The 8 Best In-Ear Headphones - Black Friday 2024

The best in-ear headphones we've tested are the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless. These high-end in-ears are the next generation of the Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless and offer improved performance and design. They have a smaller and rounder shape than their predecessor, with memory foam ear tips that improve their noise isolation performance. Their active noise cancelling (ANC) feature blocks more bass-heavy background noises like bus and plane engines. However, you may not notice a significant difference between having the ANC on and off since they have high passive isolation due to their ear tips.

These memory foam ear tips aren't comfortable for everyone, though. While the headphones come with a couple of different sizes of tips to help you get the right fit, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless are a more comfortable alternative since they don't have such a deep in-ear fit. They have a less balanced default sound profile, which isn't ideal for everyone, but you might appreciate the extra rumble and punch for genres like EDM and hip-hop. Both models offer a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization, and the Bose support a spatial audio feature that creates a more immersive soundstage. However, only the Sony earbuds have 360 Reality Audio, which analyzes your ear shape to create a custom sound profile.

If you want a premium product but don't want to pay top dollar, the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 True Wireless are the best in-ear wireless headphones in the upper mid-range price category that we've tested. Their ANC outperforms even the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless, almost silencing everything from the rumble of plane engines to high-pitched AC hum. Out of the box, they sound well-balanced, so they are a great pick for fans of multiple genres. Boomy EDM kick drums and delicate jazz trumpets are both represented well. Unlike the Sony, the Jabra are a touch piercing in the treble range, but you can change their sound profile through the companion app's graphic EQ and presets.

The Jabra's microphone does a better job than the Sony's at rejecting background noise, but neither headphone offer especially good overall recording quality. With ANC activated, the Jabra have a continuous playtime of almost eight hours, which is a little less than the Sony's, though their case offers an extra three charges to the Sony's two. Although they lack LDAC support, they do support Dolby Spatial Sound, enabled via their app, which can create a more immersive soundstage. These well-built and comfortable buds are definitely worth considering at their price point.

The Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless are our pick for the best Bluetooth in-ear headphones at the mid-range tier. For a reasonable price, they supply a robust feature set, including excellent combined ANC and passive isolation. While not quite as strong as the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 True Wireless' ANC, the Sony still does a great job reducing everything from the rumble of bus engines to office chatter.

Using their companion app, you can tweak the EQ of their rather flat sound profile. For instance, upping the laid-back bass EQ to taste will deliver more thump and boom. In addition, you can listen to surround sound audio using the Sony 360 Reality Audio feature in the app with compatible media. Their fit is comfortable, lightweight, and stable. Unlike the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless, they only come with silicone ear tips, which don't isolate as effectively or sit as deep in your ear canals. Their touch controls work well, and you can remap them to your liking, while the IPX4 rating ensures they're resistant to water splashes. Lastly, they support multi-device pairing and include an LDAC codec for high-quality audio streaming.

Consider the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless if you want a more affordable option for the best in-ear earbuds. These Bluetooth buds do sacrifice some high-end features, like virtual surround sound, and their fit is a bit less stable compared to the Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless. Still, thanks to their adaptive ANC feature, they have a fantastic noise cancelling performance, which can block out noise like rumbling engines and background conversations. They support multi-device pairing, meaning you can stay connected with your phone and computer simultaneously. They also have a solid eight hours of continuous battery life and come with a case that includes four additional charges.

By default, the Anker have a warm sound profile that works well for genres like rock and jazz, but their audio lacks low bass, and voices and instruments are missing some detail. Still, you can use a graphic EQ and presets in their companion app to adjust the sound to your taste. If you're looking for similarly performing buds with a different physical design and more bass, consider the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC Truly Wireless. They have a stem design, which some people may prefer to the Space A40's rounded shape, and they deliver a lot more thump, rumble, and boom. However, the added bass seeps into their mids and slightly muddies vocals and instruments.

