Which In Ear Headphones Are The Best?

Sony WF-1000xm6: Best Overall In-Ear Headphones

The Sony WF-1000xm6 have excellent active noise cancelation, great sound quality, and outstanding microphone performance thanks to ai-powered beamforming. The redesigned fit is comfortable and secure, though the larger size may not suit smaller ears. Sony's latest flagship delivers 88% average noise reduction across all frequencies, a 4.8/5 mdaqs sound quality score, and a significantly improved mic system with ai-powered beamforming trained on 500 million voice samples. The redesigned oval shape tucks into your ear's natural anatomy, making it harder to mess up the seal than most earbuds.

The Sony Sound Connect app unlocks a 10-band equalizer, adaptive sound control that adjusts anc based on your activity, and multipoint connection across two devices. Battery life hit 9 hours and 41 minutes in testing, with wireless charging and fast charging that delivers 45 minutes of playback from just 3 minutes plugged in. Compatibility with Bluetooth LE helps future-proof your purchase too, as these buds can connect via next-gen protocols like Auracast or the LC3 codec. Their default sound profile delivers a healthy dose of bass and balanced mid- and treble-range reproduction, making these buds a great fit for rock, pop, and hip-hop.

• Completely redesigned with upgraded components and slightly better fit than XM5
• Top-notch sound that's accurate, well-balanced and natural
• Excellent noise-canceling and voice-calling performance with 8 microphones (4 in each bud)
• Improved transparency mode and enhanced antennas for more stable wireless connection
• Decent battery life; pretty pricey
• Included eartips may not be a good match for all ears
• Android-only spatial audio features

Apple AirPods Pro 3: Best for Apple Users

No other earbuds integrate as deeply with iPhone as the AirPods Pro 3, and the hardware backs it up. Apple's flagship delivers the best anc measured at 90% average noise reduction, plus a suite of features no other earbuds offer — built-in heart rate tracking, clinical-grade hearing aid functionality, and real-time live translation. Battery life jumped to 8 hours and 42 minutes in testing, a major improvement over the previous generation. Battery life is rated for up to 8 hours (up from 6 for AirPods Pro 2), and total battery life with case reaches up to 24 hours (anc on). The buds are IP57 water- and dust-resistant.

• Design upgrades to the buds and ear tips improve their fit
• Noise cancellation has been upgraded and is now top-notch
• They sound better with improved bass response and more clarity
• Built-in heart-rate monitoring with new sensors
• Excellent voice-calling performance (upgraded microphones)
• They still use the H2 chip found in the AirPods Pro 2
• Heart-rate monitoring is buried in fitness apps
• While they work with Android, many of their features are exclusive to Apple devices

Technics EAH-AZ100: Best for Android Users

The Technics EAH-AZ100 delivers outstanding noise canceling, making them ideal for travel and commutes. These earbuds stand out with 3-way multipoint connectivity for seamless device switching, plus an impressive 10 hours and 40 minutes of battery life. The EAH-AZ100 supports ldac for high-quality audio on Android devices and includes innovative features like AI voice focus mode for managing conversations in noisy environments. The compact, pocketable case includes wireless charging for added convenience. The AZ100 have a smaller and rounder shape than their predecessor, with a similar finish. Their active noise cancelling (anc) feature blocks more bass-heavy background noises, such as bus and plane engines.

Sound

Top-notch sound quality with upgraded magnetic fluid drivers; panasonic's newly developed proprietary magnetic fluid driver creates "clean, high-resolution, low-vibration and low-distortion sounds for the most authentic, balanced audio that's true to the original source."

Connectivity

Triple multipoint Bluetooth pairing; supports ldac and lc3 codecs; Dolby Atmos spatial audio with head tracking.

Battery

Battery life hit 10 hours and 40 minutes in testing; total battery life with case up to 28 hours (anc on). Battery life drops significantly (by 30%) when using the ldac audio codec, spatial audio and noise cancellation features simultaneously.

Fit

More compact design should offer more secure, comfortable fit for more ears; five ear tip sizes with new medium-large option. Buds still stick out of your ears a little more than some buds.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro: Best for Samsung Users

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro brings a redesigned look, along with improved anc, head gesture support, and more seamless AI smarts. Samsung Galaxy phone owners get a lot of exclusive value: ultra-wideband microphones, ultra high-quality audio, seamless device switching via the Galaxy Wearable app, and deep One UI integration — none of which are available without a recent Samsung device. The hardware delivers an 84% average noise reduction, IP57 water resistance, and a 4.8 out of 5 mdaqs overall score. The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are essentially AirPods Pro 3 for Samsung and Android users, with top-notch sound, voice-calling performance and a strong feature set.

