The 8 Best Earbuds And In-Ear Headphones – Spring 2023: Reviews
- Table of Contents
- Intro
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Best Earbuds
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Best Upper Mid-Range
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Best Mid-Range
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Best Lower Mid-Range
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Best Budget
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Best For Bass
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Best Sport
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Best IEMs
- Notable Mentions
- Recent Updates
- All Reviews
- Discussions
Updated Jun 13, 2023 at 01:30 pm
By Kieran Dunn
In-ears or earbuds can be much more portable than bulky over-ears and help passively block out background noise for those on the go. They can be great at the gym and are easy to toss into your pocket when you get off the bus or arrive at the office. While earbuds technically rest at the edge of the ear canal and in-ears have barrel-shaped tips inserted deep into the ear, people often use the two terms interchangeably. In-ears tend to be more common, though some people find them uncomfortable and prefer the less intrusive fit of earbuds.
We’ve tested over 290 pairs of earbuds and in-ear headphones. Below are our recommendations for the best in-ears and earbuds to purchase. Check out our picks for the best truly wireless earbuds, the best wireless earbuds and in-ears, and the best sounding wireless earbuds.
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Best Earbuds
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless
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Neutral Sound
7.3
Commute/Travel
8.5
Sports/Fitness
8.4
Office
7.
5Wireless Gaming
5.7
Wired Gaming
5.6
Phone Calls
6.3
Type
Earbuds
Enclosure
Closed-Back
Wireless
Truly Wireless
Transducer
Dynamic
Noise Cancelling
Yes
Mic
Yes
See all our test results
The best earbuds we’ve tested are the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless. If you want the absolute best, these buds are worthwhile. They’re the next iteration of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless and have an incredible noise cancelling (ANC) system that outperforms their competitors. They easily block out sound across the range, from the low rumble of bus engines to ambient chatter to the hum of computer fans.
With this go around, Bose has re-assessed their design, making them less bulky and more comfortable than their predecessor. That means you can wear them for long periods without fatigue, and they look more refined.The shape of our test rig’s ear canals affects the buds’ bass delivery, and as a result, they sound more bass-heavy than our graph shows. They’re well-suited for genres like EDM and hip-hop, but subjectively, the extra bass muddies vocals and instruments. Thanks to their companion app support, you can tweak their sound to suit your tastes via the graphic EQ and presets. They have 6.7 hours of continuous battery life, and their carrying case supplies three additional charges. That said, they don’t have multi-device pairing, which is disappointing if you want to stay connected to two devices simultaneously.
See our review
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Best Upper Mid-Range Earbuds
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless
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Neutral Sound
7.
4Commute/Travel
8.2
Sports/Fitness
8.3
Office
7.3
Wireless Gaming
5.7
Wired Gaming
5.6
Phone Calls
6.4
Type
In-ear
Enclosure
Closed-Back
Wireless
Truly Wireless
Transducer
Dynamic
Noise Cancelling
Yes
Mic
Yes
See all our test results
If you still want a premium design 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 h3 chip for seamless pairing with devices in your Apple ecosystem and Spatial Audio for a more immersive audio experience. While their ANC isn’t on par with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless, they still do an excellent job of tackling hard-to-block noise like rumbly plane engines, as well as ambient chatter. With their ANC on, they last just under six hours continuously, though their case holds four extra charges if you need it.Overall, they’re well-built and have a comfortable fit for long listening sessions. Their design can wiggle out of your ears over time, which is annoying. They have a warm sound profile, making vocals and instruments seem cozy; this means they’re well-suited for most kinds of content. However, they lack built-in EQ or presets to help you tweak their sound, so if this matters, check out the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 instead.
They offer similar noise isolation and sound customization features via their companion app. However, they aren’t as comfortable.See our review
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Best Mid-Range Earbuds
Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless
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Neutral Sound
7.4
Commute/Travel
8.0
Sports/Fitness
8.0
Office
7.2
Wireless Gaming
5.5
Wired Gaming
5.
4Phone Calls
6.0
Type
In-ear
Enclosure
Closed-Back
Wireless
Truly Wireless
Transducer
Dynamic
Noise Cancelling
Yes
Mic
Yes
See all our test results
The Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless are the best in-ear headphones at the mid-range level we’ve tested. Despite the smaller price tag, these earbuds still have plenty of useful extra features. They support multi-device pairing, meaning you can stay connected with your phone and computer simultaneously, and they have an ANC feature that does an excellent job of blocking out noise. Google Pixel users can also take advantage of the Spatial Audio feature meant to help create a more immersive soundstage.
The earbuds have a solid continuous battery life of around seven hours and come with a case with two extra charges.
Their slightly v-shaped sound profile emphasizes the thump and rumble of low bass, while instruments and lead vocals sound clear and bright. However, they can pop out of your ears over time. This can be annoying and affect their bass delivery if you can’t achieve a consistent fit. The Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless are another good mid-range option. They’re more comfortable for most people and not as prone to slipping out of place, but their ANC doesn’t block bass-range noise like rumbling engines as effectively.See our review
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Best Lower Mid-Range Earbuds
Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless
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Neutral Sound
6.8
Commute/Travel
8.
