performs amazingly well when paired with Apple's proprietary 'Voice Isolation' calling features (available on newer Apple devices).
See our review -
Technics EAH-AZ100:
The Technics EAH-AZ100 are impressive all-rounders that are a bit more comfortable than the Sony WF-1000XM6. But the Sony's ANC is a touch better, and their mic reproduces your voice more accurately.
See our review -
Devialet Gemini II True Wireless:
The Devialet Gemini II True Wireless are premium earbuds with remarkable ANC performance, making them a strong option for calls in noisy places. But their battery lasts less than five hours, which is a big step down from the Sony WF-1000XM6's eight.
See our review
Recent Updates
Apr 13, 2026:
Our new top pick are the Sony WF-1000XM6, with the Technics EAH-AZ100 now a Notable Mention. We've added the Nothing Ear as a new mid-range pick, making the CMF Buds Pro 2 our budget pick. The Anker Soundcore P31i replace the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless as our cheap pick. We've removed our 'Best Premium' pick, so the Devialet Gemini II True Wireless are now a Notable Mention. The Apple EarPods replace the SteelSeries TUSQ as our 'Best Wired' pick. Finally, we removed the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro and the Turtle Beach Battle Buds from our Notable Mentions.
Jan 08, 2026:
We've replaced the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE with the CMF Buds Pro 2 as our mid-range pick in response to accumulated reports of microphone issues. We've also made minor edits to the article, adding both the Apple AirPods Pro 3 and SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds.
Sep 19, 2025:
Due to dwindling stock levels, we've replaced the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 with the Technics EAH-AZ100 as the top pick for this article. Otherwise, we've made minor changes to the text throughout this article to ensure everything is up-to-date.
Mar 05, 2025:
We've removed the Logitech G333 from the Notable Mentions due to their limited stock. While our picks haven't changed, we've updated the text for accuracy.
Dec 09, 2024:
We've adjusted our picks and minor text edits for clarity. The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 replace the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed as our top pick, with the latter included as a comparison for users who care about latency. We removed the upper mid-range and noise cancelling picks, as the top pick is now cheaper and has top-tier ANC. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro Truly Wireless are now a Notable Mention as they have good recording quality.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best earbuds with a mic for most people. 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'd like to choose for yourself, here's the list of all earbuds and in-ear headphones we've tested with a mic. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will play a greater role in your selection.