The best earbuds are essential for portable music, offering a compact way to enjoy rich audio wherever you go. The finest models can create a sound bubble that isolates you from external noise, all while being small enough to slip into your pocket. What’s even better is that modern earbuds don’t sacrifice sound quality, battery life, or advanced features for their small size. After testing hundreds of pairs, we’ve narrowed down the top 5 earbuds that deliver exceptional performance.
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Number 5 : Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Samsung is a giant in the smartphone world, but its Galaxy Buds didn’t make waves—until the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro arrived. Packed with practical features, these earbuds offer IPX7 water resistance, excellent active noise cancellation (ANC), speech detection, wearer detection, and customizable on-ear controls that all work seamlessly. The one downside is the five-hour battery life, which is a bit short for an otherwise stellar package. If you own a Samsung Galaxy device, you’ll love the spatial audio feature with optional head tracking, which creates an immersive experience by letting you direct 24-bit high-resolution audio to your ears in real-time. At a mid-range price, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offer an impressive range of functionality.
Number 4 : Apple AirPods Pro 2
For Apple fans, the AirPods Pro 2 are an easy pick, offering excellent features that integrate perfectly with the Apple ecosystem. Their active noise cancellation rivals the best in the market, making outside distractions nearly disappear. The Adaptive Transparency Mode dynamically adjusts how much external sound gets through, giving you more control over your environment. With ANC on, the AirPods Pro 2 deliver six hours of battery life, and the charging case provides up to 30 hours. The sound quality is a big improvement over the first-generation AirPods Pro, featuring a wide soundstage and clear, rich audio across all genres.
One of the standout features is spatial audio, which makes watching movies or listening to music feel like a surround-sound experience. If you already own multiple Apple devices, these earbuds let you easily switch between them, share music with other AirPods or Beats, and even customize your sound preferences. For Apple users, the AirPods Pro 2 are a great all-around choice, often available at a discount during sales events.
Number 3 : Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
When it comes to noise cancellation, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 take the crown. Bose’s CustomTune technology automatically adjusts both ANC and sound frequency to fit your ear, making for an incredibly effective noise-cancelling experience. While the battery life (6 hours on a single charge, up to 24 hours with the case) and lack of wireless charging are drawbacks, these earbuds still offer best-in-class ANC.
The QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are 30% smaller than previous versions, making them lighter and more pocket-friendly. Though they come at a premium price, these are arguably the best true wireless earbuds for noise cancellation on the market—if you’re willing to invest.
Number 2 : Nothing Ear a
The Nothing Ear a earbuds are a massive upgrade over the previous version, offering incredible value for their $99 price tag. They look and feel premium, with excellent sound that is energetic and detailed, along with solid noise cancellation. For the price, the ANC is among the best we’ve tested, and these buds come with smart features like wear detection, multi-point pairing, and LDAC support for high-definition sound.
The only real downside is the 5.5-hour battery life, but that’s a small tradeoff considering the value these buds offer. If you’re on a budget but don’t want to compromise on quality, the Nothing Ear a earbuds are a fantastic option.
Number 1 : Technics EAH-AZ80
At the top of our list are the Technics EAH-AZ80 earbuds, which deliver a winning combination of sound quality, features, and design. These buds support Bluetooth 5.3, LDAC, and triple-device connectivity, making them versatile and reliable. While the ANC could be stronger and the battery life (7 hours on the buds, 25 hours with the case) is decent but not exceptional, the overall package is hard to beat.
What truly sets the EAH-AZ80 apart is its balanced, professional-grade sound. The entire frequency range is even and coherent, with richly textured bass and detailed highs. These earbuds are also incredibly comfortable, with seven different ear tip sizes to ensure a perfect fit for everyone. Though they come with a premium price tag, their features and sound quality justify the cost. In our opinion, they offer better value than comparable models from Bose or Sony.
Whether you’re a tech enthusiast looking for premium features or simply want affordable earbuds with great performance, this list has something for everyone. From the premium sound and connectivity of the Technics EAH-AZ80 to the budget-friendly quality of the Nothing Ear (2), these are the top picks for 2024.