Best Wireless Earbuds for 2023: Top Picks for Every Listener

n “,”topic”:”Headphones”,”ttag”:”direct”,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|1″,”correlationId”:””,”assettitle”:””,”campaign”:”direct”,”cval”:61,”leadCpc”:0.61,”leadProdPrice”:299,”manufacturer”:”Bose”,”productName”:”Bose – QuietComfort Earbuds II True Wireless Noise Cancelling In-Ear Headphones – Triple Black”,”seriesGuid”:””,”sku”:”8707300010″,”reviewId”:””,”vendor”:”Bose”,”coupon”:””,”quantity”:””,”formatSubtype”:”in-text text”,”rawUrl”:”https://www.jdoqocy.com/click-3586864-13378794?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bose.com%2Fen_us%2Fproducts%2Fheadphones%2Fearbuds%2Fquietcomfort-earbuds-ii.html%3Fmc%3D25_AF_HI_AO_00_CJ_%23v%3Dqc_earbuds_ii_black&[subid_value]”,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:1,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-96c26573-bb18-4151-9404-336793e912f5 .itemImage”,”shortcodeId”:”96c26573-bb18-4151-9404-336793e912f5″,”shortcodeType”:”x-listicle”}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>

David Carnoy/CNET

You’re receiving price alerts for Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2

n “,”topic”:””,”ttag”:””,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|2″,”correlationId”:””,”_destCat”:”https://www.amazon.com/EarFun-Cancelling-Qualcomm%C2%AE-Multipoint-Connection/dp/B0B3R6NGJ6″,”productName”:”EarFun Air S”,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:2,”sku”:”TW201B”,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-2f8801f2-b97e-4d37-a8e0-ab6f4ca2b8ef .itemImage”,”shortcodeId”:”2f8801f2-b97e-4d37-a8e0-ab6f4ca2b8ef”,”shortcodeType”:”x-listicle”,”vendor”:”Amazon”,”manufacturer”:”EarFun”,”coupon”:””,”productPrice”:”69″,”quantity”:””}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>

Earfun

In the past, we’ve recommended Earfun’s AirPro SV and Air Pro 2 as excellent budget noise-canceling earbuds choices (they’re still good values). But the new-for-2022 Earfun Air S may be the best of the trio, with multipoint Bluetooth pairing, the latest Qualcomm QCC3046 SoC (system on a chip) with the AptX audio codec for Android and other devices that support it. It has the same 10mm wool drivers as the AirPro SV and features surprisingly impressive sound for its modest price point. They also work well as a headset for making calls with decent background noise reduction.

The buds have an IPX5 water-resistance rating, which means they’re splashproof and can withstand a sustained spray of water. Note that the earbuds cost as low as $49 when you activate the instant coupon and apply the CNET-exclusive discount code EFAIRS07 at checkout at Amazon.

You’re receiving price alerts for Earfun Air S

n “,”topic”:”Headphones”,”ttag”:”ir”,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|3″,”correlationId”:””,”assettitle”:””,”campaign”:”ir”,”cval”:35,”leadCpc”:0.35,”leadProdPrice”:249,”manufacturer”:”Apple”,”productName”:”Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, White)”,”seriesGuid”:”80da71f3-f28d-48f6-8e92-8056a70aad2a”,”sku”:”MQD83AM/A”,”reviewId”:””,”vendor”:”Apple”,”coupon”:””,”quantity”:””,”formatSubtype”:”in-text text”,”rawUrl”:”https://assoc-redirect.amazon.com/g/r/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BDHWDR12/ref=asc_df_B0BDHWDR121673262000000?tag=cnet-mobile-20&creative=395261&creativeASIN=B0BDHWDR12&linkCode=asn”,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:3,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-66b33565-50bb-4464-ae1d-575bf159b03a .itemImage”,”shortcodeId”:”66b33565-50bb-4464-ae1d-575bf159b03a”,”shortcodeType”:”x-listicle”}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>

