Good quality wireless earbuds: Best workout and running earbuds of 2023

Sep 16, 2023 alexxlab

Best workout and running earbuds of 2023

Choosing the right earbuds for your workout routine can be a very different process than finding a pair for casual, everyday listening. The best fitness buds need to hold up to intense exercise, whether you’re just in for a quick gym session or drenched in sweat on mile 25 of a marathon.

Battery life is crucial, and most people prefer them to have a lively sound that can motivate and keep things moving down the stretch of a workout. And most critical of all, they need to reliably stay in your ears during exercise without constant readjustment.

If you’re searching for a pair of regular, bring-everywhere buds, these might not be the right fit: instead, check out our best earbuds guide for those picks.

The Beats Fit Pro are the best overall fitness earbuds.

The best gym earbuds for most people

Beats Fit Pro

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 6 hours / Water and sweat resistance: IPX4 / Warranty: One year / Controls: Physical buttons, voice

Beats Fit Pro

$160$20020% off

160

$160$20020% off

The Beats Fit Pro earbuds have noise cancellation and transparency features that are on par with Apple’s first-gen AirPods Pro, and their sound offers more bass and kick. They also have built-in wingtips to ensure a secure fit.

$160 at Amazon$160 at Best Buy$160 at Target

The best running and gym earbuds you can buy right now are the Beats Fit Pro earbuds. And Apple now sells them in even more colors like bright yellow, pink, and blue. The Powerbeats Pro were our go-to exercise bud recommendation for years — and they’re still great if you need the stability of ear hooks — but the Fit Pros are much smaller, easier to take anywhere, and include active noise cancellation. That’s something the Powerbeats never offered, and the ANC can help drown out obnoxious grunters and screamers at your local gym. If you want to hear your surroundings, just switch over to transparency mode to pipe in ambient sound. As for the sound, the Fit Pros offer plenty of kick and oomph in the bass — but nothing near the bloated boom of older Beats headphones.

Instead of wraparound ear hooks, the Beats Fit Pro earbuds have permanently attached, flexible wings that hook into your ear to keep them secure and anchored in place no matter how strenuous your fitness regime is. Ask anyone you know that owns them: these things really don’t budge. And for controls, Beats critically uses tactile button presses instead of capacitive tap gestures, which makes all the difference when you’re trying to skip a track while mid-stride.

The Fit Pros are rated IPX4 for water and sweat resistance. That’s not the best among our fitness earbud picks, but it’s standard for the category. They’ll last for up to six hours on a single charge with noise cancellation turned on, which should be plenty to motivate you through any race or workout of the day. The case is good for another 18 hours of total playback time. With bonus Apple ecosystem features like spatial audio (with head tracking), audio sharing, and more, the Beats Fit Pro deliver a ton of functionality and value for their price.

READ MY REVIEW OF THE BEATS FIT PRO.

The Soundcore Sport X10 are among the best budget running earbuds.

Best cheap workout earbuds

Anker Soundcore Sport X10

Noise cancellation: No / Battery life: 8 hours / Water and sweat resistance: IPX7 / Warranty: One year / Controls: Physical buttons

Soundcore Sport X10

$56$8030% off

Anker’s Soundcore Sport X10 headphones have powerful bass, flexible ear loops that keep them in place, and an IPX7 rating for water and sweat resistance. They can also provide up to eight hours of continuous battery life.

$56 at Amazon$70 at Anker

If you’re looking to spend under $100 and still come away with a satisfactory set of workout earbuds, Anker’s Soundcore brand — as is often the case — is the go-to recommendation. The Soundcore Sport X10 have pliable, rotatable wraparound ear hooks that guarantee they’ll stay in place from start to finish. And their flexibility can make them even more comfortable than Beats’ Powerbeats Pro. They’ve got a bass-forward sound tuning and IPX7 water resistance, making them basically impervious to rain and even the sweatiest gym sessions.

The Sport X10s last for up to eight hours on a charge, and their slim charging case won’t take up much room in your gym bag. You can pick between 22 different EQ settings in Soundcore’s app, and the earbuds have a transparency mode to pipe in outside sound when you need it. For just $79.99 (and often on sale for less), there’s a lot of value packed into the Sport X10s.

Sennheiser’s Sport Earbuds deliver the best sound quality among workout earbuds.

The best-sounding fitness earbuds

Sennheiser Sport Earbuds

Noise cancellation: No / Battery life: 9 hours / Water and sweat resistance: IP54 / Warranty: One year / Controls: Tap gestures

Sennheiser Sport Earbuds

$100$13023% off

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$100$13023% off

Sennheiser’s Sport Earbuds deliver the top-notch sound quality that the company is known for. They also come with two styles of ear tips — open and closed — that let you decide how much ambient sound you want to hear during workouts.

$100 at Amazon$100 at Best Buy

If you’re a fitness buff and also an audiophile, Sennheiser’s Sport Earbuds might be the ideal choice. They don’t compromise on sound and have integrated fins for a secure fit. And while technically there’s no noise cancellation, Sennheiser took a unique approach and includes both closed and open-style ear tips in the box; the former provides natural noise isolation, while the latter will make it easier to hear your surroundings and eliminate your own breathing or footstep sounds. There’s even a toggle in the Smart Control app that optimizes the EQ depending on what style of tip you’re wearing.

