The best true wireless earbuds of 2020
Best true wireless earbuds: In terms of the number of copies sold, Apple’s AirPods have dominated the market for real wireless earphones for a few years. However, there have been many new models on the market that offer better sound, battery life and performance. And now there are many appealing, completely wireless earphones to choose from – and more are on the way.
We have lists of best sounding real wireless earbuds and the best cheap real wireless earbuds. This list is simply the best real wireless earbuds. Keep in mind that the best wireless earbuds usually need to be comfortable for optimal performance, have an ergonomic design and fit properly with a tight seal. If you don’t fit exactly In ear headphonesYou will be sadly disappointed and think that you have been cheated. So I recommend that you buy your pair of wireless earphones from a vendor with a reasonable return policy, such as Amazon. We will update this list regularly as we review new products.
Continue reading: Are AirPods waterproof?
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The second-generation Momentum True Wireless 2, which can be pre-ordered and shipped in April, isn’t cheap at $ 300, but better than the originals. It has a slightly smaller, more comfortable design, excellent audio quality and is active noise cancellation that can match that of the AirPod Pro, improved battery life (up to seven hours compared to the four hours of the original) and better noise reduction on calls. And if you don’t like them in black, a white version will follow later this year. Most importantly, the Momentum True Wireless 2 have the same great sound – at least for real wireless earbuds – and the AirPods Pro offer a significantly superior sound quality. That makes them the best real wireless earbuds on the market today and earns them a CNET Editors’ Choice Award.
These use Bluetooth 5.1 with support for the AAC and AptX codecs (for devices with AptX such as Samsung Galaxy smartphones).
Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX4 – splash-proof).
Read the review of Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 2.
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Even if they don’t sound as magical as you would hope for a $ 249 model, the AirPods Pro is still a great pair of really wireless headphones. This is mainly due to the convincing design and fit, the improved bass performance, the effective noise suppression and the excellent call quality. Yes, Apple AirPods are expensive at $ 250, but the good news is that you use them so often that you are likely to wear out the battery – it worsens over time and is not replaceable – and will need to buy a new pair in 18 to 24 months if you don’t lose them first.
Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX4 – splash-proof).
Read our Apple AirPods Pro review.
At first glance, the Elite 75t, which was originally supposed to cost $ 200 but is now sold for $ 180 (£ 170 and AU $ 299), appears to be an evolutionary upgrade of the highly rated Elite 65t. But the updates are a little more extensive than I first thought. The smaller size of the Elite 75t (the buds and casing are 20% smaller than that of the Elite 65t), the longer battery life and charging via USB-C are significant improvements. And then there are the minor changes, such as the new design of the charging case with magnets inside that make opening and closing and holding the buds inside easier. The Elite 75t is not quite as comfortable to wear as the AirPods Pro and does not have active noise cancellation. However, it sounds better, with a clearer overall sound and better definition of bass audio quality, as long as you get a tight seal.
Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IP55 – withstands strong water jets).
Read our Jabra Elite 75t review.
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The Buds Plus from Samsung look essentially the same as the original Galaxy Buds, but they have an 11-hour battery life for music playback (out of 6) and two drivers for better sound, as well as an additional microphone in each bud for external playback support noise reduction when making calls.
The sound impressed me. It’s detailed and smooth, with deep, well-defined bass. The sound is richer and more spacious than that of the original Galaxy Buds. The well-known Austrian audio company AKG, which Samsung acquired when it bought Harman, is behind the audio. While the original buds were also “tuned” by AKG, they are a nice upgrade over the originals – and exactly what you get with the Jabra Elite 75t, if not a little bit better. They use Bluetooth 5.0 and support AAC (there is now an app for iOS users) and Samsung’s scalable codec, which is similar to aptX, but is proprietary to Samsung Galaxy smartphones.
Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX4 – splash-proof).
Read our Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus review.
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Sony wasn’t a big player in AirPod-style wireless headphones, but the new WF-1000XM3 could change that. Though not cheap in terms of sound quality, these headphones are the best wireless earbuds in this price range that match, and may even outperform & Olufsen, the quality and performance of more expensive competitors from Sennheiser, Beats, Master & Dynamic and Bang. They also have a feature that wireless earbuds don’t have: active noise cancellation technology to reduce ambient noise.
The only downside is that the WF-1000XM3 earphones are not classified as sweat or waterproof headphones. That said, I used it for light workouts with a bit of sweat in the gym with no problems. You are using Bluetooth 5.0 with support for AAC, but not aptX.
Waterproof:: No (lacks IPX certification).
Read our Sony WF-1000XM3 review.
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The most impressive thing about EarFun Free are the functions: Bluetooth 5.0, both USB-C and wireless charging and completely waterproof (IPX7) according to the technical data. Do they sound fantastic? No, but these headphones sound pretty good. They don’t have the clarity of high-end earbuds that cost $ 150 or more, but they have plump bass and enough detail to keep them from sounding boring. They are also pretty solid for calls. An excellent value for less than $ 50.
Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX7 – completely waterproof).
Read CNET first.
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Jaybird had a bumpy start in the world of real wireless devices – these are “AirPod headphones” – when it released its Jaybird Run workout headphones in October 2017. Earlier this year, it was updated to the Jaybird Run XT wireless in-ear. The Jaybird Run earbuds were well designed, but had some minor performance issues that kept them from being great. But their wireless successor, the Jaybird Vista (or Windows Vista jokes), includes design, battery life, and performance improvements that make it the quality product that I hoped it would be the Jaybird Run – and simply the best wireless earbuds for runners.
At $ 180 (GBP 160, AU $ 280), these sweat-proof earbuds are a little more expensive than they should be, but they’re among the better wireless earbuds that came on the market last year. They will appeal to those looking for a more discreet set of fully wireless sports earphones that are completely waterproof.
