Articles by Ted Kritsonis

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 for a variety of lifestyles and budgets on this list.

Best Overall: Sony WH-1000XM4

Sony has been in the top spot before with its WH-1000XM3, which were 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. For a daily com…

Second chances

Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Gen)

$100 at Amazon

Pros

Smaller and better fit
Hands-free Alexa access
Improved ANC performance
Maintains EQ support
Great support on both iOS and Android
Faster charging

Cons

No real difference in battery life
No multipoint Bluetooth
Finicky touch controls

Amazon is back for an encore with the second-gen Echo Buds, focusing on improving the things their predecessors didn’t do so well. The results will largely depend on how you view the audio output, but the supporting features at least move the ball forward.

First time out

Amazon Echo Buds

$130 at B&H

Pros

Solid active noise reduction (ANR)
Up to 20 hours of total listening time
Hands-free Alexa access
EQ support for some custom sound
Great support on both iOS and Android
Compact charging/carrying case

Cons

Aging Micro-USB for charging
No wireless charging
Only available in black

The debut Echo Buds don’t look to be here for long, as Amazon looks to go all-in…

If you like ringing around your ears, you may like the JLab Epic Air Sport ANC.

One great thing about the current crop of cheap wireless earbuds is that they’re coming with some variances. You can get your standard fare of inexpensive buds that you might only use in dry places indoors, or maybe something more rugged. How about longer battery life? Or would you prefer active noise cancelation (ANC)?

JLab tries to offer something that weaves through all those types of features and does so with a design that is supposed to keep stability and comfort in mind at all times. Any pair that uses ear hooks will fall under that category, and that’s what the JLab Epic Air Sport ANC feels like.

JLab Epic Air Sport ANC review:

Price and availability
What’s good
What’s not good
The competition
Should you buy?

JLab Epic Air Sport ANC

…

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 …

While manufacturers are making sure to cut off all cords as part of their increased focus on wireless headphones, it doesn’t mean wired connections aren’t an option. Bluetooth headphones are great, but if you’d rather do without the latency and charging process, USB-C headphones are a great alternative to both. Just plug and play, and that’s it.

Go bold

RAZER Hammerhead USB-C ANC

Staff Pick

These earbuds already stand out with the neon green finish, but they also have booming sound and active noise cancelation (ANC). They also come with plenty of tips to get the comfy fit you’d want while wearing them for longer periods.

$100 at Walmart $99 at Newegg

Wireless first with USB-C audio

Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones

While the Momentum 3 Wireless are Bluetooth first, they work just like a pair of USB-C wired headphones. Even better, you can charge them at the same time you’re listening to music. A premium design and solid sound with ANC means you get…

Boomier sound

Sonos Move

$400 at Best Buy

Pros

Spacious sound with ample bass
Portable, with built-in handle
Excellent battery life while undocked
Water and dust resistance
Seamless transition between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Cons

Microphones are better on dedicated Alexa or Google Assistant speakers
Heavier and bulkier than other portables
Even more expensive

The Move has become one of Sonos’ signature speakers because it blends the dependability of sitting still with the convenience of moving around. It’s a portable speaker supporting both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but its mobility is contingent on its size and weight.

Roomier sound

Sonos Roam

$169 at Best Buy

Pros

Great sound for the size
Seamless transition from Wi-Fi to Bluetooth
Well-built and rugged
Has wireless charging

Cons

Expensive
Middling battery life for a Bluetooth speaker
Some standby battery issues at launch

The Roam is Sonos’ smallest speaker, and by default, it makes it the most portable and…

Smart assistants like Amazon Alexa are becoming more popular than ever, and headphone makers are jumping on board to offer it as a built-in signature feature. They’re growing in number and variance, but the Sony WH-1000XM4 stand out because of the combination of comfort, sound quality, and versatility in bringing Alexa into the fold. We have plenty of options for all ranges, so here are our picks for the best headphones with Alexa.

Best Overall: Sony WH-1000XM4

It’s a challenge for any company to follow up on a great product with something better, but in this case, Sony has fixed some key pieces to make the WH-1000XM4 one of the best pairs of headphones available. There was no need to reinvent the wheel when so much of the previous model worked so well, though good changes are always welcome.

Whether the WH-1000XM4 sound any better is highly subjective. There are aptX HD and LDAC codec support, plus 360 Reality Audio for those who can actually hear it on Tidal. Tinkering around …

Ultimate Ears wants to make sure you never itch wearing these earbuds.

It’s probably safe to say every company that makes and sells the best wireless earbuds wants to give you as comfortable a fit as possible. It also goes without saying that the further earbuds push toward the inner ear, the harder it is to ensure they’ll feel comfortable for every size or shape of ear.

Ultimate Ears, or UE, as the Logitech-owned brand is better known, takes a dynamic approach to solve that problem: a molding process that reshapes its UE Fits earbuds as you’re first wearing them. While this idea turned out to be a viable concept here, you may not get every other feature you’re looking for.

At a glance

Ultimate Ears Fits Earbuds

Bottom line: The UE Fits are as close as you can get right now to wearing a pair of earbuds with the ultimate comfo…

More power

Jabra Elite 85t

$200 at Amazon $200 at Best Buy

Pros

Hybrid ANC
Great sound quality
Better call quality than Elite 65t
Comfortable fit
Responsive controls
Wireless charging case

Cons

No big difference in size
More proprietary ear tips
Taller and heavier case

Jabra doesn’t disappoint every time it launches a new pair of true wireless earbuds, and the Elite 85t earn their place among the best available. By adding new features and improving on some existing ones, they become a compelling way to plug your ears when you want to get what you pay for.

Old school

Jabra Elite 65t

$50 at Amazon $80 at Best Buy From $75 at Walmart

Pros

Great sound quality
Ambient mode
Good battery life
Decent sized charging case
Comfortable fit
Great price

Cons

No noise cancelation
Micro-USB for charging
No wireless charging case
Audio and video can often be out of sync

By now, the Elite 65t are showing their age relative to their successors, but that only makes them…

A sounder curve

Aukey EP-N7

$65 at Amazon

Pros

Good audio quality
ANC and ambient support
Smaller and lighter build
Improved onboard controls
Better call quality
Similar price

Cons

Only marginally better battery life
Still no onboard volume control
No wireless charging
No more rugged than before

Aukey comes back with a newer look that shaves things down on the outside, while trying to spread things out on the inside. You get a smaller form factor that stands a better chance of fitting your ears, plus a more balanced soundstage to go with it.

A rumbling take

Aukey EP-N5

$65 at Amazon

Pros

Thicker bass
Louder sound performance
ANC support
Lightweight build
IPX5 water resistance

Cons

Random audio cutouts
No dedicated ambient mode
Less effective touch controls
No wireless charging

Aukey came out with a suprise when it launched these earbuds because they sounded so good relative to their cost. And yet, they’re now up against renewed competition from Aukey’…