With an IP54 rating against dust and water and up to nine hours of continuous playback, the Sport Earbuds should be up to the task of handling any workout routine or race. Their sound profile offers plenty of bass kick without any unwanted muddiness. These earbuds don’t have many frills, but they deliver where it counts for exercise.

Jabra’s Elite 7 Active have a secure fit thanks to their special coating.

Best running earbuds that don’t need fins

Jabra Elite 7 Active

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 8 hours / Water and sweat resistance: IP57 / Warranty: Two years / Controls: Buttons, voice

Jabra Elite 7 Active

$140$18022% off

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$140$18022% off

Jabra’s Elite 7 Active earbuds have a special outer coating that helps them remain in your ears even during vigorous exercise — without the help of wing tips or fins that some people find uncomfortable. They also support multipoint connectivity, so you can connect them to two devices at the same time.

$140 at Amazon$140 at Best Buy

Instead of hooks or fins that some ears don’t agree with, Jabra’s Elite 7 Active earbuds use a special coating that the company calls “ShakeGrip” to keep them sturdy regardless of how sweaty your ears get over the course of a workout. They also offer adjustable active noise cancellation, so you can personalize the level of ANC that feels right for whatever activity you’re doing. Moreover, Jabra beats out Beats and other competitors with more substantial IP57 certification against dust, water, and sweat. Battery life also bests some rivals by stretching up to eight hours.

These provide the same sound quality as Jabra’s flagship Elite 7 Pro buds. The only difference is that the Pros are optimized for voice call performance and everyday use, whereas these stick to the fitness realm. You can customize that audio profile using the hearing analysis in Jabra’s

If you’d prefer to spend less, Jabra’s Elite 4 Active buds maintain the IP57 durability while omitting features like multipoint, wireless charging, and the adjustable noise cancellation. But giving those up drops the price down to $119, and you can often find the Elite 4 Actives for under $100 when they’re on sale.

The LinkBuds let you maintain total situational awareness when listening to music.

The safest workout earbuds when running outside

Sony LinkBuds

Noise cancellation: No / Battery life: 5.5 hours / Water and sweat resistance: IPX4 / Warranty: One year / Controls: Wide-area controls

Sony LinkBuds

$148$17817% off

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$148$17817% off

With a hole cut right into the center, Sony’s LinkBuds don’t look like any other earbuds on the market today. They rest in your ears with the help of small stabilizer arcs, and the unique design means you’re always aware of what’s happening around you.

$148 at Amazon$150 at Best Buy

The donut-style hole in the middle of Sony’s LinkBuds makes them unbeatable if you need to maintain situational awareness when you’re running or walking outside. Only bone conduction earphones would keep your ears more open to the outside world. The tradeoff is that you might have to crank the volume in louder environments like city streets, but some people prefer that if it means hearing the world around them at all times.

They’ve certainly got a unique style and shape, but Sony’s unconventional design helps the LinkBuds stay put quite well in my ears. You can swap between five different sizes of “fitting supporters” that lock into your ear concha to keep the LinkBuds in place more securely. They offer IPX4 certification against water and sweat and can last for up to six hours on a charge.

Next to their open design and great voice call performance, my favorite thing about the LinkBuds is Sony’s “wide area” controls. These allow you to tap your cheek near the earbuds to skip tracks and activate other controls; you don’t need to touch the actual buds at all. This can be a relief mid-workout when you don’t have to be so precise about exactly where you’re tapping.

READ MY REVIEW OF THE SONY LINKBUDS.

LG’s Tone Free Fit TF8 earbuds have special features that competitors can’t match.

Self-cleaning fitness earbuds

LG Tone Free Fit TF8

Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 10 hours / Water and sweat resistance: IP67 / Warranty: One year / Controls: Tap gestures

LG Tone Free Fit TF8

$127$20037% off

127

$127$20037% off

LG’s sporty Tone Free earbuds can automatically clean the ear tips using UV-C light when they’re in the case. You can also use an included cable to plug the case into 3.5mm audio sources and stream that audio directly to the wireless earbuds.

$127 at Amazon$130 at LG

If you’re not the most diligent when it comes to cleaning your earbuds, LG’s Tone Free Fit TF8 buds have you covered; while the case is closed and the buds are charging, UV-C light kills “99. 9 percent of bacteria on the ear gels,” according to LG. That’s not the only unique trick that these earbuds are capable of. You can also plug the case into a 3.5mm aux output — on a plane or at the gym, for example — and have that audio play over the wireless earbuds.

Aside from those standout features, the Tone Free Fit TF8 earbuds are also some of the most comfortable fitness buds I’ve worn, and that’s even with the integrated fins. They include active noise cancellation, a decent transparency mode, and up to 10 hours of uninterrupted playback time (with 30 hours total including the charging case).

Bose’s Frames Tempo keep the tunes coming without obstructing your ears.

