The best earbuds come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. You don’t necessarily have to get the most expensive pair out there for them to do exactly what you want. For instance, plenty of companies making the best Android phones also make earbuds with unique features that make the buds an ideal pairing.

On the other hand, some companies that have prioritized audio products since before wireless earbuds were a thing (think Bose, Sennheiser, and Sony) are just so good when it comes to sound quality and feature set that they can’t be passed up. Even if you have limited funds, there are excellent options that will meet your needs.

We have combed the market to find you the best wireless earbuds available right now. Most of them are on the premium side, so if price is a concern, check out some cheaper alternatives here.

The very best wireless earbuds in 2023

Don’t expect Sony to sit on their laurels. As good as the Sony WF-1000XM4 were, the company has made sure to build on that with the WF-1000XM5. Considering the high price point, it's a good thing that these earbuds are so excellent.

As is expected with this line of earbuds, the sound quality is great with its detailed and slightly bright sound signature that still manages to produce a warm, full, low-end. The ANC is equally impressive, offering some of the best in the business, possibly only beaten out by Bose. It’s good enough that you’ll feel comfortable skipping over-ear headphones for that next flight you have planned.

The battery life is another area in these earbuds' favor, as it can last eight hours with the ANC on and twelve with it off. Really, there’s very little to fault with the XM5 to the point where it’s an obvious choice as the overall best earbuds available right now.

If any product has earned its name, it is this. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are a recent upgrade over their predecessor, the QuietComfort II. Bringing the best ANC of any consumer-grade earphones, these buds practically mute the world around you and yet create no ear pressure. And they are so comfortable that you may forget they're there.

Adding Snapdragon Sound to their already-formidable arsenal, these Bose buds can decode aptX Adaptive audio, which brings high-resolution music to the extremely-capable 9.3mm drivers which do wonders to convert that into admirable sound. Bose’s version of spatial audio is arguably more capable than any others out there and a good reason to splurge on the Ultras.

While the audio features are absolutely awesome, there are some downsides. Bose still hasn’t considered adding multipoint connectivity though these run on Bluetooth 5.3, and at 6 hours the battery isn’t anything to write home about. Neither does the case support wireless charging, but you can add this on with a $50 official case cover.

For an eminently reasonable price of $100 (and often on sale for around $70), the Jabra Elite 4 have a lot going for them — including solid ANC that punches above its weight. They're lightweight, comfortable, and offer decent audio quality with ample bass. They do miss out on some increasingly common features like in-ear detection and EQ customization, but if you just want a reliable pair of noise-cancelling earbuds and you don't want to spend a lot on it, the Elite 4 will likely be up your alley.

Samsung's Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are the strangely named follow-up to 2021's Galaxy Buds Pro. They take what was great about the first generation — robust audio with a generous helping of bass, strong noise cancellation, and a comfortable shape — and jam it into smaller earbuds with a more modern, refined design.

Coming from the last generation, there aren't many new features here. There's support for 24-bit audio in compatible apps when the buds are paired with a Samsung phone, plus a gimmicky new head-tracking feature that tries to mimic directional audio, even in apps that don't offer surround sound content. The new buds also inherit the older model's middling battery life of five hours per charge with ANC. Everything else is so good that these should be on your radar if you're in the market for new, premium earbuds, but think twice before upgrading from last year's pair.

If you're looking for the top sound quality in a pair of wireless earbuds, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 should feature in your decision-making. Like the two generations before, the True Wireless 3 offer terrific sound, which can be further customized to your liking, thanks to the detailed equalizer settings. The active noise cancellation is good but isn't as strong as Sony's technology.

These earbuds are light and comfortable, but previous generations haven't always been suitable for those with smaller ears, so that may be something to bear in mind when you're deciding. One of the best parts is that the price is $50 lower than previous generations. If you're looking for sound quality, look toward these Sennheiser true wireless headphones as a top pick.

With full and satisfying audio, ANC, and a great transparency mode, the Google Pixel Buds Pro deliver a premium earbud experience in ways Google's past attempts couldn't. Packed with useful features like the always-on "Hey Google" detection, Bluetooth multipoint, and marathon battery life, the Pixel Buds Pro don't have any glaring weaknesses. While the Pixel Buds Pro did launch without a customizable equalizer, five-band EQ eventually made its way to the Pixel Buds app, addressing a considerable flaw the buds suffered at launch. Google even ironed out the connectivity issues that plagued the past couple of pairs released.

They don't have the very best audio quality or ANC money can buy, but strong fundamentals, batteries that can go for up to seven hours (with ANC) on a single charge, and a hassle-free experience might be worth the premium to you. So if you're an Android user with $200 to spend on earbuds, the Pixel Buds Pro are a great pick. The buds fit might feel odd for some, but you get used to it rather quickly.

The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are a tame upgrade over the first-generation OnePlus Buds Pro, but the newer set features better sound and slightly improved battery life. The audio here is full and bouncy with lots of bass, but not too much. The call quality is also great. Battery life is just okay at six hours on a charge, and ANC isn't quite top of the line, but with a fun sound and a good feature set, these are easy earbuds to like at $179. If you're into stem-style earbuds, the Buds Pro 2 have plenty to offer.

