Every month seems to bring new sets of earbuds with longer battery life and more compact designs. Because of this, we can’t list everything we want. But if you’re still hunting, here are some other recommendations.
Pixel Buds A Series for $99: They used to be our go-to for most people, but they’re now being overshadowed by other affordable options that also include things like noise cancellation. If you can find a pair on sale, they’re still worth it, especially if you have an Android phone.
OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro for $150: These comfortable and lightweight earbuds have multipoint pairing, making them great for people who like to use a laptop and cell phone at the same time (7/10, WIRED Recommended). We didn’t like their control layout and thought the noise cancellation was OK. Also, they’re just a pair of AirPods clones, by design.
Soundpeats Air4 for $80: Soundpeats’ Air4 (7/10, WIRED Recommended) may be obvious AirPods Pro knockoffs, but they’re very good knockoffs for the money. You won’t get top-flight performance, let alone Apple exclusives like Find My support or iCloud sharing, but you’ll get great sound and features, including decent noise cancellation, at a huge discount. While they’re not a top choice, they’re a great budget buy, especially on sale.
Montblanc MTB 03 for $395: These earbuds are out of reach for most consumers, but if you have the cash, you’ll be rewarded with a luxury experience worthy of the brand. Montblanc called on some heavy hitters from the audio industry to design and voice these buds. The result is a small, comfortable, and somewhat luxurious-looking pair of wireless earbuds that are truly impressive.
Apple/Beats Powerbeats Pro for $180: Apple’s powerful Powerbeats Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) provide a super-secure fit, sound better than Apple’s standard AirPods or Beats pairs before them, and hold an impressive nine time of life for free. They’re getting long in the tooth and are now ditching the usual extras like transparency mode and ANC, but those can still be considered after a seriously stable fit.
Raycon Everyday Earbuds for $80: These YouTuber-loved earbuds are actually a decent inexpensive pair (7/10, WIRED Review). They’re small and light, and they have an IPX6 rating, making them great for workouts.
Master & Dynamic MW08 Sport for $299: The Sport is a great option with active noise cancellation and an eye-catching design, but the high price keeps them out of reach for most people.
