I’ve wanted to make an earbud ranking for a long time. It focuses on the most important thing: SOUND. That’s why we buy earbuds and listen to our favorite music. Sound quality is 50% of the score in a regular ranking. But in this one, it’s 100%.
I had 3 main questions:
- Which model sounds best? Over-ear headphones or in-ear earbuds?
- Open-ear earbuds usually sound worse than in-ear ones. But what in-ear model do the best open-ear earbuds sound like?
- What about the best OWS clip-on earbuds? What in-ear earbuds do they sound like?
All the answers are below, my friends.
Some might say comparing different categories isn’t fair. But I have a genuine, childlike curiosity. I don’t care about made-up limits. I compare whatever I want, with whatever I want. Plus, next year, I want to compare wired and wireless earbuds. I’ll bring them all into one system on MyChooz. This will cover ALL earbud models. Wired earbuds with an average source, compared to wireless ones. Let me know in the comments if you’d be interested in such a comparison. Also, if you’d like to see this rating in every review. Then you’ll know what sound quality you’re getting across ALL models.
EMMA — Experts + Methodology + MyChoozers + Algorithm.
Every model goes through identical tests; the score is calculated automatically with fixed weights — a spot in the rating cannot be bought.
Best Wireless Headphones for Sound Quality — Our Ranking
How We Test Sound Quality
At MyChooz, every pair of wireless headphones goes through our EMMA evaluation — blind listening tests across multiple genres, frequency response analysis, and real-world usage over 2+ weeks. We assess soundstage, imaging, instrument separation, bass extension, treble clarity, and overall musicality. No AI-generated reviews — every word comes from hands-on experience with 50+ models.
What to Look For in Wireless Headphones for Sound Quality
Codec support: LDAC and aptX Adaptive deliver hi-res audio over Bluetooth. AAC is the minimum for Apple devices. Without a high-quality codec, even premium drivers can’t reach their potential. Driver type: Dynamic drivers offer punchy bass, while planar magnetic drivers excel in speed and detail retrieval. Open-back vs closed-back: Open designs provide wider soundstage but leak sound. Closed-back isolates better for commuting. Frequency response: Look for a balanced, neutral signature — or pick headphones with customizable EQ if you prefer bass-heavy or bright tuning. Lossless audio: True lossless over Bluetooth isn’t here yet, but LDAC at 990kbps gets remarkably close.
Do Wireless Headphones Compromise Sound Quality?
Short answer: not anymore. In 2026, flagship wireless headphones deliver sound quality that rivals mid-range wired setups. The gap has closed dramatically thanks to better Bluetooth codecs (LDAC, aptX Adaptive), improved DAC/amp circuits inside the headphones, and advanced driver technology including planar magnetic designs. The trade-off is minimal — you lose some absolute detail retrieval compared to a dedicated wired chain, but gain convenience, ANC, and multipoint connectivity.
1. Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro 8.99Best Wireless Earbuds for Phones – Samsung, Android, and iPhone
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro is a super successful upgrade from the 3 Pro. The main reasons to buy them are reference-quality sound, reference-quality features, and a super comfy build quality. That’s 3 out of 3. And all this works great, not just on flagship Samsung devices. It works on all Android and Apple devices too. You get reference-quality transparency mode and excellent active noise cancellation. The microphone is great. They’re like AirPods, but with upgraded sound and for all ecosystems.
On the downside, there are artificial ecosystem limitations for non-Samsung devices. You only get basic codecs, with a 15% drop in quality. There’s no low latency mode. No translator or voice assistant. No Spatial Audio, Auracast, or seamless device switching. There are also minor sound flaws in the highs. Everything else is just top-notch.
- Top-tier sound, reference-grade with the proprietary SSC UHD codec.
- Includes a translator, voice assistant, and spatial audio.
- Reference-grade transparency, activation by pronouncing your name.
- The SSC UHD codec, translator, voice assistant, and spatial audio only work on Samsung flagship devices.
- No companion app for Apple.
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 9.13 A massive soundstage, punchy bass, and forward vocals that stay distinct from other instruments, paired with gorgeous detail retrieval. The main downside of the sound is probably the highs, as I found them slightly lacking in both quality and quantity. The main plus of the sound is everything else, and the soundstage is a literal reference-quality 10 out of 10.Learn more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 9.50 In quiet environments: 10 In noisy environments: 9 Gorgeous quality, turned out better than the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Fell just short of the reference set by Huawei.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 9.25 Active noise cancellation is excellent — 9 out of 10, sitting just behind the AirPods Pro 3 reference. It handles street noise, laptop hum, and PC fans well. Transparency is reference-grade with a slight sense of digital processing. Battery life in our tests on basic codecs is 8-10 hours. Controls are touch-based, with voice control for the player and calls. The companion app is user-friendly and available exclusively for Android devices. Some features are restricted to Samsung devices only.Learn more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.25 The earbuds are very comfortable, and the charging case is compact. After a couple of hours of use, there is only minor fatigue. The build is solid and reliable, though the finish is a fingerprint magnet. Available in 3 colors: gray, white, and rose gold. Personally, I liked the design, but part of our team did not. How about you?Learn more.
