November 2023
Wireless Earbuds: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of wireless earbuds rankings posted by key online experts, as of November 2023.
Summary
On 7 Nov 2023, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 81 earbuds endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
38 earbuds were endorsed in total, only 16 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 7 Nov 2023, Sony WF-1000XM5 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed earbuds with 6 expert endorsements. 5 experts out of 6 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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Jabra: 3 earbuds
(#1 is Jabra Elite 3)
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EarFun: 3 earbuds
(#1 is Earfun Air)
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Apple: 2 earbuds
(#1 is Apple AirPods Pro 2)
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Samsung: 2 earbuds
(#1 is Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro)
Price breakdown
At a glance - November Ranking
Rank | Change | Price | Earbuds |
Wirecutter
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Laptop Mag
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Forbes
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Rtings.com
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SoundGuys
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The Verge
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TechRadar
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Tom's Guide
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Android Central
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What Hi-Fi
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1
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- | $278 |
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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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-
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-
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1
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1
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1
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-
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1
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3
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1
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2
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- | $209 |
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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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2
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2
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2
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2
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5
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6
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3
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-
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6
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3
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- | $278 |
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The Sony WF-1000XM4 true wireless earbuds have received positive reviews for their sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort, battery life, connectivity, and additional features, making them a reliable choice for users who prioritize these aspects in their earbuds.
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-
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1
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1
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-
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-
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-
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1
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-
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-
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-
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4
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+1 | $160 |
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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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7
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5
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-
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-
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6
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7
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6
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2
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-
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5
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+1 | $180 |
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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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-
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7
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4
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10
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7
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-
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-
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6
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+2 | $120 |
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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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11
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-
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3
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8
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7
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-
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-
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6
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-
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7
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- | $78 |
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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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4
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-
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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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-
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-
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8
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-4 | $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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5
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-
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-
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-
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-
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8
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4
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5
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-
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9
|
- | 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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-
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-
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-
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-
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5
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2
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-
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2
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10
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New * | $249 |
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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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-
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-
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-
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6
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3
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-
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-
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-
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5
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11
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+3 | $169 |
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The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds offer exceptional sound quality, effective noise cancellation, comfortable design, long battery life, reliable connectivity, and a range of additional features, making them suitable for various use cases.
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-
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3
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-
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-
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9
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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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12
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-2 | $100 |
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The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 are a great option for those looking for wireless earbuds with advanced functionality, including active noise cancelling, touch controls, and compatibility with voice assistants.
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-
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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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-
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4
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-
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13
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-1 | $17 |
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The JLab Go Air Pop wireless earbuds offer good sound quality, long battery life, and unique features, making them a good option for everyday use or light workouts.
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-
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-
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6
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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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15
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+1 | $94 |
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The Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless earbuds offer a warm, well-balanced sound with effective noise cancellation, a secure fit, reliable Bluetooth connectivity, and a range of additional features, making them a great choice for everyday use in noisy environments, during exercise, or for commuting.
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-
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12
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-
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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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16
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New * | $139 |
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The Nothing Ear 2 earbuds offer excellent sound quality, comfortable fit, and convenient features, making them a versatile and highly praised option for users.
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-
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-
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-
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5
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12
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-
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-
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-
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-
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17
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- | $200 |
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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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9
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-
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-
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10
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We ranked Sony WF-1000XM5 #1 in November 2023 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
- Out of those, 5 experts ranked Sony WF-1000XM5 as #1.

SoundGuys
The best pair of wireless earbuds for most
Excellent ANC and Isolation
Comfortable
360 Reality Audio
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Cost
Default sound too bassy
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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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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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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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We ranked Apple AirPods Pro 2 #2 in November 2023 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
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Poor performance on non-iOS devices
-Unchanged design
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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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SoundGuys
One of the best true wireless earbuds for iOS users.
Active noise canceling and Adaptive Transparency modes
Great auto-wear detection
Water-resistant buds and case
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Charges via lightning cable
No way to customize the EQ without third-party app
Price
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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
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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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What Hi-Fi
Easily 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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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 November 2023 ranking









We ranked Sony WF-1000XM4 #3 in November 2023 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.
- Out of those, 3 experts ranked Sony WF-1000XM4 as #1.