The best audio sunglasses for hikes and outdoor workouts

Bose Frames Tempo

Noise cancellation: No / Battery life: 8 hours / Water and sweat resistance: IPX4 / Warranty: One year / Controls: Buttons, temple swipe gestures, voice

Bose Frames Tempo

$125$24950% off

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$125$24950% off

Bose’s Frames Tempo are sporty-looking shades that let you enjoy music and other audio while keeping your ears totally unobstructed.

$125 at Amazon$125 at Best Buy

In some cases, audio glasses like Bose’s Frames lineup can be a smarter choice than traditional earbuds. They keep your ears completely free and shield your eyes from the sun — all while playing audio directed at your ears from the built-in speakers on the temples.

The Frames Tempo are the most sporty of Bose’s lineup; they don’t look out of place next to a pair of Oakleys or similar shades. More important is that they provide the longest battery life (around eight hours) and best bass performance of any of the Frames. It’s still not going to match the low-end boom of earbuds that are actually seated in your ear canal, but you’ll get enough bass to keep it moving during outdoor runs or hikes. The hardware is rated IPX4 for water and sweat resistance, so as long as you avoid the heaviest downpours, you should be just fine.

READ MY REVIEW OF THE BOSE FRAMES TEMPO.

Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge

Update March 17th, 11:45AM ET: The buying guide was updated with new formatting and details on new Beats Fit Pro color options.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II review: noise cancellation domination

Bose has built its entire brand and reputation on noise cancellation technology. The company has been in this game for decades, so I probably shouldn’t have been surprised by how soundly the new QuietComfort Earbuds II outperform the competition in the ANC department. But after several days of testing them, that’s exactly where I find myself.

Until now, the original QuietComfort Earbuds, Sony’s WF-1000XM4, and Apple’s AirPods Pro were all within a stone’s throw of each other — and all very good. But Bose’s new $299 earbuds have raised the bar again — substantially. In various everyday situations, these are as good or better than over-ear noise-canceling headphones, and they’re obviously far more compact and portable.

The QuietComfort Earbuds II are still missing some increasingly important amenities like multipoint, and even wireless charging is absent. These oversights can make the high price harder to rationalize. But sound quality is excellent, and in addition to class-leading noise cancellation, Bose has managed to equal the natural, lifelike transparency mode of Apple’s AirPods Pro.

8Verge Score

The Good

A new milestone for noise cancellation in earbuds
Dependable performance with great dynamic sound
Superb transparency mode

The Bad

No wireless charging despite $299 price
Not capable of multipoint
More expensive than original QC Earbuds

$299 at Amazon$299 at Best Buy$299 at Bose

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Upon unboxing them, it’s immediately noticeable how much smaller these earbuds are compared to the prior generation. Bose product manager Jason Brisbois told me that they’re 30 percent smaller by volume; they also wear closer to your ears and head than before. The charging case has also been shaved down by 40 percent. It’s more pocketable but still the sort of size where I don’t understand why Bose didn’t include wireless charging.

The earbuds are 30 percent smaller and now more in line with competitors.

Fitting the QuietComfort Earbuds II to your ears is a much different experience than past Bose buds. The company has ditched its signature StayHear winged ear tips in favor of a two-piece system. You get three sizes of ear tips (S, M, L) and three sets of stability bands that use your ear concha to keep the earbuds securely in place. This means there are nine total combinations when mixing tips and stability bands, and like other earbud makers, Bose notes that your left and right ears might be different enough to warrant different configurations in each. I ended up using large ear tips but a medium-sized stability band in one ear and a large in the other.

Bose’s goal with this change was to prevent any fatigue or discomfort while also making the new earbuds fit a wider variety of ear shapes and sizes — and there’s even a separate fit kit you can order from customer support with XS and XL attachments if none of the bundled options do the job. I’ve read some initial concern from fans of the one-piece StayHear tips that the new approach won’t work as well for them, but I wouldn’t be worried. It’s admittedly more of a process having to experiment with two pieces in each ear, but it’s a worthwhile use of those extra minutes to find the best fit.

The charging case is 40 percent smaller.

It’s now similar in size to the competition.

Whenever you begin a listening session by plucking the earbuds from their case and putting them into your ears, you’ll hear a short tone in each ear. It’s the same orchestral thwomp sound effect that Bose has used for years in its headphones and earbuds. But now, it’s got a new very intentional purpose: CustomTune. Bose uses the brief tone to analyze the acoustic properties of your ear canal. And then the QuietComfort Earbuds II adjust the noise cancellation and audio profile based on the data that comes back. This happens once each time you use the earbuds.

Getting the right fit? It’s a process

Tech companies have been putting much greater emphasis on tailoring the sound of earbuds or headphones just for you. With iOS 16, Apple can now scan your ears for personalized spatial audio. And Sony claims it’s able to optimize 360 Reality Audio with pictures of your ears. Bose is essentially using CustomTune as its own answer for personalized audio.

Goodbye, StayHear tips; hello, two-part fitting process.GIF: Bose

The drivers and underlying components in the QuietComfort Earbuds II haven’t drastically changed from the original pair. But sound from these buds does seem more nuanced, dynamic, and shaped than before, and Brisbois said that all boils down to CustomTune. Bose research scientist John Rule said the system takes hundreds of measurements and then makes the resulting audio adjustments and applies filters “in less than a second.” The QuietComfort Earbuds II sound better to my ears than the AirPods Pro or Sony’s WF-1000XM4 buds.

