Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: Bose posted its development QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd generation)which means you’ll be able to get discounts on the original QC Ultra Earbuds. They sound great and have a very good noise canceling front.
Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC: Released in 2023 and now discounted, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds have a lower list price than the 2022 Liberty 4 buds and are arguably better. They have improved noise cancellation and better sound quality, as well as support for the LDAC audio codec for devices that support it. (Many Android smartphones do, and in theory they offer slightly improved sound quality when paired with a music streaming service that offers crisp tracks.) They’re lightweight buds that should fit most ears comfortably with four sizes of ear tips to choose from.
Situation Between 3ANC: The Status Audio earbuds aren’t exactly the prettiest or most attractive earbuds you can buy, but if you ignore their utilitarian looks and large stems, you’re getting a great-sounding set of earbuds. The Between 3ANC, the company’s first noise-canceling earbuds, also do a good job of canceling out ambient noise, though they’re not quite up to the level of the Bose QuietComfort 2 earbuds in terms of noise-canceling capabilities. They performed very well in my voice-pronunciation test, reducing most of the background noise around me on the streets of New York while I raised my voice clearly, or so callers told me.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 S2: In 2023, Bowers & Wilkins developed its PI7 high-fidelity noise-cancelling earbuds. The new S2 model has better battery life and Bluetooth range, now up to 25 meters (double the previous range). Additionally, the buds now include the new Bowers & Wilkins Music app for iOS and Android and have a more advanced setup experience. Read more in our full Bowers & Wilkins PI7 review.
JBL Live Pro 2: Over the years, JBL has released some decent wireless earbuds, but nothing that really impressed me. That finally changed with the arrival of the new Samsung model Live Pro 2 again Live Free 2 buds. Both compact sets — the Live Pro 2 has a stem while the Live Free 2 has a pill-shaped design — offer a comfortable fit and solid noise cancellation, excellent sound quality and voice calling performance, and a solid set of features, including Bluetooth multi-point pairing, an IPX5 splash-proof rating and wireless charging.
Master & Dynamic MW09: Master & Dynamic headphones and earbuds always feature unique, eye-catching designs that combine premium materials such as aluminum, sapphire glass and Kevlar. Its latest MW09 earbuds ($349) look very similar to their previous MW08 buds but have some internal improvements that bring better performance, especially when it comes to noise cancellation. Earbuds sound great but are mysteriously not available everywhere, so we’ve rounded them up from the best list. When they come back in stock, we will add them back to this list.
Sony LinkBuds S: Unlike the “open” LinkBuds, the LinkBuds S are traditional noise-isolating earbuds with tips that fit over your ears. They are compact and lighter than Sony’s previous flagship WF-1000XM4 and feature a Sony V1 processor (Sony has released the more compact WF-1000XM5). Noise and noise cancellation aren’t up to par with the XM4s or XM5s, but they’re still pretty good. They are Sony buds for people who can’t afford Sony’s premium earbuds but want 80% of those features and performance for a lot less money. I have fully reviewed the Sony LinkBuds S and rated it 8.4 out of 10.
Sony WF-1000XM4: Released in 2021, Sony’s WF-1000XM4 received a CNET Editors’ Choice Award. They’re still great earbuds, but Sony has now released the next-gen WF-1000XM5. They can be a good option if you get them at a good discount. I published a full review of the Sony WF-100XM4 buds when they were released if you think budget earbuds are for you.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 was among the new wireless earbuds of 2022. They’re still among the best true wireless earbuds, but Sennheiser has released the improved Momentum True Wireless 4. Also, the best Air0XM10 Air0Pods are Air0XM10 Pro 5. more, so only look to buy the Momentum True Wireless 3 when it’s heavily discounted. Read more about the buds in my review of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3.
JBL Tour Pro 2: JBL’s Tour Pro 2 earbuds have gotten a lot of attention for bringing something new to wireless earbuds: a full-color touchscreen display embedded in the case that lets you access key features of the earbuds and control playback and adjust volume levels. A little gimmick but also useful. The buds could sound a little better for their list price, but overall the JBL Tour Pro 2s are excellent earbuds with a good fit, solid feature set, solid battery life, and solid noise cancellation and voice performance. I looked at the full-featured earbuds in 2023 and wrote a full review of the JBL Tour Pro 2 which you can read here.
Beyerdynamic Free Byrd: Beyerdynamic may be late to the game, but it has finally launched its truly wireless earbuds, featuring active noise cancellation, up to 11 hours of battery life (with mute) and impressive sound quality. Read my full Beyerdynamic Free Byrd Earbuds review to learn more.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2: Available in four colors, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 noise-canceling headphones don’t feature as good noise or noise cancellation as the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, but they’re compact (15% smaller and 20% lighter than the previous Buds Plus, they don’t fall out of your ears) and are a lot cheaper. Because they sit in your ears — and have that curved design — they also absorb a little bit of wind noise. They are IPX2 sweat-resistant while the soaring Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are fully waterproof (IPX7). My full review of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 from 2021 has more information on the earbuds.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX: Bang & Olufsen’s $399 Beoplay EX earbuds are the company’s flagship wireless earbuds. They feature a comfortable, secure fit (except for those with really small ears), top-notch build quality, great sound, good noise cancellation and improved vocal performance with B&O’s EQ buds, with three microphones on each earbud that help reduce background noise while raising your voice. Out of the mainstream price range, they’re arguably the best quality earbuds out there and offer slightly higher sound than the AirPods Pro 2 with better clarity, stronger deep bass and richer, more accurate sound. I reviewed the B&O Beoplay EX earbuds before they were released in 2022 and included some information there.
Soundcore by Anker Liberty 4: Their sound is not yet up to the level of high-end buds like Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 and the more expensive Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3, but Anker’s Soundcore Liberty 4 earbuds have a solid set of features, including spatial audio mode with head tracking, multipoint Bluetooth wireless battery pairing, wireless AC pairing, wireless AC battery. a codec that can provide audio enhancements if you have the right setup. Read more in my Anker Liberty 4 review for more information on mid-range earbuds.
Sennheiser CX Plus: Momentum True Wireless 3 Sennheiser wireless earbuds. If you can’t afford them, the Sennheiser CX Plus (with excellent sound and decent noise cancellation) is a great option for very little money. The descending CX, which does not have active noise cancellation, is less expensive. Find out more about budget earbuds in my full Sennheiser CX Plus review.
