David Bridges
The market for true wireless earbuds has seen remarkable growth, leading to a plethora of options available for consumers. While this expansion presents a wide array of choices, it can also create confusion regarding which pair of wireless earbuds best fits your specific needs. From high-end models like the AirPods Pro 2, which seamlessly blend elegant design with exceptional active noise cancellation, to other models focusing on outstanding sound quality, there is a suitable pair of Bluetooth earbuds for every type of user. These compact devices now boast features that can compete with traditional over-ear headphones, making them an ideal option for music enthusiasts, daily commuters, gym enthusiasts, and a diverse range of individuals.
Having tested and reviewed a multitude of earbud sets each year for Engadget, I consistently compare new releases against previous top contenders across various price points to ensure this list remains updated with the best true wireless earbuds available. This comprehensive guide outlines the reasons behind my current selections for the finest wireless earbuds, providing essential shopping tips and insights on what to consider before making your purchase.
If earbuds don’t suit your preferences, feel free to explore our best headphones buying guide, which covers our top picks for wireless over-ear headphones, noise-canceling options, and much more.
Comprehensive Overview of Wireless Earbuds
Top Wireless Earbuds to Consider in 2025
Sony
Read our full Sony WF-1000XM5 review
Max battery life: 8 hours, up to 24 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes
With the WF-1000XM5 flagship earbuds, Sony enhances its already impressive combination of superior sound quality, effective active noise cancellation, and a suite of useful features. These earbuds are definitively the most comfortable and well-designed iteration of the 1000X series, addressing one of the few remaining challenges for Sony. They also incorporate more features than any other competitor, such as adaptive sound controls and the innovative Speak-to-Chat functionality. With upgraded drivers, advanced chips, an impressive eight hours of battery life, and significant enhancements in audio quality, these earbuds stand out as Sony’s finest offering yet. However, with all these advancements, they also represent the highest price point in the 1000X lineup.
- Excellent sound quality
- Improved design
- More comfortable fit
- Loads of handy features
- More expensive
- No battery life improvement
- Head tracking is Android only
- Some features still need fine-tuning
$248 at Amazon
Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget
Read our full Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) review
Max battery life: 6 hours, up to 30 hours with charging case | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes
The second generation of Apple’s AirPods Pro represents a substantial leap forward from its predecessors. These earbuds feature enhanced sound quality and improved active noise cancellation, all while retaining the user-friendly characteristics that make AirPods the top choice for iPhone, iOS, and Mac users. During our review, we found the transparency mode to be exceptionally impressive, providing a more natural listening experience than any other earbuds we’ve encountered. You can comfortably wear these during conversations as it feels like you’re not even wearing them. Additionally, the convenient fast pairing, hands-free Siri functionality, spatial audio, solid battery life, and a new USB-C charging case that supports wireless charging make these earbuds an excellent choice.
- Improved sound
- Stellar transparency mode
- Solid ANC
- Seamless switching between Apple devices
- Same design
- New touch gesture takes practice
- Average battery life
- Personalized Spatial Audio results vary
$250 at Verizon
Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget
Read our full Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review
Max battery life: 8 hours, up to 30 hours with charging case (ANC on) | Water resistance: IP54 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Multipoint: Yes
Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 might be the most expensive in Google’s lineup, but they also represent the pinnacle of their technology. A complete redesign has resulted in significantly smaller earbuds that offer a more comfortable and secure fit. The introduction of the Tensor chip marks a first for Google, enabling enhanced audio processing and more effective active noise cancellation. These earbuds are designed to provide a hands-free experience with the Gemini AI, although you can still use the voice assistant without relying on it.
Furthermore, Google has revamped the acoustics and drivers in the Pixel Buds Pro 2, delivering a rich and deep sound profile with satisfying low-end response. A range of practical features such as Conversation Detection, Hearing Wellness, and Find My Device make these earbuds exceptionally user-friendly. Spatial Audio is available upon launch, although it is limited to compatible video streaming applications.
- Tiny, comfy design
- Punchy bass, full mids, crisp highs
- Slightly longer battery life than predecessor
Ethan Carter