3Sports/Fitness
8.0
Office
7.5
Wireless Gaming
5.5
Wired Gaming
5.3
Phone Calls
6.4
Type
In-ear
Enclosure
Closed-Back
Wireless
Truly Wireless
Transducer
Dynamic
Noise Cancelling
Yes
Mic
Yes
See all our test results
Consider the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless if you want a more affordable option. These earbuds do sacrifice some higher-end features, like virtual surround sound. Out of the box, they also have a less neutral sound profile than the Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless.
Still, thanks to their adaptive ANC feature, they have a fantastic noise cancelling performance, which can help 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 have a solid eight hours of continuous battery life and come with a case with four additional charges.By default, they have a warm sound profile that works well for genres like rock and jazz but mixes lack low-bass, and voices and instruments are missing some detail. Still, you can use a graphic EQ and presets in the companion app to adjust the sound to your taste. The earbuds support LDAC, Sony’s codec for Hi-Res audio. You can also use ‘Game Mode’ for lower latency, especially with Android devices, which can help when you watch videos or play mobile games. They have a comfortable fit and a sturdy design. However, their integrated mic struggles to record your voice clearly, so they aren’t well-suited even for occasional phone calls.
See our review
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Best Budget Earbuds
Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless
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Neutral Sound
7.0
Commute/Travel
7.8
Sports/Fitness
8.1
Office
7.2
Wireless Gaming
5.3
Wired Gaming
5.2
Phone Calls
6.
6Type
In-ear
Enclosure
Closed-Back
Wireless
Truly Wireless
Transducer
Dynamic
Noise Cancelling
No
Mic
Yes
See all our test results
The best budget earbuds we’ve tested are the Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless. These earbuds don’t have ANC and don’t have a companion app, but they have something special to set them apart. Their battery lasts about seven hours of continuous use, which is good, and their case holds 12.5 additional charges, giving them an outstanding total battery life of nearly 100 hours. That’s a nice perk if you use your earbuds for extended trips or tend to forget to charge your earbuds’ case.
Otherwise, they have a no-frills design. Their bass-rich sound profile adds rumble and punch to your audio while instruments and voices are present and quite clear. Unlike the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, they don’t include a graphic EQ for sound customization.
Since they also lack noise cancelling, they don’t do much to block out bass-range sounds like rumbling engines, but they passively isolate you from a good amount of higher-pitched sounds like ambient chit-chat and computer fans.See our review
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Best Earbuds For Bass
Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3
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Neutral Sound
7.1
Commute/Travel
8.2
Sports/Fitness
8.2
Office
7.6
Wireless Gaming
5.
6Wired Gaming
5.4
Phone Calls
7.0
Type
In-ear
Enclosure
Closed-Back
Wireless
Truly Wireless
Transducer
Dynamic
Noise Cancelling
Yes
Mic
Yes
See all our test results
If you mostly listen to bass-heavy genres, like metal, hip-hop, and EDM, then you want earbuds that can pack a solid punch and thump. Where other earbuds might try to do this by overemphasizing the bass in the mix, this can cause distortion and create sound artifacts that make the listening experience less pleasant. Instead, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 have an extremely neutral bass profile and an underemphasized treble range. As such, they can reproduce bass range audio with outstanding fidelity, though higher-frequency instruments, vocals, and sibilants sound dull.
If you’d prefer a different mix, their companion app has a graphic EQ and presets to help you personalize their sound.Despite their bulkier size, they’re decently comfortable and come with ear tips and stability fins to help find the best fit for your ear. They’re also lightweight, well-built, and have an IPX4 rating for protection against water splashes, making them a good choice for moderate workouts. If you’re using them for your daily commute, their ANC will keep you isolated from the low rumble of bus engines and the noisy chatter from nearby commuters. However, it doesn’t perform as well as the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless. Fortunately, the Sennheiser’s battery lasts longer than the Bose, at around 8.5 hours on a single charge, making them well-suited for use at the office.
See our review
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Best Earbuds For Sports And Running
Jaybird Vista 2 Truly Wireless
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Neutral Sound
7.
3Commute/Travel
7.5
Sports/Fitness
8.4
Office
7.1
Wireless Gaming
5.8
Wired Gaming
5.7
Phone Calls
6.4
Type
In-ear
Enclosure
Closed-Back
Wireless
Truly Wireless
Transducer
Dynamic
Noise Cancelling
Yes
Mic
Yes
See all our test results
If you’re looking for lightweight earbuds that stay in place during moderate and intense exercise, look no further than the Jaybird Vista 2 Truly Wireless.
These earbuds have a sturdy build quality and are rated IP68 for protection against dust and immersion in water. This, paired with their impressively secure stability fins, make them an ideal pair of buds for a tough hike or long run in the rain. However, while they have ANC, it doesn’t do a very good job isolating you from background noise, like heavy traffic or chatter from fellow gymgoers. You’re more likely to get a better performance by using them passively.Their sound profile is well-balanced. There’s adequate thump, punch, and boom to compliment heavier workout jams, but vocals and instruments sound slightly nudged back. Sibilants, like cymbals, also feel piercing, but fortunately, you can customize the mix to suit your needs using the companion app’s parametric EQ and presets. You can also use the app to use their transparency mode, SurroundSense, to increase your spatial awareness while exercising outside. Their battery life only lasts around five hours on a single charge, so they won’t get you through a whole workday like the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3, but their carrying case comes with two extra charges.
