Best Wireless Earbuds.Thanks to improved wireless transmission standards, such as aptX and innovations in battery technology, Bluetooth earbuds are quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to listen to music.
So which brands are the best when it comes to big Bluetooth improvements and the future of audio innovation?
Qualcomm, the developers of the aptX codec should be on that list, as should audio companies like Jaybird, Plantronics, Nuforce, RHA and Jabra, all of whom have committed a great number of resources to improving audio quality without sacrificing battery life.
Read on for our top wireless Bluetooth earphone picks.
Best Wireless Earbuds.
When it comes to buying wireless earbuds, the experience is a little different than purchasing wired headphones.
When buying decent wired headphones you don’t need to have a bunch of specifics in your head. You need to remember technical details like impedance and size of drivers, but that’s about it.
Below is the comparison table.
Device Name | Weight (oz) | Wireless range (feet) | Battery life (hour) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Plantronics BackBeat Go 2 | 0.79 | 33 | 4 | |
1.26 | 33 | 8.5 | ||
Samsung Level U Pro | 6.38 | 33 | 9 | |
LG Electronics Tone Pro | 8.81 | 33 | 10.5 | |
Anker SoundBuds NB10 | 0.59 | 33 | 5 | |
SoundPEATS Bluetooth Headphones | 0.49 | 32 | 6 | |
Bose SoundSport Wireless | 0.81 | 30 | 6 | |
SENSO Bluetooth Headphones | 0.30 | 30 | 8 | |
Jaybird x3 Sport | 0.46 | 98 | 8 |
Wireless with good sound, but Apple’s AirPods are too expensive
Acoustic design: N/A | Weight: N/A | Cable length: N/A | Frequency response: N/A | Drivers: N/A | Driver type: Dynamic | Sensitivity: N/A | Impedance: N/A | Battery life: 5 hours | Wireless range: 10m (30ft.) | NFC: N/A
Pros
Cons
Easy to lose
No in-line remote Check price.
While there are some definite benefits to them, we just can’t give the AirPods the top spot on our list. Ultimately, their lack of in-line remote means that there are easier headphones to use while out and about, and Siri isn’t a good enough replacement.
They might not fall out as easily as we once feared, but they don’t feel secure enough for their price or strong enough in the performance category to make up for this transgression. Maybe Apple’s AirPods 2 can fix these issues in the near future. That said, diehard Apple fans will not be disappointed by Apple’s first wireless earbuds.
2. Jaybird x3 Sport – Best Sports Headphones
Jaybird is a company that has perfected the art of wireless earphones. Their earphones have been around for years, and the X series is known for being one of the best. Although Jaybirds can be pricier than other competitors, they justify prices by delivering some great features.
We are looking at their latest creation, the Jaybird X3. The X3s are the third iteration in the series which has enjoyed much success. For starters, you are getting the same incredible sweat-proof design with some decent upgrades.
Since Logitech owns Jaybird now, some tweaks have occurred in the 6mm drivers. Expect better sound in the X3’s. As far as their performance goes, the Jaybirds X3 may be one of the best sounding wireless earphones we’ve tested. However, if you’re used to a fuller sound signature, you may not find it here since these are just wireless earphones.
The earphones also provide adequate noise cancellation. However, this may be a safety concern for runners because they manage to block out a fair amount of noise from the outside world. These wireless earphones come with a nice carrying pouch too.
Overall, the Jaybird X3 are a pair of wonderful wireless earphones. They sound fantastic and are easy to carry. However, there is one downside, we would like them to be more comfortable.
- Great sound for the small size.
- Impressive battery life.
- Earphones come with a compact carrying case.
- Great noise isolation.
- Compact design.
3. SENSO Bluetooth Headphones – Extremely budget Friendly (Under $40)
Next up, we are looking at something unconventional. On our website, people have complained that we always look at high-end stuff and end up missing out on some oriented high-value products.
So, we decided to listen and look at the budget-friendly SENSO Bluetooth Headphones.
The good thing about these earphones is that they don’t cost a lot. You’d be surprised on how well the design fits for the earphones. It’s not outspoken, and the whole design follows a simple black/red color scheme. Senso did a great job at keeping everything as minimal as possible.