David Carnoy/CNET

You’re receiving price alerts for Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, White)

n “,”topic”:”Headphones”,”ttag”:”ir”,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|4″,”correlationId”:””,”assettitle”:””,”campaign”:”ir”,”cval”:35,”leadCpc”:0.35,”leadProdPrice”:199.99,”manufacturer”:”Beats by Dre”,”productName”:”Beats Fit Pro Earbuds (White, 2021)”,”seriesGuid”:”fd2bf909-8834-4037-8378-212e50e18157″,”sku”:”MK2G3LL/A”,”reviewId”:””,”vendor”:”Apple”,”coupon”:””,”quantity”:””,”formatSubtype”:”in-text text”,”rawUrl”:”https://assoc-redirect.amazon.com/g/r/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JL5QGCZ/ref=asc_df_B09JL5QGCZ1673262000000?tag=cnet-ce-20&creative=395261&creativeASIN=B09JL5QGCZ&linkCode=asn”,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:4,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-650cab1e-e971-416f-9213-eaf88403cb19 .itemImage”,”shortcodeId”:”650cab1e-e971-416f-9213-eaf88403cb19″,”shortcodeType”:”listicle”}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>

David Carnoy/CNET

You’re receiving price alerts for Beats Fit Pro Earbuds (White, 2021)

n “,”topic”:”Headphones”,”ttag”:”amazon”,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|5″,”correlationId”:””,”assettitle”:””,”campaign”:”amazon”,”cval”:41,”leadCpc”:0.41,”leadProdPrice”:278,”manufacturer”:”Sony”,”productName”:”Sony WF-1000XM4 (Black)”,”seriesGuid”:”231e9ecb-2510-4434-b700-5231b43f988b”,”sku”:”WF1000XM4/B”,”reviewId”:””,”vendor”:”Amazon”,”coupon”:””,”quantity”:””,”formatSubtype”:”in-text text”,”rawUrl”:”https://assoc-redirect.amazon.com/g/r/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094C4VDJZ/ref=asc_df_B094C4VDJZ1629802800000?tag=cnet-ce-20&creative=395261&creativeASIN=B094C4VDJZ&linkCode=asn”,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:5,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-f268b1ab-3523-45b7-a84f-662ba8729673 .itemImage”,”shortcodeId”:”f268b1ab-3523-45b7-a84f-662ba8729673″,”shortcodeType”:”listicle”}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>

David Carnoy/CNET

You’re receiving price alerts for Sony WF-1000XM4 (Black)

n “,”topic”:”Headphones”,”ttag”:”direct”,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|6″,”correlationId”:””,”assettitle”:””,”campaign”:”direct”,”cval”:50,”leadCpc”:0.5,”leadProdPrice”:189.99,”manufacturer”:”Samsung”,”productName”:”Samsung – Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless Earbud Headphones – Graphite”,”seriesGuid”:””,”sku”:”SM-R510NZAAXAR”,”reviewId”:””,”vendor”:”Samsung”,”coupon”:””,”quantity”:””,”formatSubtype”:”in-text text”,”rawUrl”:”https://shop-links.co/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.samsung.com%2Fus%2Fmobile%2Faudio%2Fheadphones%2Fgalaxy-buds2-pro-graphite-sm-r510nzaaxar%2F&publisher_slug=cnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=[subid_value]”,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:6,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-3ab7c348-5526-45af-bea3-c315a8924062 .itemImage”,”shortcodeId”:”3ab7c348-5526-45af-bea3-c315a8924062″,”shortcodeType”:”x-listicle”}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>