See our review
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Best In-Ear Monitor Headphones
MOONDROP Aria
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Neutral Sound
7.5
Commute/Travel
5.5
Sports/Fitness
6.6
Office
5.7
Wireless Gaming
4.3
Wired Gaming
6.4
Phone Calls
2.2
Type
In-ear
Enclosure
Closed-Back
Wireless
No
Transducer
Dynamic
Noise Cancelling
No
Mic
No
See all our test results
If you’re looking for wired in-ears with high sound quality, the MOONDROP Aria are the best in-ear monitors (IEMs) we’ve tested.
They aren’t customizable in the same way as the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, and they lack features like ANC and even a mic, although you can purchase an audio cable with an in-line mic separately. However, their reasonably neutral sound profile makes them well-suited for different audio content, making them a solid choice if you care about sound quality. There’s a touch of extra high-bass to add warmth to mixes, while vocals and lead instruments sound clear and present. Even though they have a metal chassis, which can feel a bit heavy compared to other picks on this list, they come with a more durable hard case to help protect them when you’re on the go.These comfortable headphones have a detachable audio cable design which helps eliminate audio lag. Unfortunately, while they have a good build quality out of the box, users have reported several issues with their design. It includes the audio cable’s nylon wrap fraying and curling, loose connectors, and paint chipping off the buds.
See our review
5
With this go around, Bose has re-assessed their design, making them less bulky and more comfortable than their predecessor. That means you can wear them for long periods without fatigue, and they look more refined.
4
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 h3 chip for seamless pairing with devices in your Apple ecosystem and Spatial Audio for a more immersive audio experience. While their ANC isn’t on par with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless, they still do an excellent job of tackling hard-to-block noise like rumbly plane engines, as well as ambient chatter. With their ANC on, they last just under six hours continuously, though their case holds four extra charges if you need it.
They offer similar noise isolation and sound customization features via their companion app. However, they aren’t as comfortable.
4
Their slightly v-shaped sound profile emphasizes the thump and rumble of low bass, while instruments and lead vocals sound clear and bright. However, they can pop out of your ears over time. This can be annoying and affect their bass delivery if you can’t achieve a consistent fit. The Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless are another good mid-range option. They’re more comfortable for most people and not as prone to slipping out of place, but their ANC doesn’t block bass-range noise like rumbling engines as effectively.
3
Still, thanks to their adaptive ANC feature, they have a fantastic noise cancelling performance, which can help 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 have a solid eight hours of continuous battery life and come with a case with four additional charges.
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Since they also lack noise cancelling, they don’t do much to block out bass-range sounds like rumbling engines, but they passively isolate you from a good amount of higher-pitched sounds like ambient chit-chat and computer fans.
6
If you’d prefer a different mix, their companion app has a graphic EQ and presets to help you personalize their sound./cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19949884/Urbanears_Alby_PR_Dusty_White.jpg)
3
These earbuds have a sturdy build quality and are rated IP68 for protection against dust and immersion in water. This, paired with their impressively secure stability fins, make them an ideal pair of buds for a tough hike or long run in the rain. However, while they have ANC, it doesn’t do a very good job isolating you from background noise, like heavy traffic or chatter from fellow gymgoers. You’re more likely to get a better performance by using them passively.
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They aren’t customizable in the same way as the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, and they lack features like ANC and even a mic, although you can purchase an audio cable with an in-line mic separately. However, their reasonably neutral sound profile makes them well-suited for different audio content, making them a solid choice if you care about sound quality. There’s a touch of extra high-bass to add warmth to mixes, while vocals and lead instruments sound clear and present. Even though they have a metal chassis, which can feel a bit heavy compared to other picks on this list, they come with a more durable hard case to help protect them when you’re on the go.
Notable Mentions
- Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless:
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro Truly Wireless are sleek in-ears with a slightly better noise isolation performance than the Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless and sound more neutral, which some users may prefer. However, they don’t support multi-device pairing, and their battery performance is worse.
See our review - Beats Powerbeats Pro Truly Wireless:
The Beats Powerbeats Pro Truly Wireless are sports-oriented in-ears with an ear-hook design. They have a more stable fit than the Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless, but they don’t have an ANC system and lack sound customization features.
See our review - Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless:
The Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless have a flat and neutral sound profile, but their ANC blocks out less background noise than the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless.
See our review - Anker SoundCore Life P3 Truly Wireless:
The Anker SoundCore Life P3 Truly Wireless are, in many ways, very similar in performance to the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless. They’re comfortable and well-built, but their ANC doesn’t isolate you from as much ambient noise, and their continuous battery life is shorter.
See our review - Skullcandy Dime 2 True Wireless:
The Skullcandy Dime 2 True Wireless are wallet-friendly, truly wireless headphones with a slightly bass-heavy sound profile. However, their continuous battery life is much shorter than the Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless. They also lack customization features like EQ presets.
See our review - MOONDROP KATO:
The MOONDROP KATO are wired IEMs with a sleek stainless steel chassis and an interchangeable nozzle design to help you fine-tune their sound. However, they’re heavier than the MOONDROP Aria and lack more low-bass.
