The best wireless earbuds for every kind of audiophile

• Battery life: 6 hours (30 hours extra with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C quick charge and wireless
• Noise-cancelling: Yes
• Weight: 4.2g per earbud, 37.9g with charging case
• Voice assistant: Siri

Want all the Apple goodness but can’t quite stretch to the pricier Pro models? The latest 3rd-gen model offers a slightly more affordable alternative to Apple-friendly music streaming. You lose the brilliant active noise cancellation and the form factor is overall a little bulkier, but you still get great sound quality, instant connectivity to iPhones and iPads, and marathon-ready battery. We do like these for exercising with the comfortable design and the sweat/water resistance, though the microphone quality on calls could be a smidge better.

• Battery life: Up to 7.5 hours per charge
• Charging: USB-C
• Noise-cancelling: Yes
• Weight: 6.5g per earbud
• Voice assistant: N/A

The Ultra Open Earbuds are some of the most unique ones we’ve personally tested. In terms of their design, there’s nothing quite like them. They’re open-ear, for a start, which means that the buds themselves actually rest at the entrance of your ear canal, as opposed to completely going in. While this obviously rules them out for blocking out loud sounds like the screeching of tube brakes, it also means that if you’re running outside, you’ll be more aware of your surroundings.

What truly sets them apart, though, is their innovative flexible joint which securely wraps them around your ear. This secure comfort, combined with their lightweight build, means that we have forgotten that we were even wearing them… on numerous occasions. Having personally tested them vigorously at the gym, they’ve never once felt like they were going to fall out, and they’re our current favourite pair for daily gym use. That’s all without mentioning the sound, which is comfortably the best example we’ve heard from open earbuds to date. You’ll pay a pretty penny for the uniqueness, mind, but it’s absolutely worth it.

• Battery life: 12 hours (29 hours with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C
• Noise-cancelling: No
• Weight: 4.4g per earbud
• Voice assistant: N/A

Nothing’s latest hyped-up product, the Ear (stick) is out in the UK at last, and just to dispel any fears, they are seriously good headphones.

The headlines: Nothing dropped the ANC feature from the Ear (1), which is a sorely missed feature; a custom driver for improved sonic performance, additional mics for better call clarity, a wonderful lipstick-shaped case that is just too fun not to play with. We do miss having ANC on these buds, but if you're ok with a bit of leaked ambient sound, the audio quality on these buds is noticeably sharp and bouncy, with just the right level of punch to keep you engaged.

But it's the silhouette that's the real talking point here. The lipstick tube design is a great talking point and keeps your buds well-protected from pocket lint and knocks and is addictively fun to play around with if you're a keen fidgeter.

Read GQ's Nothing Stick (1) review here

• Battery life: 9 hours (18 hours extra with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C
• Noise-cancelling: Passive
• Weight: 37g (case)
• Voice assistant: Yes

Sennheiser brings its audio expertise to the true wireless game with the superb-sounding CX earbuds. Powered by 7mm TrueResponse transducers, these buds promise superior sound quality with support for a wide range of Bluetooth codecs. With up to 27 hours of total playtime and a companion app for personalisation, these earbuds offer a premium listening experience without the premium price tag. If you can get past the lack of ANC and value excellent sound at a price that won't decimate your funds, these are the way to go.

• Battery life: 8 hours (32 hours with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C
• Noise-cancelling: Yes
• Weight: 8.6g per earbud, 51.2g charging case
• Voice assistant: N/A

The Denon PerlL Pro has everything going for it. Impressive battery life and wireless charging aside; the real headline here is support for Qualcomm's aptX Lossless format, which promises CD-quality sound over Bluetooth. Smartphones supporting this are currently few and far between, but it's still a handy bit of futureproofing. Dirac sound also provides impressive spatial audio results for a true 3D-like, recording studio experience, while adaptive noise cancellation does a great job at cancelling out pesky noises like nattering coworkers and engine hums.

• Battery life: 28 hours with charging case
• Charging: USB-C, wireless charging
• Noise-cancelling: Yes
• Weight: Info N/A
• Voice assistant: N/A

These buds might have a clunky name, but we can look past that and appreciate just how much performance you’re getting for your cash. Comfortably undercutting most premium rivals, these earbuds offer a surprisingly premium design, combined with some pretty knock-out features.

