The best wireless headphones of 2024

Master and dynamics MW09: Master & Dynamic headphones and earphones have always featured unique and attractive designs that include premium materials such as aluminum, sapphire glass and Kevlar. Their latest flagship MW09 wireless earbuds ($349) look pretty similar to their previous MW08 buds, but they have some upgrades inside that deliver better performance, especially when it comes to noise cancellation. The headphones sound great, but they’re mysteriously out of stock everywhere, so we’ve left them off the best list. If they come back in stock we will add them to this list.

Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS: What makes the Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS buds special is that they sound surprisingly good for relatively cheap open-back headphones – they’re pretty close to what you get from Apple’s AirPods 3 for sound (they’re a bit behind the AirPods 4, which offers improved sound from the AirPods 3). In addition to this, they support Sony’s LDAC audio codec for devices that offer it. There aren’t too many good open headphones that sound good, but these Soundpeats have good bass response and clarity. They are also good for making calls and have a low latency gaming mode. Battery life is rated at 5 hours at moderate volume levels, and these are IPX4 splash proof. (Apply the code WINGS2AI at checkout to get an additional 13% discount).

Sennheiser CX: If you can’t afford Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 3 headphones, the CXs are a good alternative. They feature very good sound, plus decent noise cancellation and voice call performance. The only problem is that they stick out a bit from the ears and may not fit smaller ears. This model, which often sells for less than $100 on Amazon, doesn’t have active noise cancellation, but the step-up CX Plus does (the CX Plus it’s also good value, especially when it’s on sale).

Beats Studio Buds: The Beats Studio Buds look a lot like the rumored wireless AirPods that some people have been waiting for. Designed for both iOS and Android users, they’re missing a few key features from the Apple side of things (there’s no H1 or W1 chip), but they’re wireless headphones that are small, light, comfortable to wear and it offers really good sound. . Their noise cancellation is not as good as the AirPods Pro, but they have a transparency mode and are decent for making calls. Read our Beats Studio Buds review.

JBL Live Free 2: As well as Live Pro 2JBL’s new Live Free 2 earbuds are surprisingly good. With 11 mm drivers, six microphones, oval tubes and oval silicone tips, they combine a comfortable fit with strong noise cancellation, very good sound quality and voice performance. Features include multi-point Bluetooth pairing and wireless charging, and are rated for up to seven hours with IPX5 (splash-proof) water resistance.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offer improved noise cancellation along with very good sound and voice call performance, plus support for high-resolution wireless audio streaming if you’re an owner of a Galaxy device with the right configuration. Their biggest upgrade may be their new design and smaller size, which make them more suitable for more ears. Aside from its somewhat high price, its only downside is that some of its key features only work with Samsung Galaxy devices. Read our full review.

JBL Tour Pro 2: JBL’s Tour Pro 2 headphones have received a lot of attention for bringing something new to true wireless headphones: a full-color touchscreen display integrated into the case that allows you to access key headphone functions and control playback and adjust volume levels. It’s a bit of a gimmick but still useful. While the buds might sound slightly better for their list price, overall the JBL Tour Pro 2s are very good headphones that offer a good fit, a robust feature set, a strong battery, plus solid noise cancellation and a voice call performance.

Sony LinkBuds S: Unlike the “open” LinkBuds, the LinkBuds S are true traditional wireless noise-isolating earbuds with tips that fit into your ears. They are more compact and lighter than Sony’s old flagship WF-1000XM4 and also have Sony’s V1 processor (Sony has since released the more compact WF-1000XM5). While their sound and noise cancellation aren’t quite up to the XM4 or XM5, they’re still pretty good. They’re Sony’s buds for people who can’t afford Sony’s flagship headphones, but want 80% of the features and performance of those buds for significantly less. Read more about them in our hands-on review of the Sony LinkBuds S.

Sony WF-1000XM4: Released in 2021, Sony’s WF-1000XM4 won a CNET Editors’ Choice Award. They are still excellent headphones, but Sony has now released the next generation WF-1000XM5. They can be a good option if you find them at a good discount.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3: The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 were among the best new true wireless headphones of 2022. They are still among the best truly wireless headphones, but Sennheiser has released the updated Momentum True Wireless 4. Also, the latest AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF. – The 1000XM5 buds are undoubtedly superior, so only try to buy the Momentum True Wireless 3 when they are significantly discounted.

Beyerdynamic Free Byrd: Beyerdynamic may be late to the game, but it has finally introduced its first true wireless headphones, which feature active noise cancellation, up to 11 hours of battery life (with noise cancellation off) and a impressive sound quality. Read our Beyerdynamic Free Byrd review.

Master & Dynamic MW08: These buds may not fit everyone’s ear the same, but they certainly have a distinct look, as well as excellent sound and a great listening experience if you can get a tight seal (I was able to get a secure fit with the larger tip ). They offer more of an audiophile sound profile, with smooth, well-balanced sound and well-defined bass.

Status between 3ANC: The Status headphones aren’t exactly the sleekest or most attractive headphones you can buy, but if you don’t mind their utilitarian look and giant stems, you’re getting an excellent-sounding set of headphones. The Between 3ANC, the company’s first true wireless noise-cancelling headphones, also do a good job of drowning out ambient sound, although they’re not quite on the level of the Bose QuietComfort 2 headphones for the ability to noise cancellation. They did very well in my voiceover test, reducing much of the background noise around me on the streets of New York while picking up my voice clearly, or so callers told me.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX: Bang & Olufsen’s $399 Beoplay EX buds are the company’s best true wireless earbuds. They feature a comfortable and secure fit (except maybe for those with really small ears), premium build quality, great sound, good noise cancellation and improved vocal performance over EQ buds. B&O, with three microphones in each earcup that helps. reducing background noise while recording your voice. They’re out of most people’s price range, but they’re arguably the best earbuds out there with stems and offer slightly superior sound to the AirPods Pro 2 with better clarity, deeper, more powerful bass and richer and more accurate sound.

JBL Live Pro 2: Over the years, JBL has put out some decent true wireless headphones, but nothing that really blew me away. It has finally changed with the arrival of the new Samsung brand Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 sprouts Both sets of buds – the Live Pro 2 have stems while the Live Free 2 have a pill-shaped design – offer a comfortable fit with strong noise cancellation, very good sound quality and voice call performance , plus a robust feature set, including multi-point Bluetooth pairing, an IPX5 splash-proof rating and wireless charging.

Sony Linkbuds: The LinkBuds are, in a sense, Sony’s answer to Apple Standard AirPods. Although they don’t sound as good as Sony’s flagship WF-1000XM4 or the noise-isolating Linkbuds S headphones, they offer a discreet, innovative design and a more secure form factor than AirPods, as well as decent sound and a very good voice. performance Like the third-generation AirPods, their open design allows you to hear the outside world – that’s what the ring is all about. Read our Sony Linkbuds review.

Amazon Echo Buds 2023: : The Echo Buds 2023 impressed me in a few ways I didn’t expect. For starters, they sound great for inexpensive open-back headphones, providing decent clarity and ample bass. But they also have a robust feature set, including multi-point Bluetooth pairing, hands-free Alexa, and ear-detection sensors that pause your audio when you take one or both buds out of your ears. Its sound is little of that of Apple’s AirPods 3which provides fuller bass and a fuller, smoother overall sound (I’m better at handling more complicated music tracks with lots of instruments playing at the same time). AirPods 3 cost about $150 and only offer about 15% to 20% better audio. In short, if you’re looking for open headphones — or “semi-open” as these types of headphones are sometimes called — the Echo Buds are a good value at their $50 list price and even easier to recommend. when they are on sale. for $35.