2. Noble Audio Fokus REX5 8.43Best Wireless Earbuds for Sound Today – 10 out of 10
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
The Noble Audio Fokus REX5 are the best wireless TWS earbuds. They’re #1 for sound quality on MyChooz. The main reason to buy them is their reference-quality sound. This includes detail retrieval, natural timbre, and soundstage. They even surpassed the Technics EAH-AZ100 in sound. And those 5 drivers aren’t just for show. You will need to tweak the sound with the EQ, though. Sound tuning and ear tip selection will be covered in the full review. On the downside, ANC, transparency, and the microphone are only on par with models under $100.
Overall, this model is for anyone looking for the BEST in-ear TWS earbuds. And who wants uncompromisingly the best sound.
- Best sound, reference-quality detail among TWS earbuds.
- Metal build for the charging case and earbuds.
- Two EQs, you can combine settings. Plus, Audiodo personal sound tuning.
- The ear tips provide the fit. You’ll need to adjust the earbuds if the ear tips don’t fit right.
- The earbuds cool down fast in cold weather.
- Average features.
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 9.29 The sound emphasizes mids and especially highs. Out of the box, there’s not enough bass. But it’s easy to add bass or adjust the balance. The app has two EQs: a 10-band one and a variable 3-point one. The soundstage is spacious, with good width and depth. Vocals and instruments sound natural, just like in real life. And the detail retrieval picks up tiny nuances. These are easily missed with other earbuds.Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 6.75 In quiet environments: 7.5 In noisy environments: 6Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 7.40 The active noise cancellation suppresses light background noise. Transparency mode is just enough for comfortable conversations. The earbuds last 4.5-7.5 hours, depending on the codec. Controls are touch-based with three actions: pause/play, track skipping, and volume. The app is straightforward. It has two EQ presets and a personal sound customization feature.Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 7.83 It’s important to pick the right ear tips for these earbuds. That’s because the ear tips provide the main secure fit in your ears. Overall, the earbuds are comfortable. I didn’t feel any discomfort after two hours of use. The build quality is metal, and there are no complaints about the assembly or materials. Just be aware that the earbuds cool down quickly in winter. You wouldn’t want to catch a cold in your ears. The design is interesting, bold, and stands out. I really liked it.3. Technics EAH-AZ100 8.88Best sound under $350-400.
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
The Technics EAH-AZ100 are the best-sounding wireless earbuds among all TWS models under $350. That’s the main reason to buy them. They’re second in sound quality among all TWS models. But they’re number one overall when you combine everything: sound, features, and build quality. This model has no critical drawbacks.
- Reference-quality sound among true wireless earbuds
- Comfortable and pleasing build quality
- Average active noise cancellation
- Minor drawbacks include slightly distant vocals, minor app and build quality issues, and an average microphone.
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 9.31 Reference-quality sound. You get naturalness, soundstage, detail retrieval, and highs as the main pros. The trade-off is slightly recessed mids and vocals. You might also notice a slight lack of bass quantity and quality.Learn more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 8.00 Got better than the AZ80. In quiet conditions: 8 In noisy environments: 8Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.08 Active noise cancellation is enough to suppress road noise, and it is above average. Transparency is great, making conversations with a person comfortable. Battery life is stellar at 10 hours and 28 hours with the charging case, dropping to 7 and 18 hours respectively when using LDAC + ANC under the same conditions. Controls are convenient and touch-based, but take some getting used to. The app is great, and I recommend selecting the LDAC codec and tuning the EQ inside it.Learn more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 9.00 Comfortable, durable, and pleasant-looking. They fit well, though you’ll notice a slight sensation of earbuds in your ears. The charging case is compact, and the build feels solid. IPx4 dust and water resistance applies only to the earbuds. The earbuds look nice, even if they’re nothing special.Learn more.
4. Noble Audio FoKus Apollo 9.12Best over-ear headphones for sound quality.
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
The Noble Audio FoKus Apollo are the best-sounding over-ear headphones. They’re especially great for detail retrieval. The main reason to buy them is their reference-quality sound. The earcups don’t press on your ears. Plus, LDAC latency is around 30 ms. They come with an external microphone that has a switch. This lets you quickly mute all microphones on the headphones. There are no major downsides. Just consider the price and the slightly harsh highs in the sound. You can smooth those out with the EQ.
The microphone isn’t amazing. You can talk, but not in noisy places. There’s also this detachable microphone. Let’s hear how it sounds.
