📝 usncan Note: Best Wireless Earbuds 2025 – Forbes Vetted
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As the Forbes Vetted consumer tech editor, I test a lot of earbuds. To earn my recommendation, they need to have great sound, stellar noise cancellation, a long battery life and intuitive controls. After testing 24 pairs over the span of several months, I found that there’s no one-size-fits-all best wireless earbuds for everyone. My top pick is the Technics EAH-AH100S Wireless Earbuds, which combine incredible audio quality, decent noise cancellation and battery life—by far the best blend of all the pairs I tested. But, they’re not going to be everyone’s favorite.
The Technics EAH-AH100S are my top pick for the best wireless earbuds of 2025.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes
If you value excellent active noise cancellation (ANC) above all else, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds should be your go-to choice instead. And if you’re not keen on spending hundreds of dollars, there are plenty of other worthy options. My top budget pick, the OnePlus Buds 3, can get you great sound for less than $80. Others, like the premium Denon PerL Pros, use AI to enhance audio based on your ear shape. Based on rigorous testing with 24 sets over several months, here are my picks for the best wireless earbuds.
Best for:
- Those who want a solid balance of audio quality and battery life
- Sounding great out of the box without finagling with audio settings
- Folks who think wireless charging is a must-have
Skip if:
- You value active noise cancellation
- You balk at spending three figures on a pair of wireless earbuds
The Technics EAH-AH100S Wireless Earbuds is the top winner: They offer a great blend of battery life, audio quality and ANC, and the design feels very sturdy as well. The earbuds are built with a blend of sturdy plastic and aluminum. Underneath that durable build, each earbud sports a 10mm magnetic fluid driver. That helps makes these earbuds sounds great when I tested them across a slew of genres.
The best wireless earbuds overall is the Technics EAH-AZ100S.
Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes
Audio-Rich Straight Out Of The Box
These earbuds sound wonderful right out of the box—you don’t need to adjust anything, great if you don’t want to worry about EQ settings. I enjoyed the Dynamic mode because I needed the deep bass on the Arcane series soundtracks, which has become my go-to for testing for those low frequencies and sharp guitar riffs across the curated tracks. It hit all of these without this setting, but Bass Boost and Super Bass Boost (two separate options), are also available for those who thrive on extra power.
All-Day Listening With 10 Hours Of Battery
Battery life is also stellar. With ANC on, the earbuds last up to 10 hours. Comparatively, my former top pick for ANC, the Bose QuietComfort Ultras, only last up to six hours on a charge. It’s long enough that I can go days without charging them, especially on days when I’m only using these for my subway commutes. And unlike the Bose QuietComfort Ultras, they feature wireless charging, which came in handy on the rare occasions when I needed to charge them.
The Technics EAH-AZ100S have a rounded design with aluminum elements.
Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes
Effective Noise Cancellation, With Room For Improvement
That said, my biggest gripe is the ANC: Even after testing in loud spaces and making adjustments, it’s good, but could be better. It effectively tunes out the schoolchildren that play right outside my home, but fell short of eliminating the screechy NYC MTA subway system. And I could still hear ambient noise on planes as well. That said, they offer an ambient mode as well—an adjustable noise blocking feature that can reduce, say, light coffee shop chatter while allowing you to hear traffic as examples.
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Best for:
- Those who prioritize noise cancellation
- Its intuitive app, which offers flexibility without diving too much into the details
Skip if:
- You value battery life
- You balk at high price tags
- You don’t want to pay extra for wireless charging
The noise canceling found in the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is unparalleled. During my testing, there were multiple times that I didn’t hear my husband approach until he tapped my shoulder. Subway rides also were also muted and I could enjoy reading my Kindle Paperwhite in near silence, quite a feat considering how deafening New York City public transit can be.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds feature an oval-shaped eartip for ergonomic comfort.
Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes
Minimal EQ Adjustments, Maximum Sound Quality
While the equalizer adjustment controls are minimal (you can change the earbuds’ frequencies for bass, mids and trebles up to six levels in either direction), they get the job done, and it’s not fully necessary to adjust them at all. I found myself only tweaking them a bit to enhance the bass, since the audio quality is so good out of the box. And if you find yourself swapping between your laptop and phone regularly, they support multipoint connectivity.