• Sleeker design with slightly more comfortable, secure fit
• Excellent sound with upgraded drivers
• Top-tier voice-calling and transparency mode
• Built-in voice and touch controls work well
• Robust feature set; slightly improved adaptive noise canceling
• Noise canceling and battery life have room to improve
• Eartips have a proprietary design so you can't swap in third-party tips unless they're designed for the buds
• Some features are exclusive to Samsung Galaxy devices or Android-only

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): Best Noise-Cancelling Bose Earbuds

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) feature improved adaptive noise canceling that's truly impressive — it's neck-and-neck with the Apple AirPods Pro 3's noise canceling for the best anc in a set of earbuds. They also feature a new spatialized immersive audio cinema mode that widens the soundstage and makes "video content more lifelike" with clearer dialog. The mode also helps with spoken-word audio content like podcasts and audiobooks. The fit kit ear tips and stabilizer system gets you a secure, comfortable fit. Total battery life with case reaches up to 24 hours (anc on), though the immersive audio mode hurts battery life.

New features available in both the original QC Ultra Earbuds and gen 2 model include:

• Bose SpeechClarity
• Spotify Tap
• Turn capacitive controls on/off
• General connectivity and stability improvements

Feature upgrades available exclusively to the gen 2 model include:

• Enhanced adaptive noise cancellation
• Reduced noise floor (the faint hiss in noise-canceling mode)
• Case battery reporting
• Cinema mode
• Wireless charging (finally added)

EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus: Best Under $100

The EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus do something most budget earbuds don't: they nail the fundamentals without obvious compromises. The dual-driver system delivers good treble clarity, and the default sound signature tracks closely to the preference curve out of the box. Lightweight and comfortable with ear tips that fit well, dual drivers deliver clearer, richer sound on par with more premium earbuds. Good battery life reaches up to 8 hours with anc on. At around $80 on Amazon, the plus model costs $20 more than the standard Air Pro 4 but features a pretty significant upgrade to sound quality.

1. Bluetooth 6.0 and support for a variety of audio codecs including aptx lossless and ldac
2. 10-band eq and multipoint connectivity
3. ANC reduces outside noise by 80% on average
4. Battery life of 6 hours and 17 minutes with anc on in testing (rated for 12 hours)
5. Voice-calling performance could be a little better; transparency mode is only average
6. Vertical charging case design can be awkward
7. Total battery life (with case): up to 54 hours (anc off); IP55 splash-proof and dust-resistant

CMF Buds 2 Plus: Best Budget Pick

At $69, the CMF Buds 2 Plus delivers sound quality and anc performance that genuinely competes with earbuds costing twice as much. The mdaqs overall score of 4.8 out of 5 matches the Sony WF-1000xm6, an extraordinary result for the price. ANC reduces outside noise by an average of 83%, ldac is available through the Nothing X app, and battery life hit 10 hours and 22 minutes in testing, with a full 60 hours from the case. Better sound quality, personalized audio, and extended battery life at a budget price. The CMF Buds 2 Plus delivers impressive audio performance with personalized sound profiles, adaptive noise cancelation, and exceptional battery life in a refined, comfortable design.

Notable Mentions

Technics EAH-AZ80

The Technics EAH-AZ80 are the predecessor to the Technics EAH-AZ100. They're typically available at a heavily discounted price compared to the newer EAH-AZ100 while still supporting many of the same features found on the newer flagship, like three-way Bluetooth multipoint. That said, their anc isn't as effective, and they have a shorter 7.3-hour battery life.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2

The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are sporty headphones with an ear-hook design, so they won't fall out during tough runs or workouts. This newer iteration features anc, which competes with that of the Technics EAH-AZ100. The buds are 20% lighter, the case is 33% smaller, and the ear hook is slimmer, incorporating nickel-titanium alloy. Total battery life with case reaches up to 36 hours (anc on). They drain through their battery faster than the Technics, lasting 7.1 hours compared to the Technics' 12.2 hours.

Sennheiser IE 200

The Sennheiser IE 200 are a less expensive alternative to the Moondrop Blessing 3 with a conventional dynamic driver design. They're less premium-feeling, but they come with a wide selection of memory foam and silicone ear tips. Their tuning is warmer than that of the Moondrop.

Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro

The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro are the Samsung equivalent to the Apple AirPods Pro 3. Their features are somewhat more open than those of the Apple, with access to an app on both iOS and Android. However, certain features like their spatial audio and the Samsung Seamless codec are locked behind the Samsung device ecosystem.

Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless

An easy recommendation for the best in-ear earbuds in the budget price bracket. Compared to the OnePlus Buds 4, the Anker have even stronger overall noise isolation performance and longer battery life, with eight hours of continuous playback and four additional charges in the case. They also have multi-device pairing, meaning you can stay connected with your phone and computer simultaneously.