July 2024
Wireless Earbuds: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of wireless earbuds rankings posted by key online experts, as of July 2024.
Summary
On 19 Jul 2024, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 85 earbuds endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
43 earbuds were endorsed in total, only 19 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 19 Jul 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
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Sony: 6 earbuds
(#1 is Sony WF-1000XM5)
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JBL: 4 earbuds
(#1 is JBL Live Beam 3)
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Bose: 3 earbuds
(#1 is Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds)
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Samsung: 3 earbuds
(#1 is Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro)
- Sennheiser: 3 earbuds
Price breakdown
At a glance - July Ranking
Rank | Change | Price | Earbuds |
Wirecutter
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What Hi-Fi
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Android Central
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The Verge
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Tom's Guide
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Laptop Mag
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Rtings.com
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SoundGuys
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TechRadar
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Forbes
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1
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- | $298 |
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The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds have received highly positive expert reviews for their sound quality, noise cancellation capabilities, comfort, battery life, connectivity features, and additional features, making them a top choice for premium true wireless earbuds.
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-
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1
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2
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1
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1
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-
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1
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1
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-
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3
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2
|
- | Check price |
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The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are highly praised for their exceptional sound quality, advanced noise cancellation, comfortable design, and convenient features, making them a top choice for everyday use.
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-
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6
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-
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5
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3
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2
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2
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2
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6
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8
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3
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- | $299 |
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The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are highly praised for their sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort, battery life, connectivity, and durability, making them a recommended choice for music enthusiasts who value strong bass and treble, effective noise cancellation, comfort for extended use, and durability for various activities.
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-
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5
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4
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3
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4
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-
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-
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-
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-
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4
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4
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- | $289 |
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-
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-
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8
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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1
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1
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5
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- | $140 |
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The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are wireless earbuds that offer excellent sound quality, effective noise cancellation, and a comfortable fit, making them a great choice for music lovers who want high-quality audio and effective noise cancellation.
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-
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-
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5
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6
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8
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7
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-
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-
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7
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-
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6
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+3 | $230 |
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-
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-
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1
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-
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7
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-
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-
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3
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-
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-
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7
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-1 | $59 |
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The Soundcore Space A40 wireless earbuds offer advanced features such as hybrid adaptive noise cancellation, touch controls, and customizable EQ, making them a versatile option for high-quality audio in various environments.
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1
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-
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-
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-
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-
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4
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4
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-
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-
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-
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8
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+2 | $159 |
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The Beats Fit Pro earbuds are a great choice for athletes and fitness enthusiasts who prioritize sound quality, comfort, and functionality during workouts, with a bass-heavy sound profile, effective noise cancellation, secure and comfortable fit, and long battery life.
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2
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-
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-
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4
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10
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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9
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-2 | $178 |
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The Google Pixel Buds Pro are high-quality wireless earbuds with excellent sound quality, effective noise cancellation, comfortable and secure fit, long battery life, and a range of additional features.
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-
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-
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7
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7
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-
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11
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-
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-
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-
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-
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10
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+2 | $80 |
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-
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-
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9
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-
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11
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-
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-
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-
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-
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7
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11
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-3 | $149 |
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-
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-
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-
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2
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-
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-
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-
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-
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2
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-
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12
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+1 | Check price |
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The Sony WF-C700N wireless earbuds offer good sound quality, effective noise cancellation, comfort and stability, and a range of additional features for a personalized and immersive listening experience.
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-
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3
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-
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-
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2
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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14
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New * | $198 |
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The Sony LinkBuds S are wireless earbuds with excellent active noise cancelling, a well-balanced sound signature, and a range of advanced features, making them a great choice for music lovers, professionals, and anyone who wants to stay connected on the go.
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-
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-
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-
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-
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10
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3
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-
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-
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-
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15
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- | $199 |
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The Bose QuietComfort II earbuds offer top-notch sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort, and connectivity, making them a great choice for various activities.
