Buying guide for Best earbuds
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Whether you’re listening to music, watching videos, or actually talking, your phone has become an indispensable part of modern life. Earbuds are one of the most popular ways to facilitate our ever-connected lives.
They’re highly portable for the time you spend in public, yet give you a small oasis of privacy, providing an excellent way to catch your favorite podcast, enjoy your music, or listen to an audiobook while you go about your day. There are a lot of earbuds out there in different colors and designs, and finding the right pair can seem like a daunting task.
Types of earbuds
Earbuds vs. in-ear headphones
Before we jump into the different types of earbuds, it’s worth taking a moment to go into the earbuds versus in-ear headphone debate. While we put earbuds and in-ear headphones into the same category, some people do make a distinction between the two.
Earbuds don’t technically enter the ear canal; they rest outside it on the outer ear. In-ear headphones block sound by entering the outer portion of the ear canal. However, for our purposes, we've categorized both as earbuds.
Corded
Corded earbuds have a cord connecting the earbuds directly to the device producing the sound.
Corded models tend to have better sound quality, but can get tangled and limit mobility.
Wireless
Wireless earbuds usually use Bluetooth to connect to a TV, smartphone, laptop, or other devices. They offer the most head mobility, but sometimes the sound quality can suffer.
Some users have found that wireless earbuds lose volume and become muffled the further you travel from the sound source.
Not all ear tips are created equal. We check with users of all ear sizes to make sure the included tips fit consistently and provide a good seal that makes bass stand out.
We track down and test some of the most popular earbuds as well as obscure models so we don’t miss any top-quality recommendations.
We measure the size of not just the earbuds but also their case so you know for certain how easy it is to carry with you all day.
The type of Bluetooth connection earbuds use is important to sound quality, so we test all of their claims to make sure they work with formats like Apple’s AAC and Qualcomm’s aptX codecs.
We pay close attention to the battery life of the earbuds we test as well as how many times the case can recharge them.
During testing, we investigate advanced features like active noise cancellation to make sure earbuds live up to their high-end billing.
Connectivity is one of the most important aspects of wireless earbuds. We analyze how effective the Bluetooth radio is and how easy they are to connect.
The physical construction of a pair of earbuds is crucial to their comfort and “staying power” over long periods.
For those who still use their phone to make calls, we evaluate just how good the connection and voice quality of earbuds are with multiple devices.
Aside from performance, we also consider the shape, style, and color of earbuds so they look as good as possible in your ears.
Key considerations
Fit
Comfort is a big issue with earbuds. Some people find them uncomfortable to wear for even short periods of time, while others don’t have trouble with them at all. It’s best to look for a pair that comes with variable ear pads or canal tips. Preferably, a pair that has one size larger and one size smaller than the installed pads. That way, if one ear is a different size than the other, you have options to tailor the fit.
Noise-canceling features
Round earbuds that sit outside the ear canal do not offer much, if any, noise-canceling capability. In-ear headphones sometimes offer some noise cancellation. Noise can be reduced by creating a tight fit in the ear canal, blocking unwanted sound. More expensive models use counter frequencies to reduce outside noise. Some models allow you to turn off noise-canceling features, but still listen to music if you want to.
Collars
Some of the more expensive earbuds come with a contoured collar that wraps around the back of the neck. The collar can be used to control all the earbud functions, including volume, track changes, and balance. They resist movement and give you control of sound without using a smartphone, laptop, or another device.
On-cord controls
Corded earbuds may have a few on-cord controls, such as volume and microphone adjustment. A microphone on the cord allows you to talk on the phone hands-free.
Bluetooth
Wireless earbuds most often use Bluetooth to connect to a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or TV. Without cords to tangle, they provide great mobility. If you buy wireless earbuds, check that they are compatible with the device you want to connect them to.
For your safety
Using earbuds at high volumes can cause hearing damage. Music should never be played at more than 85 decibels.
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Cord design
Y-Exit cords are what you might consider the standard cord design; a wire exits each earbud, and the two wires come together to connect to your device.
Asymmetric cords are a bit lower profile. A wire is attached to one earbud, comes around the back of the neck to the other bud, then over the shoulder, to connect to your device. This arrangement works for those who don’t like a cord dangling down the front of the neck.
"Noise reduction usually means a tighter fit in the ear canal to block out noise. Noise cancellation features involve tiny microphones that detect specific frequencies, which they cancel out by emitting out-of-phase frequencies."
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Earbud prices
Inexpensive
For less than $15, you can find corded earbuds with a few extra features, like noise reduction and on-cord microphones. The sound quality and durability tend to suffer in this range.
Mid-range
From $20 to $50 are earbuds made of more expensive materials like wood and metal. Some have special features, including bass enhancement, extended battery times for wireless models, and noise reduction.
Expensive
In the $50 to $100 range, you’ll see more wireless earbuds with more impressive noise reduction, and some true noise cancellation features. There are also earbuds with collars that include microphones for phone calls.
Premium
At $100 to $200 are custom-fit, corded and wireless options with HD sound. Many are water- and sweat-proof. Some of the wireless models are small enough to be nearly undetectable, while others are designed with extra bars for a secure fit. One of our favorites in this category are the Apple AirPods Pro. We invite you to check out our in-depth review to learn more about them.
Did you know?
Nathaniel Baldwin manufactured the first modern headphones in his kitchen. He sold them to the U.S. Navy.
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Why choose earbuds over headphones?
With so many earphone options, you may wonder if earbuds are right for you when some features like noise isolation are easier to achieve in an over-ear model.
Frequent travel
Earbuds are lightweight and compact. You can throw them in a carry-on or backpack without taking up much space. If you use public transportation for work, you can use them to watch streaming videos or listen to an audiobook during your commute.
Secure exercise
Listening to music can make your gym time fly by. Some earbuds have special tips or bands that help them stay secure during rigorous workouts. For those who run outside, there are many earbuds that allow some noise through, so you can still be aware of your surroundings while running.
Academic activities
Many high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools require earbuds for test-taking and quizzes. They’re small enough to fit in a backpack and aren’t as easily damaged as earphones.
FAQ
Q. I want to use earbuds to talk on my phone hands-free. What kind of features do I need?
A. Earbuds with controls on the cord give quick access to volume and answering features. If you spend a lot of time on the phone, you may want to consider a wireless pair of earbuds, so you aren’t tethered to your device while you talk. Bluetooth-capable wireless earbuds have to be controlled with either your device or a remote control.
Q. Do I really need noise reduction if I only use my earbuds at home?
A. Probably not, unless you have a noisy home environment. It also depends on how sensitive you are to outside sounds. For those who need or want to block out their environment, say on a commute to and from work, noise reduction or cancellation features would make a big difference. For the ultimate experience in noise control, look for cancellation features that emit frequencies to block out extraneous noise. This type of control can be disorienting at first, but offers the best noise control.
