The 6 Best True Wireless Earbuds

Wireless headphones let you listen to your favorite music, podcasts and audiobooks without being physically tethered to your phone or tablet. True wireless headphones go one step further, and don’t even have wires between the earbuds. Popularized by Apple’s AirPods, the true wireless headphone market now has hundreds of options from well-known—and even more from lesser-known—companies.

The best true wireless headphones offer incredible sound quality, noise cancellation, water resistance and comfort. They’ll sound great with everything from hard rock to soft jazz, hip-hop to K-pop, podcasts to phone calls, and reduce the ambient cacophony so you can focus on the audio. Ideally, they’re something you’ll be able to wear all day, though in most cases you’ll need to charge them in their case for the longest listening sessions.

After narrowing down a nearly endless list and testing many, we’ve picked the Sony WF-1000XM5s as the best overall true wireless earbuds, and the JBL Tour Pro 2s as the runner-up if those aren’t available, if you want a slightly different sound profile or like the touch-screen case. For the best noise cancellation, we recommend the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. If you have an iPhone or are otherwise in the Apple ecosystem of products, the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) are great. If you want something at a lower price that performs much better than you’d expect, go with the Soundcore Space A40 Noise Cancelling Earbuds. Lastly, for sports, the JBL Reflect Aero TWS earbuds are the top pick in our guide for the best workout headphones.

• Best overall true wireless earbuds
• Runner-up true wireless earbuds
• Best noise-canceling true wireless earbuds
• Best true wireless earbuds for Apple users
• Best lower-price true wireless earbuds
• Best workout true wireless earbuds
• Others you should know about
• How we picked

Best overall true wireless earbuds

Pros

• Clear, balanced sound with strong bass
• Excellent noise cancellation
• Small size and small carrying case

Cons

• Small size might feel loose to some
• Sound profile a little bright

The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds combine great sound with excellent noise cancellation, making them the best true wireless headphones overall. They have an engaging sound with clear, open treble and well-balanced midrange and bass. Their noise cancellation isn’t quite as good as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (more on those below), but it’s close. Their small size makes them comfortable to wear, and their small case can easily fit in any pocket.

The overall sound of the XM5s is on the bright side, so songs sound quite detailed and lively. Voices are a little louder than the rest of the music compared with what we heard from some earbuds. This doesn’t overwhelm the other frequencies, though. The bass is strong and extends deep, so there’s lots of punch for songs with a strong beat. The treble is clear and smooth, without being piercing or harsh, making classical and other acoustic music sound great. Overall, the sound is quite balanced and you can adjust the equalization in Sony’s Headphones Connect app. For more about what these sound terms mean, see the “How we picked” section, below. The XM5s are also compatible with Sony’s 360RA spatial audio.

Sony’s noise cancellation is great. These earbuds greatly reduce low-frequency droning sounds like what you’d find in a plane or on a train. They don’t make the world quite as quiet as the Bose, but they’re in the same ballpark. If you want as much noise isolation as you can get, check out our guide to the best noise-canceling headphones.

The XM5s have an IPX4 water resistance rating, which means it’s OK if they get splashed with water, but don’t submerge them. Battery life is a claimed eight hours for the earbuds, and the case can charge them to full three times before it needs charging. If you’re using the noise cancellation or playing at higher volumes, that eight-hour figure may be a bit optimistic; most of a workday is a reasonable expectation, based on our tests. The case is wireless-charging capable, and charging the earbuds for three minutes will get you about an hour of listening time. The XM5s have multipoint support, which lets them connect to two devices at once, such as your phone and your laptop, for easy switching between them.

Thanks to the four sizes of grippy eartips that comes with the XM5s, the small earbuds should fit comfortably in many ears; those with larger ears might have an issue, though. If you want something with a more definitively secure fit, check out the JBL Reflect Aero TWS mentioned below, and our guide for best workout headphones. If you can’t get a perfect fit, aftermarket eartips are inexpensive and widely available, including a popular set from Comply.

The XM5’s predecessors, the WF-1000XM4, were our previous pick. They offer similar noise canceling performance and a larger, arguably less comfortable design. They have less upper-midrange, and as such seem to have more bass. They currently cost less than the XM5s, if you can find them, and they’re a great option if you want to save some money or want a bassier sound.

Runner-up true wireless earbuds

Pros

• Fairly neutral sound
• Case has a surprisingly useful touch screen
• Great noise cancellation

Cons

• A little bulky
• Earbud design not as sleek as some

The JBL Tour Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds are excellent all-around true wireless earbuds that have a unique feature: a touch-screen case. This gives you access to controls and features usually only found on your phone or tablet. Beyond that, the earbuds themselves have a balanced sound and above-average noise cancellation. While we like the Sonys a little more, the JBLs are nearly as good, come with that clever case and cost less.

