The best earbuds of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

2 weeks ago 6

Don't know which earbuds to gift your loved one this holiday season? Yes, you could go on Amazon and pick up a $20 pair of earbuds from a random brand with mediocre sound and a shifty battery, but you (or your friend or family member) deserve something better -- for listening to podcasts or music on walks, for calls and meetings at work, and for getting through those high-intensity workouts at the gym.

Also: The best workout headphones you can buy

I test earbuds for a living and have worn plenty of mediocre and amazing pairs of earbuds to discover which are worth your money and which you should avoid. I've done most of the heavy lifting by extensively researching the best earbuds, trying them out for myself as I take the subway to work, hop on conference calls, and even sweat in them on my morning runs.

What are the best earbuds right now?

At ZDNET, we've tested all the latest and greatest earbuds to help you find the best ones for your budget and needs. Our pick for best overall earbuds are the Sony LinkBuds Fit for their strong and clear soundstage and comfortable, secure fit that's so easy to wear that our writer could sleep with them in. If Sony isn't up your alley, though, there are plenty of other top options on this list that will suit your listening needs.

The best earbuds of 2024

As far as value, sound, comfort, and special features go, these earbuds are the best of the best. Great, clear sound is front and center, and noise cancellation is good without being totally disorienting and isolating. The software for the earbuds is impressive and unique, and the fit of the earbuds is comfortable for hours.

Review: Sony LinkBuds Fit

They were so comfortable to wear that ZDNET's Cesar Cadenas fell asleep with them in his ears and didn't mind waking up with them on. The earbuds have a stabilizing wing tip that reduces pressure after hours of wear. The material of the earbud is also tactile, which helps keep things stable and comfortable.

Not to mention that you're getting the same dynamic driver X and V2 processor included in the more expensive WF-1000XM5 earbuds, one of the best earbuds of last year, for $100 less.

The LinkBuds also come with unique software features in the app. Sony developed a background music mode, which reproduces your music to sound like you're listening in different settings, like a cafe, living room, or bedroom. A voice control feature lets you say "Hey, headphones" to pause or play music and control other settings. There's even a wide area tap feature that extends the area around your ear that you can tap to control the audio, which I thought was clever and helpful while listening with the LinkBuds in, given how finicky touch controls on earbuds can be. Just change the wide-area tap mode from standard to sensitive.

At $200, the LinkBuds Fit prove that you can get a great-quality earbud with nice sound, decent ANC, and interesting features in the app for under $300.

Sony LinkBuds Fit tech specs: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 | Battery life: 5.5 hours and additional 21 with the case | Noise cancellation: Yes | Waterproof rating: IPX4 (water resistant)

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If you want a reliable pair of earbuds that will knock your socks off when it comes to noise cancellation, go for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds. When I tested these earbuds out, I thought the noise cancellation was the best on any earbuds I had tried. "With the strong ANC, I was able to dig into my work by listening to my morning classical playlist and blocking out the noisy office chatter around me," I wrote in my spotlight.

Review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

On runs, these earbuds stick in my ears, which I can credit to the oval shape of the ear tip and the extra grip from the stability band, and music sounds great in them during high-intensity workouts. Another notable feature is Bose's Immersive Audio mode, which brings music to the forefront of your ears and allows music to move with you. It's a great feature, but it does significantly reduce battery life. The battery life on these isn't the most competitive at only six hours, but I disregard that for how great my music sounds with them in.

While reviewers on Reddit said that the noise cancellation was the best they had tried, some users mentioned connectivity issues. Initially, when I tested these out, I had trouble connecting to the earbuds, and sometimes, my music would dip in and out. But after many months of using these, I don't have any connectivity issues.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds specs: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 | Battery life: 6 hours and additional 18 with charging case | Noise cancellation: Yes | Waterproof rating: IPX4 (water resistant)

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As part of my earbuds testing process, I run with every pair of earbuds I review. And when I tested these open earbuds out for myself, I called them nearly perfect for exercise.

