A lot of people may be looking for cheap true wireless headphones, but if you're looking for something with top-notch sound, this is the list for you.
It's now relatively easy to find inexpensive true wireless earbuds that sound pretty decent, and if that's what you're looking for, we've got a list of the best cheap true wireless earbuds.
But alas, many of the best wireless headphones cost a lot. And if sound
quality is your top priority, you're going to have to spend more -- and
in some instances, a lot more.
The best wireless headphones also tend to be on the bigger side
because size does seem to matter when it comes to the sound quality of
wireless earbuds. And that's where the one big caveat to all this comes
into play: to get optimal performance, the best wireless headphones need
to feel comfortable and fit right -- and you have to get a tight seal.
If you can't get a snug fit with in-ear headphones, you'll think you got
ripped off and be sadly disappointed, which is why I suggest buying
from a store with a decent return policy -- such as Amazon .
Below
is a list of the best wireless headphones, with a breakdown of
features, including performance, noise cancellation, battery, audio
quality and how comfortable they are. I'll update this list as I test
new models (the Klipsch T5 True Wireless and Sony WF-1000XM3 have been added as part of the latest update).
Sony WF-1000XM3: $228
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Sony hasn't
been much of a player in the true wireless (AirPods-style) headphone
arena, but its new WF-1000XM3 may change that. While this pair of
wireless noise-canceling headphones isn't cheap at $228, it's the
best-sounding set of truly wireless earbuds at this price, matching and
perhaps even exceeding the sound quality and performance of pricier
competitors from Sennheiser, Beats, Master & Dynamic and Bang & Olufsen. It also has a feature that those wireless earbuds don't have: active noise cancellation to reduce ambient noise.
Its
only drawback is that it isn't rated as being sweat- or
water-resistant. That said, I've used these wireless noise-cancelling
headphones for light workouts at the gym without a problem.
The Sony WF-1000XM3 active noise-cancelling headphones use Bluetooth 5.0 with support for AAC but not aptX.
Water-resistant: No (lacks IPX certification)
New Sony WF-1000XM3 earbuds will make you never want to listen to AirPods again
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless: $300
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At $300 (£279, AU$499), Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless are more expensive than Apple AirPods wireless earbuds, Jabra's Elite 65t true wireless earbuds and Elite Active 65t and Bose SoundSport Free wireless
earbuds. But they sound superior to those models, with better bass and
cleaner, more detailed audio for a great listening experience. These
wireless earbuds also feature very good sound quality for making phone
calls, with solid noise cancelling capabilities, and offer a generally
comfortable fit, though they're bigger than the Jabras and stick out of
your ear a little more. Their only significant downside is that they
gradually lose their charge in the charging case and can end up
completely dead after about four days if you don't recharge the case.
I've
used these wireless earbuds in the gym, but they don't fit quite
securely enough in my ear canal to run with them. Though the touch
controls make them easy to use. Battery life is rated at 4 hours, and
you get two extra charges from the carrying case. These use Bluetooth
5.0 with support for AAC and aptX and a firmware update has improved
their performance and slightly.
Water-resistant: Yes (IPX4 rating -- splashproof)
Master & Dynamic MW07 True Wireless: $300
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The Master & Dynamic MW07 True Wireless may not fit everyone's
ear equally well, but they certainly have a distinct look, as well as
very good sound and a great listening experience if you can get a tight
seal. These in-ear headphones are known for more of an audiophile sound
profile, with smooth, well-balanced sound and well-defined bass, and the
MW07 delivers that kind of sound.
Available in a variety of
color options for $300, these wireless earbuds with excellent audio
include a swanky chrome charging case that comes with a secondary pouch
for safekeeping (yes, the case can get scratched up if you leave it in a
bag). Battery life is rated at 3.5 hours, which is a little on the
short side, and the case with its built-in chargeable battery gives you
an additional three charges (it charges via USB-C). These use Bluetooth
4.2 with support for AAC and aptX and have an extended range of more
than 20m, according to Master & Dynamic.
Water-resistant: Yes (IPX4 rating -- splashproof)
Klipsch T5 True Wireless: $200
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While Klipsch's T5 True Wireless
doesn't ship until mid-August, I've been testing an early review sample
and have been impressed with the sound -- it's nicely detailed with
natural-sounding mids and punchy, well-defined bass. The only caveat is
you really have to jam the tips into your ear to get a tight seal and
block out noise, and the design may not be for everyone.
While
the Zippo-inspired case is somewhat heavy for its relatively compact
size, it's sleek, sturdy and features USB-C charging. Battery and
battery life are also a highlight: The buds themselves can run for up to
8 hours on a single charge at moderate volume levels and the case with
its built-in battery provides three additional charges on the go.
