Key Points
- The Sony WF-1000XM4 is our choice for the best overall sound quality earbuds on earth today.
- With the right earbuds, you will have the best music experience, especially if you’re used to traditional wired earphones.
- Premium earbuds have a noise canceling feature, impressive sound quality, and support two-way phone calls.
- Account for the following features when shopping for the best earbuds: sound quality, battery capacity, connectivity, and noise cancellation technology.
Since Apple released its first AirPods many moons ago, wireless earbuds have become the new norm; everyone is slowly moving away from the wired earphones era. A good pair of earbuds offers the perfect blend of sound quality, smart features, and innovative noise-cancellation technology to immerse you in your playlist. Moreover, some manufacturers have attacked the market through neat earbuds with superior call quality and virtual assistant support, which wasn’t available even in some earphones.
Given the expansive catalog of earbuds in the market, you may wonder which ones are the best for you. Remember, the earbuds’ specifications should match your use. There is no point in grabbing expensive earbuds with premium features and advanced smart technology if you only plan to use them occasionally. Instead, opt for more affordable options that deliver the same audio experience at a lower price.
So, after weeks of researching and reviewing different earbuds, our ranking of the earbuds with the best sound quality on earth is:
- #1 Best Overall: Sony WF-1000XM4
- Best For Apple: AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
- Best For Working Out: Beats Fit Pro
- Best Budget: Jabra Elite 3
- Best For Android: Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
#1 Best Overall Sound Quality Earbuds: Sony WF-1000XM4
- IPX4 water- and sweat-resistance
- Up to 8 hours of battery life on a single charge
- Crystal-clear call quality with four built-in microphones
- Pair with two Bluetooth devices at the same time
The Sony WF-1000XM4 is our top choice for the best sound-quality earbuds on earth today. Designed to fit your ears, the WF-1000XM4 has an ergonomic surface design that perfectly clips your ear, irrespective of your ear size. Further, these wireless earbuds weigh only 41g (case included), so you can comfortably walk with them around campus or at work without feeling like you’re carrying a heavy load.
The WF-1000XM4’s sound quality features the innovative 360 reality audio technology, which immerses you into your music world. These earbuds also have a frequency response of 20Hz to 20,000Hz. But what impressed us the most was the WF-1000XM4’s noise cancelation technology that features the famous V1 Integrated Processor. Besides muting any external noise from your surroundings, these earbuds also reduce the howling sound from wind noise, which is amazing.
In addition, the WF-1000XM4 boasts a hand-free voice call feature, which is handy when driving or doing other intensive tasks like working out. Lastly, thanks to the earbud’s expansive battery, you can talk for 8 hours on a single charge. Our only criticism of this earbud is that it’s expensive, which is expected for premium models.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It’s well-designed to fit your ears. | They are expensive. |
| It has a long-lasting battery. | |
| The WF-1000XM4 has some of the best noise-cancelation technology. | |
| They have superb sound quality. |
Check out the Sony WF-1000XM4 on Amazon.
Best Earbuds for Apple Users: AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
- Apple-designed H2 chip
- Low-distortion, custom-built driver
- Up to 2x more Active Noise Cancellation than the previous AirPods Pro
- Personalized spatial audio
- Up to 6 hours of battery life or 30 hours with the charging case
Next on our list is the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) earbuds, one of the best sound quality earbuds in the market for iOS users. Design-wise, these earbuds are built for all ear types; you can get a small or large earbud, depending on your ear size. However, the AirPods Pro are a bit smaller than the average earbuds. They have 1.22 x 0.86 x 0.94 (H x W x L) inch dimensions and weigh 5.3 grams, hence they’re highly portable for long-distance travel.
Running on the new Apple H2 Headphone chip, Apple has re-engineered these AirPods Pro to outshine their predecessor, the first-generation AirPods, in every sector. This earbud’s Active noise cancelation technology allows you to listen to your playlist without external interruptions. And with the adaptive transparency feature, these AirPods Pro reduce environmental sounds like sirens and loudspeakers. They also have superior sound quality with 3-dimensional sound, which immerses you into your playlist and surrounds you with sound.