David Carnoy/CNET

You’re receiving price alerts for Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro

n “,”topic”:”Headphones”,”ttag”:”amazon”,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|7″,”correlationId”:””,”assettitle”:””,”campaign”:”amazon”,”cval”:35,”leadCpc”:0.35,”leadProdPrice”:69.99,”manufacturer”:”EarFun”,”productName”:”Earfun Air Pro 2″,”seriesGuid”:””,”sku”:”TW300″,”reviewId”:””,”vendor”:”Amazon”,”coupon”:””,”quantity”:””,”formatSubtype”:”in-text text”,”rawUrl”:”https://assoc-redirect.amazon.com/g/r/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09C1F6F4K?tag=cnet-api-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1″,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:7,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-b30e2ec8-8332-42f8-9981-cf994df91de3 .itemImage”,”shortcodeId”:”b30e2ec8-8332-42f8-9981-cf994df91de3″,”shortcodeType”:”x-listicle”}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>

Earfun

The Earfun Air Pro 2 not only features solid active noise cancellation but their sound is also impressive for their relatively modest price, with overall well-balanced sound, decent clarity and solid bass performance. Some of Earfun’s buds have had a bit too much treble push — sometimes referred to as “presence boost” — but these mostly manage to avoid that. They do sound better than the original Air Pro.

The earbuds have some extra features, like an ear-detection sensor (your music pauses when you take the buds out of your ears) and a case that has USB-C and wireless charging, that you don’t often find at this price. Equipped with Bluetooth 5.2, they’re splash-proof with an IPX5 rating and offer up to seven hours of battery life on a single charge at moderate volume levels, though you’ll probably get closer to six hours with noise canceling on.

There’s also a transparency mode that lets ambient sound in. It actually sounds pretty natural and is closer than I thought it would to the AirPods Pro’s excellent transparency mode. Alas, there’s no companion app that allows you to tweak the sound or upgrade the firmware.

Earfun talks up the Air Pro 2’s voice calling capabilities — the buds have three microphones in each earbud — and I thought call performance was good but these didn’t reduce background noise as much the new Soundpeats T3, which are also good for the money ($40). However, while the Soundpeats T3 are better for calls, the Earfun Air Pro 2’s noise-canceling and transparency modes are superior and the Soundpeats don’t have the ear-detection sensor. Plus, the Earfun Air Pro 2 buds sound better, with richer, more dynamic sound. Also note that you can save $20 right now at Amazon by activating the instant coupon on the product page. 

You’re receiving price alerts for Earfun Air Pro 2

n “,”topic”:””,”ttag”:””,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|8″,”correlationId”:””,”_destCat”:”https://www.amazon.com/Jabra-Elite-Pro-Bluetooth-Earbuds/dp/B09D1HMBQ3/”,”productName”:”Jabra Elite 7 Pro – true wireless earphones with mic”,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:8,”sku”:”100-99172701-98″,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-a27f2cce-5600-4d5c-b491-ae697136bf36 .itemImage”,”shortcodeId”:”a27f2cce-5600-4d5c-b491-ae697136bf36″,”shortcodeType”:”x-listicle”,”vendor”:”Amazon”,”manufacturer”:”Jabra”,”coupon”:””,”productPrice”:”120″,”quantity”:”1″}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>

Jabra

Coming in at 16% smaller than the Elite 75t, the Elite 7 Pros are Jabra’s top-of-the-line earbuds in its new range and include the company’s new MultiSensor Voice technology with a bone-conduction sensor, four microphones and intelligent algorithms to deliver new “ground-breaking call quality,” Jabra says. The voice calling performance doesn’t quite live up to the hype, but Jabra has updated the buds’ firmware, adding multipoint Bluetooth pairing and slightly improving sound quality, noise canceling and headset performance. It took a while but they’re now excellent all-around buds.

These have adjustable active noise cancellation, Jabra’s HearThrough transparency mode and Bluetooth 5.2. They offer up to nine hours’ play time at moderate volume levels with noise canceling on, and nearly three additional charges in the charging case — total battery life is rated at 35 hours. The charging case has wireless charging capabilities.

The earbuds’ IP57 rating means they can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water. For those who like to use only a single bud, you can also use either bud independently in a mono mode.

