Top Earbud Headphones 2023

The noise-cancelling WF-1000X earbuds feel every bit like a first-generation product, but they do sound good.

The NRG 3.0 are decently versatile headphones. They isolate well despite only being passive headphones and they're also easy to carry around on your person thanks to their small size. They have a moderately sturdy build quality and an above-average control scheme, unfortunately, they have a poor sound that's not ideal for critical listeners.

The 1More Pistons are average, mixed usage headphones. They're more comfortable than typical in-ears and they're super easy to carry around on your person. They have a decently-balanced sound that's good for casual listening. However, their slight lack of isolation and active features means they won't be the most versatile headphones to use in all situations.

The Swimbuds are designed specifically to provide a waterproof listening experience. They're portable and lightweight headphones you can carry around easily in any pocket. The in-ear fit also goes deep into the ear canal providing a lot of stability. However, they don't sound good and comfort maybe an issue for some.

The Google Pixel USB-C Earbuds are disappointing for mixed usage. Their near-total absence of noise isolation capability and cheap build quality make them a bad fit for commuting and office work while their boomy sound profile and middling frequency response consistency make them inadequate for neutral sound. However, they have a microphone with impressive recording quality and a fairly stable, decently comfortable fit.

Above-average for neutral listening. The in-ear design might not be ideal to most neutral listeners, but if you want to enjoy great audio reproduction on-the-go, the T2 have a powerful bass, well-balanced mid-range, and a good treble. However, the bass is slightly overemphasized, low-mid might sound a bit cluttered, and the treble is a bit lacking. Overall, they have a decent sound quality, but the in-ear design won’t have a great speaker-like soundstage.

The Plantronics Voyager 5200 is mediocre for phone calls. While this Bluetooth headset is comfortable enough to wear for long periods, and will likely last an entire work day, the microphone recording quality is disappointing. While on phone calls, your voice sounds dark and muffled. On the bright side, the noise handling is excellent and even in noisy environments, the person you're speaking to can hear you clearly. The app also includes a ton of customization options for phone calls, and the buttons on the headset are easy-to-use while in the middle of a call.

The Philips A7607 are certainly built for the job in terms of handling the rigours of a hard workout. It’s just a shame that when it comes to that all-important sound, they don’t quite live up with the best conduction headphones in the business.

The Poly Voyager Free 60+ is a true wireless Bluetooth headset with a unique charging case that proposes to cover the needs of both work and play, but it's held back by average noise cancellation and mediocre mics.

The Marshall Motif A.N.C. earphones deliver a strong audio experience, but we expected better noise cancellation and more app features for the price.