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-
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-
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-
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-
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5
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-
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-
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4
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-
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16
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New * | $200 |
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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4
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9
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-
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17
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-1 | $240 |
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-
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-
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-
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9
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5
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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18
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-7 | $159 |
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The Jabra Elite 8 Active True Wireless earbuds have received positive reviews for their sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort, battery life, connectivity, and additional features, making them a versatile and high-quality option for various use cases.
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-
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-
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-
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-
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9
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-
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-
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-
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-
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6
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19
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-2 | $130 |
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-
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-
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-
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-
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13
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-
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5
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-
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-
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20
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-2 | $205 |
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The Apple AirPods 3 offer a well-balanced sound signature, mixed noise cancellation performance, mixed comfort reviews, decent battery life, and convenient connectivity features, making them suitable for audiobooks, podcasts, and non-bass-heavy music genres, but not ideal for active noise cancellation or intense workouts.
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-
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-
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-
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10
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9
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-
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-
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We ranked Sony WF-1000XM5 #1 in July 2024 because:
- 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
- Out of those, 5 experts ranked Sony WF-1000XM5 as #1.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/effix/c_auto,c_pad,w_500,h_500/imported/arvwqf1mrwhjnuywdbit.jpg)
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
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Some rivals produce more bass
Could feel more secure
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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
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Touch controls need work
Smaller ears may not feel comfy
Single-bud mode only in right buds
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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
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Smaller earbud size affects eartip seal and fit
Battery life remains the same as predecessor
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Rtings.com
Best Wireless Earbuds
Excellent noise isolation performance.
Well-built and stable fit.
Support multi-device pairing.
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Not everyone will find their ear tips comfortable.
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SoundGuys
The Best / Editor's Choice
Excellent ANC and Isolation
Comfortable
SBC, AAC, and LDAC support
Great app support
Great battery life
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Price
Default sound too bassy
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Forbes
Best Wireless Earbuds For Sound
People who want very high-quality sound
Subscriber to Tidal or Spotify
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You want to customize controls
You have larger ear canals
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We ranked Apple AirPods Pro 2 #2 in July 2024 because:
- 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21ttIrgHhTL._AC_SR500,500_.jpg)
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
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Many features restricted to iOS devices only
Customisable ANC modes would be useful
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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
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Lackluster call quality
Lanyard costs extra
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Laptop Mag
The best Apple wireless earbuds overall
+Personalized Spatial Audio
+Stronger, smarter ANC modes
+Impeccable controls
+Distinctly enriched soundstage
+Higher battery life
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Poor performance on non-iOS devices
-Unchanged design
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Rtings.com
Best Upper Mid-Range Bluetooth Earbuds
Great noise isolation performance.
Spatial Audio available.
Comfortable and premium design.
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Limited sound customization features.
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SoundGuys
Best for iPhone
Effective ANC
Great sound quality
Great auto-wear detection
Water-resistant buds and case
USB-C charging
Good fit with four ear tip options
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Many Apple-exclusive features