You’re receiving price alerts for Jabra Elite 7 Pro

n “,”topic”:””,”ttag”:””,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|9″,”correlationId”:””,”_destCat”:”https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-MOMENTUM-Bluetooth-Headphones-Cancellation/dp/B09T935X38″,”productName”:”Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 Earbuds -Bluetooth In-Ear Headphones for Music & Calls with Adaptive Noise Cancellation, IPX4, Qi charging, 28-hour Battery Life,Black, 509180″,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:9,”sku”:”509180″,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-27372eea-9922-4f27-b0c1-0fcf1b1aeefa .itemImage”,”shortcodeId”:”27372eea-9922-4f27-b0c1-0fcf1b1aeefa”,”shortcodeType”:”x-listicle”,”vendor”:”Amazon”,”manufacturer”:”Sennheiser Consumer Audio”,”coupon”:””,”productPrice”:”196″,”quantity”:””}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>

David Carnoy/CNET

You’re receiving price alerts for Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3

n “,”topic”:”Misc”,”ttag”:”amazon”,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|10″,”correlationId”:””,”assettitle”:””,”campaign”:”amazon”,”cval”:35,”leadCpc”:0.35,”leadProdPrice”:363.07,”manufacturer”:”Bang & Olufsen”,”productName”:”Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX – Wireless Bluetooth Earphones with Microphone and Active Noise Cancelling, Waterproof, 20 Hours of Playtime”,”seriesGuid”:””,”sku”:”1240602″,”reviewId”:””,”vendor”:”Amazon”,”coupon”:””,”quantity”:””,”formatSubtype”:”in-text text”,”rawUrl”:”https://assoc-redirect.amazon.com/g/r/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09VLHMD7H?tag=cnet-api-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1″,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:10,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-d1bfa1ec-e7ff-4240-9dfa-f4ec1e6071cd .itemImage”,”shortcodeId”:”d1bfa1ec-e7ff-4240-9dfa-f4ec1e6071cd”,”shortcodeType”:”x-listicle”}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>

David Carnoy/CNET

Bang & Olufsen’s Beoplay EX buds are the company’s best true-wireless earbuds yet. They feature a comfortable, secure fit (except perhaps for those with really smaller ears), top-notch build quality, great sound, good noise canceling and improved voice-calling performance over B&O’s EQ buds, with three microphones in each earbud they help with reducing background noise while picking up your voice. While they’re out of most people’s price range, they’re arguably the best earbuds out there with stems and offer superior sound to the AirPods Pro with better clarity, deeper more powerful bass and richer, more accurate sound. 

Battery life is rated at 6 hours at moderate volume levels with noise canceling on and there’s an extra 14 hours of juice in the brushed aluminum charging case (wireless charging is supported). The buds have an IP57 water-resistance rating, which makes them waterproof and dust-resistant. They feature Bluetooth 5.2 and multipoint Bluetooth pairing so you can connect to two devices at the same time, such as a computer and smartphone. You can use a single bud independently and the earbuds have ear-detection sensors so your music pauses when you remove them from your ears. 

The buds support AptX Adaptive for devices like Android smartphones that support Bluetooth streaming with the AptX HD audio codec (AAC is also supported). They’re available in the gold tone pictured as well as a graphite color.

You’re receiving price alerts for Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX

n “,”topic”:”Headphones”,”ttag”:”amazon”,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|11″,”correlationId”:””,”assettitle”:””,”campaign”:”amazon”,”cval”:35,”leadCpc”:0.35,”leadProdPrice”:148,”manufacturer”:”Sony”,”productName”:”Sony LinkBuds S (Black)”,”seriesGuid”:”a1ea2c6c-d8cb-4978-8c95-454f1ac4e8e6″,”sku”:”WFLS900N/B”,”reviewId”:””,”vendor”:”Amazon”,”coupon”:””,”quantity”:””,”formatSubtype”:”in-text text”,”rawUrl”:”https://rd.bizrate.com/rd?t=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crutchfield.com%2FI-rbizc1EG7%2Fp_158WFS900B%2FSony-Linkbuds-S-Black.html%3Fcnxclid%3DSZ_REDIRECT_ID&mid=58&cat_id=9213&atom=9227&prod_id=&oid=20667006249&pos=1&b_id=18&bid_type=10&bamt=42cebdc0db812186&cobrand=1&ppr=0dc9bfdba33d0bd1&a=2c3f6b29acaed0dcadb3c1d120c24453&rf=af1&af_assettype_id=12&af_creative_id=2973&af_id=614548&af_placement_id=1&dv=93eb97ae80a9b37a2ae11e99a49df5dd167fd8996581dfd6″,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:11,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-838a4c73-0af0-4eca-ae17-e21842be7c0b .itemImage”,”shortcodeId”:”838a4c73-0af0-4eca-ae17-e21842be7c0b”,”shortcodeType”:”x-listicle”}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>