The sound of the Tour Pro 2s is fairly neutral, with no frequencies overly boosted or attenuated. There’s some extra mid-bass—think drumbeats—which is fairly typical for wireless earbuds. Overall the sound isn’t as clear, nor does the bass go as deep as the Sonys, but it’s close. You can easily tweak the sound to be close to something you like thanks to the easy-to-use EQ in the app (more on this below).

As for the case, its tiny touch screen gives you controls typically only found on your device. You can pause, fast-forward and rewind tracks, change the volume, turn the noise cancellation on and off, adjust the EQ and more. There’s even a “flashlight” feature that lights up the whole screen, presumably to help you find a dropped earbud. A screen like this might seem gimmicky but we found it surprisingly practical in use. It gives you control of things you would otherwise need to do on your phone, after retrieving it from a pocket or purse, possibly unlocking it and then finding the necessary app. While we don’t think every earbud case needs a screen going forward, we ended up using it far more than we expected to. Consider it an bonus to some otherwise great earbuds.

The noise cancellation on the Tour Pro 2s isn’t quite as good as the Bose or Sonys, but it’s well above average. It will greatly reduce annoying droning ambient sounds, letting in just a little more of the low frequencies than our top noise canceling picks. With an IPX5 rating, the earbuds can take a spray of water, but don’t submerge them. Battery life, with noise cancellation on, is a claimed eight hours, with the case charging them four times. In our testing this seems accurate, though a lot of factors will determine the exact amount of time they last per charge.

The JBL Headphones app (iOS/Android) has many similar features to other headphone apps, including control over the noise cancellation, the ability to change what the touch-sensitive earbud controls do and so on. There’s a highly adjustable EQ, but most interesting is the Personi-Fi feature. This tests your hearing, and then gives you a personalized EQ setting based on how you hear different frequencies.

One of the main drawbacks of the Tour Pro 2s is their relative bulk. The earbuds feature the “tail” design, similar to Apple’s AirPods, which can catch on things. They’re not huge by any stretch, but they’re larger than the Sonys. The case is about 30% taller than the Sony’s as well, which again doesn’t sound like much, but it was more noticeable in a pocket than the XM5s. Neither of these aspects is a deal breaker, but they make the JBLs a little less friendly to use than the diminutive Sonys.

Best noise-canceling true wireless earbuds

Pros

• Most impressive active noise cancellation
• Silicone “wings” for a more stable fit

Cons

• Sound is only OK

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are the best choice if you want to reduce the noise while you’re on a plane, train or in another noisy environment. Put them in your ears and the world slips away. No noise canceling can create true silence but the Ultras come the closest in this form factor. Low frequency droning sounds, such as aircraft engines, are decreased to a remarkable extent. Even some lower-midrange and higher-frequency sounds are reduced, something that has long been difficult with noise-canceling headphones and earbuds.

The QuietComfort Ultras come with three sizes of silicone “wings” that secure the earbuds in your ear and provide the best possible fit. Most people will get a far better, more secure fit with this setup than with traditional earbuds that just rely on the seal between the tips and your ear canal; if you normally have difficulty getting a great fit with true wireless headphones, these will probably fit far better than most.

Bose claims a six-hour listening time with the earbuds alone, increasing to a total of 24 hours with the case. That’s on the low side for our picks, but about average for the category. Twenty minutes of charging in the case will get you two hours of listening. The earbuds have IPX4 water resistance.

While Bose has long been a leader with their noise canceling, the sound quality has lagged behind. The UItras come far closer to the best sounding earbuds than their predecessors, but they still don’t quite reach the fidelity of our favorite earbud options. Compared to more neutral-sounding earbuds, there’s some extra bass, which isn’t objectionable, although notes have more “thump” than the more musical low notes of some other models. The treble, while clear, lacks the smoothness of the Sonys. Bose’s sound is better than average, for sure. But there are better options if you value sound quality above all else. To give them an entirely subjective grade, the Bose Ultras have an “A+” in noise canceling, and a “B” in sound quality. The Sony XM5s are an “A-” in noise canceling, and an “A” in sound quality.

The Ultras include Immersive Audio with head tracking, also known as Spatial Audio. While this feature works reasonably well in locking the center of the sound in one place as you turn your head, or expanding the apparent “size” of the song, like all spatial audio it’s still fairly gimmicky. There’s also a lag when you move your head, as in the audio takes a moment to “follow” the direction where you’re looking, which can be disconcerting at worst and distracting at best.