They produce dynamic, textured music with plenty of bass kick and a wide soundstage. I’d say Bose is only eked out by something like Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds, but those are proving more buggy and unreliable the more I use them. And there’s no comparison when it comes to ANC: Bose wins. But it’s how the company made such headway this time that’s more interesting.

The smaller QC Earbuds II are fairly inconspicuous in my large-ish ears.

They also wear close to your head this time.

“When you’re flying on an airplane, you can cancel the airplane pretty well,” Rule said of most noise-canceling headphones and earbuds on the market today. “But you can now hear the people talking three rows behind you, because you’ve canceled the plane more than you’ve canceled the voices. You’ve unmasked things you didn’t want to hear.”

“So in order to really perceive that you’re getting more noise canceling, there’s no real value in making the airplane any more quiet. There’s only value in filling in that hole in the middle,” said Rule. With its new earbuds, Bose specifically focused on bringing down those middle frequencies — things like nearby voices or crying babies — and the improvements are significant. I can still hear a trace of nearby chatter in the office. But I’ve never worn earbuds that come so close to totally erasing the voices around me. Play music at practically any volume and you’ll feel as though you’re in a private, blissful cocoon.

The QC Earbuds II have a transparency mode that sounds natural and lifelike.

“We measure them internally as better than the QuietComfort 45s, as having more noise canceling than the [over-ear] QC45s or anything else that we’ve measured,” Rule told me. Some minor asterisks remain: over-ear headphones fare better at hushing higher frequencies (clanking plates and silverware, etc.) because of their ear cup cushions. “We will always work on making both of them better, but right now these are the winners,” Rule said of the QC Earbuds II. It’s impressive, especially when Bose is still using silicone ear tips that don’t have the same isolation benefits as the expanding foam on Sony’s WF-1000XM4.

“I would say it’s true that the future looks like personalization,” Rule said. “And we believe that this is, right now, this [CustomTune] is the best way based on our measurement of competitive products to go after that.” CustomTune also benefits transparency mode, which to my ears comes across just as natural as what you’d hear from Apple’s AirPods Pro. That lifelike passthrough has been very difficult for other earbud makers to top, but Bose is right there neck and neck with Apple.

The lack of multipoint is unfortunate, but you can’t beat this noise cancellation

But the QuietComfort Earbuds II aren’t without weaknesses. They don’t include Bluetooth multipoint, a feature that lets you pair with two audio sources simultaneously for easier multitasking. Google just brought multipoint to the Pixel Buds Pro, and Jabra has included it for many years. Bose’s own headphones offer multipoint, but the company claims it was unable to bring the same convenience to these earbuds while also maintaining high performance.

You won’t have to reach for over-ear headphones on flights anymore.

“When we were defining the program and really scoping out what matters most, single point is really where you get the most reliable connection and audio performance,” Bose’s Brisbois told me. “And so that meant we had to call the ball and just say, all right, no multipoint, because we don’t want to give up on that.” Multipoint can occasionally be glitchy, sure, but I’d prefer having it there regardless.

For their premium price, the QC Earbuds II really don’t include many frills. The Bose Music app for Android and iOS lets you set up four different “modes,” with each blending the levels of noise cancellation and transparency to your preference. You can also make basic EQ adjustments to bass, mids, and treble. And the touch-and-hold gesture is customizable on each earbud: it can either toggle between ANC modes or trigger a voice assistant. The earbuds automatically pause audio when you remove one of them, and they activate transparency mode when this happens. There’s also an “ActiveSense” setting that will quickly reenable noise cancellation if loud noises are detected when the earbuds are in transparency mode.

That’s about where the software tricks end. No fancy head-tracking spatial audio like you get from AirPods or Galaxy Buds. No location-based sound profiles like Sony’s earbuds can provide. Bose supports the bare minimum AAC and SBC codecs. There’s something to be said for focusing on what matters, but don’t expect much in the way of extras.

Bose focused on quieting nearby voices with the QC Earbuds II.

Battery life for the QC Earbuds II is estimated at six hours with ANC on, with the case holding three additional charges for a total of 24 hours. The buds are rated IPX4 for water resistance. Those are all par for the course numbers in 2022. Mic performance has been satisfactory in my voice calls so far, but I haven’t had much time for head-to-head testing. Be on the lookout for our next Vergecast microphone test for that.

AGREE TO CONTINUE: BOSE QUIETCOMFORT EARBUDS II

Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It’s impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we started counting exactly how many times you have to hit “agree” to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people don’t read and definitely can’t negotiate.

Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds II can be used by pairing over Bluetooth without agreeing to any software terms. But the Bose Music app, available on Android and iOS, is required for accessing some settings and updating firmware. By using that, you’re agreeing to:

Bose privacy policy
Bose terms of use

Bose Music collects diagnostic and usage data, but you can opt out of this in the app’s settings menu. Thankfully, Bose no longer requires you to create an account just to use the mobile app.