The T5 Wireless uses Bluetooth 5.0 and has support for both AAC and aptX.
Water-resistant: Yes (IPX4 rating -- splashproof)
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 2.0 True Wireless Earbuds: $350
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The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 2.0
True Wireless Earbuds ($350, £300) feature some of those extra design
touches that'd you expect -- and end up paying for -- with Bang &
Olufsen products. The charging case for this set of headphones is
arguably the most aesthetically pleasing of any charging case out there
(like the new AirPods' wireless charging case, this one also features
wireless charging) and feels like a case you'd get at Tiffany's.
They
also sound very good, with clear, well-balanced sound. The bass audio
has good definition but doesn't have quite as much energy or oomph as
the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless' bass. As a result, I wouldn't say
these are the best wireless headphones for bass audio lovers (look to
the Beats for that), but they do sound impressive with well-recorded
tracks. While they're the most-expensive pair of wireless headphones in
this roundup, they come in a variety of color options, some of which
cost less than $300.
Note that with version 2.0 of these
wireless earbuds, Bang & Olufsen improved the battery life to 4
hours (plus three additional charges from the case with its built-in
chargeable battery) and added USB-C and wireless charging. These use
Bluetooth 4.2 with support for AAC but not aptX.
Water-resistant: Yes (they are splashproof, according to B&O)
Beats Powerbeats Pro: $250
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Yes, the Powerbeats Pro's jumbo
charging case with its built-in battery is a notable drawback. But the
combination of incorporating all the features that make Apple's AirPods
great while delivering richer sound and better battery life in a design
that won't fall out of your ear ultimately is a winning proposition.
Just make sure you buy them somewhere that has a good return policy in
case you're in the small minority that has ears that aren't quite a
comfortable match for them.
They use Bluetooth 5.0 with support for AAC but not aptX.
Water-resistant: Yes (IPX4 rating -- splashproof)
Jabra Elite 65t: $170 - $190
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The Elite 65t ($170, £150 or AU$300) and slightly enhanced Elite Active 65t ($190,
£170 or AU$350) are our current top picks in the true wireless category
because they sound better than Apple's AirPods, this pair of headphones
offers just as good or even better performance for making phone calls,
and they fit a lot of ears securely.
Their sound isn't quite as
rich or clean as the more-expensive earphones above them on this best
wireless headphones list (the bass lacks a little kick), but it's still a
very good sounding set of true wireless earbuds for listening to music
and more, and the battery life is decent. Since they've been on the
market awhile, they're frequently discounted, so wait till you see a
deal on these wireless earbuds before buying.
These use Bluetooth 4.2 (AAC but no aptX).
Water-resistant: Yes (IP56 rating -- can withstand heavy sprays of water)
1More Stylish True Wireless: $100
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I don't really know how stylish the
1More Stylish True Wireless earbuds are (yes, that's their name), but
they do sound good. With a list price of $100, they're the least
expensive of any of the models on this list. 1More made a name for
itself with its wired earbuds, the Triple Drivers,
which sound great and were a good value when wired headphones were
still a thing. The same clear, balanced sound found in that headphone is
present in 1More's first true wireless earbuds (they don't sound as
good as the Triple Drivers, but they sound very good for true wireless).
These
have more of an audiophile sound profile, with more "accurate" sound,
so bass lovers may be a little disappointed, but I liked them. Of
course, it helped that I was able to get a tight seal with one of the
included ear tips. However, the stabilizer fin did nothing for me (I
just jammed the tip into my ear to get a secure fit).
Their
battery life is rated at up 6.5 hours (expect closer to 5 if you're
listening to your music at higher volumes), with an extra 17 hours or so
of battery life available from the charging case. These use Bluetooth
5.0 with support for AAC and aptX.
Water-resistance: No (lacks IPX certification)
UA True Wireless Flash Engineered by JBL: $170
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JBL and Under Armour bill their new True Wireless Flash
($170) as totally wireless sports and workout headphones "designed for
runners by runners." They're technically the first truly wireless
earbuds from the duo, and as far as truly wireless workout headphones
go, they're quite good, although some of their allure is tempered by a
rather large charging case that's probably three times the size of
Apple's AirPods' charging case. The battery life of these wireless
earbuds is rated at five hours.
With relatively clean,
well-balanced sound and meaty bass that's pretty well-defined (read: not
boomy), they sound on par and even slightly better some of the other
best wireless headphones in this price class. They've got better bass
than the Jabra Elite 65t, but the Elite 65t may be a more comfortable
fit.
The wireless earbuds are fully waterproof and use Bluetooth 4.2 (no aptX).
Water-resistant: Yes (IPX7 -- fully waterproof).
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