True wireless earbuds remain all the rage as they are the pinnacle of wireless headphone innovation. Packing great sound quality, exceptional battery life, and a charging case in a super portable case is an incredible engineering feat. Apple/Beats headphones take it a step further, though, especially when pairing with an iOS device. This is thanks to the H1/W1 chip, allowing one-click pairing, seamless switching between devices, and system-level integration on iOS.
We do expect this to change with the release of the AirPods Pro 2 - there's improved noise canceling, a better charging case, and better sound quality on offer, and now that we know they're coming, we can start looking forward to the new best earbuds! Until then, we'll just have to wait until we get them in our hands.
Best wireless earbuds
Best Overall
The AirPods Pro is the pinnacle of truly wireless earbuds if you own an iPhone. They feature fantastic ANC performance, great sound, and a super comfortable fit. They also work with many of the hottest wireless chargers on the market. The AirPods Pro is the best true wireless earbuds right now.
Runner Up
The biggest difference between AirPods and AirPods Pro is that the Pro feature ANC. If you don't care about that, save your money and get the 2nd generation AirPods. They feature a one-size-fits-all design, good sound, solid battery life, and a super-compact design.
Long battery life
At the expense of a much larger charging case, the Powerbeats Pro features up to nine hours of battery life on the side of the buds, nearly doubling that of AirPods. The Powerbeats Pro uses a hook design that goes around your outer ear, which equates to a super secure fit.
Master class
The always-styling Master & Dynamic once again hit a home run with the MW08 true wireless earphones. Available in six color combinations, these buds are made of light-weight ceramic and offer Bluetooth 5.2. They provide 12 hours of listening per charge plus 30 hours in the case for up to 42 hours of total battery life. Now, that's a lot of music!
Lux choice
For something truly special, consider the Bower & Wilkins P17. Offered in two color combinations, these true wireless earbuds are built for long-term use, offer a nice balanced sound, and look terrific in the ears. They also come with a worthwhile companion app.
ANC all day
The Sony WF-1000XM3 is a great alternative to the AirPods Pro. They feature up to 6 hours of battery life on a single charge (vs. 4.5 hours on AirPods Pro) with ANC enabled. However, both the earbuds and the charging case are much larger with the WF-1000XM3 compared to AirPods Pro.
Awesome sound
Sennheiser is known for having truly exceptional sound across all of their products, and the Momentum True Wireless 2 keeps that tradition going. However, that does come at the expense of a bigger earbud size and slightly shorter battery life.
Workout buds
The Jaybird Vista feature IPX7 water resistance. They'll withstand nearly all types of exercise (sans swimming). The Vista is also super comfortable, features great sound, and has a relatively small charging case.
Find my earbuds
The Belkin SOUNDFORM earbuds are the first 3rd party earbuds to participate in the Apple's Find My network. They feature 8 hours of battery life per charge and 28 hours of additional hours of charge in the case, for a total of 36 hours of battery life. They are Qi wireless capable and sweat and splash resistant.
Great value
These low-cost earbuds give you up to ten hours of continuous music per charge and 84 hours overall with the charging case. With passive noise cancellation and immersive bass, the Tranya T20 Wireless Earbuds is sure to please.
Sweet alternative
The Liberty Air 2 aren't necessarily the cheapest true wireless earbuds around but are incredibly valuable. For their price, the Liberty Air 2 feature the best combination of sound quality, battery life, comfort, and portability.
Colorful choice
Available in multiple colors, the Urbanears Alby provides up to 15 hours of total playtime — three hours of non-stop listening per charge plus 4x additional on-the-go charges with the USB-C charging case.
The verdict is in
It shouldn't surprise anyone, but the AirPods Pro are the best true wireless earbuds. They feature active noise cancelation, great comfort with multiple ear tip sizes, decent battery life with up to 4.5 hours on the side of the earbuds with ANC enabled, and a compact wireless charging case. Honestly, outside of battery life, the AirPods Pro will be tough to beat when it comes to true wireless earbuds.
Our runner-up, the AirPods (2nd generation) and Powerbeats Pro, aren't surprising either as they share the same H1 chip found in the AirPods Pro that lets you switch between your Apple devices super effortlessly. All three sets of earbuds charge over Lightning, and the AirPods Pro and AirPods (2nd generation) are even more effortless, thanks to their wireless charging cases.