Articles by Ted Kritsonis

Razer has been a mainstay in the gaming world as a maker of good peripherals, and while headphones have long been common for gamers, wireless earbuds are still somewhat nascent. The Hammerhead True Wireless Pro are at the top of the list available for this specialized category, but the best gaming earbuds are worth putting in your ears when it’s time to play.

Best overall: Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Pro

The Hammerhead True Wireless Pro continue to be Razer’s premium option for gaming earbuds, as it makes the case that wireless earbuds aren’t too small or weak to game properly. With a nice design that fits in well with Razer’s overall look for its products, there’s a good level of comfort to work with for shorter and longer gaming sessions. It should be easy enough to get a tight seal for good passive isolation to make the onboard active noise cancelation (ANC) more effective.

To make that possible, Razer throws in six pairs of silicone ear tips, one of which is Comply Foam. …

The best wireless earbuds are comfortable, sound great, and have long-lasting battery life. These tiny headphones from companies like Jabra, Samsung, Sennheiser, Sony, and others are almost as important as the phones we have in our pockets, and the market has become crowded over the years with options. We’ve reviewed a sizeable number of models available and rated the absolute leaders of the pack, helping you find the best fit and value for your ears and budget. Our buyer’s guide for the best wireless earbuds for Android and iPhone will help you find the pair that suits your needs and tastes the best, no matter what you like listening to.

What are the best wireless earbuds you can buy today?

Like any pair of headphones, which wireless earbuds are right for you is subjective in a few key ways. They have to fit right, feel comfortable over longer periods, and produce sound that’s pleasing to your ears. If audio fidelity is paramount for you, there are good options for that, just as t…

Feeling slimmer

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2

$150 at Amazon $150 at Best Buy $150 at B&H

Pros

Bolder sound
Effective ANC
Very comfortable fit
Good battery life
Nice color options

Cons

IPX2 rating isn’t very durable
Microphones are so-so
Finicky controls

Samsung put the Galaxy Buds 2 on a diet of sorts, and the smaller frame makes what were already comfortable earbuds feel like they’re almost not there at all. You lose out on some durability, but win with active noise cancelation and better sound to make these earbuds among the best in their class.

Still comfy

Samsung Galaxy Buds+

$100 at Amazon $100 at Best Buy $100 at Walmart

Pros

Tried and true design
Outstanding battery life
Comfortable fit
Lively color options
More affordable price

Cons

Touch controls can be finicky
No ANC support
Larger case
Not very durable
Set to be discontinued

When Samsung first launched these earbuds, it made several corrective moves that put them on par with some of the best a…

Qualcomm, which owns the aptX Bluetooth codec, describes aptX Low Latency as “audio that keeps up.” The implication is that sound will be in sync with whatever you’re watching on a screen, which is critical if you’re watching a show, movie, or playing a game with wireless headphones. The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9 stands out as the best aptX Low Latency headphones because they offer excellent all-around sound quality, fantastic comfort, and superb battery life.

Best overall: Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9 (3rd Gen)

Bang & Olufsen first launched the Beoplay H9 in 2017, and the headphones have now entered their third generation. They have many features you would expect for the price, including a premium build and comfortable fit, though they are probably a little overpriced when competitors offer the same for less. However, many of those competitors don’t support aptX Low Latency, putting these in unique territory for viewing content without sync issues.

It reduces the delay…

The best wireless earbuds are comfortable, sound great, and have long-lasting battery life. These tiny headphones from companies like Jabra, Samsung, Sennheiser, Sony, and others are almost as important as the phones we have in our pockets, and the market has become crowded over the years with options. We’ve reviewed a sizeable number of models available and rated the absolute leaders of the pack, helping you find the best fit and value for your ears and budget. Our buyer’s guide will help you navigate this space and find the pair that suits your needs and tastes the best, no matter what you like listening to.

What are the best wireless earbuds you can buy today?

Like any pair of headphones, which wireless earbuds are right for you is subjective in a few key ways. They have to fit right, feel comfortable over longer periods, and produce sound that’s pleasing to your ears. If audio fidelity is paramount for you, there are good options for that, just as there are options for being ac…

The AirPods Max are Apple’s first attempt to make its own branded over-ear headphones, and they don’t come cheap. Those premium pair of cans enter a competitive field more than capable of taking them on, including established brands and models that have already proven themselves. If you’ve got your eyes on an alternative to what Apple has put out there, look no further than this group.