Laptop Mag
The best wireless earbuds overall
Remarkable sound quality
Super-powerful ANC
Strong battery life
Cool intelligible features
Luxe design
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Unreliable fit
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Forbes
Best Overall Wireless Earbuds
People who want excellent hands-free calling and noise cancellation
Using presets to optimize the listening experience
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You want earbuds that need to stay firmly in place while working out
You want earbuds with spatial audio and Dolby Atmos support
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TechRadar
The best wireless earbuds we'd recommend for most people
Full-bodied and eloquent sound
Genuinely useful features
Good ANC
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Average battery life
No aptX support
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We ranked Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro #4 in November 2023 because:
- 6 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
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Low battery life
Most coveted features are exclusive to Galaxy devices
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Forbes
Best Wireless Earbuds For Android
Enjoying any audio using any Android smartphone
Experiencing immersive 360-degree audio (only with a Samsung Galaxy phone)
Using noise cancellation to reduce or eliminate outside sounds
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You’re not an Android mobile user
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TechRadar
Best wireless earbuds for Samsung phone owners
Vastly improved hi-res sound quality
Solid ANC
Classy, comfortable design and finish
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Battery life is only average
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Tom's Guide
Best ANC earbuds for Galaxy smartphone users
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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Android Central
Best sound quality
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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We ranked Beats Fit Pro #5 in November 2023 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.

SoundGuys
Best for workouts
Android and iOS compatibility
In-app ear tip fit test
Noise cancelling/Transparency
USB-C case with fast charging
Secure, compact fit for exercise
IPX4-rated earbuds
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Fairly large case
Known ANC update issues
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TechRadar
Best wireless earbuds for exercise
Spatial audio on Apple Music
Better battery life
Very stable fit
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ANC could be stronger
No wireless charging
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Tom's Guide
Best 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 #6 in November 2023 because:
- 5 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
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Loose fit
No aptX support or USB-C cable
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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
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We ranked Soundcore Space A40 #7 in November 2023 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
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Touch controls can be finicky at times
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We ranked Bose QuietComfort II #8 in November 2023 because:
- 4 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
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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
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Call quality could be better
No support for high-def wireless codecs
No wireless charging
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Tom's Guide
The best-ever wireless earbuds for noise cancellation
Unbeatable noise cancellation
Refined and well-balanced sound
Excellent call quality
Great customization settings
More compact and stylish design
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Battery life bettered by rivals
Poor comfort levels
Finicky touch controls and app connectivity
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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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We ranked Sony WF-C700N #9 in November 2023 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.

TechRadar
The best noise-cancelling wireless earbuds around $100 / £100
Excellent noise cancellation
Super audio for the price
Great Sony app support
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No on-ear volume control
No hi-res 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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What Hi-Fi
The best wireless earbuds if you're looking at outright value.
Very comfortable fit
Refined presentation for the money
Detailed, dynamic and musical sound
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No Multipoint Bluetooth (yet)
Charging case doesn't add a lot to battery life
No aptX or LDAC support
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We ranked Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds #10 in November 2023 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.

What Hi-Fi
The best 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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We ranked Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 #11 in November 2023 because:
- 3 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
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Disappointing call quality
No Find My Buds function or multipoint technology
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We ranked Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 #12 in November 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.

SoundGuys
Samsung's reliable earbuds upgraded
Active noise canceling and Adaptive Transparency modes
Great auto-wear detection
Water-resistant buds and case
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Lacks aptX
Battery life is just fine
Many Samsung-exclusive features
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Android Central
Best value
Bold sound
Effective ANC
Very comfortable fit
Good battery life
Nice color options
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IPX2 rating isn't very durable
Microphones are so-so
Finicky controls
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We ranked JLab Go Air Pop #13 in November 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.

TechRadar
The best budget wireless earbuds
Light, small, comfy design
Sounds great for the price
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Odd fitted charging cable
Not the last word in sonic brilliance
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We ranked Sennheiser CX Plus #14 in November 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best wireless earbuds” rankings.

Laptop Mag
A necessary update with signature Sennheiser sound
Crystal-clear sound
Restrained, stylish design
Strong noise cancellation
IPX4 water resistance
|
Still bulky for small ears
No wireless charging
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Tom's Guide
Best value noise-canceller with flagship sound
Superior sound and call quality
Decent active noise cancelling
Great controls
Respectable battery life
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No wireless charging or multipoint technology
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We ranked Apple AirPods 3 #16 in November 2023 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
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A bit expensive
No active noise cancelling
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