Best true wireless earbuds for Apple users

Pros

• Excellent noise cancellation 
• Punchy sound
• Apple-specific features

Cons

• Overpriced if you’re not an Apple user

Apple’s AirPods weren’t the first true wireless earbuds, but they definitely kick-started the popularity of the product category. The second-generation, step-up models, the AirPods Pro, are a great-sounding pair. They have strong, accurate bass that doesn’t overwhelm the rest of the sound. The treble is clear without being harsh. The noise cancellation isn’t quite as good as on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, but it’s still very good. They also have that iconic AirPod look.

As you’d expect from Apple, the AirPods Pro work seamlessly with other Apple devices. They’ll quickly pair with iPhones, iPads, Macs and even the Apple Watch. There are controls in the iOS settings app that let you adjust the noise cancellation and how the earbud’s pressure-sensitive stem reacts when you squeeze it. For the first time with AirPods you can control the volume, with a swipe up or down on the stem. They have spatial audio, a claimed six-hour battery life (and a total of 30 with the case) and IPX4 water resistance. Five minutes in the wireless-charging-capable case will give you about an hour of listening time.

If you have an iOS device, these are well worth considering along with our top picks. If you’re on Android, you lose out on nearly all the special features. There isn’t even an Android app, so one of our other picks is the better choice.

Best lower-price true wireless earbuds

Pros

• Great noise cancellation
• Balanced sound
• Excellent battery life

Cons

• Sound is good, but not great

The Anker Soundcore Space A40s offer quite a lot for their comparatively low price. The noise cancellation is better than many higher-priced models. The sound is very good, and the claimed 10-hour battery life is one of the best in our test.

The sound of the A40s is more balanced than you might expect. Many lower-price earbuds seem to crank up the bass as much as possible. Bass on the A40s is full and controlled, but not overly intense. Treble is clear, though subdued compared with the midrange, which is a bit high and the only real sonic issue. That said, they sound great for the price.

Best workout true wireless earbuds

Pros

• Multiple wing sizes
• IP68 water resistance
• Decent noise cancellation

Cons

• Sound quality could be a little better

The JBL Reflect Aero TWS earbuds are our pick for best workout headphones because they offer the best combination of fit, water resistance and sound. They come with three sizes of silicone ear tips, but they also come with three sizes of silicone “wings”—extended pieces that wedge into the ear’s concha—that help keep them secure. They’re rated at IP68, which means they offer the most protection against dust and water of any earbud we tested; they can be submerged in fresh or saltwater for up to 30 minutes at depths of up to 5 feet. With this level of water resistance, they’ll stand up to even the sweatiest or rainiest workouts.

Their noise cancellation is decent, but not as good as that of some of the others here, most notably the Bose. Sound-wise, they have a lot of midrange, where voices primarily are. There’s a reasonable amount of bass for those pounding dance tracks to keep you moving. The high-frequency treble sounds, like cymbals and percussion, are clear without being harsh. They sound good, but other options are better if sonic quality is your top concern.

Others you should know about

Great customizable sound and fit

The Beyerdynamic Free Byrds have a big, open, lively sound with strong bass. They come with five sizes of silicone tips and three sizes of foam tips, so just about everyone will be able to get a good fit. The buds themselves are fairly large, though. Their noise cancellation isn’t quite as great as that of some of our other picks, but it’s still very good, and the companion app can analyze your hearing to determine the best sound for your ears. These were our runner-up pick until recently and have dropped in price, making them an even better value.

Great if you love bass

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi5 S2s have lots of bass. I love lots of bass and these are about as much as I’d want—a lot of people might consider it too much. They are comfortable and fit great, while noise cancellation is fairly average.

Great, well-balanced sound with worse noise cancellation

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4s are fantastic-sounding earbuds, with a stylish design, including black, white and Black Copper colors. The buds themselves are on the larger side, but they come with three sizes of silicone wings to help you get a secure fit. In a way, they’re the opposite of the Bose earbuds we recommend above; while the Sennheisers sound better, their noise cancellation isn’t as strong.

A great lower-price alternative

The Jabra Elite 4s are very small and light, and at $100 are a great price. As long as they fit in your ears, they’re quite comfortable. They don’t have much bass, and like other Jabras tend to accentuate upper-midrange frequencies. If you don’t think you’d like the sound of the Soundcore A40s, these are a good alternative.

The Audio-Technica ATH-TWX9 is a comfortable midprice set of earbuds with decent midrange and clear treble. They sound better overall than the higher-price ATH-CKS50TWs, although their bass is a little subdued. Overall they didn’t offer enough of a step up in sound over the lower-price Soundcore A40s.