Downsides: Short Battery Life And A Bulky Case
All said, there are a couple drawbacks that left me less than enthused. For one, the battery life is relatively short; I wore them on a transcontinental flight and used them in the airport, thinking I would get a full six hours with ANC on, but I heard the dreaded low battery notification mid-flight. It’s not the end of the world—a quick 15-minute charge gets you another two hours in a pinch—but it’s a big enough drawback that if you want long-lasting earbuds, look elsewhere. Secondly, the case is a bulky beast that does not offer wireless charging, and you need to pay an additional $49 for a wireless charging case. I personally find this insulting, considering the already-costly $299 sticker price.
A Close Runner-Up To The Technics
The Bose’s QuietComfort Ultras would have been my top choice based solely on sound quality, because yes, it’s that good, even edging out the Technics. In fact, they were my top pick until I cross-tested Technics, and after extensive evaluation, the battery life and lack of wireless charging keeps them from nabbing top billing. Finally to clarify, the brand has wireless headphones with the same name that also happen to be the best wireless headphones you can get, so keep this in mind when shopping to avoid confusion. You can read more about these earbuds in my review.
Best for:
- Enjoying music on the go without spending a fortune
- Wearing earbuds for hours in comfort
Skip if:
- You want a dedicated app to control the earbuds
- You are not a fan of touch controls
The OnePlus Buds 3 feel like a dark horse winner as my best budget pick, but after extensive testing, they’re truly the best if you’re being mindful of your spending—Priced under $100, they’re the most affordable option on this list.
Sensitive Controls And Rudimentary App Features
The earbuds come with touch controls, which is mostly fine, though during testing I learned the hard way not to apply a lot of pressure. If you do, the earbuds shift in your ear canal. They won’t fall out–they were quite secure in my ear–but it can be annoying. A simple tap or gentle long press is all you need to control them. If you’re not an iPhone or OnePlus phone user, then the app may also give you pause. The Hey Melody app for Android users doesn’t get as deep into the frequency weeds as other earbud apps, like the Denon PerL Pros. Still, it does a solid job of delivering the basics, including four listening profiles and the ability to create a custom profile via five different frequency settings.
The OnePlus Buds 3 have a sleek design that fit snugly and comfortably in my ears.
Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes
Surprisingly Good Sound Quality For The Price
Looking past the app, though, the price/value ratio wowed me. The audio felt detailed and rich, especially once I turned on OnePlus 3D Audio (the brand’s version of spatial audio). I also completed a sound test profile to help finesse my listening experience, which enhanced some areas that I felt were lacking. Could the audio be better? Absolutely—the bass in particular could be stronger. But at that point, you’re looking at spending three figures on the Bose or the Denons to get that high-quality deep bass. These earbuds cost under $100, and for the price, you get pretty darn good audio.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro wireless earbuds don’t offer the single best audio quality, and the ANC isn’t the absolute best on the market. But when I’m heading into the subway, or when I’m about to hop on a plane, they’re the pair I always take with me. I’ve had them since last July’s Samsung Unpacked, and after testing them for several months with my Android device, they’ve become my top pick for the category because they represent the best combination of ANC, audio quality and more for Android users.
A Familiar Design With Lasting Comfort
Yes, they mimic the Apple AirPods’ design—that’s something the company caught flack for at the initial launch. But that design wears comfortably in my ears and I can keep them in for long hours without my ears feeling itchy, a problem I experience with most wireless earbuds. With many earbuds offering touch controls, the physical buttons on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro feel like a boon in a sea of accidental touches, something that I’ve had happen more times thanks to my bushy hair.
The Samsung Buds 3 Pros look similar in design to the Apple AirPods, but they’re built for Android users.
Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes
Personalize Your Listening Through The App
Head to the app when you want to adjust your ANC levels. There you’ll also find a few audio presets, including balanced, dynamic and bass boost. Personally, I found dynamic to be the most effective, but your mileage and preferences may vary. Other useful features include 360 audio which aims to place you in the middle of the action, and you can also turn on head-tracking if that suits you. Songs like Florence and the Machine’s “King” and “Cosmic Love” sounded rich and detailed. I typically test audio for the balance of the harp in the latter against the rest of the instrumentals. While further into the song, the harp was hard to distinguish, it’s still good enough for most needs.