See our review
However, they’re heavier than the MOONDROP Aria and lack more low-bass.Recent Updates
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Jun 13, 2023:
To provide more diversity with our picks, we replaced the ‘Best Cheap Earbuds’ category with two new categories: ‘Best Earbuds For Bass’, for which we picked the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3, and ‘Best Earbuds For Sports And Running’, for which we picked the Jaybird Vista 2 Truly Wireless. -
May 18, 2023:
Validated the article’s picks and made minor edits to the text. -
Mar 29, 2023:
Revised the text for clarity and made sure that the products are relevant and in stock. -
Feb 22, 2023:
Updated text and checked that the picks represent the best recommendations.
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Jan 24, 2023:
We’ve added the Jaybird Vista 2 Truly Wireless to Notable Mentions. We’ve also made minor revisions to the text to ensure its accuracy and quality.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best in-ear headphones and earbuds to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn’t worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for earbuds and in-ears. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.
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Photo: Rozette Rago
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I love my wireless earbuds. Putting them on is akin to slipping into my favorite sweatpants—I instantly feel comforted and insulated from the outside world. My headphones provide me with motivation when I’m working out, help me focus at work, give me information when I’m commuting, and help me relax before bed. But as much as I love them, something has been gnawing at my conscience lately: Is there a hidden dark side to my favorite earbuds?
In the third quarter of 2019 alone, 33 million true wireless earbuds, the style with no connecting cable between the earbuds (think AirPods), were sold. And that sales number is expected to grow. According to a report by Futuresource Consulting, true wireless earbuds are expected to account for two-thirds of the earbuds market by 2023.
It’s no surprise: Advances in technology have made true wireless earbuds smaller, lighter, and more affordable. For most people, the first time you try them, you instantly love how freeing they feel. But here’s the awful truth: In a few years, nearly every one of those millions of pairs of earbuds will be in a landfill.
The hard truth about rechargeable batteries
Even if your Bluetooth earbuds don’t physically break, their batteries will eventually lose their ability to charge. This isn’t due to an evil corporate plot. All rechargeable batteries eventually die. It’s just physics. Batteries lose capacity over time due to a layer of crystalline buildup that slowly coats the battery’s inside walls. This aging process increases electrical resistance and results in a gradual reduction in the amount of juice the batteries have available every time you fully charge them. Wirecutter senior editor and powering expert Mark Smirniotis wrote an explanation of this phenomenon, and the short version is this: Every time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less listening time.
At first, the effect is barely noticeable. But over a few years, you may find that your wireless earbuds, which played music for five hours per charge when you first got them, now provide you with only an hour of play time. Eventually they simply won’t hold a charge at all, and in most cases you can’t just swap out the battery—it’s glued in, and getting to it effectively destroys whatever parts you might hope to salvage.
The reason earbud companies use non-replaceable rechargeable batteries is simple: It makes the earbuds smaller. Earbud buyers generally prefer more compact devices, but that means the earbuds have less room inside for all the necessary components. Designers need to cram a Bluetooth chip and processor, an antenna, a battery, drivers, controls, and microphones into something that’s often the size of a thimble. Replaceable battery compartments require more earbud real estate, and in a competitive field where tiny is currently king, companies don’t want to risk their earbuds being flops by making them bigger.
The small size of true wireless earbuds may be great for comfort and convenience, but it doesn’t leave much room for a battery—and the smaller the battery, the shorter its lifespan. Photo: Rozette Rago
How long should you expect your earbuds’ batteries to last? It depends. As Mark explained to us, a lot of factors can impact battery life—including how often you use your earbuds, how frequently you charge them and leave them plugged in, how often you expose them to extreme temperatures, and how often you take calls or use active noise cancellation (both of which draw a high amount of power). So the same pair of headphones that craps out on one person after two years might last another person closer to four years. But it’s only a matter of time before the technology grim reaper comes calling.
This information may come as a shock to folks who are accustomed to the lifespan of wired headphones. I’ve known people who have owned traditional wired headphones for a decade or more, provided they did some mild maintenance now and again.
When you realize that the $200 earbuds you love may last you only three years with daily use, it can feel like a punch to the gut. Then again, with the progression of technology, many people have grown accustomed to the obsolescence of their gear. They accept that phones and laptops aren’t lifelong purchases. For headphone lovers like me, the value per year of regular use may seem worth the purchase price.
But what’s eating at me is the environmental impact. Very often, people just drop broken earbuds into the trash (which you shouldn’t do, as it could lead to a literal trash fire). And even those who endeavor to recycle properly may find that the system they trust to reduce and reuse is deeply flawed. A 2017 United Nations Global E-waste Monitor report (PDF) stated that, of the world’s nearly 45 million metric tons of e-waste, only 20 percent was recycled through proper channels. Many “recyclers” ship the e-waste abroad, where much of it isn’t truly recycled. A small amount of usable parts might be repurposed, and valuable minerals are extracted, but this process has negative environmental impacts of its own.
The prevailing methods can lead to unsafe conditions for workers and the surrounding areas. For example, the process for recovering gold (which is commonly used in electronics due to its conductive abilities) involves “bathing circuit boards in nitric and hydrochloric acid, thus poisoning waterways and communities.” Whatever is not deemed useful is dumped in the ground.
Much of the global recycling process is driven by profit, so the viability of recycling a given item is based on the value of the raw materials that can be extracted—but margins are slim. Since earbuds are so small, the value of extracted materials may be only a fraction of a cent, which may not even cover the labor-intensive cost of the recycling process. As a result, many recycling companies don’t bother recycling earbuds, so they end up in the landfill anyhow.