We really like the Edifier NeoBuds S. They have strong, defined bass; clear, open treble; and a huge soundstage that sounds far bigger than what you’d expect from earbuds. The noise cancellation is pretty good, too. They sound better than the Soundcore A40s, but not nearly twice as much better, as the price would suggest.

The Jabra 85t shares the overall shape and size as other Jabra earbuds. Their sound is fairly well balanced, with controlled bass. The upper midrange (snare drums, etc.) is a little boosted, and there’s some sibilance. What’s concerning is two of the three pairs we tested had a dead earbud out of the box.

The Jabra Elite 5, like the other Jabras, has a fairly balanced sound profile, with an accentuation of the upper midrange. The 5s have a harsher treble, with a bit more “sizzle” than the 85ts. The cheaper Elite 4s sound better.

The Nothing Ear (2) is a beautifully designed headphone featuring clear plastic so you can see the inner electronics. The sound is quite treble heavy, which in itself isn’t a huge issue, but it’s rather harsh. Crank up the volume and it’s even more so.

The Beats Studio Buds are tiny and very comfortable if you have small ears. They don’t have much bass, though; they’re mostly midrange and some treble. The noise cancellation of the Soundcore A40s is better, as is their sound.

How we picked

Trust us

I’ve been reviewing audio products for two decades for many print publications and websites including CNET, Forbes and Sound & Vision magazine. I was the A/V editor of Wirecutter for five years, where I tested and reviewed hundreds of headphones, speakers and other audio products. I also spoke to longtime audio reviewer Dennis Burger, editor of SoundStage! Access, former co-host of the SoundStage! Audiophile podcast, and current co-host of the Audio Unleashed podcast.

We tested

There are a few core features we considered vital for any true wireless earbuds:

• Sound quality: We wanted a pair of earbuds that was a pleasure to listen to, that never sounded harsh or grating and made us want to keep listening. “When I’m shopping for true wireless headphones, I’m looking for balanced sound right out of the box,” says Burger. “But I also want to be able to EQ them.” All our finalists had some level of EQ in their app so you can tweak the sound to your liking.
• Noise cancellation: This was a requirement, as the best offerings in this price range have noise cancellation. Not all noise cancellation is the same, as we discuss throughout this guide. 
• Battery life: Battery life will vary greatly depending on how loud you listen, if you enable noise cancellation and a variety of other factors including unit-to-unit variation. Most true wireless headphones will require some charging in their case to last a whole day. In our testing we found the manufacturer’s claimed battery life to be fairly accurate.
• Water resistance: A rating of at least IPX4 was required. This means the earbuds can get splashed with water, but you can’t submerge them. If you’re looking for something more rugged, check out our guide to the best workout headphones.
• Other features: Of lesser importance were features like Bluetooth multipoint, which lets you connect to two devices at the same time, spatial audio and support for higher-quality Bluetooth audio—“AAC or aptX, that’s a big plus,” says Burger about such communication protocols supported on certain audio files and devices. These were great to have, and we note when they’re present, but overall we were looking for sound and noise cancellation more than niche features.

The elements of high-quality sound

When talking about sound quality, there are three general ranges. Bass is the lowest frequency, where sounds from instruments like tubas and bass guitars and the pedal tones of an organ live. Above that is the midrange, where you’ll hear regular guitars, vocals and most wind instruments. At the top are high-frequency sounds, called treble. This is where you’ll hear cymbals, piccolos and the highest notes of many other instruments. Treble is crucial for a sense of space and “openness.” These broad categories can be further broken down into subcategories including “low bass” or “high treble,” but generally these are self-explanatory if you have an idea what the broader ranges are.

Ideally, a headphone reproduces these frequency ranges without accentuating or subduing any particular range. That’s basically impossible, so it becomes a matter of what frequencies the headphones boost or cut, and by how much. Listening to the same song on two different headphones could make it seem like the orchestra has twice as many double basses, or none. The best headphones will sound good with all types of music. Your personal preference might drive you toward one type of sound over another, which is fine too. Certain types of music benefit from some extra bass, like techno/EDM and heavier rock. Others might benefit from better treble, like classical or other acoustic music. Most people prefer a little extra bass in their headphones, which is why most headphone companies err in that direction.

It’s also worth noting that headphones can sound very different despite sharing some similar characteristics. For instance, two headphones might be described as having extra bass, but on one the bass is boomy but there’s no definition to the bass instruments: It’s just thump, thump, thump. That’s bad bass. A better headphone with “lots of bass” will still allow you to identify the instruments. The bass is well controlled, not sounding like the subwoofer in your neighbor’s car from a block away.

Our expert

• Dennis Burger, the Montgomery, Ala.-based editor of SoundStage! Access, former co-host of the SoundStage! Audiophile podcast, and current co-host of the Audio Unleashed podcast.