In addition, Apple packed the AirPods Pro with spatial audio, which gives you a theater-like sound experience when binge-watching. But the main benefit of these earbuds is their extended battery life, which provides 6 hours of listening time on a single charge. Unfortunately, you won’t enjoy all the available features in the AirPods Pro if you’re not an iOS user, which is this earbud’s biggest criticism. Also, the AirPods Pro earbuds are very expensive, which is expected for such a premium device.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The AirPods Pro earbuds are designed for all ear sizes. | The AirPods Pro earbuds are expensive. |
| They have amazing noise-cancelation technology. | You may not experience these earbuds’ full potential using an Android phone. |
| The AirPods Pro earbuds have superior sound quality compared to most earbuds. | |
| They are lightweight, so you can easily travel with them. |
Check out the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) on Amazon.
Best Earbuds for Working Out: Beats Fit Pro
- Available in 9 different colors including navy, black, white and sage gray
- Up to 6 hours of battery life on a single charge or up to 24 hours with case
- Enhanced by Apple H1 chip for super smooth syncing to Apple iPhone
- IPX4 rated for sweat and water resistance
We must include the Beats Fit Pro, one of the best sound quality earbuds for working out and for your morning runs. What impressed us the most about the Beats Fit Pro is their comfortable design, which features an adjustable wingtip that firmly holds on to your ears when working out. These earbuds are also lightweight, weighing 5.6 grams each. And with three soft silicone ear tips, these earbuds are perfect for all ear types.
Thanks to the Beats Fit Pro’s spatial audio technology, these earbuds don’t shy away from performance. Certainly, they will immerse you in your music playlist. But where they shine most is their head tracking feature, which uses gyroscopes and accelerometers to adjust your sound settings when you turn your head. Moreover, they have noise-canceling technology, which eliminates the background noise we commonly experience in most gyms. However, the Beats Fit Pro’s transparency mode ensures you are not completely cut off from your surrounding world, as you can still hear what is happening around you.
In addition, these earbuds boast various beamforming microphones that eliminate external noises and wind sounds to ensure you are audible during calls. Also, the Beats Fit Pro is compatible with Apple and Android, which adds to its versatility. Unfortunately, these earbuds aren’t perfect; they are expensive, and the case is fairly large for portable earbuds.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It’s designed to fit perfectly in your ears. | The Beats Fit Pro earbuds are expensive. |
| The Beats Fit Pro has good sound quality. | They come in a large case that is inconvenient for traveling. |
| These earbuds are compatible with both Apple and Android devices. |
Check out the Beats Fit Pro on Amazon.
Best Budget Earbuds: Jabra Elite 3
- Includes 4 microphones (built-in)
- Battery: 7hrs, 28hrs (case)
- Can use only one earbud at a time if desired
- Rated IP55 (rain-proof)
For earbuds that cost $63, the Jabra Elite 3 makes it on our list as the most affordable yet best sound quality earbuds in the market. With a Danish design, these 4.6-gram earbuds will perfectly fit your ears. You can also select various color shades to match your daily outfits.
The Jabra Elite 3 earbuds are designed to breathe new life into your music world, thanks to their 20Hz to 20KHz speaker bandwidth. They also have 6mm speakers that deliver a punchy base and rich sound.
Additionally, the Jabra Elite 3’s noise cancelation technology will keep all your external distractions at bay and immerse you in your music or movie. The earbuds pack four mics, minimizing noise and ensuring clear calls, especially in crowded areas. The Jabra Elite 3 earbuds also come with an expansive battery, guaranteeing seven hours of usage. Our only criticism of these earbuds is that they don’t have auto pause, which has become a must-have in most modern devices.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| They are very affordable. | They do not come with the auto pause feature. |
| The Jabra Elite’s noise cancelation technology is impressive. | |
| They have a long-lasting battery. |
Check out the Jabra Elite 3 on Amazon.
Best Android Earbuds: Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
- Features noise cancelation technology (active)
- Rated IPX7
- Designed for a perfect fit
- Allows you to personalize your sound experience
Last on our list is the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, one of the best sound quality earbuds for Android users. Weighing 5.5 grams, these earbuds are styled to match your playlist and perfectly snuggle into your ears, irrespective of your ear size. Moreover, expect to experience high-quality sound, thanks to the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro’s 24-Bit Hi-Fi audio system. It comprises 2-way wide-frequency speakers, a woofer for deep bass, and tweeters for crisp treble.