Many athletes who run outdoors use bone conduction headphones that wrap around their heads and deliver aware sound. I've tried a few pairs and found that the volume never gets high enough for my liking. I let my runner roommate use a pair of my bone conduction headphones, and she said she felt too silly wearing these but enjoyed the duality of sound and environmental awareness. If you, like my roommate, have tried bone conduction headphones but aren't pleased with the noise level or the form factor, open earbuds are the way to go.

Review: Nothing Ear Open

Open earbuds are a little different than the other picks on this list. Open earbuds prioritize aware sound suited for outdoor environments instead of prioritizing a sealed fit and noise cancellation. Comfort and volume are essential for an open earbud to work well, and the Nothing Ear (Open) hits both ends of that spectrum. It has a fit I could wear all day and sounds robust and loud enough for every environment.

The Ear (Open) are equipped with a light, silicone-wrapped ear wing that hangs almost invisibly on the ear. Because of this nearly unnoticeable design, you can wear these as you grocery shop, walk around your neighborhood, perform some reps in the gym, run in the park, or take calls at your desk.

Instead of touch or button controls, the Ear (Open) earbuds utilize Nothing's clever pinch controls, which you manipulate on the bud's stem. I prefer pinch controls over tap-and-swipe controls, which tend to be too sensitive, especially during high-intensity exercise. The microphones on these earbuds deliver clear audio, and the battery life is long-lasting at 30 hours of playback.

The Nothing Ear (Open) retail for $180 (and are on sale for $150 right now), and I can't find another earbud with features that far exceed the price tag.

Nothing Ear (Open) tech specs: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 | Battery life: 30 hours | Noise cancellation: No | Waterproof rating: IP54 (dust-protected and water resistant)

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We get it: Who wants to spend over $100 on earbuds? If you're looking for a pair of earbuds with many luxury features but lack the luxury price tag, look no further than the JLab JBuds ANC 3. They cost less than $60, have an extensive battery life that makes frequent charging unnecessary, and have noise cancellation (ANC) that works well. Though it's not always easy to find budget earbuds with real ANC, these are a pair that deliver.

Review: JLab JBuds ANC 3

The JLab Jbuds ANC 3 offer three listening modes: ANC, ANC Off, and Be Aware. The ANC mode dims down and distances external sound as I listen to audio. They easily compete with some of the premium earbuds I've tried for a fraction of the price.

Given how lightweight the buds are, they also fit snugly and comfortably in my ears and, most importantly, stay in them while I exercise. With a long battery life, multipoint Bluetooth for easy audio switching between devices, and great sound, these are an excellent choice for $60 earbuds. Reviewers on Amazon complimented the ANC and the low price for the high value of these earbuds. One reviewer mentioned how these earbuds are great for small ears, too.

JLab JBuds ANC 3 tech specs: Connectivity: Bluetooth Multipoint | Battery life: 9 hours in the earbuds and 33+ hours in the case | Noise cancellation: Yes | Waterproof rating: IP55 (dust-protected and water resistant)

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Apple didn't change much about the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) from last year to this year, except for a new feature that lets these Apple earbuds double as hearing aids. Talk about a first of its kind. But even if you don't need a hearing device and only care about great sound, these will do it for you.

Review: Apple AirPods Pro 2

Thanks to Apple's new and improved H2 chip, these AirPods have better performance, more immersion via high-band connectivity, and a low-distortion audio driver with a custom amplifier. The technologies combine to ensure clearer audio across various sound frequencies, making them the best-sounding AirPods to date. And most Redditors agree that these are the best AirPods you can buy from the lineup.

As far as noise cancellation goes, these AirPods have two times more noise cancellation than the previous version. An upgraded adaptive transparency mode also automatically lowers the volume of harmful noises above the 85dB threshold. Plus, you can personalize your spatial audio settings to create your ideal sound experience (using iOS 16).