Final tally: two mandatory agreements and one optional agreement on data collection.

The QuietComfort Earbuds II are objectively the best noise-canceling earbuds you can buy. Bose has successfully fended off Sony, Apple, Google, and Samsung and made meaningful progress with ANC in this form factor. They certainly don’t come cheap, and I can’t predict how long the QC Earbuds II will remain at the top; Apple is about to release its second-generation AirPods Pro and promises its own noise-canceling advancements. But these sound fantastic, fit comfortably, and do an unmatched job at silencing the outside world — especially voices. Reputation vindicated once again.

Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge

Best Bluetooth headphones — Ranking (2023)

This TOP bluetooth headphones of 2023 includes only good Bluetooth headphones under $200, the golden mean ⚖️ price and quality . In the ranking, we included the best Bluetooth headphones of all form factors: in-ear, vacuum, overhead and full-size. If $200 for Bluetooth headphones is still a lot for you, then the TOP budget Bluetooth headphones under $100 consists of the best budget bluetooth headphones that will not let you down in quality and are worth buying.

The best bluetooth headphones should not only sound good, but also be comfortable 🎧, last a long time on a single charge 🔋 and preferably have additional technological features ⚙️ (noise reduction, support for aptX HD codecs, and so on). This rating of bluetooth headphones consists of such universal options. Bluetooth headphones from $100 to $200 are not the best you can buy among bluetooth headsets, but the golden mean and the best choice for most people. 🏆The top and most expensive models in a separate rating.

Choosing Bluetooth headphones is best to start by identifying the main use cases:

🎵 Listening to music at home or outside . A good option would be Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancellation, for example: Sony WH-XB900N, Sennheiser HD 458 BT or JBL CLUB 950NC. If the priority is sound quality, then you can choose the following wireless headphones: AKG K 361-BT, Shanling MTW300.
🏋️ Sports and active lifestyle. Earplugs and earbuds, including TWS Bluetooth headphones with a secure fit, for example: Jabra Elite 75t, Huawei FreeBuds 4.
💻 PC, work and play . Wireless headphones, which ones to choose for gaming? Better wired. 😉 There is still a desynchronization of picture and sound when connecting via Bluetooth. But the series can already be watched in many models comfortably, not to mention listening to music in the background while working. The main thing is that the headphones are comfortable, for example: Sennheiser HD 458 BT, JBL CLUB 950NC.
📱 Headphones for telephone and calls . All TOP models below will fit; See also: TOP-15: The best headphones for your phone with a high-quality microphone.

🎧 Bluetooth headphones — navigation by topic:

Continuation of this rating:

TOPs of completely wireless :

⚖️ What bluetooth headphones to buy – 8 main characteristics of

Which Bluetooth headphones to choose?

Characteristics that you should pay attention to when choosing bluetooth headphones:

Codecs . More about all current codecs: TOP-5 best codecs. The difference between the codecs is audible, although not always. Not all bluetooth headphones under $200 support the aptX or LDAC line of codecs, but AAC is common.
Overall sound quality . Many wireless headphones have an overabundance of bass and a lack of treble. Below in the TOP, this is indicated. And pay attention to the frequency response graphs.
Management . Someone is more comfortable touch, someone – push-button. In modern models, a good implementation of touch control is increasingly common: fewer false positives and cunning gestures. But someone is closer to Bluetooth headphones for a phone with buttons. There are also hybrid solutions.
Autonomy . In 2023, 20 hours+ on a single charge is the minimum for full-size models. Plugs have not yet reached such heights due to the compact design. Bluetooth in-ear and vacuum headphones (with a wire between the cases) work on average for about 10 hours, which is a comfortable indicator. True Wireless Bluetooth headphones (like Apple Airpods) – 4h+ and 15+ from the case. Batteries in Bluetooth headphones are becoming more enduring, and this pleases. Category of long-playing models.
Connector . Micro USB is a thing of the past. The future belongs to Type C (already 6 years). This is a universal connector, with which faster charging and data transfer throughput are many times greater. But, on the other hand, it is impossible to determine which wireless headphones are better only by the connector. If you have the right cable in the kit, it’s already good.
Comfort . 2 hours without discomfort is the minimum for full-size models. The best Bluetooth earbuds and earbuds “should adhere” to the same standards. In any case, wireless on-ear headphones put pressure on your ears if you can spend more than an hour in them without discomfort – this is already a comfortable model.
Durability . Under $100, many Bluetooth headphones are made of flimsy plastic. Do not rely on metal elements. Sometimes strong plastic lasts 10 years, and headphones with metal body elements break in the second year.
Price . In the range up to $ 200, you can find many worthy models. Comfortable, with good sound and modern technology. In fact, they are presented below. Of course, there are also purely branded headphones that “do not win back” their money. But there are none in our list. 😉 If you are considering options for which Bluetooth headphones to buy also in other price categories, then pay attention to our ratings up to $100 and more than $200.