What you can do
As a reusable-bag-toting, organic-produce-buying vegan with a kid, I struggle with this information. I love using wireless earbuds, and I recommend them to people every day.
But I also want to be a responsible global citizen. Thankfully, there are some things that everyone can do to extend the life and value of their wireless-headphone purchases.
First, you can maximize the lifespan of the earbuds you already own. To do that, you should practice good battery-health habits. Keep your electronics at room temperature as often as possible—never leave your headphones in a hot or cold car, wear them in a sauna, or store them outdoors. (Chances are, if you’re uncomfortable with the temperature, so are your earbuds.) Turn your headphones off when you aren’t using them. Don’t leave your earbuds or charging case plugged in indefinitely. Once they’re fully charged, unplug the cable. And if you are going to set aside your headphones for a week or more, check to see if the manual has any specific storage instructions. According to Mark, the sweet spot for storing lithium batteries is often in the middle, charged between 30 and 70 percent.
Second, when shopping for Bluetooth headphones, consider models that you can also use with a cord.:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8015567/akrales_170217_1464_A_0172.0.jpg)
For now, that may mean choosing something other than true wireless earbuds. Wireless headphones and earbuds with an optional cord still can function passively after the batteries die, as long as your mobile device has a headphone jack (or you have an adapter cable). Even if they cease to be your daily go-to headphones, they aren’t garbage. I like to keep a pair like this for use in a pinch when I forget to charge my favorite earbuds. You can also store them in your desk, use them for travel (so you won’t stress as much about loss or theft), or keep them as a handy loaner pair for friends and family. Alternatively, you could buy a wired-only pair as a backup, knowing that they’ll likely outlive current Bluetooth options by years.
If your heart is set on true wireless earbuds, consider the initial battery capacity when you make your purchase. That is, note how long the earbuds hold a charge. The newest Bluetooth chipsets draw less power from the battery, which means longer listening times per charge, and the recently announced Bluetooth LE Audio spec should improve things even further.
Increasing battery capacity could, in theory, lengthen the headphones’ lifespan because you charge them less frequently. So if you’re able to delay purchasing a new pair of earbuds, you may be rewarded with a purchase that lasts longer. However, as we mentioned before, this requires following good charging practices.
What you need to know about Bluetooth audio
What manufacturers can do
According to Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, incorporating replaceable batteries into true wireless earbuds is absolutely doable—if the manufacturers get on board. While some true wireless earbuds, such as Apple’s AirPods and AirPods Pro, are unrepairable once the battery dies, others, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Buds and Jabra’s Elite 75t, would need only minor alterations in design to make them fixable. Taylor Dixon of iFixit took apart several Bluetooth earbuds and found that often the only hurdle preventing battery replacement would be a change in glue or using battery clips rather than relying on solder.
iFixit has taken apart many wireless earbuds to find out which batteries could become replaceable with a few design modifications. Often the only hurdle preventing battery replacement is a change in glue or the use of battery clips instead of solder. Photo: iFixit
Ideally, headphone manufacturers could tweak their designs, institute battery-swap services, create authorized repair centers, and even offer branded repair kits for the ambitious DIYer. Then, as the technology becomes obsolete, they could reduce their ecological footprint and reward brand loyalty by providing free recycling programs and discounts on new earbuds with the recycling of an old set, similar to what JLab does. (Apple and Bose offer recycling, but not a trade-in incentive.)
But for these advancements to occur, the folks buying the earbuds need to ask for them. Legislation in Massachusetts, though focused on cars, is intended to compel companies to make electronics more repairable by requiring replacement parts to be available for sale and manuals to be accessible for free online.
However, a right-to-repair law can be difficult to implement and slow-moving in effecting change, especially when compared with consumer-demand-driven movements. The trouble is, shoppers can’t speak with their wallets and buy earbuds with replaceable batteries until companies start producing them and supporting the repair process.
Despite the current state of affairs, progress is possible. One startup, The Swap Club, is a business based on refurbishing the millions of AirPods that need new batteries. Wirecutter’s Jon Chase wrote about his experience exchanging his first-generation AirPods for another pair with a new battery. (The company currently only can only replace first- and second-generation AirPods.) While this is only one model of one brand of earbud, it’s a proof of concept that could make a significant impact in the lifespan of battery-powered earbuds, should more companies or brands adopt a similar methodology.
Wireless earbuds aren’t going away, but they must become more sustainable.
Perhaps with some encouragement from everyone, brands will begin to make changes that can make a real difference.
Further reading
-
The Best Wired Earbuds
by Ian D. White
The FiiO FD3 Pro is our favorite pair of wired earbuds under $200 because it offers excellent sound and build quality, plus a ton of helpful accessories.
-
The Best Earbuds Under $50
by Lauren Dragan
The 1More Piston Fit BT wireless earbuds are comfortable and solidly built, and they sound far better than they should for the money.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).
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why is True Wireless still not true? / Habr
When everyone around started talking about completely wireless headphones, my joy knew no bounds.
No more collars, no more wires! Nothing but two connected to each other by some kind of mental magic, plugs right in the ears? Give me two! One in each ear! And a cute charging case to boot!
Exactly two months later, please take them back, hide them away and return to me my dear and beloved conditionally wireless collar.