David Carnoy/CNET

You’re receiving price alerts for Sony LinkBuds S (Black)

n “,”topic”:”Misc”,”ttag”:”amazon”,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|12″,”correlationId”:””,”assettitle”:””,”campaign”:”amazon”,”cval”:35,”leadCpc”:0.35,”leadProdPrice”:169.99,”manufacturer”:”Google”,”productName”:”Google Pixel Buds Pro – Noise Canceling Earbuds – Up to 31 Hour Battery Life with Charging Case – Bluetooth Headphones – Compatible with Wireless Charging – Charcoal”,”seriesGuid”:””,”sku”:”GA34L; GQGM1; GPX4H”,”reviewId”:””,”vendor”:”Amazon”,”coupon”:””,”quantity”:””,”formatSubtype”:”in-text text”,”rawUrl”:”https://assoc-redirect.amazon.com/g/r/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B1N7SGMZ/ref=asc_df_B0B1N7SGMZ1673262000000?tag=cnet-ce-20&creative=395261&creativeASIN=B0B1N7SGMZ&linkCode=asn”,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:12,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-53618d19-96aa-487f-aa93-366de01d7a74 .itemImage”,”shortcodeId”:”53618d19-96aa-487f-aa93-366de01d7a74″,”shortcodeType”:”x-listicle”}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>

David Carnoy/CNET

The Pixel Buds Pro are Google’s first earbuds to feature active noise canceling. While it’s nice that they finally have a feature that a lot of true-wireless earbuds have had for a while, what ultimately sets the Pixel Buds Pro apart and makes them worth considering — particularly for Android users — is their distinct design and winning fit. That helps enhance their performance on both the sound quality and noise-canceling fronts. While not quite elite for voice-calling, they also performed well as a headset for making calls. A couple of features are missing at launch — spatial audio and a five-band equalizer — but are due to arrive later in 2022, according to Google.  

Read our Google Pixel Buds review.

You’re receiving price alerts for Google Pixel Buds Pro

n “,”topic”:”Headphones”,”ttag”:”amazon”,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|13″,”correlationId”:””,”assettitle”:””,”campaign”:”amazon”,”cval”:35,”leadCpc”:0.35,”leadProdPrice”:130.46,”manufacturer”:”Samsung”,”productName”:”Samsung Galaxy Buds 2″,”seriesGuid”:”ee48dbba-b3db-4134-acf9-8cb733c42dd2″,”sku”:”SM-R177NZKAXAR”,”reviewId”:””,”vendor”:”Amazon”,”coupon”:””,”quantity”:””,”formatSubtype”:”in-text text”,”rawUrl”:”https://assoc-redirect.amazon.com/g/r/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094242FV1?tag=cnet-api-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1″,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:13,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-e5d57d4e-3a1f-46fb-abeb-072964601c45 .itemImage”,”shortcodeId”:”e5d57d4e-3a1f-46fb-abeb-072964601c45″,”shortcodeType”:”listicle”}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>

