Thanks to their portable and convenient design, earbuds and in-ear headphones are excellent daily drivers. However, they generally don't have the best microphone quality due to the distance between their microphones and your mouth and limitations in Bluetooth connectivity. In comparison, headsets designed for phone calls often have boom microphones, but they're typically bulkier. Luckily, more and more earbuds on the market strike a balance between call quality and casual versatility. It's important to recognize that earbuds can't reach the level of performance of purpose-built headsets, so you'll want to consider other aspects like ANC, ergonomics, and battery life for a well-rounded pick.
We've tested over 370 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. You also have access to a companion app that offers a graphic EQ, presets, and lots of ways to customize the buds' functionality.
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 for work. That said, the bulkier design may not suit everyone, and particularly loud background noise can trigger the more aggressive noise suppression behavior on the mic, making your voice 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.
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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 some cash, the Nothing Ear (3) are well worth checking out. Their integrated mic actually separates your voice from background noise more effectively, plus you also have access to a 'Super Mic' on the case: it has a built-in microphone, which you can use like a handheld voice recorder. Out of the box, they've got a boosted-bass tuning. You can adjust how they sound with the iOS- and Android-compatible app's parametric EQ or presets, too.
As mentioned before, you'll make some sacrifices for the lower price and better mic on this pick. The Nothing's ANC and passive isolation aren't as effective as the Sony's, though they're still very good at reducing chatter and rumble. There's also the much shorter 5.3-hour battery life to contend with. The case has an extra three charges, but you'll likely need to pop the buds in for a charge throughout the work day. Still, the Nothing have the edge in comfort and build, with a less-bulky design and more premium-feeling plastic.
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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. The CMF don't quite match the mic features and performance of the Nothing Ear (3), rendering your voice more thinly and handling noise less effectively. They'll still render your voice intelligibly over calls, but you don't have the flexibility of the built-in case microphone, either.
Still, the CMF compete with the Nothing in many respects. Noise isolation performance is slightly better, with the CMF mitigating more low-end noise like engine rumble than the Nothing. Plus, their continuous 6.5-hour battery life outlasts the Nothing's 5.3. Still, it's worth noting that the CMF aren't as comfortable, and their app is limited to a graphic EQ rather than a more customizable parametric EQ available on the Nothing.
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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 shoestring 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 cheap buds that skip extra features, these come with an ANC system. The system isn't as effective as the CMF's, but it makes the Anker a versatile performer 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 like the Apple EarPods are an easy pick. 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 (and you can hold them even closer). That makes it easier for the mic to pick up your voice and reduce some of the surrounding noise.
But as mentioned, there's no ANC, which 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. On the plus side, their universal fit may be more comfortable for some people than a deeper in-ear seal. It's worth noting that we tested the 3.5 mm version, but you can also buy a USB-C or Lightning version for the best compatibility with your device(s).
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
Jul 07, 2026:
We've replaced the Nothing Ear with the Nothing Ear (3), which have better mic performance and features. The other picks remain the same, as we've confirmed they're still relevant and in stock.
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.
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.