- Reference-level sound
- Top-tier noise cancellation
- Comfortable fit, sturdy and reliable build
- Barely comfortable transparency mode
- Fabric finish collects dust and fine debris
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 9.66 The headphones offer the best sound in terms of emotional impact and analytical depth. Bass is deep and not overloaded, mids are open with minimal transparency drop. Reference-quality soundstage, natural timbre, and detail retrieval. Imaging does not shift when instruments appear or fade out. Sound lacks noticeable artificial sheen and grainy treble, and detail is sufficient to catch subtle background artifacts on recordings. Cons – highs lack softness, and excessive percussion in a track gets tiring.Learn more.
Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.64 Active noise cancellation suppresses up to about 50% of noise, while transparency mode is barely suitable for conversation. Button controls feature basic player and call management. The companion app is user-friendly, featuring a 10-band EQ and personal sound calibration.Learn more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.50 The earcups don’t press on your ears, and you’ll start to feel a little tired after 3-4 hours of use. The build quality is flawless, using premium materials. I really liked how these headphones look.Learn more.
5. Realme Buds Air 7 Pro 8.47Best earbuds for sound quality under $300.
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
The Realme Buds Air 7 Pro are the best affordable wireless earbuds for sound. The main reason to buy them is the BEST sound among TWS earbuds under $300. They also have live, synchronized translation that works with any phone brand. Downsides include a bulky earbud build. This model might not fit everyone. We’ve seen many reliability complaints about these earbuds on our social media. Still, they’re the number one most popular model among our social media users.
- Best sound in wireless earbuds under $300
- Live and simultaneous translation
- Reference-level battery life
- Some user complaints regarding reliability
- Average ANC and transparency mode
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 9.00 Support for LHDC 5.0 puts these earbuds on par with models costing up to $300. You get an optimal frequency balance alongside a spacious soundstage with great width and depth. The sound is moderately detailed and natural. Note that the first batches of the Chinese version suffer from an excess of highs, while the global version avoids this issue.Learn more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 8.00 In quiet environments: 9 In noisy environments: 7Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 7.75 Noise cancellation and transparency mode are just okay. In our tests, battery life hit up to 10 hours, factoring in the codec. Basic playback and calls are handled by the touch controls. The app is straightforward, offering an EQ, personalized sound tuning, and a translator.Learn more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.20 The headphones fit securely, and I could wear them for 2-3 hours without any discomfort. Build quality and materials are flawless, and I really liked the design. They come in four colors.Learn more.
6. Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless 9.09Best over-ear headphones for sound under $600.
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless are the best big wireless headphones. There are three main reasons to buy them. They have the best sound under $300. They also offer top-tier noise cancellation and a strong, reliable build. With aptX HD and aptX Adaptive codecs, you only get a 10-15% boost in sound. That’s because the sound system already delivers maximum performance. A drawback is the earcup clamping force. It’s above average, so you’ll need a break after 1-2 hours of use.
- Best sound under $300
- Top-tier active noise cancellation and reference-quality transparency
- Detailed microphone
- Solid and reliable build
- Ear cups press too hard
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 9.55 These over-ear headphones offer the best sound under $300, with pleasant bass, intimate mids, and moderately bright highs. The soundstage is spacious and full-bodied, free of artificiality or noticeable grain, and detailed enough to pick up micro-details. The only minor drawbacks are a slight bass excess, a deficit in the highs, and a touch less transparency than I’d like.Learn more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 9.25 In quiet conditions: 9.5 In noisy conditions: 9 The headphones pack four microphones, two on each earcup, and your voice comes through detailed in recordings. While quality dips in noisy environments, it remains intelligible.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.83 The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless offers top-tier active noise cancellation that doesn’t mess with sound quality. Its transparency mode is nearly reference-level, and you get up to 60 hours of battery life, enough for a full week of listening. Controls are a mix, mostly gestures on the right earcup. They take a couple of days to get used to, but navigation becomes convenient. The app is handy for enabling the aptX codec on Android, tweaking the EQ, and adjusting ambient sound settings.Learn more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.33 The build is solid and reliable, the finish is slightly prone to fingerprints and smudges. The clamping force is above average, which is fine for 1–2 hours of use, after which you’ll want to take a break. The headphones look great and are available in 5 colors.Read more.
7. OnePlus Buds 4 8.47Best wireless earbuds with bassy sound – new for 2025.
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
The OnePlus Buds 4 are the best wireless earbuds with bassy sound in 2026. The main reason to buy them is their top-tier bass sound right out of the box. You won’t need to tweak it with an EQ. They’re slightly behind the Realme Buds Air 7 Pro in sound. But they make up for it with their features and build quality. This model has no critical drawbacks. You’ll want LHDC 5.0 codec support and a Snapdragon mobile platform source. The sound is noticeably worse on MediaTek.
- You get top-tier bass without touching EQ settings.
- Comfortable fit
- The sound quality improves with the golden hearing profile.