Drew Evans/CNET

You’re receiving price alerts for Samsung Galaxy Buds 2

n “,”topic”:”Headphones”,”ttag”:”ir”,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|14″,”correlationId”:””,”assettitle”:””,”campaign”:”ir”,”cval”:35,”leadCpc”:0.35,”leadProdPrice”:179,”manufacturer”:”Apple”,”productName”:”Apple AirPods 3 (MagSafe Case)”,”seriesGuid”:”66f655ae-fba0-47cf-83a4-276c6a6d8cdd”,”sku”:”MME73AM/A”,”reviewId”:””,”vendor”:”Apple”,”coupon”:””,”quantity”:””,”formatSubtype”:”in-text text”,”rawUrl”:”https://assoc-redirect.amazon.com/g/r/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09M94KXPN/ref=asc_df_B09M94KXPN1673262000000?tag=cnet_mp-ce-20&creative=395261&creativeASIN=B09M94KXPN&linkCode=asn”,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:14,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-fe73d98f-58e6-4c08-8b5a-049f0ed41dc7 .itemImage”,”shortcodeId”:”fe73d98f-58e6-4c08-8b5a-049f0ed41dc7″,”shortcodeType”:”listicle”}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>

David Carnoy/CNET

You’re receiving price alerts for Apple AirPods 3 (MagSafe Case)

n “,”topic”:”Headphones”,”ttag”:”amazon”,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|15″,”correlationId”:””,”assettitle”:””,”campaign”:”amazon”,”cval”:10,”leadCpc”:0.1,”leadProdPrice”:299,”manufacturer”:”Master & Dynamic”,”productName”:”Master & Dynamic MW08 – true wireless earphones with mic”,”seriesGuid”:””,”sku”:”mw08bk”,”reviewId”:””,”vendor”:”Amazon”,”coupon”:””,”quantity”:””,”formatSubtype”:”in-text text”,”rawUrl”:”https://assoc-redirect.amazon.com/g/r/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091G2BX1M/ref=asc_df_B091G2BX1M1673262000000?tag=cnet_mp-ce-20&creative=395261&creativeASIN=B091G2BX1M&linkCode=asn”,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:15,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-c8b773ff-2e30-4582-8e44-83e5a597bfe8 .itemImage”,”shortcodeId”:”c8b773ff-2e30-4582-8e44-83e5a597bfe8″,”shortcodeType”:”listicle”}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>

David Carnoy/CNET

Master & Dynamic’s earlier MW07 and MW07 Plus delivered top-notch sound for truly wireless, but they were a little lacking in the features department and weren’t so great for making calls. The 2021 MW08 offers some significant improvements, including the addition of solid noise canceling and call quality. Battery life is also very good (up to 12 hours with noise canceling off). 

These buds may not fit everyone’s ear equally well, but they certainly have a distinct look, as well as excellent sound and a great listening experience if you can get a tight seal (I was able to get a secure fit with the largest tip). They deliver more of an audiophile sound profile, with smooth, well-balanced sound and well-defined bass.

Like their predecessors, the MW08 includes a swanky stainless-steel charging case (it charges via USB-C) that’s compact but carries more weight than your typical buds case. I prefer the matte finishes of the cases that come with the black and blue versions, and you also get a secondary pouch for safekeeping (yes, the charging case can get scratched up if you leave it in a bag).

You’re receiving price alerts for Master & Dynamic MW08

n “,”topic”:”Headphones”,”ttag”:”walmart”,”searchDim”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”variant”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”viewguid”:””,”event”:”listicle|image|16″,”correlationId”:””,”assettitle”:””,”campaign”:”walmart”,”cval”:35,”leadCpc”:0.35,”leadProdPrice”:149.95,”manufacturer”:”JBL”,”productName”:”JBL Live Pro 2″,”seriesGuid”:”4aa0b5e6-fa10-4be0-bbd2-3a3473622a37″,”sku”:”JBLLIVEPRO2TWSBAM”,”reviewId”:””,”vendor”:”Walmart”,”coupon”:””,”quantity”:””,”formatSubtype”:”in-text text”,”rawUrl”:”https://goto.walmart.com/c/159047/568844/9383?veh=aff&sourceid=imp_000011112222333344&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2F693525806&subId1=[subid_value]”,”formatType”:”IMAGE”,”location”:”LIST”,”position”:16,”dwLinkTag”:”article-body|listicle|image”,”selector”:”#article-body #listicle-17c61c0c-98be-432f-955c-28ea141a5d2c .itemImage”,”shortcodeId”:”17c61c0c-98be-432f-955c-28ea141a5d2c”,”shortcodeType”:”x-listicle”}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>