Flagship cans

Sony WH-1000XM4 – Noise Canceling Overhead Headphones

Staff Pick

These headphones stand out for their superb — and improved — active noise cancelation (ANC) performance that does an even better job of blocking out background noise. They sound great, and there’s an excellent equalizer in Sony’s Connect app to tailor the experience. Improved call quality and the ability to simultaneously pair with two devices, plus solid battery life, rounds out an elite package.

$348 at Amazon $350 at Best Buy $348 at B&H

Canceling the noise

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 – Wireless B…

Fast Pair is a technology that lets you quickly pair your best wireless earbuds and best wireless headphones to your Android phone without having to dig through multiple menus. Instead, simply place them into pairing mode and bring your headphones and phone close together. There aren’t too many options on the market (yet), but the Harman Kardon Fly are the best we can find, thanks to their overall battery life, sound quality, and comfort. Here are some of our other favorites for the best Fast Pair headphones for Android.

Best overall: Harman Kardon Fly ANC

Harman Kardon makes headphones under its own branding, though you may not have known that, given the Samsung subsidiary’s penchant for in-car audio. These were some of the very first headphones to support Google’s Fast Pair feature, so you can bet the quick pairing process leads to a good head start. JBL is a Harman property, so there are some similarities here.

The Fly ANC produce sound quality on par with JBL cans in the sam…

If you’re a commuter or work in a busy environment, you’re likely in the market for some of the best noise-canceling headphones. Drown out all that background noise with active noise-canceling (ANC) technology, which has become one of the most highly sought-after features that’s no longer exclusive to expensive headphones. The Sony WH-1000XM4’s ANC heads up a group of class-leading headphones through their excellent performance and battery life, making them our top choice. But there are plenty of other options on this list for various lifestyles and budgets on this list.

Best overall: Sony WH-1000XM4

Sony has been in the top spot before with its WH-1000XM3, the best ANC headphones on the market before they were replaced by the WH-1000XM4. Sony’s flagship cans have become the benchmark for the industry as a whole, forcing others to catch up. What makes them so good is the unique QN1 processor and a dual noise sensor that work together to block out ambient sound. So for a daily com…

Stay dry

Jabra Elite 75t

$150 at Amazon $113 at Best Buy

Pros

Great sound quality
Comfortable fit
Improved battery life
Smaller charging case
Better than the AirPods

Cons

Fewer charges from the case compared to Elite 65t
No wireless charging
Call quality still not as good as AirPods

Jabra makes a strong case that these are among the best true wireless earbuds products currently available. With far better battery life over the Elite 65t and a slimmer frame that nestles into ears with greater comfort, there’s a lot to like about the package the Elite 75t delivers. Solid app support, voice assistant integration, and some of the best cable-free audio quality round out an impressive piece of kit.

Get wet

Jabra Elite Active 75t

$150 at Amazon $150 at Best Buy

Pros

Waterproof build
Great sound quality
Comfortable fit
Smaller charging case
Just as portable as Elite 75t

Cons

No noticeable audio upgrade from Elite 75t
No wireless charging
No improved call quality…

When your pockets are too small — or you don’t have any at all — neckband earbuds are a convenient alternative to wearing larger over-ear or on-ear headphones. They lay around your neck and take away the weight from the earbuds for a more comfortable fit. If you’re looking for a dependable pair, the JBL Live 220BT Wireless are a good place to start for the best neckband headphones under $100, owing to their exceptional sound, battery life, and comfort.

Best overall: JBL Live 220BT Wireless

JBL made the Live 220BT good enough to stay at the top of our list, mainly because of its superb sound quality. You get a pretty balanced soundstage out of the box that stands out for the right reasons. Bass is present without it being too heavy, while the highs and lows complement each other well.

Finding the right fit will largely depend on which of the ear tips you feel offer the best seal. This part is critical to ensuring they fit right and getting the most out of the audio quality. …