The best wireless earbuds for every situation

Read our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro.

Who it's for:

If you're an iOS user who wants to avoid dealing with an auxiliary app, Apple AirPods Pro is your best bet. They have impressive noise cancellation and seamlessly connect to iOS systems. To pair them to your iPhone, just open the charging case. Need to go hands-free? The AirPods will announce your texts to you.

Why we like it:

As an iPhone user, I'm partial to Apple AirPods Pro's connectivity. They connect easily, and no app is needed. Instead, you can just go into your phone's settings; the AirPods have their own settings menu there.

But beyond their iOS compatibility, they're also fantastic earbuds. I was taken aback when outdoors and found that their ANC drowned out the busy street I was walking along. The audio quality is generally good, but it wasn't nearly as impressive as the Bose or Sony earbuds. These buds played my songs as I would expect, but with no extra flair.

The biggest downside to the Apple AirPods Pro is that they don't come with multiple ear tips. The AirPods Pro fell out often, and I wished for a smaller ear tip for a better fit.

If you like the idea of the AirPods Pro 2 but can't swing the price, the new AirPods 4 also come with active noise cancellation. Plus, they just received a positive review from Mashable's tech editor.

The Apple and Samsung rivalry runs deep. There's no doubt that Galaxy users will get the most from these Galaxy Buds Live but iPhone users will also enjoy them. Especially if you enjoy personalising the user experience.

For starters, Samsung's Galaxy Wearables app is a must-download. It allows you to tweak your Buds' touchpad controls, adjust their notifications, and customise their sound via an equalizer for a personalised listening experience. There are also options to switch your Buds to an Ambient sound mode, which lets you hear some of your surroundings, and enable a "Find My Earbuds" tool that'll pinpoint a lost bud's hiding place.

Even the charging options are flexible. Pop the buds inside their charging case for up to seven extra hours of battery life on the go, or use the Wireless PowerShare feature to steal juice from your Galaxy S10 series smartphone. As for controlling playback and volume, just give the outer surface a quick tap.

The biggest issue reviewers have is that the noise cancellation isn't quite up to scratch. Of course, that's not an issue for everyone. Otherwise, they come highly recommended — a great Apple alternative and among Samsung's best.

Beats is one of the biggest names in quality audio tech. And they're technically an Apple product — Apple bought the brand back in 2014. That means the Beats PowerBeats Pro give you the full package: The brilliant sound of Beats’ bass wizardry, plus Apple’s all-powerful H1 chip. 

Beats PowerBeats Pro wireless earphones are a good alternative if you aren't a fan of the AirPods Pro fit. And “fit” is the operative word. The Powerbeats Pro have a slimline silicone nozzle (with different size options) and over-ear hooks that ensure these never come loose.

They come with intuitive controls, which include playback and volume buttons. In fact, you can control the volume via either earbud — a small but subtly brilliant addition that other brands would do well to follow. Other nice touches include hands-free Siri, micro-laser barometric venting holes to relieve in-ear pressure, and an oversized charging case (though it may be too big for some people). The case will give you two full charges before it needs plugging back in.

There are downsides. These are splash proof rather than fully waterproof. Plus, there's no ANC or adjustable EQ levels. But these gripes can be overlooked given how impressive the Powerbeats Pro are elsewhere.

The Copenhagen-based Jabra will already be familiar to exercise enthusiasts — the brand makes excellent true wireless buds for running and fitness. The Jabra Elite 85t are pretty much the full package — durable and well-constructed, with great sound and in-ear stability. In terms of comfort, they also have a partially open design, which is good for airflow and stops that bunged up feeling you can sometimes get with earbuds.

They also come highly recommended thanks to something called HearThrough, a mode which uses the buds' built-in microphones to pick up and filter some ambient sounds in through your music. Ultimately, it's a souped-up version of active noise cancellation, which you can adjust via the Jabra's Sound+ app. In fact, you'll find plenty of other features on the Sound+ app, including tools to customise a music profile, monitor your earbuds' charging status, and connect them to your preferred voice assistant (Alexa, Siri, or the Google Assistant). 

There’s another bonus that will suit all users: The Elite Active 85ts boast excellent calling capabilities. The only thing they're missing is a bigger battery life. Five hours is fine but not quite up there with the best batteries on this list.

Who it's for:

Love high-quality audio but not so fond of the feeling of headphones over your ears? These Sony earbuds are the earbud model of the flagship WH-1000XM5 headphones we recommended above.