I cried. Now, I’ll try under the cut, less emotionally to talk about what’s wrong with the TWS form factor, who it doesn’t suit and why I don’t like it so much
Background that you can skip
True Wireless Stereo, TWS are the first truly wireless headphones that are paired with each other not with a headband, hard collar or soft wire, but wirelessly.
Apple has been talking about why TWS is amazing with its AirPods for several years, and a good dozen manufacturers, with varying degrees of success, quickly picked up the trend and made True Wireless one of the most popular wearable earphone formats.
So when I burned my favorite MOMENTUM In-Ear Wireless in all senses, I just went and bought myself the same, but even more wireless.
Sennheiser considers them a flagship model and is actively forcing the market, so they have done full reviews on them without me, so I will not repeat the rave reviews.
Because I’m not happy. Moreover, not so much from the super-premium Sennheiser, which squeezed a lot out of the format, but from TWS itself.
What’s wrong with TWS?
You can learn about what TWS is good for from any review of any TWS headphones. And Apple has provided very good marketing support for its AirPods. Therefore, now is not about that.
Now about what is wrong with the form factor and why these are not headphones for every day.
Autonomy
I spend most of the day wearing headphones. No, I’m not some kind of introvert. Music in your ears makes it easier to enter a state of flow at work, more fun to walk the required 10,000 steps a day, and podcasts and audiobooks are the perfect way to spend an evening if you don’t feel like going anywhere.
And when your favorite and amazingly wireless headphones, in the most interesting place, they say that their powers are everything – you start to hate them.
You have to look in the wilds of the backpack for a charging case, get the earplugs out of your ears, put them in their places, make sure that the case itself is not discharged, charging goes on and count 15-20 minutes in silence to get another hour and a half of music, which may turn out to be Not needed.
When I use TWS earbuds, I always feel stressed because of the charge level . I have to check whether I can walk to the park and drink coffee there or if I have to postpone the walk for half an hour to recharge my headphones. I’m getting more addicted to my headphones than I’m already addicted to my smartphone. And this despite the fact that the cheapest “collar” from JBL lives 8-10 hours, full time.
Ergonomics
TWS is presented as the pinnacle of usability and convenience. No wires, manufacturers say, you don’t have to think about where to put all this noodles anymore if you’re not listening to music right now.
Great, but I have another question: where do I put my headphones when I’m not using them ?
The simple answer is to hide them in a case./cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19602903/cwelch_200114_3847_0002.jpg)
But this only works in cases where I want to put the headphones away for a long time or charge them. Much more often there are situations when I want to remove the headphones from my ears, but do not want to remove them for a long time. Here are a couple of stories.
In the office, while I’m listening to some neutral soul in the background, a colleague comes up to me. He does not want to discuss something for a long time, he does not call me to a spontaneous rally that was not on the calendar, he just wants a simple answer to a simple question. Why he did not write this question in Slack, no one knows, maybe even himself. But I still need to answer, so it’s important and urgent.
Noon, twenty-first century, day off. I’m going to ride my bike around the city. Headphones? No, because if I plug both my ears on the roads, I will die. TWS usually work in isolation, but you still can’t quickly pry the remaining earpiece out of your ear in an emergency to gain more control over the road.
And I’ll still die. In both situations, any, even the most expensive and pretentious TWS headphones, give in due to their form factor. If I had the cheapest Chinese collar, the headphones of which are connected with a short wire, I would simply pull on it and, in less than a second, I would be able to perceive the world. If I had any wireless headphones with a headband, I would just swipe them around my neck and forget about them.
In the case of TWS, I’m always a little hard of hearing, who has to think about how to start hearing the world in case of emergency. And judging by the fact that my Sennheiser True Wireless have Transparent Hearing, I’m not the only one. But it doesn’t always work well. And it also needs to be included.
Charging case
Manufacturers say it’s convenient. I have 4 hours of excellent sound on a single charge and about 12 more hours of sound if I periodically put the earbuds in the case. And this is actually true until you remember that mediocre headphones with a headband work the same 10-12 hours without any cases and boxes that you need to constantly carry with you.
Usually all my jeans have two pockets. The back ones don’t count because I sometimes sit. I have my phone in my left, keys in my right, a credit card in case Apple Pay fails again, and some little things like wet wipes. What should I do with the case, without which the headphones will become useless after 4 hours, and after 8 they will be lost?
Pain
The most subjective and most dangerous problem. No, this is not about some kind of abstract pain from the money spent or unfulfilled hopes. This is about the most ordinary pain that my auricles experienced while I was walking in brand new headphones on foot through the whole city. Why?
This is what my ear looks like when I plug regular collared headphones into it.
And this is how I look with TWS headphones.
Even in the photo you can see how the dimensions of the capsule make the auricle suffer. If I often forget about small earplugs like Beats X or wired Sennheiser CX300 when the album ends, and I only take off the headphones with the headband at night, then any TWS, except for earbuds like AirPods, have to be pulled out of my ears after 3 hours.
An elegant solution to the problem of autonomy – I just do not have time to wait until the battery runs out, it hurts me before .
Okay, how did it end?
Yes, nothing in general. In two months of suffering, I never found a single case where TWS would be more convenient than a “collar” or a soft collar. Neither on a run, nor in the office, nor on the street, I did not understand how the short wire around my neck was preventing me from living. So I just went to the store and bought myself another conditionally wireless headphones with a soft rim, this time not even Sennheiser, to whose products I am infinitely loyal, but pop Beats. And in three weeks with them, I still did not find a single case when I was infuriated by the presence of wiring.