No way to customize the EQ without third-party app
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TechRadar
The best wireless earbuds for iPhone owners
Top-tier active noise cancellation
Great sound quality
Lots of very smart features for iPhone
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Average battery life
No lossless support
No good for Android
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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
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You’re not an Apple computer or mobile device user
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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 July 2024 ranking
![Wirecutter](https://res.cloudinary.com/effix/c_auto,c_pad,w_50,h_50/imported/mgnewhcpst0idedxj9xc.png)
![What Hi-Fi](https://res.cloudinary.com/effix/c_auto,c_pad,w_50,h_50/imported/g8fuuhgh2hcv3us1fmpp.png)
![Android Central](https://res.cloudinary.com/effix/c_auto,c_pad,w_50,h_50/imported/oew6iklosbinoc6yi5m5.webp)
![Tom's Guide](https://res.cloudinary.com/effix/c_auto,c_pad,w_50,h_50/imported/vmtipqfuxvzy9ocfmnnq.jpg)
![Laptop Mag](https://res.cloudinary.com/effix/c_auto,c_pad,w_50,h_50/imported/gnfnu9hdemt7n5ejmkaz.png)
![Rtings.com](https://res.cloudinary.com/effix/c_auto,c_pad,w_50,h_50/imported/zkafjes1mc65r23z1xhh.png)
![SoundGuys](https://res.cloudinary.com/effix/c_auto,c_pad,w_50,h_50/imported/v2rd6wgl1sqjsnxc4osh.png)
![TechRadar](https://res.cloudinary.com/effix/c_auto,c_pad,w_50,h_50/imported/nirikf4fkpo3dgyuscws.png)
![Forbes](https://res.cloudinary.com/effix/c_auto,c_pad,w_50,h_50/imported/xhvrkymaxdkxut3d1rnm.png)
We ranked Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds #3 in July 2024 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31K+mnegQVL._AC_SR500,500_.jpg)
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
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Immersive Audio slashes battery life
No Bluetooth multipoint
No wireless charging
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Android Central
Best noise-canceling
Superb sound quality
Outstanding ANC performance
Solid ambient mode
Adjustable EQ
Comfortable fit
Wireless charging case
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No multipoint support
No wireless charging
Case is still large
Pricey
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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
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Case doesn’t support wireless charging
No multi-point Bluetooth
Mixed call quality
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Forbes
Best Noise Canceling Wireless Earbuds
People who want the very best ANC
People who love immersive audio
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You want wireless charging
You value battery life
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We ranked Technics EAH-AZ80 #4 in July 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Technics EAH-AZ80 as #1.
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41HOLjb0XaL._AC_SR500,500_.jpg)
Android Central
Best for hi-res
Superb sound quality
Very comfortable fit
Excellent call quality
LDAC support
Good app support
Decent battery life
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ANC could be better for the price
LDAC playback affects multipoint connections
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TechRadar
The best wireless earbuds for excellent sound and future-proofed features
Poised, revealing sound
Triple-point connectivity
Outstanding comms and comfort
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Noise-cancelling and battery life are nothing special
Could conceivably sound more animated
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Forbes
Best Wireless Earbuds Overall
People who want the best combination of sound, battery life, control and ANC
People who love touch controls
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You want the absolute best in any category
You want spatial audio
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We ranked Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro #5 in July 2024 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31Tm22hUx1L._AC_SR500,500_.jpg)
Android Central
Best for Samsung users
Extremely comfortable
Improved ANC
Perfect for Samsung’s ecosystem
Pretty rugged design
Good app support
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Lack true multipoint capabilities
So-so battery life
Finicky touch controls
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Tom's Guide
Best ANC wireless earbuds for Galaxy phones
Wide soundstage
Effective ANC
Compact and practical design
Easy to use features
Excellent connectivity
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-Bixby assistant unreliable
-Most coveted features are exclusive to Galaxy devices
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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
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Low battery life
Most coveted features are exclusive to Galaxy devices
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TechRadar
Best wireless earbuds for Samsung phone owners
Great sound, and serious Hi-Res skills
Strong noise cancellation
Classy, comfortable design and finish
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Battery life is only average
Hi-Res 24-bit is only from Samsung Galaxy phones
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We ranked Jabra Elite 10 #6 in July 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Jabra Elite 10 as #1.
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31vS5j3wj3L._AC_SR500,500_.jpg)
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
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No hi-res codec support
Head tracking can affect battery life
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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
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Unreliable call quality
Spatial audio needs work
No aptX codec support
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SoundGuys
Best active noise cancelling / Editor's Choice
Outstanding ANC
Comfort
Wireless charging
Sleep bud option
Spatial audio with head tracking
Can connect to wired sources
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Weird spike in the highs
Future updates uncertain
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We ranked Soundcore Space A40 #7 in July 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Soundcore Space A40 as #1.
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31hG5oidvRL._AC_SR500,500_.jpg)
Laptop Mag
Best mid-range ANC earbuds
Impressive sound quality
Stellar noise cancellation and transparency
Great call quality
Strong Bluetooth connection
Long battery life
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Touch controls can be finicky at times
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Rtings.com
Best Lower Mid-Range Bluetooth Earbuds
Outstanding noise isolation performance.
Comfortable and well-built design.
Support multi-device pairing.
