True wireless earbuds have come a long way
It is easy to forget how new true wireless earbuds are. Before Onkyo released the very first pair, the W800BT, in 2015, Bluetooth headphones – with earbuds linked by a cable – were big business. To begin with, true wireless earbuds felt like a compromise in sound quality, connectivity and comfort. Apple changed that by launching the AirPods in 2016. The early versions were not perfect, but worked
every time you opened the case, and that convenience changed everything.
Since then, the category has moved at extraordinary speed, with the market now worth upwards of $80 billion (£60 billion) and even budget options now reliable, with good battery life, effective Active Noise Cancellation and respectable sound. Thanks to improvements in Bluetooth microchips, some premium options like the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 (£370; bowerswilkins.com) now compete with wired in-ear monitors. Some, like the latest Apple AirPods Pro 3 (£219; apple.com), can test your hearing and even work as hearing aids, while others offer live language translation.
True wireless earbuds: budget to luxury options
But with 790 different true wireless earbud options listed on Amazon, how do you choose? Budget remains a reliable indicator of quality, with premium brands such as Sennheiser, Bose, Sony, Apple and Technics offering the best combination of sound quality, design, features and reliability. Expect to pay from around £200 for the privilege.
Affordable alternatives are available, though. Soundcore impressed me with the new Liberty 5 (soundcore.com), superb value at just £79 and with particularly good noise cancellation. The Nothing Ear 3 (nothing.tech) are not cheap at £149, but they are brilliantly designed and compete with many more expensive options. If budgets are particularly squeezed, the JLab Go Pods ANC (jlab.com) surprised me at just £25. They do not compete on sound quality, but for the price you cannot expect more.
True wireless earbuds: what to look for
The right fit
Aside from whittling down the options based on budget, I’d recommend compiling a list of the features you actually need from a pair of true wireless earbuds. Personally, I think fit is the single most important factor here – even more so than sound quality – because if they don’t stay in your ears while you move around, they are basically useless. Look for light (around 5-6g each) options with a selection of eartips in different sizes. Take time to try the different tips, as this improves fit and passive noise isolation which will boost sound quality.
Bluetooth connectivity
Wireless headphones rely on Bluetooth for connectivity, and it is worth looking for modern codecs (Bluetooth 5 is the most common, although expect to see options with 6 soon) as they can offer multipoint pairing, so earbuds can remain connected to a laptop and phone simultaneously. Bluetooth LE Audio is starting to appear, and with it Auracast, which lets one source transmit to many listeners at once, potentially transforming airport lounges and gyms into shared listening spaces.
Active Noise Cancellation
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is now almost standard, and I strongly recommend it whatever your budget. The latest options now automatically adjust cancellation strength depending on your surroundings, easing off when you start walking or talking to improve awareness. And for those prioritising sound quality, wireless buds are much better than they used to be, and listening to basic lower-resolution content from Spotify can sound fine if you’re out and about. If you demand the best, however, you’ll need headphones and a smartphone (or media player) compatible with LDAC or aptX capable of up to 32-bit/96kHz over Bluetooth at up to 990kbps. You will also need a high-resolution streaming platform such as Qobuz or Tidal.
Battery life
Battery life has quietly improved as well. Four hours per charge once felt acceptable, but now look for six to eight, with cases extending listening to 30+ hours. In truth, while early designs looked similar, the sophistication of true wireless earbuds today is remarkable. They are no longer just headphones. They are wearable computers for communication, navigation and media: answering calls, pausing music when removed, reading messages and even translating languages, without needing to take your phone out of your pocket.
True Wireless earbuds: we recommend
Sony WF-1000XM6 £249
I’ve been a huge admirer of Sony’s true wireless Active Noise Cancellation and spine-tingling audio quality but, irritatingly, the fit has never been secure enough for me to enjoy them out of the office. Thankfully, Sony has slimmed these buds down, and the foam (not silicone) eartips make everything reassuringly secure. They’re not the last word in comfort – the Apple AirPods’ stem-style designs are naturally more secure – but the audio performance and ANC are so good, I’m happy to overlook it. The redesigned 8.4mm drivers have been tuned to offer a more natural tonal balance than their predecessor – that means a beautiful detailed, full-bodied performance, with a level of expression and detail you should demand for £250. Listening to Bonis and Ravel works for violin and piano proved a wonderfully intimate performance – but rest assured, they are just as good with big orchestral repertoire.
Buy Sony WF-1000XM6 from Amazon
Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro £179
I’ve always been jealous of people who can run or hit the gym in standard earbuds – for me, they get sweaty and fall out. With the AeroFit 2 Pro, however, you get a sporty open-ear design that lets traffic noise in, but by repositioning the earbud, you can enjoy the quiet of Active Noise Cancellation. It’s a clever concept backed by large 11.8mm composite drivers that sound solid in both open and ANC modes. There are four mics for clear phone calls, the app has clever features and battery life extends to 34 hours via the case. In practice, though, they fit brilliantly for sports but are only average as noise-cancelling earbuds.
Buy Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro from Amazon
Earfun Air Pro 4+ £89.99
It’s a shame EarFun sounds like a private hospital rebranding its otolaryngology clinic because, daft name aside, they make some fine bargain-priced, feature-packed headphones. The Air Pro 4+ combines a 10mm dynamic driver with a balanced armature, producing a deep, rich performance that belies the sub-£100 price. They support a wide range of hi-res files and include adjustable ANC plus an app packed with features. You can tweak sound profiles, pair to multiple devices, play an alarm if you lose a bud, limit volume to protect hearing and even translate languages in real time. Battery life is superb with a total of 54 hours, and while they feel plasticky and don’t sound as good as the Sony (above), for me the fit is better and the case more pocket friendly.
