Bowers & Wilkins PI7 S2: In 2023, Bowers & Wilkins upgraded its fantastic-sounding PI7 noise-canceling earbuds. The brand new S2 mannequin has higher battery life and Bluetooth vary, now as much as 25 meters (double the earlier vary). Moreover, the buds now combine into the brand new Bowers & Wilkins Music app for iOS and Android and have a much-improved setup expertise. Study extra in our full Bowers & Wilkins PI7 assessment.
JBL Reside Professional 2: Over time, JBL has put out some respectable true-wireless earbuds, however nothing that actually received me too excited. That is lastly modified with the arrival of the Samsung-owned model’s new Reside Professional 2 and Reside Free 2 buds. Each units of buds — the Reside Professional 2 have stems whereas the Reside Free 2 have a pill-shaped design — provide a snug match together with robust noise canceling, superb sound high quality and voice-calling efficiency, plus a sturdy set of options, together with multipoint Bluetooth pairing, an IPX5 splash-proof score and wi-fi charging.
Grasp & Dynamic MW09: Grasp & Dynamic headphones and earbuds have at all times featured distinctive, eye-catching designs that embrace premium supplies like aluminum, sapphire glass and Kevlar. Its newest MW09 flagship earbuds ($349) look fairly much like its earlier MW08 buds however have some upgrades on the within that ship higher efficiency, significantly relating to noise canceling. The earbuds sound nice however are mysteriously out of inventory all over the place, so we dropped them from the very best listing. If they arrive again in inventory, we’ll add them again to this listing.
Sony LinkBuds S: In contrast to the “open” LinkBuds, the LinkBuds S are conventional noise-isolating earbuds with suggestions that jam in your ears. They’re extra compact and lighter than Sony’s former flagship WF-1000XM4 and in addition function Sony’s V1 processor (Sony has since launched the extra compact WF-1000XM5). Their sound and noise canceling do not fairly measure as much as both XM4s or XM5s, however they’re nonetheless fairly good. They’re the Sony buds for individuals who cannot afford Sony’s flagship earbuds however need 80% of these buds’ options and efficiency for considerably much less. I’ve totally reviewed the Sony LinkBuds S and rated them an appreciative 8.4 out of 10.
Sony WF-1000XM4: Launched in 2021, Sony’s WF-1000XM4 earned a CNET Editors’ Selection Award. They’re nonetheless glorious earbuds, however Sony has now launched the next-gen WF-1000XM5. They could be a great possibility in the event you discover them at a great low cost. I printed a full assessment of the Sony WF-100XM4 buds once they launched in the event you assume the funds earbuds are for you.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wi-fi 3: The Sennheiser Momentum True Wi-fi 3 have been among the many greatest new true-wireless earbuds of 2022. They’re nonetheless among the many greatest actually wi-fi earbuds, however Sennheiser has launched the upgraded Momentum True Wi-fi 4. Additionally, the newer AirPods Professional 2 and Sony WF-1000XM5 buds are arguably superior, so solely look to purchase the Momentum True Wi-fi 3 once they’re considerably discounted. Study extra in regards to the buds in my Sennheiser Momentum True Wi-fi 3 assessment.
JBL Tour Professional 2: JBL’s Tour Professional 2 earbuds have acquired a whole lot of consideration for bringing one thing new to true-wireless earbuds: a full-color touchscreen show embedded within the case that lets you entry the earbuds’ key options and management playback in addition to modify quantity ranges. It’s kind of of a gimmick but additionally helpful. The buds may sound barely higher for his or her listing worth, however total the JBL Tour Professional 2s are superb earbuds that provide a great match, a sturdy function set, robust battery life, plus stable noise canceling and voice-calling efficiency. I took a take a look at the feature-packed earbuds in 2023 and wrote a full JBL Tour Professional 2 assessment that you may learn right here.
Beyerdynamic Free Byrd: Beyerdynamic could also be late to the sport, nevertheless it’s lastly launched its first actually wi-fi earbuds, which function lively noise canceling, as much as 11 hours of battery life (with noise canceling off) and spectacular sound high quality. Learn my full Beyerdynamic Free Byrd Earbuds assessment to study extra.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2: Obtainable in 4 colours, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 noise-canceling headphones do not function nearly as good sound or noise canceling because the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional, however they’re compact (15% smaller and 20% lighter than the sooner Buds Plus, they barely stick out of your ears) and price considerably much less. As a result of they sit extra flush along with your ears — and have that curved design — additionally they decide up much less wind noise. They’re IPX2 sweat-resistant whereas the step-up Galaxy Buds 2 Professional are totally waterproof (IPX7). My full Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 assessment from 2021 has extra data on the earbuds.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX: Bang & Olufsen’s $399 Beoplay EX buds are the corporate’s greatest true-wireless earbuds. They function a snug, safe match (besides maybe for these with actually smaller ears), top-notch construct high quality, nice sound, good noise canceling and improved voice-calling efficiency over B&O’s EQ buds, with three microphones in every earbud they assist with lowering background noise whereas choosing up your voice. They’re out of most individuals’s worth vary, they’re arguably the very best earbuds on the market with stems and provide barely superior sound to the AirPods Professional 2 with higher readability, deeper extra highly effective bass and richer, extra correct sound. I reviewed the B&O Beoplay EX earbuds earlier than they have been launched in 2022 and included some extra data there.
Soundcore by Anker Liberty 4: Their sound is not fairly as much as the extent of higher-end buds like Apple’s AirPods Professional 2 and the Sennheiser Momentum True Wi-fi 3 that value considerably extra, however the Soundcore by Anker Liberty 4 earbuds have a robust set of options, together with a spatial audio mode with head monitoring, multipoint Bluetooth pairing, as much as 9 hours of battery life, wi-fi charging and help for Sony’s LDAC audio codec that may provide sound enhancements in case you have the precise setup. Learn extra in my Anker Liberty 4 assessment for extra data on the mid-range earbuds.
Sennheiser CX Plus: The Momentum True Wi-fi 3 are Sennheiser’s flagship true-wireless earbuds. If you cannot afford them, the Sennheiser CX Plus (which options superb sound and respectable noise canceling) is an efficient various for lots much less cash. The step-down CX, which has no lively noise canceling, prices even much less. Discover out extra in regards to the funds earbuds in my full Sennheiser CX Plus assessment.