The headphones come with a nice carrying case, and you get three different size ear tips. If you are worried about the fit, the earphones do have soft textured flexible ear clips on both sides to make the fit easier to control.
Senso was kind enough to provide a small car charger for the wireless earphones. Although this is unusual, we hope more companies adopt this trend.
As for Senso earphones, the good thing is that they can deliver actual high-fidelity sound quality. Sure, you’re not going to get the same performance you get from high-end earphones, but what you’re getting is more than enough.
Another good thing about this product is that these earphones come with an IPX7 rating. The rating means that you shouldn’t have to worry about wearing them in high-intensity workouts.
- Sound perfect for the price you pay.
- Earphones come packed with a lot of accessories.
- They have an IPX7 rating and can play Hi-Fi audio files.
- Comfortable for long periods of usage.
- The noise cancellation works well.
- The earpieces are a bit too big for our liking.
4. Bose SoundSport Wireless – Expensive yet Premium Quality
We are taking a look at something from Bose, and this company is one of few that is known for revolutionizing sound. Now, this may seem like an exaggeration, but they are recognized in the audio industry for creating some of the finest wireless earphones. Bose is seen as perfecting active noise cancellation.
Bose SoundSport Wireless is the name of the earphones we are looking at today. As the name suggests, these earphones are for people who prefer working out and listening to music. Keep in mind, these earphones are expensive, but the price is understandable because they’re from Bose.
The SoundSport Wireless is available in 2 colors. You can get them in a black or aqua color. There’s no difference in performance or either variation.
A great thing about these earphones is they are comfortable. You shouldn’t have any issues wearing them for extended periods of time. Another good thing about this product is the earphones manage to work as a headset for making calls.
Bose SoundSport Wireless comes with decent battery life too. By decent, we mean you get 6 hours. However, your mileage may vary depending on the loudness of the music.
If you are okay with this small inconvenience, these earphones are amazing.
- Sound pretty good for the price.
- Great design.
- Comfortable, even for extended time periods.
- They can turn off on their own to save battery life.
- Decent battery life.
- The eartips protrude from the ear, and look weird.
5.SoundPEATS Bluetooth Headphones – Extremely Small in Size
For those who are curious, SoundPEATS is a relatively new company in the market that is aimed at providing quality audio at a lower price point.
The company prides itself on being great because they want to deliver a wireless experience to general consumers without them breaking the bank.
Now the thing with SoundPEATS Q29 is they are small. Believe it or not, they are smaller than the AirPods. They come neatly packaged in a small compact box and are enclosed in a carrying case that doubles up as a charging cradle. However, the important thing you should know is that you can lose them pretty easily.
The box contains some booklets and ear tips for adequate size. As far as performance, they sound decent for the size. While there’s no way you can compare them to full sized headphones, what you’re getting is more than enough.
Comfort is another thing that these earphones didn’t mess up. Their lightweight design and comfort makes them easy to use.
- Impressive sound quality for small size.
- Nicely packaged.
- The carrying case doubles up as a charging cradle.
- Decent battery life.
6. Anker SoundBuds NB10 – Who doesn’t knows Anker?
Now, we are going to look at something surprising. For those who don’t know, Anker happens to be one of the best companies when it comes to creating power banks and chargers.
However, when Anker decided to release a pair of wireless earphones, we were genuinely excited because the company is known for producing some products we know about already.
We quickly got our hands on the SoundBuds NB10.
The SoundBuds NB10 sounds surprisingly good when compared to some of the other earbuds in the same price range. While the sound is nothing spectacular, when you look at the cost you’re paying it’s a lot more justified.
Another good thing is that these earphones have a decent fit. They are comfortable and stable. The fit creates a nice seal around your ears that blocks all possible outside noise. Keep in mind the active noise cancellation is still passive so it won’t be creating any artificial effect.
The battery life is 3.5 hours on moderate volumes. While this may seem small, this is something prevalent in earphones. True wireless earphones have shorter battery life than 3.5, typically.
- Good sound.
- Creates excellent passive noise cancellation.
- Good amount of content in the box.
- Priced well.
- Comfortable to wear.
- Battery life may not be enough for everyone.