- Minor drawback: the translator only works on OnePlus phones.
- Desirable support for the LHDC 5.0 codec
- On devices with MediaTek chips, the sound is worse than on Snapdragon.
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 8.58 The sound emphasizes pleasant bass and treble, offering a naturally balanced, top-tier experience without artificiality or grain. You’ll find enough detail to pick out instrument textures, even in complex, dynamic tracks. The soundstage is spacious with good separation between vocals and instruments. However, the abundant bass can sometimes fill the stage too much, reducing mid-range transparency and slightly diminishing detail and texture.Learn more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 8.50 In quiet conditions: 9 In noisy conditions: 8 No changes compared to the OnePlus Buds 3, and identical to the Oppo Enco Free 4. I’ve added a third, wind-focused test as requested in the comments.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.33 Active noise cancellation cuts background noise effectively, and transparency mode is usable for conversations. Battery life in our tests reached up to 11 hours and up to 56 hours with the charging case, depending on the codec. Touch controls support 5 actions per earphone, including swipes. The app is straightforward without unnecessary bloatware, and includes a translator for 22 languages on OnePlus phones.Learn more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.40 You can wear these headphones for 2-3 hours straight without ear fatigue, thanks to the included ear tips. They feel solid and reliable, with a nice matte finish. But honestly, the design is uninspired, and that initial wow factor disappears after a couple of weeks.Learn more.
8. Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 8.41Big over-ear Bluetooth headphones – stylish with bright tuning.
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 are big over-ear Bluetooth headphones. They have deep bass and bright tuning. The main reason to buy them is their top-tier sound. It’s detailed and natural. They also feature premium materials and a strong, reliable build. This model has no critical drawbacks.
- Top-tier sound – detailed and natural
- Premium build quality
- Solid and reliable build quality
- Transparency mode and microphone noise reduction are above average.
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 8.67 High frequencies carry a cool tint. Bass is precise and detailed, and you can distinguish instruments by timbre. High-frequency instruments are clear, but they’re sharp and quickly become fatiguing—that’s the biggest drawback to the sound. The soundstage also felt a bit cramped. I liked the mids since the sound is open, putting the performer right in front of you with minimal lack of transparency. There’s no noticeable artificiality or grain.Learn more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 7.75 In quiet environments: 8.5 In noisy environments: 7Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 7.98 Noise cancellation cuts out about 40% of the sound. Transparency mode lets you talk, even though ambient noise sounds a bit muffled. You get physical buttons for basic media playback and call handling. The companion app only gives you a 5-band EQ and integration with music streaming services as far as truly useful features go.Learn more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.40 The headphones feature medium ear cup clamping force, and you’ll want to take a break around the 2nd to 3rd hour of use. Premium-quality materials — leather and metal, flawless build. The headphones look great, available in 2 colors.Read more.
9. Nothing Ear ( 3 ) 2025 8.44Stylish wireless earbuds for your phone – with a microphone in the charging case.
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
The Nothing Ear ( 3 ) 2025 are stylish wireless earbuds. They have a top-tier build and features. The main reason to buy them is their excellent sound. But it’s important to update the firmware. Out of the box, they have balanced frequencies. They also include a directional microphone in the charging case for calls in noisy places. Downsides are average noise cancellation and transparency.
- Top-tier sound
- Detailed microphone with excellent voice isolation
- Reference-grade companion app
- Average noise cancellation and transparency
- Bright sound prior to firmware update
- Inflated price on certain marketplaces
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 8.38 The sound really shines in the mids and its naturalness, with vocals sounding intimate and transparent. While the sound might be a touch unnatural, it avoids sounding artificial. The bass is also good and detailed. On the flip side, the highs can be a bit too bright, which can make the sound fatiguing, especially with tracks heavy on percussion. Updating the firmware is a good idea, as it makes the sound balance more pleasant.Learn more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 8.80 In quiet conditions: 8.6 In noisy conditions: 9 In quiet settings, the balance shifts slightly and noise cancellation filters out background sounds while keeping your voice clear. In noisy environments, you get top-tier voice isolation and total noise blocking, though your voice can sound a bit muffled at times, even if speech remains easy to make out.Learn more.
Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.28 Noise cancellation and transparency mode offer minimal usability, making them the weakest aspect of the wireless earbuds. Playback time in our tests reaches up to 9.5 hours, and up to 38 hours with the charging case when using the codec. You get comfortable stem-pinch controls and a reference-quality app for usability and features.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.83 The earbuds are comfortable, though fatigue sets in after 2 hours. The build quality is sturdy and reliable, with flawless assembly. The exterior look is great and stands out from the competition.Learn more.
10. HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 8.52The best wireless earbuds of 2026 – for sound quality and features.