There’s adjustable active noise-cancellation, for a start, which lets you select your preferred level of intensity to either block out the outside world completely, or blend it in to allow you to still be aware of your surroundings. The buds even take wind noise into account, adjusting the noise-cancellation to effectively block out the pesky sound of whistling air, which can plague other rivals. With wireless charging, a decent battery life, and six microphones for clear calls, there’s plenty of bang for your buck on offer here.

• Battery life: 8 hours (24 hours extra with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C
• Noise-cancelling: Yes
• Weight: 5g per earbud, 41g with charging case
• Voice assistant: Google Assistant and Alexa

Pound-for-pound some of the best-sounding wireless earbuds available, Sony has knocked it out of the park with the XM4s. Yes, their name might be a complicated jumble of letters and numbers, but it all roughly translates to “bloody incredible earbuds”. With a new processor that powers scarily good active noise cancelling, a more comfortable, stable fit and improved microphones for minimising wind noise and better audio quality and treble reproduction during phone calls, these buds are considered by many to be the best in the world right now for good reason.

Having tested the world-beating XM5 over-ear headphones earlier this year, we anticipate Sony continuing to rule the roost of wireless earbuds for many years to come, especially when it comes to the inevitably incoming WF-XM5s.

• Battery life: 8 hours (24+ hours extra with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C
• Noise-cancelling: No
• Weight: 68g
• Voice assistant: Siri, Google Assistant, and other voice assistants

These pocket-friendly earbuds prove that good things come in small packages. Boasting a case smaller than a credit card and with buds 15 per cent smaller than their predecessors, these are perfect for those who value portability. With eight hours of playtime per bud and an additional 24+ hours from the case, you won't have any range anxiety either, which is pretty impressive given their dinky size. You can even tailor your audio experience without the faff of an app, while dual connect functionality offers versatile listening options.

• Battery life: 7.5 hours (30 hours with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C, wireless charging
• Noise-cancelling: Yes
• Weight: 6.2g per bud
• Voice assistant: N/A

The True Wireless 4 are some of the most advanced wireless earbuds money can currently buy — and not just due to their superb audio performance and latest Bluetooth 5.4 codec support. They’re one of the first earbuds to feature Auracast, which is a feature that could transform the way we use headphones. Imagine a TV in a gym or an airport — Auracast tech will let those with compatible headphones tune in and hear it, with multiple connections all supported simultaneously.

Future-proofing aside, they look as premium as you’d expect, with a substantial app for tweaking the EQ as you see fit. Solid active noise-cancellation, combined with up to 30 hours of playback per case charge, make them a contender for one of the best commuter in-ear buds, as well.

• Battery life: 9 hours (27 hours extra with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C
• Noise-cancelling: Yes
• Weight: 64g (case)
• Voice assistant: Info N/A

Anker's Soundcore P3i earbuds pack a punch with their 10mm drivers and customisable EQ settings. Their advanced hybrid ANC technology also promises to block up to 90 per cent of external noise, letting you immerse yourself in your tunes without any distractions — a major boon for commuters and office workers. With AI-enhanced call quality and an impressive 36-hour total battery life, these buds are ready for whatever your day happens to throw your way.

• Battery life: 30 hours
• Charging: USB-C
• Noise cancelling: No
• Voice assitant: N/A

The Runner 40 is a perfect pair of in-ear wireless headphones for anyone looking for a secure and comfortable fit while being active. That includes everything from running in the great outdoors to putting in the hours at the gym and/or treadmill. It’s all thanks to their ergonomically-designed ear hooks, which keep things nice and secure when you’re bouncing around working up a sweat.

A total of 30 hours of battery life (including the case) isn’t too shabby at all, and their waterproof build shrugs off sweat and rain in equal measure. And that’s all without mentioning the price, which makes it one of the most palatable picks on our list.

• Battery life: 5 hours (19 hours extra with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C
• Noise-cancelling: No
• Weight: 65g (case)
• Voice assistant: Yes

Skullcandy's Sesh Evo earbuds are ready for action with their IP55 rating and sporty design. Packing 6mm drivers for clear sound with rich bass, these buds offer easy controls for a hassle-free listening experience. With Tile technology built-in, you'll never lose your buds again either, which is a seriously impressive differentiator compared to most of the competition. The impressive 24-hour total battery life and rapid charge feature also mean your tunes will keep on going for as long as you need.