Waterproof:: Yes (IPX7 – completely waterproof and sweatproof).
Read the Jaybird Vista review.
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The Libratone Track Air Plus has been available in Europe for several months, but has only recently been sold in the U.S. (it costs $ 200, but is currently sold on Amazon for $ 190 with a $ 10 discount coupon). It doesn’t sound as open to the ear as the AirPods Pro, but the audio is clearer and the bass is well defined. In the companion app, you can choose between neutral, bass boost and treble settings. The noise cancellation is also decent – maybe not quite at the level of the AirPods Pro, but close. I liked the fit of this one – the in-ear buds stayed well in my ear (I could walk with them) and the case is only a little bigger than the AirPods Pro case.
The Track Air Plus works well as a headset for making calls, and a firmware upgrade has improved the headset’s performance. Still, the noise reduction isn’t quite as good as the AirPods Pro. People said they could hear me clearly and loudly, but the headphones didn’t dampen background noise as well as the AirPods Pro.
These use Bluetooth 5.0 and support AAC and aptX.
Note that Libratone does that too Follow the air, which is $ 150 (Amazon is currently reducing it by $ 10 with a coupon) and doesn’t have noise cancellation features, but is otherwise similar.
Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX4 – sweat-proof and splash-proof).
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If you can’t afford the Apple AirPods Pro, the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 is a good alternative and a top model for calls. Like the AirPods Pro, these two Anker Soundcore earphones can dampen ambient noise remarkably well (callers said they could hear me well even with a lot of street noise around me). While these Anker Soundcore earphones have no active noise canceling, they sound almost as good, fit comfortably, and their noise-isolating design passively seals off many ambient sounds. They only cost $ 100.
Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX5 – withstands strong water jets).
Read the full review.
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Yes, the jumbo charging case of the Beats Powerbeats Pro with integrated battery is a notable disadvantage. Integrating all of the features that make Apple’s AirPods great while delivering richer sound and better battery life in a design that will not go unnoticed is a win. Just make sure you buy these Beats Powerbeats headphones in a place with a good return policy in case you are in the small minority and have ears that don’t quite fit them.
You are using Bluetooth 5.0 with support for AAC, but not aptX.
Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX4 – splash-proof).
Read our Beats Powerbeats Protest.
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Anker is better known for its inexpensive headphones, but is trying to enter more premium territory with its Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro earphones, which have a list price of $ 150. In terms of design, these Bluetooth earphones have some similarities to Sony’s WF-1000XM3, although this Anker Soundcore model does not offer active noise cancellation. Anker says they have large 11mm drivers in combination with Knowles Balanced Armature, with up to 8 hours of battery life on one charge (a total of 32 hours of play with the case) and noise canceling microphones to reduce ambient noise so callers can hear you can hear better. They are charged via USB-C and also support wireless charging.
I’m not sure if they sound as good as the Sony WF-1000XM3, but they definitely sound like premium real wireless earphones with a rich sound that includes powerful bass performance and lots of details. Some people may have a few problems with the fit – I had to supply my own XL tips to get a tight seal and found the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 a little more comfortable – but the Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro is good value- Money. They are also very good for making phone calls (they reduce background noise well).
You are using Bluetooth 5.0 with support for AAC and aptX.
Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX4 – splash-proof).
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The second generation Apple AirPods add a few small but important improvements to the original, including continuous voice recognition and an option for wireless charging cases. They are also a quality device for making calls indoors and outdoors.
The base model remains at $ 159 (£ 159, AU $ 249), while the version with the wireless charging case costs $ 199 (£ 199, AU $ 319). However, you can often find both models a little cheaper online.
Waterproof:: No (lacks IPX certification).
Read our Apple AirPods 2019 review.
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I’m not sure how stylish the 1More Stylish True Wireless earbuds are (yes, that’s what they’re called), but they sound good. With a list price of $ 100, they are among the cheaper models on this list. 1More made a name for himself with his triple-eared wired earphones, which sound great and are good value for money when wired headphones were one thing. The same clear, balanced sound is included in 1More’s first true wireless earbuds. They don’t sound as good as the triple drivers, but the audio quality is very good for real wireless.
These have more of an audiophile sound profile with a “more accurate” sound, so bass lovers may be a little disappointed, but I liked them. Of course, it helped that I could get a tight seal with one of the included earplugs. However, the stabilizer fin didn’t do anything for me – I just put the tip in my ear to get a secure fit.
The battery life is up to 6.5 hours (if you listen to music at a higher volume, you should go closer to 5 battery life). Additional charging times of approx. 17 hours are available in the charging case. These use Bluetooth 5.0 with support for AAC and aptX.
Waterproof:: No (lacks IPX certification).
Read our 1More Stylish True Wireless review.
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The Master & Dynamic MW07 Plus is the second generation of the company’s MW07. This pair of earphones offers a significantly longer battery life (10 versus 3.5 hours), Bluetooth 5.0 and active noise cancellation with two microphones on each bud. They may not fit equally well for every ear, but they definitely look good, have great sound, and a great listening experience if you get a tight seal. These in-ear headphones are more known for an audiophile sound profile with a soft, balanced sound and clearly defined bass.
These wireless earbuds are available in four color options for $ 299 and include a chic chrome charging case that comes with a secondary pouch for safe storage (yes, the pouch can be scratched if you leave it in a pocket). The housing with the built-in battery offers three additional charging processes (it is charged via USB-C). These support aptX (but not AAC) and, according to Master & Dynamic, have an extended range of more than 20 meters.
Waterproof:: Yes (Degree of protection IPX5 – withstands continuous spraying).
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