Seamless Integration With Samsung Phones (But Not Others)
Because they pair best with Samsung phones and I use the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, I can open the settings and see the battery life at a glance from the Bluetooth display. But that leads to another caveat: Android versus iOS. If you have an Android phone—particularly a Samsung device—these earbuds integrate just fine. If you have iOS, though, you may have a problem, as Apple users don’t have access some of the Wear app integrations. And to an extent, this affects Google Pixel users, too. But if you have a Samsung phone, these are absolutely the earbuds to get. And they’re still pretty rad for most other Android phones, too.
Best for:
- Staying smack dab in middle of the Apple ecosystem
- Talking to others without pausing audio (via Conversation Awareness)
- Spatial audio when watching content on your iPhone
Skip if:
- You don’t want to spend too much on your earbuds
- You want more EQ customization control
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are the best wireless earbuds for Apple users: They feature Apple’s sleek design with silicone ear tips to help them stay firmly in your ears. One of my biggest concerns with any stem design was that they may fall out, but no matter how hard I jumped around, I simply couldn’t get these to budge. The stem design also makes it easy to use the touch controls.
Better Sound Quality Than Comparable Models From Apple
The audio quality rivals that of another pair of AirPods I tested, the Apple AirPods 4 With Active Noise Cancellation. Whereas I spotted some detrimental differences in the mids and basses on the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 nailed these frequencies and balances on two songs, Florence and The Machine’s “Cosmic Love” and “King.”
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 have stems for easy-access controls and oval-shaped silicone ear tips for a comfortable fit.
Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes
ANC That Detects When You’re In Conversation
Apple’s ANC includes a mode called Conversation Awareness that automatically allows you to hear what’s going on around you when it recognizes that you’re talking to someone. It was great when I worked at home and wanted to tune out the schoolchildren in my neighborhood—but there were moments when I was listening to music and it mistakenly thought my husband speaking to me and subdued the audio; in reality, he was conversing with his parents in the same room I was trying to zone out in.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 jut out from the ears a little bit thanks to the built-in stem.
Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes
Built-In Hearing Loss Detection
One of the coolest features by far is the built-in Hearing Loss Detection. Launched September 2024, you can use your AirPods Pro 2 to detect if you have hearing loss. Make sure you’re in a quiet room when taking the test—the test will stop if it detects any noise. Fans, as I learned, do count as noise. But once completed, it can tell you if you have any kind of hearing loss. (I have no or mild hearing loss, according to the tests). If you do have hearing loss, they come with an FDA-approved Hearing Aid feature to help enhance your hearing.
Durable With Adequate Battery Life
The AirPods are also rated for IP54 water-, sweat- and dustproofing, so you can use them during workouts without worry. As for its battery life, it’s on par with Apple’s claim of 5.5 hours with ANC on, based on my testing (and six hour without). It’s also a little more than the AirPods 4’s four hours with ANC, too. It’s not the best by far, but if you aren’t taking them on an international flight, then they’re perfectly fine for most needs.
Best for:
- Getting best-in-class audio quality
- Adjusting your music exactly the way you want it
Skip if:
- You don’t want giant discs in your ears
- You don’t want to spend hundreds on a pair of earbuds
I’ve tested countless earbuds, but it’s not every day that I find a pair with sound that sets a new bar for audio quality. That’s exactly what happened when I tried the Denon PerL Pro wireless earbuds. Yes, they look like giant discs and feel a little unwieldy in my ears. But in my estimation, the audio quality is comparable products in the $300 price range.
The Denon PerL Pros have a unique build.
Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes
A Personalized Experience For Audiophiles
Interestingly, Denon refers to the earbuds’ ANC as the Immersion mode, and the earbuds “scan” your ears to customize the way it interacts with your ears. It sounds cool, and if you want more control over your personalization, you can, but I don’t recommend it—the scan works just fine, and it’s designed for audiophiles that want to tinker with every single frequency.
A Sound Profile That Excels With Specific Genres
Once I’d completed the scan and switched modes, audio was something of a mixed bag. Ashnikko’s songs sounded bass-heavy, while Florence and the Machine’s catalogue sounded incredible. I could hear every layer with clarity, even with the bass feeling overpowered during “Dog Days Are Over.” I also cross-tested with two other Florence songs, “King” and “Cosmic Love,” and found that for once I could clearly hear the bass on the former and every pluck of the harp on the latter. It was simply delightful.
Remember when I mentioned they look unwieldy in my ears? They dwarf my ears when worn.
Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes
Caveats: A Bulky Design And Limited ANC
However, there are some minor caveats to consider before splurging on these. They look like giant discs stuffed into your ears, and for those who thrive on subtlety and sleekness, that may be off-putting. The other issue is the “Immersion” ANC mode: You can’t control it. I’ve found in my travels that the ANC could be improved, as it’s not the strongest compared to the Bose QuietComfort Ultras or even the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.
Best for:
- Gaming on the go, on your phone, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck and more
- Enjoying a Bluetooth or 2.4GHz connection
- Getting spatial audio for gaming on the go
Skip if:
- You’re not a gamer
- You want multipoint connectivity
When the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds launched, I took them on two flights to test them for my full-length review. Even after returning home, I found myself skipping my SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro wireless headset in favor of these earbuds.
A Secure Fit With Reliable Controls
SteelSeries nailed the comfort level right off the bat, offering three ear tips sizes to suit most needs, and the design fits snugly in my ear. Another key feature I appreciate is the physical button controls. It may sound surprising considering the industry shift to touch controls, but it’s a huge factor on why I keep coming back to these as my main gaming headset. Simply put, there are no accidental touches if you brush your hair behind your ear during gaming.
The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds feature physical buttons.
Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes
Exceptional Gaming Audio, But Lacks Multipoint Connectivity
The Arctis’ audio for music is quite good, but its real claim to fame is its gaming audio. You get spatial audio for gaming in a compact, portable package. It’s good enough that when battling in Far Cry 6, I can still hear movements clearly on one earbud versus the other. I can also hear the direction enemies move from—that’s very important as a gamer, and props to SteelSeries for factoring it into this compact package. SteelSeries products, including the Arctis GameBuds, also offer a special EQ software called Sonar. Typically installed on a PC, in this case, it also comes in the form of an app. Unfortunately, there’s one big caveat for gamers, though: no multipoint connectivity.
Impressive Performance And Battery Life
As earbuds, this pick doesn’t quite rival the best gaming headsets when it comes to a truly immersive experience. Also, the battery life is underwhelming at 10 hours, since gaming headsets can pack in anything from 20 to 300 hours of use before needing a recharge. But in the realm of wireless earbuds, 10 hours is impressive, especially since most of the picks on my list can only go up to six or eight hours before requiring a recharge. All in all, given their price and the audio quality, the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are an incredible product that I find myself using almost daily.
A quick note: If you plan on using these with your PlayStation, you’ll want the PlayStation model. It’s an important distinction to help get the most out of the gaming features available on these earbuds.
Best for:
- Listening to music while hearing the world around you
- Getting high-quality audio without sticking anything into your ear canal
Skip if:
- You absolutely must have ANC
- You don’t want to clip anything onto your ear
The Bose Ultra Open earbuds combine two features that are essential to runners: A comfortable, nonslip fit for hours of comfortable wear, and an open audio environment that lets you hear the world around you.
A Secure Fit That Stays Put During Workouts
The earbuds clip onto your ear helix (the outer, curved part of your ear) so you can wear them for hours in comfort. While I didn’t personally test this pair, they were (and continue to be) a top contender chosen by Forbes executive editor Dave Johnson, who has extensive experience testing, writing and editing in the tech world. “They are comfortable to wear for hours at a time, and they stay doggedly affixed to my ear no matter what I’m doing,” he says, adding that he uses them regularly in his workout routines. “Traditional earbuds, like the Apple AirPods Pro, tend to work themselves loose when I’m working out at the gym and I always need to fiddle with them to keep them from falling out while jogging on the treadmill. That’s not a problem with the Ultra Open.”
The Bose Open Ultra earbuds clip to your ear helix.
Dave Johnson For Forbes
Decent Sound Quality, But Not As Good As Other Winners
That said, the audio is where the Opens begin to lose some of their appeal, and for audiophiles, you’ll want to decide whether it’s worth that ever-so-slight downgrade. During testing, the earbuds held up really well against the competition. “The sound is rich and full, with excellent spatial audio, and I can still feel the bass even though a lot of it is just radiated away into the air around my ears,” shares Johnson. But, it’s important to note that the bass doesn’t quite hit the same as compared with other earbuds, especially when compared to its sibling, the Bose QuietComfort Ultras.