Rating of the best bluetooth headphones (under $200) – TOP 15:

Model	Description
1. Sony WH-XB900N $200	Best Bluetooth Headphones Under $200;
2. Sennheiser HD 458 BT $130	Best Bluetooth Noise Canceling Headphones Under $130;
3. JBL CLUB 950NC $200	Decent full size Bluetooth headphones;
4. Sennheiser IE 100 Pro Wireless $200	High-quality bluetooth headphones for phone with aptX and wired connection;
5. Anker Soundcore Life Q35 $140	Noise Canceling Wireless Bluetooth Headphones with LDAC;
6. Shanling MTW300 $150	Best Bluetooth headphones under $150 with AptX and great sound;
7. Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro $200	Hybrid bluetooth earbuds: excellent sound, noise reduction and application;
8. Jabra Elite 85h $170	Good wireless Bluetooth headphones;
9. Huawei FreeBuds Pro $140	The best bluetooth headphones with “legs” under $140: price and quality;
10. Huawei FreeBuds 4 $150	Best in-ear Bluetooth headphones under $150: TWS headphones for Android;
11. Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT $100	The best full-size bluetooth headphones under $100;
12. JBL Live Pro 2 $160	Bluetooth headphones with good microphone and sound;
13. AKG K 361-BT $120	The best bluetooth headphones under $120 among full-size ones;
14. Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless $140	In-ear Bluetooth headphones with a good microphone and excellent sound;
15. Jabra Elite 4 Active $165	Good bluetooth headphones with Bluetooth 5.2.

15 Jabra Elite 4 Active

Good bluetooth headphones with Bluetooth 5.2 – IP57 protection and comfortable fit

The Jabra Elite 4 Active are good Bluetooth 5.2 headphones for sports fans and those who want good headphones but aren’t ready to spend more than $250 on flagships. The sound is suitable for electronics, pop music, hip-hop: a slight emphasis on low frequencies, not failed high frequencies and a relatively balanced presentation.

These are really good Bluetooth headphones for the money. Particularly pleased with the reliable and comfortable fit, protection against dust and moisture IP57 and autonomy up to 7 hours with noise reduction. By the way, noise reduction is working, although it does not reach the leaders – we have collected them in a separate rating. When jogging, a customizable transparency mode will come in handy.

Don’t expect something exceptional from the Jabra Elite 4 Active – this is for the flagship wireless models. Here the focus is on the balance of price and quality. Many will like push-button control, although it is not without nuances. And additional features and firmware updates are available in a proprietary application.

Jabra Elite 4 Active – on Aliexpress

14 Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless

In-Ear Bluetooth Headphones – good mic and great sound

Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless are in-ear Bluetooth headphones for those who want a model with good sound and those who love the brand. The sound is powerful, moderately detailed, without obvious distortions and distortions, suitable for any music, best of all for modern music.

Not the best in-ear Bluetooth headphones, but a “confidently average” model of eminent Germans. There is working noise cancellation, app support, and convenient customizable touch controls. By the way, we have a rating of interesting Sennheiser models.

The highly customizable and functional touch controls are a delight. There are all the necessary functions that you can adjust for yourself. And aptX support gives you extra confidence in sound quality. 😉

Buy Sennheiser CX Plus TWS wireless headphones in the official store

13 AKG K 361-BT

The best bluetooth headphones under $120 – among full-size

AKG K 361-BT are the best bluetooth headphones under $120 for those who love smooth sound and those who work with it. The headphones sound balanced and versatile – they are suitable for any music, except for the one that needs pumped bass. 😉

Comfortable fit, good autonomy (up to 24 hours) and wired connectivity. In terms of price and quality, these are the best full-size bluetooth headphones. By the way, we have a rating of “large” headphones.

The sound is smooth enough to use as monitor headphones. We connect by wire and work. 😎

The best bluetooth headphones under $120 AKG K361-BT on the official website of

AKG K 361-BT – on Aliexpress

12 JBL Live Pro 2

Bluetooth headphones with good microphone and sound – up to 10 hours autonomy

JBL Live Pro 2 are vacuum Bluetooth headphones with a good microphone and sound, which are suitable for those who want to get the maximum quality and functionality under $200. The sound is quite balanced, with a well-developed, but not overblown bass: suitable for electronics, pop music, hip-hop and similar genres.

In headphones, everything is good for the money. Autonomy up to 10 hours on a single charge, working noise reduction, wireless charging, multipoint, a useful application with additional settings and a good microphone for calls. Models with similar functionality often cost more.

The JBL Live Pro 2 is a model for those who love the AirPods-like leg design. By the way, we have a whole rating of Apple Airpods analogues. In this case, the design is not impressive, but not repulsive either. But there is IPX5 protection – from sweat and rain.

11 Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT

The best full-size bluetooth headphones under $100 – up to 60 hours of autonomy

Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT are the best full-size bluetooth headphones under $100, which are suitable for those who like high-quality smooth sound and do not like to frequently charge their headphones. The handwriting is even without bright accents and distortions, although the bass is slightly emphasized. The sound is suitable for any music – it is universal.

Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT is a wireless version of the company’s junior monitor headphones, the emphasis here is on sound – it is better than most analogues. Separately pleases and autonomy up to 60 hours with the ability to quickly charge for 3 hours in 10 minutes. By the way, we have a rating of inexpensive professional models – up to $100.

