Top Earbud Headphones 2023

The exercise-focused, wireless Kicker EB400 earphones deliver some seriously powerful bass response that will be too much for some listeners.

LifeBeam's Vi headphones have a built-in virtual trainer for runners; it shows promise, but it's very limited.

1More's iBFree Bluetooth earphones have an exercise-friendly design, but their audio performance is not on par with the competition.

The $128 Sony MDRAS800BT Active Sports Bluetooth Headset is a solid pair of earbuds with an easy-to-wear wireless design and strong battery life.

The Jazwares Star Wars Darth Vader Earbuds are $10 toy earphones, and that's what makes their poor audio quality forgivable.

The 1More Quad Driver are better-than-average mixed usage headphones. They're a bit less comfortable than the previous model but easy to use and easy to carry around on your person. They have a well-balanced sound that's good for casual and even critical listening. However, they lack a little in isolation so they won't be the ideal headphones for loud environments.

The Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless are disappointing for commute and travel if you want headphones with good noise isolation. By design, they block out virtually no noise, meaning it may be hard to hear your music over the sound of rumbling bus and plane engines. That said, they have very small, portable design. If you walk to work, you may like that they let you hear ambient sound. They also work with Microsoft Soundscape, which is intended to help you navigate your surroundings with audio cues, which could be helpful in unfamiliar places. Unfortunately, whether or not you get a good fit depends on the shape of your ears, and they aren't comfortable or stable for everyone. Their six-hour battery life is also a bit short for long flights, but they come with a case that holds a couple of extra charges.

The Samsung AKG Type-C are sub-par for commute and travel. They have a portable design and a comfortable fit, so you can wear them for long flights without a lot of fatigue. However, they struggle to isolate against background noises, so you can still hear bus and plane engines while wearing them.

HyperX has released the $149.99 Cloud Mix Buds wireless earbuds that can connect via Bluetooth or with the included USB-C 2.4GHz transmitter. While sound and battery life are great, they’re lacking in comfort and fit.

Despite the promise of helpful voice assistant features, with its Pixel Buds, Google combines an uncomfortable design, mediocre performance, and a high price tag for an unappealing pair of wireless headphones.