April 2024
Wireless Earbuds: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of wireless earbuds rankings posted by key online experts, as of April 2024.
Summary
On 9 Apr 2024, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 85 earbuds endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
42 earbuds were endorsed in total, only 17 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 9 Apr 2024, Sony WF-1000XM5 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed earbuds with 7 expert endorsements. 5 experts out of 7 recommended it as the '#1 earbuds' this month.
Brand breakdown
-
Sony: 6 earbuds
(#1 is Sony WF-1000XM5)
-
Bose: 3 earbuds
(#1 is Bose QuietComfort Ultra)
-
Samsung: 3 earbuds
(#1 is Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro)
-
Jabra: 3 earbuds
(#1 is Jabra Elite 10)
- Sennheiser: 3 earbuds
Price breakdown
At a glance - April Ranking
Rank | Change | Price | Earbuds |
Laptop Mag
|
Forbes
|
Tom's Guide
|
TechRadar
|
The Verge
|
SoundGuys
|
Rtings.com
|
Android Central
|
What Hi-Fi
|
Wirecutter
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
- | $298 |
Sony WF-1000XM5
|
-
|
3
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
-
|
2
|
- | $269 |
Apple AirPods Pro 2
|
2
|
8
|
3
|
6
|
5
|
2
|
2
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
3
|
- | $249 |
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
|
-
|
4
|
4
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
5
|
-
|
4
|
+2 | $298 |
Technics EAH-AZ80
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-1 | $156 |
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
|
7
|
-
|
7
|
7
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
+1 | $59 |
Soundcore Space A40
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
7
|
+1 | $160 |
Beats Fit Pro
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
9
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
8
|
+1 | $140 |
Google Pixel Buds Pro
|
11
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
3
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
+1 | Check price |
Sony WF-C700N
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
10
|
+1 | $250 |
Jabra Elite 10
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
+1 | $200 |
Jabra Elite 8 Active
|
-
|
6
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
12
|
+6 | $99 |
OnePlus Buds 3
|
-
|
7
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
14
|
-1 | $15 |
JLab Go Air Pop
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
15
|
-1 | $180 |
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
16
|
-1 | $189 |
Bose QuietComfort II
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
17
|
- | $117 |
Anker Soundcore Liberty 4
|
13
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
18
|
+1 | $201 |
Apple AirPods 3
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
We ranked Sony WF-1000XM5 #1 in April 2024 because:
- 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
- Out of those, 5 experts ranked Sony WF-1000XM5 as #1.
Forbes
Best Wireless Earbuds For Sound
People who want very high-quality sound
Subscriber to Tidal or Spotify
|
You want to customize controls
You have larger ear canals
|
Tom's Guide
Best-in-class sound, improved noise cancelation in a smaller and lighter design
Outstanding sound quality
Strong noise cancelation
Exceptional functionality
Excellent level of control
|
Smaller earbud size affects eartip seal and fit
Battery life remains the same as predecessor
|
SoundGuys
The Best
Excellent ANC and Isolation
Comfortable
360 Reality Audio
|
Cost
Default sound too bassy
|
Android Central
Best upgrade pick
Outstanding ANC performance
Stellar sound quality
Amazing battery life
Wireless charging case with USB-C
LDAC and 360 Audio support
Solid app support
|
Touch controls need work
Smaller ears may not feel comfy
Single-bud mode only in right buds
|
What Hi-Fi
Sony's most accomplished and detailed wireless earbuds to date.
Class-leading levels of detail and clarity
Top-notch musicality and timing
Comfortable, discreet design
|
Some rivals produce more bass
Could feel more secure
|
We ranked Apple AirPods Pro 2 #2 in April 2024 because:
- 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
Laptop Mag
The best Apple wireless earbuds overall
+Personalized Spatial Audio
+Stronger, smarter ANC modes
+Impeccable controls
+Distinctly enriched soundstage
+Higher battery life
|
Poor performance on non-iOS devices
-Unchanged design
|
Forbes
Best Overall Wireless Earbuds For Apple
Listening to any audio from any Apple computer or mobile device
Experiencing spatial audio with dynamic head tracking
Hearing audio using adaptive EQ
|
You’re not an Apple computer or mobile device user
|
Tom's Guide
The ultimate ANC earbuds for iPhone users
World-class noise cancellation
Volume controls right on the stem
Dolby Atmos spatial audio
Battery life improved over original model
|
Lackluster call quality
Lanyard costs extra
|
TechRadar
The best wireless earbuds for iPhone owners
Top-tier active noise cancellation
Great sound quality
Lots of very smart features for iPhone
|
Average battery life
No lossless support
No good for Android
|
SoundGuys
Best for iPhone
Effective ANC
Great sound quality - Lossless Audio
Great auto-wear detection
|
Many Apple-exclusive features
No way to customize the EQ without third-party app
|
What Hi-Fi
The best wireless earbuds if you're an Apple fan.