Honey spoon
Of course, this is all very subjective. Of course, I have the wrong ears, I don’t know how to cook TWS, and four hours of autonomy is definitely enough for everyone. And in general, all these shortcomings look like children’s problems that manufacturers will fix in the next few years.
At least I hope so.
I hate wires. So much so that all the power cables in my house have a strictly necessary length, extension cords and tees are cynically thrown away, and the twisted pair cable ends right at the front door and turns into excellent 5GHz there. But even so, the TWS format still looks raw and unsuitable for permanent use for me. I hope this is temporary.
The right or left earphone, earphone case is not charging. What to do?
With charging wireless TWS Bluetooth headphones, a variety of problems very often arise. The right or left earphone does not charge, the headphone case does not charge, the indicators behave differently, etc. And this is not only a problem of cheap Chinese Bluetooth headphones such as i7s, i9s, i10, i11, i12, i30 and etc., but also expensive, top models. More than once I heard that the AirPods earpiece (first / second generation, or AirPods Pro), or the case itself, does not charge. There are also a lot of questions about problems with charging headphones from Xiaomi (mainly Redmi AirDots and Earbuds), JBL, Samsung, Huawei, Motorola, Xiaomi QCY and others.
This manual will work for all separate wireless headphones.
The fact is that the TWS headphone format itself turned out to be a bit complicated on the technical side. The case is charged, the headphones are charged from the case, the headphones are connected to the case using contacts, the batteries in these headphones are very compact. In total, there are three batteries in one set of headphones. And all this should work stably and correctly. Very often, one of the components fails, or simply stops working. And if you take apart some cheap headphones, you can see how bad and poorly done everything is there. I’m not talking about the quality of the parts themselves and batteries.
I will divide the article into two parts: in the first we will consider solutions related to charging the headphones from the case, and in the second – with charging the case itself.
Why don’t my wireless headphones charge from the case?
I personally encountered similar problems several times, analyzed a large number of cases that are on the Internet (articles, forums, videos), learned a lot of information from the comments on this site and am ready to share solutions that should solve the problem with charging your wireless Bluetooth headphones .
I will show most of the solutions using specific headphones as an example, but almost all solutions are universal. Even if your headphones are different from those in my photo, it’s okay. Do everything according to the instructions.
How to understand that the headphones are not charging or are charged?
There are a huge number of different models from different manufacturers on the market. And the indicators on the headphones and the case behave differently depending on the model. But in most cases it works like this:
- The indicator on the earpiece is red (or blinking) – the earphone is charging.
- The indicator lights up white or blue – the headphones are fully charged.
This is how it works on Xiaomi, JBL, Chinese headphones i10, i11, i12, etc. - If the indicator does not light or does not change after installation in the case, the headphones are not charging.
It may remain lit, flash, or not lit at all (as if the earpiece is turned off or connected to a device). That is, the earpiece does not react in any way to installation in the charging case and pressing the button (hold for 3-5 seconds).
That is, the earpiece does not react in any way to installation in the charging case and pressing the button (hold for 3-5 seconds). Charging may not be the cause
This is a very important point! Much more often than problems with charging TWS, toilets suffer from desynchronization. In this case, one earbud also stops working, the indicator on this earpiece does not behave as usual, etc. In any case, I recommend that you first try turning on the earpiece, resetting it and re-synchronizing.
In order not to load this article with unnecessary information, I leave links to two very detailed instructions:
- One wireless earphone does not work, stopped playing
- How do I reset and sync my wireless headphones?
And a separate article, if you have a problem with AirPods: connect AirPods to iPhone: it does not see, does not connect, one earphone does not work
Be sure to try this!
Charge case
I think you’ve already done that.
If not, be sure to connect the case to the charger. Almost always there is an indicator on the case that starts to burn or blink when charging is in progress. If you have connected the cable, inserted it into the adapter, plugged it into the socket and there is no reaction, the case is not charging, then try using a different cable and / or power adapter. Connect power from the computer’s USB port. See the solutions in the last chapter of this article.
Checking the contacts on the headphones and case
How many cases are there when, for example, after buying headphones, they simply do not pay attention to the fact that there is a protective film on the contacts. The headphones sit down and are no longer charged from the case because of this film (it is barely noticeable). People even turn to the service with this, but all they had to do was remove the protective film on the contacts. Very often this situation happens with Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earbuds basic and Xiaomi Redmi AirDots.
This is what it looks like:
Check the contacts on the headphones themselves and on the case. It often happens that the contact in the case just sinks. After that, there is no contact between the case and the earphone and it does not charge. Wipe the contacts on the headphones. You can try to lightly press the earpiece to the contacts.
If any of the contacts is sunk, it is lower than the others, then try to gently move it with a needle or toothpick. Perhaps it will straighten up and the earphone will be charged.
There may be another type of contact. On I7s, for example, contact with a thin needle inside. On AirPods and high-quality fakes, there is a separate contact on the bottom of the earpiece. It is imperative to check that no debris has entered the case itself, or into the hole on the earpiece.
If something got there, you can try to blow out the hole, or remove debris with a needle.
On Samsung Gear IconX, for example, there is such a problem when the earphone does not charge due to the seal (for large ears that comes with the kit).