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
The Huawei Freebuds Pro 4 are the best wireless earbuds. They scored highest across 32 testing parameters on MyChooz. This is among all wireless in-ear models under $200. The main reason to buy them is their balance of sound, features, and build quality. Plus, they have a reference-quality microphone. A drawback is that some features only work on Huawei devices with HarmonyOS. This includes the L2HC codec, Spatial Audio, translator, voice assistant, and more.
- Top-tier sound
- Reference-quality microphone
- Top-tier controls
- Proprietary L2HC codec, translator, assistant, and other features only work on devices running HarmonyOS
- Not critical: the soundstage lacks width in its presentation, and highs sound grainy in places
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 8.46 The wireless earbuds provide great mids and clear vocals. The tone of voices and instruments is fairly natural, with no distortion or artificial sheen. Detail retrieval is good enough to enjoy live instruments. The downsides include a slight lack of bass and a somewhat narrow soundstage.Learn more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 9.75 In quiet conditions: 9.5 In noisy conditions: 10Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.52 This is a strong suit of the model and the manufacturer in general. Noise cancellation and transparency are sufficient for work. Battery life in our tests reached up to 6.5 hours factoring in the codec. Convenient touch controls, swipes, and head gestures. And the app is not overloaded with unnecessary features. The only catch is that on Android, the app must be installed manually after downloading it from the Huawei website.Learn more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.67 The wireless earbuds offer a comfortable fit without noticeable discomfort. No complaints about build quality or materials. However, the housing of the wireless earbuds is a fingerprint magnet, and scratches on the charging case become visible after a week of use. They look good, though the gold plating and branding look a bit excessive. Available in 3 colors.Learn more.
11. Apple Airpods Pro 3 8.64Best wireless earbuds for iPhone and Apple devices.
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are the best TWS earbuds for Apple devices. The main reason to buy them is their near-flagship sound. They also have a reference-quality microphone, active noise cancellation, transparency, and great controls. This model has no critical drawbacks. However, the fit might not work for everyone. Also, some features only work with Apple devices.
- The sound quality is near-flagship, and it’s a mile better than the 2 Pro.
- Microphone — reference-quality
- Noise cancellation and transparency mode are reference-quality.
- Controls — reference-quality
- Battery life is up by 2 hours, hitting 8 hours with ANC on.
- Build quality is comfortable and beautiful
- While the fit is more comfortable than before, it won’t work for everyone.
- The app and other features are limited to Apple devices only.
- Minor drawback: the charging case scratches very easily.
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 8.50 With EQ tuning, you can push them to a 9. You get excellent sound quality on par with top-tier models from Sony, Sennheiser, Bose, and others. A strong point is the significantly enhanced detail retrieval, soundstage, and natural timbre. The presentation closely resembles the AirPods Pro 2, but it’s as if the window you’re looking through has been enlarged and thoroughly cleaned. Ultimately, this is sound you won’t have to be ashamed of. It represents a huge jump of +1.5 points compared to the Pro 2, though it still falls short of the u003ca href=u0022https://mychooz.com/en/reviews/review-realme-buds-air-7-pro-106443u0022 data-type=u0022postu0022 data-id=u0022105907u0022u003eRealme Buds Air 7 Prou003c/au003e, u003ca href=u0022https://mychooz.com/en/reviews/huawei-freebuds-pro-4-vs-3-review-109717u0022 data-type=u0022postu0022 data-id=u0022101014u0022u003eHuawei Freebuds Pro 4u003c/au003e, or the u003ca href=u0022https://mychooz.com/en/reviews/technics-eah-az100-2025-109487u0022 data-type=u0022postu0022 data-id=u0022108610u0022u003eTechnics EAH-AZ100u003c/au003e reference, while coming close.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 9.00 In quiet conditions: 10 In noisy conditions: 8 The microphone quality is simply superb, setting a new benchmark. Initially, I thought I’d accidentally recorded audio through my iPhone. The “voice isolation” feature is present, which improves voice quality in noisy environments by cutting out background noise.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 9.00 The active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and controls are all reference-level. You get up to 8 hours of playback without noise cancellation and spatial audio, and up to 24 hours with the charging case. Since there’s no dedicated app, all features are built into the OS, meaning Android users will need third-party apps to configure these earbuds.Learn more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.43 The earbuds offer an ideal fit with zero fatigue even after 5 hours of use. That said, the design won’t suit everyone, so it’s a good idea to try them on before buying. The build is flawless just like in previous generations, except that the plastic scratches immediately. You’ll want to use a case cover right away. The design is minimalist with nothing extra.Read more.
12. Sony WH-1000XM6 8.11Good big Bluetooth headphones – a new model from Sony.
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 are good big Bluetooth headphones. They’re the newest model in the series. The main reason to buy them is their reference-quality noise cancellation and transparency. They also offer low-frequency sound and a handy “find my EQ” feature. This feature lets you tune the sound in just a couple of clicks. With the LDAC codec, you get up to a 10-12% boost in overall sound quality. Downsides include earcups that press on your ears. Discomfort starts from the first minutes of use. The hinges aren’t durable and need careful handling.