• Battery life: 6 hours (30 hours with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C
• Noise-cancelling: Yes
• Weight: 5.3g per earbud, 50.8g charging case
• Voice assistant: Siri

If you glance up and find yourself hip-deep into Apple’s vast ecosystem then there’s not really much point in resisting and attempting to find the same quality elsewhere. Apple’s products are just too good to ignore, and their latest upgrade to the industry-changing AirPods (the second generation of Pro headphones) might not shake foundations but they certainly add some next-level features to an already complete pair of earbuds. With super-charged ANC, touch-sensitive controls, spatial audio and a choice of tip sizes to fit every ear shape, this might just be the best gadget of the year.

Read GQ's Apple AirPods Pro 2 review here

• Battery life: 7 hours (28 hours with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C
• Noise-cancelling: No
• Weight: 8.3g per earbud
• Voice assistant: N/A

Shokz’s open-ear offering is aimed at athletes looking to get their cardio in while still being aware of their surroundings — oncoming traffic is, after all, something you’ll definitely want to be aware of when pounding those pavements. A liquid silicon finish, coupled with an arc ear hook, results in a comfortable and secure fit no matter how vigorous the activity is, while IP54 water resistance will comfortably handle sweat and rain in equal measure.

The drivers themselves have been carefully tuned to offer a high-end sound experience, with particular attention focused on the low end, which can often get lost in traditional open-ear designs. Throw in a quick charge feature which nabs you an impressive hour of juice from a mere five-minute charge, and you’ve got yourself a rather covetable pair of open-ears that should be on any cardio fan’s shortlist.

• Battery life: 8 hours (24 hours extra with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C
• Noise-cancelling: No
• Weight: 35g (case)
• Voice assistant: Info N/A

JBL's Wave Flex earbuds are ready to add a soundtrack to your adventures, thanks to their hardy P54 and IPX2 ratings unlocking everything from the gym to the beach. With eight hours of battery life in the buds and an extra 24 in the case, they're not the longest-lasting buds around, but should still be more than enough for most people. Clever features like TalkThru and AmbientAware also keep you connected to your surroundings without missing a beat.

• Battery life: 6 hours (20 hours with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C
• Noise-cancelling: Yes
• Weight: 4.8g per earbud
• Voice assistant: Google Assistant

Even if Sony's uber-excellent WH-100XM5 over-ear headphones stole the show when they were released earlier this year, the sleeper hit of 2023 is the LinkBuds S, which hit stores at the same time to a much quieter fanfare. It's honestly no surprise that these smaller, lighter earbuds are among the most premium-sounding models we've used, utilising similar sonic performance so Sony's top-spec cans, as well as packing a marathon-length battery and a snug, comfortable fit.

There are only so many ways to design a pair of in-ear buds, so there's no reinvention of the well-worn wheel here, but where the true revolution happens is in the impressive sound. With ANC and decent drivers, you'll find a clean, lively sound across the range, but we particularly liked how bouncy the treble was, prompting us to listen to Kate Bush's “Running Up That Hill” on repeat again – you're welcome, Kate.

• Battery life: 8 hours (36 hours with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C
• Noise-cancelling: Yes
• Weight: 6.24g per earbud
• Voice assistant: N/A

Hype tech brand, Nothing, has steadily become one of the hottest companies around, with its unique retro-futurist design, affordable price point, and unique selling points. For the phone series we love the flashing lights of the Glyph, but for the Ear (2), it's the charging case, which is a square case that's see-through like your old Nintendo GameBoy to hit you right in the nostalgia.

Considering its rock-bottom price point, there's a huge amount of versatility on offer here, with powerful ANC, high frequency playback and a marathon-length battery life that outlasts most of the top contenders that will cost twice the price.