Why we picked this:

These earbuds deliver a rich, well-balanced sound profile, without the weight of over-ear headphones. The ear tips material are not the usual silicone found on AirPods and other earbuds, but a more foam-like material you'd find on an ear plug, allowing for all-day wear that creates a firm seal without sacrificing comfort. People who aren't fans of the stemmed design made popular by AirPods will appreciate that Sony didn't attempt to make a carbon copy. Plus, these Sony earbuds still offer functional touch controls.

The Sony companion app allows for a ton of customization, including for those aforementioned touch controls, paired devices, and of course, an equalizer. Those who feel a bit intimated by a completely custom equalizer will appreciate the "Find Your Equalizer" feature, which gives you two rounds of options to select from while listening to music to narrow down what settings actually sound the best. Once you've made your selection, a final before and after sound test confirms you're happy with the mix, making it easier than ever to get the most out of your music.

We also enjoyed the Adaptive Sound Control, which switches the earbuds automatically from noise cancelling to ambient sound transparency modes based on whether you're sitting or walking around (settings that can be adjusted). Multipoint pairing also lets you switch between two devices with next to zero lag. If you hate using transparency mode because of how it amplifies outside sounds, you can adjust that, too.

Admittedly, these earbuds are pricey, but we think the premium features and quality sound justify the cost for someone who wants a lot out of their earbuds. Typically, these headphones drop about $70 in price, so we expect to see a similar markdown during Prime Big Deal Days.

JBL are known for excelling with mid-level, no-nonsense headphones. The JBL Reflect Aero deliver on both performance and price. Designed for fitness in the great outdoors — particularly running — the JBL Reflect Aero are a step ahead of the competition.

The buds hold as firm as their sturdy Bluetooth connection. They have adaptive ANC but also offer Ambient Aware and TalkThru modes that you can activate by tapping the buds. JBL calls these modes "bionic hearing". They tinker with the volume to let in external noise. You can even stop mid-run for a chat. 

It's not the best sound that money can buy. It's never going to be at this mid-level range. But you'd have to be pretty fussy, or some kind of expert-level audiophile to find much fault. JBL does mid-level exceptionally well. Bass fans will be especially impressed with the power in these little buds.

If you are out running, there’s plenty of juice — a full 8 hours plus another 8 hours in the charging case. Also included are three sets of tips to make sure you get the fit just right, plus powerfins for extra in-ear security.

If you want Apple-style tech and function but you’re in the decidedly non-Apple camp — or just want to spend significantly less — the Google Pixel Buds A-Series could be the ones for you. These are aimed largely at Android and Google phone users (though they work perfectly well with the iPhone) and cost less than the AirPods Pro. 

You’ll instantly see the benefits of being an Android user. They connect to Android devices using Fast Pair. You don’t even need to press anything — they hook up automatically. There’s also optional Google Assistant. Other Google features include Google Translate.

There’s a lack of active noise cancelling though an Adaptive Sound feature makes up for it. This adjusts the volume based on the outside noise. And the sound is very good, which combines with clear call quality. 

Various playback and call functions are operated by tapping the buds' outer surface. But these don’t extend to volume controls. Instead, you’ll have to adjust volume via Google Assistant or your device. The battery life is a negative point, at a below par five hours, but you’ll get an extra four charges from the charging case — and three hours of charge from just 15 minutes. 

Cambridge Audio might not be the first brand you think of when shopping for new earbuds, but it’s well-regarded for delivering tiptop sound quality. And in the case of the Cambridge Audio Melomania, at a very reasonable price too.

The audio comes via custom-designed 7mm Graphene-enhanced drivers. The sound is both bold and nuanced — and totally immersive. There’s no active noise cancellation, though. Instead, they’re built to passively block noise, which they do by sealing in the ear. A transparency mode allows you to keep in touch with the outside world.

It's not only about the sound. There’s another good reason to buy the Cambridge Audio Melomania. Namely, their excellent battery life. Nine solid hours plus up to 50 hours with the charging case. That’s the best you’ll find with any earbuds.

In terms of the music, there’s a selection of EQ pre-sets on the Melomania app — perfect for finding a sound that perfectly suits you. The fit of the buds themselves is also customisable. They’re designed based on samples of 300 pairs of ears, with a selection of tips included to ensure the perfect fit for you.