But there are no additional functions. Noise reduction, transparency, application support, sound settings – these are other “more pop” models. But there is a low latency mode that will allow you to comfortably play mobile games.

Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT – the best bluetooth headphones under $100 on Aliexpress

10 Huawei FreeBuds 4

Best in-ear Bluetooth headphones under $150 – TWS headphones for Android

Huawei FreeBuds 4 are the best in-ear Bluetooth headphones under $150, suitable for fans of in-ear and AirPods 2-type design. The sound is suitable for popular music, hip-hop, electronics and similar genres.

Pros: Good ergonomics, comfortable fit and active noise cancellation – a rarity for this form factor. And with phones from Huawei there is even instant pairing and that same “magic”.

Other interesting earbuds from the company are Huawei FreeBuds Lipstick. These are “fashion headphones” for girls. They differ from Freebuds 4 in appearance and nuances of sound and software operation. By the way, we have a large rating of inserts, where there are many interesting models.

Huawei FreeBuds 4 on the official website of

Huawei FreeBuds 4 are the best in-ear Bluetooth headphones on Aliexpress

9 Huawei FreeBuds Pro

The best bluetooth headphones with “legs” under $140 – price and quality

Huawei FreeBuds Pro are the best Bluetooth headphones with “legs” under $140, which will suit those who are looking for the best “plugs” in terms of price and quality. The sound is universal: without strong accents, suitable for any music.

Huawei FreeBuds Pro is no longer the latest generation of firmware, so their price is gradually decreasing. But these are still relevant TWS headphones with convenient controls, high-quality noise reduction and other nice technological features.

Looking for bluetooth headphones on the principle of “price-quality”? Be sure to consider the previous generations of flagships of well-known brands, they may pleasantly surprise you, including FreeBuds Pro. By the way, we have a rating of interesting TWS headphones under $100 with reasonable and low prices. 😉

Huawei FreeBuds Pro: buy from

official store

Huawei FreeBuds Pro – on Aliexpress

8 Jabra Elite 85h

Good wireless Bluetooth headphones – value for money

Jabra Elite 85h are good wireless Bluetooth headphones for those who need good sound and functionality, but flagships from Bose, Sony or Sennheiser seem expensive. The sound is good for all popular genres, from electronic to hip-hop. The presentation is universal, without bright accents and unnecessary emotions.

The main advantage is the combination of price and quality. Headphones are almost half the price of famous flagships, and in terms of functionality they are almost as good. The application has many interesting settings, the fit is comfortable, the design is foldable, the control is functional. Even noise reduction is quite working – the effect of it is noticeable.

Jabra Elite 45h

Jabra Elite 45h non-active noise canceling on-ear headphones with richer bass and better voice quality. An interesting model for fans of compact on-ear headphones. The sound is generally simpler, the functionality is more modest, but the price tag is lower.

Jabra Elite 85h – on Aliexpress

7 Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro

Hybrid Bluetooth earbuds – great sound, noise reduction and app

Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro are hybrid bluetooth earbuds that will suit those who are looking for good sound, useful functionality and love the Anker brand. The sound is bright, energetic and versatile: suitable for any music.

In the application, the sound can be adjusted according to the characteristics of one’s hearing, if desired. You can also do with active noise cancellation. These are bluetooth headphones with good sound and well-developed additional features, such as working noise reduction, smart pause, a useful application and comfortable autonomy.

First of all, these are bluetooth headphones for music. Not for audiophiles, but for music lovers. By the way, we have a rating of headphones for music with different models for every taste.

Bluetooth headphones with good sound Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro in Doctorhead

Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro – on Aliexpress

6 Shanling MTW300

Best Bluetooth Headphones Under $150 – With AptX and Great Sound

Shanling MTW300 are the best Bluetooth headphones under $150 for those who care about sound quality and TWS format. A sound that’s authentic, versatile and vibrant – suitable for any kind of music. aptX support plays an important role in this.

No noise canceling, no smart pause, no proprietary app—features not everyone wants. But the headphones are comfortable, compact and work up to 10 hours on a single charge. By the way, we have a separate rating for convenient models.

Another model from Shanling MTW200 is a headphone for those who value high-quality bass and clear sound. If the MTW300s are flat, the MTW200s are bass-heavy, but the overall sound quality is still better than most analogues in its price range and higher.

Shanling MTW300 Wireless Headphones in

Official Store

Shanling MTW300 – on Aliexpress

5 Anker Soundcore Life Q35

Wireless Bluetooth Headphones – Noise Canceling & LDAC

Anker Soundcore Life Q35 are full-size wireless Bluetooth headphones that are suitable for those who do not need expensive flagships, but need high-quality and functional headphones for traveling or listening at work. Sound with a strong bass emphasis: for popular music, electronica, hip-hop and similar genres.

This is the “budget flagship” variant: it has all the popular features, but the price is significantly lower than the top models from Sony, Bose, B&W and other “expensive brands”. There is noise reduction, a functional application, automatic pause and other nice features. But without miracles – the quality of all these functions and sound is lower than that of the flagships.