Moreover, Samsung packs these earbuds with Dolby Atmos, which gives you the best spatial sound experience, making it sound as realistic as possible. Also, adding to these earbuds’ sound quality is a head tracking feature, which ensures the music remains clear and crisp, irrespective of your head movements.
What impressed us the most is the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro’s noise cancelation feature, which reduces outside noise, thanks to its three high signal-to-noise ratio microphones. Further, these earbuds have voice detection technology, which activates ambient sound when conversing with friends. However, though these Samsung earbuds seem perfect, they have a couple of flaws. Their main shortcoming is the earbuds’ 5-hour battery. Moreover, they cost above $150, which is considerably expensive and beyond the reach of most buyers.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro’s Hi-Fi boosts the earbud’s sound quality. | Their battery capacity is underwhelming. |
| These earbuds have the best noise-cancelation technology. | They are quite pricey. |
| The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro’s inclusion of Dolby Atmos makes their sound as realistic as possible. |
Check out the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro on Amazon.
How to Pick the Best Sound Quality Earbuds: Step by Step
Before purchasing earbuds, you must familiarize yourself with their specs, as not all earbuds will suit your needs. Knowing what to look for reduces the risk of buying the wrong earbuds, saving you money. So, here is a good checklist to use when shopping for earbuds.
- Sound quality
- Battery life
- Connectivity
- Noise cancelation
Sound Quality
Earbuds have come a long way when considering their sound quality. Initially, most manufacturers released earbuds with subpar audio quality. Still, you can easily notice the difference in sound quality between premium and cheap earbuds.
Check whether the earbuds support various features, like Dolby Atmos and spatial audio. These features mean the earbuds deliver the best surround sound, making the sound more realistic. Moreover, an earbud’s frequency response is imperative, so get one with a wide range.
Battery Life
The primary benefit of wireless earbuds is that they are cord-free. This means they have in-built batteries. Choose earbuds that give you more than six hours of usage on a single charge. Moreover, the earbuds should support fast charging for quick charging when on a busy schedule.
Connectivity
Most earbuds use Bluetooth connectivity, but some are more selective than others. For example, some earbuds can only pair with a device that uses the new Bluetooth 5.0 and 5.3 versions. Similarly, some earbuds only pair with devices running on specific OS like Android or iOS. Lastly, some earbuds like AirPods may pair with an Android device, but you may not enjoy all the features. Thus, ensure the earbuds you buy are compatible with your devices.
Noise Cancelation
Good earbuds should have noise cancelation technology to provide an immersive audio experience. However, choose earbuds with a voice detection feature, allowing you to hear the outside world, especially when conversing with others. Also, the earbuds should support clear calls even in crowded areas.
What to Know Before Buying Earbuds With the Best Sound Quality
Only buy earbuds that match your intended use. Some earbuds are suitable for working out, while others are good for music and watching movies. For example, most workout earbuds are water-resistant, so they won’t get damaged if you sweat profusely when jogging or lifting weights.
Avoid buying earbuds with specs you may never use. Earbuds with premium features are expensive, costing more than $150. Opt for cheaper options if you are in the market to buy earbuds for basic use.
The earbuds’ design also matters. Choose earbuds with wingtips to ensure they perfectly clip your ears to prevent them from falling when walking.
Using the Best Sound Quality Earbuds: What It’s Like
Using earbuds is the same as using earphones, but there is a notable difference in sound quality. For starters, earbuds provide the best surround sound, which makes you feel like the music is playing around you. Besides immersing you in your playlist, you will experience the music as intended. Additionally, most high-quality earbuds have noise cancelation technology, which blocks all external noises, allowing you to listen to your playlist without interruptions.
Summary Table
| Rank | Earbuds |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Sony WF-1000XM4 |
| Best for Apple Users | AirPods Pro (2 Generation) |
| Best for Working Out | Beats Fit Pro |
| Best Budget Earbuds | Jabra Elite 3 |
| Best Android Earbuds | Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro |
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