Also: FDA approves new hearing aid feature for Apple's AirPods Pro 2

I'd recommend the AirPods Pro to people already in the Apple ecosystem because having that easy connectivity to your laptop, phone, or iPad is the most significant advantage of these earbuds. They aren't the best overall, but the Apple AirPods Pro are the best for Apple users.

AirPods Pro (2nd generation) tech specs: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 | Battery life: 6 hours and additional 30 hours with charging case | Noise cancellation: Yes | Waterproof rating: IP54 (dust-protected and water resistant)

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As I wrote in my review, the Nothing Ear (a) earbuds "are like the AirPods Pro's funkier younger sister who went to art school, buys gifts for friends through the MOMA Store, and can explain the difference between white and orange wine to you." You're getting the most fabulous-looking earbuds on the market with the Nothing Ear (a) for only $100, making them as much a fashion statement piece as a mobile accessory.

Review: Nothing Ear (a)

The low price offers premium features, however, like bass enhancement, responsive and thoughtful pinch controls, earbud pings for when you need to find them (though the sound is not the loudest), and a high-quality build. I comfortably ran ten miles with these in my ears, and they did a splendid job of sticking in my sweaty ears, playing gorgeous, bass-heavy music that kept me pounding the pavement.

You'll be hard-pressed to find such an exciting design in the audio space. Just look at the other picks on this best list -- not a color in sight. That's why the Ear (a) have my vote as the best-designed earbud.

Nothing Ear (a) tech specs: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 | Battery life: 9.5 hours with ANC off | Noise cancellation: Yes | Waterproof rating: IP54 (dust-protected and water resistant)

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The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro look like AirPods Pro dupes, but they have some fun features Android users can get excited about. The first being ultra-high audio playback: your music should sound stellar when you play it with the Buds 3 Pro. Another fun feature is the interpreter mode, which can translate conversations in different languages, but only if you own the new Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 smartphones.

Review: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro

Samsung pumped Galaxy AI features into these earbuds, which not only made the interpreting mode possible, but also improved active noise cancellation mode and call quality. You're getting seven hours of listening time in the earbud and 30 more in the case with ANC off.

We haven't gotten to test these earbuds out for ourselves yet, given how new they are, but will report back in the coming weeks with a full review. Still, we can easily recommend them from the get-go for Samsung users.

Galaxy Buds 3 Pro tech specs: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.4 | Battery life: 7 hours and additional 30 hours with charging case | Noise cancellation: Yes | Waterproof rating: IP57 (dust-protected and protected in accidental drops in water)

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Let's be honest: sometimes a $200 or $300 pair of earbuds isn't in the cards. We want music that sounds good but don't want to spend crazy money on it, especially when some of these luxury earbuds can run the same price as a flight across the country. Some of the best earbuds are in that mid-range price, between $100 and $200, where brands include substantial noise cancellation, good audio quality, multipoint Bluetooth, in-ear detection, and a thoughtful app design.

Review: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024)

That's where the Bose QuietComfort earbuds come in. They're $120 cheaper than the QuietComfort Ultra earbuds but offer the same level of comfort and excellent sound. ZDNET's Kyle Kucharski, an admittedly "tough customer" regarding earbuds, says the earbuds provide a light, airy fit. "The new QuietComfort earbuds, however, have a design that feels far lighter and more comfortable than they look," he said. The QuietComfort comes with 8.5 hours of battery life in the earbud and 30 hours in the case.

With mid-range earbuds like these, you can expect excellent noise cancellation, booming bass, and a long battery life. They also have some extra features, like a headphones command feature you can use without Siri or Hey Google. The feature works by saying, "Hey, headphones," then following up with a command.

The earbuds' ANC "hold their own on the subway, on the street, and in a loud office," Kucharski writes, and do a stellar job of removing ambient noise and chatter.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds tech specs: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 | Battery life: 8.5 hours of battery life and additional 31 hours with charging case | Noise cancellation: Yes | Waterproof rating: IPX4 (water resistant)

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The best earbuds really depend on what you are looking for. You can trust brands like Sony, Bose, Apple, Sennheiser, and others to make great quality earbuds.