Anker Soundcore Life Q35 – on Aliexpress

4 Sennheiser IE 100 Pro Wireless

Quality bluetooth earphones for phone – with aptX and wired connection

Sennheiser IE 100 Pro Wireless are high-quality Bluetooth headphones for the phone, which are suitable for those who care about high-quality sound, but TWS format is not important – completely wireless. Headphones sound accurate, detailed and balanced – suitable for any music and for stage monitoring.

These are the best wired Bluetooth headphones in their niche. They not only have a wire between the cases, but a completely wired connection is possible – the cable is included. In this form, the sound becomes even better. By the way, we have a rating of full-size monitor headphones – more classic options for work.

Quality Bluetooth headphones Sennheiser IE 100 Pro Wireless on the official website of

3 JBL CLUB 950NC 🥉

Full size Bluetooh headphones – large headphones with Bluetooh 5.0

JBL CLUB 950NC are full-size Bluetooh headphones that will suit those who love JBL and do not chase novelties. The sound is powerful, but without pumped bass – suitable for any modern popular music.

What else can you do with these big Bluetooth 5.0 headphones? Brand stylish, but not flashy design and comfortable autonomy up to 22 hours with ANC enabled. By the way, we have a separate rating of JBL models.

It’s interesting and a bit frustrating that the only codecs here are SBC. On the one hand, such sound quality without high-resolution codecs is a pleasant surprise. On the other hand, if there was aptX, the sound would probably be even better … 😉

Bluetooth headphones JBL CLUB 950NC on the official website of JBL

JBL CLUB 950NC Big Bluetooth Headphones on Aliexpress

2 Sennheiser HD 458 BT 🥈

Best Bluetooth Noise Canceling Headphones Under $130 – For Computer, TV & Phone

Sennheiser HD 458 BT are the best Bluetooth noise canceling headphones under $130 that work for computer, TV and phone. The sound is rich, high-quality, with aptX support – suitable for any music, especially electronic direction.

Universal model: you can listen to music from your phone, watch TV or connect to a computer. Bluetooth headphones for PC – the idea, in principle, is ambiguous. There may be audio delays, for example, when watching a video. But it is worth connecting by wire, and this problem disappears.

Other pluses: stylish design with red accents, working noise cancellation, battery life up to 30 hours and the mentioned wired connection. By the way, we have a separate rating of headphones for a computer: wired and wireless.

The best Bluetooth headphones Sennheiser HD 458 BT: on the official website of

1 Sony WH-XB900N 🏆

Best Bluetooth Headphones Under $200 – Noise Canceling, Touch and aptX HD

The Sony WH-XB900N are the best Bluetooth headphones under $200 for those who are looking for everyday headphones and love bass. The sound is suitable for electronics, pop music, hip-hop and similar genres, because the bass is noticeably accentuated, this is the Xtra Bass line.

Other features: active noise cancellation, support for aptX, aptX HD and LDAC, battery life up to 30 hours with noise cancellation, comfortable fit and quality build – a recognizable signature of Sony. These are the best mid-range wireless earbuds. But we also have a rating of the best wireless headphones without a price limit.

Sony has a more expensive and less bass equivalent Sony WH-H910N. The noise reduction of this model is slightly better, there is no support for aptX codecs, although LDAC is preserved, the texture of the ear pads is different, but visually there are more similarities than differences.

Sony WH-XB900N Wireless Bluetooth Noise Canceling Headphones on Aliexpress

💎 Useful related articles:

Expert opinion: quality wireless headphones | TECHNOLOGIES

02/03/2023 10:58

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Vladivostok, February 3 – AiF-Primorye.

The use of wireless headphones allows you to enjoy music in almost any situation. On the way to school or work, in a fitness room, cafe or in transport, you can listen to your favorite track without hampering your movement with wires. This is confirmed by the use of Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro by buyers who are interested in a high-quality and reliable accessory.

The shape of the headphones and the connection technology used will determine how best to connect them to a smartphone, TV or PC. The most convenient option is via Bluetooth. These headphones are compatible with all devices that support such a connection. Depending on the standard, you can connect to equipment at a distance of up to 30 meters with minimal power consumption.

The quality of the microphone used in the headphones will affect the effectiveness of the suppression of extraneous noise. It is necessary to take into account the operating time without additional recharging of the accessory – as a rule, it is from 5 to 10 hours.

Charging can take up to two hours, but much depends on the power cord. It is better to use moisture protection class IP68, which allows you to listen to music even when submerged under water to a depth of 10 meters.

When choosing a manufacturer, it is better to give preference to well-known brands – this way there is less chance of purchasing low-quality goods. Most often, buyers take: Xiaomi / Soundcore (famous Chinese brands), Sony (Japanese brand), JBL (supplier of music products).

The following is information on how to choose your wireless headphones.

Experts offer the following options for inexpensive and high-quality headphones:

1. Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro – headphones with high sound quality. Charged via USB-C or via a wireless station. They feature deep bass with clear mids. Support surround sound. They have the best price.

2. Anker Soundcore Space A40 – high sound quality with long battery life. They charge quickly, which saves a lot of time. They are comfortable in everyday wear, have noise reduction and transparency mode.