- Reference-level noise cancellation and transparency
- Detailed microphone
- Low-frequency sound signature without bass excess
- Ear cups press on ears
- Hinges require careful handling
- Low detail retrieval
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 8.48 Down in the low end, the tuning reminds me of the WH-1000XM4. Vocals sit close, and you can tell the timbres of low-frequency and high-frequency instruments apart. The soundstage expands mostly in width, keeping things free of noticeable artificiality or distortion. It’s a comfortable listen without any major flaws. You just get a slight bass boost, a bit of murkiness in the mids, and a lack of brightness, though a couple of clicks in the app’s EQ can sort that out.Learn more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 7.40 In quiet conditions: 7.8 In noisy conditions: 7Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.68 The headphones feature reference-level noise cancellation and transparency for over-ear models. Battery life within the series remains unchanged at 30 to 40 hours with noise cancellation enabled. The controls for managing the player and calls rely mostly on touch inputs. The companion app is useful, though its multi-level menu structure is clumsy, and you’ll find it easier to tune the sound using the u0022find your EQu0022 feature across 4 to 5 tonal variants. The signal stays stable up to 10 m using the LDAC codec at quality bitrate.Learn more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 6.33 The clamping force of the headphones is stronger than the previous generation, making them uncomfortable. I can only wear the headphones for an hour before I need to take a break. The build and materials are solid, and I have no complaints. The hinges are the weak part of the headphones and break under heavy load. The design is neat and pleasant. There are 3 colors to choose from.Read more.
13. Sony WH-1000XM5 8.14Best wireless over-ear headphones with noise cancellation 2026.
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the best wireless over-ear headphones with noise cancellation among over-ear models. The main reason to buy them is their reference-quality noise cancellation and transparency. They also have a signature low-frequency sound, a detailed microphone, and a comfortable fit. With the LDAC codec, you get up to a 15% boost in sound quality. A drawback is that the hinges can’t handle intense use and tend to break.
- Noise cancellation and transparency are of reference quality.
- Signature low-frequency sound
- Detailed microphone and comfortable fit
- Best automatic equalizer tuning
- Fragile hinges
- Fingerprint-prone finish
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 8.13 These headphones give you that enveloping low-end profile you typically find in this lineup. The soundstage, natural timbre, and detail retrieval stand out as the major strengths. You won’t hear any artificial timbre or grainy treble, and the instrument separation and spatial placement of effects are solid. On the downside, the lows are a bit too much in quantity, giving the tuning a bass-heavy character where bass-heavy tracks sound somewhat boomy, and the vocals lack transparency.Learn more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 7.00 In quiet conditions: 8 In noisy conditions: 6 The headphones pack 8 microphones, though only 4 are used for calls. In quiet conditions, recordings sound detailed, but the opening words are muffled and faint clicks sneak through. Background noise takes a noticeable toll on recording quality, though your words still come across clearly.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.53 Active noise cancellation and transparency are reference-grade. Battery life hit 33 hours in our testing, beating the rated 30 hours. The hybrid controls rely mostly on touch gestures on the ear cup. There’s a companion app with clunky navigation and a handy EQ.Learn more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 7.60 The headphones are comfortable, applying minimal pressure, though you’ll still want a break after about 2 hours. I have no complaints about the build quality and materials, but the finish is a fingerprint magnet that needs daily wiping. The hinges are a weak point in the design, frequently breaking right at the ear cup rotation point. You get 5 colors to choose from, and the headphones look good.Read more.
14. Creative Aurvana Ace Mimi 7.94Awesome sound — Personal Tuning and LDAC Support.
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
The Creative Aurvana Ace Mimi offers awesome personalized sound without paying extra for the brand. The main reason to buy them is their top-tier sound with the LDAC codec. They’re a great fit for Samsung, Google Pixel, or any Android phone without LHDC codecs. Plus, with Mimi’s sound personalization, you can boost the overall sound quality even more. This model has no critical drawbacks. It has average features and build quality.
- Top-tier sound with personalized tuning
- Top-tier microphone in quiet environments
- Sterile, analytical sound
- No microphone noise cancellation
- Minor cons: Scratches on the charging case are visible after a week
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 8.54 The sound’s main highlight is clean, fast, and detailed audio with transparent mids and highs, while Mimi personalization improves intelligibility. The downsides include light bass, a lack of sub-bass depth, a wide soundstage with weak depth imaging, and an analytical, slightly sterile presentation. You can squeeze out up to 0.5 points more by tweaking the EQ and sound personalization.Learn more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 6.50 In quiet conditions: 8 In noisy conditions: 5 In quiet conditions, you get clear, natural-sounding audio. In noisy places, the noise cancellation handles background sounds with mixed results: while it muffles them, some noise still gets through, and the timbre flattens out a bit.Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 7.83 The headphones are light, causing no discomfort after 3-4 hours of use. Build quality and materials are solid, though you might want to pick up a case for the charging case since scratches pop up after a week of use. I liked the look with the copper accents.Learn more.
15. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 8.10Best noise-cancelling earbuds 2025 — comfortable, great low-frequency sound.
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are the best noise-cancelling earbuds of 2025. This is among in-ear TWS models, and they’re a reference on mychooz.com. The main reason to buy them is their reference-quality noise cancellation. They also have pleasant bassy sound, a comfortable fit for sports, and the best Spatial Audio mode. With the aptX Adaptive codec, you get up to a 15% boost in sound quality. Downsides include poor microphone noise cancellation and an inconvenient app.
- Reference-quality noise cancellation for true wireless earbuds
- Top-tier low-end sound
- Best spatial audio implementation
- Comfortable fit for running and workouts.
- Poor microphone noise cancellation
- Clunky companion app
- IPx4 dust and water resistance. No case protection.
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 8.26 The low-frequency response has a slight excess of bass and mids. If you want, you can tweak the sound using the proprietary EQ to get a comfortable profile for focused listening. Vocals and instruments come through clearly, without any noticeable artificiality or grain. The only downside is a somewhat congested soundstage, just a bit wider than your head. Otherwise, you get good detail in width and depth, with solid separation.Learn more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 6.50 In quiet conditions: 9 In noisy conditions: 4 Each earbud packs 4 microphones and noise cancellation. In a quiet room, recordings come through detailed and clear, though with a slight echo. Put them to work in a noisy environment with a vacuum cleaner, and your voice becomes indistinguishable – the noise cancellation just doesn’t cut it. We’ll run a follow-up test near a road later.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 7.92 The earbuds feature reference-grade active noise cancellation, and the transparency mode matches the benchmark. Battery life is claimed at 6 hours, pushing to 24 hours with the charging case. The controls are convenient for basic playback management. The app is clunky, duplicating functions 2 to 3 times. Connection stability is solid, with aptX Adaptive experiencing rare stutters at a distance of 8-9 meters.Learn more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.00 The earbuds fit securely and won’t fall out during runs or workouts. After 2 to 3 hours of listening, minor fatigue sets in. The materials and build quality are flawless, though the coating picks up scuffs and gets dirty fast. They look fine, but they don’t spark much excitement.Learn more.
16. Huawei Freebuds 6 8.06Best Open-Fit Earbuds 2026 – For Sound.
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
The Huawei FreeBuds 6 are the best sports open-fit earbuds. The main reason to buy them is their top sound among open-fit earbuds. They also have a reference-quality microphone among TWS models. Plus, they feature a unique design with a comfortable fit. The earbuds are barely noticeable in your ears from the first minute of use. Only after 2 hours does minor fatigue appear. With the LDAC codec, you get up to a 20% boost in sound. A drawback is that some features are only available on Huawei phones with HarmonyOS. This includes the proprietary L2HC codec, translator, voice assistant, and more.
- The best sound among open-fit earbuds.
- Reference-quality microphone.
- Good noise cancellation for open-fit earbuds.
- Overly bright sound on certain tracks.
- Minor downsides: No transparency mode, and the L2HC 4.0 codec and many proprietary features are limited to HarmonyOS 4.3+ on Huawei devices.
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 7.98 Top-tier level like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 — it’s just different here: bright, narrow, precise. Great out-of-the-box tuning. With the LDAC codec, we get up to a 20% boost in sound quality. The main audio strengths are great naturalness and detail retrieval, alongside pleasant bass. Instruments and vocals sound clean, with practically no artificial sheen or coloration. The main audio flaw is a lack of soundstage scale; the presentation is quite congested and narrow, leaving you wanting more breathing room. In tracks packed with percussion or highs, the sound gets sharp and often fatiguing. EQ tweaking is required.Learn more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 9.75 In quiet conditions: 10 In noisy conditions: 9.5 A reference-quality microphone among TWS models.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.11 Noise cancellation is at a good level for open-fit earbuds. There is no transparency mode, but even without it, you can easily chat with someone without taking the wireless earbuds off. Battery life is great, up to 6h of playback and up to 36h with the charging case. Controls are convenient and touch-based, but take some getting used to. The app is great; I recommend choosing the LDAC codec in it and tuning the EQ.Learn more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.17 The earbuds feel almost weightless from the first minute of use. Minor fatigue only sets in after 2 hours. Build durability is great, as the model still looks brand-new after a year. The design is quirky, but it looks better in real life than in photos.Learn more.
17. Apple AirPods 4 ANC 8.05Best Open-Fit Earbuds for iPhone
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Apple AirPods 4 ANC are the best open-fit earbuds for iPhone and Apple devices. You get good sound, Spatial Audio, and adaptive EQ. The earbuds have good battery life, a decent microphone, and active noise cancellation.