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Lack stability fins and can pop out of your ear.
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We ranked Beats Fit Pro #8 in July 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31k0oYM9hfL._AC_SR500,500_.jpg)
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
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Some features exclusive to Apple devices
Limited Android app
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We ranked Google Pixel Buds Pro #9 in July 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31vVrzuLRTL._AC_SR500,500_.jpg)
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
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Could use more bass
Battery life could be longer with ANC
More ear tip sizes would be nice
|
Laptop Mag
Dynamic-sounding buds for Android-philes
Dynamic, customizable audio
Effective ANC
Sufficient battery life
Excellent wireless performance
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Loose fit
No aptX support or USB-C cable
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We ranked OnePlus Buds 3 #10 in July 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41fx+PeHiRL._AC_SR500,500_.jpg)
Tom's Guide
$99 noise-cancellers with excellent Android integration
Excellent feature set
Strong ANC
Works flawlessly with all Android devices
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Poor battery management
Weak 3D audio performance
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Forbes
Best Midrange Wireless Earbuds
Oneplus phone owners
People looking for solid midrange earbuds
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You’re not fond of the earbud-and-stem design
You want wireless charging
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We ranked Nothing Ear A #11 in July 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41-hrs0UIzL._AC_SR500,500_.jpg)
TechRadar
The best wireless earbuds under $100 / £100
Energetic and expansive sound
Good-quality active noise cancellation
Small case and cool design
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No wireless charging
Middling battery life
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We ranked Sony WF-C700N #12 in July 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21ArdL9L1pL._AC_SR500,500_.jpg)
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
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Charging case doesn't add a lot to battery life
No aptX or LDAC support
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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
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No aptX or LDAC support
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We ranked Sony LinkBuds S #13 in July 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21mFR6ZyfRL._AC_SR500,500_.jpg)
Laptop Mag
Excellent wireless buds worthy of flagship recognition
Balanced, well-defined sound
Effective ANC
Terrific call quality
Small and comfy
Third-party app support and lots of features
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Lacks the original’s innovative design
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Rtings.com
Best Mid-Range Bluetooth Earbuds
Excellent noise isolation performance.
Supports multi-device pairing.
Over seven hours of continuous playback
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Microphone isn't the most accurate sounding
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We ranked Bose QuietComfort II #14 in July 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31frsDwsdkL._AC_SR500,500_.jpg)
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
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Expensive
Finicky touch controls and app connectivity
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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
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We ranked JBL Live Beam 3 #15 in July 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31viww0X5lL._AC_SR500,500_.jpg)
SoundGuys
Best features / Editor's Choice
Sound quality
Features
Comfort
Smart case
LDAC
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Somewhat weak ANC
Short nozzles can mean poor fit
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TechRadar
The best wireless earbuds that go on and on
Very impressive audio
Screen is fun and can be useful
Excellent battery life
|
Somewhat weak spatial audio
ANC isn't as strong as class leaders
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We ranked Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 #16 in July 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41GCOdrFNjL._AC_SR500,500_.jpg)
Tom's Guide
Best-sounding wireless earbuds
Balanced audiophile sound
Class-leading aptX Lossless audio support
Strong sound personalization features
Effective ANC performance
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Bulky design compared to price rivals
Auracast and LE Audio support isn't available immediately
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We ranked Jabra Elite 8 Active #17 in July 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31m95C6FipL._AC_SR500,500_.jpg)
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
|
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
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You don't treat your earbuds like a soccer ball
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We ranked Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 #18 in July 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/effix/c_auto,c_pad,w_500,h_500/imported/zois0g98piho2s1ltjml.webp)
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
LDAC, AAC, SBC codecs
IPX4
Fast pair
Wireless charging
|
Chunky case
Many EQ presets are too bassy
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We ranked Apple AirPods 3 #19 in July 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/317wIEH5tjL._AC_SR500,500_.jpg)
Laptop Mag
The best non-ANC premium wireless earbuds
Extremely comfortable
Great audio
Excellent battery life
MagSafe charging support
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A bit expensive
No active noise cancelling
|