The 7 Best Earphones With A Mic - Winter 2020
Reviews

The best earbuds with a mic that we’ve tested so far are the Jabra Elite 65e. They're wireless earbuds with a neckband design, which are comfortable but may not suit everyone's taste. Although they don't look particularly premium, the build quality is great, with a strong but flexible neckband that should last a while. They also come with a soft carrying case to minimize scuffs, but won't be able to fully protect against any drops or impacts.

The sound quality of these earbuds is mediocre but consistent. The bass is too prominent and there's a spike in the treble, which can cause some sharpness and sibilance. The mids are slightly recessed, making vocals and lead instruments sound further back in the mix. Jabra does have a mobile companion app that has a graphic EQ, though, so you can customize the sound to suit your taste of music. But what matters most here is the quality of the microphone. In quiet environments, speech sounds clear and full-bodied, but even in tougher situations, the microphone is still able to separate speech from background noise. If that's not enough, these headphones also have active noise cancelling that performs admirably. With ANC on, you can expect an average of 8.5 hours of continuous playback.

Another well-appreciated feature is multi-device pairing, which lets you have two devices paired to the headphones at once, making it easier to switch between them. If you want to use these headphones for watching videos or gaming, however, they won't be ideal, as there's simply too much latency. But overall, if you want the best headphones to make calls with, the Jabra Elite 65e are worth considering.

The best truly wireless earbuds with a mic are the Jabra Evolve 65t. They don’t have active noise cancelling like the Jabra Elite 65e Wireless, but they have more customization options for the microphone. They’re designed to be used with your computer and are available in a UC-certified or Skype for Business version.

These earbuds are a variant of the Jabra Elite 65t Truly Wireless and come with a PC adapter that helps enhance the microphone performance. They sound okay, isolate a fair amount of noise, and have a decent battery. However, there’s a noticeable difference in microphone recording quality between the two. The Evolve’s microphone sounds more detailed and less muffled, which is great for conference calls.

Unfortunately, they have a bulky in-ear design that some people find uncomfortable, especially those with smaller ears. They're also rather expensive. If you have the budget, they’re worth considering, but they may not be worth the investment for everyone.

If you like a simple wired design and like the fit of in-ear headphones, then get the Beats urBeats3. They have the best microphone quality of any wired in-ear or earbud headphones we've tested so far and provide satisfactory sound performance.

Their in-line microphone has very good recording quality but unfortunately, like most earbuds and in-ears, it doesn’t perform as well in noisy environments, meaning they may not be great for phone calls on-the-go. However, in quiet situations, speech will sound relatively full and natural. Their sound is fairly versatile but will be better-suited for bass-heavy genres like EDM or hip-hop.

On the downside, their in-line controls don't work entirely on Android, only on iOS. On Android, the volume can't be controlled at all from the remote and the voice assistant button doesn't always work. This isn't an issue for iOS devices but can be a problem for Android users.

If you own a Samsung device, the best earphones with a mic in the budget category are the Samsung U Flex. Being wireless, their microphone doesn’t perform as well as that of the Beats urBeats3 Earphones, but it’s still decent, especially for Bluetooth earbuds. These earphones have a flexible, easy-to-use neckband design that ensures your music is always at arm’s reach, and they are fairly comfortable.

These wireless earphones are compatible with the Samsung Level app, which provides a lot of customizable features. With a Samsung phone or tablet, you get access to a graphic EQ with presets, room effects, volume monitors, and a music playback timer, on top of other features like notification management. The earphones themselves have a good 11.5-hour battery life and can even be used while charging, which is quite rare for wireless earbuds.

Unfortunately, the Samsung Level app only provides full functionality on Samsung devices. It’s rather limited on Android and non-existent on iOS. On the upside, their controls work with all Bluetooth-compatible platforms. If you’re a Samsung fan and are looking for a versatile budget headset with a decent, then these headphones are a solid choice.