Earbuds	Price	Battery life	ANC
Sony LinkBuds Fit	$200	5.5 hours in earbuds, 21 hours in case	Yes
Bose QuietComfort Ultra	$299	6 hours	Yes
Nothing Ear (Open)	$180	30 hours	No
JLab JBuds ANC 3	$60	42 hours	Yes
AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)	$190	6 hours	Yes
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 3	$250	7 hours in earbuds, 30 in case	Yes
Bose QuietComfort	$180	8.5 hours	Yes
Nothing Ear (a)	$99	9.5 hours	Yes

*Lowest price at the time of writing. Please note that prices may vary based on retailer and available promotions, sales, or discounts.

While all of these earbuds are excellent picks, it ultimately depends on what type of form factor is most comfortable for your ears, how important noise cancellation or battery life is to you, and how much you're willing to spend.

Choose these earbuds...	If you want...
Sony LinkBuds Fit	Earbuds that balance impressive sound, good noise cancellation, a secure and comfortable fit, and all-day wear. The earbuds also have the same dynamic driver and processor as the brand's more expensive WF-1000XM5.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra	Earbuds with the best noise cancellation. Bose's buds offer immersive audio and amazing ANC, though the earbuds are more difficult to wear for long periods.
Nothing Ear (Open)	The best earbuds for exercising or being on the move, with loud and clear sound, a truly comfortable fit, and a marathon battery life.
JLab JBuds ANC 3	A conveniently affordable earbud with impressive noise cancellation, long battery life, and decent sound for less than $60.
AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)	Noise-canceling earbuds with adaptive transparency mode. Apple nails it on both ends of the audio spectrum with the AirPods Pro 2. They also double as a hearing aid.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro	The best earbuds for Samsung phone users with new Galaxy AI features infused into many aspects of the buds for improved sound quality, ANC, and more.
Bose QuietComfort	Mid-range earbuds that offer the strength and clarity of Bose's ANC and sound but for a cheaper price.
Nothing Ear (a)	Great-sounding earbuds that pack an aesthetic punch. The semi-transparent finish and the bold color of the Ear (a) is an indicator of the company's attention to detail, both in design and sound.

We chose these earbuds by conducting extensive research as well as our own experiences using these devices to listen to music, podcasts, and movies. We compared ratings and reviews from customers (both good and bad), standout features, brands, and different price points to help you find the best earbuds for your budget and needs, but we also paid special attention to these select features as we were testing and considering which earbuds to include.

Sound quality: Unsurprisingly, this is the most important feature of an earbud, whether they're Bluetooth-connected or wired. You want your earbuds to deliver high-quality sound so you can properly enjoy your favorite songs, podcasts, or calls without the audio sounding tinny or distorted. Each pick on this list has been tested by experts who approve of the earbuds' sound quality.
Price: Since the earbud market is so robust, you can get sub-$50 earbuds with fantastic sound for the price or $300 earbuds with even better sound. There's no need to forsake quality for price with the options we've included on this list. While more expensive earbuds do deliver amplified features, like ANC and longer battery life, you can still get a quality pair of buds for an affordable price.
Battery life: The picks on this list offer five to over 12 hours of battery life. The longer the battery life, the more you can use these buds in between charges. We also considered how many charges come in the earbuds' carrying case, a convenient feature of some of the higher-end earbuds.
Noise cancellation: You definitely don't need noise-canceling earbuds, but they are an added bonus to an already expensive pair of buds.

Also: The best music streaming services

I test earbuds for a living. I'm running in busy city streets and parks with them in my ears, playing my favorite songs and podcasts with them in on the subway, working with them in the office, and evaluating them for their performance, connectivity, battery life, comfort, and more.