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 7.56 Among open-ear earbuds, this is first-class sound. Soft, full-bodied, enveloping, and comfortable, allowing you to relax and get lost in your favorite music. I really liked the sound. If we take the current reference in the form of Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 or the previous Huawei Freebuds 6, the sound in these models slightly edges it out in points. The main sound pro is volume and overall harmony; the sound is soft and pleasant, non-fatiguing, and engaging. The main sound con is that the natural timbre could be better, and the vocals could be closer. However, this is not critical.Learn more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 9.00 In quiet environments: 10 In noisy environments: 8Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.00 Noise cancellation is at a reference level for open-ear earbuds, almost like in-ear earbuds. AN INCREDIBLE level. Transparency mode is ideal, reference-level, as if you aren’t wearing earbuds at all. Battery life is weak, 5.5 hours without ANC and 4 hours 20 minutes with ANC — that’s not much. Controls are convenient, using stem pinching, but there is no volume control (swipes). The app is great for iOS, but there is none for Android.Learn more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 9.33 They’re really comfortable, I can wear them for 2-3 hours straight without any issues. Build quality seems fine, though the earbuds themselves scratch *very* easily. The design is attractive, reminiscent of Apple’s style. The charging case is the *smallest* I’ve ever encountered, and the earbuds are miniature. I haven’t had any problems with the overall construction.Learn more.
18. Huawei Freebuds 5 7.90Best Open-Fit Earbuds for Android
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Huawei Freebuds 5 are the best open-fit earbuds for Android. With the LDAC codec, you get up to a 30% boost in sound. These earbuds came out in 2023 and are still relevant. The sound and microphone are near reference-quality. Plus, a couple of hours of use won’t cause discomfort.
- Top-tier sound among open-fit earbuds
- Microphone on par with the reference model
- Unique design and 2 hours of use without discomfort
- Muffled sound out of the box.
- Slight white noise with ANC enabled.
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 8.01 With the LDAC codec, you get up to a 30% improvement in sound. The earbuds feature a bass-heavy sound signature with slightly recessed mids and subdued highs. I didn’t notice any blatant artificial timbre, and there is minimal grain. The sound is spacious and full-bodied, with good instrument separation across the soundstage. Detail retrieval is good, although parsing instrument textures is harder compared to flagship models. The sound lacks some expressiveness, brightness, and airiness, making it get tiring quickly. Equalizer adjustments compensate for some of these flaws.Learn more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 8.75 In quiet conditions: 9.5 In noisy conditions: 8 Clean and detailed recording without external noise. In noisy environments, speech remains clear, and noise cancellation doesn’t cut in instantly.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 7.00 Active noise cancellation (ANC) reduces background noise from PCs or laptops. There is no transparency mode. Playback time in our tests deviates slightly from the manufacturer’s specs. The touch sensor responds reliably everywhere, and you adjust volume by sliding up or down. The companion app is user-friendly and well-designed.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 9.00 The earbuds offer a comfortable fit, with minor fatigue appearing after a couple of hours of use. Build quality and materials draw no complaints. The earbud design is unique, with 3 color options available.Read more.
19. Huawei FreeClip 2 7.62Best Clip-On Earbuds
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Huawei FreeClip 2 are the best clip-on earbuds among open-fit models tested on MyChooz. The main reasons to buy them are the best sound among OWS, a comfortable fit, and a natural transparency mode. They are the best alternative to in-ear, open-fit, and ear-hook earbuds. Minor drawbacks include not enough bass and no active noise cancellation. Also, the build quality might not appeal to everyone.
- Best sound among open-ear clips
- Detailed microphone
- Comfortable fit for open-ear clip earbuds
- Open-fit design without active noise cancellation
- Form factor may not appeal to everyone
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 7.46 The earbuds suffer from a slight lack of bass, which is normal for open-form-factor models, shifting the focus more towards the mids. At the same time, the sound is dynamic enough for hip-hop and electronic music, full-bodied and spacious. The delivery is authentic, free of glaring artificiality, and clear with basic codecs. However, in a dense mix, detail retrieval takes a hit and the sound gets congested.Learn more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 8.00 In quiet conditions: 9 In noisy conditions: 7Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 7.16 There is no active noise cancellation or transparency mode. That said, transparency isn’t needed, as the open earbud design doesn’t interfere with conversation. Battery life in our tests was 9 hours for the earbuds and 40 hours with the case. Touch controls are convenient and responsive. The app runs stably, offering EQ settings, low-latency mode, and control customization.Learn more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.73 The earbuds are lightweight and comfortable, with ear fatigue setting in after roughly 2 hours of use. Build quality is sturdy with no defects, and the earbuds feature IP57 dust and water resistance. They look good, with 3 color options available.