Battery Life That Lasts All Day
The battery life is also surprisingly stellar for a first-gen design, which wowed our testers. “I think Bose expects you to just leave these things clipped to your ears all day long, and the respectable battery life lets you do that,” says Johnson. He regularly enjoys more than 7 hours of continuous runtime with spatial audio off (it dropped to around 4.5 hours with spatial audio on). And, if you’re running low on battery, the accompanying case gets him an additional two full charges, too. Be sure to take a look at the new chilled lilac color, a Bose website exclusive; if I had to relive my life, I would have sprung for those pastel hues.
Best for:
- Listening to music while hearing the world around you on a budget
- Getting a comfortable, affordable ear helix grip
Skip if:
- You absolutely must have ANC
- You don’t want to clip anything onto your ear
- You want the absolute best audio
This year at the Consumer Electronics Show, an Anker PR rep handed me this pair of Soundcore AeroClips, telling me they had just launched. An offshoot to Anker, Soundcore is a budget-friendly line that promises to deliver big sound for less. I tossed them on my ears and essentially wore them nonstop for a few days, wearing out the eight-hour battery life to get a sense of how they performed.
The Soundcore AeroClips are comfortable to wear for long hours without feeling bogged down by their bulk.
Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes Vetted
Unique Design Promotes All-Day Comfort
I was tickled pink by how delightful I found these open ear wireless earbuds. They’re comfortable to wear for long hours without feeling bogged down by their bulk, which was surprising; like the Bose Ultra Opens, which are my pick for working out, the AeroClips also “clip” onto your ear helix (although, I also felt they rested on my ears a bit). I did note that sometimes I needed to adjust them with my glasses on, but that wasn’t the end of the world. Bose still takes the cake in comfort, but I didn’t mind wearing these for many hours.
Good Audio, If You Adjust It
I was also very pleasantly surprised with the audio on these, but there’s a caveat: Soundcore offers a Soundcore Signature preset that I find abysmal at best. As a classically trained musician, I believe music should be balanced and clear so you feel like you’re smack dab in the action; too much bass, and it gets muddy, whereas an emphasis on treble frequencies can leave your audio sounding tinny. The Signature preset across a few Soundcore models varies greatly, and on the AeroClips, there was virtually no balance whatsoever. But, not all is lost here. I found the cinematic sound I sought with the Classical preset, which is the one I would recommend using.
if you’re looking for big sound on a small budget, this pair is hard to beat.
Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes Vetted
Big Sound For A Reasonable Price
Ultimately, open ear wireless earbuds at this price shouldn’t sound this good, but Soundcore pulled it off—and kudos to them, because I’m impressed. Soundcore put a lot of thought and consideration into the AeroClips, and it shows in these earbuds. If you’re looking for big sound on a small budget—specifically if you want buds to use while running in the park , letting you listen to audio while also hearing outside noises—this pair is hard to beat.
Other Wireless Earbuds I Tested
While my top picks represent some of the best wireless earbuds you can buy right now, many others didn’t quite make the cut. Below are 12 more models I tested, plus reasons why they didn’t earn a spot on this list.
Other Wireless Earbuds I Tested That Are Worth Considering
- Best For Google Pixel Users: Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 (Forbes Vetted score: 9 out of 10): Google did a stellar job upgrading its ANC from the previous generation, and the design feels comfortable even after long hours. Audio quality is excellent, too. Google Pixel users should just get these; it worked seamlessly with my current carry, the Google Pixel 9 Pro.
- Best With A Touchscreen: JBL Tour Pro 3 (Forbes Vetted score: 9 out of 10): The Tour Pro 3’s audio quality is solid and the earbuds feel very comfortable and secure in my ears. It also has a unique 1.5-inch touchscreen display to give you at-a-glance information, including volume battery and more, which I enjoyed using to make quick adjustments. Still, while they’re a great option, they didn’t fit into any specific category.
- Most Comfortable: Acefast AceFit Open Ear (Forbes Vetted score: 9 out of 10): These headphones felt so comfortable that I accidentally wore them into a doctor appointment without realizing they were still on. Audio quality is pretty good, and I appreciated the slim case which I felt was easier to slip into my joggers’ pockets. And for $80, it’s a great budget option for those that don’t want to clip anything on their ear.
- Best Budget Runner-Up: JLab Go Pods ANC (Forbes Vetted score: 8.5 out of 10): The JLab Go Pods ANC punch way above their weight—so much that they almost nabbed the best budget pick for audio quality alone. Frequencies sounded more balanced than the OnePlus Buds 3, and I liked that the charging case also included a cable. ANC could be better, which is why these didn’t make the cut.