Clear, detailed and powerful sound
Excellent noise-cancelling
Longer battery life
Smooth, intuitive use with iOS devices
|
Many features restricted to iOS devices only
Customisable ANC modes would be useful
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend wireless earbuds.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of wireless earbuds, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for April 2024 ranking
We ranked Bose QuietComfort Ultra #3 in April 2024 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
Forbes
Best Noise Canceling Wireless Earbuds
People who want the very best ANC
People who love immersive audio
|
You want wireless charging
You value battery life
|
Tom's Guide
Best-ever ANC wireless earbuds, but misses elite features at the price
Best-in-class ANC performance
Immersive audio is a game-changer
Comfortable and secure fit
Great customization via companion app
|
Case doesn’t support wireless charging
No multi-point Bluetooth
Mixed call quality
|
Android Central
Best noise-canceling
Superb sound quality
Outstanding ANC performance
Solid ambient mode
Adjustable EQ
Comfortable fit
Wireless charging case
|
No multipoint support
No wireless charging
Case is still large
Pricey
|
What Hi-Fi
The best premium wireless earbuds if noise-cancelling is top of your wish list.
Punchy, musical sound
Solid, weighty bass
Excellent ANC
Comfortable
|
Immersive Audio slashes battery life
No Bluetooth multipoint
No wireless charging
|
We ranked Technics EAH-AZ80 #4 in April 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Technics EAH-AZ80 as #1.
Forbes
Best Wireless Earbuds Overall
People who want the best combination of sound, battery life, control and ANC
People who love touch controls
|
You want the absolute best in any category
You want spatial audio
|
TechRadar
The best wireless earbuds for excellent sound and future-proofed features
Poised, revealing sound
Triple-point connectivity
Outstanding comms and comfort
|
Noise-cancelling and battery life are nothing special
Could conceivably sound more animated
|
Android Central
Best for hi-res
Superb sound quality
Very comfortable fit
Excellent call quality
LDAC support
Good app support
Decent battery life
|
ANC could be better for the price
LDAC playback affects multipoint connections
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro #5 in April 2024 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
Laptop Mag
The essential wireless earbuds for Galaxy smartphone owners
24-bit audio playback and 3D sound
Spacious soundstage
Powerful ANC
Pressure-relieving design
Excellent connectivity
|
Low battery life
Most coveted features are exclusive to Galaxy devices
|
Tom's Guide
Best ANC wireless earbuds for Galaxy phones
Wide soundstage
Effective ANC
Compact and practical design
Easy to use features
Excellent connectivity
|
-Bixby assistant unreliable
-Most coveted features are exclusive to Galaxy devices
|
TechRadar
Best wireless earbuds for Samsung phone owners
Great sound, and serious Hi-Res skills
Strong noise cancellation
Classy, comfortable design and finish
|
Battery life is only average
Hi-Res 24-bit is only from Samsung Galaxy phones
|
Android Central
Best for Samsung users
Extremely comfortable
Improved ANC
Perfect for Samsung’s ecosystem
Pretty rugged design
Good app support
|
Lack true multipoint capabilities
So-so battery life
Finicky touch controls
|
We ranked Soundcore Space A40 #6 in April 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Soundcore Space A40 as #1.
Laptop Mag
Best mid-range ANC earbuds
Impressive sound quality
Stellar noise cancellation and transparency
Great call quality
Strong Bluetooth connection
Long battery life
|
Touch controls can be finicky at times
|
We ranked Beats Fit Pro #7 in April 2024 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
Tom's Guide
Best wireless earbuds for iOS users with active lifestyles
Powerful ANC and Transparency modes
Dynamic sound and Spatial Audio support
Respectable battery life
Comfy, secure fit
|
Some features exclusive to Apple devices
Limited Android app
|
TechRadar
The best wireless earbuds for exercise
Spatial audio on Apple Music
Better battery life
|
ANC could be stronger
No wireless charging
|
We ranked Google Pixel Buds Pro #8 in April 2024 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
Laptop Mag
Dynamic-sounding buds for Android-philes
Dynamic, customizable audio
Effective ANC
Sufficient battery life
Excellent wireless performance
|
Loose fit
No aptX support or USB-C cable
|
Android Central
Best for Pixel users
Good, clear sound
Integration with Android and Google Assistant
Excellent ANC performance
Great fit and comfort
Reliable media controls
Wireless charging
|
Could use more bass
Battery life could be longer with ANC
More ear tip sizes would be nice
|
We ranked Sony WF-C700N #9 in April 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
Tom's Guide
Big-brand experience and superb noise canceling for $119
Vibrant, detailed sound
Superb noise cancellation and call quality
Comes with most signature Sony features
Very attractive design
Optimal comfort and fit
|
No aptX or LDAC support
|
TechRadar
The best wireless earbuds around $100 / £100
Strong noise cancellation
Top-class audio for the price
Great Sony app support
|
Not much battery from the case
No higher-res Bluetooth support
|
What Hi-Fi
Awards 2023 winner. The best wireless earbuds with noise-cancelling for tight budgets.
