Sony WF-1000XM6Best overall- Battery
- 8 hours, 24 with case
- Noise cancelling
- Adaptive, 8 microphones
- Quick charge
- 5 minutes for 1 hour
- Fit
- Ergonomic, matte finish
Most recommended by reviewers
Check price at AmazonThe Best Earbuds
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Earbuds are one of those things you use every day, so a pair that sits badly or sounds flat gets annoying fast. The right choice depends on your phone, how much noise you want to block, and whether you wear them to the gym or mostly on calls.
Our top pick is the Sony WF-1000XM6, which pairs excellent sound with strong noise cancelling and works with any phone. The other four cover Bose for the quietest ride, Apple for iPhone users, Beats for workouts, and Soundcore for the best price.
The rundown
1 Sony WF-1000XM6 | 2 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds | 3 Apple AirPods Pro 3 | 4 Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 | 5 Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Best overall | Best noise cancelling | Best for iPhone | Best for workouts | Best value with great calls |
| Battery | 8 hours, 24 with case | 6 hours, more with case | 8 hours with noise cancelling | Up to 45 hours with case | 6.5 hours, 28 with case |
| Noise cancelling | Adaptive, 8 microphones | ActiveSense, CustomTune | Not listed | Not listed | 8 sensors, AI chip |
| Fit | Ergonomic, matte finish | 9 tip and stability band combos | 5 ear tip sizes | Secure-fit earhooks | Not listed |
| Check price at Amazon | Check price at Amazon | Check price at Amazon | Check price at Amazon | Check price at Amazon |
Sony WF-1000XM6Best overall
Bose QuietComfort Ultra EarbudsBest noise cancelling- Battery
- 6 hours, more with case
- Noise cancelling
- ActiveSense, CustomTune
- Fit
- 9 tip and stability band combos
- Water resistance
- IPX4
Apple AirPods Pro 3Best for iPhone- Battery
- 8 hours with noise cancelling
- Heart rate
- Built-in sensing
- Fit
- 5 ear tip sizes
- Extras
- Live Translation, hearing aid feature
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2Best for workouts- Battery
- Up to 45 hours with case
- Fit
- Secure-fit earhooks
- Heart rate
- Built-in sensors
- Rating
- IPX4 sweat and water resistant
Soundcore Liberty 5 ProBest value with great calls- Battery
- 6.5 hours, 28 with case
- Noise cancelling
- 8 sensors, AI chip
- Quick charge
- 5 minutes for 4 hours
- Call quality
- 10-sensor microphone matrix
1Best overall
Sony WF-1000XM6
Top-notch sound and strong noise cancelling that work with iPhone and Android alike.
- Battery
- 8 hours, 24 with case
- Noise cancelling
- Adaptive, 8 microphones
- Quick charge
- 5 minutes for 1 hour
- Fit
- Ergonomic, matte finish
Most recommended by reviewers
Check price at AmazonPrices and availability on Amazon change often.
Why we picked the Sony WF-1000XM6
The Sony WF-1000XM6 is the earbud we'd pick for most people, because it gets sound, noise cancelling and calls right without asking you to live in one phone ecosystem.
What we like
Reviewers describe the sound as accurate, balanced and natural, and they rate the noise cancelling and call quality as excellent. Eight microphones drive the adaptive noise cancelling, and the buds work well with any phone. Battery is 8 hours per charge, 24 with the case, and five minutes on the charger gives an hour of listening. Owners on r/Earbuds report that the WF-1000XM6 wins on noise cancellation and overall tuning, with one owner calling them the most comfortable earbuds they have tried.
Worth knowing
It costs more than most earbuds here. The included eartips may also not seal for every ear, so you may need to find a better fit to get the best noise cancelling.
If it's not for you, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) suit anyone who puts noise cancelling first, and the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro suits shoppers who want great calls for far less money.
2Best noise cancelling
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
The pair to buy when blocking out the world matters most.
- Battery
- 6 hours, more with case
- Noise cancelling
- ActiveSense, CustomTune
- Fit
- 9 tip and stability band combos
- Water resistance
- IPX4
Prices and availability on Amazon change often.
Pros
- Reviewers call the noise cancelling truly impressive
- Secure, comfortable fit with stability bands
- Clear call quality with background noise rejection
- Immersive Audio adds a spatial sound mode
Cons
- Immersive Audio mode shortens battery life
- Battery lasts shorter than some rivals
Read our full take
Why we like it
If you spend time on planes, trains or in loud offices, these are the earbuds to look at. Reviewers rate the noise cancelling as among the best around, and the fit kit with tips and stability bands helps them stay put and stay comfortable.
Sound is excellent too, though turning on Immersive Audio costs you battery. At about six hours per charge they trail some competitors, but the case tops them up on the go.