- Best For Apple Users On A Budget:Apple AirPods 4 With Active Noise Cancellation (Forbes Vetted score: 8.5 out of 10): These AirPods have great audio quality despite a modest price tag. I pitted them against two earbuds—the Denon PerL Pros and Bowers & Wilkins Pi8s—and I struggled to hear any audio differences. But if you’re looking for stability, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 have silicon ear tips to keep them more firmly in place.
- Best For OnePlus Users: OnePlus Buds 3 Pro (Forbes Vetted score: 8.5 out of 10): The OnePlus Buds 3 Pros are pretty darn good, but they don’t fit into any specific category. Like my top budget pick, the OnePlus Buds 3, they use the Melody app if you’re not a OnePlus or iPhone user, but it’s still a worthwhile pick. That said, if you’re a OnePlus user, it’s worth the upgrade to the Buds 3 Pro over the Buds 3.
- Most Secure Fit: Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 (Forbes Vetted score: 8 out of 10): These earbuds were the sturdiest pair of earbuds in that they didn’t even shift on my ears. You can jump, dance or do cartwheels and they’ll stay in place. That said, they don’t offer any kind of EQ settings, and while it’s a seamless pairing experience for Apple users, Android users need to download an extra app.
- Best Controls: Beats Studio Buds (Forbes Vetted score: 8 out of 10): The Beats Studio Buds have one of the best colors and designs of my testing—it incorporated a physical button, which feels increasingly like a rarity amongst a sea of touch controlled models. The audio was pretty good, but I noticed that other, more expensive options could hit those deep basses more accurately and with gusto.
- Best Battery Life: Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 (Forbes Vetted score: 7.5 out of 10): These earbuds excel at one thing: battery life. They can last up to 15 hours with ANC on, 25 without, and you get an extra 40 hours with the charging case. The audio, however, felt a little too muddy for my taste despite fiddling with the EQ. It’s still pretty darn good though, and most users will be happy with this pair.
- Best For A Personalized Fit: OpenRock X Open-Ear Earbuds (Forbes Vetted score: 7 out of 10): One of the coolest perks about the OpenRock X earbuds is that they have an adjustable dual-center joint so you can get a customized fit on your ears. I found that no matter how I placed them on my ears, they didn’t quite tighten properly. Still, these would be a option where you need more personalized fit.
Other Wireless Earbuds I Don’t Recommend
- Shokz OpenDots One (Forbes Vetted score: 7.5 out of 10): The Shokz OpenDots One want to rival Bose and Soundcore. And when it comes to audio quality, it mostly does. However, they randomly pause—and it’s my curly hair, of all things, accidentally registering touch commands. If you have long hair, plan to wear it up. It just annoyed me.
- Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 (Forbes Vetted score: 7 out of 10): I wanted to love these earbuds—audio quality was on par with the Denon PerL Pros during my testing. However, both managing editor Emmy Favilla and I both had connectivity issues with two separate review units during our testing. For the price—the highest of any I tested at $399—that’s unacceptable.
Earbuds I’m Currently Testing
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) (coming soon): Released this summer, the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds is said to offer improved call quality, wireless charging support and AI-based adaptive noise cancelation. That said, we recently a review unit, and haven’t yet had the opportunity to put these new features to the test. Once we use these earbuds for several weeks, we’ll update this story with our findings.
How I Tested The Best Wireless Earbuds
To find the best wireless earbuds on the market, I put over a dozen pairs to the test, narrowing down options to top-rated brands like Bose, Sony and more. From there, I put my shortlist to the test.
Design
The best wireless earbuds should feel sturdily built, with a sleek design that feels comfortable in your ears. After all, if you’re wearing them for an extended period of time, you shouldn’t feel any discomfort. I also evaluated the design based on wireless charging versus wired only, case bulk and more.
Audio Quality
No matter what genre you’re listening to, your audio quality should have a reasonable balance of base, mids and treble frequencies. None of these frequencies should sound muddled or distorted during listening sessions, and so I looked for crystal clear clarity and smoothness amongst the frequencies. I cross-checked audio quality in each pair of wireless earbuds across a variety of songs, and I considered whether ANC and spatial audio changed the overall sound quality.
