By using a dummy head, audio engineers can test out how audio products will perform for most people—and so do we. Specifically, we tested frequency response, isolation, and battery life to keep things simple. You can read more about it here to learn more about the specifics. Active noise cancellation: We’re seeing more and more wireless earbuds incorporating active noise cancellation technology to reduce the impact of external sound on your audio. If you want the most immersive listening experience, ANC should be high on your priority list. Designed for iPhone owners looking for a more tailored listening experience, we think the AirPods Pro 2 are the pinnacle of Apple technology. While testing them out for all kinds of active lifestyle activities, we found that the fit had been improved to the point where they're a viable option for the best sports headphones, and suitable for runners and gym workouts alike. Not only are the earbuds IPX4-rated for protection from sweat and light showers, but now too is the case itself. Wireless headphones are traditional over-ear or on-ear headphones without the wire – the two earcups are connected by a headband.To learn more, head to our best wireless headphones guide.

The AirPods Pro 2 are the the ultimate earbuds for iPhone users. We have been blown away by the 2nd generation model since Apple launched them in September 2022. They bring significant upgrades to the popular original AirPods Pro to take performance to the next level. On the audio front, Apple has included a new H2 chip with custom amp and driver that delivers better lower and higher frequencies, and you can use the iPhone's TrueDepth camera to create a personalized spatial audiosound to listen to some of the best Dolby Atmossound in any pair of earbuds. Noise cancellation is double what the original AirPods Pro offered, and is among the best we’ve yet to experience. The Liberty 4 NC buds have single custom drivers compared with the Liberty 4's dynamic dual drivers -- and a completely different case design -- but I thought they delivered more pleasant sound than the Liberty 4s. Their treble is a little smoother, and they feature strong bass performance. They came across as fairly open, with a reasonably wide soundstage. You can tweak the sound profile in the companion app for iOS and Android. If ANC is a top priority, then the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are without question the best noise-cancelling earbudsoverall. The new flagship introduced several upgrades over the original such as adaptiveactive noise cancellation(ANC), Bluetooth 5.3, and sound calibration technology for improved sound quality.True wireless earbuds– the focus of this guide – have no cord whatsoever. While wireless allows us to wear headphones a few feet away from our music players, true wireless cuts the cord between the earbuds, giving us true freedom. Why do wireless earbuds have such short battery life? Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test. Sound quality is highly impressive, too. The Fit Pro have a weightier bass response than their stablemates the Studio Buds and there’s less harshness in the treble frequencies. Like most Beats headphones, the Fit Pro play particularly nicely with Apple devices. They house the company’s H1 chip and this enables a range of useful features, including shared listening with other Beats users, hands-free Siri and full spatial audio support. For each product, we played several sine sweeps through the earphones and logged the frequency response once we arrived at a repeatable result, demonstrating the hallmarks of a good seal. Touch controls are employed strategically to maximise functionality – adjusting volume, for instance, is achieved by sliding a finger up or down either earbud rather than using double or triple taps. Rounding out an impressive list of features are effective wear detection and active noise cancellation. The latter, in particular, is very good for the price and puts a significant dent in external sound.

Apple’s Spatial Audio is another headline feature, and there’s even an all-new Adaptive Transparency mode, which is highly effective. Pressure and touch-sensitive controls add another layer of usability, with a simple swipe of the earbuds stem now adjusting volume, while the buds’ battery life has been boosted to six hours of listening with ANC engaging. For those that own an iPhone, iPad or MacBook, the brilliant AirPods Pro 2 are the wireless earbuds to buy. Sony WF-1000XM4: Released in 2021, Sony's WF-1000XM4 earned a CNET Editors' Choice Award. They're still excellent earbuds, but Sony has now released the next-gen WF-1000XM5. They may be a good option if you find them at a good discount. Sony's XM-series earbuds go from strength to strength with each new generation. As the latest flagship, the WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds are smaller and lighter, yet they're equipped with some of the strongest features and performance we've ever seen from a pair of wireless earbuds. They have some of the most dynamic and engaging sound we've heard, and their noise-canceling performance easily matches that of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 or Apple AirPods Pro 2We test true-wireless earbuds based on five key criteria, comparing similarly styled and priced models. These criteria are design, sound quality, features, voice-calling performance and value.

However, if you can afford to splurge and want immersive sound and noise-cancellation above all else, these are an excellent choice. We also evaluate those battery life claims – both in terms of buds and charging case – to ensure we could give an accurate opinion on how long they will last in normal use. True wireless vs wireless: what's the difference?As always with Apple products, the AirPods Pro 2 are best suited to those with an iPhone and a big budget. But if that's you, these are some of the most impressive true wireless earbuds you can buy today, rivalling not only the original Pro buds but also providing a listening experience on par with many of our long-standing favorites, including the Sony WF-1000XM4 Wireless Earbuds. Don't be fooled by how the Sony LinkBuds S look. They're a bit boring and you could easily dismiss them as a pair of cheap buds. But we found them to be surprisingly comfortable to wear – particularly for smaller ears. JBL Live Free 2: Like the Live Pro 2, JBL's new Live Free 2 buds are surprisingly good. With 11mm drivers, six microphones, oval tubes and oval silicon tips, they combine a comfortable fit along with strong noise canceling, very good sound quality and voice-calling performance. Features include multipoint Bluetooth pairing and wireless charging, and they're rated for up to seven hours with IPX5 water-resistance (splash-proof). Active noise cancellation is more effective than it was on the Momentum True Wireless 3’s predecessor and Sennheiser has introduced a clever new feature whereby you can have the buds switch noise-cancelling and sound modes when you move between certain locations. Sound quality – always a strong point of Sennheiser headphones – is excellent and there are a number of ways of tweaking it via the revamped Smart Control companion app. We were blown away by the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) when Apple launched them in September 2022, and there are plenty of reasons why they continue to beat all other wireless earbuds. They are without doubt the best ANC earbuds for iPhone users, and the most versatile model for all kinds of lifestyles. This next-gen model brings significant upgrades to the popular original AirPods Pro to take performance to the next level. Externally, they look pretty similar to the first generation, but battery life has been increased to offer 6 hours on a single charge from the earbuds and a further 30 hours from the wireless charging case.

During the testing phase, our reviewers wear each pair of headphones for several hours at a time throughout the course of a week. Reviewers will make a note of the battery life performance in real world use, and assess how well this matches the rated battery life provided by earbud makers. The original Apple AirPods Pro are among our choice of the best true wireless earbuds, especially if you have an iPhone, allowing you to take full advantage of the Apple-centric features. But the Pro 2 are a significant step up, offering improved audio performance that's rich and expansive – thanks to new drivers and amplifiers – as well as better ANC, which we found to be extremely impressive during our testing. Beyerdynamic Free Byrd: Beyerdynamic may be late to the game, but it's finally introduced its first true-wireless earbuds, which feature active noise canceling, up to 11 hours of battery life (with noise canceling off) and impressive sound quality. Read our Beyerdynamic Free Byrd review.Such features make the Buds2 Pro our number-one choice if you’re already invested in the Galaxy ecosystem but if you don’t fall into that category, you’ll find better value elsewhere on this list.