The indicator flashes and charging is not in progress. You just need to remove this seal, or put on a smaller seal. And on the JBL, the earpiece did not charge due to poor contact. And there the guy just put a small piece of foil and it all worked. So-so solution, but it works.
If you have any working, non-standard solutions – share them in the comments!
Press the button and put the earpiece into the case
A very unusual solution that has already saved a huge number of AirDots and Earbuds. I wrote about it in the Xiaomi Redmi AirDots and Earbuds article: the left / right earbud does not work, does not sync, does not connect, the case / earbud does not charge. You can read reviews in the comments. Perhaps this solution can be applied to other headphones.
Everything is very simple. We take an earphone that does not charge and does not react to anything and put it in the case while holding down the button on it. We pressed the button, keep it pressed and put it in the case.
It doesn’t always work out the first time. No problem, try again.
Breakage of one earpiece
Unfortunately, this happens very often. One Bluetooth earphone can simply break. Moreover, most of these devices are, to put it mildly, of poor quality. Well, what kind of headphones can be for $ 4 (that’s how much I bought I7s).
Not infrequently, the contact between the board and the contact that is used to connect the earpiece to the case comes off.
It happens that inside the earphone the wiring from the battery or from the speaker just falls off. Anything can break. If there is a desire and some experience, then you can try to carefully disassemble the earpiece and see. Especially if you are already planning to throw them away. If some wiring came off there, then it can be soldered.
Update: another interesting solution
Problems with charging are due to the fact that the earphone is discharged to zero.
And after that, he just does not charge. You need to somehow start this earpiece, give it a push, and maybe it will start charging. This method has been tested on Samsung Galaxy Buds. On other headphones, I have not yet had the opportunity to test it.
The fact that the earphone does not take charge can most often be recognized by the indicator. As soon as we put the earpiece in the case, it immediately seems to be charging, and then (after a couple of seconds) it stops charging. Indicates that it is charged, or the indicator goes out altogether. We do this:
- Fully charge the case.
- Remove the working earpiece from the case and set it aside for now.
- We put the earphone that does not charge in the case and look at the indicator. As soon as it stops charging, we lift it up to break the contact and lower it back into the case. Our task is to keep it in charging mode all the time (albeit for a few seconds).
- You may have to repeat this (raise and lower the earpiece) 20 times. Maybe 40. Everyone is different. But it’s worth a try.
Maybe 40. Everyone is different. But it’s worth a try. One earpiece runs out quickly and shuts down
There is another very popular problem that I myself encountered on the original AirPods and on the Chinese i30 headphones. It seems that everything is charging and working as it should, but one of the headphones is very quickly discharged and turns itself off. This is my right earpiece. It only works for a few minutes and turns itself off. It turns out that one earpiece sits faster than the other. On AirPods, it lasts longer, but the right earpiece sits down much faster than the left one. These headphones cannot be used.
This is a hardware problem. That is, settings, resetting parameters and other similar methods cannot fix it. Need repair, replacement of a non-working earpiece (right or left), or purchase of new headphones. If there is a warranty, be sure to contact the service center or the seller. They have to repair, replace, return the money.
If the earphone is collapsible, then you can find the battery yourself, disassemble the earphones and replace it (solder).
But there are a lot of nuances here. Can you do it yourself, can you find a battery, etc.
In most cases, this makes no sense. It’s easier to buy new headphones. Just like with my first generation AirPods. You can only change the right earbud, since the left one seems to still be holding a charge. But where is the guarantee that in a month the left earpiece will not break, because they are already four years old. And the battery in AirPods cannot be replaced, they are non-separable, if I understand correctly.
Headphone case not charging
It may be different for different models, but when the case is charging, the red indicator on it usually flashes. When charged, the indicator just lights up. If you connect the power but there is no reaction from the headphones and the case, then most likely it is not charging.
If there are problems with charging the case (aka box, case), then the first step is to replace the cable and power supply. Connect the case through another adapter (from phone, tablet).
Get another cable. Usually a Micro-USB cable is used. I think you definitely have several of these cables at home. If you need Lightning for charging (used on good copies), then you can even use the original cable from Apple.
Make sure the connector in the charging case is fully inserted. Be sure to try to connect power from the USB port of a computer or laptop.
Case disassembly and contact check
If you have already checked and tried everything, but still nothing works, then you can hide the case and see if there are any problems inside. Maybe a broken wire or something. We do everything at our own peril and risk!
They are very easy to disassemble. You just need to pry one part with some sharp object. It is advisable to use a special plastic spatula so as not to damage the case.
Inside it looks something like this (on the example of Xiaomi Earbuds):
At the same time, you can check the contacts through which the headphones are connected.
And this is how a disassembled case of Chinese wireless headphones for $ 4 looks like.
If everything is in order there, the wires are not cut off, then the problem is either in the board or something with the battery. If you have a special tester, you can ring the contacts and measure the voltage in the battery. Perhaps something will be able to find out and find the cause.
We supply power to the battery directly
I saw this solution on the Internet, and judging by the reviews, it works. It happens that the headphones completely discharge the battery in the case and after that it stops charging through the connector. To revive it, you need to supply power to it from another battery or even three AA batteries. In charging boxes, as a rule, the battery is 3.7v.
You need to take the same battery (or a little more powerful, but not more than 5v), disassemble the case and apply power to the contacts that go to the battery.