5 Best Wireless Earbuds Available in 2024

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Given the seemingly endless options of wireless earbuds available on the market today, you can easily find a pair that suits your listening habits and audio preferences. By the same token, you can feel overwhelmed by indecision about which product to choose.

If you have flagship phones from Google and Apple, it’s often a more logical move to opt for your brand’s wireless earbuds, specifically the Google Pixel Buds Pro and AirPods Pro. While these models are notably old now, and no new versions have been released as of this writing, either of these two would still be good choices — a quick search online will show you that they still make many best-of lists due to the companies behind them.

However, if you’re interested in exploring other wireless earbuds models or plan on using them on multiple devices, here are some suggestions for other brands to consider. The wireless earbuds featured in this article were determined based on a number of factors, including previously published reviews on SlashGear as well as enthusiastic consensus from online shoppers. You can read a more detailed explanation of our methodology at the end of the list.

Oldie but still goodie: Beats Fit Pro

There hasn’t been a new version of these Apple-owned earbuds since their original launch in 2021, but there must be a reason why the Beats Fit Pro are still considered to be one of the best wireless earbuds you can get to date. In addition to their excellent Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) capabilities and secure and comfortable fit that allows for ample muting of surrounding noise, they come with an additional Transparency listening mode that can be easily switched to with a simple long press on the gadget. The battery life is nothing to scoff at, with up to six hours of music playback with either ANC or Transparency turned on, or up to 27 hours when you factor in the convenience of being able to charge them on the go with the help of the fast charging case.

Based on personal experience, the standout feature of the Beats Fit Pro is the wingtip design that helps keep the headphones on even when you’re moving a lot while listening. They’re also sweat and water resistant. All of these factors make them a great pair of headphones for working out, especially for running. The Beats Fit Pro are usually priced at $199.99, but some colorways are currently on sale on Amazon for just $159.99.

Affordable for every audiophile: Soundcore P20i True Wireless in-ear headphones

A popular bargain pick on Amazon’s bestseller list is Anker’s Soundcore P20i earphones. Over the past few years, Anker has made a name for itself with a wide range of electronics accessories, such as chargers, power banks, and the like. Recently, some of Anker’s Bluetooth speakers and earphones have been featured on many tech lists as a favorite choice for budget users. The Soundcore P20i is no exception.

As one of our recommended AirPods alternatives for iPhone users, these earbuds pair quickly with any mobile device and are just as easy to charge thanks to the compact and lightweight charging case. You can get up to 10 hours of playback on a single charge, and if you’re in a pinch, up to two hours of playback after just 10 minutes in the case.

The Soundcore P20i works better when it’s additionally controlled via the Soundcore mobile app, which lets you choose from a variety of equalizer presets and also tweak the touch controls to your liking. It also has a handy Find My Earbuds feature, which causes a misplaced earbud nearby to emit a sound to help you locate it.

Despite the lack of ANC functionality, many users are happy with their purchase in terms of sound quality, especially the enhanced bass that the Soundcore P20i promises to deliver. At $24.99 on Amazon, it seems like a no-brainer to try these headphones out.

For Nothing owners and ChatGPT fans: Nothing Ear (a)

If you have a little more room to spend but still want to get something under $100, consider the Nothing Ear(a), one of the company’s newest in-ear headphones. Like the Soundcore P20i, this pair promises to deliver even deeper bass than previous versions. Considering the fairly affordable price tag — they’re currently on sale on Amazon for $99, including the eye-catching yellow color scheme — you’re actually getting a lot in terms of functionality. The sound quality is reportedly almost comparable to the AirPods Pro, which are currently more than twice the price. It also features adaptive ANC and fast charging capabilities, which can give you up to 10 hours of music playback (without ANC) after 10 minutes in the charging case. It has multi-point support, so you can stay connected to two devices at once.

If you own a compatible Nothing phone, you can unlock some cool features. For example, you can easily access ChatGPT. Once you set it up via the Nothing X app, you can start using the AI chatbot instead of Google Assistant to answer all sorts of questions. Another thing you can take advantage of is reduced audio latency, which makes for a better gaming experience. Still, even if you don’t own a Nothing phone, there’s enough going for the Nothing Ear(a) to add them to your short list of must-try wireless earbuds.

Mid-range favorite: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro

Andy Zahn and his family

Samsung has decided to go the Apple AirPods route in terms of design for its third-generation earbuds, as the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro now feature a stem that hangs out of your ear. SlashGear’s Galaxy Buds 3 Pro review highlights this as a welcome update, as it provides better trigger control that’s less prone to accidental activation. Additionally, there’s also been a significant improvement in audio clarity and overall sound quality across a wide range of frequencies, which is something you really want from premium wireless earbuds.

Of course, as with choosing a brand that’s the same as the gadget you want to pair your earbuds with, Samsung Galaxy users have the most to gain by choosing this product. You get special features — like immersive audio and language translations for face-to-face conversations — that you wouldn’t otherwise get on an iPhone or other Android mobile device.

All things considered, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are another solid choice if you’re looking for a pair of in-ear headphones that offer the ultimate in ANC. Paired with adaptive noise control that lets you quickly switch between listening modes, a companion app you can use to personalize your equalizer settings, and more, and the fact that the earbuds are made by a trusted brand, you can rest assured that you’re getting what you pay for. You can buy the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro directly from Samsung’s website for $249.99.

Go for it: Sony WF-1000XM5

The Sony WF-1000XM5 has so much going for it. Its predecessor was part of our roundup of the best noise canceling earphones of 2023, mainly due to its top-notch ANC and excellent battery life. All the good things we loved about the Sony WF-1000XM4 earphones are present in this newer version, with a bit of improvement.

The ambient noise cancellation has been taken a notch higher, making them a must-have for anyone looking for a pair of earbuds that they can use to focus and hunker down during tasks. The earbuds also support multi-point pairing, making it easy to switch between two Bluetooth-enabled devices. As for battery life, you can get up to eight hours of use from the earbuds themselves and up to a full day with the charging case.

Built-in adaptive sound control ensures excellent call quality, even in noisy environments. Through the companion mobile app — which is conveniently compatible with iOS and Android devices — you can access even more listening features, such as the ability to adjust the equalizer and ANC levels to your own tastes.

With all that in mind, get ready to splurge and buy the best wireless earbuds money can buy, because the Sony WF-1000XM5 are priced at $248 on Amazon, which puts this pair at the top of the price range on this list. However, considering all the premium features — especially if ANC and sound quality are important to you — it may be worth seriously considering this option.

Methodology and factors to consider when choosing wireless earbuds

woman taking wireless headphones out of their case

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The wireless earbuds recommended in this roundup were selected based on positive personal experiences, hands-on testing by other SlashGear gadget reviewers, popularity of the products on various best-of lists published by other reputable technology magazines, and, of course, based on customer reviews from around the web.

When choosing a pair of earbuds, you need to consider what your primary activity will be when using them. Are you using them for work? Will you sweat while wearing them? How long do you plan to use them for each listening session? Do you plan to use them simultaneously on multiple devices? Understanding these issues will help you determine what kind of battery life you need, what level of sound quality you’ll be happy with, and what other additional features you might want, like multi-point pairing, active noise cancellation, or water resistance.

Whichever brand of wireless headphones you choose, it’s worth looking at a few models to compare them to your budget. You might also want to consider buying a few pairs with a flexible return policy so you can test them out by playing certain songs and confidently choose the ones that are most comfortable to wear.