7. LG Tone Pro – Neckband Design Earphones
It’s always nice to see OEMs working hard to reach out to their customers in different ways. LG presented us with their version of wireless earphones named the LG Tone Pro. Now, this isn’t the first time an OEM has released earphones, so we were excited to see how they work.
The Tone Pro is based on the neckband design where a unit comfortably sits on your neck, and earphones come out of it. While it isn’t the true wireless design and may look a bit ridiculous to some, the neckband hosts all the controls for your earphones.
Apart from just hosting the controls, the neckband is also equipped with a vibrator that goes off everytime there’s a notification.
LG has made these earphones for people who like to be active. These earphones support Bluetooth 4.1 and technologies such as aptX, and that makes sure your listening experience is smooth.
As far as the sound quality is concerned, the LG Tone Pro sounds good. If you have used the LG QuadBeats, the sound is a lot similar to them. However, the real advantage here is that the Tone Pro are wireless and they look cooler than the QuadBeats.
- Decent sound quality.
- Great battery life
- Comfortable to wear.
- The neck band vibrates whenever there’s a notification.
8. Samsung Level U Pro – Extremely Budget friendly Neckband Design
LG wasn’t the only company that wanted to create their breed of wireless earphones. Soon after they did, Samsung followed suit and released their pair of wireless earphones called the Samsung Level U Pro.
There are a lot of good things about this pair of wireless earphones, and downsides too. For starters, they are following the neck band style of design that we don’t approve of because it looks a little out of place.
However, some good things make the Samsung Level U Pro a pretty decent pair of wireless earphones. For starters, the design is a lot more futuristic on the neckband and allows it to blend in easily.
The whole neck band is very lightweight and follows a sweat proof design which makes it so that if you’re working out, it won’t’ have any issues. The neck band manages to give you a decent amount of vibration whenever there’s a notification coming too.
As for performance, the Samsung Level U Pro is one of the better sounding wireless earphones in the market. The device may not be top of the line sounding but you’re getting a decent deal with the money you’re spending. Plus, the earphones happen to be comfortable, so you won’t have any issues if you wear them for a long period.
- Decent sound quality.
- The neck band is lightweight, comfortable, and has a sweat proof design.
- The earbuds themselves are pretty comfortable with a decent enough deal.
- The neck band manages to vibrate whenever there’s a notification.
9. Plantronics Back Beat Go 2 – Sweet looking Earphones which sound Average
Finally, the last product we are looking at is the Plantronics BackBeat Go 2. Plantronics is one of the best companies when it comes to audio products. Also, the Plantronics Back Beat Go 2 is one of best wireless earphones you can get.
Plantronics has decided to follow a simple suit instead of being fancy with the BackBeat Go 2. Your earphones look simple, but they perform well.
The sound from the earphones is fantastic, and the sound signature is balanced. While people are more inclined towards performance with more bass, the fact the sound is balanced is a bonus.
Another great thing is that considering how these earphones are for people who work out a lot, the earphones remain active with a sweat-proof design and are comfortable to wear for long periods because of their lightweight design.
- Carrying case/charging case sold separately.
- Battery life is average at best.
10. Jabra Elite 65t
One of the best true wireless headphones you can buy
Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: N/A | Cable length: N/A | Frequency response: N/A | Drivers: N/A | Driver type: Dynamic | Sensitivity: N/A | Impedance: N/A | Battery life: 25 hours (with case) | Wireless range: 8m (24ft.) | NFC: N/A
Pros
Cons
If you want a pair of high quality truly wireless earbuds that aren’t the Apple AirPods, then the Jabra Elite 65t should be at the top of your list.
Wireless Earphones – Buyer’s Guide
Sure, the sound quality isn’t as good as their wired counterparts, but to say wireless earbuds aren’t any good is severely wrong.
Wireless earbuds and headphones used to suffer from a lot of problems in the past, but they have become comparatively better in the modern-day and age.
We have several latest technologies like Apt-X, as well as the energy-efficient Bluetooth standards.
To be fair, wireless audio equipment is a lot closer to their wired counterpart than it used to be in the old days. With that out of the way, we are going to take a look at some of the advantages of buying wireless earbuds.