Some of the genres that I listen to include alternative, rock, classical, audiobooks/podcasts and more. Specifically, some of the songs I tested each pair of wireless earbuds include:
- Florence and the Machine’s “King,” “Cosmic Love” and “Dog Days Are Over”
- Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherezade”
- Ashnikkos’ “Worms” and “Daisy”
- Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe” and “Red Wine Supernova”
- Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” and “The Chain”
- Fitz and the Tantrums’ “123456,” “Livin’ For The Weekend,” and “I Just Wanna Shine”
- Grandson’s “Eulogy” and “Bury Me Face Down”
- The entire soundtracks to seasons one and two of the Netflix show Arcane
Battery Life
When you’re listening to your music, you want to be able to listen for hours without interruptions. I tested these earbuds for 30 minutes each, logging battery light percentage at the beginning and at the end. I also cross tested this with the ANC on versus off to get a sense of whether each pair lived up to its claims.
How To Choose The Best Wireless Earbuds
When shopping for the best wireless earbuds, it’s important to consider more than just price. The right pair depends on how you plan to use them, from commuting to working out and more. Here’s what to keep in mind when choosing your next pair.
Sound Quality
The best wireless earbuds should deliver balanced audio with clear vocals, rich mids and punchy bass. They should also offer clear EQ presets or at the very least the option to customize your listening experience. They should sound smooth and clear across a variety of genres. “Whether I am listening to Coltrane, Survivor, The Stylistics or Snoop Dogg; I want a clear, full sound with noticeable bass,” Terronez says. Audiophiles should look for wireless earbuds that support high-quality codecs like AAC, aptX or LDAC.
Noise Cancellation
Active noise cancellation, also shortened to ANC, helps block out background sounds like engines, traffic, noisy neighbors and more. Active noise cancellation is also important for travel because it allows you to tune out the noise around you. Don’t forget that it’s not just about when you’re listening; call and microphone quality with noise cancellation is also equally important. “I need to be able to have clear calls on the go and that includes a microphone that removes most background noises,” Terronez adds.
Most wireless earbuds adapt to your environment and offer active noise cancellation, while others offer basic suppression with something called passive noise cancellation. If you need to be mindful of your surroundings, make sure that your next pair of wireless earbuds also offer transparency or ambient modes.
Battery Life
Most wireless earbuds provide anywhere from five to eight hours of playback per charge, and the charging case can typically extend the time to up to 20 to 30 hours. Some models also support fast charging, giving you an hour of playback in just a few minutes. Review the numbers and pay close attention to what your needs are. If you’re taking multiple transcontinental or international flights, a longer battery life might be better. Otherwise, for commuters, this may not matter as much.
Fit and Comfort
Comfort can make or break your listening experience, especially if you wear earbuds for long periods or during your workouts. When it comes to comfort, “the tips make the single most significant difference,” says Terronez. “Bose has always delivered with their tips,” he adds. But if Bose isn’t your preferred brand, look for models with multiple ear tip sizes or stabilizers to ensure a comfy fit. After all, a secure seal improves both your audio quality and any noise cancellation.
Alternately, if you don’t want to worry about ear tips, “Open earbuds essentially deliver audio without a tip in the ear canal,” says Terronez. Because they clip onto your ear helix, there is a tradeoff: “The open earbuds could not seal out background noise to the same level as I am accustomed to,” adds Terronez. Make sure you weigh the pros and cons of each type of earbud and your preferred comfort before you decide.
Extra Features
Many wireless earbuds offer touch or physical controls, access to voice assistants like Siri and Alexa and more. Higher-end models, like the AirPods Pro 2 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultras, also offer extras like wear detection, spatial audio or multipoint connectivity to switch between all your devices. Make sure you review what extra feature each wireless earbuds pair offers before making a decision.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted team has published hundreds of tech and electronic guides that leverage our hands-on testing and research, including audio stories for all of your listening needs.
- Consumer tech and electronics editor Rebecca Isaacs has been involved in tech journalism for over six years. She a classically trained musician, and has personally tested a variety of audio equipment, including wireless headphones and Bluetooth speakers.
- This story was reviewed by executive editor Dave Johnson, a veteran tech journalist who has authored nearly three dozen books on the subject. He regularly attends trade shows to learn about the latest audio technologies.
- Additional experts were tapped to share their unbiased insights for this story. In particular, Isaacs spoke with Tom Terronez, CEO of Medix Dental IT and CEO of Terrostar Interactive Media.
- We regularly revisit this story to reevaluate product selections, add new testing insights and more. Tech updates writer Alexandra Garrett, who also frequently tests and reviews headphones, last updated this article in September 2025.