Looking for good ANC and high-resolution audio for cheap? The EarFun Air Pro 3 earbuds have your back. The ANC is quite capable, cutting off background conversation and predictable noise to practically zero. The buds also support aptX Adaptive, giving you the ability to hear high-resolution audio files or streams if you have access to them.

A basic stick design incorporates IPX5-rated protection along with responsive touch controls. The sound can be really fun with thumping bass and clear highs. However, the over-processed quality of the audio may grate on practiced ears. The buds have 6 mics that work in and out of the ears to pick up inner and outer noise and drive the ANC accordingly.

For such low-cost buds, the app is good. While rather flat and unappealing in design, it brings core functionalities that a companion app should quite effectively. You get updates, custom equalizers, ANC controls and so on.

The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is amazing for the price. It might not quite reach the heights of our #1 pick, but they sound as good and implement their features as capably as earbuds twice the price. While the audio is not perfect — there’s a bit too much bass — it is as good as earbuds in the $200 range, even though these only cost $100. Considering its low price, the ANC on hand is surprisingly robust, even offering manual adjustments as well as the ability to automatically respond to outside stimuli.

On top of that, there’s plenty of fine-tuning in the app, including HearID, which runs you through a short test to create a completely personalized EQ preset. You can even remap the touch controls in the app, though they require careful presses to respond correctly. And that’s all the tip of the iceberg. The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC proves that you don’t have to compromise just because you’re on a budget.

Launched in August 2023, the latest musical offering from Jabra, the Elite 10, brings a lot to the plate. It has some of the best spatial audio tech in the market, using Dolby Head Tracking. When you combine that with the excellent Dolby Atmos decoding, music and videos come alive in your ears. The 10mm drivers don't promise anything outstanding in the frequency response, but working in tandem with the amps they do a great job of reproducing the Jabra signature sound that most people will love.

Jabra made these earbuds beautifully, with a premium look and finish that justifies the high price. That design does more than just look pretty — it also protects the buds with IP57-rated water and dust-resistance. Inside, they carry a superb ANC solution and 6-hour battery that is arguably all you may need every day. The Bluetooth 5.3 does an excellent job with multipoint connectivity, however it falls short in the codec department.

The Jaybird Vista 2 are the follow-ups to the originals, released primarily as comfortable, workout-friendly, and true wireless earbuds that still sound good. This successor, released in 2021, improves on the design, fit, sound quality, battery life, and water protection while also adding active noise cancellation. Jaybird takes comfort and "earth-proof" durability very seriously: the earbuds have three tip sizes that fit better than most of the competition, allowing for intense workouts that don't dislodge either earbud.

An IP68 water and dust ingress protection rating and a MIL-STD 810G rating make these appropriate for extreme weather, too (though if you're working out in the ice or snow, that's on you). The Vista 2's secret weapon is actually Jaybird's app, which allows you to select custom equalization settings, modify ANC intensity, and more. At $150, the Jaybird Vista 2 are not cheap, but if you want the best workout buds available, these are for you.

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) are the best earbuds out of Apple yet for the price. If you have a moderately modern Apple device (iPad, iPhone, Macbook etc.) then this is a no-brainer; the buds are seamlessly integrated into the OS itself and you get to play with numerous high-end features such as spatial audio and adaptive equalizer.

The no-frills simplistic yet classy design goes a long way, while it also gives the advantage of being extremely comfy thanks to the lack of ear tips. However, that also translates into a comparably loose fit. The IPX4-rated buds have the Apple H1 chip inside then that does a lot of processing of the incoming and outgoing audio and gives you the best sound that your ears particularly can hear.

Speaking of which, for the price you get a surprisingly accurate frequency response with these earbuds. The sub-bass response is strong while the definitions in the highs carry your tune through. Apple’s excellent spatial audio feature (fixed or head-tracked) helps you to bring your music alive in the room. The mics are strong too and recognize every syllable spoken.

Apple's AirPods Pro pack more power, but the regular AirPods deliver more bang for your buck - and make more sense if you're an Android user eyeing them up, as you won't be paying extra for too many iOS-exclusive features.

What are the best wireless earbuds you can buy?

It's hard to go wrong with any pair of true wireless earbuds for over $100 anymore. Models from reputable brands are consistently good, but a few companies are making standout products, and they're usually the ones you know. Sony, for instance, earns its place at the top of the list with the WF-1000XM5, improving on just about every aspect of the WF-1000XM4, especially the sound quality and ANC.

If you want the absolute best ANC in earbuds today, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds should be at the top of your list. Just be aware they lack convenient features like multipoint and wireless charging. On the matter of more budget-friendly wireless earbuds, there are plenty of great options, like Jabra's Elite 4, whose ANC will blow you away considering their modest $100 price tag - check out our pick of the best headphone deals for more affordable options. You can find great sound and noise cancelation even cheaper if you consider less-well-known brands, such as the EarFun Air Pro 3.