If you're looking for wallet-friendly buds, try the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless. These buds stand out from their competitors at this price point as they have some handy features to help you customize their performance. You can adjust their excited sound profile with an in-app graphic EQ and presets. The buds also have an audio mode meant to improve audio quality in addition to a video mode for lowering latency. However, unlike the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, they don't have an ANC feature and rely on their passive capabilities to reduce ambient sound. They do an okay job in this regard overall but struggle to block out rumbly engine noise during commutes. Their in-ear fit is a bit deep but still decently comfortable for most people.

They're also well-built and have about nine hours of continuous battery life. Their carrying case also stores an extra three charges. While the case doesn't have a lid, which is pretty unusual, there are magnets to hold the buds in place. If you prefer earbuds with a more secure carrying case, try the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless. They offer an overall performance similar to the Vibe Buds, but their case has a lid. They also have a stem design instead of a completely rounded bud, making them feel less comfortable and stable.

If you mostly listen to bass-heavy genres, like metal, hip-hop, and EDM, you'll want buds that can pack a solid punch and thump. While other earbuds might try to do this by overemphasizing the bass in the mix, this can cause distortion and create sound artifacts that make your listening experience less pleasant. Instead, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 have an accurate, balanced bass response and a recessed treble range. As such, they can reproduce bass-range frequencies with outstanding fidelity. If you'd prefer a little extra bass, their companion app has a graphic EQ and presets to help you personalize their sound.

These headphones are well-built and have a comfortable fit for most people. Their stable fit and IP54 for dust and water resistance make them a good choice for workouts. Their adaptive noise cancelling feature is only slightly worse than that of the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 True Wireless, so they do an excellent job of cutting out ambient sound, although they aren't quite as good at reducing bass-range noise like rumbling engines as the Jabra. If you're looking for a cheaper option, you might also go for the previous model of these earbuds, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3, which offer a similar sound and performance overall. However, their noise isolation isn't as good.

If you're looking for wired in-ears that prioritize sound quality, the MOONDROP Blessing 3 are the best in-ear monitors (IEMs) we've tested. These wired in-ears don't have features like ANC or a mic, but you can buy a separate cable with an in-line mic if you want to make calls. However, unlike most earbuds, they use a hybrid driver design to improve sound quality and have a very well-balanced sound profile. They accurately reproduce the bass's thump, punch, and boom, while instruments and vocals sound clear and accurate. They're very well-built and comfortable, with earbuds made of plastic and stainless steel. Their cables loop around your ears to keep them in place even when you're moving your head around a lot. Despite the lack of ANC, they passively block out an impressive amount of mid-range and high-pitched noise, so you won't hear as much background chit-chat and clinking glasses in a cafe.

However, the Blessing 3's price matches their status as premium IEMs. As an alternative, the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO: RED are a much more budget-friendly wired design option. Their sound is also quite balanced, but they don't reproduce treble as accurately, yielding a comparatively duller top end. They lack the Blessing 3's premium build and hybrid driver design, and they won't block out nearly as much low-pitched noise. Still, they offer good audio quality and a versatile sound profile at an affordable price.

If you want a premium product but don't want to pay top dollar, try the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless. Like their predecessor, the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless, they've got a few features you won't find anywhere else on this list, like an H2 chip for seamless pairing with devices in your Apple ecosystem and Spatial Audio for a more immersive audio experience. While their noise isolation isn't quite on par with the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless, they still do an excellent job of tackling hard-to-block noise like rumbly plane engines and ambient chatter.

They're well-built and comfortable enough for long listening sessions but can wiggle out of your ears over time, which is annoying. They have a warm sound profile, making instruments and vocals present but not sharp; this means they're well-suited for most kinds of content. It's important to note that their sound customization features like EQ presets are only available to iOS users. This isn't a problem if you're deeply embedded in Apple's ecosystem, but worth bearing in mind if you're a cross-platform user. They also have a somewhat short continuous battery life of just under six hours, but their case holds four extra charges if you need it.