The 7 Best Earphones With A Mic - Spring 2020
Reviews

The best earphones with a mic we've tested so far are the Jabra Elite 65e. They're impressively well-built, comfortable, wireless noise cancelling earbuds that have a surprisingly decent in-line microphone. Their controls are easy-to-use and let you not only take or end calls, but also mute their mic or activate hear-though mode quickly on-the-go.

Bluetooth microphones generally sound pretty mediocre, but this one actually performs reasonably well. Your voice won't sound as natural and full-bodied as it would with a wired headset, but you should still sound clear and easy-to-understand, even in noisier environments. This makes these earbuds a solid choice if you have to take a lot of calls while commuting and don't want to have to deal with the hassle of a wired mic.

While their 8-hour battery life is decent, it's starting to lag behind what some more recent wireless models can do. It should still be enough for a full work day, though, especially since they have a standby mode to save power. Their neckband design won't be for everyone, especially because it's a bit on the heavier side. That said, if you like being able to have your earphones always at arms' reach, then they're the best choice if you care about mic quality.

The best truly wireless earbuds with a mic are the Jabra Evolve 65t. They’re designed for conference calls over a computer and are available in either a UC-certified or Skype for Business version, depending on what type of software you're using at work. They're also compatible with a dedicated desktop program that provides a number of customization options for the microphone

These earbuds are a variant of the Jabra Elite 65t Truly Wireless and come with a USB 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're the best earbuds with a microphone 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, then these headphones are a solid choice.