When I enjoy the sound of the earbuds, can wear them comfortably for the entire workday, or depend on them for my runs, I tell you, dear reader, all about them. I write spotlights and include the earbuds in lists like these. And when I don't like a pair of earbuds, they are not included in any of these lists. We only write about products we can actually recommend to people, because we know that spending $200 on a pair of earbuds or another tech product is no pretty penny.

For more information on how we test headphones and earbuds, visit this article that explores our process in-depth.

Also: How we test headphones and earbuds

Over-the-ear headphones are a better option than earbuds for your health since you're not physically sticking anything in your ear. However, if you prefer the portability and convenience of earbuds, you can still use them -- just be smart about it.

If you're looking for tips for preventing hearing loss caused by headphones, some include keeping the volume lower (and opting for ANC headphones to cancel out exterior noise rather than turning up the volume), using quality headphones, and taking breaks while working with headphones in so you can give your eardrums a breather.

And you can always opt for open-backed headphones like the Shokz OpenRun Pro.

Your earbuds are likely water-resistant, but they may also be waterproof. To ensure they can withstand bouts in the rain, sweaty workouts, or accidental drops in the pool, you should find their ingress protection (IP) rating. An IP rating consists of two numbers. The first number indicates a product's ability to avoid damage from solid foreign objects, and the second number indicates a product's ability to prevent water damage.

You want your earbuds to have at least an IPX4 rating. This rating means the earbuds were not formally tested for solids ingress but will not be damaged by water splashes. If your earbuds have a more robust IP rating, like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro (IP57), they will not be damaged by dust and can survive accidental drops in water.

Manufacturers send their products to IP testing facilities to certify a product. To determine dust ingress, a device is placed in a dust chamber, sprayed with dust, and disassembled to assess how much dust is inside. Water testing is more comprehensive, exposing devices to water and other liquids. The lab will subject a device to constant water droplets, simulated rain, water jets, or water submersion to determine liquid ingress.

If your device doesn't have an IP rating, it doesn't necessarily mean the product cannot withstand sweat or trips in the rain. Instead, the company did not formally send a product to a lab for testing. However, it's best to ensure your device's protection levels and choose earbuds with an official IP rating.

It really depends -- if you're a die-hard Apple fan, the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) are the brand's top-of-the-line earbuds that stack up against many competitors. You can expect ANC, customized spatial audio, and an active transparency mode. Plus, they are lightweight and reliable.

However, if you're open to looking at other brands, Bose and Sony make excellent earbuds, some of which are on this list. Especially if you plan to use your earbuds mainly for working out, there are other worthy earbud options than AirPods.

Also: The best cheap earbuds

All our bodies -- and our ears -- are different. So some earbuds are not going to fit comfortably with your ear shape. Some earbud brands will offer three different sized ear tips that you can put on top of your ears for as secure a fit as possible. Try out the tips upon purchasing your earbuds to see which will work best for you.

I'll choose earbuds over headphones any day for working out. On the budget-friendly side, I'd recommend the JLab JBuds ANC 3 for a secure, comfortable pair of earbuds that I love to run in. They're lightweight and come with ANC that cancels out the appropriate amount of noise during my outdoor runs. But if you're feeling fancy, you might want to go for the new Bose Open Ultra earbuds, that boast environmental awareness, a clip-on design, and amazing sound. These are much more expensive, at $300, but they are magical when it comes to getting the most out of my music on my city runs and being 100% aware of my surroundings.

I'd look for earbuds with some waterproof or resistance rating if you are sweating or exercising in inclement weather with them in. Plus, you'll want a pair of earbuds with decent ANC and a long battery life, 6 hours at the least, so you don't have to charge them all the time.

Our focus was on delivering a variety of options for the best earbuds. If you want a few more choices, you can't go wrong with these expert-vetted earbuds.

Other earbuds we tested

Our focus was on delivering a variety of options for the best earbuds. If you want a few more choices, you can't go wrong with these expert-vetted earbuds.