Very comfortable fit
Refined presentation for the money
Detailed, dynamic and musical sound
|
Charging case doesn't add a lot to battery life
No aptX or LDAC support
|
We ranked Jabra Elite 10 #10 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Jabra Elite 10 as #1.
Tom's Guide
Elite sound and spatial audio with headtracking make these a great AirPods Pro alternative
Rich, dynamic, customizable sound
Powerful ANC
Superior head tracking technology
Jabra’s most luxe design since the Elite Active 75t
Steady battery life
|
Unreliable call quality
Spatial audio needs work
No aptX codec support
|
Android Central
Best wireless earbuds overall
Excellent audio quality
Adaptive ANC works well
Very comfortable fit
Solid app support
Good durability
Reliable button controls
Solid app support
|
No hi-res codec support
Head tracking can affect battery life
|
We ranked Jabra Elite 8 Active #11 in April 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
Forbes
Best Wireless Earbuds For Exercise
People who set out to utterly destroy their earbuds, but don't want to be able to do so.
People who work out
|
You don't treat your earbuds like a soccer ball
|
Tom's Guide
Best-ever durability is perfect for active lifestyles
Extremely durable
Satisfying sound and call quality
Intuitive noise cancelation
Lengthy playtimes
Impressive 3D audio performance
|
Control scheme affects comfort
Missing some upscale features
Spatial Sound could use some work
|
SoundGuys
Best durability
ShakeGrip coating keeps the buds in place
IP68 (earbuds) IP54 (case)
Battery life
|
Three ear tips is not enough for workout earbuds
Buttons can be heard and felt when actuated
Deep in-ear fit is polarizing
|
We ranked OnePlus Buds 3 #12 in April 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
Forbes
Best Midrange Wireless Earbuds
Oneplus phone owners
People looking for solid midrange earbuds
|
You’re not fond of the earbud-and-stem design
You want wireless charging
|
Tom's Guide
$99 noise-cancellers with excellent Android integration
Excellent feature set
Strong ANC
Works flawlessly with all Android devices
|
Poor battery management
Weak 3D audio performance
|
We ranked JLab Go Air Pop #13 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
TechRadar
The best wireless earbuds for super-low price
Light, small, comfy design
Sounds great for the price
|
Odd fitted charging cable
Not the last word in sonic brilliance
|
We ranked Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 #14 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
Laptop Mag
ANC and Sennheiser sound for a premium
Superior sound quality
Excellent ANC
Beautiful design
Terrific touch controls
|
Disappointing call quality
No Find My Buds function or multipoint technology
|
We ranked Bose QuietComfort II #15 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
Laptop Mag
Best noise-cancelling earbuds overall
Best-in-class ANC
Superb sound and call quality
Great customization settings
Strong wireless performance
More compact and stylish design
|
Expensive
Finicky touch controls and app connectivity
|
TechRadar
Best wireless earbuds for sheer noise-cancelling power
Smaller, more comfortable design
Best-in-class noise cancellation
Beautiful sound
|
Call quality could be better
No support for high-def wireless codecs
No wireless charging
|
We ranked Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 #16 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
Laptop Mag
Adaptive-sounding buds with lots of features
Great sound and call quality
Adaptive ANC
Plenty of audio customization settings
Impressive fitness features
|
Subpar spatial audio
Bears the appearance of a cheap AirPods alternative
|
SoundGuys
Bang for your buck
Price
ANC
Battery life
|
Chunky case
Many EQ presets are too bassy
|
We ranked Apple AirPods 3 #17 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
Laptop Mag
The best non-ANC premium wireless earbuds
Extremely comfortable
Great audio
Excellent battery life
MagSafe charging support
|
A bit expensive
No active noise cancelling
|