David Carnoy/CNET

You’re receiving price alerts for JBL Live Pro 2

Before earbuds like the AirPods came along, wireless earbuds had a cord between the buds. They were wireless because they offered wireless Bluetooth streaming and didn’t have a headphone cable that plugged into your device. Some companies still make those types of wireless earbuds — the Beats Flex is one example — and some people like having a cord that allows the buds to dangle from your neck when not in use.

True wireless earbuds have no cord between them. They are entirely cord-free and link wirelessly to create a stereo pair. They are sometimes referred to by their acronym TWS (true-wireless stereo). 

In recent months there has been a bunch of articles about how Gen Z is making the “humble” wired headphone cool again, particularly Apple EarPods (you know, the headphones that used to be included in the box when bought an iPhone but no longer are). That’s fine — and we have nothing against wired headphones — but a cord can be a nuisance. When you’re working out or running, going totally wireless feels liberating. Also, most new phones these days don’t have a headphone jack so you need to go wireless unless you get a Lightning or USB-C headphone or use an adapter for a standard headphone with a 3.5mm plug.

You can get wireless headphones with a cord between the buds. Neckband-style earbuds are still a thing and some people like that style because you can let the cord dangle around your neck when you don’t have the buds in your ears. However, true wireless earbuds ultimately offer more freedom and are stored in a compact charging case that’s convenient to carry. And both the sound quality and reliability of their wireless connection have improved considerably over the last couple of years. 

As far as prices go, while you can certainly find plenty of premium wireless earbuds, there are also lots of decent affordable models, some of which cost less than $50.

With wireless earbuds, it’s important that you get the right fit so they not only stay in your ears but so they sound and perform at their best (a tight seal is crucial for optimal sound and noise canceling if the earbuds have active noise canceling). If the buds come with silicone ear tips, you should use the bud that’s a little bigger rather than too small for your ear. Also, in some cases, like with the AirPods Pro, you can buy third-party foam ear tips that grip the inside of your ear better and keep your buds from falling out. Note that sometimes people have one ear shaped differently than the other, so you might use a medium tip in one ear and a large tip in the other. 

AirPods have never fit all ears equally well, and a lot of people complain that they won’t stay securely in their ears. You can buy third-party wingtips — sometimes called sport fins — that lock the buds in your ears. But you have to take them off every time you use your buds because they won’t fit in the case. 

If you have trouble keeping earbuds in your ears, your best bet is to look for a model that includes wingtips or actually integrates them into the buds’ design. You can also get earbuds that have ear hooks that wrap around the top of your ears. Several sports buds feature this design. It can be particularly appealing to bikers who can’t afford to have their earbuds drop out of their ears while riding at high speed.

A battery life rating of 5 hours is considered adequate but many of the latest buds offer 6 hours or more of battery life with noise canceling on. Battery life increases if you don’t use noise canceling. Some earbuds now deliver over 10 hours of battery life with noise canceling off.

We have an article on how to clean your AirPods that also applies to other earbuds. But if you don’t want to read that, the condensed version is this:

Wipe down both the buds themselves and ear tips with a slightly dampened soft, dry, lint-free cloth (like the kind you use to clean glasses or your phone’s screen) and avoid using any soap or harsh cleaning liquids. A 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe or a Clorox disinfecting wipe is OK but avoid getting too much moisture in any ports or inside the buds themself. You can also use a toothpick for any little crevices or a Q-tip with a bit of alcohol on it. Avoid saturating the Q-tip with alcohol. Finally, wait a few minutes until any moisture evaporates before using the buds.