• Battery life: 7 hours (28 hours with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C
• Noise-cancelling: Yes
• Weight: 5g per earbud, 41g with charging case
• Voice assistant: Google Assistant and Alexa

Sennheiser might have gone for a more pared-back design compared to some of the competition, but that doesn't mean the Momentum True Wireless 3 is a boring package. Far from it, in fact. Its minimal looks appear particularly striking in all-black, while a fabric-covered case lends the whole thing a sophisticated air, offering extra grip in the process. Elsewhere you've got top-shelf specs, including aptX Adaptive streaming for clear Bluetooth audio, along with active noise cancellation, wireless charging, and the promise of a superb audio experience, bolstered by Sennheiser sound engineers' technical wizardry.

• Battery life: 6 hours (30 hours with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C
• Noise-cancelling: Yes
• Weight: 4.3g per earbud
• Voice assistant: N/A

By now, Marshall's dalliance with proper audio tech has blossomed in status from that of a solo side project to something akin to a full-on supergroup. Although the brand's amp-inspired speakers – especially the elegant yet brusque Stanmore III – still rank as its most iconic wares, the Motif II ANC make a decent bid for your in-ear cash. From their leather-esque case (now incorporating post-consumer recycled plastic) to their gold-tinged stems, their aesthetic has a real charm compared to the ubiquitous white and silver alternative.

While the active noise cancellation on show here isn't quite up there with the best means of blocking out the world, these buds do a good job straddling between genres whether you're obsessed with Noname's incendiary jazz rap, Slow Pulp's emo scuzz or the TikTok pop of PinkPantheress. With a six-hour battery life between charges and some handy, if occasionally pernickety touch controls, there's more to these Marshalls than looks alone. For those about to rock, you can hardly go wrong.

• Battery life: 5 hours (25 hours with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C
• Noise-cancelling: Yes
• Weight: 4g per earbud
• Voice assistant: N/A

While you'll definitely find more accomplished wireless earbuds, there are few that have the same musical pedigree and stunning design ethos than Marshall's Minor III. Replicating the ridged leather facade of its amps and speakers, the Minor 2 oozes cool, releases stunning audio and can keep up with the big boys when it comes to battery life.

Our big gripes are that theres no equaliser function, no voice control and no active noise cancellation, which is a big miss at this price point. Not everyone needs ANC all the time, but it would be nice to have the option. Square that away in your mind, though and you've got yourself a quality pair of buds.

• Battery life: 11 hours (31 hours extra with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C and wireless charging
• Noise-cancelling: Yes
• Weight: 6.2g per earbud, 62.4g with charging case
• Voice assistant: Google Assistant

Google’s latest string of products to release ahead of the new Pixel 7 smartphone included the Buds Pro, an upgrade on the A-series you really ought to know about. A powerful ANC system, massive battery upgrade, improved microphones for call clarity, and wireless charging all combine to make the Buds Pro one of the most intriguing new earbuds of the year. Favourably priced at £179, they certainly compete for audio quality alongside The Apple AirPods and Sony XM4s, though some might be turned away by the bulky design.

Packed with Google smarts, you can tune the headphones to automatically translate to any language in real-time and take advantage of the other AI-driven fun stuff like Lens when using one of Google’s Pixel smartphones. Dreamy.

• Battery life: 6 hours (24 hours with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C
• Noise-cancelling: Yes
• Weight: 6.24g per earbud
• Voice assistant: N/A

Serving up some of the best active noise-cancelling tricks around, Bose's second-generation wireless buds block out the outside world with ruthless efficiency. Various eartips and stability bands offer a secure, comfortable fit, while CustomTune tech uses special chimes and in-built mics to map out the shape of your ear canal, perfectly tailoring the EQ to adapt to the way you hear sound.

If there's anything to gripe about, it's the middling battery life and the unusual fit of the buds themselves, but, in short, these are currently some of the best wireless buds money can buy.

• Battery life: 6 hours (18 hours extra with charging case)
• Charging: USB-C quick charge and wireless
• Noise-cancelling: Yes
• Weight: 5.6g per earbud, 55.1g with charging case
• Voice assistant: Siri

The brainchild behind Apple’s technical wizardry and Beats’ effortless sound quality spawns the Beats Fit Pro, a runner's dream and a top choice for iPhone users. Smaller and more manageable than the Powerbeats, these have little silicone wingtips to keep them secure in your ear through the hardest of workouts, and are comfortable to wear over longer listening sessions. They're also reasonably durable, tackling all sorts of water, wind and your own sweat to keep the beats pumping.