Wireless earbuds, ranked by critic score
31 ranked by critic score · 6 more not yet ranked · 253 professional reviews
True wireless earbuds, judged on sound, noise cancelling, fit and battery.
Image: SonySony WF-C710N
4 professional reviewers tested the Sony WF-C710N, and 4 recommend it. Most praised: noise cancelling and battery life.
The catch: There is no LDAC, and the case feels cheap.
Early score: only 4 professional reviews so far. Expect it to move as more reviews come in.
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- 1Sony WF-C710NTop pick, narrowly4 reviews · early score94Image: Sony
- 2EarFun Air Pro 4+Best budget earbud sound4 reviews · early score91
Image: EarFun - 3Apple AirPods 5Best for open-fit comfort5 reviews90
Image: Apple - 4Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2Broad agreement4 reviews · early score88
Image: Jabra - 5Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)Best noise cancelling12 reviews87
Image: Bose - 6Technics EAH-AZ100Best sounding premium earbuds7 reviews87
Image: Technics - 7Apple AirPods Pro 3Best For iPhone owners26 reviews86
Image: Apple - 8Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5Broad agreement4 reviews · early score86
Image: Huawei - 9Sony WF-1000XM6Best sound19 reviews85
Image: Sony - 10Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 ProBest earbuds for Galaxy phones9 reviews85
Image: Samsung - 11Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro MaxBest earbuds for calls5 reviews84
Image: Soundcore - 12JBL Tour Pro 3Best for smart case features6 reviews82
Image: JBL - 13Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 ProBest For Samsung phones14 reviews81
Image: Samsung - 14Beats Powerbeats Pro 2Best for secure workout fit9 reviews81
Image: Beats - 15Jabra Elite 10Best for comfort5 reviews81
Image: Jabra - 16Google Pixel Buds 2aBest budget buds for Android5 reviews81
Image: Google - 17Google Pixel Buds Pro 2Best earbuds for Pixel phones8 reviews81
Image: Google - 18Shokz OpenFit ProBest sounding open-ear earbuds5 reviews81
Image: Shokz - 19Nothing Ear (3a)Best stylish budget earbuds6 reviews80
Image: Nothing - 20Soundcore AeroClipBest value clip-on open earbuds4 reviews · early score80
Image: Soundcore - 21Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2Best for sound and comfort5 reviews80
Image: Jabra - 22Shokz OpenRun Pro 2Best for open-ear listening on runs10 reviews79
Image: Shokz - 23Nothing Ear (3)Best for call-clear Super Mic4 reviews · early score78
Image: Nothing - 24Panasonic RB-F10Best comfortable budget open-ear buds4 reviews · early score78
Image: Panasonic - 25Bowers & Wilkins Pi6Best for detailed earbud sound5 reviews78
Image: Bowers - 26Viaim RecDotBest for AI meeting recording4 reviews · early score78
Image: Viaim - 27Bose Ultra Open EarbudsBest premium open earbuds10 reviews77
Image: Bose - 28Sony LinkBuds OpenBest for open-ear battery life4 reviews · early score75
Image: Sony - 29Apple AirPods 4Open-fit pick13 reviews75
Image: Apple - 30Sennheiser Momentum SportBest for earbuds with built-in heart-rate tracking13 reviews74
Image: Sennheiser - 31Soundcore AeroFit 2 ProBest for open and ANC modes4 reviews · early score73
Image: Soundcore
The highest-rated pair of wireless earbuds so far, on an early score, is the Sony WF-C710N: critic score 94 out of 100 from 4 reviews, 4 of them positive. Most praised: noise cancelling and battery life.
Early reads · 6 not yet ranked
Not ranked, listed A to Z. We publish a critic score once at least 4 professional reviews of the exact model exist; with 2 or 3 we show a provisional average.
- EarFun OpenJump · provisional 63 from 3 reviews
- OnePlus Buds 4 · provisional 83 from 3 reviews
- Sennheiser Accentum Clip · 1 review so far (TechRadar: 80)
- Skullcandy Method 360 ANC · provisional 77 from 3 reviews
- Sony WF-1000XM5 · provisional 77 from 3 reviews
- Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro · provisional 87 from 3 reviews
Common questions
What is the best pair of wireless earbuds?
Narrowly, the Sony WF-C710N, with a critic score of 94 from 4 professional reviews. Most praised: noise cancelling and battery life.
Sony WF-C710N vs EarFun Air Pro 4+: which is better?
Critics score the Sony WF-C710N 94 and the EarFun Air Pro 4+ 91. We list the EarFun Air Pro 4+ under “Best budget earbud sound”. Its main drawback: noise cancelling and wind handling are only so-so, and the build is plasticky.
Which pair of wireless earbudss do critics disagree on?
The Technics EAH-AZ100 (scores from 69 to 100); The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 (scores from 60 to 90); The Shokz OpenFit Pro (scores from 60 to 95); The Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 (scores from 60 to 100); The Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 (scores from 50 to 100); The Viaim RecDot (scores from 60 to 90); The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (scores from 60 to 90); The Apple AirPods 4 (scores from 50 to 90).