3Best for iPhone
Apple AirPods Pro 3
Upgraded noise cancelling and sound, with seamless iPhone features.
- Battery
- 8 hours with noise cancelling
- Heart rate
- Built-in sensing
- Fit
- 5 ear tip sizes
- Extras
- Live Translation, hearing aid feature
Prices and availability on Amazon change often.
Pros
- Noise cancelling is now top-notch
- Better bass and clarity than the last model
- Heart rate sensing built in
- Battery lasts up to 8 hours
Cons
- Many features only work with Apple devices
Read our full take
Why we like it
For iPhone owners, the AirPods Pro 3 are the easiest earbuds to live with. Pairing is instant, they switch between your Apple devices, and noise cancelling is much improved over the previous generation, with better bass and more clarity too.
Heart rate tracking and extras like Live Translation are a nice bonus. Android users can still use them as ordinary earbuds, but they'll miss out on a lot of what makes them special.
4Best for workouts
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
Secure ear hooks and heart rate tracking built for hard training.
- Battery
- Up to 45 hours with case
- Fit
- Secure-fit earhooks
- Heart rate
- Built-in sensors
- Rating
- IPX4 sweat and water resistant
Prices and availability on Amazon change often.
Pros
- Earhooks stay put during intense workouts
- Heart rate tracking built into the buds
- Excellent call quality
- Works with both Apple and Android
Cons
- Premium price
- Some Apple-only features missing on Android
Read our full take
Why we like it
Where regular earbuds can slip out mid-run, the Powerbeats Pro 2 use an earhook that stays locked on through sprints, lifts and classes. Noise cancelling is tuned for gym noise, and sweat resistance means they can handle the workout.
Built-in heart rate sensors mean you can skip the chest strap, and a long-lasting case keeps them charged for the week. They cost more than basic earbuds, but athletes will feel the difference.
5Best value with great calls
Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro
Strong noise cancelling and excellent call quality for much less money.
- Battery
- 6.5 hours, 28 with case
- Noise cancelling
- 8 sensors, AI chip
- Quick charge
- 5 minutes for 4 hours
- Call quality
- 10-sensor microphone matrix
Prices and availability on Amazon change often.
Pros
- Comfortable, secure fit with tips and fins
- Very good sound and much improved noise cancelling
- Great voice-calling performance
- Costs far less than flagship pairs
Cons
- Earbuds are a little beefy and stick out of the ears
Read our full take
Why we like it
The Liberty 5 Pro brings flagship features to a lower price. Reviewers praise the fit, the improved noise cancelling and especially the voice calling, which holds up even in loud places.
They're a bit bulky and stick out of your ears more than slim pairs, but if you want strong all-around performance without a premium price, they're easy to recommend.
FAQ
How to choose?
Start with your phone. iPhone users get the most from AirPods and Beats, while Sony, Bose and Soundcore work well on any phone. Then think about use: noise cancelling for commuting, secure hooks for the gym, or strong microphones for calls.
Fit matters more than most people expect, since a poor seal hurts both sound and noise cancelling. Try the included tips before you decide.
When to skip?
If you need to hear traffic around you, a closed in-ear pair may not suit you, and open-ear designs are the better choice. If you only listen casually, a budget pair will do the job without the premium price.
What are the best earbuds and which brand is the best?
The Sony WF-1000XM6 is our top pick for sound and noise cancelling on any phone. Bose is best for blocking noise, Apple for iPhone users, and Beats for workouts.
What are the best earbuds for the money?
The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro offers strong noise cancelling and great call quality for much less than flagship pairs. The Soundcore P30i is a cheaper option if price is your top concern.
What are the best earbuds under 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, and 5000?
Budget ranges depend on your currency and region, so check the live price on each listing. In general, the Soundcore P30i covers the lowest budgets, the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and Beats Studio Buds + the middle, and the Sony, Bose and Apple pairs the top.
Which earbuds are best for calling?
The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro has great voice-calling performance, with a 10-sensor microphone setup. The Sony WF-1000XM6 and Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 also handle calls very well.
Which earbuds are best for iPhone or Android?
For iPhone, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 give the smoothest experience. For Android, or if you switch between phones, the Sony WF-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro all work well.
Why trust BullseyeBuy
How we made this guide
- 3 expert reviews read
- 10 earbuds compared
- 10 listings checked
This shortlist comes from comparing ten earbuds across their listings and the advice in the expert reviews we read. Every pick can be bought right now, and we weighed sound, noise cancelling, fit, battery life and call quality.
Our expert team tests products when it is needed and researches online and in interviews. Every guide is fact-checked and edited by a real person.
The BullseyeBuy editorial team · Updated Oct 23, 2026
Checking our work: 6 sources
How we pickEditorial standardsAffiliate disclosureReport a mistake
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