As well as the AirPods, there are great wireless earbuds from the likes of Sony, Bose and Samsung as well as brands you might not know so well like Cambridge Audio. We’re focusing on what are known as ‘true wireless’ earbuds here – ie not ones that are attached to each other with a cable that hangs on your neck like the Google Pixel Buds or Huawei FreeLace Pro – aka neckbuds. You might see them referred to as ‘TWS’ which stands for true wireless stereo. If you’re looking for general headphones then we have a dedicated chart for that which includes on- and over-ear headphones, too.
Best true wireless earbuds 2023
Your buying guide to the best true wireless earbuds in 2023
Earbuds might be small and unassuming but there’s plenty to think about when choosing the right pair. If you’re not sure, then below we have buying advice to help you find the right ones.
Best ANC features Amazing sound Strong battery life Smart features
A little bulky
Along with solid battery life and quick charging, they offer the best active noise cancelling on a pair of earbuds we’ve tested. Not only does it do a great job of removing unwanted sound, it has unrivalled AI technology that can change the mode and level depending on where you are or what you’re doing. There’s plenty more tech packed in, too, with Speak-to-Chat, DSEE Extreme upscaling, LDAC support for Hi-Res Audio Wireless as well as 360 Reality Audio spatial audio. And pretty much everything can be customised or switched off when needed.
Superb sound quality Astonishing noise cancelling Clever ‘Aware’ mode Secure fit
No Hi-Res audio support No Bluetooth Multipoint No wireless charging
The already excellent ANC is even better with unbelievable pure performance as well as a clever aware mode. Paird with top-notch sound quality and you’ve got yourself a very decent pair of wireless earbuds. As previously, Sony is the thorn in Bose’s side here with – if it bothers you – better battery life, a better range of smart features and Hi-Res Audio.
Epic battery life Great sound User-friendly app Comfortable fit
No ANC Slow switching modes Slightly awkward case
Not only are they affordable, but they are comfortable and have the best battery life around – able to last for a total of 50 hours if you switch them into low power mode. Even on high performance, they can still go for an impressive 44. Longevity aside, the sound quality is excellent and you get a lot of control over the sound with a graphic EQ in the app which can also do various other useful things. You can still get the Melomania 1 if you want a bargain.
Samsung’s best-sounding buds yet Comfortable and lightweight IPX7 water-resistance
Fiddly touch controls 24-bit audio requires a Samsung phone Middling battery life
As you’d expect from Pro level earbuds, there are features like active noise cancelling, wireless charging and 24-bit audio support – although the latter requires a Samsung phone. That combined with limited iOS support means these are best for Samsung users and if you don’t need the high-end features then the Galaxy Buds 2 make for a better value purchase.
Comfortable & compact Industry-leading transparency mode Impressive ANC performance Enhanced Find My functionality
Many smart features are exclusive to Apple devices No lossless audio support Only IPX4
It’s not so clear-cut if you’re an Android user, losing out on many of the smarts that make the AirPods Pro 2 what they are, but if you’ve got an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac, the AirPods Pro are the ideal high-end performers. While there’s still a basic splash-resistant rating, there’s still one glaring thing missing from Apple’s earbuds and that’s a lossless codec.
Superb, rounded sound Great fit Solid ANC Wireless charging
No EQ options No Hi-Res/aptX support No iOS Pixel Buds app
as well as all the things you’d expect from a flagship pair of earbuds like great sound quality, noise cancelling and good battery life, the Pixel Buds Pro have better touch controls than most along with Google Assistant integration to boot. It’s not all plain sailing as that lower price does mean you miss out on things like proper waterproofing and Hi-Res Audio.
Dual-drivers sound amazing Solid ANC performance Useful smart features Wireless charging case
Irritating software setup New colour is a fingerprint magnet Slightly awkward swipe gesture
At a much lower price than some rivals, you get incredible sound from the dual-driver setup which unusually features planar drivers. They also fit really well and the active noise cancelling and call quality are nothing short of excellent, even if you need the app to select specific ANC modes beyond on and ambient. There is a selection of useful smart features such as wear detection, fit test, custom EQ and more. Most markets will get wireless charging, but it’s a shame battery life isn’t any better and the new Silver Blue colour attracts fingerprints.
Incredible personal sound Secure fit Touch controls
Average ANC No fast charging
You need to hear it to believe it and there are other things to like about the NuraTrue beyond mesmerising sound. They have useful touch controls and a compact, secure fit making them suitable for running and exercising. They’re also cheaper than some of the big names and you can still get the NuraLoop for a little less if a neckbud design is suitable.
Comfortable design Improved smarts Wireless charging Spatial Audio
No Active Noise Cancellation Limited noise isolation Slightly more expensive
A number of improvements have been made including a more comfortable design, Spatial Audio support, improved Find My support and wireless charging as standard – both Qi and MagSafe. Still, there are downsides such as the lack of noise cancelling and the open-fit design means no ear canal seal for proper noise isolation like the AirPods Pro and most rivals. Great earbuds, but not quite a no brainer at the increased price.
Lightweight & compact design Solid sound & ANC Wireless charging
Fiddly touch controls Limited iOS support Average battery life
They come in a range of colours and offer a comfortable fit along with good sound quality, noise cancelling and even wireless charging. You will have to put up with over-sensitive touch controls and better battery life can be found elsewhere if that’s important. As you might expect, it’s better to look elsewhere if you’re an iPhone user due to limited support. They are typically on- or over-ear headphones with a headband but also could be earbuds connected by a wire/chord which normally goes around your neck. Ture wireless earbuds on the other hand are two separate in-ear headphones that are not connected to each other or your source device with any wires. However, there’s plenty of competition out there and just having 10 pairs in this chart means it’s very hotly contested and you can check out the latest reviews in our audio section. Over the years we’ve found the following brands to make recommendable earbuds: Apple, Samsung, Cambridge Audio, Jabra, Huawei, Bose, Nura, Google and more. Active noise cancelling (ANC) digitally cuts out the noise around you. Some of the buds here have it, but we also have a dedicated noise cancelling headphones chart which includes other styles. Battery life varies for the earbuds but the carry case will handily charge them up, normally a few times over. Apart from things like longer battery life, it’s additional features that tend to set different sets of earbuds apart. That might be a wireless charging case, support for Google/Alexa digital assistants or exclusive smart features like Sony’s Speak-to-Chat. You might not be able to get everything you want in the same device so deciding what’s most important to you may be critical. Find out how we test audio. If your budget is tight, take a look at our recommendations for the best cheap true wireless earbuds although we may include the occasional pair under $100/£100 here. Tech Advisor’s Reviews Editor, Chris has been reviewing all kinds of tech for over 10 years and specialises in audio. He also covers a range of topics including home entertainment, phones, laptops, tablets and more.
